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Published on: July 22, 2011
Multi-strain probiotic combinations differentially inhibit Salmonella serovars
María Camila Duarte-Villanueva1, Matt Garner2, Jon Thompson3
1Texas Tech University, Animal and Food Sciences, 1308 Indiana Ave, Lubbock, TX 7941, United States of America.
Journal of Microbiological Methods
|July 20, 2026
Summary
Multi-strain probiotics, including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium bifidum, effectively reduce Salmonella by producing high levels of organic acids. The four-strain probiotic mix eliminated Salmonella, offering a natural alternative to antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Food Science
- Animal Science
Background:
- Salmonella poses a significant threat to food safety and animal health.
- Conventional antimicrobials face challenges due to rising antimicrobial resistance.
- Probiotics offer a potential alternative for controlling bacterial pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antagonistic activity of specific probiotic strains against Salmonella serovars.
- To determine the efficacy of multi-strain probiotic combinations in reducing Salmonella populations.
- To investigate the role of organic acid production in probiotic-mediated Salmonella inhibition.
Main Methods:
- Co-culture model using four probiotic strains: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Propionibacterium freudenreichii, and Propionibacterium jensenii.
- Preparation and testing of 11 different multi-strain probiotic combinations against seven Salmonella serovars.
- Measurement of organic acid production (lactic, acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric) and pH changes.
- Quantification of Salmonella reduction using Log10 CFU/mL.
Main Results:
- Multi-strain probiotic preparations produced significantly higher concentrations of organic acids, especially lactic, propionic, and valeric acids.
- Culture media pH dropped significantly from ~6.72 to 3.85 within 24 hours.
- Salmonella reduction varied from 2 to 8 Log10 CFU/mL depending on the probiotic mixture.
- The four-strain probiotic combination resulted in non-detectable Salmonella levels.
Conclusions:
- Multi-strain probiotics exhibit synergistic activity, enhancing organic acid production for antimicrobial effects against Salmonella.
- Probiotic mixtures are effective in reducing Salmonella populations, with the four-strain combination showing complete inhibition.
- These findings support the use of multi-strain probiotics as a sustainable alternative to conventional antimicrobials in livestock, advancing One Health principles.
