ACID-RESISTANT LIMOSILACTOBACILLUS FERMENTUM ISOLATES RECOVERED FROM FERMENTED TURKISH SUCUK: SCREENING OF PROBIOTIC CHARACTERIZATION AND PHYLOGENY

The present study was conducted to identify acid-resistant lactic acid bacteria from fermented Turkish sucuk, detect phylogenetic affinities, and probiotic/biotechnological profiles. Samples were collected from popular fermented meat retail stores in Kayseri (n:20). The selected lactobacilli were exposed to different pH. Isolates resistant to pH2 were identified by sequencing following the 16s rRNA gene amplification and recorded in GenBank. The pH2 is distinctive for lactobacilli, as most (61.9%) of lactobacilli were inhibited (P <0.05). Isolates surviving at pH2 were determined to be Limosilactobacillus fermentum. The survival rates in bile salt, simulated gastrointestinal juices (between 97.13-106.60%), and autoaggregation, hydrophobicity, and coaggregation of isolates were statistically significant (P <0.05). L. fermentum S19 was the only isolate capable of producing exopolysaccharide; S19 had a high autoaggregation and hydrophobicity over 70%. Traditional Turkish fermented sucuk is a product with enormous potential, containing the newly isolated wild-type L. fermentum, which stands out for biotechnological/probiotic properties.