Bile salt hydrolase activity
The ability of the strains to hydrolyse bile salts was determined according to the
method of Dashkevicz and Feighner (1989). Test plates were prepared with 0.5 %
(w/v) of taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA) in MRS agar medium. The strains were
streaked on the media and the plates were incubated anaerobically using AnaerocultR
A (Merck, Germany) at 37°C and 30°C for Lactobacilli/Weissella and Pediococci
respectively for 48-72 h. The presence of precipitated bile acid around colonies
(opaque halo) was considered as a positive result (Dashkevicz and Feighner 1989).
The experiment was performed three times in duplicate.