The antimicrobial activity of the strains of Lactococcus
and Lactobacillus was eliminated after treatment of
the active extracts with various proteolytic enzymes.
Consequently, the inhibiting effect shown by these
strains could be due to the presence of bacteriocins or
bacteriocin-like metabolites. Production of bacteriocins
by lactobacilli is frequent and this fact may contribute to
their colonizing and competitive ability (Garriga et al.,
1993).