were purchased in lyophilized form

were purchased in lyophilized form and maintained at 80 C for long-term storage.
All these strains are considered as probiotics as previously reported in different studies

Freeze-dried strains were grown in Lactobacilli MRS broth or in Lactobacilli MRS agar (EMD Chemicals, Gibbstown, NJ) at 37 C in an anaerobic chamber (10% CO2: 5% H2: 85% N2) (Coy Laboratory Products, Ann Arbor, MI) after transfer through an airlock with two exchanges of N2 gas followed by one exchange of the oxygen-free mixed gas of the same composition as within the chamber.