Isolation, Identification and Optimization of Exopolysaccharide Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria from Raw Dairy Samples

Most of the Gram-positive bacteria, including lactic acid bacteria, produce exopolysaccharides (EPS). EPS are either excreted into the growth medium (slime) or attached to the bacterial cell wall (capsules). They are long-chain, high molecular carbohydrate polymers. In dairy industry, EPS producing cultures provide the fermentation produced with viscosity, stability and water binding functions. The present study was isolation, identification and optimization of Exopolysaccharides producing lactic acid bacteria from raw dairy materials. In this study, EPS production of selected isolates was analyzed between 0 hour and 54 hours in MRS medium. It was determined that EPS production was gradually increased and the maximum production was observed during 24th hour. After 24 hours of incubation, EPS production decreased gradually. EPS production increased during the exponential growth phase and no further production was observed in the stationary growth phase. Based on the results of the present study, it is concluded that Lactobacillus lactic ssp. lactisisolated from dairy samples showed better characteristic EPS producing ability.