Isolation of Bacillus spp. from cheonggukjang and Its antagonistic effect against Bacillus cereus

Abstract

For the development of a biological control method against B. cereus in cheonggukjang, 20 Bacillus spp. Were isolated from the naturally fermented baektae and heuktae cheonggukjang, identified by using 16S rDNA sequences. Among the isolated strains, Bacillus sp. SC-8 was selected using the B. cereus lawn cell assay as an antagonistic microorganism against B. cereus. The culture medium of Bacillus sp. SC-8 after 24 hr of incubation at 37°C also evidenced a high level of antagonistic activity. In cheonggukjang fermented with the mixed culture of Bacillus sp. SC-8 and B. cereus, antagonistic effect against B. cereus was maintained during the fermentation of cheonggukjang, while its effect was reduced during storage at 4°C due to the decrement of cell population of Bacillus sp. SC-8. In Bacillus sp. SC-15, which was utilized a control, antagonistic activity against B. cereus was not demonstrated on the lawn cell plate assay and culture medium, but its effects were detected in cheonggukjang. Therefore, the production of antagonistic substances of Bacillus spp. depends on the fermentative environment. ©The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology.