Characterization and application of a native lactic acid bacterium isolated from tannery fleshings for fermentative bioconversion of tannery fleshings

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species isolated from
limed and delimed tannery fleshings (TF) were evaluated
for their fermentation efficiency and antibacterial property.
The native LAB isolates efficiently fermented TF and
resulted in a fermented mass with antioxidant properties,
indicating their potential for effective eco-friendly bioconversion
of TF. From among the LAB isolated, a proteolytic
isolate showing better antimicrobial spectrum and reasonably
good fermentation efficiency was identified as Enterococcus
faecium HAB01 based on various biochemical and
molecular tests. This isolate afforded a better degree of
hydrolysis (81.36%) of TF than Pediococcus acidilactici
(54.64%) that was previously reported by us. The bacteriocin
produced by E. faecium was found to be antagonistic to
several human pathogens including Listeria, Aeromonas,
Staphylococcus and Salmonella. Further, E. faecium
HAB01 bacteriocin was thermostable and had a molecular
weight of around 5 kDa, apart from being stable at both
acidic and alkaline conditions. The bacteriocin was unstable
against proteases.