Probiotics are considered effective microbial dietary supplements that provide beneficial
effects to consumers, usually by restoring or improving gut microflora. Goat milk is one
of the rich sources of probiotics as well as nutrients. Therefore, the primary aim of this
research was to isolate and evaluate the potential of novel indigenous probiotic strains
present in goat milk. Six different raw goat milk samples were collected from different
areas of Multan, Pakistan. For bacterial characterization, samples were cultured and
isolated on MRS agar plates for different morphological and biochemical tests. The
probiotic potential of the six isolates, all of which were gram positive (G1, G2, G3, G4,
G5, and G6) and five of which were catalase negative (all except G1), were assessed via a
milk coagulation assay and antimicrobial activity, pH tolerance, phenol tolerance, and
sodium chloride (NaCl) tolerance tests, which revealed that all the isolates coagulated in
milk and showed protease and lipase activity, except G3. All six isolates showed tolerance
against 0.2% phenol and 2–4% NaCl and were able to survive in both alkaline and acidic
conditions. Only five isolates showed antimicrobial activity against indicator strain
Aspergillus niger
strain STA9, validating their probiotic nature. The
most potent bile-tolerant and bacteriocin-producing isolate, G1, also showed γ-hemolytic
activity and resistance to penicillin but showed susceptibility to other antibiotics. The
lactic acid-producing (0.60% titratable acidity) G1 isolate was identified as a novel
strain of
Mammaliicoccus sciuri
based on 16S rDNA sequencing. The above
findings suggest that the potent
M. sciuri
GMN01 strain can serve as a
potential probiotic strain. A potent probiotic strain isolated from raw goat milk could be
utilized as a dietary supplement, and goat milk could become an alternative to other
sources of milk, particularly cow milk. However, safety aspects of this strain require
further investigation because the present safety tests are insufficient to conclude that
the GMN01 isolate is safe.