Analysis of the Probiotic Potential of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LB1_P46 Isolated from the Mexican Fermented Pulque Beverage: A Functional and Genomic Analysis

The traditional Mexican fermented beverage pulque has been considered a healthy product for treating gastrointestinal disorders. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been identified as one of the most abundant microbial groups during pulque fermentation. As traditional pulque is consumed directly from the fermentation vessel, the naturally associated LABs are ingested, reaching the consumer's small intestine alive, suggesting their potential probiotic capability. In this contribution, we assayed the probiotic potential of the strain of <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> LB1_P46 isolated from pulque produced in Huitzilac, Morelos State, Mexico. The characterization included resistance to acid pH (3.5) and exposure to bile salts at 37 °C; the assay of the hemolytic activity and antibiotic resistance profiling; the functional traits of cholesterol reduction and β-galactosidase activity; and several cell surface properties, indicating that this LAB possesses probiotic properties comparable to other LAB. Additionally, this <i>L. plantarum</i> showed significance in in vitro antimicrobial activity against several Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and in vivo preventive anti-infective capability against <i>Salmonella</i> in a BALB/c mouse model. Several functional traits and probiotic activities assayed were correlated with the corresponding enzymes encoded in the complete genome of the strain. The genome mining for bacteriocins led to the identification of several bacteriocins and a ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide encoding for the plantaricin EF. Results indicated that <i>L. plantarum</i> LB1_P46 is a promising probiotic LAB for preparing functional non-dairy and dairy beverages.