<i>Carnobacterium</i> as a bioprotective and potential probiotic culture to improve food quality, food safety, and human health – a scoping review

Abstract

It is well-known that some bacteria can promote human and animal health. Bacteria of the genus <i>Carnobacterium</i>, while underexplored, have demonstrated significant probiotic and bioprotective potential. In this review, the recent scientific advances in this area are discussed. There are several requirements for a strain to be considered a probiotic or bioprotective agent, including the absence of antimicrobial resistance and the ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract. Several researchers have reported such features in <i>Carnobacterium</i> bacteria, especially with regard to the production of antimicrobial substances. Research into animal production has advanced, especially in the aquaculture field, wherein inhibitory activity has been demonstrated against several important pathogens (for example <i>Vibrio</i>), and improvement in zootechnical indexes is evident. With respect to human health-related applications, research is still in the early stages. However, excellent in vitro results against pathogens, such as <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, have been reported. <i>Carnobacterium</i> bacteria have been assessed for a variety of applications in food, including direct application to the matrix and application to smart packaging, with proven effectiveness against <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>. However, there is a lack of in vivo studies on <i>Carnobacterium</i> applications, which hinders its applications in various industries despite its high potential.