Recently researchers are interested with the biotherapeutic potential of probiotics in gut disease
treatment. The bacteria are generally regarded as a safe, have a stability of usage and originate
from the natural resources. The study aims to identify and characterize the potential probiotic
Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) isolated from Malaysian fermented fish product known as
Pekasam. Fourty isolates obtained were firstly screened for their antagonism activities against
the common pathogenic bacteria; Esherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella sp.
Our study revealed only three (labeled as L8, L20 and S1) of the isolates tested showed broad
antimicrobial effects towards the pathogenic bacteria. All of the isolates were also γ-hemolytic
and tolerant to various pH (pH 3, 5 and 7.5) and 0.3% (w/v) bile salts. The bacteria isolates
of strain L8 and L20 were susceptible to seven antibiotics tested except vancomycin and
tetracycline whereas S1 was resistant to all antibiotics. Phenotypic tests revealed that both
bacteria isolates of strain L8 and L20 were Bacillus megaterium while S1 was Pediococcus
pentosaceus whereas 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed potential bacteria isolates
of strain L8 and L20 belonged to the Lactobacillus plantarum (99% similarity) and S1 was
characterized as Lactobacillus pentosus (100% similarity) respectively. Our present study
showed that the probiotics of strain L8, L20 and S1 isolated from the fermented fish (Pekasam)
exhibited the potential probiotic properties to be developed as biotherapeutic agents.