Tracking the metabolite footprint of four lactic acid bacteria in semiskimmed milk: A chemometric analysis

This study aimed to evaluate the strain‐specific fermentative behaviour and metabolite footprint of four Lactobacillus spp., in 48‐h fermented milks. Technological properties (net cell growth, pH and lactic acid production), exopolysaccharides (EPS), short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs), α‐amino acids and peptides <3 kDa were determined and evaluated by chemometrics. Inter‐strain differences were attributed to technological properties, SCFAs and D ‐mannose/galactose/arabinose production. Three clusters (technological properties, EPS and SCFA production) were confirmed by Pearson's correlation and hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis explained 61% of LAB's differential fermentative behaviour. Post hoc chemometric analysis is useful to select LAB with better post‐ and paraprobiotic potential.