Enzyme activity was measured using the commercially-available, semi-quantitative API-ZYM system (BioMérieux, Montreal, QC) as previously described. According to the manufacturer’s instructions, cell suspension was adjusted to McFarland standards 5. Then 65 μL of cell suspension were added into each well of the API-ZYM strip and were incubated at 37 °C for 4 h in anaerobic conditions. The results were graded based on the amount of from substrate hydrolyzed on a scale from 0 (no activity) to 40 (or ≥ 40 nM).
For antibiotic susceptibility testing, LAB strains (108 CFU/mL) were inoculated onto MRS soft agar. Commercial antibiotic discs (amoxicillin, penicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, gentamicin, clindamycin, and ofloxacin, provided by Sangon Biotech (Shanghai) Co., Ltd) were placed onto the agar and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. Resistance or sensitivity was assessed according to the CLSI/NCCLS standard.