The antimicrobial properties of selected probiotic bacteria against Aspergillus niger, Penicillium roqueforti,
Fusarium spp., Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were examined. Well diffusion and spot and
streak methods showed strong inhibition effect of probiotic bacteria and their metabolites against moulds
and minimal effect against yeasts. Among the moulds species tested, the inhibitory effect was strongest
against Fusarium spp., moderate against Penicillium roqueforti and minimal against A. niger. All strains of
Lactobacillus rhamnosus and L. paracasei subsp. paracasei showed maximum inhibitory effect. When
probiotic bacteria and yeasts and moulds were co-cultured in broth media, strains of L. rhamnosus showed
maximum inhibitory effect, whereas L. paracasei subsp. paracasei, L. acidophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis
and Propionibacterium showed moderate inhibitory effect against C. albicans. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was
minimally controlled by probiotic bacteria. Pre-grown probiotic bacterial culture metabolites controlled
yeasts and moulds more effectively than their freeze-dried or frozen forms. Adding metabolites of probiotic
bacteria (5% w/w) showed an effective control against A. niger, Fusarium spp. and C. albicans during the
shelf life of 10 weeks at 4 �C and no colonies of yeasts and moulds were formed on the surface of the dip