Lactose intolerance has a global prevalence of up to 70%, making the development of cost-effective lactase supplements crucial. This study aimed to isolate a bacterium with high extracellular lactase production from local dairy products and optimize its culture conditions using statistical experimental design to significantly reduce production costs. One hundred bacterial strains were collected and screened from various dairy products. The most promising isolate (ALSZ2) was selected using X-gal plates and colorimetric methods, and was identified through 16S rDNA sequencing. Subsequently, Plackett–Burman and Box–Behnken designs were employed to systematically optimize key nutritional components (such as peptone, glucose, and magnesium sulfate). Additionally, the enzyme was purified using the Amicon system, its optimum temperature and pH were investigated, and the economic feasibility of its commercial production was evaluated. Based on molecular identification, the isolate ALSZ2 was confirmed as Bacillus licheniformis ALSZ2. Following multifactorial statistical optimization, the lactase yield increased by fourfold compared to the unoptimized condition, reaching 13 U/mL. The purified lactase had a molecular weight ranging between 30–50 kDa and exhibited optimal catalytic activity at 35°C and pH 7. Economic evaluation demonstrated that the cost of ALSZ2 lactase is only $1.2 per 1,000 units (U), which is far lower than the international market price of $5.5–$8 per 1,000 U. This study confirms that B. licheniformis ALSZ2 is a highly promising and cost-effective source of lactase, effectively serving as an affordable medical supplement for alleviating lactose intolerance.
- Amin, A. A., Z. A. Olama, and S. M. Ali. 2023. Characterization of an isolated lactase enzyme produced by Bacillus licheniformis ALSZ2 as a potential pharmaceutical supplement for lactose intolerance. Front. Microbiol. 14:1180463. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1180463.
- Deng, Z., Q. Deng, B. Li, J. Li, S. Jung, N.-J. Cho, and H. Liang. 2024. Strategies for lactase immobilization and delivery to relieve lactose intolerance. Trends Food Sci. Technol. 143:104244. doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2023.104244.
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