Kaoutar Boussif

Ms. Kaoutar Boussif


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
13 January 2026 in Applied Microbiology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
KBKaoutar Boussif
Kaoutar Boussif
AEAHMED ELIDRISSI
AHMED ELIDRISSI
AEAbdelkhaleq Elmoslih
Abdelkhaleq Elmoslih
Youssef EzzakyYoussef Ezzaky
Youssef Ezzaky
MZMARIEM ZANZAN
MARIEM ZANZAN
Fouad AchemchemFouad Achemchem
Fouad Achemchem
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are increasingly recognized for their role in food biopreservation due to their ability to synthesize antimicrobial compounds. Milk naturally harbors a wide variety of LAB, offering a promising source for identifying strains with biopreservative potential. This study investigated the antagonistic effects, safety characteristics, and technological properties of LAB strains isolated from traditionally fermented milk. Thirty-two dairy samples were analyzed, and the resulting LAB isolates were screened for inhibitory activity against Listeria monocytogenes CECT 4032 and Staphylococcus aureus CECT 976 using agar spot and well diffusion assays. All tested strains exhibited strong antimicrobial effects, with particularly notable inhibition of L. monocytogenes. After phenotypic screening, five representative isolates were selected for molecular identification and further assessment of safety-related attributes, functional capabilities, auto- and co-aggregation properties. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that four strains belonged to the genus Enterococcus, specifically, one E. faecium and three E. durans, while one was classified as a Lactococcus species. Moreover, none of the strains showed proteolytic or lipolytic activities which highlights their potential use in dairy fermentation processes.

13 January 2026 in Biology and Life Sciences Forum
Verified
Conference Paper
Open access
PDF file
YEYoussef Ezzaky
Youssef Ezzaky
LBLatifa Bouddouch
Latifa Bouddouch
KBKaoutar Boussif
Kaoutar Boussif
MZMARIEM ZANZAN
MARIEM ZANZAN
FMFouad Msanda
Fouad Msanda
Fouad AchemchemFouad Achemchem
Fouad Achemchem
This study explores the biopreservative and antioxidant potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from low-sodium vegetable fermentations. Five vegetables, green pepper, tomato, eggplant, carrot, and cabbage, were fermented with varying NaCl concentrations (0–3%) for 45 days. Fifty-six presumptive LAB were isolated, and eight LAB strains exhibiting strong antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were selected for further analysis. The isolates showed significant tolerance to salinity (6.5–18% NaCl), alkaline pH (9.6), and heat stress (45 °C and 60 °C for 30 min). Antimicrobial assays against eight indicator pathogens confirmed a broad inhibition spectrum attributed to bacteriocin-like substances, while antioxidant assays indicated significant antioxidant activity (27–65%), with strain L10 showing the highest radical scavenging potential (p < 0.05). API 20 STREP profiling revealed three dominant taxa: Leuconostoc, Lactococcus lactis, and Enterococcus faecium. These findings highlight LAB as stress-tolerant, multifunctional strains with promising applications as natural biopreservatives and probiotic candidates for developing functional, low-sodium fermented foods.

30 October 2025 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
KBKaoutar Boussif
Kaoutar Boussif
AEAHMED ELIDRISSI
AHMED ELIDRISSI
AEAbdelkhaleq Elmoslih
Abdelkhaleq Elmoslih
Youssef EzzakyYoussef Ezzaky
Youssef Ezzaky
MZMARIEM ZANZAN
MARIEM ZANZAN
Fouad AchemchemFouad Achemchem
Fouad Achemchem

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are increasingly recognized for their role in food biopreservation due to their ability to synthesize antimicrobial compounds. Milk naturally harbors a wide variety of lactic acid bacteria, offering a promising source for identifying strains with biopreservative potential. This study investigated the antagonistic effects, safety characteristics, and technological properties of LAB strains isolated from traditionally fermented milk. Thirty-two dairy samples were analyzed, and the resulting LAB isolates were screened for inhibitory activity against Listeria monocytogenes CECT 4032 and Staphylococcus aureus CECT 976 using agar spot and well diffusion assays. All tested strains exhibited strong antimicrobial effects, with particularly notable inhibition of L. monocytogenes. After phenotypic screening, five representative isolates were selected for molecular identification and further assessment of safety-related attributes, functional capabilities, auto- and co-aggregation properties 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that four strains belonged to the genus Enterococcus, specifically, one E. faecium and three E. durans, while one was classified as a Lactococcus species. Moreover, none of the strains showed proteolytic or lipolytic activities which highlights their potential use in dairy fermentation processes.