*3.4. Bio-Coating Retains the LAB Survivability during In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion Following Freeze-Drying*

It was further tested whether bio-coating could also provide protection of the LAB cells during passage through an in vitro GIT system. This unique system included two phases: a gastric phase characterized by low pH and stomach proteolytic enzymes and, the intestinal phase, characterized by neutral pH, intestinal proteolytic enzymes, and bile salts. The bio-coated LAB cells were freeze-lyophilized and tested through this system. It was found that the bio-coated cells of *L. plantarum* and *L. rhamnosus* showed increased survivability of around 0.5 log following freeze-drying, which remained at the augmented level during the transition of those cells through the GIT system (Figure 6). Nonetheless, in the case of *P. acidilactici*, there was no significant increase in the survivability of the cells in the tested conditions.
