Cold　stage　adversely　affects　cell　proliferation　and　cell　viability　of　probiotics　such　as　Streptococcus　thermophilus　in　food　industry,　new　type　of　cryoprotectants　continues　to　be　needed.　Gelatin-based　antifreeze　peptide　becomes　a　popular　topic　because　of　its　cryoprotective　effects　on　cold-stressed　probiotics.　In　this　study　the　effects　of　tilapia　scales　antifreeze　peptides　(TSAPP)　on　cell　viability　and　oxidant　stress　of　S.　thermophilus　during　cold　stage　were　investigated.　The　results　showed　that　the　percentage　of　viable　cells　was　increased　10.85　folds　compared　with　control　groups.　Addition　of　TSAPP　activated　the　activities　of　ATPases,　relieved　the　hyperpolarization　of　cell　membrane　potential　and　regulated　the　intracellular　Ca2+　concentration.　Furthermore,　TSAPP　significantly　inhibited　reactive　oxygen　species　level　and　malonaldehyde　content　in　cells.　Under　cryopreservation　with　TSAPP,　cells　of　S.　thermophilus　maintained　higher　activities　of　antioxidant　enzymes　including　catalase,　peroxidase　and　total　antioxidant　capacity.　These　findings　indicate　that　TSAPP　likely　offered　its　cellular　protection　by　maintaining　membrane　integrity　and　alleviation　of　oxidative　stress.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd