Antimicrobial Activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Against Listeria monocytogenes

Abstract

Fourteen bacteriocin-producing strains from the genera Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, and Lactococcus were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the growth of eight strains of Listeria monocytogenes. Seven strains of lactic acid bacteria were antagonistic toward L. monocytogenes by deferred antagonism testing on agar. Cell-free supernatants from cultures of three of the seven bacteriocin-producing strains which inhibited growth of L. monocytogenes in deferred antagonism testing also inhibited growth in well diffusion assays. The eight strains of L. monocytogenes were identical in their sensitivity or resistance to bacteriocins. The action of the bacteriocins was eliminated by proteolytic enzymes.