Pm. Fratamico et Rc. Whiting, ABILITY OF BDELLOVIBRIO-BACTERIOVORUS 109J TO LYSE GRAM-NEGATIVE FOOD-BORNE PATHOGENIC AND SPOILAGE BACTERIA, Journal of food protection, 58(2), 1995, pp. 160-164
Bdellovibrios are a group of aerobic, predatory bacteria which attack,
penetrate and grow in many species of gram-negative bacteria, causing
the lysis of the invaded prey organism, Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus st
rain 109J varied in its ability to lyse 32 bacterial strains comprisin
g six genera of food-borne pathogens and spoilage organisms. The reduc
tion in the levels of the prey bacteria ranged from 0.1 to 7.7 log-val
ues after 7 h of incubation at 30 degrees C. Escherichia coli strain 2
239-69 (pathogenic serotype 026:H11) was lysed most effectively at tem
peratures between 30 and 37 degrees C, however, lysis also occurred at
12 and 19 degrees C when the incubation period was extended to 24 h.
Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus was effective in reducing the level of E. c
oli 2239-69 at pH 5.6 to 8.6. Increasing the Bdellovibrio: E. coli rat
io resulted in a more rapid E. coli reduction, This study demonstrated
the potential usefulness of bdellovibrios for the biological control
of pathogenic and spoilage organisms in foods.