title: Anti-bacterial activity of Lactobacillus plantarum strain SK1 against Listeria monocytogenes is due to lactic acid production.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this research was to investigate the potential of Lactobacillus plantarum strain SK1 for use as a biological control agent against Listeria monocytogenes and determine its mechanism of anti-listerial activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Co-growth of Lact. plantarum SK1 and L. monocytogenes UMCC98 in MRS broth showed that anti-listerial activity of Lact. plantarum SK1 occurred during late log/early stationary phase of growth. This coincided with a reduction in broth pH to 4.26. Evidence obtained from the analysis of cell-free culture filtrates of strain SK1 grown in MRS broth using thin-layer chromatography and growth of L. monocytogenes in pH-adjusted culture filtrates suggested that the anti-listerial activity was due to lactic acid production alone. Trials of Lact. plantarum SK1 on radishes stored at 5 degrees C showed that it had statistically significant (P < 0.05) anti-listerial activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anti-listerial activity of Lact. plantarum SK1 was due to lactic acid production alone. A small-scale trial on radishes stored at 5 degrees C showed it to have significant anti-listerial activity in planta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This organism has potential as a biological control agent for L. monocytogenes.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sigee
authors.forename: H A S
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Epton
mesh_terms: D000898:Antibiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005524:Food Technology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000502:physiology*; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013696:Temperature; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid