Antagonistic Action of Lactobacillus acidophilus Toward Intestinal and Foodborne Pathogens in Associative Cultures1

Abstract

Lactobacillus acidophilus exerted antagonistic actions on growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, and Clostridium perfringens when grown with each in associative cultures. S. aureus and C. perfringens were more sensitive to the inhibition than were S. typhimurium and E. coli. The amount of the antagonism produced varied among strains of L. acidophilus and could not be directly related to amounts of acid produced; hydrogen peroxide produced by the lactobacilli appeared to be partially responsible for the antagonistic interaction. The inhibitory effect was produced also under anaerobic conditions in a pre-reduced medium.