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Aim: To partially characterize the bacteriocin produced by the GM-1 strain of Enterococcus faecium, isolated from the faeces of a newborn human infant. Methods and Results: The bacteriocin produced by E. faecium GM-1 showed a broad spectrum of activity against indicator strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio spp., Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Streptococcus thermophilus. Treatment of the GM-1 bacteriocin with proteolytic enzymes reduced its inhibitory activities. The bacteriocin was stable at 100°C for 20 min and displayed inhibitory activity at neutral pH. The optimal production of bacteriocin from E. faecium GM-1 was obtained when the culture conditions were pH 6AE0-6AE5 and 35-40°C. The inhibitory activity of the bacteriocin was not substantially changed by the use of different carbon sources in the media, except when galactose was substituted for glucose. The use of a sole nitrogen source caused a decrease in inhibitory activity. A bacteriocin gene similar to enterocin P was identified from the total DNA of E. faecium GM-1 by PCR and direct sequencing methods. Conclusion: E. faecium GM-1, which was isolated from the faeces of a newborn baby, produces an enterocin P-like bacteriocin with inhibitory activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including food-borne pathogens. Significance and Impact of the Study: E. faecium GM-1, isolated from infant faeces, produces a new bacteriocin that is similar to enterocin P. This bacteriocin is heat stable and has a broad antibacterial spectrum that includes both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

A strain of Enterococcus faecium that exhibits antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori was isolated from the feces of newborn babies. This strain was selected for its ability to inhibit the growth of H. pylori and to withstand harsh environmental conditions, such as acidic pH and high bile concentration. Biochemical tests and 16S rRNA sequencing specific for Enterococcus faecium GM-1 were used to identify the isolated bacterial strain. In vitro studies were used to investigate the inhibitory effects of E. faecium GM-1 on H. pylori. These results showed that the culture supernatant of E. faecium GM-1 significantly decreased the viability and urease activity of H. pylori. This inhibitory activity remained after adjustment of pH of culture supernatant to neutral. However, treatment with proteolytic enzymes reduced the anti-H. pylori activity of GM-1. Therefore, some substance(s) of E. faecium GM-1 other than pH and lactic acid might be associated with this inhibitory activity. Analysis by electron microscopy also demonstrated that the addition of GM-1 destroyed the cell structure of H. pylori. Additional studies suggested that the binding of H. pylori to human colonial cells decreased in the presence of GM-1.

To develop probiotics, a kind of Lactobacillus sp. was isolated from infant feces. The bacterium was identified as Lactobacillus rhamnosus through 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The strain was a facultative anaerobe which grew better in aerobic conditions. The bacterium lowered the pH of the culture solution down to 2.4 during 48 hr in the MRS medium. The strain inhibited the growth of 6 pathogens-S. aureus, L. monocytogens, S. typhimurium, E. coli O-157, V. parahaemolyticus and P. aeruginosa. When the Lactobacillus were fed to chickens, along with commercial feed, for one month, amounts of H2S and NH3 in the feces of the chicken decreased to 50% and 70%, respectively, compared to those of control group chickens. Amounts of other bad smells such as (CH3)SH, (CH3)2S and (CH3)2S2 were not much different in the Lactobacillus-fed chickens compared to the control group. On the other hand, egg weights of the chickens fed Lactobacillus were higher by about 5±1 g than those in the control group.