a b s t r a c tThe objective of this study was to evaluate culture media and methodologies for isolation and detection of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) capable to produce bacteriocin-like substances. Samples of milk and cheese were pour plated on de Mann-Rogosa-Sharpe agar (MRS) and Kang-Fung-Sol agar (KFS) (both at 35 C/48 h, under anaerobiosis), from which 389 and 256 LAB cultures were selected. The antagonistic activity of them was evaluated using the spot-on-the-lawn and two culture media: brain-heart infusion agar with catalase (BHI þ C) and M17 (both at 35 C/24 h). The proteinaceous nature of the antagonistic cultures was verified using: spot-on-the-lawn (MRS, 25 C/24 h, under anaerobiosis) and well-diffusion (cultures amplified on modified MRS broth at 25 C/24 h, and then neutralized using NaOH). Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644 was used as indicator. A larger number of antagonist cultures were isolated from MRS (83 by M17 and 65 by BHI þ C) in comparison to KFS (24 by M17 and 15 by BHI þ C). The spot-onthe-lawn identified a higher frequency of LAB capable of producing bacteriocin-like substances. MRS was considered to be the best culture media for the isolation of LAB capable to produce bacteriocin-like substances, activity that was better identified using the spot-on-the-lawn methodology.

Aims: To provide molecular and phenotypical characterization of Enterococcus isolates obtained from raw milk and cheese, regarding their bacteriocinogenic and virulence activity. Methods and Results: Forty-three bacteriocinogenic enterococci isolates were identified by 16s rDNA, fingerprinted by RAPD-PCR analysis and tested by PCR for the presence of genes for lantibiotics (lanM, lanB and lanC) and enterocins (entA, entB, entP, entL50AB and entAS48) and by phenotypical methods for bacteriocin production and inhibitory spectrum. Also, the virulence of the isolates was evaluated by PCR for genes gelE, hyl, asa1, esp, cylA, efaA, ace, vanA, vanB, hdc1, hdc2, tdc and odc and by phenotypical tests for gelatinase, lipase, DNAse and a-and b-haemolysis. Most isolates (93·0%) harboured at least one lantibiotic or enterocin gene and were positive for several tested virulence genes, mainly asa1 (100%), gelE (93·0%) and efaA (83·7%). 53·5% of the isolates presented b-haemolysis. Conclusions: Enterococcus spp. isolates presented an interesting potential application for food preservation because of bacteriocin production; however, virulence-related genes were identified in all RAPD profiles. Significance and Impact of the Study: The study demonstrated the contradictory characteristics of the tested Enterococcus isolates: they presented a good potential for application in food biopreservation but contained several virulence factors.

This study aimed to characterize the microbiological quality and safety of raw milk and soft cheese, verifying possible associations between microbial populations, and the detection of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with antagonistic activity against foodborne pathogens. Raw milk (n = 36) and soft cheese (n = 18) samples were collected and submitted for the analysis of mesophilic aerobes, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, LAB, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CPS), Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. In all, 389 LAB isolates were randomly selected and submitted for antagonistic tests against L. monocytogenes, St. aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Lactobacillus sakei. The samples presented high counts of mesophilic aerobes, total coliforms, and LAB, and also high and significant correlation indices between these populations. Low levels of CPS and E. coli were observed, as well as an absence of Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes. A substantial portion of the analyzed samples presented LAB cultures with antagonistic activity, but not against Salmonella Typhimurium. The obtained results indicate the antimicrobial potential of the autochthonous microbiota of raw milk and soft cheese. Despite the spoilage potential, the LAB present in the studied food products can be isolated and properly characterized as antagonistic cultures, to be used in bioconservation studies for pathogen control in foods.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are currently used by food industries because of their ability to produce metabolites with antimicrobial activity against gram-positive pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. The objectives of this study were to identify naturally occurring bacteriocinogenic or bacteriocinogenic-like LAB in raw milk and soft cheese and to detect the presence of nisin-coding genes in cultures identified as Lactococcus lactis. Lactic acid bacteria cultures were isolated from 389 raw milk and soft cheese samples and were later characterized for the production of antimicrobial substances against Listeria monocytogenes. Of these, 58 (14.9%) LAB cultures were identified as antagonistic; the nature of this antagonistic activity was then characterized via enzymatic tests to confirm the proteinaceous nature of the antimicrobial substances. In addition, 20 of these antagonistic cultures were selected and submitted to genetic sequencing; they were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum (n=2) and Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (n=18). Nisin genes were identified by polymerase chain reaction in 7 of these cultures. The identified bacteriocinogenic and bacteriocinogenic-like cultures were highly variable concerning the production and activity of antimicrobial substances, even when they were genetically similar. The obtained results indicated the need for molecular and phenotypic methodologies to properly characterize bacteriocinogenic LAB, as well as the potential use of these cultures as tools to provide food safety.

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