Browsing by Subject "Lactobacillus sake"

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Molecular characterization of the interaction of lactobacilli with food environments and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7
(2009) Hüfner, Eric; Hertel, Christian
The first part of this thesis focuses on the gene expression of Lactobacillus sakei and Lactobacillus reuteri in food fermentation using in vivo expression technology (IVET) and DNA microarray hybridization analysis, respectively. Both technologies allow the identification of regulated genes in a specific environment, which are likely to contribute to the ecological performance of the organism. Thus, the obtained results provide a basis for the development of new strategies to improve the fermentation process, as it was demonstrated by the development of an efficient method for the improvement of sausage fermentation using L. sakei. To obtain hygienically safe products, the function of starter cultures mostly relies on the ability to acidify and produce other antimicrobial principles. However, it was recently demonstrated that the interaction with pathogens also can take place on another level, apart from killing or growth inhibition. Lactobacilli have been shown to influence the virulence gene expression of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) via the bacterial communication system termed quorum sensing. The second part of the thesis explores the impact of quorum sensing between Lactobacillus reuteri strains and EHEC O157:H7 on EHEC virulence gene expression. By using a green fluorescent protein reporter gene assay, it was demonstrated for the first time that the transcription of the ler virulence regulator gene is significantly reduced by secreted substances of L. reuteri in a strain- and quorum sensing-dependent manner.