Inhibition of Pathogenic Bacteria by Pediococcus pentosaceus Strain SH-10 Isolated from Hard Clam Meretrix meretrix Sikhae

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the mechanism of inhibition of pathogenic bacteria by Pediococcus pentosaceus strain SH-10 isolated from hard Clam Meretrix meretrix sikhae. When P. pentosaceus SH-10 was co-cultured in MRS broth with pathogenic bacteria, including Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella choleraesuis and Staphyloccus aureus, no viable pathogenic cells were detected after 18 h of incubation. However, pediocin or a pediocin-like bacteriocin was not detected in cultures of P. pentosaceus SH-10 by the agar diffusion method. Organic acids were produced in MRS broth in proportion to the incubation time of P. pentosaceus SH-10. These results indicate that P. pentosaceus SH-10 inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria by lowering the pH of the growth medium through the production of organic acids, including sodium lactate, sodium acetate, and sodium citrate.