A Novel bioprotective strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum F2—physiological, genetical, and antimicrobial characterization

Authors: ALTUNTAS, EVRIM GUNES - Ankara University; SEVIM, BUSRA - Ankara University; CELIK, ASENA - Ankara University; TOK, JKENAN CAN - Ankara University; GUMUSTAS, MEHMET - Ankara University; Juneja, Vijay; MERGEN, HATICE - Ankara University

Submitted to: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/13/2023
Publication Date: 2/5/2024
Citation: Altuntas, E., Sevim, B., Celik, A.A., Tok, J., Gumustas, M., Juneja, V.K., Mergen, H. 2024. A Novel bioprotective strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum F2—physiological, genetical, and antimicrobial characterization. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2024.0005.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2024.0005

Interpretive Summary: Lactic acid bacteria are used as starter cultures in the production of health beneficial fermented foods. Traditionally, molecular identification methods are found to be reliable in the identification of microorganisms. However, these methods do not separate bacteria from each other. We used 16S rDNA sequencing to demonstrate their characteristics. We demonstrated that the two bacteria differ in terms of their growth characteristics in selective media as well as in the production of lactate and diacetyl metabolites. The results of this study may help industrial microbiologists in the selection of starter cultures for the production of fermented products.

Technical Abstract: Lactobacillus and Pediococcus genera often show similar physiological and genetic characteristics. These two closely related genera have the same common ancestor in the evolutionary process. In this study, characteristics such as biochemical and genetic identification, growth in medium at high temperature, substrate preference and growth morphology in selective media, metabolite production, and antimicrobial activities were investigated for two isolates, Lactobacillus plantarum F2 (Reference Accession No MT613638.1, 99.93% similarity rate) and Pediococcus pentosaceus 50 (Reference Accession No: NR_042058.1, similarity rate 97.33%)]. These two strains showed similar characteristics, such as the ability to grow at 50C, exert antimicrobial activity against some Gram positive and negative pathogens, and ferment glucose, arabinose, galactose and lactose. The results of this study demonstrate that the two bacteria exhibit differences in their DNA sequence at the base level of molecular identification. For example, in the alignment of the single nucleotide location that encodes the 16S region, one nucleotide was found determinant which is encoded by F2 and L. plantarum as "G", while number 50 isolate encoded "T" in the same region. Another physiological difference was the morphology of the isolates in selective medium (MRS containing TTC) which exhibit different properties in the production of lactic acid and diacetyl. Lactic acid bacteria are generally more difficult to classify than other microorganisms when using molecular identification techniques. Therefore, there is a need for different approaches to strengthen the identification results. Within the scope of these trials, simple tests, such as substrate and incubation temperature preference can be extremely helpful. The findings of this study, specific to the two isolates gathered under this perspective, shed light about lactic acid bacteria, starter culture and probiotic microorganisms in particular.