Inhibitory effect of cell-free supernatants of <i>Pedicoccous acidilactici</i> and <i>Latilactobacillus sakei/Staphylococcus xylosus</i> in combination with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid against <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 strains.

The current research was carried out to evaluate <i>in vitro</i> anti-microbial properties of the cell-free supernatants (CFSs) derived from <i>Pediococcus acidilactici</i> (PA) and <i>Latilactobacillus sakei/ Staphylococcus xylosus</i> (LS) against <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 American Type Culture Collection strains (35150, 43894, and 43985). For this purpose, the diameters of zone of inhibition of the CFSs against <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 strains were measured. In addition, a time-kill assay was conducted to determine the inhibitory effect of the CFSs alone or in combination with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) during incubation at 37.00 ˚C for 24 hr. In the time-kill assay, <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 was subjected to three concentrations of CFSs (1.00, 5.00, and 10.00%) and EDTA (0.02 M) in tryptic soy broth and the <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 count was determined at 0, 6, and 24 hr intervals. The CFS of LS had a lower pH and higher titratable acidity compared to the PA. The CFS of LS displayed higher zones of inhibition than the CFS of PA against <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 American Type Culture Collection 35150 and 43894 strains. The concentrations of 5.00 and 10.00% CFSs in combination with EDTA provided a 5.00 log₁₀ decline in <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 count over a 24-hr period. The results of this study indicated that the combination of CFSs (5.00 and 10.00%) and EDTA (0.02 M) exhibited an enhanced anti-bacterial effect against <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 strains, which are substantial foodborne pathogenic bacteria.