Enterocin CRL35 Inhibits Listeria monocytogenes in a Murine Model

SALVUCCI, E.; SAAVEDRA, L.; HEBERT, E.M.; HARO, C.; SESMA, F.

FOODBORNE PATHOGENS AND DISEASE

MARY ANN LIEBERT INC

Lugar: NY; Año: 2012 vol. 9 p. 68 - 74

1535-3141

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen causative of opportunistic infections. Listeriosis is associated to severe infections in pregnant women causing abortion or birth of an infant with neonatal listeriosis. An alternative to antibiotics are safe novel peptides like bacteriocins producing by Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB). Enterocin CRL35, a subclass IIa bacteriocin with antilisterial activity produced by Enterococcus mundtii CRL35 isolated from an artisanal cheese from Argentina.A murine model of pregnancy-associated listeriosis was performed using Balb/c mice. Listeria monocytogenes FBUNT, isolated from food, translocates to liver and spleen but it was not found in fetuses. The producer strain Enterococcus mundtii CRL35 and its bacteriocin were evaluated for the treatment and prevention of listeriosis in this model.E. mundtii CRL35 has shown a slight inhibition in the counts of Listeria in the invasive organs. The administration of the purified bacteriocin has shown a better effect in the inhibition of translocation of the pathogen than the use of the producer strain reducing significantly the translocation to organs.The Listeria infection caused an increase in total leukocyte, with values in PMN and lymphocytes significant higher than control group. Treatments with enterocin CRL35 and E. mundtii CRL35 during one or three consecutive days decreased the counts at levels of control. Enterocin CRL35 is a safe antimicrobial that could reduce the risk of listeriosis in food and also prevent the infection even at gastrointestinal level during pregnancy.