Effect of curing conditions and Lactobacillus casei CRL705 on the hydrolysis of meat proteins

Aims:  The effect of the common curing conditions used during the manufacture of dry fermented sausage on the proteolytic activity of Lactobacillus casei CRL705 against meat proteins was investigated.
Methods and Results:  Hydrolysis of pork muscle sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins was evaluated by SDS-PAGE and reverse phase-HPLC analysis. Ascorbic acid exerted a stimulatory effect on both sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar protein breakdown by Lact. casei CRL705 with the release of hydrophilic peptides and free amino acids, while NaCl and NaNO₂ mainly stimulated myofibrillar degradation.
Conclusions:  Even when processing temperature (25°C) did not positively affect bacterial protein hydrolysis, the presence of curing salts accounted for a remarkable increase in the non-volatile components that constitute taste-active compounds that strongly influence the final flavour of the product.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  To predict the suitability of Lact. casei CRL705 and its proteolytic enzymes as a starter culture for the dry processing of dry fermented sausages.     

Salt-responsive outer membrane proteins of Vibrio anguillarum serotype O1 as revealed by comparative proteome analysis

Aims:  Vibrio anguillarum is a universal marine pathogen causing vibriosis. Vibrio anguillarum encounters different osmolarity conditions between seawater and hosts, and its outer membrane proteins (OMPs) play a crucial role in the adaptation to changes of the surroundings. In the present study, proteomic approaches were applied to investigate the salt-responsive OMPs of V. anguillarum .
Methods and Results:  Lower salinity (0·85% NaCl) is more suitable for growth, survival and swimming motility of the bacterium. Comparative two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) analysis reveals six differentially expressed protein spots among three different salinities, which were successfully identified as OmpU, maltoporin, flagellin B, Omp26La, Omp26La and OmpW respectively.
Conclusions:  OmpW and OmpU were highly expressed at 3·5% salinity, suggesting their role in the efficient efflux of NaCl. Maltoporin was downregulated in higher salinity, indicating that higher osmolarity inhibits carbohydrate transport and bacterial growth. Omp26La, the homologue of OmpV, functions as a salt-responsive protein in lower salinity.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing salt stress-responsive proteins of V. anguillarum using proteomic approaches. Our results provide a useful strategy for delineating the osmoregulatory mechanism of the marine pathogens.     

Metabolic priorities during starvation: enzyme sparing in liver and white muscle of Atlantic cod,Gadus morhua L

Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, respond to starvation first by mobilising hepatic lipids, then muscle and hepatic glycogen and finally muscle proteins. The dual role of proteins as functional elements and energetic reserves should lead to a temporal hierarchy of mobilisation where the nature of a function dictates its conservation during starvation. We examined (1) whether lysosomal and anti-oxidant enzymes in liver and white muscle are spared during prolonged starvation, (2) whether the responses of these enzymes in muscle vary longitudinally. Hepatic contents of lysosomal proteases decreased with starvation, whereas those of catalase (CAT) increased and lysosomal enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism and glutathione S-transferase (GST) did not change. In white muscle, starvation decreased the specific activity of lysosomal enzymes of carbohydrate degradation and doubled that of cathepsin D (CaD). The activity of anti-oxidant enzymes and acid phosphatase in muscle was unchanged with starvation. In white muscle neither lysosomal enzymes nor anti-oxidant enzymes varied significantly with sampling position. In cod muscle, antioxidant enzymes, CaD and acid phosphatase are spared during a period of starvation that decreases lysosomal enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism and decreases glycolytic enzyme activities. In cod liver, the anti-oxidant enzymes, CAT and GST, were also spared during starvation.     

Proteolysis during long‐term glucose starvation in Staphylococcus aureus COL

A combination of pulse‐chase experiments and 2‐D PAGE revealed that protein degradation appears to play a crucial role for the cell physiology of Staphylococcus aureus COL during extended periods of glucose starvation. The synthesis rate of virtually all cytosolic and radioactively labeled proteins from growing cells seemed dramatically reduced in the first 3.5 h of glucose starvation. The stability of proteins synthesized in growing cells was monitored by a pulse‐chase approach on a proteome wide scale. Especially, enzymes involved in nucleic acid and amino acid biosyntheses, energy metabolism and biosynthesis of cofactors were found rather rapidly degraded within the onset of the stationary phase, whereas the majority of glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes remained more stable. Furthermore, single enzymes of biosynthetic pathways were differentially degraded. A metabolite analysis revealed that glucose completely depleted from the medium in the transient phase, and amino acids such as alanine and glycine were taken up by the cells in the stationary phase. We suggest that vegetative proteins no longer required in non‐growing cells and thus no longer protected by integration into functional complexes were degraded. Proteolysis of putative non‐substrate‐bound or “unemployed” proteins appears to be a characteristic feature of S. aureus in order to access nutrients as an important survival strategy under starvation conditions.     

Characterization and antimicrobial spectrum of bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional Bulgarian dairy products

Aims:  To isolate bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with high wide spectrum antibacterial activity and to characterize their inhibitory peptides.
Method and Results:  Seven LAB strains [ Lactobacillus casei ssp. rhamnosus (PC5), Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus (BB18), Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (BCM5, BK15), Enterococcus faecium (MH3), Lactobacillus plantarum (BR12), Lactobacillus casei ssp. casei (BCZ2)], isolated from authentic Bulgarian dairy products were capable of producing bacteriocins, inhibiting the widest range of pathogenic bacteria. The bacteriocins were resistant to heating at 121°C for 15 min, stable at pH 2–10, sensitive to protease, insensitive to α-amylase and lipase. Two of bacteriocins produced by Lact. bulgaricus BB18 (bulgaricin BB18) and E. faecium MH3 (enterocin MH3) were purified and the molecular masses were determined. The N -terminal amino acid sequence of bulgaricin BB18 did not show strong homology to other known bacteriocins.
Conclusions:  Lactobacillus bulgaricus BB18 and E. faecium MH3 produce two novel bacteriocins highly similar to the pediocin-like nonlantibiotics.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  The two bacteriocins are potential antimicrobial agents and, in conjunction with their producers, may have use in applications to contribute a positive effect on the balance of intestinal microflora. Furthermore, bulgaricin BB18 strongly inhibits Helicobacter pylori .     

Altered protein expression of Streptococcus oralis cultured at low pH revealed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Streptococcus oralis is the predominant aciduric nonmutans streptococcus isolated from the human dentition, but the role of this organism in the initiation and progression of dental caries has yet to be established. To identify proteins that are differentially expressed by S. oralis growing under conditions of low pH, soluble cellular proteins extracted from bacteria grown in batch culture at pH 5.2 or 7.0 were analyzed by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. Thirty-nine proteins had altered expression at low pH; these were excised, digested with trypsin using an in-gel protocol, and further analyzed by peptide mass fingerprinting using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. The resulting fingerprints were compared with the genomic database for Streptococcus pneumoniae, an organism that is phylogenetically closely related to S. oralis, and putative functions for the majority of these proteins were determined on the basis of functional homology. Twenty-eight proteins were up-regulated following growth at pH 5.2; these included enzymes of the glycolytic pathway (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase), the polypeptide chains comprising ATP synthase, and proteins that are considered to play a role in the general stress response of bacteria, including the 60-kDa chaperone, Hsp33, and superoxide dismutase, and three distinct ABC transporters. These data identify, for the first time, gene products that may be important in the survival and proliferation of nonmutans aciduric S. oralis under conditions of low pH that are likely to be encountered by this organism in vivo.     

Bioenergetic consequences of lactose starvation for continuously cultured Streptococcus cremoris.

Streptococcus cremoris cells that had been grown in a chemostat were starved for lactose. The viability of the culture remained essentially constant in the first hours of starvation and subsequently declined logarithmically. The viability pattern during starvation varied with the previously imposed growth rates. The death rates were 0.029, 0.076, and 0.298 h-1 for cells grown at dilution rates of 0.07, 0.11 and 0.38 h-1, respectively. The proton motive force and the pools of energy-rich phosphorylated intermediates in cells grown at a dilution rate of 0.10 h-1 fell to zero within 2 h of starvation. The culture, however, remained fully viable for at least 20 h, indicating that these energy-rich intermediates are not crucial for survival during long-term lactose starvation. Upon starvation, the intracellular pools of several amino acids depleted with the proton motive force, while large concentration gradients of the amino acids alanine, glycine, aspartate, and glutamate were retained for several hours. A quantitative analysis of the amino acids released indicated that nonspecific protein degradation was not a major cause of the loss in viability. The response of the energy metabolism of starved S. cremoris cells upon refeeding with lactose was monitored. Upon lactose starvation, the glycolytic activity and the rate of proton motive force generation decreased rapidly but the steady-state level of the proton motive force decreased significantly only after several hours. The decreasing steady-state level of the proton motive force and consequently the capacity to accumulate amino acids after the addition of lactose correlated well with the loss of viability. The response of the energy metabolism of starved S. cremoris cells upon refeeding with lactose was monitored. Upon lactose starvation, the glycolytic activity and the rate of proton motive force generation decreased rapidly but the steady-state level of the proton motive force decreased significantly only after several hours. The decreasing steady-state level of the proton motive force and consequently the capacity to accumulate amino acids after the addition of lactose correlated well with the loss of viability. It is concluded that a regulatory loss of glycolytic capacity has pivotal role in the survival of S. cremoris under the conditions used.     

Rapid detection of lactobacillus and yeast concentrations using a particle size distribution analyser

Aims:  To see the possibility of particle size distribution analyser (PSDA) in detecting concentration of lactobacillus contaminants in yeast fermentation.
Methods and Results:  A PSDA was used to rapidly determine the size and concentration of lactobacillus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Data showed that the aerodynamic diameters of Lactobacillus casei and S. cerevisiae cells were around 0·63 and 2·9 μm, respectively, with both cultures showing a linear relationship between cell density and particle count on a size distribution curve of PSDA. In addition, Lactobacillus fermentum showed high similarity in bacterial size distribution and particle count numbers with L. casei . The PSDA also rapidly detected (within 1 min) the cell concentrations of S. cerevisiae and L. casei in a mixed sample with different concentration ratios with 10⁷–10⁹ cells ml⁻¹ of detection range.
Conclusions:  PSDA was demonstrated to be useful for the rapid detection of lactobacillus and S. cerevisiae concentrations.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This is the first report concerning PSDA to detect the concentration of bacteria and yeast. This method can be useful in the actual field during ethanol fermentation because of relatively easy handling and rapid detection.     

Modification of azo dyes by lactic acid bacteria

Aim:  The ability of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus paracasei to modify the azo dye, tartrazine, was recently documented as the result of the investigation on red coloured spoilage in acidified cucumbers. Fourteen other lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were screened for their capability to modify the food colouring tartrazine and other azo dyes of relevance for the textile industry.
Methods and Results:  Most LAB modified tartrazine under anaerobic conditions, but not under aerobic conditions in modified chemically defined media. Microbial growth was not affected by the presence of the azo dyes in the culture medium. The product of the tartrazine modification by LAB was identified as a molecule 111 daltons larger than its precursor by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This product had a purple colour under aerobic conditions and was colourless under anaerobic conditions. It absorbed light at 361 and 553 nm.
Conclusion:  LAB are capable of anabolizing azo dyes only under anaerobic conditions.
Impact and Significance of the Study:  Although micro-organisms capable of reducing the azo bond on multiple dyes have been known for decades, this is the first report of anabolism of azo dyes by food related micro-organisms, such as LAB.     

Altered Protein Expression of Streptococcus oralis Cultured at Low pH Revealed by Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis

Streptococcus oralis is the predominant aciduric nonmutans streptococcus isolated from the human dentition, but the role of this organism in the initiation and progression of dental caries has yet to be established. To identify proteins that are differentially expressed by S. oralis growing under conditions of low pH, soluble cellular proteins extracted from bacteria grown in batch culture at pH 5.2 or 7.0 were analyzed by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. Thirty-nine proteins had altered expression at low pH; these were excised, digested with trypsin using an in-gel protocol, and further analyzed by peptide mass fingerprinting using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. The resulting fingerprints were compared with the genomic database for Streptococcus pneumoniae, an organism that is phylogenetically closely related to S. oralis, and putative functions for the majority of these proteins were determined on the basis of functional homology. Twenty-eight proteins were up-regulated following growth at pH 5.2; these included enzymes of the glycolytic pathway (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase), the polypeptide chains comprising ATP synthase, and proteins that are considered to play a role in the general stress response of bacteria, including the 60-kDa chaperone, Hsp33, and superoxide dismutase, and three distinct ABC transporters. These data identify, for the first time, gene products that may be important in the survival and proliferation of nonmutans aciduric S. oralis under conditions of low pH that are likely to be encountered by this organism in vivo.     

Dynamics of bacterial community in solid-state fermented feed revealed by 16S rRNA

Aims:  The aim of the present study was to monitor the changes in the composition of microbiota in solid-state fermented feed and to evaluate their biosafety.
Methods and Results:  In the solid-state fermentation, six probiotic bacteria strains were used as inoculum and soybean meal were used as carbohydrate source. At 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 days, samples were collected for further analysis. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis showed that Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bacillus licheniformis were always present throughout the fermentation. Bifidobacterium bifidum , Enterococcus faecalis and Lactobacillus acidophilum were dominant throughout the entire fermentation as monitored by Lactobacillus -specific PCR–DGGE. Probiotics supplementation could reduce the levels of the pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) by species-specific real-time PCR. And Salmonella spp. was not detected throughout the entire fermentation.
Conclusions:  Probiotics supplemented are always dominant throughout the whole period of solid-state fermentation and effective in preventing the growth of pathogens.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Based on the results, the high quality, stable solid-state fermented feed could be produced and applied in the pigs to improve the animal performances.     

金属蛋白质组学研究锌离子匮乏对肺炎链球菌的影响

【目的】研究锌离子缺乏对肺炎链球菌的影响,找到其适应性生长机制。【方法】以肺炎链球菌为模型,利用加锌和不加锌的培养基对细菌进行培养,收集细胞蛋白,采用双向凝胶电泳,结合金属亲和层析和质谱技术鉴定差异表达蛋白,进而通过生物信息学分析蛋白质相互关系,从中找到细菌适应锌离子匮乏条件的关键代谢通路和蛋白。【结果】测定了在限制培养条件下肺炎链球菌的最适生长浓度,建立了锌离子调控蛋白双向凝胶电泳图谱,鉴定到了96个差异表达蛋白斑点,共67个差异蛋白,其中32个表达下调,35个表达上调,锌离子调控蛋白的作用可能主要体现在糖代谢、核酸代谢、氧化还原作用、辅助蛋白质翻译、合成及折叠等方面。建立了锌结合蛋白的差异表达图谱,鉴定到了10个差异表达蛋白斑点,共7个差异蛋白,其中1个表达下调,6个表达上调。锌离子结合蛋白的作用可能主要体现在应对压力、蛋白质折叠和转运、氨基酸代谢等方面。【结论】肺炎链球菌主要通过调控碳水化合物代谢和核酸代谢等多个代谢通路来应对宿主锌金属离子匮乏的环境,从而使自身能够存活并对宿主形成感染。本研究为揭示细菌在宿主环境,特别是金属离子匮乏条件下的适应性生长机制提供理论基础。     

Differential analysis of protein expression of Bifidobacterium grown on different carbohydrates

We observed recently that colonic fermentation of lactose might be a major factor in the pathophysiology of lactose intolerance. Proteomic techniques could be helpful in interpreting the metabolic pathways of lactose fermentation. The objective of this study was to explore proteomic methodologies for studying bacterial lactose metabolism that can be used to detect and identify proteins associated with the onset of intolerance symptoms. Differential expression of cytoplasmic proteins of Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium breve and Bifidobacterium longum grown on different carbohydrates (lactose, glucose, galactose) was analyzed with surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization-time of flight (SELDI-TOF) MS and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). After fractionation by SDS-PAGE, differentially-expressed proteins were identified with LC-MS/MS. The three strains grown on the same carbohydrate or the same strain grown on glucose or lactose showed differences in SELDI-TOF MS protein profiles. Differences in protein expression were observed in B. breve grown on glucose, galactose or lactose as analyzed with SDS-PAGE. With LC-MS/MS, proteins from Bifidobacterium were identified, which included enzymes for metabolism of lactose, glucose and galactose. In conclusion, the applied techniques can discern differences in protein expression of bacteria metabolizing different carbohydrates. These techniques are promising in studying metabolism of lactose and other substrates in a complex bacterial ecosystem such as the colonic microbiota.     

Cross-contamination in the kitchen: effect of hygiene measures

Aims:  To determine the effect of hygiene measures on cross-contamination of Campylobacter jejuni at home and to select a safe tracer organism for C. jejuni.
Methods and Results:  Comparative tests were conducted with nonpathogenic Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus casei and L. casei was chosen as the safe tracer organism. Salads containing chicken breast fillet contaminated with a known number of C. jejuni and L. casei were prepared according to different cross-contamination scenarios and contamination levels of salads were determined. Cross-contamination could be strongly reduced when cleaning cutting board and cutlery with hot water (68°C), but generally was not prevented using consumer-style cleaning methods for hands and cutting board.
Conclusions:  Dish-washing does not sufficiently prevent cross-contamination, thus different cutting boards for raw meat and other ingredients should be used and meat–hand contact should be avoided or hands should be thoroughly cleaned with soap. Lactobacillus casei can be used as a safe tracer organism for C. jejuni in consumer observational studies.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Cross-contamination plays an important role in the transmission of food-borne illness, especially for C. jejuni . This study delivers suitable data to quantitatively assess the risk of campylobacteriosis caused by cross-contamination and it shows the effect of different preventive hygiene measures.     

Effects of acute starvation on carbohydrate metabolism in rat salivary glands.

1. Effects of acute starvation on enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism were determined in rat submandibular and parotid glands. 2. Activities of glycolytic enzymes were high in submandibular gland, but those of pentose phosphate pathway and glycogen metabolism were high in parotid gland. 3. Enzyme activities were lowered by acute starvation. Refeeding the rats with solid diet restored the enzyme activities, but with liquid diet, only partial recoveries were found in submandibular gland.     

Characterization of non-starter lactic acid bacteria from Italian ewe cheeses based on phenotypic, genotypic, and cell wall protein analyses

Non-starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) were isolated from 12 Italian ewe cheeses representing six different types of cheese, which in several cases were produced by different manufacturers. A total of 400 presumptive Lactobacillus isolates were obtained, and 123 isolates and 10 type strains were subjected to phenotypic, genetic, and cell wall protein characterization analyses. Phenotypically, the cheese isolates included 32% Lactobacillus plantarum isolates, 15% L. brevis isolates, 12% L. paracasei subsp. paracasei isolates, 9% L. curvatus isolates, 6% L. fermentum isolates, 6% L. casei subsp. casei isolates, 5% L. pentosus isolates, 3% L. casei subsp. pseudoplantarum isolates, and 1% L. rhamnosus isolates. Eleven percent of the isolates were not phenotypically identified. Although a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis based on three primers and clustering by the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA) was useful for partially differentiating the 10 type strains, it did not provide a species-specific DNA band or a combination of bands which permitted complete separation of all the species considered. In contrast, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis cell wall protein profiles clustered by UPGMA were species specific and resolved the NSLAB. The only exceptions were isolates phenotypically identified as L. plantarum and L. pentosus or as L. casei subsp. casei and L. paracasei subsp. paracasei, which were grouped together. Based on protein profiles, Italian ewe cheeses frequently contained four different species and 3 to 16 strains. In general, the cheeses produced from raw ewe milk contained a larger number of more diverse strains than the cheeses produced from pasteurized milk. The same cheese produced in different factories contained different species, as well as strains that belonged to the same species but grouped in different RAPD clusters.     

Production of transglutaminase by Streptomyces isolates in solid-state fermentation

Aims:  To screen Streptomyces isolates for transglutaminase (TGase) production in solid-state fermentation (SSF) on various substrates.
Methods and Results:  Streptomyces mobaraensis NRRL B-3729, Streptomyces paucisporogenes ATCC 12596 and Streptomyces platensis NRRL 2364 strains were screened for extracellular TGase production in SSF on different substrates. High-protein-content beans, peas and lentils proved to be the best substrates. Good TGase production was obtained on liver kidney beans and green mung beans in a 4- to 6-day SSF. Temperature optima of the enzymes varied between 45 to 50°C. Molecular weight determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE) indicated similar size (∼37 kDa) for all three enzymes. TGase was the dominating protein band on SDS PAGE for two Streptomyces strains in SSF extracts. Other enzymes were present in smaller quantities.
Conclusions:  Streptomyces mobaraensis NRRL B-3729, S. paucisporogenes ATCC 12596 and S. platensis NRRL 2364 strains were successfully propagated under SSF conditions on crushed/milled liver kidney bean and green mung bean to obtain good level of TGase.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Owing to much reduced production cost and direct applicability, SSF TGase without downstream processing (cheap in situ enzyme, crude enzyme) may be an excellent candidate for some nonfood applications.     

Differential Proteome Analysis: Two-Dimensional Nano-LC/MS of E. Coli Proteome Grown on Different Carbon Sources

Different sugars provided to bacteria as single sources of carbon and energy require the induction of different metabolic enzymes, transporters, and uptake systems in order to support growth and cell survival. Using a nano–high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (nano-HPLC/MS) system we constructed comprehensive peptide maps for Escherichia coli grown with either lactose or glucose in minimal medium. Digested bacterial samples were separated in a two-dimensional manner by combining strong cation exchange (SCX) and reversed-phased (RP) chromatography. Peptides were eluted online to an iontrap MS instrument and further analyzed by tandem MS fragmentation. Bacterial proteins originating from the differing samples were analyzed by searching the Swiss Prot Database. Data are presented that show the ability to detect several hundred different proteins significantly expressed under both conditions. Several enzymes and binding proteins related to the lactose metabolism were only identified in the sample grown with this carbon source.     

Biological control of grey mould in strawberry fruits by halophilic bacteria

Aims:  Grey mould caused by Botrytis cinerea is an economically important disease of strawberries in Tunisia and worldwide. The aim of this study was to select effective halophilic bacteria from hypersaline ecosystems and evaluate the abilities of antifungal bacteria to secrete extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, anti- Botrytis metabolites and volatiles.
Methods and Results:  Grey mould was reduced in strawberry fruits treated with halophilic antagonists and artificially inoculated with B. cinerea . Thirty strains (20·2%) were active against the pathogen and reduced the percentage of fruits infected after 3 days of storage at 20°C, from 50% to 91·66%. The antagonists were characterized by phenotypic tests and 16S rDNA sequencing. They were identified as belonging to one of the species: Virgibacillus marismortui , B. subtilis , B. pumilus , B. licheniformis , Terribacillus halophilus , Halomonas elongata , Planococcus rifietoensis , Staphylococcus equorum and Staphylococcus sp. The effective isolates were tested for antifungal secondary metabolites.
Conclusions:  Moderately halophilic bacteria may be useful in biological control against this pathogen during postharvest storage of strawberries.
Significance and Impact of the study:  The use of such bacteria may constitute an important alternative to synthetic fungicides. These moderate halophiles can be exploited in commercial production and application of the effective strains under storage and greenhouse conditions.