Abstract
An antimicrobial substance produced by Lactobacillus amylovorus IMC-1 was found to show bactericidal action against both Pseudomonas fragi IFO 3458 and Bacillus subtilis IFO 3025, and to show bacteriostatic activity against Staphylococcus aureus IAM 1011.
The addition of the antimicrobial substance in the absence of EDTA did not cause changes in viable counts for Staph. aureus, while it was decreased in the presence of EDTA. It was demonstrated that EDTA enables the antimicrobial substance to permeate the cell wall for access to the target of its bactericidal action. The mortality rate of cells in the presence of the antimicrobial substance was severely decreased at low temperatures, presumably as a result of an increased ordering of the cell structure. Tween 80 stimulated the bactericidal effect of the antimicrobial substance, and it was dose-dependent.
