Project

Identification and Characterization of Anti-Microbial Compounds(s) and Adhesins Produced by Lactobacillus Fermentum (L.fermentum)

Multidrug resistant microbial infections are difficult to treat with common antibiotics, and incidences of infections caused by such strains are increasing day by day. Therefore, there is a constant and urgent need for alternative and effective anti-microbial agents for treatment of poultry, cattle and humans.

Identification of suitable anti-microbials based on or from probiotics is of vital importance because of increased ban on conventional drugs for animal usage. Moreover, human pathogens like S.enterica serovar Enteritidis is asymptomatic in poultry, which is a major source of human intestinal infections.

The L.fermentum, which the team has isolated, is active against several MDR pathogens in inhibiting the growth and adhesion of enteric pathogens. Identification of anti-microbial and adhesion proteins from L.fermentum may allow the team to develop alternative drugs against pathogenic microbes.

The aim of this study is to investigate the following;

• Identification, purification and biochemical characterisation of anti-microbial compounds secreted by L.fermentum.
• Identification and characterisation of L.fermentum surface proteins that can competitively exclude the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria.