Effects of two Weissella viridescens strains on Listeria monocytogenes growth at different initial inoculum proportions

Abstract

This study analyzed the effect of initial inoculum proportions on Listeria monocytogenes growth when cocultured with two different Weissella viridescens strains. W. viridescens C1 had a strong antimicrobial effect on L. monocytogenes which may be due to the acid, H2O2 and proteinaceous nature of its antimicrobial compounds. W. viridescens C2 had no antimicrobial properties. In liquid coculture, W. viridescens C1 inhibited L. monocytogenes growth, while W. viridescens C2 did not. Thus, L. monocytogenes showed the same growth in the W. viridescens C2 coculture as in the monoculture. Coculturing with W. viridescens at different initial inoculum proportions in laboratory media had no effect on L. monocytogenes growth. This study may help to characterize the interactions between L. monocytogenes and W. viridescens.

Keywords

• Listeria monocytogenes
• Weissella viridescens
• growth
• coculture
• initial inoculum proportions