Enterococci are widespread bacteria forming the third largest genus among lactic acid bacteria. Some possess probiotic properties or they can produce beneficial proteinaceous antimicrobial substances called enterocins. On the other hand, some enterococci produce biogenic amines (BAs), so this study is focused on the sensitivity to enterocins of biogenic amine-producing faecal enterococci from ostriches and pheasants. Altogether, 60 enterococci isolated from faeces of ostriches and pheasants were tested for production of BAs. This target of the identified enterococci involved 46 strains selected from 140 ostriches and 17 from 60 pheasants involving the species Enterococcus hirae, E. faecium, E. faecalis, and E. mundtii. Although BAs histamine, cadaverine, putrescine, and tryptamine were not detected in the enterococci tested, in general high BA production by the tested enterococci was noted. The species E. hirae formed the majority of the enterococcal strains from ostrichs faeces (34 strains). High production of tyramine (TYM) was measured with an average amount of 958.16 ± 28.18 mg/ml. Among the enterococci from pheasants, the highest was production of TYM compared to phenylethylamine, spermidine, and spermine. Enterococci featured high BA production; however, they were sensitive to seven enterocins with inhibition activity ranging from 100 up to 25,600 AU/ml.

• Keywords
• Biogenic amines, Enterocins, Enterococci, Poultry, Production, Sensitivity,
• MeSH
• Biogenic Amines biosynthesis   MeSH
• Enterococcus classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Feces chemistry   microbiology   MeSH
• Phenethylamines metabolism   MeSH
• Galliformes microbiology   MeSH
• Bridged-Ring Compounds metabolism   MeSH
• Spermidine biosynthesis   MeSH
• Spermine biosynthesis   MeSH
• Struthioniformes microbiology   MeSH
• Tyramine biosynthesis   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Biogenic Amines MeSH
• enterocin MeSH Browser
• Phenethylamines MeSH
• Bridged-Ring Compounds MeSH
• Spermidine MeSH
• Spermine MeSH
• Tyramine MeSH

In ostriches and pheasants, there is still limited information relating to staphylococci and their properties. Biogenic amines (BAs) are nitrogenous low-molecular-weight substances with biological functions in animals, plants and microorganisms. In this study, we focused on BA production by targeted faecal staphylococci from ostriches and pheasants and their sensitivity to lantibiotic bacteriocin gallidermin. Gallidermin belongs in a group of polycyclic proteinaceous antimicrobial substances. Thirty-six faecal staphylococci (24 strains from 140 ostriches, 12 from 60 pheasants) comprising different species were tested. Staphylococci from ostriches and pheasants did not produce tryptamine-TRYP, putrescine-PUT, cadaverine-CAD or histamine-HIS. Production of tyramine-TYM, phenylethylamine-PEA was high or very high (100-1000 mg/L). Production of spermine-SPM and spermidine-SPD by staphylococci was very low or low although in the case of staphylococci from pheasants medium production of SPM was found. Because of the risk posed by BAs for consumers, the control of BA-producing bacteria is important from the points of view not only of safety assessment of food-producing animals but also of human health safety. The sensitivity to gallidermin in biogenic amine-producing staphylococci from ostriches and pheasants detected here is the most promising indication for further application of gallidermin for veterinary purposes. The novelty of our study lies in testing the ability of faecal staphylococci from ostriches and pheasants to produce BAs and in their treatment with gallidermin which has so far not been tested in this way.

• Keywords
• Biogenic amines, Gallidermin, Ostriches, Pheasants, Sensitivity, Staphylococci,
• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Bacteriocins pharmacology   MeSH
• Biogenic Amines metabolism   MeSH
• Feces microbiology   MeSH
• Galliformes microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Peptides pharmacology   MeSH
• Staphylococcus drug effects   isolation & purification   metabolism   MeSH
• Struthioniformes microbiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
• Bacteriocins MeSH
• Biogenic Amines MeSH
• gallidermin MeSH Browser
• Peptides MeSH

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to determine sensitivity of Enterococcus faecium strains from rabbit meat to enterocins. RESULTS: Twenty-five decarboxylase-positive strains (from rabbit meat) allotted to the species E. faecium by genotypization and by MALDI TOF MS spectrometry identification (evaluation score value range 2.104-2.359; in the range for highly probable species identification-score value 2.300-3.000 and secure probable species identification/probable species identification-2.000-2.299) were studied. Seventeen strains were gelatinase positive. Although they did not produce histamine (HIS), spermidine, and spermine, they produce at least one among seven tested biogenic amines (BAs) in small amounts (2-10 mg/L) or up to very high amounts (>1000 mg/L). Putrescine was produced by two strains. These decarboxylase-positive strains were sensitive to enterocins (Ents). All strains were sensitive to Ent 2019 and Ent 55 (inhibitory activity from 200 to 819 200 AU/mL). Twenty-two strains were inhibited by Ent A(P) and Ent 4231; 20 strains were sensitive to Ent M. CONCLUSION: Our results have spread the basic knowledge related to inhibitory spectrum of enterocins showing sensitivity of decarboxylase-positive strains to enterocins. Protective possibilities of enterocins in meat processing were also indicated.

• Keywords
• Decarboxylase, Enterocococci, enterocins, gelatinase, inhibition effect, rabbit meat,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH