H.I. Atta1*, A. Gimba1, T. Bamgbose1,2

1Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
2Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR-NIMR), Sector 8,
Dwarka, New Delhi, India

(Manuscript received 15 May 2020; accepted for publication 9 October 2020)

Abstract. The production of bacteriocins by lactic acid bacteria affords them the ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria; they are particularly important in the biocontrol of human and plant pathogens. Lactic acid bacteria have been frequently isolated from fermented foods due to the high acidity these foods contain. In this study, lactic acid bacteria were isolated from garri, a popular Nigerian staple food, which is fermented from cassava, and their antagonistic activity against clinical and environmental isolates of Escherichia coli was determined. The species of Lactobacillus isolated include: Lactobacillus plantarum (50%), Lactobacillus fermentum (20%), Lactobacillus acidophilus (20%), and Lactobacillus salivarius (10%). Growth inhibition of the strains of E.coli was observed in Lactobacillus plantarum that inhibited the growth of both. The clinical and environmental isolates of E. coli were inhibited by Lactobacillus plantarum, while Lactobacillus acidophilus showed activity against only the clinical isolate. The greatest zone of inhibition against the strains of E. coli was recorded by Lactobacillus acidophilus (22.7±1.53 mm). The bacteriocins produced by Lactobacillus species have a good potential in the biocontrol of pathogens, and should be the focus of further studies on antibiotic resistant bacteria.