{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/43364"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/43364","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Identification and Optimization of the Antagonistic Potential of Native Spinach Microbiota towards Escherichia coli O157:H7","abstract":"Leafy greens such as spinach have been the object of several recent food-borne pathogen outbreaks. The purpose of this study was to isolate bacteria spinach epiphytic bacteria that inhibit growth of E. coli O157:H7, which we describe as antagonism. The mechanism of antagonism was investigated and we attempted to improve the antagonistic potential in vitro and on spinach leaves when cellobiose, a carbon source utilized by the antagonists but not E. coli O157:H7, was added. There were larger culturable populations of bacteria on the leaves of savoyed cultivars compared to flat. From the isolated colonies, 47 displayed antagonism towards E.coli O157:H7, and were identified as members of 11 different genera and sixteen species. A representative isolate from each species was evaluated for three possible mechanisms of antagonism: acid production, secretion of an inhibitory compounds or secreted protease. The majority (14/16) produced at least a moderate level of acid. Two of these strains, Paenibacillus polymyxa and Pseudomonas espejiana, were found to secrete a non- protease antagonistic compound. These antagonists varied in their reduction of E.coli O157:H7 numbers in vitro, but all significantly reduced numbers in 48 hours of co-culturing in nutrient rich media. Five antagonists resulted in a significant reduction in E.coli O157:H7 populations when co-cultured on spinach leaves. Application of cellobiose did not improve the amount of antagonism in vitro or on the leaf surface after 24 hours.","abstract_html":"Leafy greens such as spinach have been the object of several recent food-borne pathogen outbreaks. The purpose of this study was to isolate bacteria spinach epiphytic bacteria that inhibit growth of E. coli O157:H7, which we describe as antagonism. The mechanism of antagonism was investigated and we attempted to improve the antagonistic potential in vitro and on spinach leaves when cellobiose, a carbon source utilized by the antagonists but not E. coli O157:H7, was added. There were larger culturable populations of bacteria on the leaves of savoyed cultivars compared to flat. From the isolated colonies, 47 displayed antagonism towards E.coli O157:H7, and were identified as members of 11 different genera and sixteen species. A representative isolate from each species was evaluated for three possible mechanisms of antagonism: acid production, secretion of an inhibitory compounds or secreted protease. The majority (14/16) produced at least a moderate level of acid. Two of these strains, Paenibacillus polymyxa and Pseudomonas espejiana, were found to secrete a non- protease antagonistic compound. These antagonists varied in their reduction of E.coli O157:H7 numbers in vitro, but all significantly reduced numbers in 48 hours of co-culturing in nutrient rich media. Five antagonists resulted in a significant reduction in E.coli O157:H7 populations when co-cultured on spinach leaves. Application of cellobiose did not improve the amount of antagonism in vitro or on the leaf surface after 24 hours.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Tydings, Heather Anne"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Food Science and Technology","degree_department":"Food Science and Technology","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Ponder, Monica A."],"committee_members":["Boyer, Renee R.","Falkinham, Joseph O. III"],"year":2010,"date_issued":"2010-06-03","date_published":"2010-06-03","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:56Z","subjects":["epiphytic bacteria","spinach","microbial diversity","bacterial interaction"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["etd-06172010-112221"],"render_values":[{"text":"etd-06172010-112221","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/43364","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Ponder, Monica A."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Boyer, Renee R.","Falkinham, Joseph O. 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The purpose of this study was to isolate bacteria spinach epiphytic bacteria that inhibit growth of E. coli O157:H7, which we describe as antagonism. The mechanism of antagonism was investigated and we attempted to improve the antagonistic potential in vitro and on spinach leaves when cellobiose, a carbon source utilized by the antagonists but not E. coli O157:H7, was added. There were larger culturable populations of bacteria on the leaves of savoyed cultivars compared to flat. From the isolated colonies, 47 displayed antagonism towards E.coli O157:H7, and were identified as members of 11 different genera and sixteen species. A representative isolate from each species was evaluated for three possible mechanisms of antagonism: acid production, secretion of an inhibitory compounds or secreted protease. The majority (14/16) produced at least a moderate level of acid. Two of these strains, Paenibacillus polymyxa and Pseudomonas espejiana, were found to secrete a non- protease antagonistic compound. These antagonists varied in their reduction of E.coli O157:H7 numbers in vitro, but all significantly reduced numbers in 48 hours of co-culturing in nutrient rich media. Five antagonists resulted in a significant reduction in E.coli O157:H7 populations when co-cultured on spinach leaves. Application of cellobiose did not improve the amount of antagonism in vitro or on the leaf surface after 24 hours."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Identification and Optimization of the Antagonistic Potential of Native Spinach Microbiota towards Escherichia coli O157:H7"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Ponder, Monica A."],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Boyer, Renee R.","Falkinham, Joseph O. 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From the isolated colonies, 47 displayed antagonism towards E.coli O157:H7, and were identified as members of 11 different genera and sixteen species. A representative isolate from each species was evaluated for three possible mechanisms of antagonism: acid production, secretion of an inhibitory compounds or secreted protease. The majority (14/16) produced at least a moderate level of acid. Two of these strains, Paenibacillus polymyxa and Pseudomonas espejiana, were found to secrete a non- protease antagonistic compound. These antagonists varied in their reduction of E.coli O157:H7 numbers in vitro, but all significantly reduced numbers in 48 hours of co-culturing in nutrient rich media. Five antagonists resulted in a significant reduction in E.coli O157:H7 populations when co-cultured on spinach leaves. Application of cellobiose did not improve the amount of antagonism in vitro or on the leaf surface after 24 hours."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:identifier.other":["etd-06172010-112221"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/43364"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["epiphytic bacteria","spinach","microbial diversity","bacterial interaction"],"dc:title":["Identification and Optimization of the Antagonistic Potential of Native Spinach Microbiota towards Escherichia coli O157:H7"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Food Science and Technology"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:56Z"}