This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Alakomi, H.-L.
Right arrow Articles by Helander, I. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Alakomi, H.-L.
Right arrow Articles by Helander, I. M.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Alakomi, H.-L.
Right arrow Articles by Helander, I. M.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2000, p. 2001-2005, Vol. 66, No. 5
0099-2240/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Lactic Acid Permeabilizes Gram-Negative Bacteria by Disrupting the Outer Membrane

H.-L. Alakomi, E. Skyttä, M. Saarela, T. Mattila-Sandholm, K. Latva-Kala, and I. M. Helander*

VTT Biotechnology, FIN-02044 VTT, Espoo, Finland

Received 5 October 1999/Accepted 17 January 2000

The effect of lactic acid on the outer membrane permeability of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was studied utilizing a fluorescent-probe uptake assay and sensitization to bacteriolysis. For control purposes, similar assays were performed with EDTA (a permeabilizer acting by chelation) and with hydrochloric acid, the latter at pH values corresponding to those yielded by lactic acid, and also in the presence of KCN. Already 5 mM (pH 4.0) lactic acid caused prominent permeabilization in each species, the effect in the fluorescence assay being stronger than that of EDTA or HCl. Similar results were obtained in the presence of KCN, except for P. aeruginosa, for which an increase in the effect of HCl was observed in the presence of KCN. The permeabilization by lactic and hydrochloric acid was partly abolished by MgCl2. Lactic acid sensitized E. coli and serovar Typhimurium to the lytic action of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) more efficiently than did HCl, whereas both acids sensitized P. aeruginosa to SDS and to Triton X-100. P. aeruginosa was effectively sensitized to lysozyme by lactic acid and by HCl. Considerable proportions of lipopolysaccharide were liberated from serovar Typhimurium by these acids; analysis of liberated material by electrophoresis and by fatty acid analysis showed that lactic acid was more active than EDTA or HCl in liberating lipopolysaccharide from the outer membrane. Thus, lactic acid, in addition to its antimicrobial property due to the lowering of the pH, also functions as a permeabilizer of the gram-negative bacterial outer membrane and may act as a potentiator of the effects of other antimicrobial substances.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: VTT Biotechnology, Tietotie 2, FIN-02044 VTT, Espoo, Finland. Phone: 358-9-456 4452. Fax: 358-9-455 2103. E-mail: ilkka.helander{at}vtt.fi.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2000, p. 2001-2005, Vol. 66, No. 5
0099-2240/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Sekirov, I., Finlay, B. B. (2009). The role of the intestinal microbiota in enteric infection. J. Physiol. 587: 4159-4167 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Chapman, B., Ross, T. (2009). Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica Are Protected against Acetic Acid, but Not Hydrochloric Acid, by Hypertonicity. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 3605-3610 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Lebeer, S., Vanderleyden, J., De Keersmaecker, S. C. J. (2008). Genes and Molecules of Lactobacilli Supporting Probiotic Action. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 72: 728-764 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Vicente, J., Higgins, S., Bielke, L., Tellez, G., Donoghue, D., Donoghue, A., Hargis, B. (2007). Effect of Probiotic Culture Candidates on Salmonella Prevalence in Commercial Turkey Houses. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 16: 471-476 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Alakomi, H.-L., Paananen, A., Suihko, M.-L., Helander, I. M., Saarela, M. (2006). Weakening effect of cell permeabilizers on gram-negative bacteria causing biodeterioration.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 4695-4703 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Fayol-Messaoudi, D., Berger, C. N., Coconnier-Polter, M.-H., Lievin-Le Moal, V., Servin, A. L. (2005). pH-, Lactic Acid-, and Non-Lactic Acid-Dependent Activities of Probiotic Lactobacilli against Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 6008-6013 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Coconnier-Polter, M.-H., Lievin-Le Moal, V., Servin, A. L. (2005). A Lactobacillus acidophilus Strain of Human Gastrointestinal Microbiota Origin Elicits Killing of Enterovirulent Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium by Triggering Lethal Bacterial Membrane Damage. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 6115-6120 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Purvis, J. E., Yomano, L. P., Ingram, L. O. (2005). Enhanced Trehalose Production Improves Growth of Escherichia coli under Osmotic Stress. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 3761-3769 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Large, T. M., Walk, S. T., Whittam, T. S. (2005). Variation in Acid Resistance among Shiga Toxin-Producing Clones of Pathogenic Escherichia coli. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 2493-2500 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Naim, F., Messier, S., Saucier, L., Piette, G. (2004). Postprocessing In Vitro Digestion Challenge To Evaluate Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Fermented Dry Sausages. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 6637-6642 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Verluyten, J., Leroy, F., de Vuyst, L. (2004). Effects of Different Spices Used in Production of Fermented Sausages on Growth of and Curvacin A Production by Lactobacillus curvatus LTH 1174. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 4807-4813 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Drakes, M., Blanchard, T., Czinn, S. (2004). Bacterial Probiotic Modulation of Dendritic Cells. Infect. Immun. 72: 3299-3309 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sgouras, D., Maragkoudakis, P., Petraki, K., Martinez-Gonzalez, B., Eriotou, E., Michopoulos, S., Kalantzopoulos, G., Tsakalidou, E., Mentis, A. (2004). In Vitro and In Vivo Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori by Lactobacillus casei Strain Shirota. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 518-526 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Alakomi, H.-L., Saarela, M., Helander, I. M. (2003). Effect of EDTA on Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium involves a component not assignable to lipopolysaccharide release. Microbiology 149: 2015-2021 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Villamil, L., Tafalla, C., Figueras, A., Novoa, B. (2002). Evaluation of Immunomodulatory Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). CVI 9: 1318-1323 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»