Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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Safety Assessment of Commercial Enterococcus Probiotics in Korea

  • Lee, Ki-Eun (Culture Collection of Antimicrobial Resistant Microbes, Department of Biology, Seoul Women's University) ;
  • Lee, Min-Young (Culture Collection of Antimicrobial Resistant Microbes, Department of Biology, Seoul Women's University) ;
  • Lee, Yeon-Hee (Culture Collection of Antimicrobial Resistant Microbes, Department of Biology, Seoul Women's University)
  • Published : 2008.05.31
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Abstract

There have been concerns about possible pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance in Enterococcus, which constitute more than 50% of probiotics in the worldwide market. In this study, Enterococcus in sixteen products manufactured by ten different companies was tested for the presence of six virulence genes and two vancomycin resistance genes. Results in this study showed the safety of Enterococcus on the Korean market and the importance of screening vanA, vanE, agg, cylA, esp, and gelE. Pulse-field gel electrophoresis showed that the sixteen isolates tested in this study are originated from three strains.

Keywords

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