VIRULENCE FACTORS, ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE, AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ENTEROCOCCUS SPP. ISOLATED FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES IN ALGERIA

Abstract

This study aimed to isolate and identify different Enterococcus spp. from diverse sources including dromedary raw milk, rhizospheric soil and natural saline water samples and to determine their antimicrobial activities and safety aspects.  From these sources, distinct strains of E. faecium, E. durans, E. hirae, and E. gallinarum species were detected. No virulence factors were observed for six Enterococcus strains while none of the tested Enterococci harboured the genes encoding cytolysin and aggregation substance. All tested strains showed a high sensitivity to many antibiotics, particularly vancomycin, and exhibited a remarkable antagonist activity toward Salmonella typhimurium, Fusarium graminearum and Penicillium expansum. PCR testing of enterocins revealed the co-presence of entA and entB among all tested Enterococci. No hemolytic reaction was also detected in Enterococci isolates, except for six strains. Based on these findings, potential candidates for use as biocontrol agents or probiotic starters were selected for further studies.