Bacteriocin activity and probiotic activity of Aeromonas media

SUMMARY Three strains of Aeromonas media (161, A164 and A199) were shown to be active in‐vitro producers of bacteriocin‐like inhibitory substances (BLIS). For example, the producer strain, Aer. media A199, displayed antagonistic activity against all strains tested of Aer. caviae, Aer. hydrophila, Aer. salmonicida, Aer. veronii var. sobria, Listonella anguillarum, Photobacterium damsella , eight species of Vibrio and Yersinia ruckeri. Because of this wide‐ranging activity against fish/shellfish pathogens, A199 was chosen for the probiotic work. By contrast, however, the BLIS produced by A199 did not inhibit the growth of Enterococcus seriolicida. The aim of the project was to ascertain whether or not the activity observed in vitro could be repeated in vivo. The ability of BLIS‐producing strain A199 to act as a probiotic was assessed on the host animal, Crassostrea gigas , by testing whether or not strain A199 could prevent death of the oyster larvae when challenged with V. tubiashit. Whereas larvae, challenged with the Vibrio , died within 5 days, the presence of both the pathogen and the probiotic strain, together, did not affect the viability of the larvae over the same time period; the viability of larvae challenged with A199 alone was also unaffected when compared with the viability of unchallenged larvae (controls). These findings have important, economic implications for those engaged in the oyster producing industry where heavy losses can be experienced as a result of an infectious outbreak. At this stage, the association between BLIS activity and probiotic activity is circumstantial and, hence, future work will involve the use of non‐BLIS‐producing strains of Aer. media and BLIS‐negative variants of the producer. Moreover, extension of the project will involve the use of other BLIS‐producing strains (A161, and A164), hosts (salmon, crayfish, scallops and abalone) and pathogens.