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Mathematical Modeling of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus acidophilus Growth Based on Experimental Mixed Batch Cultivation

Summary

Researchers studied how two common bacteria – beneficial Lactobacillus acidophilus and harmful E. coli – interact when grown together in laboratory cultures. Using advanced flow cytometry techniques and computer models that track individual bacterial generations, they found that L. acidophilus naturally inhibits E. coli growth through production of lactic acid and antimicrobial compounds. This research provides insights useful for developing probiotic treatments and understanding food fermentation processes.

Background

Understanding mixed bacterial cultures is important for biotechnological and probiotic applications. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Escherichia coli are two microorganisms that can interact in dairy food chains and human pathologies. This study examines how bacterial populations evolve in batch culture depending on carbon source and their interactions.

Objective

To develop a segregated mathematical model accounting for bacterial age clusters and birth events that describes the growth dynamics of mixed E. coli and L. acidophilus cultures. The study aims to identify interaction relationships between the two bacterial strains under different cultivation conditions using flow cytometry and substrate monitoring.

Results

E. coli showed longer lag phases on MRS (20h) compared to SSCM (5h), while L. acidophilus demonstrated better growth on MRS with higher viable cell concentrations. In mixed cultures, L. acidophilus became dominant, particularly in stationary phase. The mathematical model successfully predicted population dynamics across all cultivation scenarios with good agreement between simulated and experimental results.

Conclusion

The segregated mathematical model effectively captures bacterial growth dynamics in mixed cultures by accounting for age-dependent cell clusters and temporal organization. L. acidophilus inhibits E. coli growth through lactic acid and bacteriocin production, with the probiotic maintaining advantage gained during lag phase. This modeling approach provides novel insights into multi-species bacterial interactions.
  • Published in:International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 41373656, DOI: 10.3390/ijms262311493
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