Weak light emission patterns from lactic acid bacteria.

Abstract

Distinct low level chemiluminescence patterns during aerobic growth of a selection of bacterial strains of the lactic acid group were recorded in on-line measurements. These patterns may be specific for the strain and the medium employed for cultivation. The patterns are oxygen-dependent and consist in the case of Enterococcus faecalis of three basic patterns, which reflect different mechanisms leading to both the generation and depletion of initiators of the chemiluminescence, particularly hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical. The influence of catalase and superoxide dismutase on the patterns was examined. We could demonstrate the sensitivity of chemiluminescence measurements for the detection of both exogenous oxidative stress, which is imposed to the cells by reactive species formed in the medium, as well as endogenous oxidative stress, which is due to products of the cellular oxygen metabolism, the latter being often the reason for growth restriction.