Human colostrum is an important source of gut-colonizing bacteria for the neonates’ intestinal microbiota development. Gut microbiotaplays a vital protective role against allergic, inflammatory and also infectious diseases in childhood, and has potential for health promoting benefits later in life. The ability to produce bacteriocins contributes to the successful colonization of beneficial bacteria and protects the host from infections. The goal of the present study was to determine presence of strains that contain genes for any of the 31 well-known bacteriocins, typically produced by representatives of the lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria and staphylococci genera, in the cultivable microbiota of human colostrum. Bacterial DNA was extracted from the culturable bacterial communities of the colostrum of healthy Slovenian mothers, obtained from a mixture of colonies grown after colostrum inoculation on MRS and M17 agar media. Determinants of salivaricin A, salivaricin B, streptin and cytolyzin were found in single samples of MRS consortia. Results of our study indicate that bacteriocinogenic strains, which have a good chance of colonizing the newborn gut, are members of the colostrum microbial community. Strains derived from human colostrum can be also regarded as potential probiotics.
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