Combined use of eBeam irradiation and the potential probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus Vahe for control of foodborne pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae

Purpose The implementation of electron beam radiation coupled with the use of probiotics is one of the newest food processing technologies that may be used to ensure food safety and improve shelf life of food products. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 50-150-Gy electron beam irradiation on the antimicrobial activity of the putative probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus Vahe. Methods Low-dose electron beam irradiation of lactobacilli cells was performed using the Advanced Research Electron Accelerator Laboratory's electron accelerator, and the agar well diffusion method and Verhulst logistic function were used to evaluate the effect of radiation on anti-Klebsiella pneumoniae activity of the cell free supernatant of L. rhamnosus Vahe cells in vitro. Results Our results suggest that 50-150-Gy electron beam irradiation decreases the viability of the investigated lactobacilli, but does not significantly change the probiotic's activity against K. pneumoniae. Conclusions Results indicate that the combined use of irradiation and L. rhamnosus Vahe might be suggested for non-thermal food sterilizing technologies.