Research Article

Peptide Extracts from Native Lactic Acid Bacteria Generate Ghost Cells and Spheroplasts upon Interaction with Salmonella enterica, as Promising Food Antimicrobials

Table 1

Summary of the various changes that are observed in antibacterial-treated Salmonella cells with Gt2, Cys5-4, and Gt28 peptide extracts.

Peptide/concentration applied (MIC)AlterationBrief description

Gt2/1 X MICSpheroplastsSpherical bacteria; changed shape, the inner and outer membranes were intact, but they lost of peptidoglycans.
Gt2/2 X MICSpheroplastsSpherical bacteria; changed shape, the inner and outer membranes were intact, but they lost of peptidoglycans.
“Ghost’s cells”The bacterial cells devoid or near-devoid of cytoplasm.
FilamentationBacteria become much larger than normal.
Intracellular vacuolationRound-shaped transparent areas present in the bacterial cytoplasm.
Cys5-4/1 X MICSpheroplastsSpherical bacteria; changed shape, the inner and outer membranes were intact, but they lost of peptidoglycans.
Cys5-4/2 X MICFilamentationBacteria become much larger than normal.
Intracellular vacuolationRound-shaped transparent areas present in the bacterial cytoplasm.
Gt28/1 X MICFilamentationBacteria become much larger than normal.
Cell envelope layer separationAn increase in the distance between the cytoplasmic membrane and outer membrane of the gram-negative cell envelope.
“Ghost’s cells”The bacterial cells devoid or near-devoid of cytoplasm.
Cell lysisThe cell membrane was damaged leading to leakage.
Gt28/2 X MIC“Ghost’s cells”The bacterial cells devoid or near-devoid of cytoplasm.
Cell envelope layer separationAn increase in the distance between the cytoplasmic membrane and outer membrane of the gram-negative cell envelope.