This study characterized six Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from Algerian camel milk to assess their molecular features and antimicrobial potential as food-associated isolates. Identification was performed using phenotypic tests, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Strain diversity was assessed by repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR), including (GTG)5-PCR, BOX-PCR, and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening for selected virulence-associated and antimicrobial resistance genes showed that the two selected isolates were negative for the targeted markers, indicating a preliminary molecular profile of interest but not allowing definitive safety conclusions without whole-genome sequencing and phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Both strains showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative indicators. Strain 9 showed notable inhibition against Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae ATCC 13883, with an inhibition zone of 23.4 ± 2.3 mm using native supernatant, which increased after concentration. Trypsin treatment abolished activity, supporting the proteinaceous nature of the inhibitory compounds. The enterocin genes entA and entB were detected in strains 9 and 13, indicating genetic potential only. Further genomic, safety, and functional investigations are required.
Saidi et al. (Sat,) studied this question.
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