Date Presented

Spring 5-18-2024

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dr. Christine Terry

Second Advisor

Dr. Price Blair

Third Advisor

Mr. Stephen Burris

Abstract

The human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) contains various microbial organisms involved in many processes of physiological homeostasis. Among these resident microbes are lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These bacteria, almost all of which belong to the order Lactobacillales, are able to produce lactic acid and play an important role in food preservation because they produce bacteriocins. Bacteriocins are antimicrobial proteins that are used to fight off related bacteria in their environment that are competing for the same resources. This study focuses on exploring a specific LAB strain, Lactococcus lactis ssp. IL1403 where 21.9% of its predicted genes have not yet been assigned a function. In this study, 12 genes were investigated using a set of bioinformatic tools and databases. Ten were found to have possible functions, and at least 3 of these were found to be related to bacteriocins or their production. Because of the prevalence of bacteriocins in this study, this work may contribute to improving food preservation and preventing microbial growth.

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