This study evaluated the efficacy of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from traditional fermented foods
and beverage of Ladakh as biocontrol agents against Yersinia enterocolitica. The antagonistic activities of
46 LAB isolates were screened for their ability to inhibit the growth of Y. enterocolitica at refrigeration
temperatures using agar spot tests. On the basis of the 16S rDNA sequences, two selected inhibitory
isolates were identified as Lactobacillus sp. and Lactobacillus brevis and their accession number were
KJ722775 and KJ722777, respectively. The growth of Y. enterocolitica in mixed cultures coinoculated with
Lactobacillus sp. and L. brevis separately in de Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth at 4 °C for 28 days was
investigated. It was found that the growth of Y. enterocolitica on 28th day decreased to 1.22 log CFU/ml
(Lactobacillus sp.) and 2.17 log CFU/ml (L. brevis) in mixed culture. Y. enterocolitica was added to meat
samples and coinoculated with Lactobacillus sp. and L. brevis separately, stored at 4 °C for 28 days.
Y. enterocolitica count was dropped to 4.90 log CFU/ml (Lactobacillus sp.) and 4.44 log CFU/ml (L. brevis)
on 28th day of storage indicating bactericidal activity. It was observed that the inhibition was higher as
the incubation period progressed. Cell-free supernatants of selected antagonistic bacteria were studied to
determine the nature of the antimicrobial compounds produced. The low pH and production of lactic
acid were the main factors for inhibition of growth of Y. enterocolitica