2.3.4. Displacement of adhered E. coli
The ability of the LAB strains to displace previously adhered
E. coli was assessed as follows. E. coli CIAL-153 was first added to
Caco-2 cells and incubated for 1 h. Non-bound E. coli bacteria were
removed by washing and LAB strains were added to the cells and
the mixture incubated for 1 h. Caco-2 cells and adhered E. coli/LAB
were then detached and the bacterial counts were performed.
Displacement of pathogens was expressed as the percentage of
adhesion by E. coli cells in the presence and absence of LAB strains,
as described above.