The acid tolerance response and pH adaptation of Enterococcus faecalis in extract of lime Citrus aurantiifolia from Aceh Indonesia

• DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.13990.1
• Publication Date: 2018-03-07T04:25:19Z
• Authors: Zaki Mubarak; Cut Soraya
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; 6. Clean water; Research Article

Background:The objective of the present study was to evaluate the acid tolerance response and pH adaptation whenEnterococcusfaecalisinteracted with extract of lime (Citrus aurantiifolia).Methods:We usedE. faecalisATCC 29212 and lime extract from Aceh, Indonesia. Both materials were analyzed for their pH adaptation, acid tolerance response, adhesion assay, and mass profiles using a light microscope with a magnification of x1000. Further, statistical tests were performed to analyze both correlation and significance of the acid tolerance and pH adaptation also the interaction activity.Results:E. faecaliswas able to adapt to a very acidic environment (pH 2.9), which was characterized by an increase in its pH (reaching 4.2) at all concentrations of the lime extract (p < 0.05).E. faecaliswas also able to provide acid tolerance response to lime extract based on spectrophotometric data (595 nm) (p < 0.05). Also, the interaction activity ofE. faecalisand the lime extract was relatively stable within 6 up to 12 hours (p < 0.05), but it became unstable within 24–72 hours (p > 0.05) based on the mass profiles of its interaction activity.Conclusions:E. faecaliscan adapt to acidic environments (pH 2.9–4.2); it is also able to tolerate acid generated byCitrus aurantiifoliaextract, revealing a stable interaction in the first 6–12 hours.