FK-1000: A Promising Antimicrobial Alternative for Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli Infections
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Antibiotic treatment is generally not recommended for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections due to the risk of enhancing toxin release, which worsens the patient’s clinical condition. Consequently, there is a pressing need to identify alternative therapeutic strategies. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the FK-1000 fraction, purified from kefir, against STEC. Our findings indicate that the FK-1000 fraction exerts bactericidal activity against STEC after eight years of storage at -20°C in lyophilized form. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results demonstrated that the FK-1000 fraction effectively inhibited Shiga toxin production, as well as peroxidase and alkaline phosphate activities. Additionally, agarose gel electrophoresis and Nanodrop quantification confirmed that FK-1000 penetrated bacterial cells and induced DNA degradation. However, an assessment of bacterial membrane integrity using the LIVE/DEAD kit revealed no apparent damage to the bacterial membrane. Scanning electron microscopy further showed that FK-1000 inhibited biofilm formation without inducing visible morphological changes in bacterial structure. These findings suggest that the FK-1000 fraction exerts its bactericidal effects through mechanisms involving bacterial cell penetration, DNA degradation, and inhibition of protein synthesis, enzymatic activities, and biofilm formation. These results highlight the potential of the FK-1000 fraction as a promising alternative treatment for STEC infections.
