screening for colicin ia. ib gene in stec strains isolated from sheep carcasses in kerman slaughterhouse

Various probiotic bacteria have been tested to control animal and foodborne pathogenic bacteria in livestock. the mechanism of inhibition of pathogenic bacteria for several of those probiotic microorganisms is mediated by the production of bacteriocins. colicins are antimicrobial proteins produced by one strains of escherichia coli (e. coli) to suppress the growth of other strains of e. coli. these bacteriocins play an important role in microbial dynamics in different environments, including the digestive system of animals and the surfaces of carcasses after slaughter. the present study is to determine the frequency of colicin gene from colicinogenic-e. coli. in this study, the prevalence of the colicin ia. ib gene among 33 shiga toxin-producing e. coli (stec) isolates from sheep carcasses in kerman slaughter was investigated using the polymerase chain reaction (pcr) technique. the results showed that the colicin ia. ib gene was present in 9 (27.27%) of the isolates. the presence of colicin genes can increase the survival and pathogenic potential of stec strains, raising concerns about food safety and public health. the findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the microbial ecology of stec on sheep carcasses and may provide strategies to control the spread of these pathogens in the food supply chain.