Statement of the Problem

Pediococcus acidilactici is gram-positive bacteria that can survive and grow in a wide
range of pH,temperatures, and osmotic pressures, allowing them to inhabit the entire digestive
tract. Pediococcus acidilactici functions to prevent the colonization and growth of pathogens
regulate and optimize the function of the natural micro flora. It also increases the energy value of
the feed and digestibility of nutrients. (Imagilin Technology,2008). One of the most versatile
probiotics, Lactobacillus plantarum is found in plant material and the gastrointestinal tract of
animals, including humans. It is used in the fermentation of foods like sauerkraut, kimchi,
pickles, and sourdough bread. It has been used for this purpose for hundreds of years, and is a
healthier option in food preservation. Along with promoting normal digestive health,
Lactobacillus plantarum has been shown to be an effective treatment for irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS), Crohns disease, and colitis. (Probiotic.org, 2009)

Since these bacterias are helpful and safe to humans, we researchers came up with an
idea. What if we isolate it from a particular plant since these two are mostly present in plants?
We have decided to use kimchi which is known to contain various kinds of probiotics, healthy
bacteria that can help create a "balance" in the digestive system. Lots of people are drawn to this
food because of the idea that it can stabilize the bacterial environment in the digestive tract. .and
probe it with another bacteria which are harmful to humans. This is going to be a bacteria versus
bacteria study. The first bacteria is Streptococcus pyogenes. Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the
most frequent pathogens of humans. It is estimated that between 5-15% of normal individuals
harbor the bacterium, usually in the respiratory tract, without signs of disease. As normal
flora, S. pyogenes can infect when defenses are compromised or when the organisms are able to
penetrate the constitutive defenses. When the bacteria are introduced or transmitted to vulnerable
tissues, a variety of types of suppurative infections can occur. (Todar, K. 2009).
Second,Streptococcus pneumoniae is found worldwide. The common host is the human body, in
which it often does not cause diseases but at other times it can cause diseases in particular,
pneumonia. Streptococcus pneumonia is a gram-positive coccus. S. pneumoniae most commonly
inflicts children, the elderly, and other people with weakened immune systems.(Ballough, R.,
n.d.)

http://probiotic.org/lactobacillus-plantarum.htm

http://www.imagilin.com/uniqueprobiotics.html
http://textbookofbacteriology.net/streptococcus.html
http://web.uconn.edu/mcbstaff/graf/Student
%20presentations/Streptococcuspneu/Spneumoniae.html