Reproduction and History of Leuconostoc Mesenteroides:

The reproduction of leuconostoc mesenteroides is accomplished by binary fission. Binary fission is when a cell makes a copy of its own DNA and then duplicates itself by splitting in two. One of the reasons leuconsotoc mesenteroides use binary fission is because they are a gram-positive bacteria and gram-positive bacteria when they are reproducing and the cell is about to split the septum will grow inward from the plasma membrane along the center line of the cell.  When two cells do this they are able to split and produce a new identical cell. Some cells, on contact, are able to transfer nucleic acids. Because of the rapid rate of reproduction bacteria are very adaptable and as they are contunually reproduced they evolve and learn to overcome and fight off more kinds of antibiotics. Also, if bacteria are trying to reproduce under unfavorable conditions the bacteria form highly resistant spores that keep dormant living remains until the conditions improve and the remains are safe to continue being beneficial to the cell. Leuconostoc mesenteroides like many other kinds of bacteria reproduce very quickly almost doubling their population every 15-20 minutes. Since this kind of bacteria is most commonly found on crop plants, it makes it very hard for farmers to prevent the bacteria from quickly reproducing and decaying the crops.

The history of leuconostoc mesenteorides begins with crop plants in two different places. Leuconsotoc Mesenteroides were first identified as the problem of a post-harvest decay in Mexico and California. The bacteria was causing the decay of fruit such as tomtoes and other similar fruits. The lactic acids found on the fruits were discovered to be caused by the mesenteroides and after tests they concluded that the other bacteria was leuconostoc because of the gram-positive staining and the lack of catalase. Catalase is an enzyme that decomposes hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. Although it was first found on crop plants in 2002 it was estimated that around 47 people in 2002 came down with some kind of sickness caused by leuconostoc mesenteroides, doctors thought that it was because they might have possesed a poor immune system. Out of the estimated 47 sicknesses around 25 of them occured in children. Overall, leuconostoc mesenteroides should not be a large concern of your daily health, these kinds of bacteria seem to be only a primary probolem with crop plants and decay.

This picture illustrates post-harvest decay.           This diagram  illustrates the process of binary fission.