Antimicrobial activity of a 14-residue synthetic peptide against foodborne microorganisms.
A chemically synthesized short-chain peptide composed of six leucine and eight lysine (6K8L) residues was demonstrated to be biocidal against several foodborne organisms including Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Kluyveromyces marxianus suspended in phosphate buffer at concentrations of 5 to 50 microg/ml. All strains were reduced by 3 log10 CFU/ml within 10 min at peptide concentrations of <10 microg/ml. The peptide reduced by 3 log10 CFU/ml E. coli O157:H7 counts in apple juice and was active over the pH range of 3.5 to 7. Peptide concentrations of 100 microg/ml inhibited the aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms present in meat exudate liquid. However, the peptide was not effective against E. coli O157:H7 in skim milk at concentrations up to 100 microg/ml.
Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
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D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D001628:Beverages / Q000382:microbiology; D002417:Cattle; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005520:Food Preservatives; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019685:Rosales / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D005520:Food Preservatives; D010455:Peptides