Characterization of enterocoliticin, a phage tail-like bacteriocin, and its effect on pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains.
Yersinia enterocolitica 29930 (biogroup 1A; serogroup O:7,8) produces a bacteriocin, designated enterocoliticin, that shows inhibitory activity against enteropathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica belonging to serogroups O:3, O:5,27 and O:9. Enterocoliticin was purified, and electron micrographs of enterocoliticin preparations revealed the presence of phage tail-like particles. The particles did not contain nucleic acids and showed contraction upon contact with susceptible bacteria. Enterocoliticin addition to logarithmic-phase cultures of susceptible bacterial strains led to a rapid dose-dependent reduction in CFU. Calorimetric measurements of the heat output of cultures of sensitive bacteria showed a complete loss of cellular metabolic activity immediately upon addition of enterocoliticin. Furthermore, a dose-dependent efflux of K(+) ions into the medium was determined, indicating that enterocoliticin has channel-forming activity.
Strauch
E
E
Robert Koch Institut, 13353 Berlin, Germany. strauche@rki.de
Kaspar
H
H
Schaudinn
C
C
Dersch
P
P
Madela
K
K
Gewinner
C
C
Hertwig
S
S
Wecke
J
J
Appel
B
B
D000818:Animals; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002151:Calorimetry; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*
D001430:Bacteriocins; D011188:Potassium