Bacteriocin-like substance production by Bacillus licheniformis strain P40.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the production of bacteriocin-like compounds by Bacillus spp. isolated from the Amazon basin.


RESULTS
An antimicrobial substance produced by Bacillus licheniformis strain P40 was inhibitory to a broad range of indicator strains, such as Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and clinical isolates of Streptococcus spp. The compound was stable at 100 degrees C, but lost its activity when treated at 121 degrees C/103.5 kPa for 15 min. It was resistant to the proteolytic action of trypsin and papain but sensitive to pronase E and was stable within a wide range of pH (3-11). The substance was bactericidal and bacteriolytic to L. monocytogenes.


CONCLUSIONS
An antibacterial peptide produced by Bacillus licheniformis was characterized, presenting a broad spectrum of activity against pathogenic and spoilage organisms.


CONCLUSIONS
The identification of a substance active against important pathogens addresses an important aspect of food safety.
Cladera-Olivera
F
F
Laboratório de Bioquímica e Microbiologia Aplicada, Departamento de Ciência de Alimentos, ICTA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil.
Caron
G R
GR
Brandelli
A
A
D000898:Antibiosis; D001407:Bacillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000187:drug effects; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001433:Bacteriolysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D010206:Papain / Q000378:metabolism; D011402:Pronase / Q000378:metabolism; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects; D013696:Temperature; D014357:Trypsin / Q000378:metabolism
D001430:Bacteriocins; D014357:Trypsin; D010206:Papain; D011402:Pronase