title: Inhibition of Bacillus anthracis and potential surrogate bacilli growth from spore inocula by nisin and other antimicrobial peptides.
abstract: The ability of nisin, synthetic temporin analogs, magainins, defensins, and cecropins to inhibit Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus mycoides, and Bacillus subtilis growth from spore inocula was determined using well diffusion assays. Nisin, magainin II amide, and defensins were inhibitory in screening against B. anthracis Sterne or B. cereus ATCC 7004, but only nisin inhibited virulent B. anthracis strains. The MICs of nisin against the 10 Bacillus strains examined were 0.70 to 13.51 microg/ml. Synthetic temporin analogs also inhibited B. anthracis but were not as potent as nisin. None of the strains examined were appropriate B. anthracis surrogates for testing sensitivity to antimicrobial peptides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Cook College, Rutgers- State University of New Jersey, 65 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-8520, USA. montville@aesop.rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Montville
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Siano
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nock
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Padhi
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wade
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001407:Bacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009561:Nisin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009561:Nisin