Production and characterization of a low-molecular-weight bacteriocin from Bacillus licheniformis MKU3.
OBJECTIVE
Enhancing production and characterization of a low-molecular-weight bacteriocin from Bacillus licheniformis MKU3.


RESULTS
The culture supernatant of B. licheniformis MKU3 exhibited bacteriocin-like activity against gram-positive and -negative bacteria and different fungi and yeast. SDS-PAGE analysis of the extracellular proteins of B. licheniformis MKU3 revealed a bacteriocin-like protein with a molecular mass of 1.5 kDa. This bacteriocin activity was found to be stable under a pH range of 3.0-10.0 and at temperatures up to 100 degrees C for 60 min, but inactivated by proteinase K, trypsin or pronase E. An experimental fractional factorial design for optimization of production medium resulted in a maximum activity of bacteriocin (11,000 AU ml(-1)) by B. licheniformis MKU3.


CONCLUSIONS
A low-molecular-weight bacteriocin-like protein from B. licheniformis MKU3 exhibited a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity against several gram-positive bacteria, several fungi and yeast. A 3.6-fold increase in the production of bacteriocin was achieved using the culture medium optimized through a fractional factorial design.


CONCLUSIONS
A bacteriocin with wide spectrum of activity against gram-positive bacterial pathogens, filamentous fungi and yeast suggested its potential clinical use. Statistical method facilitated optimization of cultural medium for the improved production of bacteriocin.
Kayalvizhi
N
N
Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India.
Gunasekaran
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P
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001407:Bacillus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D008970:Molecular Weight; D055550:Protein Stability
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001430:Bacteriocins; D003470:Culture Media