Synergistic effects of the Lactobacillus acidophilus surface layer and nisin on bacterial growth.
We have previously described a murein hydrolase activity for the surface layer (S-layer) of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356. Here we show that, in combination with nisin, this S-layer acts synergistically to inhibit the growth of pathogenic Gram-negative Salmonella enterica and potential pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. In addition, bacteriolytic effects were observed for the Gram-positive species tested. We postulate that the S-layer enhances the access of nisin into the cell membrane by enabling it to cross the cell wall, while nisin provides the sudden ion-nonspecific dissipation of the proton motive force required to enhance the S-layer murein hydrolase activity.
Prado-Acosta
Mariano
M
Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ruzal
Sandra M
SM
Allievi
Mariana C
MC
Palomino
María Mercedes
MM
Sanchez Rivas
Carmen
C
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000201:enzymology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009238:N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009561:Nisin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010539:Permeability; D011107:Polylysine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005520:Food Preservatives; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D009561:Nisin; D011107:Polylysine; D009238:N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase