title: Purification, characterisation and identification of acidocin LCHV, an antimicrobial peptide produced by Lactobacillus acidophilus n.v. Er 317/402 strain Narine.
abstract: In the last two decades, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been gaining attention as antimicrobial alternatives to chemical food preservatives and commonly used antibiotics. Lactobacillus acidophilus n.v. Er 317/402 strain Narine produces a small AMP with a molecular weight of 1.1kDa, designated acidocin LCHV. In this study, the AMP was extremely heat stable (90min at 130 degrees C), was active over a wide pH range and was found to be sensitive to proteolytic enzymes (trypsin, pepsin and proteinase K). Acidocin LCHV has a broad spectrum of activity both against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including several that are classified as Especially Dangerous Infections by the World Health Organization as well as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) was used to determine the molecular mass and sequence of the purified peptide. Complete killing with immediate impact on cells was observed within a very short period of time (10min).
authors.affiliation: London Metropolitan University, Institute for Health Research and Policy, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB, UK. herminemkrtchyan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hermine
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mkrtchyan
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heidelberger
authors.forename: Mire
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zloh
authors.forename: Hamidreza Khalatbari
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Limaki
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D055550:Protein Stability; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001430:Bacteriocins; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases