Partial Purification and Characterization of the Mode of Action of Enterocin S37: A Bacteriocin Produced by Enterococcus faecalis S37 Isolated from Poultry Feces

The aim of this research was to purify and characterize the mode of action of enterocin S37, a bacteriocin produced by Enterococcus faecalis S37, a strain recently isolated from the chicken feces. Enterocin S37 has a molecular weight comprised between 4 and 5 kDa. It remained active after 1 h at 80oC and at pH values ranging from 4.0 to 9.0. Furthermore, cell-free supernatant of Enterococcus faecalis S37 and purified enterocin S37 were active against Gram-positive bacteria including Listeria monocytogenes EGDe, L. innocua F, Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2, and Lactobacillus brevis F145. The purification of enterocin S37 was performed by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed up by hydrophobic-interaction chromatography procedures. Treatment of enterocin S37 with proteinase K, α-chymotrypsin, and papain confirmed its proteinaceous nature, while its treatment with lysozyme and lipase resulted in no alteration of activity. Enterocin S37 is hydrophobic, anti-Listeria and likely acting by depletion of intracellular K+ ions upon action on KATP channels. This study contributed to gain more insights into the mode of action of enterocins

Antifungal properties of durancins isolated from Enterococcus durans A5-11 and of its synthetic fragments.

International audienceThe aim of this work was to study the antifungal properties of durancins isolated from Enterococcus durans A5-11 and of their chemically synthesized fragments. Enterococcus durans A5-11 is a lactic acid bacteria strain isolated from traditional Mongolian airag cheese. This strain inhibits the growth of several fungi including Fusarium culmorum, Penicillium roqueforti and Debaryomyces hansenii. It produces two bacteriocins: durancin A5-11a and durancin A5-11b, which have similar antimicrobial properties. The whole durancins A5-11a and A5-11b, as well as their N- and C-terminal fragments were synthesized, and their antifungal properties were studied. C-terminal fragments of both durancins showed stronger antifungal activities than other tested peptides. Treatment of D. hansenii LMSA2.11.003 strain with 2 mmol l(-1) of the synthetic peptides led to the loss of the membrane integrity and to several changes in the ultra-structure of the yeast cells. Chemically synthesized durancins and their synthetic fragments showed different antimicrobial properties from each other. N-terminal peptides show activities against both bacterial and fungal strains tested. C-terminal peptides have specific activities against tested fungal strain and do not show antibacterial activity. However, the C-terminal fragment enhances the activity of the N-terminal fragment in the whole bacteriocins against bacteria

Characterization of a two-peptide plantaricin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum MBSa4 isolated from Brazilian salami

AbstractThe aim of this study was to explore the biochemical and genetic features of the two-peptide bacteriocin produced by a Lactobacillus plantarum strain isolated from Italian type salami produced in Brazil (Lb. plantarum MBSa4). Identification of bacteriocinogenic Lb. plantarum MBSa4 was performed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Expressed bacteriocin was evaluated for spectrum of activity, heat and pH stability, mechanism of action, and molecular mass. Partial purification was achieved by cation-exchange, and reversed phase - HPLC. Total DNA of Lb. plantarum MBSa4 was extracted and tested for presence of previously described bacteriocin genes. Bacteriocin MBSa4 was heat-stable, unaffected by pH 2.0 to 6.0 and active against all tested Listeria monocytogenes strains and most of tested fungi. Maximal production (1600 AU/ml) in MRS broth occurred after 22 h at 25 °C, presenting bacteriostatic activity as result of combined action of two components. The molecular mass determined by SDS-PAGE was 2.3 kDa. PCR-amplified DNA indicated the same nucleotide sequence of plantaricin W. Results indicate that Lb. plantarum MBSa4 produces plantaricin W, a two-peptide lantibiotic with remarkable anti-Listeria activity

Gut microbiota, body weight and histopathological examinations in experimental infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: antibiotic versus bacteriocin.

Bacteriocins have been steadily reported as potential agents that may contribute, in different ways, to overcome antimicrobial drug resistance. Here, holoxenic NMRI-F mice microbiota, their body weight recovery and histopathological alterations of organs like colon, spleen and liver were examined in mice intraperitoneally infected with 10(8) cfu of a clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA-1), and treated with enterocin DD14 alone (165 mg/kg), erythromycin alone (100 mg/kg) or their combination. Animals that received both antimicrobials presented a better body weight recovery than other groups. Less pronounced histopathological alterations were observed in mice MRSA-infected and treated with bacteriocin than in those MRSA-infected but untreated or MRSA-infected and treated with erythromycin. Noteworthy, these alterations were absent when mice were treated with MRSA-infected and treated with both antibacterial agents. Furthermore, the genus richness was significantly lower in mice infected and treated with erythromycin, compared to mice infected and treated with both antimicrobials. The beta-diversity analysis showed that non-infected mice and those infected and treated with both antimicrobials, stand apart from the other groups as supported in a NMDS model. This in vivo study shows the relevance of bacteriocin, or bacteriocin-antibiotic formulation in protecting colonic, liver and spleen soft tissues and controlling the mouse gut microbiota, following MRSA infection

Gut microbiota, body weight and histopathological examinations in experimental infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus : antibiotic versus bacteriocin

International audienceBacteriocins have been steadily reported as potential agents that may contribute, in different ways, to overcome antimicrobial drug resistance. Here, holoxenic NMRI-F mice microbiota, their body weight recovery and histopathological alterations of organs like colon, spleen and liver were examined in mice intraperitoneally infected with 10 8 cfu of a clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA-1), and treated with enterocin DD14 alone (165 mg/kg), erythromycin alone (100 mg/kg) or their combination. Animals that received both antimicrobials presented a better body weight recovery than other groups. Less pronounced histopathological alterations were observed in mice MRSA-infected and treated with bacteriocin than in those MRSA-infected but untreated or MRSA-infected and treated with erythromycin. Noteworthy, these alterations were absent when mice were treated with MRSA-infected and treated with both antibacterial agents. Furthermore, the genus richness was significantly lower in mice infected and treated with erythromycin, compared to mice infected and treated with both antimicrobials. The beta-diversity analysis showed that non-infected mice and those infected and treated with both antimicrobials, stand apart from the other groups as supported in a NMDS model. This in vivo study shows the relevance of bacteriocin, or bacteriocin-antibiotic formulation in protecting colonic, liver and spleen soft tissues and controlling the mouse gut microbiota, following MRSA infection