Rapid Two-Step Procedure for Large-Scale Purification of Pediocin-Like Bacteriocins and Other Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides from Complex Culture Medium

A rapid and simple two-step procedure suitable for both small- and large-scale purification of pediocin-like bacteriocins and other cationic peptides has been developed. In the first step, the bacterial culture was applied directly on a cation-exchange column (1-ml cation exchanger per 100-ml cell culture). Bacteria and anionic compounds passed through the column, and cationic bacteriocins were subsequently eluted with 1 M NaCl. In the second step, the bacteriocin fraction was applied on a low-pressure, reverse-phase column and the bacteriocins were detected as major optical density peaks upon elution with propanol. More than 80% of the activity that was initially in the culture supernatant was recovered in both purification steps, and the final bacteriocin preparation was more than 90% pure as judged by analytical reverse-phase chromatography and capillary electrophoresis.     

Bacteriocin detection by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for rapid identification

Aims: To establish a new system to detect and identify bacteriocins in the early stage of screening for novel bacteriocins. Methods and Results: Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was employed for development of a new system for rapid detection and identification of bacteriocins. The system detected and identified bacteriocins such as nisin and lacticin 481 from 25 μl of culture supernatants of their producing strains by accurate mass determination coupled with simultaneous impurity removal within 40 min. Especially, the system clearly distinguished three nisin variants (A, Z, Q) in culture supernatants of their producing strains, although they have similar structures and molecular masses. Each one‐step pretreatment by cell adsorption–desorption or acetone precipitation improved bacteriocin detection dramatically, especially for mundticin KS. This system could be applied for detection and molecular mass determination of novel bacteriocins by extracting bacteriocin‐related ions. Conclusions: The developed system could detect and identify some kinds of bacteriocin from culture supernatants or pretreated samples. Significance and Impact of the Study: The developed system helps us to identify bacteriocins in the early stage of screening without any or with one‐step pretreatment. This system is effective on not only detection of known bacteriocins but also identification of novel bacteriocins. Consequently, this system will accelerate discovery of novel bacteriocins.     

Optimization of bacteriocin production by batch fermentation of Lactobacillus plantarum LPCO10

Optimization of bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus plantarum LPCO10 was explored by an integral statistical approach. In a prospective series of experiments, glucose and NaCl concentrations in the culture medium, inoculum size, aeration of the culture, and growth temperature were statistically combined using an experimental 2(3)(5-2) fractional factorial two-level design and tested for their influence on maximal bacteriocin production by L. plantarum LPCO10. After the values for the less-influential variables were fixed, NaCl concentration, inoculum size, and temperature were selected to study their optimal relationship for maximal bacteriocin production. This was achieved by a new experimental 3(2)(3-1) fractional factorial three-level design which was subsequently used to build response surfaces and analyzed for both linear and quadratic effects. Results obtained indicated that the best conditions for bacteriocin production were shown with temperatures ranging from 22 to 27 degrees C, salt concentration from 2.3 to 2.5%, and L. plantarum LPCO10 inoculum size ranging from 10(7.3) to 10(7.4) CFU/ml, fixing the initial glucose concentration at 2%, with no aeration of the culture. Under these optimal conditions, about 3.2 x 10(4) times more bacteriocin per liter of culture medium was obtained than that used to initially purify plantaricin S from L. plantarum LPCO10 to homogeneity. These results indicated the importance of this study in obtaining maximal production of bacteriocins from L. plantarum LPCO10 so that bacteriocins can be used as preservatives in canned foods.     

Bacteriocin Production and Different Strategies for Their Recovery and Purification

Bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a diverse group of antimicrobial proteins/peptides, offering potential as biopreservatives, and exhibit a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity at low concentrations along with thermal as well as pH stability in foods. High bacteriocin production usually occurs in complex media. However, such media are expensive for an economical production process. For effective use of bacteriocins as food biopreservatives, there is a need to have heat-stable wide spectrum bacteriocins produced with high-specific activity in food-grade medium. The main hurdles concerning the application of bacteriocins as food biopreservatives is their low yield in food-grade medium and time-consuming, expensive purification processes, which are suitable at laboratory scale but not at industrial scale. So, the present review focuses on the bacteriocins production using complex and food-grade media, which mainly emphasizes on the bacteriocin producer strains, media used, different production systems used and effect of different fermentation conditions on the bacteriocin production. In addition, this review emphasizes the purification processes designed for efficient recovery of bacteriocins at small and large scale.     

Characterization of two bacteriocins produced by Clostridium perfringens

Two types of bacteriocins were shown to be produced in succession by a strain of Clostridium perfringens SN-17. They were separated by diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DEAE) column chromatography at pH 8.5 with a linear concentration gradient of NaCl. One type of bacteriocin (named SN-a) was eluted at 0.07 M and the other type (named SN-b) was at 0.12 M. Each of these was partially purified in a series of column chromatographies: DEAE, Sephadex G-200 (or Bio Gel P-150), and hydroxyapatite. Specific activities of SN-a and SN-b after the last chromatography were at most 30- to 50-fold that of culture filtrate of the organisms. Chromatographed SN-a migrated as a single zone in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and the zone showed high biological activity. On the other hand, PAGE pattern of SN-b revealed the presence of a few contamination materials. The activity of SN-b after the last chromatography was hardly recovered from the gel but inactivated SN-b was identified in the gel by examining bacteriocin activity of the DEAE fractions recovered from the gel. The molecular weight of the SN-a and SN-b was determined to be about 70,000 and 100,000, respectively, by molecular sieve chromatography. These bacteriocins were very sensitive to protease but insensitive to DNase and RNase. Bacteriocins were both completely inactivated at 55 C and they were more stable in alkaline pH than in acidic pH. SN-a and SN-b were adsorbed in different ways on the surface of the producer and insensitive strains. Several differences and similarities between these 2 bacteriocins are discussed with special reference to the relationship between them.     

Optimization of Bacteriocin Production by Batch Fermentation of Lactobacillus plantarum LPCO10

Optimization of bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus plantarum LPCO10 was explored by an integral statistical approach. In a prospective series of experiments, glucose and NaCl concentrations in the culture medium, inoculum size, aeration of the culture, and growth temperature were statistically combined using an experimental 2³_5-2 fractional factorial two-level design and tested for their influence on maximal bacteriocin production by L. plantarum LPCO10. After the values for the less-influential variables were fixed, NaCl concentration, inoculum size, and temperature were selected to study their optimal relationship for maximal bacteriocin production. This was achieved by a new experimental 3²_3-1 fractional factorial three-level design which was subsequently used to build response surfaces and analyzed for both linear and quadratic effects. Results obtained indicated that the best conditions for bacteriocin production were shown with temperatures ranging from 22 to 27°C, salt concentration from 2.3 to 2.5%, and L. plantarum LPCO10 inoculum size ranging from 10^7.3 to 10^7.4 CFU/ml, fixing the initial glucose concentration at 2%, with no aeration of the culture. Under these optimal conditions, about 3.2 × 10⁴ times more bacteriocin per liter of culture medium was obtained than that used to initially purify plantaricin S from L. plantarum LPCO10 to homogeneity. These results indicated the importance of this study in obtaining maximal production of bacteriocins from L. plantarum LPCO10 so that bacteriocins can be used as preservatives in canned foods.     

Novel method to extract large amounts of bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria.

Antimicrobial peptides, bacteriocins, produced by lactic acid bacteria were adsorbed on the cells of producing strains and other gram-positive bacteria. pH was a crucial factor in determining the degree of adsorption of these peptides onto cell surfaces. In general, between 93 and 100% of the bacteriocin molecules were adsorbed at pHs near 6.0, and the lowest (< or = 5%) adsorption took place at pH 1.5 to 2.0. On the basis of this property, a novel isolation method was developed for bacteriocins from four genera of lactic acid bacteria. By using this method we made preparations of pediocin AcH, nisin, sakacin A, and leuconocin Lcm1 that were potent and concentrated. This method produced a higher yield than isolation procedures, which rely on precipitation of the bacteriocins from the cell-free culture liquor. It is simple and can be used to produce large quantities of bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria to be used as food biopreservatives.     

Novel method to extract large amounts of bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria.

Antimicrobial peptides, bacteriocins, produced by lactic acid bacteria were adsorbed on the cells of producing strains and other gram-positive bacteria. pH was a crucial factor in determining the degree of adsorption of these peptides onto cell surfaces. In general, between 93 and 100% of the bacteriocin molecules were adsorbed at pHs near 6.0, and the lowest (< or = 5%) adsorption took place at pH 1.5 to 2.0. On the basis of this property, a novel isolation method was developed for bacteriocins from four genera of lactic acid bacteria. By using this method we made preparations of pediocin AcH, nisin, sakacin A, and leuconocin Lcm1 that were potent and concentrated. This method produced a higher yield than isolation procedures, which rely on precipitation of the bacteriocins from the cell-free culture liquor. It is simple and can be used to produce large quantities of bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria to be used as food biopreservatives.     

Characteristics and identification of bacteriocins produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis 194-K

The Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis 194-K strain has been established to be able to produce two bacteriocins, one of which was identified as the known lantibiotic nisin A, and the other 194-D bacteriocin represents a polypeptide with a 2589-Da molecular mass and comprises 20 amino acid residues. Both bacteriocins were produced in varying proportions in all of the studied culture media, which support the growth of the producer. Depending on the cultivation medium, the nisin A content was 380- to 1123-fold lower in the 194-K stain culture broth than that of the 194-D peptide. In comparision to nisin A Bacteriocin 194-D possessed a wide range of antibacterial activity and suppressed the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. An optimal medium for 194-D bacteriocin synthesis was shown to be a fermentation medium which contained yeast extract, casein hydrolysate, and potassium phosphate. The biosynthesis of bacteriocin 194-D by the 194-K strain in these media occurred parallel to producer growth, and its maximal accumulation in the culture broth was observed at14–20 h of the strain’s growth.     

Detection of bacteriocins of lactic acid bacteria isolated from foods and comparison with pediocin and nisin

A total of 663 533 colonies from 72 dairy and meat sources showed a detection rate of 0·2% for bacteriocin producers using direct plating techniques. A further 83 000 colonies from 40 fish and vegetable sources showed a detection rate of 3·4% for bacteriocin producers using selective enrichment procedures. A collection of seven purified isolates showing a different host spectrum of bacteriocin activity and with the ability to produce bacteriocins in broth culture were compared with nisin and pediocin (with respect to their inhibitory activity, determined by the critical dilution method), against various indicator bacteria in agar and broth. The sensitivity of Listeria species to various bacteriocins was influenced by the agar and broth test systems used. A Lactobacillus curvatus strain was found to be the most suitable indicator for quantitating antimicrobial effects of all the bacteriocins investigated in both agar and broth test systems. The bacteriocin-producing isolates were characterized by biochemical reactions and DNA restriction enzyme profiles and taxonomic identification revealed species of Lactobacillus , Carnobacterium and Lactococcus assigned on the basis of 16S rDNA sequences.     

The C-terminal domain of pediocin-like antimicrobial peptides (class IIa bacteriocins) is involved in specific recognition of the C-terminal part of cognate immunity proteins and in determining the antimicrobial spectrum

The pediocin-like bacteriocins contain two domains: a cationic N-terminal beta-sheet domain that mediates binding of the bacteriocin to the target cell surface and a more hydrophobic C-terminal hairpin-like domain that penetrates into the hydrophobic part of the target cell membrane. The two domains are joined by a hinge, which enables movement of the domains relative to each other. In this study, 12 different hybrid bacteriocins were constructed by exchanging domains between 5 different bacteriocins. The hybrid bacteriocins were by and large highly potent (i.e. similar potencies as the parental bacteriocins) when constructed such that the recombination point was in the hinge region, indicating that the two domains function independently. The use of optimal recombination points was, however, crucial. Shifting the recombination point just one residue from the hinge could reduce the activity of the hybrid by 3-4 orders of magnitude. Most interestingly, the active hybrids displayed target cell specificities similar to those of the parental bacteriocin from which their membrane-penetrating C-terminal hairpin domain was derived. The results also indicate that the negatively charged aspartate reside in the hinge of most pediocin-like bacteriocins interacts with the C-terminal hairpin domain, perhaps by interacting with the positively charged residue that is present at one of the last three positions in the C-terminal end of most pediocin-like bacteriocins. Bacteria that produce pediocin-like bacteriocins also produce a cognate immunity protein that protects the producer from being killed by its own bacteriocin. Four different active hybrid immunity proteins constructed by exchanging regions between three different immunity proteins were tested for their ability to confer immunity to the hybrid bacteriocins. The results showed that the C-terminal half of the immunity proteins contains a region that directly or indirectly specifically recognizes the membrane-penetrating C-terminal hairpin domain of pediocin-like bacteriocins. The implications these results have on how pediocin-like bacteriocins and their immunity proteins interact with cellular specificity determinants (for instance a putative bacteriocin receptor) are discussed.     

Purification and amino acid sequence of a bacteriocin produced by Pediococcus acidilactici.

A bacteriocin produced by Pediococcus acidilactici has been purified to homogeneity by a rapid and simple four-step purification procedure which includes ammonium sulphate precipitation, chromatography with a cation-exchanger and Octyl Sepharose, and reverse-phase chromatography. The purification resulted in an approximately 80,000-fold increase in the specific activity and about a 6-fold increase in the total activity. The amino acid composition and sequencing data indicated that the bacteriocin contained 43-44 amino acid residues. The predicted M(r) and isolectric point of the bacteriocin are about 4600 and 8.6, respectively. Comparing the amino acid sequence of this bacteriocin with the sequences of leucocin A-UAL 187, sakacin P and curvacin A (bacteriocins produced by Leuconostoc gelidum, Lactobacillus sake and Lactobacillus curvatus, respectively) revealed that all four bacteriocins had in their N-terminal region the sequence Tyr-Gly-Asn-Gly-Val-Xaa-Cys, indicating that this concensus sequence is of fundamental importance for this group of bacteriocins. The bacteriocin from P. acidilactici and sakacin P were very similar, having at least 25 common amino acid residues. The sequence similarity was greatest in the N-terminal half of the molecules--17 of the first 19 residues were common--indicating the fundamental importance of this region. Leucocin A-UAL 187 and curvacin A had, respectively, at least 16 and 13 amino acid residues in common with the bacteriocin from P. acidilactici.     

HPLC purification and re‐evaluation of chemical identity of two circular bacteriocins,gassericin A and reutericin 6

Aim: The study aimed for the complete purification and recharacterization of the highly hydrophobic circular bacteriocins, gassericin A and reutericin 6. Methods and Results: Gassericin A and reutericin 6 were purified to homogeneity using previously described method and reverse‐phase HPLC with an octyl column and eluents of aqueous acetonitrile and 2‐propanol. Mass analysis, N‐terminal sequencing and bacteriocin assay of the HPLC‐purified bacteriocins showed the two bacteriocins had identical seamless circular structures with the same m/z value (5651) of [M + H]⁺ and both had the same specific activity. d/l‐ amino acid composition analysis using two distinct methods with the chiral fluorescent derivatization reagents (+)‐1‐(9‐fluorenyl)ethyl chloroformate and o‐phthalaldehyde/N‐acetyl‐l ‐cystein revealed neither gassericin A nor reutericin 6 contained d ‐alanine residues contrary to our previous results. Conclusion: Purified gassericin A and reutericin 6 are chemically identical circular molecules containing no d ‐alanine residues. Significance and Impact of the Study: The HPLC conditions developed in this study will facilitate advanced purification and correct characterization of other highly hydrophobic bacteriocins.     

Group H Streptococcal Bacteriocins Having No Relation to Bacterial Transformation

The culture filtrate of group H streptococcus strain Challis produced a competence factor (CF) for bacterial transformation as well as a bactericidal factor(s) against Wicky cells. Strain 36658, in the same streptococcal group, also produced the bactericidal factor(s) but not CF. The effect of the Challis bacteriocin was limited to strains Wicky and 58, whereas the 36658 bacteriocin affected 67% of 49 strains tested. Strain 58, one of the indicator strains, was affected by the bactericidal activity of these bacteriocins but not by CF activity, and failed to transform. No relationship between the bacteriocin-producing strains and indicator strains was observed. Both Challis and 36658 bacteriocin activities decreased markedly either when the bacteriocins were heated at 50 C for 30 min or with the addition of a protein synthesis inhibitor, but showed different sensitivities to trypsin, papain and lipase. The bacteriocins were of at least protein nature and their molecular weight was roughly estimated as 100,000 daltons by membrane filtration experiments. The 36658 bacteriocin is a new type of streptocin previously not reported. The possible absence of bacteriophage or phage-like particles in the preparations is discussed.     

Bacterioides fragilis: production and sensitivity to bacteriocins

Bacteriocin production and sensitivity to bacteriocins have been successfully applied as an epidemiological tool in several species of bacteria. However, little work has been carried out on the bacteriocins produced by Bacteroides fragilis, which is the most frequently isolated anaerobe species from clinical specimens. Thirty two clinical isolates of B. fragilis grown anaerobically on a 0.22 microm membrane filter spotted on an agar plate, were tested for bacteriocin production and used in a screen for bacteriocin sensitivity. Sensitivity to at least one bacteriocin was found in 94% of the strains, 62.5% were sensitive to two bacteriocins, whereas 34.4% were sensitive to three or more and finally one strain was found sensitive to 17 bacteriocins. Of the strains studied, 94% inhibited at least one strain, 66% inhibited two strains, and 30% inhibited at least three strains or more. Finally, one strain was extremely active by inhibiting the growth of 17 strains. Bacteriocin types are characterised by geographic variation, and their epidemiological investigation by a simple method could be promoted.     

A screening technique to isolate bacterial strains producing high molecular weight bacteriocins

Summary Bacterial strains producing high molecular weight bacteriocins can be easily and rapidly screened in two-steps procedure. The first one uses the lyspgenic property of bacteriocin production and the identification of the lysogenic cells by simple colorimetric detection of alkaline phosphatase in the culture medium after mitomycin C treatment The presence of high molecular weight bacteriocins is determined in the second step by examination in transmission electron microscopy. This procedure is tested with 302 different strains, 3 of them are identified as high molecular weight bacteriocins producers.     

Further development of a bacteriocin typing system for Clostridium perfringens

The specificity of typing Clostridium perfringens with bacteriocins was improved by adding new bacteriocins and deleting others from the original typing set of ten. A total of 516 new isolates of Cl. perfringens were screened for bacteriocin production and, of these, 162 strains (31%) were found to be producers. The sensitivity patterns obtained by testing 40 bacteriocins against 200 isolates of Cl. perfringens were recorded and the data subjected to a computer analysis. A total of 18 bacteriocins capable of dividing the 200 isolates into 98 typing patterns was selected. The repro-ducibility of the new system was tested by performing three sequential typings of 60 strains of Cl. perfringens. No variation was found in 73% of the strains, while a further 16% of the strains demonstrated a change in sensitivity to only one bacteriocin. Common serological types of Cl. perfringens were divisible into subtypes based upon both their ability to produce bacteriocins and their sensitivity to bacteriocins, suggesting a useful role for bacteriocin typing in conjunction with an already well-established tool for typing Cl. perfringens.     

Method for rapid purification of class IIa bacteriocins and comparison of their activities

A three-step method was developed for the purification of mesentericin Y105 (60% yield) from the culture supernatant of Leuconostoc mesenteroides Y105. The same procedure was successfully applied to the purification of five other anti-Listeria bacteriocins identified by mass spectrometry. Specific activities of the purified bacteriocins were compared.     

A simple device for growing Clostridium perfringens and its application in bacteriocin studies

A simple device constructed of common laboratory material served as a minifermenter for the growth of Clostridium perfringens. A constant flow of nitrogen gas into a culture tube containing C. perfringens assured agitation of the culture and a mechanism for dispensing small volumes of liquid from the culture without disturbing the growth environment. The method was applied to examining the growth-inhibiting effect of bacteriocins of C. perfringens where a very economical use of radioactive isotopes was possible. The activity of some bacteriocins differed when compared with previous data obtained with stationary cultures. Two major categories of bacteriocin appear to exist for this species: those bacteriocins which block the incorporation of DNA, RNA, and protein precursors and those which interfere with the organism's cell wall.     

Purification and partial amino acid sequence of plantaricin 1.25ααα and 1.25βββ, two bacteriocins produced by Lactobacillus plantarum TMW1.25

Two bacteriocins produced by Lactobacillus plantarum TMW1.25 have been purified by a four-step purification procedure, including ammonium sulphate precipitation and cation-exchange chromatography followed by hydrophobic-interaction chromatography on octyl sepharose. The final purification was performed by repeated reversed-phase chromatography steps which yielded two bacteriocin fractions designated plantaricin 1.25 alpha and plantaricin 1.25 beta. The molecular masses of the peptides in these fractions were 5979 and 5203 Da, respectively. Combination of the fractions did not have any synergistic effects on bacteriocin activity, indicating that they each contain a one-peptide bacteriocin. The major peptide in the alpha fraction was blocked at its N-terminus, and a partial sequence (25 residues) could only be obtained after cleavage with CNBr. This sequence did not show clear homologies with known bacteriocins. The beta peptide has been sequenced almost completely and consists, presumably, of 53 residues. This peptide displayed strong homology to the known N-terminal part of brevicin 27 produced by Lactobacillus brevis SB27. The results showed that the beta peptide contains as many as six consecutive lysine residues at the N-terminus.