Characterization of Enterocoliticin, a Phage Tail-Like Bacteriocin, and Its Effect on Pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica Strains |
| |
Authors: | Eckhard Strauch Heike Kaspar Christoph Schaudinn Petra Dersch Kazimierz Madela Christina Gewinner Stefan Hertwig Jrg Wecke and Bernd Appel |
| |
Institution: | Eckhard Strauch, Heike Kaspar, Christoph Schaudinn, Petra Dersch, Kazimierz Madela, Christina Gewinner, Stefan Hertwig, Jörg Wecke, and Bernd Appel |
| |
Abstract: | Yersinia enterocolitica 29930 (biogroup 1A; serogroup O:7,8) produces a bacteriocin, designated enterocoliticin, that shows inhibitory activity against enteropathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica belonging to serogroups O:3, O:5,27 and O:9. Enterocoliticin was purified, and electron micrographs of enterocoliticin preparations revealed the presence of phage tail-like particles. The particles did not contain nucleic acids and showed contraction upon contact with susceptible bacteria. Enterocoliticin addition to logarithmic-phase cultures of susceptible bacterial strains led to a rapid dose-dependent reduction in CFU. Calorimetric measurements of the heat output of cultures of sensitive bacteria showed a complete loss of cellular metabolic activity immediately upon addition of enterocoliticin. Furthermore, a dose-dependent efflux of K+ ions into the medium was determined, indicating that enterocoliticin has channel-forming activity. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|