Antimicrobial Properties of an Oxidizer Produced by Burkholderia cenocepacia P525

A compound with both oxidizing properties and antibiotic properties was extracted and purified from broth cultures of Burkholderia cenocepacia strain P525. A four step purification procedure was used to increase its specific activity ~400-fold and to yield a HPLC–UV chromatogram containing a single major peak. Size exclusion chromatography suggests a molecular mass of ~1,150 and UV spectroscopy suggests the presence of a polyene structure consisting of as many as six conjugated double bonds. Biological studies indicate that the compound is bacteriostatic. Enterobacter soli and E. aerogenes cells incubated with the compound exhibit a longer lag phase of growth. The bacteriostatic activity is greater at pH 3 than at pH 5. Bacteria such as B. cenocepacia strain P525 may have value in the agricultural industry as biocontrol agents.