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Antibacterial activity of a bacteriocin-like substance produced by Bacillus sp. P34 that targets the bacterial cell envelope

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the mode of action of BLS P34, a bacteriocin-like substance (BLS) produced by a novel Bacillus sp. strain P34 isolated from the Amazon basin. The effect of the BLS was tested against Listeria monocytogenes, showing a bactericidal effect at 200 AU (activity units) ml−1, while no inhibition of spore outgrowth of Bacillus cereus was observed with a dose of 1,600 AU ml−1. Growth of Escherichia coli and Salmonella Enteritidis was inhibited, but only when the chelating agent EDTA was co-added with the BLS. The effect of BLS P34 on L. monocytogenes was also investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Treated cells showed an important frequency increase in 1,452 and 1,397 cm−1 and decrease in 1,217 and 1,058 cm−1, corresponding assignments of fatty acids and phospholipids. Transmission electron microscopy showed damaged cell envelope and loss of protoplasmic material. BLS P34 was bactericidal to Gram-positive, and also showed inhibitory effect against Gram-negative bacteria. There is evidence that its mode of action corresponds to that of a membrane-active substance. The knowledge about the mode of action of this BLS is essential to determine its effective application as an antimicrobial agent.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Moema Queiroz from the Centro de Microscopia Eletrônica (CME, UFRGS) for her technical assistance. This work received financial support of Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brazil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Bioquímica e Microbiologia Aplicada, Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil

    Amanda S. Motta, Fabiana S. Flores & Adriano Brandelli

  2. Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    André A. Souto

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  1. Amanda S. Motta
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  2. Fabiana S. Flores
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  4. Adriano Brandelli
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Correspondence to Adriano Brandelli.

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Motta, A.S., Flores, F.S., Souto, A.A. et al. Antibacterial activity of a bacteriocin-like substance produced by Bacillus sp. P34 that targets the bacterial cell envelope. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 93, 275–284 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-007-9202-2

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