Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology

, Volume 162, Issue 3, pp 698–706 | Cite as

Antilisterial Activity of a Broad-Spectrum Bacteriocin, Enterocin LR/6 from Enterococcus faecium LR/6

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Abstract

Enterocin LR/6, a purified bacteriocin, exhibited broad inhibitory spectrum both against related as well as some food-borne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica, Aeromonas sp., Shigella sp., and Bacillus licheniformis. In this investigation, we have focused on L. monocytogenes as the target organism, as it is not only an important pathogen but can also survive over a wide range of environmental conditions such as refrigeration temperature, low pH, and high-salt concentration. This allows the pathogen to overcome many food preservation and safety barriers and poses a potential risk to human health. The enterocin LR/6 showed a bactericidal action against L. monocytogenes and completely inhibited the growth on agar plates, supplemented with 200 AU/ml of enterocin LR/6. The effectiveness of enterocin LR/6 in completely killing a population of acid-adapted (pH 5.2, 2 h) L. monocytogenes exposed to different temperatures (4–37 °C), pH (2.5–8.0), and osmotic (up to 30% NaCl) stress is reported here. This paper focuses on the key issue of killing of the acid-adapted L. monocytogenes cells under adverse environmental conditions.

Keywords

Acid adaptation Enterocin LR/6 Inhibitory spectrum Listeria monocytogenes 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Department of Biotechnology, India. The facilities provided to the Department of Genetics, by the University Grant Commission under SAP and by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India under FIST program are thankfully acknowledged. MK was supported by a UGC fellowship.

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Copyright information

© Humana Press 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of GeneticsUniversity of Delhi South CampusNew DelhiIndia

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