Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W Kozak

Publications and source records attributed to W Kozak.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Preliminary attempts at bacteriocin typing of lactic streptococci.

Preliminary attempts at typing Streptococcus lactis, S. lactis subsp. diacetylactis and Streptococcus cremoris strains by bacteriocins (lactostrepcins) are presented. Among 106 strains used about 85% were sensitive to lactostreptocins. The highest proportion of bacteriocin-typing strains was observed in S. lactis species. Lactostrepcin-sensitive strains could be divided into 6 types. The results confirm some individual features of S. diacetylactis compared with S. lactis.

Bacteriocins↗

Lactostrepcins--acid bacteriocins produced by lactic streptococci.

All 47 non-nisin producing strains of Streptococcus lactis and 12/13 strains of Str. lactis subsp. diacetylactis examined produced bacteriocins, for which the term lactostrepcins is suggested. Seven strains of Str. cremoris examined produced no bacteriocins active against 3 lactic streptococci strains used as indicators. The strains examined were divided into 3 groups: I, those producing lactostrepcins active against only one streptomycin resistant mutant of Str. lactis 60 indicator strain; II, those producing lactostrepcins active against all 3 indicator strains; III, those not producing lactostrepcins active against the indicator strains employed. The lactostrepcins were sensitive to various proteolytic enzymes and to phospholipase D, but retained full or partial activity after dialysis. Most of the bacteriocins studied were fully active only within the pH range 4.2--5.0 and were reversibly inactivated at pH 7.0 or 8.0. Results suggested occurrence of 4 different lactostrepcins. The lactostrepcins produced by all group I strains were the same, but there were differences among the lactostrepcins produced by group II strains. Lactostrepcins killed some beta-haemolytic streptococci and some strains of Lactobacillus helveticus. One of the lactostrepcins was also active against certain Leuconostoc strains, but not against other Leuconostoc strains, nor against L. helveticus or other Gram-positive bacteria.

Bacteriocins↗

Growth requirements and the effect of organic components of the synthetic medium on the biosynthesis of the antibiotic nisin in Streptococcus lactis strain.

A synthetic medium SM-3 has been elaborated for growth of Streptococcus lactis strain 51, which contains the minimal number of organic components required for the growth of this strain and nisin production. This medium contains 9 amino acids, 4 vitamins from B group, glucose and mineral salts. Addition of biotin to the medium stimulated the growth of the strain, while the addition of purines and/or pyrimidines had no effect. Hitherto biotin has been considered to be necessary for the growth of S. lactis and purines and pyrimidines were believed to stimulate the growth of these bacteria. In strain 51 the minimal requirements for growth were also the minimal requirements for nisin biosynthesis. Strain 51 produced 3-4 times less nisin in medium SM-3 than in a complex medium. The addition of one of four amino acids (serine, proline, cysteine or cystine) to SM-3 medium increased the amount of antibiotic produced. The addition of all four amino acids simultaneously, caused formation of nisin amounts similar to those produced in complex medium.

Amino Acids↗

Lysogeny in lactic streptococci producing and not producing nisin.

Eighty-seven strains of lactic streptococci (46 of Streptococcus lactis, 24 of S. diacetilactis, and 17 of S. cremoris) were tested for lysogeny; 12 S. lactis strains produced nisin. Lysogeny was found in five S. lactis strains (two of them were nisin producers) and in two S. diacetilactis strains. Four S. lactis and two S. diacetilactis lysogens liberated phages both spontaneously and after ultraviolet treatment, and one S. lactis strain liberated phages spontaneously only. No lysogens were found among the S. cremoris strains tested. An initial characterization of the lysogens and their phages was made. The lytic spectrum of some of the examined phages was very narrow (homospecific), whereas that of others was wide, including strains of the three investigated species.

Bacteriolysis↗