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Genetic analysis of the bacteriocin-encoding plasmids pRJ6 and pRJ9 of Staphylococcus aureus by transposon mutagenesis and cloning of genes involved in bacteriocin production.

pRJ6 and pRJ9, small Staphylococcus aureus plasmids which code for bacteriocins, exhibited a bactericidal activity against several lactic acid bacteria and strains of Listeria monocytogenes, an important food-borne pathogen. Filter-mating experiments using plasmid derivatives tagged with either Tn551 or Tn917-lac showed that pRJ6, but not pRJ9, could be mobilized by staphylococcal conjugative plasmids. Transposon mutagenesis of both plasmids was also performed. The bacteriocin and immunity structural genes of pRJ6 are part of the same operon, which is located around co-ordinate 4.0, being transcribed from right to left. However, gene cloning experiments using a staphylococcal vector showed some evidence for the involvement of additional functions of pRJ6 in bacteriocin expression. One function involved in pRJ6 mobilization mapped around co-ordinate 5.2, and it appears to be transcribed from left to right. The bactericidal action exerted by strains harbouring pRJ9 appears to reflect the activity of at least two bacteriocins, whose combined action results in a broader spectrum of activity and in a higher antagonistic activity. Gene cloning experiments also supported these assumptions.

Bacteriocins↗

Phage associated bacteriocins reveal a novel mechanism for bacteriocin diversification in Klebsiella.

Ninety-six isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and K. oxytoca were recovered from wild mammals in Australia. 14.6% of these bacteria produce killing phenotypes that suggest the production of bacteriocin toxins. Cloning and sequencing of the gene clusters encoding two of these killing phenotypes revealed two instances of a bacteriocin associated with a bacteriophage gene, the first such genetic organization described. The newly identified klebicin C gene cluster was discovered in both K. pneumoniae and K. oxytoca. The newly identified klebicin D gene cluster was detected in K. oxytoca. Protein sequence comparisons and phylogenetic inference suggest that klebicin C is most closely related to the rRNase group of colicins (such as colicin E4), while klebicin D is most closely related to the tRNase group of colicins (such as colicin D). The klebicin C and D gene clusters have similar genetic and regulatory organizations. In both cases, an operon structure is inferred consisting of a phage-associated open reading frame and klebicin activity and associated immunity genes. This novel bacteriophage/bacteriocin organization may provide a novel mechanism for the generation of bacteriocin diversity in Klebsiella.

Bacteriocins↗

Molecular structure and function of the bacteriocin gene and bacteriocin protein of plasmid Clo DF13.

In this paper we present the complete nucleotide sequence of the bacteriocin gene of plasmid Clo DF13. According to the predicted aminoacid sequence the bacteriocin, cloacin DF13, consists of 561 aminoacids and has a molecular weight of 59,293 D. To obtain insight into the structure and function of specific parts of the cloacin molecule, we constructed a hydration profile and we predicted the secondary structure of the protein. According to our predictions, the N-terminus of cloacin DF13 (corresponding to the first 150-180 aminoacids) is relatively hydrophobic and is rich in glycine residues. The data obtained support previous findings that the N-terminal part of cloacin DF13 is involved in translocation of this protein across the cell membrane. The C-terminal part of the cloacin protein is rich in positively charged aminoacids; this might reflect the RNase activity located within this domain. A comparison of the bacteriocin genes and corresponding proteins of Clo DF13 and Col E1 did not reveal any homology at the level of either the nucleotide or the aminoacid sequence. The codon usage of both genes, however, exhibits striking similarities. The sequence data obtained during this study enabled us to present the nucleotide sequence of the entire cloacin operon. The structure of this operon and the regulation of expression of the genes, located within this operon, is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning of two bacteriocin genes from a lactococcal bacteriocin plasmid.

Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris 9B4 plasmid p9B4-6 (60 kilobases [kb]), which specifies bacteriocin production and immunity, was analyzed with restriction endonucleases, and fragments of this plasmid were cloned into shuttle vectors based on the broad-host-range plasmid pWVO1. Two regions on p9B4-6 were identified which specify inhibitory activity on L. lactis indicator strains: one that could be confined to a 1.8-kb ScaI-ClaI fragment with low antagonistic activity and a 15-kb XbaI-SalI fragment specifying high antagonistic activity. The inhibitory substances produced by these two clones were sensitive to proteolysis. A 4-kb HindIII fragment derived from the 15-kb fragment strongly hybridized with the 1.8-kb fragment. The antagonistic activity specified by the 4-kb fragment was somewhat reduced as compared with that of the 15-kb fragment. A 1.3-kb ScaI-HindIII subfragment of the 4-kb fragment contained both the immunity and bacteriocin genes. Inhibition studies showed that the two bacteriocins had different specificities.

Bacteriocins↗

Purification and genetic characterization of enterocin I from Enterococcus faecium 6T1a, a novel antilisterial plasmid-encoded bacteriocin which does not belong to the pediocin family of bacteriocins.

Enterocin I (ENTI) is a novel bacteriocin produced by Enterococcus faecium 6T1a, a strain originally isolated from a Spanish-style green olive fermentation. The bacteriocin is active against many olive spoilage and food-borne gram-positive pathogenic bacteria, including clostridia, propionibacteria, and Listeria monocytogenes. ENTI was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, binding to an SP-Sepharose fast-flow column, and phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B and C2/C18 reverse-phase chromatography. The purification procedure resulted in a final yield of 954% and a 170,000-fold increase in specific activity. The primary structure of ENTI was determined by amino acid and nucleotide sequencing. ENTI consists of 44 amino acids and does not show significant sequence similarity with any other previously described bacteriocin. Sequencing of the entI structural gene, which is located on the 23-kb plasmid pEF1 of E. faecium 6T1a, revealed the absence of a leader peptide at the N-terminal region of the gene product. A second open reading frame, ORF2, located downstream of entI, encodes a putative protein that is 72.7% identical to ENTI. entI and ORF2 appear to be cotranscribed, yielding an mRNA of ca. 0.35 kb. A gene encoding immunity to ENTI was not identified. However, curing experiments demonstrated that both enterocin production and immunity are conferred by pEF1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rapid detection method for bacteriocin and distribution of bacteriocin-producing strains in Lactobacillus acidophilus group lactic acid bacteria isolated from human feces.

A new screening method, using micro plate wells, was developed for detecting the bacteriocin producer in lactic acid bacteria. The method was applied for screening the bacteriocin producer in L. acidophilus group lactic acid bacteria isolated from human feces with 19 bacteria used as indicator strains. Of the 98 strains, 62 were finally selected as the bacteriocin producers, including 39 strains positive against at least one of food-borne pathogenic bacteria.

Bacteriocins↗

Studies on group A (phage tail) bacteriocins of Serratia marcescens. VI. Calcium ion-dependent biological activity of subgroup II bacteriocins.

The biological activity of subgroup II group A (phage tail) bacteriocins of Serratia marcescens against susceptible indicator cells was completely abolished on two defined, Agarose-containing media. The addition of 0.002 M CaC12 to these two media fully restored the lethal activity of these phage tails. Subgroup I phage tail bacteriocins, on the other hand, were found to have no requirement for divalent cations. These observations furnished an additional biological criterion for the differentiation of subgroup I and II phage tail bacteriocins of S. marcescens.

Bacteriocins↗

Restriction enzyme analysis of lactose and bacteriocin plasmids from Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis WM4 and cloning of BclI fragments coding for bacteriocin production.

The 131.1-kilobase (kb) bacteriocin production (Bac) plasmid pNP2 and the 63.6-kb lactose metabolism (Lac) plasmid pCS26, from Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis WM4, as well as pWN8, a 116.7-kb recombinant plasmid from a Lac+ transconjugant, were analyzed with restriction enzymes to determine the origin of pWN8. Plasmid pWN8 conferred a Lac+ Bac- phenotype, contained DNA derived from pCS26 and pNP2, and, like pNP2, exhibited self-transmissibility (Tra+). In cloning attempts, Bac+ transformant S. lactis KSH1 was isolated. The recombinant plasmid, pKSH1, contained three BclI fragments from pNP2. Bac- transformants which individually contained each of the three fragments were also identified. Comparison of restriction maps of pKSH1 and pNP2 revealed an 18.4-kb region common to both plasmids, involving two of the three BclI fragments. S. lactis KSH1 also exhibited greater inhibitory activity against the indicator strain S. diacetylactis 18-16 than did a strain containing the 131.1-kb Bac plasmid.

Bacteriocin Plasmids↗

Biochemical and genetic characterization of coagulin, a new antilisterial bacteriocin in the pediocin family of bacteriocins, produced by Bacillus coagulans I(4).

A plasmid-linked antimicrobial peptide, named coagulin, produced by Bacillus coagulans I(4) has recently been reported (B. Hyronimus, C. Le Marrec and M. C. Urdaci, J. Appl. Microbiol. 85:42-50, 1998). In the present study, the complete, unambiguous primary amino acid sequence of the peptide was obtained by a combination of both N-terminal sequencing of purified peptide and the complete sequence deduced from the structural gene harbored by plasmid I(4). Data revealed that this peptide of 44 residues has an amino acid sequence similar to that described for pediocins AcH and PA-1, produced by different Pediococcus acidilactici strains and 100% identical. Coagulin and pediocin differed only by a single amino acid at their C terminus. Analysis of the genetic determinants revealed the presence, on the pI(4) DNA, of the entire 3.5-kb operon of four genes described for pediocin AcH and PA-1 production. No extended homology was observed between pSMB74 from P. acidilactici and pI(4) when analyzing the regions upstream and downstream of the operon. An oppositely oriented gene immediately dowstream of the bacteriocin operon specifies a 474-amino-acid protein which shows homology to Mob-Pre (plasmid recombination enzyme) proteins encoded by several small plasmids extracted from gram-positive bacteria. This is the first report of a pediocin-like peptide appearing naturally in a non-lactic acid bacterium genus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Enhancement of bacteriocin production by Carnobacterium divergens AS7 in the presence of a bacteriocin-sensitive strain Carnobacterium piscicola.

The effect of Carnobacterium piscicola in the growth medium of Carnobacterium divergens on divercin production was studied. C. piscicola cultures were added in the form of living cultures, thermally inactivated cultures and pretreated autolyzed cultures. Each form was applied as whole culture comprising growth medium with cells, culture supernatants and cell pellets. It was found that the divercin-sensitive bacterium enhanced significantly the divercin production by C. divergens. The highest stimulating effect was shown by C. piscicola culture autoclaved at 121 degrees C. It enhanced the divercin activity about 64-times compared to the control. The nonautolyzed cultures stimulated divercin biosynthesis to a greater extent than autolyzed cultures, independent of the culture pretreatment. The form of addition was the main external factor affecting divercin production. The possible biochemical mechanisms involved in this enhancement of production are examined.

Bacteriocins↗