SALIVACIN-140, A NOVEL BACTERIOCIN FROM LACTOBACILLUS-SALIVARIUS SUBSP SALICINIUS T140 ACTIVE AGAINST PATHOGENIC BACTERIA

Fifteen of 353 environmental isolates of lactic acid bacteria consiste ntly showed activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus mut ans, Actinomyces viscosus, and/or Propionibacterium acnes. Strain T140 , isolated from the surface of Japanese pampas grass leaves and identi fied as Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius, also had activity against several Lactobacillus species, Staphylococcus aureus and Yersi nia enterocolitica. Since the antagonistic factor(s) produced by T140 was sensitive to a proteolytic enzyme, it was concluded that a bacteri ocin (named salivacin 140) was involved in the inhibition activity. St rain T140 required a high initial pH (7.5 -8.5) in agar plates for bac teriocin production.