ENHANCEMENT OF BACTERIOCIN PRODUCTION BY CARNOBACTERIUM DIVERGENS AS7IN THE PRESENCE OF A BACTERIOCIN-SENSITIVE STRAIN CARNOBACTERIUM-PISCICOLA

The effect of Carnobacterium piscicola in the growth medium of Carnoba cterium divergens on divercin production was studied. C. piscicola cul tures 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 supernatant s and cell pellets. It was found that the divercin-sensitive bacterium enhanced significantly the divercin production by C. divergens. The h ighest stimulating effect was shown by C. piscicola culture autoclaved at 121 degrees C. It enhanced the divercin activity about 64-times co mpared to the control. The nonautolyzed cultures stimulated divercin b iosynthesis to a greater extent than autolyzed cultures, independent o f the culture pretreatment. The form of addition was the main external factor affecting divercin production. The possible biochemical mechan isms involved in this enhancement of production are examined. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.