This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bottone, E. Articles by Pisano, M. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Bottone, E. Articles by Pisano, M. A. Agricola Articles by Bottone, E. Articles by Pisano, M. A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1971 August; 22(2): 200-204
Copyright © 1971 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Characteristics of a Bacteriocin Derived from Streptococcus faecalis var. zymogenes Antagonistic to Diplococcus peumoniae

Department of Microbiology, Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029
Department of Pathology, Elmhurst Services Unit, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, Elmhurst, New York 11373
Department of Biology, St. John's University, Jamaica, New York 11432

ABSTRACT

A bacteriocin-producing strain of Streptococcus faecalis var. zymogenes (E-1) was isolated from clinical material (conjunctiva). The active substance differed from bacteriocins described by other investigators primarily in its spectrum of antibacterial activity, especially by its marked inhibition of Diplococcus pneumoniae. The E-1 bacteriocin also inhibited nonhemolytic strains of enterococci as well as one-third of the Viridans group of streptococcal strains investigated. The degree of inhibition, however, as indicated by the size of the zones against the latter organisms, was significantly reduced. No activity was detected against any of the strains belonging to the following groups of bacteria: hemolytic enterococci, beta-hemolytic streptococci, nonhemolytic streptococci, staphylococci, and various gram-negative species. Similarly, three strains each of Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes and one strain of Erysipelothrix insidiosa were not inhibited. The bacteriocin was able to diffuse through bacterial membranes as well as cellulose dialyzer tubing. It was inactivated by heating to 80 C for 20 min but resisted inactivation by either trypsin or chloroform.