Characterization of leukocyte chemotactic activity of bacteriocin from Streptococcus mutans Rm-10

Bacteriocins have several biological activities in addition to their antibacterial effect. We investigated the chemotactic properties and mode of action of purified streptococcal bacteriocin. Bacteriocin purified from a culture supernatant of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) Rm-10 induced chemotaxis of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes. Following purification, leukocyte migration appeared in one bacteriocin fraction, and this migration was dependent on the concentration gradient in dilution ranges from 1/960 to 1/15. Chemotactic activity of the bacteriocin was heat labile and trypsin sensitive. Moreover, preincubation of bacteriocin with varying dilutions of its antiserum prepared in rabbits resulted in a significant loss of the chemotactic activity.