Bacteriocin producing microbes with bactericidal activity against multidrug resistant pathogens

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biochemistry
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Bacteriocins are bacterial proteins with antimicrobial properties, offering potential alternatives to antibiotics and preservatives.
• Their application is significant in the food and pharmaceutical industries due to their targeted activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize novel bacteriocin-producing bacteria from fermented shidal.
• To evaluate antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens.
• To computationally analyze molecular interactions of the identified bacteriocins.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and identification of Lactobacillus plantarum LA21 from shidal using morphological, biochemical, and 16S rDNA sequencing.
• Optimization of bacteriocin production and characterization.
• Antimicrobial activity testing, determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), and enzyme sensitivity assays.
• Molecular docking studies using Schrodinger Software's GLIDE module.

Main Results:

• Lactobacillus plantarum LA21 demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes.
• The lowest MIC was observed against Listeria monocytogenes, indicating potent bactericidal activity and cell lysis.
• Molecular docking revealed specific interactions between bacteriocins and target molecules with high affinity.

Conclusions:

• Lactobacillus plantarum LA21 is identified as a novel bacteriocin producer with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity.
• The characterized bacteriocin-like molecules show promise for developing new antimicrobial agents.
• Potential applications include novel drugs, feed additives, and preservatives for the livestock and food industries.