Related Experiment Videos
Two-component anti-Staphylococcus aureus lantibiotic activity produced by Staphylococcus aureus C55
M A Navaratna1, H G Sahl, J R Tagg
1Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|December 3, 1998
Summary
Staphylococcus aureus C55 produces three bacteriocins, staphylococcins C55alpha and C55beta, which synergistically kill S. aureus and Micrococcus luteus. A 32.0-kb plasmid is essential for bacteriocin production.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus C55 exhibits bacteriocin activity.
- Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides with potential therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the bacteriocins produced by S. aureus C55.
- To investigate the genetic basis of bacteriocin production.
Main Methods:
- Purification of bacteriocin components using ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatography (XAD-2, C8, C18).
- N-terminal amino acid sequencing.
- Plasmid analysis and protoplast transformation.
Main Results:
- Three bacteriocin components (staphylococcins C55alpha, C55beta, C55gamma) were identified and purified.
- Staphylococcins C55alpha and C55beta are lantibiotics that act synergistically against S. aureus and M. luteus.
- A 32.0-kb plasmid was found to be essential for bacteriocin production, as its loss resulted in reduced activity, and its reintroduction restored production.
Conclusions:
- Staphylococcins C55alpha and C55beta are synergistic lantibiotics produced by S. aureus C55.
- The 32.0-kb plasmid plays a crucial role in the production of these bacteriocins.