Letal effects induced by Linnocuicina

MOLLERACH M; AMOROSO A; VEGA A; BOZZINI P; GUTKIND G; DE TORRES RA

New Orleans, USA

Congreso; 92nd General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology; 1992

American Society for Microbiology

Linnocuicin (LIN), the antibacterial substance released by Listeria innocua has a potent bactericidal activity on Listeria ivannovii and related microorganisms (Microbiologica 1111:219, 1988) both at 37 or 4ºC. Preincubation of the cells with inhibitory concentrations of cloramphenicol, sodium azide or penicillin G does not affect the bacteriolytic effects induced by LIN. On the other hand, gentamycin and polimixin B are strong inhibitors of the lytic activity, indicating the possible participation of the membrane in the lytic effects, or their inactivation by policationic drugs. Susceptible cells incubated in the presence of Lin for ten minutes show, by transmission electronic microscopy, a strong degradation of the lateral cell wall, while poles remain preserved, suggesting topological differences in cell wall or peptidoglycan hydrolytic activities.