Inhibitory activity against the fish pathogen Lactococcus garvieae produced by Lactococcus lactis TW34, a lactic acid bacterium isolated from the intestinal tract of a Patagonian fish

SEQUEIROS C.; VALLEJOS M.; MARGUET E.R.; OLIVERA N.L.

ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY

SPRINGER

Lugar: Heidelberg, Alemania; Año: 2010 vol. 192 p. 237 - 245

0302-8933

After enrichment of Odontesthes platensis intestinal contents, 53 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated. From the four isolates that showed inhibitory activity against Lactococcus garvieae 03/8460, strain TW34 was selected because it exerted the strongest inhibition. It also inhibited other Gram-positive bacteria, but not Gram-negative fish pathogens. Phenotypic and 16S rDNA phylogenetic analyses showed that TW34 belongs to Lactococcus lactis. In addition, TW34 showed to be sensitive to different antibiotics. The production of the inhibitory agent against L. garvieae was growth-associated and it was significantly influenced by the incubation temperature. The optimal temperature for the antimicrobial production was as low as 15oC. Both acidification and hydrogen peroxide production were ruled out as the source of inhibition. In contrast, the antimicrobial activity was completely lost by treatment with proteolytic enzymes, which confirmed that the inhibitory substance was a bacteriocin. The bacteriocin was highly thermostable (121oC for 15 min) and active between pH 3–11. It remained stable for up to two months when stored at 4oC and up to six months at -20oC. Our results suggest that the strain L. lactis TW34 could provide an alternative for lactococcosis control and therefore be considered for future challenge experiments with fish.