Cold-adapted microorganisms as a source of new antimicrobials.

SÁNCHEZ L A; GOMEZ F; DELGADO O D

Extremophiles

Springer

Lugar: Tokio; Año: 2008 vol. 13 p. 111 - 120

1431-0651

Bacteriocins are proteinaceous compounds ranging between 1 and 100 kDa which are produced and secreted by both, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria by ribosomal synthesis during stationary growth phase. These compounds induce toxicity by altering the cell membrane integrity; can interfere with transcription, translation, or DNA replication. Most of these antimicrobial peptides act on target cells by the formation of an ion-conducting pore in the cytoplasmic membrane. Nowadays, more interest has been focused on bacteriocins because of their potential use as preservatives in the food industry and as antibiotics for clinical usage. There is now an increasing interest in cold environments as a suitable source of microorganisms with ability to produce cold-active antimicrobials with potential use in chilled-food preservation, that is the case of bacteriocins. This study aimed at the isolation and identification of cold-loving microorganisms with the ability to produce cold-active antimicrobial compounds with potential for use in chilled food preservation. Almost 8000 CFU were isolated, from which 30 were antimicrobial producers. ITS and ARDRA patterns led us to group the isolates into 8 OTUs. One microorganism of each group was selected based on their size of inhibition zone, all displaying a psychrotolerant behavior. The proteinaceous nature of the antimicrobials was determined, being active against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms