Mar. Drugs 2012, 10(10), 2280-2299; doi:10.3390/md10102280
Article

Assessment of the Bacteriocinogenic Potential of Marine Bacteria Reveals Lichenicidin Production by Seaweed-Derived Bacillus spp.

Maria Luz Prieto 1 email, Laurie O’Sullivan 1 email, Shiau Pin Tan 1 email, Peter McLoughlin 1 email, Helen Hughes 1 email, Paula M. O’Connor 2,3 email, Paul D. Cotter 2,3 email, Peadar G. Lawlor 4 email and Gillian E. Gardiner 1,* email
1 Eco-Innovation Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland 2 Food Biosciences Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland 3 Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland 4 Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 26 July 2012; in revised form: 17 September 2012 / Accepted: 8 October 2012 / Published: 19 October 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Algae)
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Abstract: The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the bacteriocinogenic potential of bacteria derived mainly from seaweed, but also sand and seawater, (2) to identify at least some of the bacteriocins produced, if any and (3) to determine if they are unique to the marine environment and/or novel. Fifteen Bacillus licheniformis or pumilus isolates with antimicrobial activity against at least one of the indicator bacteria used were recovered. Some, at least, of the antimicrobials produced were bacteriocins, as they were proteinaceous and the producers displayed immunity. Screening with PCR primers for known Bacillus bacteriocins revealed that three seaweed-derived Bacillus licheniformis harbored the bli04127 gene which encodes one of the peptides of the two-peptide lantibiotic lichenicidin. Production of both lichenicidin peptides was then confirmed by mass spectrometry. This is the first definitive proof of bacteriocin production by seaweed-derived bacteria. The authors acknowledge that the bacteriocin produced has previously been discovered and is not unique to the marine environment. However, the other marine isolates likely produce novel bacteriocins, as none harboured genes for known Bacillus bacteriocins.
Keywords: antimicrobial; bacteriocin; sea; Bacillus licheniformis

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Prieto, M.L.; O’Sullivan, L.; Tan, S.P.; McLoughlin, P.; Hughes, H.; O’Connor, P.M.; Cotter, P.D.; Lawlor, P.G.; Gardiner, G.E. Assessment of the Bacteriocinogenic Potential of Marine Bacteria Reveals Lichenicidin Production by Seaweed-Derived Bacillus spp.. Mar. Drugs 2012, 10, 2280-2299.

AMA Style

Prieto ML, O’Sullivan L, Tan SP, McLoughlin P, Hughes H, O’Connor PM, Cotter PD, Lawlor PG, Gardiner GE. Assessment of the Bacteriocinogenic Potential of Marine Bacteria Reveals Lichenicidin Production by Seaweed-Derived Bacillus spp.. Marine Drugs. 2012; 10(10):2280-2299.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Prieto, Maria Luz; O’Sullivan, Laurie; Tan, Shiau Pin; McLoughlin, Peter; Hughes, Helen; O’Connor, Paula M.; Cotter, Paul D.; Lawlor, Peadar G.; Gardiner, Gillian E. 2012. "Assessment of the Bacteriocinogenic Potential of Marine Bacteria Reveals Lichenicidin Production by Seaweed-Derived Bacillus spp.." Mar. Drugs 10, no. 10: 2280-2299.

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