Bacteriocin production by Pseudomonas syringae pv. ciccaronei NCPPB2355. Isolation and partial characterization of the antimicrobial compound

• Published in: Journal of applied microbiology 1999-02, Vol.86 (2), p.257-265
• Main Authors: Lavermicocca, P., Lonigro, S. L., Evidente, A., Andolfi, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacterial plant pathogens; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities. Techniques. Transmission, epidemiology, ecology. Antibacterial substances, control; Microbiology; Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Pseudomonas syringae ciccaronei; Pseudomonas syringae savastanoi; Pseudomonas syringae savastonoi
• ISSN: 1364-5072; 1365-2672
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2672.1999.00656.x

Pseudomonas syringae pv. ciccaronei strain NCPPB2355 was found to produce a bacteriocin inhibitory against strains of Ps. syringae subsp. savastanoi, the causal agent of olive knot disease. Treatments with mitomycin C did not substantially increase the bacteriocin titre in culture. The purification of the bacteriocin obtained by ammonium sulphate precipitation of culture supernatant fluid, membrane ultrafiltration, gel filtration and preparative PAGE, led to the isolation of a high molecular weight proteinaceous substance. The bacteriocin analysed by SDS‐PAGE revealed three protein bands with molecular weights of 76, 63 and 45 kDa, respectively. The bacteriocin was sensitive to heat and proteolytic enzymes, was resistant to non‐polar organic solvents and was active between pH 5·0–7·0. Plasmid‐DNA analysis of Ps. syringae ciccaronei revealed the presence of 18 plasmids; bacteriocin‐negative variants could not be obtained by cure experiments.