Recipe for Success: Suggestions and Recommendations for the Isolation and Characterisation of Bacteriocins.

Ellen Twomey,Máire Begley,Colin Hill,Des Field,Karl Drlica

doi:10.1155/2021/9990635

Ellen Twomey, Máire Begley + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9990635

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Abstract

Bacteriocins are bacterially produced antimicrobial peptides. Although only two peptides have been approved for use as natural preservatives foods, current research is focusing on expanding their application as potential therapeutics against clinical pathogens. Our laboratory group has been working on bacteriocins for over 25 years, and during that time, we have isolated bacteriocin-producing microorganisms from a variety of sources including human skin, human faeces, and various foods. These bacteriocins were purified and characterised, and their potential applications were examined. We have also identified bioengineered derivatives of the prototype lantibiotic nisin which possess more desirable properties than the wild-type, such as enhanced antimicrobial activity. In the current communication, we discuss the main methods that were employed to identify such peptides. Furthermore, we provide a step-by-step guide to carrying out these methods that include accompanying diagrams. We hope that our recommendations and advice will be of use to others in their search for, and subsequent analysis of, novel bacteriocins, and derivatives thereof.

Highlights

It is hypothesised that almost every microorganism produces at least one bacteriocin, including members of the archaea species [1]
A wide range of bacteriocins have been characterized, and some broad-spectrum bioactive peptides exist, many possess a narrow spectrum of activity that is limited to Rationally select bacterial isolates from relevant environmental sources Agar-based deferred antagonism assays with relevent indicator strain to identify potential antimicrobial producers
Given the typically narrow spectrum of activity bacteriocins possess, the selection of a target microorganism known to reside in an entirely different environment from the sampling site of the isolates investigated may cause an unfavourable bias in the study resulting in antimicrobial activity being missed. e antimicrobial effects against this single indicator were responsible for only 101 isolates being carried forward for further investigation and only 13 novel producers being isolated [35]

Summary

Introduction

It is hypothesised that almost every microorganism produces at least one bacteriocin, including members of the archaea species [1]. A wide range of bacteriocins have been characterized, and some broad-spectrum bioactive peptides exist, many possess a narrow spectrum of activity that is limited to Rationally select bacterial isolates from relevant environmental sources Agar-based deferred antagonism assays with relevent indicator strain to identify potential antimicrobial producers

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