Abstract:

Strain K2 having the ability to produce bacteriocin was isolated from the surface of picked vegetables. The neutralized cell-free fermentation supernatant exhibited an inhibition effect against Gram-positive bacteria, especially strong inhibition effect against Bacillus strains. The inhibition activity of the fermentation supernatant still kept high after ammonium sulphate precipitation and dialysis, and the activity of the dialysis retentate was sensitive to a variety of proteases. These results indicated the protein nature of antibacterial substances contained in the dialysis retentate. Base on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, 16S rDNA sequence and phylogenic analysis, the strain K2 was classified as Bacillus thuringiensis. The antibacterial substance from strain K2 remained strong antibacterial activity after heating treatment at 80 ℃ and pH 6－9 for 30 min, suggesting its excellent thermostable property and pH resistance. The antibacterial activity was generated from midlogarithmic growth phase and reached the maximum activity at mid-stationary phase.

Key words: Bacillus thuringiensis, bacteriocin, identification, antibacterial substance