Effect of medium components on bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus pentosus ST151BR, a strain isolated from beer produced by the fermentation of maize, barley and soy flour

Lactobacillus pentosus ST151BR, isolated from home-brewed beer, produces a 3.0 kDa antibacterial peptide (bacteriocin ST151BR) active against Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus sakei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. Treatment with Proteinase K or Pronase resulted in loss of activity. Bacteriocin levels of 6400 AU/ml were recorded in MRSbb (De Man-Rogosa-Sharpe broth without Tween 80) at pH 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5. The same growth conditions at pH 4.5 yielded only 1600 AU/ml bacteriocin. Inclusion of Tween 80 in the growth medium reduced bacteriocin production by more than 50%. Growth in the presence of tryptone or tryptone plus meat extract stimulated bacteriocin production, whereas much lower activity was recorded when the bacteria were grown in the presence of meat extract, yeast extract, tryptone plus yeast extract, meat extract plus yeast extract, or a combination of tryptone, meat extract and yeast extract. MRSbb supplemented with maltose, lactose or mannose (2.0%, w/v) yielded bacteriocin levels of 6 400 AU/ml. Sucrose or fructose at these concentrations reduced the activity by 50 and 75%, respectively. Growth in the presence of 4.0% (w/v) glucose resulted in 50% activity loss. Glycerol levels as low as 0.1% (w/v) repressed bacteriocin production. Addition of cyanocobalamin, ascorbic acid, thiamine and thioctic acid (1.0 mg/l) to the growth medium did not lead to an increase in bacteriocin production.