Searching for bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria in soil.

A survey was conducted on the isolation and characterization of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria in soil. Forty-two acid-producing bacterial strains were isolated from 55 soil samples collected in Yamanashi prefecture, Japan. Investigation of antibacterial activities of isolates revealed that three isolates, Lactobacillus animalis C060203, Enterococcus durans C102901 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides C060204, showed antibacterial activities against the indicator strain of Lactobacillus sakei JCM 1157T. Bacteriocin from Enterococcus durans C102901 showed different characteristics from the known durancin L28-1A, produced by Enterococcus durans L28-1. Furthermore, this is the first report of a bacteriocin being produced by Lactobacillus animalis. Viewing from the species, bacteriocins from strains C102901 and C060203 showed high possibilities for the novel substances. These significant findings suggest that soil may be a common source for the isolation of novel bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria.