Salt effect of nisin Z isolated from a marine fish on the growth inhibition of Streptococcus iniae, a pathogen of streptococcosis.

A bacteriocin-producing Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis was isolated from the intestine of olive flounder. The bacteriocin was identified as nisin Z. It was active against Gram-positive bacteria. Nisin Z at 3,200 arbitrary units (AU) was more effective in seawater than in PBS; growth of Streptococcus iniae was completely inhibited within 3 h. Nisin Z preparations with 3.5% (w/v) NaCl was the most effective against S. iniae being similar to nisin Z in seawater. Nisin Z is thus a good alternative to antibiotics to prevent streptococcosis caused by S. iniae aquaculture systems.