Response of Salmonella choleraesuis LT2 spheroplasts and permeabilized cells to the bacteriocin AS-48.

The bacteriocin AS-48 was not active against intact cells of Salmonella choleraesuis LT2 at neutral pH, but it was very effective on spheroplasts, suggesting that the outer membrane (OM) acts as a protective barrier. Cells sublethally injured by heat or treated with OM-permeabilizing agents (i.e., EDTA and Tris) became sensitive to AS-48. The combination of two or more treatments decreased the amount of AS-48 required for cell killing. The activity of AS-48 against heat-injured cells did not change significantly in the pH range of 4.0 to 8.0. AS-48 showed bactericidal activity against intact cells of Salmonella at pH 4.0. The potency of AS-48 increased greatly when the bacteriocin was dissolved at pH 9.0.