Bacteriocins synthesized by Bacillus thuringiensis: generalities and potential applications

Abstract

The members of the Bacillus thuringiensis group, commonly known as Bt, produce a huge number of metabolites, which show biocidal and antagonistic activity. B. thuringiensis is widely known for synthesizing Cry, Vip and Cyt proteins, active against insects and other parasporins with biocidal activity against certain types of cancerous cells. Nevertheless, B. thuringiensis also synthesizes compounds with antimicrobial activity, especially bacteriocins. Some B. thuringiensis bacteriocins resemble lantibiotics and other small linear peptides (class IIa) from the lactic acid bacteria bacteriocins classification system. Although many bacteriocins produced by Bt have been reported, there is no proper classification for them. In this work, we have grouped these based on molecular weight and functionality. Bacteriocins are small peptides synthesized by bacteria, presenting inhibitory activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and to a lesser extent against fungi. These molecules represent a good study model in the search for microbial control alternatives. Lactic acid bacteria produces a huge number of these types of molecules with great potential. Nonetheless, members of the Bacillus, cereus group, especially B. thuringiensis, emerge as an attractive alternative for obtaining bacteriocins showing novel activities. This review describes the potential applications of B. thuringiensis bacteriocins in the control of foodborne pathogens, environment and medical area.

The Antimicrobial Potential of Bacteria Isolated from Honey Samples Produced in the Apiaries Located in Pomeranian Voivodeship in Northern Poland

“…Different members of the Bacillus genus (particularly from the B. cereus group such as B. thuringiensis ) have been studied by Salazar et al [ 37 ] according to their capability of producing bacteriocins. Bacterial species of the Gram-positive bacteria L. monocytogenes, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and the Gram-negative bacteria P. aeruginosa were indicated as sensitive to bacteriocins synthesized by B. thuringensis.…”

“…However, one specie, namely Peanibacillus larvae is the causative agent of diseases lethal to honeybees—American foulbrood. In fact, bee brood is the only established host for P. larvae [ 37 , 38 ]. On the basis of the analysis of the sequence of 16S rRNA, we were not able to determine if the producing strain is P. larvae or belongs to another species of the genus Paenibacillus .…”

Biomanufacturing process for the production of bacteriocins from Bacillaceae family

“…Recent report also demonstrated that thuricin S, penisin, and geobacillin-l act as pore-forming bacteriocins, as demonstrated by the presence of nonpermeable stain propidium iodide inside the bacterial cells treated by these bacteriocins (Salazar-Marroquín et al 2016;Garg et al 2014;Baindara et al 2015). Although geobacillin-l showed similarity towards inhibition of the transglycosylation step in cell wall biosynthesis, but its mechanism of pore formation differs from that of nisin (Garg et al 2014).…”

“…Class II type B was proposed to include thuricin-like peptide, using several bacteriocins of B. thuringiensis as prototype (Salazar-Marroquín et al 2016). Although some B. thuringiensis are excluded, a number of similar characterized bacteriocins are currently categorized under thuricin-like peptides.…”

“…The effectiveness of thuricin CD against the clinical hypervirulent C. difficile isolates, makes it a good therapeutic agent to treat gastrointestinal problems associated with C. difficile (Rea et al 2010;Mathur et al 2017). The bacteriocins such as kenyacin 404, morricin 269, kurstacin 287, tolworthcin 524 and entomocin 420 from B. thuringiensis have also demonstrated positive effect against infectious pathogens in udder tissues as well as for gastrointestinal syndromes, emetic, throat infections, scarlet fever, septicaemia, pneumonia and urinary tract infections (Mathur et al 2017;Pacheco-Cano et al 2014;Salazar-Marroquín et al 2016).…”