Antimicrobial compounds
from the commensal gut microbiota have
gained much attention due to their multifunctionality in maintaining
good health in the host and killing multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Our previous study showed that Paenibacillus jilinensis YPG26 isolated from chicken intestine can antagonize multiple pathogens.
Herein, we characterized a bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance,
jileicin, purified from P. jilinensis YPG26. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that jileicin was a protein
consisting of 211 amino acids, which showed 88.98% identity to the
SIMPL domain-containing protein. The jileicin showed a relatively
broad-spectrum antibacterial ability, especially against enterococci.
Additionally, the jileicin exhibited good stability after various
treatments, no detectable resistance, no significant cytotoxicity,
and very low levels of hemolytic activity. The mode of action against Enterococcus faecium demonstrated that jileicin could
destroy cell membrane integrity, increase cell membrane permeability,
and eventually lead to cell death. Furthermore, jileicin was efficient
in controlling the growth of E. faecium in milk. In conclusion, jileicin, as a newly identified antibacterial
agent, is expected to be a promising candidate for application in
the food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries.