Purification and characterization of a bacteriocin produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides E131

Leuconostoc mesenteroides E131, isolated from Greek traditional fermented sausage, prepared without the addition of starters, produces a bacteriocin which is active against the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteriocin was purified by 50% ammonium sulphate precipitation, cation exchange, and reverse-phase chromatography. Bacteriocin is active at pH values between 4.0 and 9.0 and retains activity after incubation for 1 h at 100 °C. Proteolytic enzymes inactivated the bacteriocin after 1 h of incubation, while renin resulted in full inactivation only after 24 h. Lipase resulted in full inactivation after 4 h. Applying molecular methods, it was determined that the bacteriocin produced, named as mesenterocin E131, was identical to mesenterocin Y105 and was expressed during the exponential growth phase.