EFFECT OF PEDIOCIN DT10 ON LEUCONOSTOC MESENTEROIDES OZ-N3 CELLS

Pediococcus pentosaceous DT10, isolated from ready‐to‐eat fish products, produced a bacteriocin active against Gram‐positive bacteria, many of which are associated with food spoilage and food‐related health hazards. The bacteriocin, named pediocin DT10, was partially purified and was observed to kill sensitive Leuconostoc mesenteroides cells by acting on their cytoplasmic membrane. Exposure of cell suspensions of L. mesenteroides to pediocin DT10 produced cell‐viability loss, as shown by the reduction in colony‐forming units after treatment. The activity of pediocin DT10 against L. mesenteroides cells was bactericidal in nature, and also induced an important efflux of intracellular material. The transmission electron microscopy of ultrathin sections of L. mesenteroides cells confirmed the way pediocin DT10 causes lysis of the sensitive L. mesenteroides cells.