Antibiosis and Bacteriocin Production of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Kimchi

In order to elucidate roles of lactic acid bacteria(LAB) for the antibiosis occurring in th fermenting environment of Kimchi, 2.052 strains of LAB were isolated from Kimchi. Fifty tow strains which showed antagonistic effect against 4 indicator strains were finally selected and investigated. Based upon responses to protease treatment, antibiosis of the 52 strains of LAB were classified into 3 types. Type A antibiosis resulted from action of antibiotic-like substances which were not affected by protease treatment and which had broad action spectra against even natural inhabitants of Kimchi. Type B antibiosis was due to bacteriocin-like substances which were very sensitive to treatment of protease and more effective against foreign bacteria than original inhabitant microflora. Type C antibiosis was owing to proteinaceous compounds which were activated or induced by the presence of protease and then exerted antibacterial activities. Therefore, lactic acid bacteria appeared to contribute to antibiosis of Kimchi by the concerted action of these three different types of antibacterial compounds. As one of model system for type B bacteriocin, the antagonistic compound produced by LAB31-9 as well as th producer strain itself was further charaacterized. Strain LAB31-9 was identified as L. casei. Bacteriocin produced by LAB31-9 was proteinaceous and stable over wide range of pH and to various solvents, but very labile to heat treatment. Its mode of action was bactericidal. Based upon these data, bacteriocin produced by LAB31-9 was named as 'caseicin K319'. Genetic determinant for the bacteriocin production of LAB31-9 was located in the chromosome.