Antagonism of Helicobacter pylori by bacteriocins of lactic acid bacteria

Antimicrobial activity of seven bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria against Helicobacter pylori strains (ATCC 43504, Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH [DSM] 4867, DSM 9691, and DSM 10242) was investigated in vitro using a broth microdilution assay. The bacteriocins chosen for the study were nisin A; lacticins A164, BH5, JW3, and NK24; pediocin PO2; and leucocin K. Antimicrobial activity of the bacteriocins varied among the H. pylori strains tested, of which strain ATCC 43504 was the most tolerant. Among the bacteriocins tested, lacticins A164 and BH5 produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis A164 and L. lactis BH5, respectively, showed the strongest antibacterial activity against H. pylori strains. MICs of the lacticins against H. pylori strains, when assessed by the critical dilution micromethod, ranged from 0.097 to 0.390 mg/liter (DSM strains) or from 12.5 to 25 mg/liter (ATCC 43504), supporting the strain-dependent sensitivity of the pathogen. Pediocin PO2 was less active than the lacticins against four strains of H. pylori, and leucocin K was the least active peptide, with no inhibition toward H. pylori ATCC 43504. Anti-Helicobacter activity of lacticin A164 was dependent on initial inoculum size as well as concentration of the bacteriocin added.