Antibacterial activity of Bacillus licheniformis B6 against viability and biofilm formation of foodborne pathogens of health importance

We studied a strain of Bacillus isolated from an artisanal tannery in Salta, Argentina. It was identified as Bacillus licheniformis B6 by 16 S phylogenetic analysis and MALDI TOF (GenBank accession code No. KP776730). The synthesis of lipopeptides by B6 and their antibacterial activity against clinical pathogenic strains was analyzed both in the cell-free supernatant (CFS) and in the crude fraction of lipopeptides (LF). Overall, the CFS did not significantly reduce the viability of the studied strains (Staphylococcus aureus 269 and ATCC 43,300, Escherichia coli 4591 and 25,922, Klebsiella sp. 1087 and 1101). However, LF at 9 mg/mL reduced the viability of those pathogenic strains by 2 and 3 log orders compared to those of the control. When the effects of LF and ampicillin were compared, they showed different sensitivity against pathogenic strains. For example, E. coli 4591 was the strain most resistant to ampicillin, requiring 250 mg/mL of antibiotic to achieve the same inhibitory effect as 9 mg/mL of B6 LF. SEM observations of the effect of LF on biofilm formation by E. coli 4591 and Klebsiella sp. 1087 clearly showed that biofilm structures were destabilized, these strains turning into weak biofilm formers. Signals in the CFS and LF corresponding to kurstakin and iturin were identified by MALDI TOF. Interestingly, surfactin was detected, rather than lichenysin, the expected lipopeptide in B. licheniformis species. Signals of bacitracin and fengycins were also found, the latter with a higher number of homologues and relative intensity in the LF than the other lipopeptides. These results show that the lipopeptides synthesized by B. licheniformis B6 have both potential antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against pathogenic bacteria of health importance.

Automated summary

This study isolated a strain of Bacillus from an artisanal tannery in Salta, Argentina, and found that the lipopeptides produced by this strain have potential antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against pathogenic bacteria.