In this study, isolate Bacillus velezensis1-3 was selected out for its anti- Listeria potency, from which a novel circular bacteriocin, velezin, was purified out of the fermentate, and then characterized. Facilitated with a broad antibacterial spectrum, velezin has demonstrated decent inhibitive activity against of foodborne pathogen L. monocytogenes ATCC 19115. It exerted the antibacterial activity through damaging the membrane integrity of targeted cell and causing leakage of vital elements, including K⁺ ion. It was noteworthy that velezin also inhibited the biofilm formation by L. monocytogenes ATCC 19115. At the challenge of velezin, L. monocytogenes ATCC 19115 up-regulated expression of genes associated with membrane, ion transporters, stressing-related proteins as well as the genes responsible for the synthesis of small molecule. Taken together, velezin may have potential to be a candidate as natural additive used in food/feed in the future.

Circular bacteriocins are potent antimicrobials against pathogenic Gram-positives. In searching for marine bacteriocins, an antibacterial peptide (flexusin A) was purified from the fermentation broth of marine bacterium Bacillus flexus R29-2. Genome sequencing and gene annotation revealed the chromosome contained an unknown circular bacteriocin gene cluster. Approaches including shot-gun proteomics analysis, AntiSMASH and BAGEL4 predication as well as the comprehensive sequence alignment, were then conducted, respectively, to verify the correlation of flexusin A with the gene-encoded precursor peptide. The results confirmed that flexusin A was the mature circular bacteriocin of the predicated precursor peptide with six amino acids as leader peptide. Flexusin A was 6098.4 Da in size, with a net charge of +3 and PI of 9.60. It shared the typical saposin-like fold spatial conformation features as commonly found in other circular bacteriocins. Flexusin A was pH, thermal, and protease tolerant. It exhibited a narrow antimicrobial spectrum against Gram-positives, and it can strongly inhibit Staphylococcus aureus by causing cell destruction via membrane destabilization. Taken together, a novel circular bacteriocin flexusin A was identified in this work. The characterization of flexusin A has extended circular bacteriocins family to 26 members. This is also the first report on bacteriocin production by B. flexus.

This study investigate the inhibiting effect of fengycin on respiration and nutrient utilization of Penicillium expansum. The respiratory inhibition rate of the P. expansum was determined by the test of dissolved oxygen fengycin, The effect of fengycin treatment on the activity of P. expansum mitochondrial complex enzyme was detected by mitochondrial enzyme activity assay. The ability of fengycin treatment to P. expansum the utilization of total sugar and total protein was determined by DNS colorimetric method and biuret method. After fengycin treatments, the TCA pathway of respiratory metabolism in P. expansum was inhibited. Besides, fengycin could block the gene expression in P. expansum by binding P. expansum mitochondrial complex enzyme II and III related genes. Therefore, the activity of mitochondrial enzymes was affected. With the increasement of fengycin concentration, the absorption and utilization capacity of P. expansum to total sugar and total protein decreased significantly. Fengycin could inhibit the respiratory metabolism and reduce the biochemical metabolism level in P. expansum and finally caused the growth inhibition.