Immacolata Anacarso, Moreno Bondi, Cinzia Mura, Simona de Niederhäusern, Ramona Iseppi, Patrizia Messi, Carla Sabia and Carla Condò
The exact composition of a culture medium used to grow bacteria and to provide the best conditions for the production of bacteriocins is very important. For this study two bacteriocins were used: enterocin 416 k1, produced by Enterococcus casselliflavus 416 K1, and nisin A, produced by Lactococcus lactis ATCC 11454; both Listeria monocytogenes inhibitors. The bacteriocin producers were cultured with various substances, including vitamins, salts, protein extracts and detergent, at three concentrations. In the first step, the individual substances were tested as additional nutrients, in order to evaluate their effects on the production of bacteriocins; subsequently the substances which were able to increase the production of bacteriocins were combined together, to investigate the presence of any synergism or antagonism. The most significant consideration that arises is the different behaviors of the microorganisms in response to the addition of the same substances. Furthermore, different results were seen depending on the concentrations of the substances. Bacteriocins have great potential in a variety of fields which means that large-scale production of these substances would be necessary. In this study we have tested different substances and combinations of substances which were able to increase the production of bacteriocins