ACIDOLIN: AN ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCED BY LACTOBACILLUS ACIDOPHILUS

Abstract

Acidolin was isolated from skimmilk cultured for 48 hours with Lactobacillus acidophilus (CHR. HANSEN's Laboratory strain 2181). It was extracted from the skimmilk with methanol and acetone and was further concentrated and purified by Sephadex G-25 gel filtration, high voltage electrophoresis, and thin-layer chromatography on silica gel. Ultraviolet, infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectra results are presented for the antibiotic. Acidolin has a low molecular weight (-200), is acidic in nature, possesses a yellow-brown color, and is highly hygroscopic and thermostable. Acidolin exhibits antimicrobial activity against enteropathogenic organisms and sporeformers and only limited activity against lactic-acid bacteria. It is non-toxic to tissue culture cells (H-Ep-2) and is more active against vaccinia than polio virus.