Determination of bacteriocin-encoding plasmids of Pediococcus acidilactici strains by Southern hybridization

Abstract

A 3.5 kb (2.3 MDa) plasmid probe (pRBI) containing the pap gene (pediocin AcH production) was used in Southern hybridization tests to determine the presence or absence of a plasmid-encoded pediocin gene in various isolates of Pediococcus. This probe hybridized with a 9.4 kb (6.2 MDa) plasmid found present in all pediocin-producing Pediococcus acidilactici strains tested. Conversely, this probe showed no reactions with Ped. acidilactici RS2-1, AB6-1 and PC, strains which did not produce pediocin and lacked the 9.4 kb (6.2 MDa) plasmid. This probe also did not hybridize with the plasmids from a bacteriocin producing Ped. pentosaceus strain.