New bacteria for next gen antibiotics developed in Russia

Print 13 February 2017
Marchmont Innovation News

Microbiologists at the Moscow Lomonosov State University (MSU)’s department of biology have used cell engineering techniques to  develop a new strain  of lactic acid bacteria capable of generating antibiotics with a wide range of applicability. The project has been  described in detail  in English in Journal of Hygienic Engineering and Design. 

Cell engineering approach involved a method of fusing the protoplasts of two related Lactococcus lactis strains with low nisin-synthesizing activity, explained Lidia Stoyanova, PhD, the main author of the scientific articles and a senior research fellow at the University’s microbiology chair. The work resulted in what the scientists claim is the “most effective” recombinant strain F-116 that synthesizes a new antimicrobial complex for a variety of uses with a broad range of biologically active metabolites. 

The researchers looked into a wide range of aspects, applying classical microbiological and molecular genetic methods of identifying natural and recombinant Lactococcus lactis strains and other techniques to understand their biological properties, a range of antimicrobial activities, antioxidant activity, and resistance to gastrointestinal stresses. 

As a result, the scientific team believes a chemically pure substance has been developed with a useful set of properties and clear advantages over nisin as a widely known bacteriocin, Ms. Stoyanova said. 

“Due to ability to synthesize antimicrobial agents and useful metabolites, the fusant strain F-116 with high antioxidant activity will create effective means for reducing oxidative food spoilage during storage, and protection against serious diseases and early aging… the strain can be used as biopreservative and can fulfill the growing public demand for safe and healthy foodstuffs,” the team leader underscored in the article.

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