Bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS) produced by Bacillus cereus: Preliminary characterization and application of partially purified extract containing BLIS for inhibiting Listeria monocytogenes in pineapple pulp

• Bacillus cereus LFB-FIOCRUZ 1640 produces bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS).
• The BLIS was active against Listeria monocytoges and other Bacillus species.
• L. monocytogenes was completely inhibited by the BLIS in pineapple pulp model.
• BLIS from B. cereus LFB-FIOCRUZ 1640 have potential for use in food biopreservation

The application of conventional preservatives in food has been reassessed due to the toxicity of some of classical additives, and it is important to search for new food preservation strategies. Thus, this study aimed to characterize an antilisterial bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS) produced by Bacillus cereus LFB-FIOCRUZ 1640 and to evaluate the potential of the BLIS in pineapple pulp biopreservation. The proteinaceous nature of BLIS was confirmed by susceptibility to the enzyme α-chymotrypsin and it showed thermal stability for up to 30 min at 80 °C and in a wide pH range. After partial purification of the BLIS with Amberllite XAD-16 resin and cation-exchange SP-Sepharose “Fast Flow”, it was obtained a purification factor of 4.1 times and 30% of yield, and SDS-PAGE analyses revealed that the peptide has approximately 24.8 kDa. The Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of 2 mg mL−1 was determined with the biological indicator Listeria monocytogenes and this concentration of BLIS was applied in a model system containing pineapple pulp. The BLIS was bactericidal towards L. monocytogenes after 24 h at 37 °C, and these results indicate the application of the BLIS produced by B.cereus LFB-FIOCRUZ 1640 in food, especially for fruit pulp biopreservation.