Novel bacteriocinogenic Enterococcus hirae and Pediococcus pentosaceus strains with antilisterial activity isolated from Brazilian artisanal cheese

We isolated and characterized bacteriocin producers Enterococcus hirae ST57ACC and Pediococcus pentosaceus ST65ACC from raw milk artisanal cheeses. Their bacteriocins were tolerant to temperatures from 4°C to 100°C and under sterilization conditions (121°C for 15 min). Additionally, the tested bacteriocins remained active after being exposed to pH 2.0 to 10.0 for 2 h. The activity of the bacteriocins was affected by proteolytic enzymes but remained stable after treatment with EDTA, sodium dodecyl sulfate, NaCl, skim milk, and Tween 80. Cell-free supernatants were capable of inhibiting Listeria innocua and several strains of Listeria monocytogenes obtained from different sources and belonging to different serotypes. When L. monocytogenes 211 and L. monocytogenes 422 were treated with bacteriocins, growth was completely inhibited over 12 h. Cocultures of bacteriocinogenic strains and L. monocytogenes 422 in skim milk showed that E. hirae ST57ACC could control the growth of the pathogen in the matrix after 48 h. None of the selected isolates presented positive results on a screening panel for 25 bacteriocin-related genes, however, indicating that both strains might express novel bacteriocins.