Biochemical, antimicrobial and molecular characterization of a noncytotoxic bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum ST71KS

► A bacteriocinogenic strain (Lactobacillus plantarum ST71KS) was isolated from feta cheese. ► Bacteriocin ST71KS has antilisterial effect, but is not cytotoxic to eukaryotic cells. ► The peptide does not adsorb to producer cells and belongs to class IIa bacteriocin. ► Bacteriocin ST71KS (<5 kDa) is heat-resistant and stable in a wide range of pH. ► Lb. plantarum ST71KS harbors genes encoding for plantaricin S and pediocin PA-1.