Inhibition of spoilage and toxigenic Bacillus species in dough from wheat flour by the cyclic peptide enterocin AS-48

Enterocin AS-48 was tested against rope-forming Bacillus subtilis CECT 4002 and Bacillus licheniformis CECT 20, as well as on Bacillus cereus and Bacillus pumilus strains in broth and in experimental dough from wheat flour. Vegetative B. subtilis cells in liquid broth were rapidly inactivated by AS-48 (7 AU/ml). In wheat dough, higher bacteriocin concentrations of 14 and 23 AU/g were required for inactivation of B. subtilis vegetative cells and endospores activated to germinate, respectively. B. cereus LWL1 and B. licheniformis CECT 20 were inactivated by AS-48 (14 AU/g) in doughs stored at 22 °C much faster compared to doughs stored at 10 °C. Strains of Bacillus pumilus were partially inactivated in dough by bacteriocin addition (14 AU/g). Results from this study indicate that enterocin AS-48 can reduce the populations of spoilage and potentially-toxigenic bacilli in wheat dough, decreasing the risks for spoilage and food intoxication.