Inhibition of Bacillus anthracis spore outgrowth by nisin.

Mechanism of Inhibition of Bacillus anthracis Spore Outgrowth by the Lantibiotic Nisin

The lantibiotic nisin inhibits growth of vegetative Gram-positive bacteria by binding to lipid II, which disrupts cell wall biosynthesis and facilitates pore formation. Nisin also inhibits the outgrowth of bacterial spores, including spores of Bacillus anthracis, whose structural and biochemical properties are fundamentally different from those of vegetative bacteria. The molecular basis of nis...

Insights into the Mode of Action of the Two-Peptide Lantibiotic Haloduracin

Haloduracin, a recently discovered two-peptide lantibiotic composed of the post-translationally modified peptides Halalpha and Halbeta, is shown to have high potency against a range of Gram-positive bacteria and to inhibit spore outgrowth of Bacillus anthracis. The two peptides display optimal activity in a 1:1 stoichiometry and have efficacy similar to that of the commercially used lantibiotic...

Spore Germination and Outgrowth Spore Detection and Functional Analyses of Bacillus anthracis Monoclonal Antibodies for

Activate to Eradicate: Inhibition of Clostridium difficile Spore Outgrowth by the Synergistic Effects of Osmotic Activation and Nisin

BACKGROUND Germination is the irreversible loss of spore-specific properties prior to outgrowth. Because germinating spores become more susceptible to killing by stressors, induction of germination has been proposed as a spore control strategy. However, this strategy is limited by superdormant spores that remain unaffected by germinants. Harsh chemicals and heat activation are effective for sti...

Cathelicidin administration protects mice from Bacillus anthracis spore challenge.

Cathelicidins are a family of cationic peptides expressed in mammals that possess numerous bactericidal and immunomodulatory properties. In vitro analyses showed that human, mouse, and pig cathelicidins inhibited Bacillus anthracis bacterial growth at micromolar concentrations in the presence or absence of capsule. Combined in vitro analyses of the effects of each peptide on spore germination a...