Concentrations of lactoferricin B required to cause complete inhibition of growth varied within the range of 0.3 to 150 pg/ml, depending on the strain and the culture medium used. The peptide showed activity against E. coli 0 111 over the range of pH 5.5 to 7.5 and was most effective under slightly dlkaline conditions. Its antibacterial effectiveness was reduced in the presence of Na+, K+, Mg2+ or Ca2+ ions, or in the presence of various buffer salts. Lactoferricin B was lethal, causing a rapid loss of colony-forming capability in most of the species tested. Pseudomonas fluorescens, Enterococcusfaecalis and Btfidobacterium bifdum strains were highly resistant to this peptide. |