{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,12]],"date-time":"2025-10-12T03:54:10Z","timestamp":1760241250306,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,21]],"date-time":"2019-12-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1576886400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Antibiotics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Over recent decades, the number and frequency of severe pathogen infections have been increasing. Pathogen mitigation strategies in human medicine or in livestock operations are vital to combat emerging arsenals of bacterial virulence and defense mechanisms. Since the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, the competitive nature of bacteria has been considered for the potential treatment or mitigation of pathogens. Previously, we identified a strong E. coli competitor with probiotic properties producing a diffusible antimicrobial molecule(s) that inhibited the growth of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Our current objective was to isolate and examine the properties of this antimicrobial molecule(s). Molecules were isolated by filter sterilization after 12 h incubation, and bacterial inhibition was compared to relevant controls. Isolated antimicrobial molecule(s) and controls were subjected to temperature, pH, or protease digestion treatments. Changes in inhibition properties were evaluated by comparing the incremental cell growth in the presence of treated and untreated antimicrobial molecule(s). No treatment affected the antimicrobial molecule(s) properties of STEC inhibition, suggesting that at least one molecule produced is an efficacious microcin. The molecule persistence to physiochemical and enzymatic treatments could open a wide window to technical industry-scale applications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/antibiotics9010006","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,23]],"date-time":"2019-12-23T03:15:01Z","timestamp":1577070901000},"page":"6","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Properties of an Antimicrobial Molecule Produced by an Escherichia coli Champion"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"9","author":[{"given":"Sarah-Jo","family":"Paquette","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, #100-5401 1st Ave. South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4V6, Canada"},{"name":"Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4V6, Canada"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0593-3163","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tim","family":"Reuter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, #100-5401 1st Ave. South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4V6, Canada"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"811","DOI":"10.1038\/nature06245","article-title":"An ecological and evolutionary perspective on human-microbe mutualism and disease","volume":"449","author":"Dethlefsen","year":"2007","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1038\/nature05775","article-title":"Origins of major human infectious diseases","volume":"447","author":"Wolfe","year":"2007","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7593","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1801028115","article-title":"Costs and benefits of provocation in bacterial warfare","volume":"115","author":"Gonzalez","year":"2018","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20121173","DOI":"10.1098\/rsbl.2012.1173","article-title":"The role of bacteriocins as selfish genetic elements","volume":"9","author":"Inglis","year":"2013","journal-title":"Biol. Lett."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"eaat2456","DOI":"10.1126\/science.aat2456","article-title":"Bacterial antagonism in host-associated microbial communities","volume":"361","author":"Comstock","year":"2018","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Darwin, C.R. (1868). The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication, William Clowes and Sons Press. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2145","DOI":"10.1128\/JB.00275-16","article-title":"Multifaceted interfaces of bacterial competition","volume":"198","author":"Stubbendieck","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Bacteriol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mib.2017.09.011","article-title":"Contact-dependent interbacterial toxins deliver a message","volume":"42","author":"Garcia","year":"2018","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Engevik, M.A., and Versalovic, J. (2017). Biochemical features of beneficial microbes: Foundations for therapeutic microbiology. Microbiol. Spectrum, 5.","DOI":"10.1128\/microbiolspec.BAD-0012-2016"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"843","DOI":"10.1038\/nrmicro2454","article-title":"Swimming against the tide: Progress and challenges in our understanding of colicin translocation","volume":"8","author":"Kleanthous","year":"2010","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Naimi, S., Zirah, S., Hammami, R., Fernandez, B., Rebuffat, S., and Fliss, I. (2018). Fate and biological activity of the antimicrobial lasso peptide microcin J25 under gastrointestinal tract conditions. Front. Microbiol., 9.","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2018.01764"},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Dorit, R.L., Roy, S.M., and Riley, M.A. (2016). Microcins and other bacteriocins: Bridging the gaps between killing strategies, ecology and applications. The Bacteriocins: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects, Caister Academic Press."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"200","article-title":"Structural and functional diversity of microcins, gene-encoded antibacterial peptides from enterobacteria","volume":"13","author":"Duquesne","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Mol. Microbiol. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chavan, M.A., and Riley, M.A. (2007). Molecular evolution of bacteriocins in gram-negative bacteria. Bacteriocins: Ecology and Evolution, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-540-36604-1_3"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Duquesne, S., Destoumieux-Garzon, D., Peduzzi, J., and Rebuffat, S. (2007). Microcins, gene-encoded antibacterial peptides from Enterobacteria. ChemInform, 38.","DOI":"10.1002\/chin.200745258"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"591","DOI":"10.1007\/s00253-008-1726-5","article-title":"The dual role of bacteriocins as anti- and probiotics","volume":"81","author":"Gillor","year":"2008","journal-title":"Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sonnenborn, U. (2016). Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917-from bench to bedside and back: History of a special Escherichia coli strain with probiotic properties. FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 363.","DOI":"10.1093\/femsle\/fnw212"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chom.2013.06.007","article-title":"Probiotic bacteria reduce Salmonella typhimurium intestinal colonization by competing for iron","volume":"14","author":"Deriu","year":"2013","journal-title":"Cell Host Microbe"},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"2802","article-title":"Microcins mediate competition among Enterobacteriaceae in the inflamed gut","volume":"540","author":"Nuccio","year":"2016","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2015.00024","article-title":"Approaches to treatment of emerging Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections highlighting the O104:H4 serotype","volume":"5","author":"Rahal","year":"2015","journal-title":"Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"260","DOI":"10.1053\/j.spid.2004.07.007","article-title":"The role of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli in hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome","volume":"15","author":"Cleary","year":"2004","journal-title":"Semin. Pediatr. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1089\/fpd.2013.1693","article-title":"Variable efficacy of a vaccine and direct-fed microbial for controlling Escherichia coli O157:H7 in feces and on hides of feedlot cattle","volume":"11","author":"Stanford","year":"2014","journal-title":"Foodborne Pathog. Dis."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anifeedsci.2010.04.007","article-title":"Effect of a direct-fed microbial on animal performance, carcass characteristics and the shedding of Escherichia coli O157 by feedlot cattle","volume":"158","author":"Stephens","year":"2010","journal-title":"Anim. Feed Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1434","DOI":"10.4315\/0362-028X.JFP-14-426","article-title":"Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea Vent) reduces fecal shedding of Escherichia coli in pastured cattle","volume":"78","author":"Jin","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Food Prot."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Askari, N., and Ghanbarpour, R. (2019). Molecular investigation of the colicinogenic Escherichia coli strains that are capable of inhibiting E. coli O157:H7 in vitro. BMC Vet. Res., 15.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-018-1771-y"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Paquette, S.-J., Zaheer, R., Stanford, K., Thomas, J., and Reuter, T. (2018). Competition among Escherichia coli Strains for Space and Resources. Vet. Sci., 5.","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci5040093"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"163","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.micro.091208.073413","article-title":"Biological functions and biogenesis of secreted bacterial outer membrane vesicles","volume":"64","author":"Kulp","year":"2010","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"R521","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cub.2019.04.024","article-title":"The evolution and ecology of bacterial warfare","volume":"29","author":"Granato","year":"2019","journal-title":"Curr. Biol."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Baquero, F., Lanza, V.F., Baquero, M.-R., del Campo, R., and Bravo-Vazquez, D.A. (2019). Microcins in Enterobacteriaceae: Peptide antimicrobials in the eco-active intestinal chemosphere. Front. Microb., 10.","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2019.02261"},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"Paquette, S.-J. (2011). Control of Substrate Utilization by O-islands and S-loops in Escherichia Coli O157:H7. [Master\u2019s Thesis, University of Lethbridge]."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"158","DOI":"10.1128\/MMBR.00036-06","article-title":"Colicin biology","volume":"71","author":"Cascales","year":"2007","journal-title":"Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cgh.2018.09.028","article-title":"Prebiotics and probiotics in digestive health","volume":"17","author":"Quigley","year":"2019","journal-title":"Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijmm.2014.10.003","article-title":"Probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 reduces growth, Shiga toxin expression, release and thus cytotoxicity of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli","volume":"305","author":"Mohsin","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Med. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gillor, O., Kirkup, B.C., and Riley, M.A. (2004). Colicins and microcins: The next generation antimicrobials. Advances in Applied Microbiology, Academic Press.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0065-2164(04)54005-4"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.1016\/S0300-9084(02)01427-X","article-title":"Ton-dependent colicins and microcins: Modular design and evolution","volume":"84","author":"Braun","year":"2002","journal-title":"Biochimie"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Budi\u010d, M., Rijavec, M., Petkov\u0161ek, \u017d., and \u017dgur-Bertok, D. (2011). Escherichia coli bacteriocins: Antimicrobial efficacy and prevalence among isolates from patients with bacteraemia. PLoS ONE, 6.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0028769"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Khare, A., and Tavazoie, S. (2015). Multifactorial competition and resistance in a two-species bacterial system. PLoS Genet., 11.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pgen.1005715"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"531","DOI":"10.1016\/S0300-9084(02)01416-5","article-title":"New developments in non-post translationally modified microcins","volume":"84","author":"Pons","year":"2002","journal-title":"Biochimie"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1456","DOI":"10.1042\/BST20120183","article-title":"Microcins in action: Amazing defence strategies of Enterobacteria","volume":"40","author":"Rebuffat","year":"2012","journal-title":"Biochem. Soc. Trans."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1574-6968.1984.tb01046.x","article-title":"The microcins","volume":"23","author":"Baquero","year":"1984","journal-title":"FEMS Microbiol. Lett."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7428","DOI":"10.1128\/jb.174.22.7428-7435.1992","article-title":"Microcin 25, a novel antimicrobial peptide produced by Escherichia coli","volume":"174","year":"1992","journal-title":"J. Bacteriol."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Smith, J.L., Fratamico, P.M., and Gunther, N.W. (2014). Chapter Three-Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli. Advances in Applied Microbiology, Academic Press.","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-800262-9.00003-2"}],"container-title":["Antibiotics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-6382\/9\/1\/6\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T13:44:35Z","timestamp":1760190275000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-6382\/9\/1\/6"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,21]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,1]]}},"alternative-id":["antibiotics9010006"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/antibiotics9010006","relation":{},"ISSN":["2079-6382"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2079-6382"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,21]]}}}