Enterococci are lactic acid bacteria. Most of them can adapt well to the food system due to their salt and acid-tolerance. Moreover, many enterococcal species have been found to produce antimicrobial substances of proteinaceous character, i.e., bacteriocins/enterocins. In this study, Enterococcus mundtii EM ML2/2 with bacteriocinogenic potential was identified in Slovak raw goat milk. This strain demonstrated inhibition activity against up to 36% of Gram-positive indicator bacteria, and in concentrated form the bacteriocin substance (pH 6.3) showed the highest inhibition activity (1600 AU/mL) against the principal indicator strain E. avium EA5. Semi-purified substance (SPS) EM ML2/2 produced inhibition activity up to 3200 AU/mL. Concentrated bacteriocin substance and SPS maintained active (inhibition activity up to 100 AU/mL) for three months under -20 °C storage conditions. The strain showed susceptible antibiotic profile, and it did not form biofilm. No production of damaging enzymes was noted. It was nonhemolytic, as well as DNase, and gelatinase-negative. It grew well in skim milk, and it was salt and acid-tolerant. The bacteriocin potential of E. mundtii species isolated from Slovak raw goat milk has not previously been detected, so this is an original contribution which may stimulate addtitional research and application studies.
Keywords: Enterococcus mundtii; bacteriocin activity; goat milk; lactic acid bacteria.