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Antifungal peptides produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens AG1 active against grapevine fungal pathogens

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Abstract

Antifungal metabolites produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens AG1, previously isolated from wood of grapevine with “esca syndrome”, were studied. The crude protein extract (CPE) obtained from culture supernatant fluid by precipitation with ammonium sulfate was assayed against many grapevine fungal pathogens. B. amyloliquefaciens strain AG1 showed a broad spectrum of antifungal activity, inhibiting mycelial growth in vitro of all tested fungal microorganisms. The metabolites contained in CPE were heat stable and remained active over a wide pH range (2–10). Their activity was not affected by proteolytic or glycolytic enzymes. Tricine-SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a single band within the range of 2,510–3,480 Da, that showed inhibitory activity when used in the antifungal assay. Mass spectrometry analysis of this band allowed the substances involved in antibiosis to be identified as two tryptic peptides that correspond to the N-terminal sequence of subtilisin BPN’. These results suggest a potential role of B. amyloliquefaciens AG1 as a biocontrol agent.

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Acknowledgment

The author thank Dr. Luca Settani, Department DEMETRA, University of Palermo, for his help in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento DEMETRA, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 4, 90128, Palermo, Italy

    Antonio Alfonzo, Sandra Lo Piccolo, Gaetano Conigliaro, Santa Burruano & Giancarlo Moschetti

  2. Dipartimento di Scienza degli Alimenti, Sezione di Microbiologia Agraria, Alimentare ed Ambientale e di Igiene, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy

    Valeria Ventorino

Authors
  1. Antonio Alfonzo
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  2. Sandra Lo Piccolo
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  3. Gaetano Conigliaro
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  4. Valeria Ventorino
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  5. Santa Burruano
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  6. Giancarlo Moschetti
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Correspondence to Giancarlo Moschetti.

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Alfonzo, A., Lo Piccolo, S., Conigliaro, G. et al. Antifungal peptides produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens AG1 active against grapevine fungal pathogens. Ann Microbiol 62, 1593–1599 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-011-0415-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-011-0415-2

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