Analysis and Evaluation of the Flagellin Activity of <i>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</i> Ba168 Antimicrobial Proteins against <i>Penicillium expansum</i>

Abstract

Blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum is one of the most common apple diseases, and it is becoming a serious threat in apple production. The strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Ba168 showed high levels of antimicrobial activity in our previous study. To analyze the antimicrobial protein of Ba168, a high-resolution LC-MS/MS proteomic analysis was performed. A total of 1155 proteins were identified from 5233 unique peptides. A total of 16 potential antimicrobial-activity-related proteins were identified; 10 of these proteins have direct antimicrobial effects, while 6 of these proteins are associated with the formation of antimicrobial substances. Then, an antifungal protein of Ba168 was isolated and purified by the sequential chromatography of DEAE Bio-sep FF anion exchange and Sephadex G-75. The single protein, named BP8-2, showed antifungal activity towards Penicillium expansum. The peptide mass fingerprinting of the protein band of BP8-2 had a high similarity with the amino acid sequences of flagellin protein. The results showed that BP8-2 significantly inhibited the growth of P. expansum and slowed the spread of apple blue mold. The results indicated that flagellin is one of the important antimicrobial substances from Ba168.

Keywords

• <i>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</i>
• antimicrobial protein
• flagellin
• <i>Penicillium expansum</i>