In the present study, we isolated and characterized Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) subsp. lactis from a female Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) stranded in Shizuoka, Japan. Only five isolates (CBW1-5), grown on Lactobacilli de Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) agar plates prepared using 50% artificial seawater, were positive in L. lactis species-specific primer PCR. Their 16S rRNA sequences were highly similar to those of L. lactis subsp. lactis JCM 5805T. The Gram reaction, motility, gas production from glucose, catalase production, and growth conditions were consistent with those of the type strain. Additionally, carbohydrate utilization of the strains was consistent with previously reported marine organism-derived strains. The pH-neutralized cell-free culture supernatant of strain CBW2 inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis ATCC 6051 and Vibrio alginolyticus ATCC 17749, whereas protease treatment eliminated or diminished its inhibitory activity. The strain possesses a precursor of the nisin structural gene (nisA), which showed 100% homology with nisin Z, and nisin biosynthesis-related genes (nisB, nisC, nisT, nisP, nisF, nisI, and nisRK), suggesting that the strain produces a nisin-like substance. This study provides fundamental information on whale-derived L. lactis subsp. lactis which may be useful for reducing the carriage of B. subtilis subsp. subtilis and V. alginolyticus.
Keywords: Lactococcus lactis; bacteriocin; fecal bacteria; lactic acid bacteria; marine mammal; whale.