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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2006, p. 4245-4249, Vol. 72, No. 6
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02940-05
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Characterization of Antimicrobial Substances Produced by Enterococcus faecalis MRR 10-3, Isolated from the Uropygial Gland of the Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

Antonio M. Martín-Platero,1 Eva Valdivia,1,2 Magdalena Ruíz-Rodríguez,4 Juan J. Soler,4 Manuel Martín-Vivaldi,3 Mercedes Maqueda,1 and Manuel Martínez-Bueno1*

Dpto. de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain,1 Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain,2 Dpto. de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain,3 Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Almería, Spain4

Received 13 December 2005/ Accepted 4 April 2006

The uropygial gland (preen gland) is a holocrine secretory gland situated at the base of the tail in birds which produces a hydrophobic fatty secretion. In certain birds, such as the hoopoe, Upupa epops, the composition of this secretion is influenced by both seasonal and sexual factors, becoming darker and more malodorous in females and in their nestlings during the nesting phase. The secretion is spread throughout the plumage when the bird preens itself, leaving its feathers flexible and waterproof. It is also thought to play a role in defending the bird against predators and parasites. We have isolated from the uropygial secretion of a nestling a bacterium that grows in monospecific culture which we have identified unambiguously by phenotypic and genotypic means as Enterococcus faecalis. The strain in question produces antibacterial substances that are active against all gram-positive bacteria assayed and also against some gram-negative strains. Its peptide nature identifies it as a bacteriocin within the group known as enterocins. Two peptides were purified to homogeneity (MR10A and MR10B), and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (mass spectrometry) analysis showed masses of 5201.58 and 5207.7 Da, respectively. Amino acid sequencing of both peptides revealed high similarity with enterocin L50A and L50B (L. M. Cintas, P. Casaus, H. Holo, P. E. Hernández, I. F. Nes, and L. S. Håvarstein, J. Bacteriol. 180:1988-1994, 1998). PCR amplification of total DNA from strain MRR10-3 with primers for the L50A/B structural genes and sequencing of the amplified fragment revealed almost identical sequences, except for a single conservative change in residue 38 (Glu->Asp) in MR10A and two changes in residues 9 (Thr->Ala) and 15 (Leu->Phe) in MR10B. This is the first time that the production of bacteriocins by a bacterium isolated from the uropygial gland has been described. The production of these broad-spectrum antibacterial substances by an enterococcal strain living in the uropygial gland may be important to the hygiene of the nest and thus to the health of the eggs and chicks.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Dpto. de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain. Phone: 34 958 243184. Fax: 34 958 249486. E-mail: mmartine{at}ugr.es.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2006, p. 4245-4249, Vol. 72, No. 6
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02940-05
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Liu, H.-C. S., Hicks, J. A. (2007). Using Proteomics to Understand Avian Systems Biology and Infectious Disease. Poult. Sci. 86: 1523-1529 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Nes, I. F., Diep, D. B., Holo, H. (2007). Bacteriocin Diversity in Streptococcus and Enterococcus. J. Bacteriol. 189: 1189-1198 [Full Text]  


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