Antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of a novel bacteriocin isolated from Pseudomonas sp. strain 166

Pseudomonas sp. strain 166 was isolated from soil samples from Changbai Mountains. A novel bacteriocin PA166 from Pseudomonas sp. 166 was purified using ammonium sulfate, dextran gel chromatography column and Q‐Sepharose column chromatography successively. The molecular mass of bacteriocin PA166 was found to be 49.38 kDa by SDS‐PAGE and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (MS)/MS. Bacteriocin PA166 showed stability at a wide range of pH (2–10), and thermal stability (40, 60, 80 and 100°C). The bacteriocin PA166 antimicrobial activity was slightly inhibited by Ca(2+), K(+) and Mg(2+). The minimum bactericidal concentrations of bacteriocin PA166 against five Pasteurella multocida strains ranged from 2 to 8 μg ml(−1). Bacteriocin PA166 showed low cytotoxicity and a higher treatment index (TI = 82.51). Fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that bacteriocin PA166 destroyed the cell membrane to exert antimicrobial activity. In summary, bacteriocin PA166 had strong antibacterial activity, high TI and low toxicity, and hence could serve as a potential clinical therapeutic drug.