Nisin sensitivity of Bacillus coagulans.

Previous investigations have revealed that Bacillus coagulans strain 43P is sensitive to the polypeptide antibiotic nisin (O'Brien et al., 1956; Campbell and Sniff, 1959; Campbell, Sniff, and O'Brien, 1959). It has also been found that nisin is effective in the control of the flat sour spoilage of tomato juice in inoculated pack studies with this strain of B. coagulans (Campbell et al., 1959). The literature on the possible applications of nisin in food preservation has been reviewed by Hawley (1955, 1957). In view of the potential commercial use of nisin in the control of flat sour spoilage of tomato juice, it seemed worthwhile to investigate the nisin sensitivity of several strains of B. coagulans to determine if the findings with one strain hold generally for this species. The present report is concerned with the nisin sensitivity of 31 strains of B. coagulans.