The invention concerns an isolated polypeptide which is a bacteriocin called Sakacin G derived from Lactobacillus sakei 2512. The invention also concerns a nucleic acid molecule encoding for said bacteriocin and the use of said polypeptide as an active agent against pathogenic and undesirable flora in the preparation of food products.
1. An isolated strain Lactobacillus sakei 2512 deposited on May 23, 2000 with the Collection Nationale De Cultures De Micro-organismes (CNCM), Institut Pasteur, France, under deposit number I-2479.
2. A bacteriocin composition that comprises the strain Lactobacillus sakei 2512 deposited on May 23, 2000 with the Collection Nationale De Cultures De Micro-organismes (CNCM), Institut Pasteur, France, under deposit number I-2479.
3. A method for inhibiting the growth and propagation of Listeria in a food product, which method comprises incorporating the strain Lactobacillus sakei 2512 deposited on May 23, 2000 with the Collection Nationale De Cultures De Micro-organismes (CNCM), Institut Pasteur, France, under deposit number I-2479 in the food product to generate a bacteriocin activity against Listeria.