Vol. 6, Issue 11 (2017)

Author(s):
Rajinder Kaur, Santosh Kumar Singh, Rajanbir Kaur, Arpna Kumari and Ramandeep Kaur

Abstract:
The predatory myxobacterium, Myxococcus xanthus was known for producing many potent antimicrobials in the cell extract and supernatant. Being a social soil bacterium in nature having unique life-style, it uses a frontal attack strategy for attacking its prey. It produces many secondary metabolites such as antibiotics and hydrolytic enzymes to kill and lyse the prey. Bacteriocins produced by them kills their prey and the lytic enzymes degrade and decompose cell contents of prey cell which makes it easy for absorption. The antibacterial produced by them not only kills host cells (paracides) but they also exhibits autolysis (autocides). There are many strains of M. xanthus known to be producing paracides and autocides such as Mx x12, DK1622, DM504/15 etc. The paracides produced by them are broad spectrum in nature effective against Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria, yeasts and molds, while autocides are ineffective against them.