2021 Volume 57 Issue 11 Pages 439-449
A purpose of this treatise is introduction of ε-Poly-L-lysine（ ε-polylysine）, which is homo polymer of L-lysine.
It is produced by fermentation method in aerobic culture with Streptomyces albulus. Chemical structure
of ε-polylysine is too unique, it is polymerized ε-position amino group and α-position carboxyl group in Llysine
by amide bond, that structure resembles nylon 6. α-Position amino groups in ε-polylysine charges with
a cationic charge in water under pH 9, it behaves as a cationic polymer. This cationic charge provides variety
of effect, such as antimicrobial effect, adsorption or dispersion effect for electric charged components, and so
on.
ε-Polylysine has been approved as a natural origin food preservative in Japan since 1989, also has been approved
in south Korea, the United States, and China. In addition, it is used as not only food preservative but
also as an ingredient for cosmetics and chemicals.
ε-Polylysine inhibit various microorganisms at low concentration, and it provides synergistic effect with other
antimicrobial agents, such as alcohol, organic acids, chelating agents, and so on. Recently, it has found out
that combination of ε-polylysine and natto-extract（ NAP） provides inhibition effect of Feline calicivirus（ FCV）
