Production of lipopeptides in Bacillus sp. CS93 isolated from Pozol

Abstract

Bacillus sp. strain CS93, which was previously isolated from Pozol, was previously shown to produce iturin A, bacilysin and chlorotetaine. To investigate the biosynthetic mechanism of chlorotetaine production, the bac genes were amplified from genomic DNA of Bacillus sp. CS93 by PCR and sequenced. The genes bacABCDE were determined, but no gene that might code for a halogenating enzyme was detected either within the gene cluster or in the flanking sequences. Following further analysis of culture supernatants that were active against bacteria by liquid chromatography-MS, it was not possible to detect bacilysin/chlorotetaine. However, in methanolic fractions containing antibacterial activity, molecular ions characteristic of surfactins and fengycin were detectable by electrospray MS. Using primers complementary for conserved regions of nonribosomal peptide synthase, it was possible to amplify gene fragments that had a high degree of homology with known surfactin and fengycin biosynthetic genes. Thus, in addition to the known antimicrobial compounds, we have shown that this strain produces other bioactive lipopeptides, which might account for some of the medicinal properties of Pozol.

Potential Spore-Forming Probiotics Isolated from Ntoba mbodi, Alkaline Fermented Leaves of Cassava from the Republic of the Congo

“…Indeed, during the logarithmic and / or stationary growth phase, Bacillus spp. are able to produce antimicrobial compounds, such as subtilisin, bacitracin, amicoumacin, gramicidin, coagulin, subtilin, Iturin, polymyxin, colistin and surfactin [1,25]. These bacteriocins act by forming pores in the cytoplasmic membrane of the target cells, resulting in release of the intracellular content and death of the bacterium [39].…”

Changes Occurring in Spontaneous Maize Fermentation: An Overview

“…The antibacterial activity of Bacillus spp. CS93 isolated from pozol has been demonstrated [59,126]; this strain produced several antimicrobial substances such as bacilysin, chlorotetaine, and iturin A, whose efficacy was potent against E. coli and S. aureus, thus explaining the efficacy of the traditional medicinal uses of pozol by the Mayan civilization [59].…”

Production of the novel lipopeptide antibiotic trifluorosurfactin via precursor-directed biosynthesis

“…In this paper we describe our efforts to produce a trifluorinated derivative of surfactin using the biosynthetic approach, in the bacterium Bacillus sp. CS93, which was originally isolated from Pozol and produces a number of peptide antibiotics [7,8].…”