Antibiotic Bacillomycin D Regulates Biofilm Development Through the FeuABC-Dependent Iron Acquisition Pathway
59 Pages Posted: 12 Dec 2018 Publication Status: Published
More...Abstract
Bacillus spp. produce a wide range of secondary metabolites, including antibiotics, which have been well studied for their antibacterial properties but less so as signaling molecules. Previous results indicated that lipopeptide bacillomycin D is a signal that promotes biofilm development of Bacillus velezensis SQR9. However, a mechanism behind this signaling is still unknown. Here we showed that bacillomycin D promotes biofilm development by promoting the acquisition of iron. It does so through two routes. First, it promotes the transcription of specific iron acquisition genes. Second, it increases the binding of the Ferri-siderophore bacillibactin to the iron transporter. These actions increase intracellular iron concentration, activate the KinB-Spo0A-SinI dependent synthesis of biofilm matrix components. We demonstrate that this strategy is beneficial for biofilm development and during competition with the Pseudomonas fluorescens PF-5. Our results unravels a antibiotic dependent signaling mechanism that links iron acquisition to biofilm development and ecological competition.
Keywords: Bacillomycin D, FeuABC, Biofilm, Signaling peptide, Intraspecific competition
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