Journal Article

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GA1 as a source of potent antibiotics and other secondary metabolites for biocontrol of plant pathogens

Arguelles-Arias, Anthony, Joris, Bernard, Ongena, Marc, Brans, Alain, Halimi, Badre, Lara, Yannick, Fickers, Patrick

2009

Overview

Background Phytopathogenic fungi affecting crop and post-harvested vegetables are a major threat to food production and food storage. To face these drawbacks, producers have become increasingly dependent on agrochemicals. However, intensive use of these compounds has led to the emergence of pathogen resistance and severe negative environmental impacts. There are also a number of plant diseases for which chemical solutions are ineffective or non-existent as well as an increasing demand by consumers for pesticide-free food. Thus, biological control through the use of natural antagonistic microorganisms has emerged as a promising alternative to chemical pesticides for more rational and safe crop management. Results The genome of the plant-associated B. amyloliquefaciens GA1 was sample sequenced. Several gene clusters involved in the synthesis of biocontrol agents were detected. Four gene clusters were shown to direct the synthesis of the cyclic lipopeptides surfactin, iturin A and fengycin as well as the iron-siderophore bacillibactin. Beside these non-ribosomaly synthetised peptides, three additional gene clusters directing the synthesis of the antibacterial polyketides macrolactin, bacillaene and difficidin were identified. Mass spectrometry analysis of culture supernatants led to the identification of these secondary metabolites, hence demonstrating that the corresponding biosynthetic gene clusters are functional in strain GA1. In addition, genes encoding enzymes involved in synthesis and export of the dipeptide antibiotic bacilysin were highlighted. However, only its chlorinated derivative, chlorotetaine, could be detected in culture supernatants. On the contrary, genes involved in ribosome-dependent synthesis of bacteriocin and other antibiotic peptides were not detected as compared to the reference strain B. amyloliquefaciens FZB42. Conclusion The production of all of these antibiotic compounds highlights B. amyloliquefaciens GA1 as a good candidate for the development of biocontrol agents.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Agricultural production / Agrochemicals / Anti-Bacterial Agents - biosynthesis / Anti-Bacterial Agents - metabolism / Antibiotics / Applied Microbiology / Bacillus (Bacteria) / Bacillus - chemistry / Bacillus - classification / Bacillus - genetics / Bacillus amyloliquefaciens / Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GA1 / Bacteria / Biological control / Biotechnology / Chemistry / Chemistry and Materials Science / Colleges & universities / Crop management / Environmental impact / Enzymology / Food / Food production / Food storage / Genetic aspects / Genetic Engineering / Genomes / Lactones - metabolism / Life sciences / Lipopeptides - biosynthesis / Macrolides - metabolism / Mass spectrometry / Metabolites / Methods / Microbial Genetics and Genomics / Microbiological synthesis / Microbiologie / Microbiology / Microorganisms / Multigene Family / Oligopeptides - biosynthesis / Pathogens / Peptides / Peptides, Cyclic - biosynthesis / Pest Control, Biological - methods / Pesticides / Pests / Phylogeny / Plant diseases / Polyenes - metabolism / Production processes / Sciences du vivant / Secondary metabolites / Trees