Identification of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus inhibitory compound isolated from Serratia marcescens

In this study, we identified an antimicrobial compound produced by the Gram-negative bacterium Serratia marcescens. Colonies of S. marcescens inhibited the growth of nine different methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates and several other tested Gram-positive bacterial species, but not Gram-negative bacteria. Genetic analysis revealed the requirement for the swrW gene which codes for a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase that generates the cyclodepsipeptide antibiotic serratamolide, also known as serrawettin W1. This is the first report describing the anti-MRSA properties of serratamolide.