Novel LanT associated lantibiotic clusters identified by genome database mining

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Genomics
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat.
• Lantibiotics are antimicrobial peptides with low resistance development.
• Nisin is a well-established lantibiotic, highlighting their therapeutic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify novel lantibiotic biosynthetic gene clusters in bacterial genomes.
• To discover new antimicrobial compounds as alternatives to conventional antibiotics.

Main Methods:

• Screening bacterial genomes for LanT homologs, a conserved lantibiotic transporter.
• Bioinformatic analysis of identified strains to find genes for precursor peptides, modification enzymes, and immunity proteins.
• Characterization of identified lantibiotic gene clusters based on determinant types (e.g., LanM, LanBC).

Main Results:

• Identified 54 bacterial strains with LanT homologs, not previously known as lantibiotic producers.
• Detailed analysis revealed 8 novel two-component lantibiotic clusters (like haloduracin) and 13 single-component clusters (like mersacidin).
• Discovered 3 clusters with LanBC genes and unique precursor peptides, similar to salivaricin, and identified orphan LanT homologs.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully identified numerous novel putative lantibiotic gene clusters.
• These findings provide a foundation for discovering new lantibiotics to address antibiotic resistance.