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Antimicrobial properties of Pseudomonas strains producing the antibiotic mupirocin

Sandra Matthijs1, Corinne Vander Wauven1, Bertrand Cornu1

  • 1Institut de Recherches Microbiologiques - Wiame, Campus du CERIA, 1 avenue Emile Gryson, bât 4B, B-1070 Bruxelles, Belgium.

Research in Microbiology
|October 12, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Mupirocin antibiotic production is confined to a single Pseudomonas species. This antibiotic is crucial for antagonism against Staphylococcus aureus, though pyoverdine plays a role in specific conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Mupirocin is a potent polyketide antibiotic with extensive antibacterial properties.
  • It was first isolated from Pseudomonas fluorescens approximately 40 years ago.
  • Understanding the distribution of mupirocin-producing strains is vital for antibiotic research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phylogenetic distribution of mupirocin-producing Pseudomonas strains globally.
  • To identify specific Pseudomonas species responsible for mupirocin biosynthesis.
  • To elucidate the role of mupirocin and other metabolites in antagonism against Staphylococcus aureus.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of a large collection of Pseudomonas strains (117 type strains, 461 isolates) using PCR for the mupirocin gene cluster component, mmpD.
  • Identification of mupirocin-producing strains through molecular and phenotypic analyses.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to determine the taxonomic distribution of mupirocin producers.
  • In vitro antagonism assays against Staphylococcus aureus, including experiments with mupirocin-negative mutants and on iron-reduced media.

Main Results:

  • Five mupirocin-producing strains were identified across diverse geographic and biological origins, all positive for the mmpD gene.
  • Phylogenetic analysis revealed that mupirocin production is restricted to a single Pseudomonas species.
  • Mupirocin production was essential for in vitro antagonism against Staphylococcus aureus, except on iron-reduced media where pyoverdine mediated antagonism.
  • Some identified strains also produced massetolide lipopeptides, but these did not contribute to the observed antagonism against S. aureus.

Conclusions:

  • Mupirocin production in Pseudomonas is taxonomically restricted to a single species.
  • Mupirocin is the primary agent for in vitro antagonism against Staphylococcus aureus in these strains.
  • Pyoverdine can mediate antagonism under specific iron-limited conditions, highlighting the complexity of microbial interactions.
Keywords:
MassetolideMupirocinPseudomonas fluorescens NCIMB 10586Pseudomonas sp. W2Aug9Pyoverdine

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