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Updated: Mar 17, 2026
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: November 17, 2018
Human commensals producing a novel antibiotic impair pathogen colonization
Alexander Zipperer1,2, Martin C Konnerth3, Claudia Laux1,2
1Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Abstract:
The vast majority of systemic bacterial infections are caused by facultative, often antibiotic-resistant, pathogens colonizing human body surfaces. Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus predisposes to invasive infection, but the mechanisms that permit or interfere with pathogen colonization are largely unknown. Whereas soil microbes are known to compete by production of antibiotics, such processes have rarely been reported for human microbiota. We show that nasal Staphylococcus lugdunensis strains produce lugdunin, a novel thiazolidine-containing cyclic peptide antibiotic that prohibits colonization by S. aureus, and a rare example of a non-ribosomally synthesized bioactive compound from human-associated bacteria. Lugdunin is bactericidal against major pathogens, effective in animal models, and not prone to causing development of resistance in S. aureus. Notably, human nasal colonization by S. lugdunensis was associated with a significantly reduced S. aureus carriage rate, suggesting that lugdunin or lugdunin-producing commensal bacteria could be valuable for preventing staphylococcal infections. Moreover, human microbiota should be considered as a source for new antibiotics.
Insights
Nasal bacteria Staphylococcus lugdunensis produce a novel antibiotic, lugdunin, that prevents colonization by the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. This discovery highlights the potential of human microbiota as a source for new antibiotics to combat resistant bacteria.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
- Drug Discovery and Development
- Human Microbiome Research
Background:
- Systemic bacterial infections often stem from antibiotic-resistant pathogens colonizing human surfaces.
- Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is a known risk factor for invasive infections, but colonization mechanisms are poorly understood.
- Antibiotic production by human commensal bacteria, unlike soil microbes, is rarely reported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of pathogen colonization on human body surfaces, specifically nasal carriage.
- To identify novel antimicrobial compounds produced by human commensal bacteria.
- To explore the potential of these compounds and bacteria for preventing staphylococcal infections.
Main Methods:
- Identification and characterization of antimicrobial compounds produced by nasal Staphylococcus lugdunensis strains.
- Determination of the chemical structure and properties of the novel antibiotic, lugdunin.
- Assessment of lugdunin's bactericidal activity against major pathogens and its efficacy in animal models.
- Evaluation of S. lugdunensis colonization rates in humans and its association with S. aureus carriage.
Main Results:
- Staphylococcus lugdunensis produces lugdunin, a novel cyclic peptide antibiotic.
- Lugdunin exhibits bactericidal activity against major pathogens and is effective in animal models without readily inducing resistance in S. aureus.
- Human nasal colonization by S. lugdunensis correlates with significantly reduced S. aureus carriage rates.
Conclusions:
- Lugdunin is a potent antibiotic produced by a human commensal bacterium, effective against key pathogens.
- Lugdunin-producing commensal bacteria, like S. lugdunensis, show promise for preventing staphylococcal infections.
- The human microbiota represents a valuable, yet underexplored, source for novel antibiotic discovery.
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