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Updated: Oct 4, 2025
Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Published on: March 3, 2023
Identification and Characterization of a Potential Antibiotic Producing Strain of Pantoea ananatis
Michael J LaGier1, Mark McDaniel1, Alyssa Ragner1
1Department of Biology, Grand View University, Des Moines, IA, USA.
Abstract:
Antibiotic resistance continues to be a significant public health challenge. Soil bacteria represent a potential source of yet to be discovered antimicrobials. The screening of Iowa (United States) soils yielded the identification of a strain of Pantoea ananatis (MMB-1), which displayed an antimicrobial-producing phenotype against a bacterium (Bacillus subtilis) representative of Gram-positive bacteria. Crude, organic, extracts of MMB-1 retained the anti-microbial activity. The draft genome of strain MMB-1 contains a total of 4,634,340 bp, and 4,624 protein-encoding genes. Consistent with phenotypic observation, the genome of MMB-1 encodes for a number of putative secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, including those known to be involved in the production of the antibiotics lankacidin C and bottromycin. This study increases our overall understanding of Panteoa as a group, and is also consistent with the notion that members of this genus have significant potential as useful natural product producers.
Insights
Soil bacteria can yield new antibiotics. Researchers found a Pantoea ananatis strain producing antimicrobial compounds effective against Bacillus subtilis, highlighting its potential for natural product discovery.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Natural Product Discovery
- Genomics
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance is a major global health threat.
- Soil microorganisms are a promising source for novel antimicrobial compounds.
- The genus Pantoea is increasingly recognized for its biosynthetic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To screen soil bacteria for antimicrobial-producing capabilities.
- To identify and characterize a novel antimicrobial-producing strain.
- To investigate the genomic basis for antimicrobial production in Pantoea ananatis.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and screening of soil bacteria from Iowa, USA.
- Phenotypic testing of antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis.
- Whole-genome sequencing and analysis of the identified strain (MMB-1).
- Identification of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters.
Main Results:
- A Pantoea ananatis strain (MMB-1) was isolated, exhibiting antimicrobial activity.
- Crude extracts from MMB-1 retained antimicrobial properties.
- The MMB-1 genome (4.6 Mbp, 4,624 genes) contains gene clusters for lankacidin C and bottromycin.
- Genomic data supports the observed antimicrobial phenotype.
Conclusions:
- Pantoea ananatis strain MMB-1 is a source of antimicrobial compounds.
- The identified strain possesses the genetic machinery for producing known antibiotics.
- Pantoea species hold significant potential for natural product drug discovery.
