Broad-spectrum antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of dandelion endophytic bacteria against multidrug-resistant bacteria

Microbial secondary metabolites have long served as a key source of natural product-based drugs. This study evaluates the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant activities of endophytic bacteria derived from dandelion, focusing on their effects against multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates. In total, 33 endophytic bacteria strains were isolated from Taraxacum ohwianum, representing 15 genera. Among these, 13 exhibited antibacterial activity, with 6 demonstrating efficacy against MDR clinical isolates. The endogenous strain Bacillus velezensis DR8 showed strong antibacterial activity against all three MDR strains tested and exerted inhibitory effects on the biofilm formation and dispersal of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Genome sequencing and antibiotics and secondary metabolite analysis shell analysis revealed that this strain harbors 12 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) associated with secondary metabolite production. Of these, seven BGCs exhibited ≥ 80% similarity to known clusters, suggesting the potential to synthesize surfactin, difficidin, fengycin, bacillaene, macrolactin H, bacilysin, and bacillibactin. Overall, these findings indicate that endophytic bacteria from dandelion are a potential source of antibacterial compounds and biofilm formation inhibitors.