Lantibiotic-producing bacteria impact microbiome resilience and colonization resistance

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Bacteriocin studies
• Gut microbial ecology

Background:

• Commensal bacteria produce bacteriocins, like lantibiotics, to compete for niche in the gut.
• Lantibiotics exhibit antimicrobial activity against pathogens, suggesting therapeutic potential for antibiotic-resistant infections.
• The specific impact of lantibiotic-producing bacteria on the overall gut microbiome composition and function is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the abundance and impact of lantibiotic-producing bacterial species in the gut microbiome.
• To determine the effect of lantibiotic-producing bacteria on microbiome resilience and susceptibility to infection following antibiotic treatment.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of bacterial species encoding lanthipeptide genes versus those deficient in them in hospitalized patients.
• Administration of Blautia pseudococcoides SCSK (BpSCSK) in a mouse model.
• Assessment of intestinal recolonization, fecal microbiota-derived metabolites, and colonization resistance against specific pathogens (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Clostridioides difficile) post-antibiotic treatment.

Main Results:

• Bacterial species with lanthipeptide genes were more abundant in hospitalized patients compared to lantibiotic-deficient strains.
• Administration of BpSCSK in mice prevented recolonization by commensal species after antibiotic-induced dysbiosis.
• BpSCSK significantly reduced fecal microbiota-derived metabolites and led to a sustained loss of colonization resistance against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Clostridioides difficile.

Conclusions:

• Lantibiotic-producing bacteria can negatively impact microbiome resilience.
• Lantibiotic-mediated dysbiosis compromises the gut's defense against opportunistic pathogens after antibiotic exposure.
• Understanding lantibiotic-producing bacteria is crucial for managing microbiome health and infection susceptibility.