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Pulcherriminic acid relay; a Bacilli route to attack pathogens

Ramya Srinivasan1, Chaitany Jayprakash Raorane2, Tamil Selvam Saravanan1

  • 1Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India.

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
|February 5, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Bacillus subtilis uses pulcherriminic acid (PA) relay via biofilms to starve pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus of iron. This novel antimicrobial strategy may offer a promising alternative for combating drug-resistant S. aureus infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance
  • Biofilm Dynamics

Background:

  • Pulcherriminic acid (PA) is an antimicrobial pigment produced by Bacillus subtilis.
  • PA chelates iron, forming pulcherrimin, which can inhibit pathogen growth.
  • Staphylococcus aureus relies on the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) system for iron homeostasis and virulence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the mechanistic insights of PA relay impacting the Fur system in Staphylococcus aureus.
  • To highlight the potential of PA and PA-producing Bacillus species as an alternative strategy against drug-resistant S. aureus.

Main Methods:

  • This is a perspective article, discussing plausible mechanistic insights.
  • Literature review and theoretical analysis of PA relay and the Fur system.

Main Results:

  • PA relay mechanism involves Bacillus subtilis biofilms delivering PA to pathogens.
  • PA-iron complex formation deprives pathogens of essential iron.
  • PA relay is hypothesized to interfere with the Staphylococcus aureus Fur system.

Conclusions:

  • PA relay presents a novel antimicrobial mechanism against S. aureus.
  • Bacillus subtilis and its PA production offer a potential avenue for combating antibiotic-resistant S. aureus infections.
Keywords:
B. subtilisS. aureusantibiofilmbiofilmfur systempulcherrimin

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