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A family of lanthipeptides with anti-phage function
Helena Shomar1, Marie Guillaume1, Florian Tesson2
1Institut Pasteur, Université Paris-Cité, CNRS UMR 3525, Molecular Diversity of Microbes, 75015 Paris, France; INSERM, Sorbonne Université SEED, U1338, 75005 Paris, France.
Cell Host & Microbe
|July 20, 2026
Summary
Bacteria produce lanthivirins, a new class of natural products, to defend against phages. This discovery reveals novel antiviral compounds and mechanisms for bacterial defense.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Bacteriophage Biology
Background:
- Bacterial natural products are crucial for adaptation, with phage interactions driving evolution.
- Chemical anti-phage defenses are vital but remain underexplored.
- Lanthipeptide biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are known for producing diverse compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize novel anti-phage natural products and their biosynthetic pathways.
- To investigate the role of lanthipeptide BGCs in bacterial defense against phages.
- To explore the potential of these systems for discovering new antiviral agents.
Main Methods:
- Bioinformatic identification of lanthipeptide BGCs in Actinobacteria.
- Genetic manipulation and heterologous expression of lanthivirin systems.
- Mutational analysis of biosynthetic machinery and core peptides.
- Genetic and biochemical assays during phage infection.
Main Results:
- A widespread family of lanthipeptide BGCs, termed lanthivirins, conferring anti-phage activity was identified.
- Lanthivirin BGCs frequently colocalize with other defense systems in genomic islands.
- Anti-phage activity was confirmed in native and heterologous systems, requiring lanthivirin maturation.
- Infection analyses revealed phage-protein-dependent inhibition of phage DNA replication without host toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Lanthivirins represent a novel class of bacterial anti-phage compounds.
- Bacterial BGCs are a rich source of undiscovered antiviral natural products.
- Lanthivirins offer a promising new avenue for developing antiviral therapeutics.
Keywords:
ActinobacteriaLanthipeptidesStreptomycesanti-phage defensebiosynthetic gene clusterchemical defensedefense islandslanthivirinsnatural productsphage DNA replicationMore Related Videos
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