The diversity antifungal lipopeptides in the Bacillus subitlis group – important plant pathogen antagonists

Authors: Dunlap, Christopher

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/5/2019
Publication Date: 11/5/2019
Citation: Dunlap, C.A. 2019. The diversity antifungal lipopeptides in the Bacillus subitlis group – important plant pathogen antagonists. Meeting Abstract. [abstract].

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Iturins and closely related lipopeptides constitute a family of antifungal compounds known as iturinic lipopetides that are produced by species in the Bacillus subtilis group. The compounds that comprise the family are: iturin, bacillomycin D, bacillomycin F, bacillomycin L, mycosubtilin and mojavensin. These lipopeptides are prominent in many Bacillus strains that have been commercialized as biological control agents against fungal plant pathogens and as plant growth promoters. The compounds are cyclic heptapeptides with a variable length alkyl sidechain, which confers surface activity properties resulting in an affinity for fungal membranes. This study identified 330 iturinic lipopeptide clusters in publicly available genomes from the Bacillus subtilis species group. The clusters were subsequently assigned into distinguishable types on the basis of their unique amino acid sequences. The results show some lipopeptides are only produced by one species, whereas certain others can produce up to three. In addition, four species previously not known to produce iturinic lipopeptides were identified. The distribution of these compounds among the B. subtilis group species suggests that they play an important role in their speciation and evolution.