Biological control of the soft rot bacterium Pectobacterium carotovorum by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain Ar10 producing glycolipid-like compounds.

Four hundred and fifty bacteria were evaluated for antagonistic activity against bacterial soft rot of potato caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum sp strain II16. A strain Ar10 exhibiting potent antagonist activity has been identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens on the basis of biochemical and molecular characterization. Cell free supernatant showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against human and phytopathogenic bacteria in the range of 10-60 AU/mL. Incubation of P. carotovorum cells with increasing concentrations of the antibacterial compound showed a killing rate of 94.8 and 96% at MIC and 2xMIC respectively. In addition, the antibacterial agent did not exert haemolytic activity at the active concentration and has been preliminary characterized by TLC and GC-MS as a glycolipid compound. Treatment of potato tubers with strain Ar10 for 72 h significantly reduced the severity of disease symptoms (100 and 85.05% reduction of necrosis deep / area and weight loss respectively). The same levels in disease symptoms severity was also recorded following treatment of potato tubers with cell free supernatant for 1 h. Data suggest that protection against potato soft rot disease may be related to glycolipid production by strain Ar10. The present study affords new alternatives for anti-Pectobacterium carotovorum bioactive compounds against the soft rot disease of potato.

Characterization of endophytic Bacillus strains from tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) displaying antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea Pers.

Eighty endophytic bacteria were isolated from healthy tissues of roots, stems, leaves and fruits of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum). Four strains, named BL1, BT5, BR8 and BF11 were selected for their antagonism against Botrytis cinerea, a phytopathogenic fungus responsible of gray mold in several important crops, with growth inhibitory activity ranging from 27 to 53%. Morphological, biochemical, and molecular parameters as 16S rDNA sequencing demonstrated that the selected bacterial strains were related to Bacillus species which are known to produce and secrete a lot of lipopeptides with strong inhibitory effect against pathogen mycelial growth. Electrospray mass spectrometry analysis showed that these strains produced heterogeneous mixture of antibiotics belonging to fengycin and surfactin for BL1 and BT5, to iturin and surfactin for BR8, to bacillomycin D, fengycin and surfactin for BF11. Furthermore, these bacteria exhibited biocontrol potential by reducing the disease severity when tested on detached leaflets. Based on their antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, these strains could be used for biological control of plant diseases.

Synergistic fungicidal activity of the lipopeptide bacillomycin D with amphotericin B against pathogenic Candida species.

In the present study, the synergism of the lipopeptide bacillomycin D in combination with the polyene amphotericin B against pathogenic Candida species is described along with their potential cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Bacillomycin D inhibited the growth of various Candida species at minimal concentrations from 12.5 to 25 µg ml(-1). Furthermore, it showed a synergistic effect with the antifungal drug amphotericin B in inhibiting the growth of Candida strains, with fractional inhibitory concentration indices ranging from 0.28 to 0.5. Time killing studies revealed a >2-log reduction in the viability of Candida albicans ATCC 10231 cells after 3 h incubation with the combination amphotericin B plus bacillomycin D, at their subinhibitory concentration. Interestingly, when the two drugs were used together at those dosages displaying a synergism in the anti-Candida activity, no cytotoxic effect was observed against mammalian cells. Therefore, the combination bacillomycin D/amphotericin B may represent a valid alternative to conventional antifungals for topical treatment of C. albicans infections. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the in vitro interaction between the antifungal drug amphotericin B and bacillomycin D against pathogenic Candida species.

Isolation and characterization of putative endophytic bacteria antagonistic to Phoma tracheiphila and Verticillium albo-atrum.

A collection of 200 bacterial isolates recovered from citrus plants (Citrus limon, Citrus sinensis, and Citrus reticulata), Medicago truncatula and Laurus nobilis, was established. In vitro screening indicated that 28 isolates exhibited an inhibitory activity against the vascular pathogens Phoma tracheiphila and Verticillium albo-atrum. Isolates were screened according to their hydrolytic activities, plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) abilities, as well as for the presence of nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) genes responsible of the lipopeptide biosynthesis. The results were positive for 16 isolates which exhibited at least two PGPB activities and a single NRPS gene. Genetic diversity of the selected isolates was studied using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and repetitive element PCR (REP) tools that showed clustering of strains into three major groups (I, II, and III) (i, ii, and iii), respectively. Clustering was further confirmed by the 16S rDNA sequencing that assigned nine isolates to Bacillus velezensis, four isolates to Bacillus methyltrophicus, one isolate to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and two isolates to Bacillus mojavensis. Organ-bacterial genotype interaction as well as positive correlation with NRPS genes are discussed.

Putative use of a Bacillus subtilis L194 strain for biocontrol of Phoma medicaginis in Medicago truncatula seedlings.

An antagonist L194 strain against Phoma medicaginis pathogenic fungi was isolated from Tunisian soil (vicinity of Tunis) and identified as Bacillus subtilis based on biochemical characteristics and partial 16S rDNA sequence. When cells were grown in a minimal medium for 24 h, spore culture supernatant exhibited 2-fold higher antifungal activity than vegetative cells. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis showed that L194 spores produced mainly iturins, surfactins and fengycins with long-chain fatty acids, and other not yet identified compounds. Both vegetative cells and spores of L194 efficiently reduced germination of P. medicaginis conidia. As revealed by atomic force microscopy, L194 spores modified conidia morphology from a regular to a deflated shape. Data suggest that lipopeptides interacted with the cytoplasmic membrane, causing pore formation. In vivo, L194 spores were highly protective against P. medicaginis by reducing disease symptoms and alleviating growth disturbance of Medicago truncatula seedlings. As a whole, the lipopeptide-producing L194 strain may be successfully used in biocontrol of plant diseases induced by phytopathogenic fungi such as P. medicaginis.

Anti-candida effect of bacillomycin D-like lipopeptides from Bacillus subtilis B38.

Bacillus subtilis B38, isolated from soil, showed antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic Candida albicans species. Specific PCR primers revealed the presence of the bamC gene, which is involved in the biosynthesis of bacillomycin D. Three anti-Candida compounds designated a(1) , a(2) and a(3) were purified from culture supernatant and identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS as analogues of bacillomycin D-like lipopeptides of 14, 15 and 16 carbon fatty acid long chains, respectively. The compound a(3) displayed the strongest fungicidal activity against pathogenic C. albicans strains. It was even more active than amphotericin B with a lethal concentration of 59.07 vs. 135.26 µM of the antimycotic drug against the pathogenic strain C. albicans sp. 311 isolated from finger nail. Only moderate or weak anti-Candida activity was recorded for a(1) and a(2) compounds. Furthermore, a(3) showed the highest hemolytic activity, reaching 50% hemolysis at 22.14 µM, whereas a(1) and a(2) displayed a limited hemolysis at 68.26 and 37.41 µM, respectively. These findings suggest that the acyl chain length of bacillomycin D-like lipopeptides plays a major role in hemolytic and antifungal activities.

Production of anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus activity from Bacillus subtilis sp. strain B38 newly isolated from soil.

B38 bacterial strain, isolated from Tunisian soil showed a strong antimicrobial activity. Based on biochemical characterization and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, B38 strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis. Cell culture supernatant showed antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species and several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi was also observed. Antibacterial activity production started at early exponential growth phase, and maximum activity was reached at the stationary phase. This antibacterial activity was neither affected by proteases, lipase, and organic solvents, nor by surfactants. It was stable over a wide pH range and still active after autoclaving at 121 degrees C during 20 min. Thin layer chromatography followed by bioautography assay allowed the detection of four active spots with R(f) values of 0.30, 0.47, 0.70, and 0.82. The single spot with R (f) 0.30 showed antifungal activity, whereas the spots with R(f) values of 0.47, 0.70, and 0.82 exhibited antibacterial activity.