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Based on the exploration of data generated by genome sequencing, a bioinformatics approach has been chosen to identify the biosynthetic pathway of the siderophores produced by Aeromonas species. The amonabactins, considered as a virulence factor, represent a family of four variants of catechol peptidic siderophores containing Dhb, Lys, Gly, and an aromatic residue either Trp or Phe in a D-configuration. The synthesis operon is constituted of seven genes named amoCEBFAGH and is iron-regulated. The cluster includes genes encoding proteins involved in the synthesis and incorporation of the Dhb monomer, and genes encoding specific nonribosomal peptide synthetases, which are responsible for the building of the peptidic moiety. The amonabactin assembly line displays a still so far not described atypical mode of synthesis that is iterative, alternative, and optional. A disruption mutant in the adenylation domain of AmoG was unable to synthesize any amonabactin and to grow in iron stress conditions while a deletion of amoH resulted in the production of only two over the four forms. The amo cluster is widespread among most of the Aeromonas species, only few species produces the enterobactin siderophore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new family of lipopeptides produced by Bacillus thuringiensis, the kurstakins, was discovered in 2000 and considered as a biomarker of this species. Kurstakins are lipoheptapeptides displaying antifungal activities against Stachybotrys charatum. Recently, the biosynthesis mechanism, the regulation of this biosynthesis and the potential new properties of kurstakins were described in the literature. In addition, kurstakins were also detected in other species belonging to Bacillus genus such as Bacillus cereus. This mini-review gathers all the information about these promising bioactive molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degenerated primers designed for the detection by polymerase chain reaction of nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) genes involved in the biosynthesis of lipopeptides were used on genomic DNA from a new isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis CIP 110220. Primers dedicated to surfactin and bacillomycin detection amplified sequences corresponding respectively to the surfactin synthetase operon and to a gene belonging to a new NRPS operon identified in the genome of B. thuringiensis serovar pondicheriensis BSCG 4BA1. A bioinformatics analysis of this operon led to the prediction of an NRPS constituted of seven modules beginning with a condensation starter domain and which could be involved in the biosynthesis of a heptalipopeptide similar to kurstakin. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS) performed on whole cells of B. thuringiensis CIP 110220 confirmed the production of kurstakin by this strain. The kurstakin operon was thus used to design a new set of degenerated primers specifically to detect kurstakin genes. These primers were used to screen kurstakin producers in a collection of nine B. thuringiensis strains isolated from different areas in Algeria and two from the Pasteur Institute collection. For eight among the 11 tested strains, the amplified fragment matched with an operon similar to the kurstakin operon and found in the newly sequenced genome of Bacillus cereus or B. thuringiensis serovar pulsiensis, kurstaki, and thuringiensis. Kurstakin production was detected by MALDI-ToF-MS on whole cells for six strains. This production was compared with the spreading of the strains and their antimicrobial activity. Only the spreading can be correlated with the kurstakin production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfactin and fengycin are lipopeptide biosurfactants produced by Bacillus subtilis. This work describes for the first time the use of bubbleless bioreactors for the production of these lipopeptides by B. subtilis ATCC 21332 with aeration by a hollow fiber membrane air–liquid contactor to prevent foam formation. Three different configurations were tested: external aeration module made from either polyethersulfone (reactor BB1) or polypropylene (reactor BB2) and a submerged module in polypropylene (reactor BB3). Bacterial growth, glucose consumption, lipopeptide production, and oxygen uptake rate were monitored during the culture in the bioreactors. For all the tested membranes, the bioreactors were of satisfactory bacterial growth and lipopeptide production. In the three configurations, surfactin production related to the culture volume was in the same range: 242, 230, and 188 mg l−1 for BB1, BB2, and BB3, respectively. Interestingly, high differences were observed for fengycin production: 47 mg l−1 for BB1, 207 mg l−1 for BB2, and 393 mg l−1 for BB3. A significant proportion of surfactin was adsorbed on the membranes and reduced the volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient. The degree of adsorption depended on both the material and the structure of the membrane and was higher with the submerged polypropylene membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]