Draft genome sequence of Enterococcus faecium E86, a strain producing broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides: Description of a novel bacteriocin immunity protein and a novel sequence type.

The aim of this study was to report the draft genome sequence of the bacteriocinogenic strain Enterococcus faecium E86. Bacteriocins are prokaryotic peptides or proteins with antimicrobial activity. The genome information may contribute to the identification of enterocins produced by this strain that exhibit inhibitory activity against the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) involved in human infections, among other bacterial genera and species. An Illumina MiSeq platform was used for genome sequencing. De novo assembly of 5 735 838 paired-end reads was done using the A5-miseq pipeline, yielding >300-fold average genome coverage. Genome annotation was performed by the RAST server, and mining of the bacteriocinogenic gene clusters was done using the BAGEL3 and antiSMASH v.4 platforms. The total scaffold size was determined to be 2 689 107 bp, approximately 2.7 Mbp, featuring a G + C content of 38.1%. The genome contains 2858 coding sequences and 74 RNA genes. Genome analyses revealed the presence of: 30 genes involved in drug resistance; 2 bacteriocinogenic gene clusters (for enterocin P and enterocin TW21); EntiTW21, a novel bacteriocin immunity protein and a novel multilocus sequence type (ST1500). This work highlights the potential biotechnological application of this strain for the production of enterocin P, a bacteriocin that can be employed in the food industry as a biopreservative against L. monocytogenes and as an alternative to classical antibiotics against VRE.

Miceli de Farias F ，Silva Francisco M ，Nascimento de Sousa Santos I ，Salustiano Marques-Bastos SL ，Lemos Miguel MA ，Mattos Albano R ，de Freire Bastos MDC ... -  《-》

Characterization of Enterococcus faecium E86 bacteriocins and their inhibition properties against Listeria monocytogenes and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.

In the present scenario of a major demand for new compounds with antimicrobial activity, bacteriocin and bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS) are promising tools against deteriorating and pathogenic microorganisms, thus having potential applications in both the food industry and infectious disease control. In the present report, we describe the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of BLIS produced by Enterococcus faecium E86, a strain previously isolated and sequenced by our group, focusing on the structural genes of two bacteriocins identified: enterocin TW21 and enterocin P. Transcription of all four genes associated with the biosynthesis and immunity of enterocin P and enterocin TW21 were confirmed by RT-PCR. However, Sanger sequencing confirmed a truncation of the structural gene of enterocin TW21 due to one base pair deletion (A/T). Thus, although E. faecium E86 was shown to carry two bacteriocinogenic gene clusters, only one cluster encodes a functional bacteriocin, enterocin P. Enterocin P was able to inhibit different strains of Listeria monocytogenes and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (both Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium), showing intense bacteriolytic activity, in most cases.

Farias FM ，Teixeira LM ，Vallim DC ，Bastos MDCF ，Miguel MAL ，Bonelli RR ... -  《-》

Draft genome sequence of Staphylococcus agnetis 3682, the producing strain of the broad-spectrum lantibiotic agneticin 3682.

Here we report the draft genome sequence of Staphylococcus agnetis 3682, a strain producing agneticin 3682, a broad-spectrum lantibiotic with potential medical applications. The inhibitory activity of S. agnetis 3682 against multidrug-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates involved in human infections was also investigated. A sequencing library was constructed using a Nextera XT DNA Library Preparation Kit. An Illumina MiSeq system was used to perform whole-genome shotgun sequencing. De novo genome assembly was performed using the A5-miseq pipeline. Staphylococcus agnetis 3628 genome annotation was performed by the RAST server, and BAGEL4 and antiSMASH v.4.0 platforms were used for mining bacteriocin gene clusters. The inhibitory activity of S. agnetis 3682 against 20 multidrug-resistant MRSA strains involved in human infections in two Brazilian hospitals was determined by the deferred antagonism assay on brain-heart infusion (BHI) agar plates. The total scaffold size was determined to be 2 502 817bp with a G+C content of 35.6%. Genome analyses revealed 2437 coding sequences, 76 RNA genes, 27 genes involved in drug resistance and 2 bacteriocinogenic gene clusters (for agneticin 3682 and hyicin 4244). Staphylococcus agnetis 3682 inhibited 80% of the MRSA isolates tested. This study describes the main features of the draft genome of S. agnetis 3682, a strain producing the first bacteriocin (agneticin 3682) reported in this species. A second gene cluster encoding a sactipeptide was also found in the bacterial chromosome. Agneticin 3682 shows a new potential application against clinical MRSA isolates.

Fagundes PC ，Francisco MS ，Sousa Santos IN ，Marques-Bastos SLS ，Paz JAS ，Albano RM ，do Carmo de Freire Bastos M ... -  《-》

Draft genome sequence of Staphylococcus agnetis 4244, a strain with gene clusters encoding distinct post-translationally modified antimicrobial peptides.

Here we report the draft genome sequence of Staphylococcus agnetis 4244, a strain involved in bovine mastitis, and its ability to inhibit different species of antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria owing to bacteriocin production. An Illumina MiSeq platform was used for genome sequencing. De novo genome assembly was done using the A5-miseq pipeline. Genome annotation was performed by the RAST server, and mining of bacteriocinogenic gene clusters was done using the BAGEL4 and antiSMASH v.5.0 platforms. Investigation of the spectrum of activity of S. agnetis 4244 was performed on BHI agar by deferred antagonism assay. The total scaffold size was determined to be 2 511 708 bp featuring a G+C content of 35.6%. The genome contains 2431 protein-coding sequences and 80 RNA sequences. Genome analyses revealed three prophage sequences inserted in the genome as well as several genes involved in drug resistance and two bacteriocin gene clusters (encoding a thiopeptide and a sactipeptide) encoded on the bacterial chromosome. Staphylococcus agnetis 4244 was able to inhibit all 44 strains of antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria tested in this study, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other antibiotic-resistant staphylococcal strains. This study emphasises the potential biotechnological application of this strain for production of bacteriocins that could be used in the food industry as biopreservatives and/or in medicine as alternative therapeutic options against VRE, MRSA, vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus and other antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, including biofilm-forming isolates. It also provides some genetic features of the draft genome of S. agnetis 4244.

Francisco MS ，Coelho MLV ，Duarte AFS ，Towle KM ，Chiorean S ，Almeida GS ，van Belkum MJ ，Nes IF ，Vederas JC ，Bastos MDCF ... -  《-》

Enterocin TW21, a novel bacteriocin from dochi-isolated Enterococcus faecium D081821.

Purification and characterization of a novel bacteriocin produced by strain Enterococcus faecium D081821. Enterococcus faecium D081821, isolated from the traditional Taiwanese fermented food dochi (fermented black beans), was previously found to produce a bacteriocin against Listeria monocytogenes and some Gram-positive bacteria. This bacteriocin, termed enterocin TW21, was purified from culture supernatant by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Mass spectrometry analysis showed the mass of the peptide to be approximately 5300·6 Da. The N-terminal amino acid sequencing yielded a partial sequence NH2 -ATYYGNGVYxNTQK by Edman degradation, and it contains the consensus class IIa bacteriocin motif YGNGV in the N-terminal region. The open reading frame (ORF) encoding the bacteriocin was identified from the draft genome sequence of Enterococcus faecium D081821, and sequence analysis of this peptide indicated that enterocin TW21 is a novel bacteriocin. Enterococcus faecium D081821 produced a bacteriocin named enterocin TW21, the molecular weight and amino acid sequence both revealed it to be a novel bacteriocin. A new member of class IIa bacteriocin was identified. This bacteriocin shows great inhibitory ability against L. monocytogenes and could be applied as a natural food preservative.

Chang SY ，Chen YS ，Pan SF ，Lee YS ，Chang CH ，Chang CH ，Yu B ，Wu HC ... -  《-》