Antibiotic activity altered by competitive interactions between two coral reef – associated bacteria

Mascuch, Samantha J. and Demko, Alyssa and Viulu, Samson and Ginigini, Joape and Soapi, Katy M. and Jensen, Paul and Kubanek, Julia (2022) Antibiotic activity altered by competitive interactions between two coral reef – associated bacteria. Microbial Ecology, NA . NA. ISSN 0095-3628

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Abstract

Microbes produce natural products that mediate interactions with each other and with their environments, representing a
potential source of antibiotics for human use. The biosynthesis of some antibiotics whose constitutive production otherwise remains low has been shown to be induced by competing microbes. Competition among macroorganism hosts may further influence the metabolic outputs of members of their microbiomes, especially near host surfaces where hosts and microbial symbionts come into close contact. At multiple field sites in Fiji, we collected matched samples of corals and algae that were freestanding or in physical contact with each other, cultivated bacteria from their surfaces, and explored growth-inhibitory activities of these bacteria against marine and human pathogens. In the course of the investigation, an interaction was discovered between two coral-associated actinomycetes in which an Agrococcus sp. interfered with the antibiotic output of
a Streptomyces sp. Several diketopiperazines identified from the antibiotic-producing bacterium could not, on their own,
account for the antibiotic activity indicating that other, as yet unidentified molecule(s) or molecular blends, possibly including diketopiperazines, are likely involved. This observation highlights the complex molecular dynamics at play among microbiome constituents. The mechanisms through which microbial interactions impact the biological activities of specialized metabolites deserve further attention considering the ecological and commercial importance of bacterial natural products.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR355 Virology R Medicine > RS Pharmacy and materia medica
Divisions:	School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS)
Depositing User:	Joape Ginigini
Date Deposited:	10 Jan 2023 23:38
Last Modified:	10 Jan 2023 23:38
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/13847

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