Megaplasmids encode differing combinations of lantibiotics in Streptococcus salivarius

• Published in: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Vol. 90; no. 3; pp. 269 - 280
• Main Authors: Wescombe, Philip A., Burton, Jeremy P., Cadieux, Peter A., Klesse, Nikolai A., Hyink, Otto, Heng, Nicholas C. K., Chilcott, Chris N., Reid, Gregor, Tagg, John R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.10.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacteriocins - genetics; Bacteriocins - metabolism; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Genetics; Microbiology; Peptides - genetics; Peptides - metabolism; Plasmids; Plasmids - genetics; Plasmids - metabolism; Streptococcus - genetics; Streptococcus - metabolism; Streptococcus salivarius; Bacteriocin; Lantibiotics; Plasmid; Streptococcaceae; Pulsed field electrophoresis; Streptococcus salivarius; Megaplasmid; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Lantibiotic; Combinatorics; Bacteriocins; Mass spectrometry
• ISSN: 0003-6072; 1572-9699
• DOI: 10.1007/s10482-006-9081-y

Streptococcus salivarius strains commonly produce bacteriocins as putative anti-competitor or signalling molecules. Here we report that bacteriocin production by the oral probiotic strain S. salivarius K12 is encoded by a large (ca. 190 kb) plasmid. Oral cavity transmission of the plasmid from strain K12 to a plasmid-negative variant of this bacterium was demonstrated in two subjects. Tests of additional S. salivarius strains showed large (up to ca. 220 kb) plasmids present in bacteriocin-producing isolates. Various combinations (up to 3 per plasmid) of loci encoding the known streptococcal lantibiotics salivaricin A, salivaricin B, streptin and SA-FF22 were localised to these plasmids. Since all bacteriocin-producing strains of S. salivarius tested to date appear to harbour plasmids, it appears that they may function as mobile repositories for bacteriocin loci, especially those of the lantibiotic class.