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Journal of Bacteriology, November 2007, p. 7741-7751, Vol. 189, No. 21
0021-9193/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00474-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Diversity of Bacteriocins and Activity Spectrum in Streptococcus pneumoniae{triangledown}

Thomas Lux,1 Michael Nuhn,2 Regine Hakenbeck,1 and Peter Reichmann2*

Department of Microbiology, University of Kaiserslautern, Paul Ehrlich Str. 23, D-67663 Kaiserslautern,1 Nano+Bio Center, University of Kaiserslautern, Postfach 3049, D-67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany2

Received 29 March 2007/ Accepted 6 August 2007

The production of bacteriocins can be favorable for colonization of the host by eliminating other bacterial species that share the same environment. In Streptococcus pneumoniae, the pnc (blp) locus encoding putative bacteriocins, immunity, and export proteins is controlled by a two-component system similar to the comCDE system required for the induction of genetic competence. A detailed comparison of the pnc clusters of four genetically distinct isolates confirmed the great plasticity of this locus and documented several repeat sequences. Members of the multiple-antibiotic-resistant Spain23F-1 clone, one member of the Spain9V-3 clone, sensitive 23F strain 2306, and the TIGR4 strain produced bactericidal substances active against other gram-positive bacteria and in some cases against S. pneumoniae as well. However, other strains did not show activity against the indicator strains despite the presence of a bacteriocin cluster, indicating that other factors are required for bacteriocin activity. Analysis of strain 2306 and mutant derivatives of this strain confirmed that bacteriocin production was dependent on the two-component regulatory system and genes involved in bacteriocin transport and processing. At least one other bacteriocin gene, pncE, is located elsewhere on the chromosome and might contribute to the bacteriocin activity of this strain.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Nano+Bio Center, University of Kaiserslautern, Erwin Schrödinger Str. 13, Postfach 3049, Kaiserslautern, Germany. Phone: 49-631 205 4809. Fax: 49-631 205 4895. E-mail: reichman{at}rhrk.uni-kl.de

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 17 August 2007.

Journal of Bacteriology, November 2007, p. 7741-7751, Vol. 189, No. 21
0021-9193/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00474-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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