303
ribosomally or nonribosomally. Ribosomal peptides are gene encoded and are synthesized by the ribosome using a messenger RNA in the form of precursor peptides
which are then posttranslationally modified. Nonribosomal peptides are secondary
metabolites synthesized by nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) without relying on a messenger RNA. The antimicrobials from bacillus are used in clinical
applications, in control of food microbes, and in control of plant diseases.
Bacteriocins Bacteriocins are a diverse group of ribosomally synthesized peptides
or proteins with microbicidal activity against species or strains that are closely
related to the bacteria that produced it. Bacteriocins often differ in molecular
weights, spectrum of activity, biochemical characteristics and mechanism of action.
Several of the antimicrobial substances produced by Bacillus fall under the class I
bacteriocins. They include lantibiotics which are small molecular weight,
gene- encoded peptides characterized by the presence of polycyclic thioether amino
acids, lanthionone and/or methyl lanthionine involved in the formation of a ring
structure through intramolecular posttranslational modifications. They are also
Table 12.1 Antimicrobial secondary metabolites produced by the genus Bacillus
Structural Class Compounds
Producer
Activity
Bacteriocin
Lichenin
B. licheniformis
Bactericidal and bacteriolytic
Megacin
B. megaterium
Coagulin
B. coagulans
Polyfermenticin B. polyfermenticus
Cerein
B. cereus
Thuricins
B. thuringiensis
Bactericidal and bacteriolytic
Tochicin
Bactericidal
Kurstakin
Fungicidal
Entomocin
Bactericidal
Bacthuricin
Fungicidal
Lantibiotic
Subtilin
B. subtilis
Antibacterial
Ericin
Mersacidin
Sublancin
Subtilolysin
Dipeptide
Bacilysin
B. subtilis, B.
amyloliquefaciens, B. pumilus
Antifungal and antibacterial
Phospholipid
Bacilysocin
B. subtilis
Fungicidal and antibacterial
Cyclic
lipoheptapeptide
Mycosubtilin
B. subtilis
Fungicidal
Iturin
B. subtilis, B.
amyloliquefaciens
Antifungal
Fengycin
Bacillomycin
Polyketides
Difficidin
B. amyloliquefaciens
Bacillaene
Macrolactin
Aminopolyol
Zwittermicin
B. thuringiensis, B. cereus
Antibiotic and antifungal
12 Antimicrobials from Microbes
ribosomally or nonribosomally. Ribosomal peptides are gene encoded and are synthesized by the ribosome using a messenger RNA in the form of precursor peptides
which are then posttranslationally modified. Nonribosomal peptides are secondary
metabolites synthesized by nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) without relying on a messenger RNA. The antimicrobials from bacillus are used in clinical
applications, in control of food microbes, and in control of plant diseases.
Bacteriocins Bacteriocins are a diverse group of ribosomally synthesized peptides
or proteins with microbicidal activity against species or strains that are closely
related to the bacteria that produced it. Bacteriocins often differ in molecular
weights, spectrum of activity, biochemical characteristics and mechanism of action.
Several of the antimicrobial substances produced by Bacillus fall under the class I
bacteriocins. They include lantibiotics which are small molecular weight,
gene- encoded peptides characterized by the presence of polycyclic thioether amino
acids, lanthionone and/or methyl lanthionine involved in the formation of a ring
structure through intramolecular posttranslational modifications. They are also
Table 12.1 Antimicrobial secondary metabolites produced by the genus Bacillus
Structural Class Compounds
Producer
Activity
Bacteriocin
Lichenin
B. licheniformis
Bactericidal and bacteriolytic
Megacin
B. megaterium
Coagulin
B. coagulans
Polyfermenticin B. polyfermenticus
Cerein
B. cereus
Thuricins
B. thuringiensis
Bactericidal and bacteriolytic
Tochicin
Bactericidal
Kurstakin
Fungicidal
Entomocin
Bactericidal
Bacthuricin
Fungicidal
Lantibiotic
Subtilin
B. subtilis
Antibacterial
Ericin
Mersacidin
Sublancin
Subtilolysin
Dipeptide
Bacilysin
B. subtilis, B.
amyloliquefaciens, B. pumilus
Antifungal and antibacterial
Phospholipid
Bacilysocin
B. subtilis
Fungicidal and antibacterial
Cyclic
lipoheptapeptide
Mycosubtilin
B. subtilis
Fungicidal
Iturin
B. subtilis, B.
amyloliquefaciens
Antifungal
Fengycin
Bacillomycin
Polyketides
Difficidin
B. amyloliquefaciens
Bacillaene
Macrolactin
Aminopolyol
Zwittermicin
B. thuringiensis, B. cereus
Antibiotic and antifungal
12 Antimicrobials from Microbes