Bacillus subtilis
Microbial EcologyBacillus subtilis Strain DSM 29784 Modulates the Cecal Microbiome, Concentration of Short-Chain Fatty Acids, and Apparent Retention of Dietary Components in Shaver White Chickens during Grower, Developer, and Laying PhasesIn egg-laying chickens, the trend in the move away from the cage to alternative housing systems and restriction in antimicrobial use requires alternative approaches to maintain health and prevent diseases. There is increased research and commercial interest toward alternative gut health solutions while improving the performance and product safety in poultry production systems. One such approach, in recognition of the importance of the...
Environmental MicrobiologyThe Plant Host Induces Antibiotic Production To Select the Most-Beneficial ColonizersOur study sheds mechanistic light on how multicellular biofilm units compete to successfully colonize a eukaryote host, using B. subtilis microbial communities as our lens. The microbiota and its interactions with its host play various roles in the development and prevention of diseases. Using competing beneficial biofilms that are essential microbiota members on the...
Environmental Microbiology | SpotlightLanI-Mediated Lantibiotic Immunity in Bacillus subtilis: Functional AnalysisThe two lantibiotics nisin and subtilin are produced by Lactococcus lactis and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. Both peptides have strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, and therefore, appropriate protection mechanisms are required for the producing strains. To prevent...
Environmental Microbiology | SpotlightStress-Responsive Alternative Sigma Factor SigB Plays a Positive Role in the Antifungal Proficiency of Bacillus subtilisBiological control using beneficial bacteria (PGPRs) represents an attractive and environment-friendly alternative to pesticides for controlling plant diseases. Different PGPR Bacillus species produce potent biofungicides and stimulate plant defense responses against phytopathogenic fungi. However, very little is known about how PGPRs recognize phytopathogens and process the antifungal response. Here, we report how...
PhysiologyInsights into the Function of the N-Acetyltransferase SatA That Detoxifies Streptothricin in Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus anthracisThis work provides insights into how an abundant antibiotic found in soil is bound to the enzyme that inactivates it. This work identifies residues for the binding of the antibiotic and probes the contributions of substituting side chains for those in the native protein, providing information regarding hydrophobicity, size, and flexibility of the antibiotic binding site.
Environmental MicrobiologyIron Homeostasis in Bacillus subtilis Requires Siderophore Production and Biofilm FormationIron acquisition is of fundamental importance for microorganisms, since this metal is generally poorly bioavailable under natural conditions. In the environment, most bacteria are found tightly packed within multicellular communities named biofilms. Here, using the soil Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis, we show that biofilm formation and the production of...
Public and Environmental Health Microbiology | SpotlightRole of DNA Repair and Protective Components in Bacillus subtilis Spore Resistance to Inactivation by 400-nm-Wavelength Blue LightEffective methods of spore inactivation would be of considerable interest in the health care and medical products industries, particularly if the decontamination method effectively killed spores while remaining benign to both humans and sensitive equipment. Intense blue light radiation is one such treatment that has drawn significant interest. In this work, all known spore-protective features, as well as universal and spore-specific DNA...
- Public and Environmental Health Microbiology | SpotlightDeposition of Bacteria and Bacterial Spores by Bathroom Hot-Air Hand Dryers
- Biotechnology | SpotlightBiological Containment of Genetically Modified Bacillus subtilis