Evolution of Lantibiotic Salivaricins: New Weapons to Fight Infectious Diseases. Issue 7 (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barbour, Abdelahhad; Wescombe, Philip; Smith, Leif
• Is Part Of: Trends in microbiology. Volume 28:Issue 7(2020)
• Page Start: 578
• Page End: 593
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: bacteriocins -- antibiotic resistance -- Streptococcus salivarius -- lantibiotics -- probiotics; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Virulence (Microbiology) -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Virulence -- Periodicals; Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Infection -- Périodiques; Virulence (Microbiologie) -- Périodiques; Infection; Microbiology; Virulence (Microbiology); 579
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.03.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-842X

Abstract

Abstract : Lantibiotic salivaricins are polycyclic peptides containing lanthionine and/or β-methyllanthionine residues produced by certain strains of Streptococcus salivarius, which almost exclusively reside in the human oral cavity. The importance of these molecules stems from their antimicrobial activity towards relevant oral pathogens which has so far been applied through the development of salivaricin-producing probiotic strains. However, salivaricins may also prove to be of great value in the development of new and novel antibacterial therapies in this era of emerging antibiotic resistance. In this review, we describe the biosynthesis, antimicrobial activity, structure, and mode of action of the lantibiotic salivaricins characterized to date. Moreover, we also provide an expert opinion and suggestions for future development of this important field of microbiology. Highlights: Emerging antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to human health as many infectious diseases are becoming harder to treat. S. salivarius is a reservoir for novel bacteriocins that have promising inhibitory activity towards an array of bacterial pathogens. Salivaricins are lantibiotics produced by the oral bacterium S. salivarius and they have antimicrobial activities selectively against oral and upper-respiratory-tract bacteria. So far, the use of salivaricins is limited to the development of probiotic strains of S. salivarius which can produce these molecules in vivo while the probiotic cells colonize the oral cavity. Understanding the structure and mode of action of salivaricins can provide an important platform to enable the design of new antimicrobial lantibiotics in the future.