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A novel antifungal property for the Bacillus licheniformis ComX pheromone and its possible role in inter-kingdom cross-talk

  • Applied genetics and molecular biotechnology
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Abstract

Quorum sensing molecules (QSMs) regulate, through a chemical communication process, multiple complex systems in bacterial and some fungal populations on the basis of cell density. The bacterial QSMs involved in inter-kingdom cross-talk may exhibit antagonistic activity against fungi. This provides an important opportunity for biocontrol of fungal invasion in plants. It has been shown that cultures of Bacillus spp. inhibit fungal growth. Here, we explore the inhibitory potential of the industrial workhorse Bacillus licheniformis NCIMB-8874 and its QSM (ComX pheromone) on the growth of Aspergillus flavus, a cereal, legume, and nut crop pathogen. Our studies show that ComX filtered extracts from cultures of B. licheniformis can cause a significant reduction in the growth of A. flavus NRRL 3357 and ESP 15 at a concentration as low as 13 μg ml−1. This work evidences, for the first time, the inter-kingdom utility of the bacterial quorum sensing ComX pheromone indicating potential antifungal food security against A. flavus.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the laboratory staff member of the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, for all the supports. We also thank Dr. Pamela Greenwell for valuable discussions.

Funding

This work was part of a PhD project and supported by University of Westminster and the expenses were covered by the department of life sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, UK

    Elham Esmaeilishirazifard & Tajalli Keshavarz

  2. Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Aliakbar Dariush

  3. Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Aliakbar Dariush

  4. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, UK

    Sterghios A. Moschos

  5. Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK

    Sterghios A. Moschos

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  1. Elham Esmaeilishirazifard
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  2. Aliakbar Dariush
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  3. Sterghios A. Moschos
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  4. Tajalli Keshavarz
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Correspondence to Elham Esmaeilishirazifard.

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Esmaeilishirazifard, E., Dariush, A., Moschos, S.A. et al. A novel antifungal property for the Bacillus licheniformis ComX pheromone and its possible role in inter-kingdom cross-talk. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 102, 5197–5208 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-018-9004-7

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