Human commensals producing a

novel antibiotic impair

Pathogen colonization
Alexander Zipperer; Martin C. Konnerth, Claudia Laux; Anne
Berscheid, Daniel Janek, Chridtopher Weidenmaier

 
 INTRODUCTION

30 % of the population Staphylococcus aureus

Also known as methicilin-resistant S.
aureus (MRSA)
70 % don’t have any sign of it
Objectives of 1. Identify human
the Study: microbiota as a source
for new antibiotics

2.Understand the
mechanism governing
Antimicrobial activity of a nasal commensal
 90 strains of Staphylococcus to test for S. aureus inhibition.

Figure 1. Co-occurence approach to identify natural antibiotics.

Activity against major human pathogens
 Mice were infected with S. aureus
 Back skin of mice were shaved and superficially damaged by
multiple stripping with adhesive tapes.
 Treated with 1.5 g lugdunin after 24, 30, and 42 hrs of
infection
S. lugdunensis versus S.aureus
 Two species were co-cultivated on solid agar surface
 Bacterial number monitoring for 3 days

Interference with S. aureus carriage

 Examination of nasal swabs from 187 hospitalized patients for
colonization by S. aureus, S. lugdunensis or both
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
 Antimicrobial activity of a nasal commensal

S. lugdunensis IVK28 prevent the growth of S. aureus and

produced antibacterial substance under iron-limiting
conditions.
• Using library of S.
lugdunesis, individual
genes have been
knocked.
Mutant M1 which did
not inhibit S. aureus.

LUGDUNIN
Activity against major human pathogens
Capacity to cure infection in vivo
S. lugdunensis versus S.aureus

S. aureus leads overgrown by wild

type S. lugdunensis.
Mutant IVK28 could not outcompete S. aureus and was
even overgrown when inoculated tenfolds.
S. lugdunensis wild type
can effectively eradicate
S. aureus.
Interference of S. lugdunensis to S.aureus

Chi-square test showed significant difference (Reduced S.

aureus detection rate in the presence of S. lugdunensis)
The study provide an evidence on the crucial role of S.
CONCLUSION
lugdunensis and its antimicrobial product, lugdunin,
preventing the S. aureus colonization of the human nose.
This study suggest that probiotics concept should be
extended to body sites other than the gut , such as the nasal
mucosal membrane. These organisms, or the antibiotics they
produce, might serve as drug-discovery leads.