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Avidumicin, a novel cyclic bacteriocin, produced by Cutibacterium avidum shows anti-Cutibacterium acnes activity

The Journal of Antibiotics volume 76, pages 511–521 (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

The prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant Cutibacterium acnes in acne patients has increased owing to inappropriate antimicrobial use. Commensal skin bacteria may play an important role in maintaining the balance of the skin microbiome by producing antimicrobial substances. Inhibition of Cu. acnes overgrowth can prevent the development and exacerbation of acne vulgaris. Here, we evaluated skin bacteria with anti-Cu. acnes activity. Growth inhibition activity against Cu. acnes was tested using 122 strains isolated from the skin of healthy volunteers and acne patients. Comparative genomic analysis of the bacterium with or without anti-Cu. acnes activity was conducted. The anti-Cu. acnes activity was confirmed by cloning an identified gene cluster and chemically synthesized peptides. Cu. avidum ATCC25577 and 89.7% of the Cu. avidum clinical isolates (26/29 strains) inhibited Cu. acnes growth. The growth inhibition activity was also found against other Cutibacterium, Lactiplantibacillus, and Corynebacterium species, but not against Staphylococcus species. The genome sequence of Cu. avidum showed a gene cluster encoding a novel bacteriocin named avidumicin. The precursor protein encoded by avdA undergoes post-translational modifications, supposedly becoming a circular bacteriocin. The anti-Cu. acnes activity of avidumicin was confirmed by Lactococcus lactis MG1363 carrying avdA. The C-terminal region of the avidumicin may be essential for anti-Cu. acnes activity. A commensal skin bacterium, Cu. avidum, producing avidumicin has anti-Cu. acnes activity. Therefore, avidumicin is a novel cyclic bacteriocin with a narrow antimicrobial spectrum. These findings suggest that Cu. avidum and avidumicin represent potential alternative agents in antimicrobial therapy for acne vulgaris.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Dr Jan Kok and Dr Harma Karsens for kindly providing Lactococcus lactis MG1363 and NZ9000 and their shuttle vectors pMG36c and pMG36e. We would like to thank Dr Konno for suggesting and trying isolation of avidumicin. We are very appreciative of the kindness suggestion from Dr Takeshi Zendo. We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

Funding

This work was supported by JST, SPRING Grant Number JPMJSP2134, Japan (JK).

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  1. Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan

    Juri Koizumi, Keisuke Nakase, Norihisa Noguchi & Hidemasa Nakaminami

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  1. Juri Koizumi
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Correspondence to Hidemasa Nakaminami.

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Koizumi, J., Nakase, K., Noguchi, N. et al. Avidumicin, a novel cyclic bacteriocin, produced by Cutibacterium avidum shows anti-Cutibacterium acnes activity. J Antibiot 76, 511–521 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-023-00635-w

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