Antimicrobial resistance requires new therapeutics to treat drug-resistant infections. Novel antimicrobial compounds can be discovered in polymicrobial communities, where bacterial natural products promote competitive fitness. The oral cavity hosts a microbial consortium, and we investigated interactions between oral streptococci and Enterococcus faecalis, a common cause of root canal infections. We demonstrate antibacterial activity of streptococcal mutanobactin against gram-positive pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant isolates. We further show that the E. faecalis virulence factor gelatinase promotes recovery from mutanobactin-mediated reduction in viability, and that mutanobactin prevents and kills E. faecalis biofilms. By probing interactions between bacteria that occupy the same niche and characterizing antibacterial activity of a bacterial product, this work contributes to broader efforts to identify and develop antibiotics to treat clinically relevant drug-resistant infections.

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CPEP is a 2-year fellowship program that prepares scientists and physicians for leadership roles in medical and public health laboratory microbiology and in medical laboratory immunology careers.

Applying a comprehensive understanding for the theories and methods of a life science discipline, perform work directly involved in research projects, interpreting results and participation in experim...

Tuberculosis remains a globally significant infection, and new insights into the biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are badly needed. Discovery of protein localization and protein complex compositi...

Bacterial infections may consist of different species that together form a polymicrobial community, as is the case in urinary tract infections (UTIs) (1–3). The response to antibiotic treatment of such polymicrobial infections may be affected by metabolic interactions among community members that affect the survival and resistance evolution of specific members (4–7). For example, β-lactamase-producing strains may cross-protect community members against β-lactams (8, 9), and antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli strains producing the signal molecule indole may induce antibiotic tolerance via enhanced efflux in susceptible bacteria (10). Previous research of polymicrobial UTIs has shown that interactions between UTI members can alter the growth, antibiotic tolerance, and evolvability of antibiotic resistance of other community members (7, 11, 12). Yet, the nature of interactions affecting the evolvability of antibiotic resistance is often unknown.

HJF is seeking a Clinical Research Coordinator III to lead the operational and clinical execution of pediatric research protocols in support of the Uniformed Services University Department of Pediatri...

Author summary Enterococcus faecalis is a major opportunistic pathogen and a leading cause of several life-threatening hospital-associated infections. The ability of E. faecalis to cause disease is cl...

The University of Nebraska is home to the only federally funded quarantine unit in the U.S. and a separate biocontainment unit that can treat people exposed to infectious diseases.