Kevin Cutler

Apr 17, 2024 | nature.com | Young-Jun Park |Kevin Cutler |Kyle L. Asfahl |Larry Gallagher |Frank DiMaio |Dapeng Zhang | +2 more

AbstractStreptomyces are a genus of ubiquitous soil bacteria from which the majority of clinically utilized antibiotics derive1. The production of these antibacterial molecules reflects the relentless competition Streptomyces engage in with other bacteria, including other Streptomyces species1,2. Here we show that in addition to small-molecule antibiotics, Streptomyces produce and secrete antibacterial protein complexes that feature a large, degenerate repeat-containing polymorphic toxin protein.