Microcin and uses thereof
Microcin MccPDI and bacteria harboring the mcpM gene which encodes MccPDI limit growth of and/or kill pathogenic bacteria such as pathogenic Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and/or Shigella bacteria via proximity-dependent inhibition (PDI).
1. A method of killing or decreasing adverse effects of pathogenic Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and/or Shigella bacteria, comprising
identifying a surface or subject known to or suspected of contamination with said pathogenic E. coli and/or Shigella bacteria; and
contacting said pathogenic E. coli and/or Shigella bacteria with
microcin MccPDI having one or more of a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 77 or a functional variant thereof and/or SEQ ID NO:24 or a functional variant thereof, or
an organism that produces microcin MccPDI having one or more of a sequence SEQ ID NO: 77 or a functional variant thereof and/or SEQ ID NO:24 or a functional variant thereof,
wherein said functional variant has a sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 77 or SEQ ID NO: 24.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microcin MccPDI is SEQ ID NO:77 or a functional variant thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pathogenic Escherichia coli bacteria are Shiga-toxin E. coli (STEC) bacteria.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said STEC bacteria are selected from the group consisting of: enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enteroggregative E. coli (EAEC), diffusively adherent E. coli (DAEC), uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) and neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC).
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein said STEC bacteria are of a serotype selected from the group consisting of O111, O145, O103, O26, O45, O121 and O157.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pathogenic Shigella bacteria are Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei or Shigella dysenteriae.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said organism that produces microcin MccPDI is a naturally occurring bacteria.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said naturally occurring bacteria are E-25 or E-264.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said organism that produces microcin MccPDI is a genetically modified organism harboring a heterologous nucleic acid which is expressed to produce said microcin MccPDI having one or more of a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 77 or said functional variant thereof.