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Phage Associated Bacteriocins Reveal a Novel Mechanism for Bacteriocin Diversification in Klebsiella

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Abstract

Ninety-six isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and K. oxytoca were recovered from wild mammals in Australia. 14.6% of these bacteria produce killing phenotypes that suggest the production of bacteriocin toxins. Cloning and sequencing of the gene clusters encoding two of these killing phenotypes revealed two instances of a bacteriocin associated with a bacteriophage gene, the first such genetic organization described. The newly identified klebicin C gene cluster was discovered in both K. pneumoniae and K. oxytoca. The newly identified klebicin D gene cluster was detected in K. oxytoca. Protein sequence comparisons and phylogenetic inference suggest that klebicin C is most closely related to the rRNase group of colicins (such as colicin E4), while klebicin D is most closely related to the tRNase group of colicins (such as colicin D). The klebicin C and D gene clusters have similar genetic and regulatory organizations. In both cases, an operon structure is inferred consisting of a phage-associated open reading frame and klebicin activity and associated immunity genes. This novel bacteriophage/bacteriocin organization may provide a novel mechanism for the generation of bacteriocin diversity in Klebsiella.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to David Gordon (Department of Botany and Zoology, Australia National University, Canberra) for providing all of the natural isolates used in this study. We acknowledge Lisa Nigro and Cynthia Winkworth for their contributions to the sequencing of the klebicin clones. This material is based on work supported by the National Institutes of Health (M.A.R., Grant GM58433-02) as well as the National Science Foundation (J.E.W).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA

    Hamid Rafi, John Wertz & Carla Goldstone

  2. Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 611 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA

    Milind Chavan & Margaret A. Riley

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  1. Milind Chavan
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  2. Hamid Rafi
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  3. John Wertz
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  4. Carla Goldstone
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  5. Margaret A. Riley
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Correspondence to Margaret A. Riley.

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Chavan, M., Rafi, H., Wertz, J. et al. Phage Associated Bacteriocins Reveal a Novel Mechanism for Bacteriocin Diversification in Klebsiella. J Mol Evol 60, 546–556 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00239-004-0263-9

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