Mass spectrometric analysis of lipopeptides from Bacillus strains isolated from diverse geographical locations

Abstract

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS (MALDI-TOF MS) has been applied to characterize lipopeptide biomarkers from 54 different strains of Bacillis from most taxa within the Bacillis subtilis-Bacillis licheniformis clade, isolated from seven geographic locations on five continents. Even the most narrowly defined taxa are diverse in terms of the lipopeptide profiles. Many strains produce previously identified compounds with known antimicrobial properties (e.g. polymyxins and bacitracins), whereas other compounds represent novel classes that were hitherto unknown. Of particular interest is the novel 942/958 Da biomarkers produced by B. s. spizizeni desert strains and several type strains.