High-Level Biosynthesis of the Anteiso-C ₁₇ Isoform of the Antibiotic Mycosubtilin in <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> and Characterization of Its Candidacidal Activity

Abstract

High-level production (880 mg liter(-1)) and isolation of the anteiso-C(17) isoform of the lipopeptide mycosubtilin produced by a genetically engineered Bacillus subtilis strain are reported. Antifungal activity of this isoform, as determined via culture and fluorometric and cell leakage assays, suggests its potential therapeutic use as an antifungal agent, in particular against Candida spp.