AUTHOR=Ali Shireen Adeeb Mujtaba , Sayyed R. Z. , Mir Mohammad I. , Khan M. Y. , Hameeda Bee , Alkhanani Mustfa F. , Haque Shafiul , Mohammad Al Tawaha Abdel Rahman , Poczai Péter 

TITLE=Induction of Systemic Resistance in Maize and Antibiofilm Activity of Surfactin From Bacillus velezensis MS20

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.879739

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.879739

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Surfactin lipopeptide is an eco-friendly microbially synthesized bioproduct that holds considerable potential in therapeutics (antibiofilm) as well as in agriculture (antifungal). In the present study, production of surfactin by a marine strain <italic>Bacillus velezensis</italic> MS20 was carried out, followed by physico-chemical characterization, anti-biofilm activity, plant growth promotion, and quantitative Reverse Transcriptase—Polymerase Chain Reaction (q RT-PCR) studies. From the results, it was inferred that MS20 was found to produce biosurfactant (3,300 mg L<sup>–1</sup>) under optimized conditions. From the physicochemical characterization [Thin layer chromatography (TLC), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS), and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification] it was revealed to be surfactin. From bio-assay and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, it was observed that surfactin (MIC 50 μg Ml<sup>–1</sup>) has appreciable bacterial aggregation against clinical pathogens <italic>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</italic> MTCC424, <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> MTCC43, <italic>Klebsiella pneumoniae</italic> MTCC9751, and Methicillin resistant <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> (MRSA) and mycelial condensation property against a fungal phytopathogen <italic>Rhizoctonia solani</italic>. In addition, the q-RTPCR studies revealed 8-fold upregulation (9.34 ± 0.11-fold) of <italic>srf</italic>A-A gene compared to controls. Further, treatment of maize crop (infected with <italic>R. solani</italic>) with surfactin and MS20 led to the production of defense enzymes. In conclusion, concentration and synergy of a carbon source with inorganic/mineral salts can ameliorate surfactin yield and, application wise, it has antibiofilm and antifungal activities. In addition, it induced systemic resistance in maize crop, which makes it a good candidate to be employed in sustainable agricultural practices.</p>