A predicted S-type pyocin shows a bactericidal activity against clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates through membrane damage

The nucleic acid sequence at the positions 1067817–1066321 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 genome was predicted to encode a novel S-type pyocin, designated S5, based on the genome sequence. However, its antimicrobial spectrum, activity and mechanism have not been investigated. Herein, we report that pyocin S5 has an antimicrobial activity against seven clinical P. aeruginosa isolates (DWW3, InA, InB, In3, In4, In7, and In8). Among them, DWW3 is most sensitive with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 12.6 μg/ml and a killing percentage of 95.7 at 225 μg/ml. Further, we demonstrated that the antimicrobial mechanism of pyocin S5 is membrane damage, evidenced by the leakage of intracellular materials, the increase of membrane permeability, and cell surface disruption.