When producing tempe bongkrek, the bacterial contamination can lead to lethal food-related

intoxications caused by the respiratory toxin bongkrekic acid. To unveil the metabolic potential of the fungus-associated bacterium, we sequenced its genome, assigned secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene clusters and monitored the metabolic profile under various growth conditions. In addition to the bongkrekic acid biosynthesis gene cluster we found gene clusters coding for the biosynthesis of toxoflavin and a complex polyketide. The orphan polyketide synthase gene cluster was activated under conditions that emulate tempe production, which enabled isolation and structure elucidation of four members of the enacyloxin family of antibiotics, out of which one is new. Moreover, RO4929097 supplier we found that the fungus positively influences the growth of the bacteria and dramatically increases bongkrekic acid production in stationary culture, which inhibits the growth of the fungus. These results showcase the context-dependent formation of antifungal and antibacterial agents at the fungal-bacterial interface, which may also serve as a model for scenarios observed in mixed infections. Interactions between different microorganisms are of

utmost importance in nature. Besides their ecological relevance, they also affect LEE011 cost agriculture, medicine and biotechnology.[1-3] In many cases the interplay between the organisms is mediated by secreted natural products.[1] Some Mucorales are known to live in close association with bacteria, and it was shown before that these bacteria may contribute to the effect the fungi exert on other organisms including humans.[4] Whereas toxin-producing bacteria have not yet been implicated in the promotion of zygomycoses,[5, 6] they play a key role in the context of Ergoloid plant disease, agriculture and food processing. Surprisingly little is known about the microbial associations of Rhizopus microsporus var. oligosporus that is traditionally used to prepare fermented foods such as tempe or sufu.[7, 8] Various soaked or cooked vegetal substrates are inoculated

and fermented with the mould fungus to improve flavour, texture and nutritional value of the meat surrogates. The R. microsporus group consists of various taxa, which are associated with food fermentation, toxin production and even pathogenesis.[7, 9] A popular Southeast Asian dish is tempe bongkrek, which is produced by fermentation of coconut press cake with R. microsporus. However, its consumption has led to a number of severe and often lethal intoxications.[10] As a consequence the production of this national dish was officially prohibited by the Indonesian government.[11] It was found that the toxicity was due to a poison produced by bacteria that were contaminants of the fungal starter culture.[12] These bacteria, Burkholderia gladioli pv.