A family of lanthipeptides with anti-phage function.

Lanthivirin BGCs in Actinobacteria produce lanthipeptides that provide potent anti-phage activity, with 6 distinct systems confirmed to inhibit phage DNA replication.

• Why it matters: Understanding bacterial defenses against phages is crucial for developing new antiviral strategies and exploring natural product diversity, which remains largely uncharted.
• What they did: Researchers identified widespread lanthivirin biosynthetic gene clusters in Actinobacteria, demonstrated their anti-phage activity through native and heterologous expression, and analyzed their biosynthesis and mechanism.
• The result: The study reveals that lanthivirin maturation is essential for activity, offering a new source of antiviral compounds and expanding knowledge of bacterial chemical defenses against phages.