Prevalence and activity of class II microcins in Serratia marcescens strains by isolation source

Serratia marcescens is an abundant bacterium in many different environments, but it also represents an important opportunistic pathogen of humans and other animals. Our finding that S. marcescens encodes numerous antibacterial class II microcins is important to understanding factors that may contribute to the lifestyle versatility of this bacterium. Interfering with factors that promote competition or colonization could aid infection prevention.