Microbial Resistance as a Challenge: Therapeutic and Biotechnological Applications of Metabolites Produced by Bacteria of the Bacillus Genus. A descriptive review

Prokaryotes were the first living forms to exist on Earth 3.5 billion years ago and are believed to be the last organisms to remain after the extinction of multicellular organisms. Bacteria have established a close relationship with humans, who host microbiomes, where these interactions can take several forms. Some are mutualistic, protecting the body from harmful species, producing beneficial metabolites, or stimulating the immune system, while others can cause harm. Antibiotics are the most studied and widely used microbial metabolites by humans. As antibiotic resistance has become a global concern, the search for microorganisms capable of producing novel antibiotics with clinical potential has become increasingly important. It has been reported that bacteria can biosynthesize two types of antimicrobial substances: bacteriocins, which are of ribosomal synthesis, and lipopeptides, which are of non-ribosomal synthesis. Members of the genus Bacillus can produce lipopeptides and other antimicrobial substances such as siderophores, lytic enzymes, toxins, and inducers of systemic plant resistance, making this genus of particular interest in the search for these metabolites. This work describes some species of the genus Bacillus that produce antimicrobial metabolites relevant to health and biotechnology.