An environmental isolate of Pseudomonas, 20EI1, reduces Aspergillus flavus growth

we identified a promising new isolate of Pseudomonas spp., 20EI1, and observed that it is able to reduce the growth of A. flavus. Furthermore, we determined that this growth inhibition is iron-dependent. Expression of iron-related genes was altered in the presence of the bacteria and genes involved in the production of aflatoxin were down-regulated. Iron supplementation partially reestablished their expression. Expression of other secondary metabolite (SM) genes was also reduced by the bacteria, including genes of clusters involved in cyclopiazonic acid, kojic acid and imizoquin biosynthesis, while genes of the cluster corresponding to aspergillicin, a siderophore, were upregulated.