Streptomyces siderophore coelichelin sensitizes Bacillus subtilis to phage infection (Nature Microbiology)

A binary-interaction screen identified coelichelin, a siderophore secreted by Streptomyces sp., as a metabolite that sensitizes its soil competitor Bacillus subtilis to lytic phages (SPO1, SP10, SP50, Goe2) by sequestering iron and preventing activation of the regulator Spo0A. Metabolomics suggests other bacterial natural products may give their producers a similar phage-mediated competitive advantage.