Complete Genome Sequence and Cosmetic Potential of Viridibacillus sp. JNUCC6 Isolated from Baengnokdam, the Summit Crater of Mt. Halla

Abstract

Novel microbe-derived products are gaining increasing attention for their ability to modulate skin conditions. The use of microbial metabolites to improve skin health outcomes is of particular interest because growing evidence points to the importance of natural products without side effects on human health. This study aimed to sequence the genome of Viridibacillus sp. JNUCC6 isolated from Baengnokdam, the summit crater of Mt. Halla. We further investigated the potential use of its extract as a cosmetic ingredient in controlling melanogenesis and inflammation. The genome of this strain was sequenced using both Illumina Novaseq 6000 and third-generation sequencing technology (PacBio RSII) to obtain trustworthy assembly and annotation. Different concentrations of the Viridibacillus sp. JNUCC6 extract were tested for its anti-melanogenic and anti-inflammatory effects in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced B16F10 melanoma and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 cells, respectively. The whole genome sequence of the strain contained 4,526,142 bp with 35.61% GC content, one contig, and 4364 protein-coding sequences. Furthermore, antiSMASH analysis of the whole genome revealed three putative biosynthetic gene clusters that are responsible for the production of various secondary metabolites. Our study found that the Viridibacillus sp. JNUCC6 extract inhibited the α-MSH-induced melanin production and tyrosinase activity in B16F10 melanoma cells. In addition, it decreased the LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production caused by LPS stimulation in a concentration-dependent manner. Therefore, Viridibacillus sp. JNUCC6 has potential applications as an ingredient in skin-whitening and anti-inflammatory products and can be used in the cosmetic and medical industries.