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The efficacy of recombinant Lactococcus lactis as a delivery vehicle for a rotavirus antigen was evaluated in a mouse model. The rotavirus VP8* protein was expressed intracellularly and extracellularly in L. lactis wild type and in an alr mutant deficient in alanine racemase activity, necessary for the synthesis of the cell-wall component D: -alanine. When the mucosal immune response was evaluated by measuring VP8*-specific IgA antibody in faeces, wild-type L. lactis triggered a low IgA synthesis only when the secreting strain was used. In contrast, VP8*-specific IgA was detected in faeces of both groups of mice orally given the alr mutant expressing extracellular VP8* and intracellular VP8*, which reached levels similar to that obtained with the wild type secreting strain. However, oral administration of the recombinant strains did not induce serum IgG or IgA responses. L. lactis cell-wall mutants may therefore provide certain advantages when low-antigenic proteins are expressed intracellularly. However, the low immune response obtained by using this antigen-bacterial host combination prompts to the use of new strains and vaccination protocols in order to develop acceptable rotavirus immunization levels.

Strains of lactobacilli show the capacity to attach to extracellular matrix proteins. Cell-wall fractions of Lactobacillus casei BL23 enriched in fibronectin, and collagen-binding proteins were isolated. Mass spectrometry analysis of their protein content revealed the presence of stress-related proteins (GroEL, ClpL), translational elongation factors (EF-Tu, EF-G), oligopeptide solute-binding proteins, and the glycolytic enzymes enolase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). The latter two enzymes were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified as glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins, and their in vitro binding activity to fibronectin and collagen was confirmed. These results reinforce the idea that lactobacilli display on their surfaces a variety of moonlighting proteins that can be important in their adaptation to survive at intestinal mucosal sites and in the interaction with host cells.

Lactobacilli are normal constituents of the intestinal microbiota, and some strains show the capacity to bind to extracellular matrix proteins and components of the mucosal layer, which represents an adaptation to persist in this niche. A shotgun phage-display library of Lactobacillus casei BL23 was constructed and screened for peptides able to bind to fibronectin and collagen. Clones showing binding to these proteins were isolated, which encoded overlapping fragments of a putative transcriptional regulator (LCABL_29260), a hypothetical protein exclusively found in the L. casei/rhamnosus group (LCABL_01820), and a putative phage-related endolysin (LCABL_13470). The construction of different glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusions confirmed the binding activity and demonstrated that the three identified proteins could interact with fibronectin, fibrinogen, and collagen. The results illustrate the utility of phage display for the isolation of putative adhesins in lactobacilli. However, it remains to be determined whether the primary function of these proteins actually is adhesion to mucosal surfaces.

Three putative α-L-fucosidases encoded in the Lactobacillus casei BL23 genome were cloned and purified. The proteins displayed different abilities to hydrolyze natural fucosyloligosaccharides like 2'-fucosyllactose, H antigen disaccharide, H antigen type II trisaccharide, and 3'-, 4'-, and 6'-fucosyl-GlcNAc. This indicated a possible role in the utilization of oligosaccharides present in human milk and intestinal mucosa.

Polyols are sugar alcohols largely used as sweeteners and they are claimed to have several health-promoting effects (low-caloric, low-glycemic, low-insulinemic, anticariogenic, and prebiotic). While at present chemical synthesis is the only strategy able to assure the polyol market demand, the biotechnological production of polyols has been implemented in yeasts, fungi, and bacteria. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a group of microorganisms particularly suited for polyol production as they display a fermentative metabolism associated with an important redox modulation and a limited biosynthetic capacity. In addition, LAB participate in food fermentation processes, where in situ production of polyols during fermentation may be useful in the development of novel functional foods. Here, we review the polyol production by LAB, focusing on metabolic engineering strategies aimed to redirect sugar fermentation pathways towards the synthesis of biotechnologically important sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol. Furthermore, possible approaches are presented for engineering new fermentation routes in LAB for production of arabitol, ribitol, and erythritol.

The genomes of Lactobacillus casei/paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains carry two genes encoding homologues of p40 and p75 from L. rhamnosus GG, two secreted proteins which display anti-apoptotic and cell protective effects on human intestinal epithelial cells. p40 and p75 carry cysteine, histidine-dependent aminohydrolase/peptidase (CHAP) and NLPC/P60 domains, respectively, which are characteristic of proteins with cell-wall hydrolase activity. In L. casei BL23 both proteins were secreted to the growth medium and were also located at the bacterial cell surface. The genes coding for both proteins were inactivated in this strain. Inactivation of LCABL_00230 (encoding p40) did not result in a significant difference in phenotype, whereas a mutation in LCABL_02770 (encoding p75) produced cells that formed very long chains. Purified glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-p40 and -p75 fusion proteins were able to hydrolyze the muropeptides from L. casei cell walls. Both fusions bound to mucin, collagen and to intestinal epithelial cells and, similar to L. rhamnosus GG p40, stimulated epidermal growth factor receptor phosphorylation in mouse intestine ex vivo. These results indicate that extracellular proteins belonging to the machinery of cell-wall metabolism in the closely related L. casei/paracasei-L. rhamnosus group are most likely involved in the probiotic effects described for these bacteria., (Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

The capability of Lactobacillus casei to produce the flavor-related compounds diacetyl and acetoin from whey permeate has been examined by a metabolic engineering approach. An L. casei strain in which the ilvBN genes from Lactococcus lactis, encoding acetohydroxyacid synthase, were expressed from the lactose operon was mutated in the lactate dehydrogenase gene (ldh) and in the pdhC gene, which codes for the E2 subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. The introduction of these mutations resulted in an increased capacity to synthesize diacetyl/acetoin from lactose in whey permeate (1,400 mg/l at pH 5.5). The results showed that L. casei can be manipulated to synthesize added-value metabolites from dairy industry by-products.

Adhesion to intestinal epithelium is an outcome property for the selection of probiotic lactic acid bacteria strains. We have analyzed the adhesion properties of a collection of Lactobacillus casei strains from different origins, ranging from cheese isolates to commercial probiotics. Analysis of the surface characteristics of the strains by measuring adhesion to solvents (MATS test) showed that most of the strains have a basic and hydrophobic surface. The strains were able to bind ex vivo to human colon fragments at different levels and, in most cases, this adhesion correlated with the ability to in vitro binding of mucin. Attachment to this later substrate was not enhanced by growing the cells in the presence of mucin and was independent of proteinaceous factors. On the contrary, adhesion to other extracellular matrix components, such as collagen, fibronectin, or fibrinogen was partially or totally dependent on the presence of surface proteins. These results show that most of L. casei strains have in their surfaces factors that promote binding to intestinal epithelium, however, no clear correlation appears to exist between the origin of the strains and their adhesion capacities.

Lactobacillus casei is a lactic acid bacterium that produces L-lactate as the main product of sugar fermentation via L-lactate dehydrogenase (Ldh1) activity. In addition, small amounts of the D-lactate isomer are produced by the activity of a D-hydroxycaproate dehydrogenase (HicD). Ldh1 is the main L-lactate producing enzyme, but mutation of its gene does not eliminate L-lactate synthesis. A survey of the L. casei BL23 draft genome sequence revealed the presence of three additional genes encoding Ldh paralogs. In order to study the contribution of these genes to the global lactate production in this organism, individual, as well as double mutants (ldh1 ldh2, ldh1 ldh3, ldh1 ldh4 and ldh1 hicD) were constructed and lactic acid production was assessed in culture supernatants. ldh2, ldh3 and ldh4 genes play a minor role in lactate production, as their single mutation or a mutation in combination with an ldh1 deletion had a low impact on L-lactate synthesis. A Deltaldh1 mutant displayed an increased production of D-lactate, which was probably synthesized via the activity of HicD, as it was abolished in a Deltaldh1 hicD double mutant. Contrarily to HicD, no Ldh1, Ldh2, Ldh3 or Ldh4 activities could be detected by zymogram assays. In addition, these assays revealed the presence of extra bands exhibiting D-/L-lactate dehydrogenase activity, which could not be attributed to any of the described genes. These results suggest that L. casei BL23 possesses a complex enzymatic system able to reduce pyruvic to lactic acid.

Fungal ribotoxins are a family of extracellular ribonucleases which inhibit protein biosynthesis by inactivating the ribosomes. This inactivation results in the induction of cell death by apoptosis. Ribotoxins show antitumoral properties based on their ability to cross the membrane of some transformed cells. Unfortunately, they also show an unspecific cytotoxicity which has greatly impaired their potential clinical uses. alpha-Sarcin, produced by Aspergillus giganteus, is the best-characterized ribotoxin. Asp f 1, another ribotoxin produced by A. fumigatus, is indeed one of its major allergens. In this work, the Lactococcus lactis MG1363 strain has been engineered to produce and secrete not only wild-type Asp f 1 and alpha-sarcin but also three different mutants with reduced cytotoxicity and/or IgE-binding affinity. The proteins were secreted in native and active form when the extracellular medium employed was buffered at pH values around 8.0. Strains producing the wild-type natural alpha-sarcin were proved to be innocuous when administered intragastrically to mice for a period of 14 days. Overall, the results presented are discussed in terms of its potential application as a vehicle of oral delivery of hypoallergenic variants as well as a starting point to approach the design of strategies to accomplish the safe delivery of these proteins as antitumoral agents.

Transport of maltose in Lactobacillus casei BL23 is subject to regulation by inducer exclusion. The presence of glucose or other rapidly metabolized carbon sources blocks maltose transport by a control mechanism that depends on the phosphorylation of the HPr protein at serine residue 46. We have identified the L. casei gene cluster for maltose/maltodextrin utilization by sequence analysis and mutagenesis. It is composed of genes coding for a transcriptional regulator, oligosaccharide hydrolytic enzymes, an ABC transporter (MalEFGK2) and the enzymes for the metabolism of maltose or the degradation products of maltodextrins: maltose phosphorylase and beta-phospho-glucomutase. These genes are induced by maltose and repressed by the presence of glucose via the catabolite control protein A (CcpA). A mutant strain was constructed which expressed the hprKV267F allele and therefore formed large amounts of P-Ser-HPr even in the absence of a repressive carbon source. In this mutant, transport of maltose was severely impaired, whereas transport of sugars not subject to inducer exclusion was not changed. These results strengthen the idea that P-Ser-HPr controls inducer exclusion and make the maltose system of L. casei a suitable model for studying this process in Firmicutes.

A new esterase-encoding gene was found in the draft genome sequence of Lactobacillus casei BL23 (CECT5275). It is located in an operon together with genes encoding the EIIA, EIIB, EIIC, and EIID proteins of a mannose class phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system. After overproduction in Escherichia coli and purification, the esterase could hydrolyze acetyl sugars, hence the operon was named esu for esterase-sugar uptake genes. Upstream of the genes encoding the EII components (esuABCD) and the esterase (esuE), two genes transcribed in the opposite sense were found which encode a Bacillus subtilis LevR-like transcriptional activator (esuR) and a sigma54-like transcriptional factor (rpoN). As compared with the wild-type strain, elevated fructose phosphorylation was detected in L. casei mutants constitutively expressing the esu operon. However, none of the many sugars tested could induce the esu operon. The fact that EsuE exhibits esterase activity on acetyl sugars suggests that this operon could be involved in the uptake and metabolism of esterified sugars. Expression of the esu operon is similar to that of the B. subtilis lev operon: it contains a -12,-24 consensus promoter typical of sigma54-regulated genes, and EsuR and RpoN are essential for its transcription which is negatively regulated by EIIB(Esu). The esuABCDE transcription unit represents the first sigma54-regulated operon in lactobacilli. Furthermore, replacement of His852 in the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system regulation domain II of EsuR with Ala indicated that the transcription activator function of EsuR is inhibited by EIIB(Esu)-mediated phosphorylation at His852.

In most Gram-positive bacteria, serine-46-phosphorylated HPr (P-Ser-HPr) controls the expression of numerous catabolic genes ( approximately 10% of their genome) by acting as catabolite corepressor. HPr kinase/phosphorylase (HprK/P), the bifunctional sensor enzyme for catabolite repression, phosphorylates HPr, a phosphocarrier protein of the sugar-transporting phosphoenolpyruvate/glycose phosphotransferase system, in the presence of ATP and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate but dephosphorylates P-Ser-HPr when phosphate prevails over ATP and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. We demonstrate here that P-Ser-HPr dephosphorylation leads to the formation of HPr and pyrophosphate. HprK/P, which binds phosphate at the same site as the beta phosphate of ATP, probably uses the inorganic phosphate to carry out a nucleophilic attack on the phosphoryl bond in P-Ser-HPr. HprK/P is the first enzyme known to catalyze P-protein dephosphorylation via this phospho-phosphorolysis mechanism. This reaction is reversible, and at elevated pyrophosphate concentrations, HprK/P can use pyrophosphate to phosphorylate HPr. Growth of Bacillus subtilis on glucose increased intracellular pyrophosphate to concentrations ( approximately 6 mM), which in in vitro tests allowed efficient pyrophosphate-dependent HPr phosphorylation. To effectively dephosphorylate P-Ser-HPr when glucose is exhausted, the pyrophosphate concentration in the cells is lowered to 1 mM. In B. subtilis, this might be achieved by YvoE. This protein exhibits pyrophosphatase activity, and its gene is organized in an operon with hprK.