Search

Escherichia coil haemolysin A (HlyA), an RTX toxin, is secreted probably as an unfolded intermediate, by the type I (ABC transporter-dependent) pathway, utilizing a C-terminal secretion signal. However, the mechanism of translocation and post-translocation folding is not understood. We identified a mutation (hlyA99) at the extreme C terminus, which is dominant in competition experiments, blocking secretion of the wild-type toxin co-expressed in the same cell. This suggests that unlike recessive mutations which affect recognition of the translocation machinery, the hlyA99 mutation interferes with some later step in secretion. Indeed, the mutation reduced haemolytic activity of the toxin and the activity of [beta]-lactamase when the latter was fused to a Cterminal 23 kDa fragment of HlyA carrying the hlyA99 mutation. A second mutant (hlyAdel6), lacking the six C-terminal residues of HlyA, also showed reduced haemolytic activity and neither mutant protein regained normal haemolytic activity in in vitro unfolding/refolding experiments. Tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy indicated differences in structure between the secreted forms of wild-type HlyA and the HlyA Del6 mutant. These results suggested that the mutations affected the correct folding of both HlyA and the [beta]-lactamase fusion. Thus, we propose a dual function for the HlyA C terminus involving an important role in post-translocation folding as well as targeting HlyA for secretion. DOI 10.1099/mic.0.038562-0

Research study is conducted to develop multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for Lactobacillus casei and to initiate characterization of the population structure of this species. Clear evidence for homologous recombination is found during the diversification of Lactobacillus casei clones.

Researchers have developed a medium that can support the growth of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, other lactobacilli, and Streptococcus thermophilus. The medium is called milieu proche du lait (MPL) and 22 tested strains grew faster on lactose than on glucose, mannose, and fructose.

Introduction The microbiota controls a variety of biological functions, including immunity, and alterations of the microbiota in early life are associated with a higher risk of developing allergies later in life. Several probiotic bacteria, and particularly lactic acid bacteria, were described to reduce both the induction of allergic responses and allergic manifestations. Although specific probiotic strains were used in these studies, their protective effects on allergic responses also might be common for all lactobacilli. Methods To determine whether allergic effector cells inhibition is a common feature of lactobacilli or whether it varies among lactobacilli strains, we compared the ability of 40 strains of the same Lactobacillus paracasei species to inhibit IgE-dependent mouse mast cell and human basophil activation. Results We uncovered a marked heterogeneity in the inhibitory properties of the 40 Lactobacillus strains tested. These segregated into three to four clusters depending on the intensity of inhibition. Some strains inhibited both mouse mast cell and human basophil activation, others strains inhibited only one cell type and another group induced no inhibition of activation for either cell type. Conclusions Individual Lactobacillus strains of the same species differentially inhibit IgE-dependent activation of mouse mast cells and human basophils, two cell types that are critical in the onset of allergic manifestations. Although we failed to identify specific bacterial genes associated with inhibition by gene-trait matching analysis, our findings demonstrate the complexity of the interactions between the microbiota and the host. These results suggest that some L. paracasei strains might be more beneficial in allergies than others strains and provide the bases for a rational screening of lactic acid bacteria strains as next-generation probiotics in the field of allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494 is a component of a commercialized fermented dairy product for which beneficial effects on health has been studied by clinical and preclinical trials. To date little is known about the molecular mechanisms that could explain the beneficial effects that bifidobacteria impart to the host. Restriction-modification (R-M) systems have been identified as key obstacles in the genetic accessibility of bifidobacteria, and circumventing these is a prerequisite to attaining a fundamental understanding of bifidobacterial attributes, including the genes that are responsible for health-promoting properties of this clinically and industrially important group of bacteria. The complete genome sequence of B. animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494 is predicted to harbour the genetic determinants for two type II R-M systems, designated BanLI and BanLII. In order to investigate the functionality and specificity of these two putative R-M systems in B. animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494, we employed PacBio SMRT sequencing with associated methylome analysis. In addition, the contribution of the identified R-M systems to the genetic accessibility of this strain was assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactobacillus paracasei is a member of the normal human and animal gut microbiota and is used extensively in the food industry in starter cultures for dairy products or as probiotics. With the development of low-cost, high-throughput sequencing techniques it has become feasible to sequence many different strains of one species and to determine its “pan-genome”. We have sequenced the genomes of 34 different L. paracasei strains, and performed a comparative genomics analysis. We analysed genome synteny and content, focussing on the pan-genome, core genome and variable genome. Each genome was shown to contain around 2800–3100 protein-coding genes, and comparative analysis identified over 4200 ortholog groups that comprise the pan-genome of this species, of which about 1800 ortholog groups make up the conserved core. Several factors previously associated with host-microbe interactions such as pili, cell-envelope proteinase, hydrolases p40 and p75 or the capacity to produce short branched-chain fatty acids (bkd operon) are part of the L. paracasei core genome present in all analysed strains. The variome consists mainly of hypothetical proteins, phages, plasmids, transposon/conjugative elements, and known functions such as sugar metabolism, cell-surface proteins, transporters, CRISPR-associated proteins, and EPS biosynthesis proteins. An enormous variety and variability of sugar utilization gene cassettes were identified, with each strain harbouring between 25–53 cassettes, reflecting the high adaptability of L. paracasei to different niches. A phylogenomic tree was constructed based on total genome contents, and together with an analysis of horizontal gene transfer events we conclude that evolution of these L. paracasei strains is complex and not always related to niche adaptation. The results of this genome content comparison was used, together with high-throughput growth experiments on various carbohydrates, to perform gene-trait matching analysis, in order to link the distribution pattern of a specific phenotype to the presence/absence of specific sets of genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously identified three well-dispersed mutations, E978-K, F989-L and D1009-R within the hesmolysin A signal region, located at positions -46, -35 and -15, with respect to the C-terminus, respectively. Each mutation reduces the efficiency of secretion two- to threefold leaving 30-45% of the wild-type activity. We have constructed by in vitro manipulations double mutants of HlyA carrying all combinations of these mutations and a triple mutant carrying all three mutations. The effects on secretion were determined and the results, including residual levels of secretion with the triple mutant of only 0.6%, compared with the wild type, indicated that these residues may interact to form a single function in the wild-type signal. To test this further, we developed a secretion competition assay in order to classify signal mutations. We demonstrated that a CIZ-HlyA fusion protein, containing the C-terminal 81 kDa of HlyA fused to virtually the whole LacZ protein, strongly inhibits the secretion of the wild-type HlyA co-expressed in the same cell. The properties of the fusion indicate that it blocks the translocator. The three mutations singly and in combinations were recombined in vitro into the 3′-end of the hybrid gene. In every case, the presence of a mutation in the secretion signal of the hybrid protein alleviated the inhibition of secretion of the co-expressed HlyA. All the mutations are therefore essentially recessive and we propose that they all affect an early function, probably recognition of the translocator, rather than a subsequent stop involved in translocation or final release of the toxin to the medium. This would indicate that residues involved in recognition (or steps leading to recognition) extend from at least -15 to -46 with respect to the HlyA C-terminus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494 is a component of a commercialized fermented dairy product for which beneficial effects on health has been studied by clinical and preclinical trials. To date little is known about the molecular mechanisms that could explain the beneficial effects that bifidobacteria impart to the host. Restriction-modification (R-M) systems have been identified as key obstacles in the genetic accessibility of bifidobacteria, and circumventing these is a prerequisite to attaining a fundamental understanding of bifidobacterial attributes, including the genes that are responsible for health-promoting properties of this clinically and industrially important group of bacteria. The complete genome sequence of B. animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494 is predicted to harbour the genetic determinants for two type II R-M systems, designated BanLI and BanLII. In order to investigate the functionality and specificity of these two putative R-M systems in B. animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494, we employed PacBio SMRT sequencing with associated methylome analysis. In addition, the contribution of the identified R-M systems to the genetic accessibility of this strain was assessed.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) constitute a heterogeneous group of bacteria that are traditionally used to produce fermented foods. The industrialization of food bio-transformations increased the economical importance of LAB, as they play a crucial role in the development of the organoleptique and hygienic quality of fermented products. Therefore, the reliability of starter strains in terms of quality and functional properties (important for the development of aroma and texture), but also in terms of growth performance and robustness has become essential. These strains should resist to adverse conditions encountered in industrial processes, for example during starter handling and storage (freeze-drying, freezing or spray-drying). The development of new applications such as life vaccines and probiotic foods reinforces the need for robust LAB since they may have to survive in the digestive tract, resist the intestinal flora, maybe colonize the digestive or uro-genital mucosa and express specific functions under conditions that are unfavorable to growth (for example, during stationary phase or storage). Also in nature, the ability to quickly respond to stress is essential for survival and it is now well established that LAB, like other bacteria, evolved defense mechanisms against stress that allow them to withstand harsh conditions and sudden environmental changes. While genes implicated in stress responses are numerous, in LAB the levels of characterization of their actual role and regulation differ widely between species. The functional conservation of several stress proteins (for example, HS proteins, Csp, etc) and of some of their regulators (for example, HrcA, CtsR) renders even more striking the differences that exist between LAB and the classical model micro-organisms. Among the differences observed between LAB species and B. subtilis, one of the most striking is the absence of a sigma B orthologue in L. lactis ssp. lactis as well as in at least two streptococci and probably E. faecalis. The overview of LAB stress responses also reveals common aspects of stress responses. As in other bacteria, adaptive responses appear to be a usual mode of stress protection in LAB. However, the cross-protection to other stress often induced by the expression of a given adaptive response, appears to vary between species. This observation suggests that the molecular bases of adaptive responses are, at least in part, species (or even subspecies) specific. A better understanding of the mechanisms of stress resistance should allow to understand the bases of the adaptive responses and cross protection, and to rationalize their exploitation to prepare LAB to industrial processes. Moreover, the identification of crucial stress related genes will reveal targets i) for specific manipulation (to promote or limit growth), ii) to develop tools to screen for tolerant or sensitive strains and iii) to evaluate the fitness and level of adaptation of a culture. In this context, future genome and transcriptome analyses will undoubtedly complement the proteome and genetic information available today, and shed a new light on the perception of, and the response to, stress by lactic acid bacteria.