Dynamics of competitive population abundance of Lactobacillus plantarum ivi gene mutants in faecal samples after passage through the gastrointestinal tract of mice

AIM: This study aims to evaluate the impact of mutation of previously identified in vivo-induced (ivi) genes on the persistence and survival of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine Lact. plantarum ivi gene replacement mutants were constructed, focussing on ivi genes that encode proteins with a predicted role in cell envelope functionality, stress response and regulation. The in vitro growth characteristics of the mutants appeared identical to those observed for the wild-type strain, which agrees with the recombination-based in vivo expression technology suggestion that these genes are not transcribed in the laboratory. Quantitative PCR experiments demonstrated differences in the relative population dynamics of the Lact. plantarum ivi mutants in faecal samples after passage through the GI tract of mice. CONCLUSIONS: The in situ competition experiments revealed a 100- to 1000-fold reduction of the relative abundance of three of the ivi gene mutants, harbouring deletions of genes predicted to encode a copper transporter, an orphan IIC cellobiose PTS and a cell wall anchored extracellular protein. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These experiments clearly establish that the proteins encoded by these three genes play a key role in Lact. plantarum performance during passage of the GI tract.     

Removal of microcystin-LR by strains of metabolically active probiotic bacteria

The ability of specific strains of probiotic bacteria to remove the cyanobacterial peptide toxin microcystin-LR from aqueous solutions was assessed. Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains GG and LC-705, Bifidobacterium longum 46, Bifidobacterium lactis 420 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 were shown to be the most effective in toxin removal among 11 tested strains. The highest removal percentage of microcystin-LR was 58.1%, observed with B. lactis Bb12 (toxin concentration 100 microg L(-1), 10(10) CFU mL(-1), 37 degrees C, 24 h). Freshly cultured bacteria were shown to be more efficient in microcystin removal than lyophilized or nonviable bacteria. Removal of microcystin-LR was shown to be dependent on both temperature and bacterial concentration. It is concluded that some of the tested strains have good potential in removing microcystins from aqueous solutions.     

The genus Lactobacillus--a genomic basis for understanding its diversity

The genus Lactobacillus is a diverse group that includes many species used in food production and preservation. Some lactobacilli are considered probiotic, conferring health benefits upon the host. The heterogeneity of this genus poses challenges and opportunities when characterizing or exploiting individual strains. To date, 10 Lactobacillus genome sequences have been published, and at least 11 more sequencing projects are ongoing. These studies will dramatically improve one's understanding of metabolic processes, bioprocessing capabilities and potential roles in health and well-being of the Lactobacilli. This review describes the current status of Lactobacillus genome sequence projects, highlights the major findings and summarizes functional genomics or comparative genomics studies. The genomic basis for the unusual diversity of this genus is discussed, and the potential for comparative genomics to rigorously extend phylogenetic analysis of the Lactobacilli is described.     

大曲来源淀粉利用型乳酸菌的筛选及其淀粉利用特性

【背景】乳酸菌是面包、馒头等发酵食品中的重要功能微生物,对改善质地和风味均具有重要作用。淀粉利用能力高的乳酸菌,因其能够在生面粉中更好地定殖而具有重要的应用价值。【目的】筛选获得淀粉水解型乳酸菌并研究其淀粉利用特性。【方法】以浓香型白酒大曲为筛选源,采用淀粉基质碳源对大曲中乳酸菌进行定向富集,结合淀粉发酵能力筛选高淀粉利用能力菌株,并对筛选得到的优良菌株展开淀粉酶表达及其酶活力研究。【结果】以贮存3-6个月的大曲为优秀筛选源,以生面糊传代富集方法可较快筛选出具有良好淀粉利用能力的乳杆菌,主要物种为植物乳杆菌和类食品乳杆菌。对其中一株具有淀粉利用能力的类食品乳杆菌LBM12001的淀粉水解特征和淀粉酶活力展开研究,该菌株淀粉水解能力达10 g/L,并且其在面糊中具有良好的定殖能力;酶活力测定表明,其α-淀粉酶和麦芽糖淀粉酶为胞外酶;麦芽糖淀粉酶水解淀粉的最适pH值为3.5,比酶活为1 240 U/mg。【结论】建立起从我国传统白酒发酵大曲中高效筛选淀粉水解型乳酸菌的富集筛选方法,以及菌株的水解能力评价方法,获得的胞外麦芽糖淀粉酶分泌型乳杆菌在酸面团、馒头等需进行生面粉发酵食品的生产中具有重要应用前景。     

马奶酒样乳杆菌ZW3中WANG_1291基因的表达

【目的】马奶酒样乳杆菌ZW3含有一段长度为14.4 kb的胞外多糖合成基因簇,包含17个与胞外多糖合成相关的基因(WANG_1283?WANG_1299),主要分析17个基因在马奶酒样乳杆菌ZW3生长过程中不同时间段的表达量,探究其中一个表达量发生变化的基因对乳酸菌产胞外多糖的影响。【方法】通过半定量RT-PCR实验,对基因簇上各基因的表达量进行分析;通过构建含有表达量变化基因的重组乳酸乳球菌,比较重组菌与野生菌的产胞外多糖差异。【结果】经分析,WANG_1284、WANG_1286、WANG_1287、WANG_1288、WANG_1290、WANG_1291、WANG_1292、WANG_1294、WANG_1296、WANG_1297、WANG_1298、WANG_1299这12个基因在菌体生长的50 h和60 h (产糖量上升阶段)表达量最高,推测这些基因在多糖聚合过程中起作用。从这12个基因中选出一个表达量发生明显变化的基因WANG_1291做进一步研究。将WANG_1291插入乳酸菌表达载体pMG36e中,构建了重组表达载体pMG36e-1291。将构建的重组表达载体转化到乳酸乳球菌WH-C1中,得到重组菌株。测定重组菌与野生菌生长特性,发现重组菌与野生菌之间的生长速度存在一定差异。然后利用苯酚-硫酸法测得重组乳酸乳球菌的胞外多糖产量是野生菌的2.1倍,胞外多糖产量有了明显的提高。【结论】确定WANG_1291基因是调控马奶酒样乳杆菌ZW3产胞外多糖的关键基因之一。     

乳酸菌合成叶酸的研究进展

叶酸普遍存在于各类食物中,但由于叶酸的不稳定性以及饮食习惯的差异性,各国叶酸缺乏现象普遍存在。叶酸是参与核酸合成及细胞分裂分化的重要物质,叶酸缺乏引起机体功能的混乱,由此引发癌症等一系列的疾病。大部分乳酸菌是叶酸缺陷型菌株,但越来越多的研究表明其很多种类都具有叶酸合成能力。本文主要概述产叶酸乳酸菌的分类,乳酸菌生物合成叶酸的机制,以及利用乳酸菌进行的叶酸基因工程研究进展。     

乳杆菌细胞壁成分对小鼠阴道组织β-防御素2诱导表达的影响

目的探讨乳杆菌细胞壁成分（Lactobacilluscell wall extract,LCWE）对小鼠阴道组织β-防御素2诱导表达的影响。方法将雌性ICR小鼠随机分成5组,实验组给予不同浓度的（5、20和100 mg/L）LCWE 200μL阴道接种处理;阴性对照组小鼠阴道接种生理盐水,阳性对照组小鼠阴道接种大肠埃希菌EPEC104菌液（3×109CFU/mL）,5 d后处死,取小鼠阴道组织,做阴道菌群分析评价,部分阴道组织提取总RNA,以β-actin为内参照,采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot方法检测小鼠阴道组织β-防御素2表达。结果 20 mg/L和100 mg/L浓度LCWE处理后,小鼠阴道菌群较生理盐水组的肠杆菌、葡萄球菌明显减少（P〈0.05）,乳杆菌无显著性变化（P〉0.05）。生理盐水组小鼠阴道组织β-防御素2 mRNA表达量极低,大肠埃希菌阳性对照组能显著诱导小鼠阴道组织β-防御素2 mRNA的表达;5 mg/L浓度LCWE处理组开始,β-防御素2表达量开始提高,在100 mg/L浓度LCWE组其表达量达到最高。Western blot结果显示：生理盐水组小鼠阴道组织未检测到β-防御素2蛋白表达,而100 mg/L浓度LCWE处理组和大肠埃希菌EPEC104组均出现特异性条带。结论 LCWE可上调小鼠阴道组织β-防御素2的表达且存在着剂量依赖关系。     

清酒乳杆菌细菌素研究的现状及展望

清酒乳杆菌不仅可作为发酵香肠的发酵剂赋予香肠良好的风味和品质,而且绝大多数清酒乳杆菌细菌素对食源性致病菌单核增生李斯特菌具有较强的抑制作用。清酒乳杆菌细菌素种类多,性质各异。本文分别从清酒乳杆菌细菌素的种类,肉制品环境对清酒乳杆菌和细菌素稳定性的影响以及清酒乳杆菌细菌素在食品中的应用研究进行了概述,为寻找新的具有良好性能的清酒乳杆菌细菌素提供了参考。