Complete nucleotide sequence of plasmid pST-III from Lactobacillus plantarum ST-III

The complete nucleotide sequence of the 53,560-bp plasmid pST-III from Lactobacillus plantarum ST-III has been determined. The plasmid contains 42 predicted protein-coding sequences, and the functions of 34 coding sequences could be assigned. Homology analysis for the replication protein and the typical features of the origin of replication suggested that pST-III replicates via the theta-type mechanism. Among the predicted genes, we identified a kdp gene cluster (a high-affinity K(+)-transport system) for the first time in the Lactobacillus genus and a system for osmolyte transport. Analysis of the plasmid-encoded functions and the plasmid-cured experiment showed that the genes of pST-III could serve for the niche adaptations of L. plantarum ST-III and make significant contributions to its viability under hyperosmotic conditions. Furthermore, the relative copy number of pST-III was determined to be 6.79±1.55 copies per cell.     

罗氏乳杆菌无细胞上清培养液移除胆固醇能力的研究

本文探讨了罗氏乳杆菌DSM122460无细胞上清培养液(Cell-Free Supernatant,CFS)移除胆固醇的能力。采用邻苯二甲醛法测定DSM122460和对照菌株ST-III发酵过程中及其CFS对胆固醇的移除能力,并研究不同CFS浓度下的移除能力。并采用HPLC法测定CFS对照、热处理组和pH7.0组的胆盐水解酶活力,同时测定其移除胆固醇能力。结果显示,DSM122460不仅在发酵过程中具有较高的移除胆固醇能力,其CFS也表现出较高的移除能力,CFS中含有除胆盐水解酶以外的可移除胆固醇的蛋白类成分。这提示可能存在一种乳酸菌移除胆固醇的新机制。     

发酵菌糠饲料的开发

目的充分利用资源,降低养殖成本。方法利用菌糠为主要原料,添加适量麸皮和豆粕,以2%的接种量加入植物乳杆菌ST-III、干酪乳杆菌LC2W,15d密闭发酵。结果获得具有良好风味和质构、粗蛋白含量(以干物质计)可达到16%、pH为4.3的发酵饲料。动物实验结果表明,其72h瘤胃降解率可达42%,经25d饲喂后[1.5kg/(头·天)],后备牛(9~10月龄)的25d平均日增重可以达到0.95kg。结论发酵菌糠饲料性能优于市售同类产品,具有一定的应用前景。     

The Lactobacillus plantarum strain ACA-DC287 isolated from a Greek cheese demonstrates antagonistic activity in vitro and in vivo against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of the Xynotyri cheese isolate Lactobacillus plantarum ACA-DC287 using a set of in vitro and in vivo assays. METHODS AND RESULTS: The co-culture of L. plantarum strain ACA-DC287 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain SL1344 results in the killing of the pathogen. The killing activity was produced mainly by non-lactic acid molecule(s) that were present in the cell-free culture supernatant of the L. plantarum strain ACA-DC287. The culture of the L. plantarum strain ACA-DC287 inhibited the penetration of S. typhimurium SL1344 into cultured human enterocyte-like Caco-2/TC7 cells. In conventional mice infected with S. typhimurium SL1344, the intake of L. plantarum strain ACA-DC287 results in a decrease in the levels of Salmonella associated with intestinal tissues or those present in the intestinal contents. In germ-free mice, the L. plantarum strain ACA-DC287 colonized the gastrointestinal tract. CONCLUSIONS: The L. plantarum strain ACA-DC287 strain exerts anti-Salmonella activity similar that of the established probiotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus casei Shirota YIT9029 and Lactobacillus johnsonii La1. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The observation that a selected cheese Lactobacillus strain exerted antibacterial activity that was similar to those of probiotic Lactobacillus strains, is of interest for the use of this strain as an adjunct strain for the production of health-giving cheeses.     

Development of an amylolytic Lactobacillus plantarum silage strain expressing the Lactobacillus amylovorus alpha-amylase gene.

An amylolytic Lactobacillus plantarum silage strain with the starch-degrading ability displayed by Lactobacillus amylovorus was developed. An active fragment of the gene coding for alpha-amylase production in L. amylovorus was cloned and integrated into the chromosome of the competitive inoculant strain L. plantarum Lp80 at the cbh locus. The alpha-amylase gene fragment was also introduced into L. plantarum Lp80 on an autoreplicative plasmid. Both constructions were also performed in the laboratory strain L. plantarum NCIB8826. All four recombinant strains secreted levels of amylase ranging from 23 to 69 U/liter, compared with 47 U/liter for L. amylovorus. Secretion levels were higher in L. plantarum NCIB8826 than in L. plantarum Lp80 derivatives and were higher in recombinant strains containing autoreplicative plasmids than in the corresponding integrants. The L. plantarum Lp80 derivative containing the L. amylovorus alpha-amylase gene fragment integrated into the host chromosome secreted alpha-amylase to a level comparable to that of L. amylovorus and was stable over 50 generations of growth under nonselective conditions. It grew to a higher cell density than either the parent strain or L. amylovorus in MRS medium containing a mixture of starch and glucose as the fermentable carbohydrate source. This recombinant alpha-amylolytic L. plantarum strain would therefore seem to have considerable potential as a silage inoculant for crops such as alfalfa, in which water-soluble carbohydrate levels are frequently low but starch is present as an alternative carbohydrate source.     

Characterization and species recognition of Lactobacillus plantarum strains by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the 16S rRNA gene

Twenty-one strains, labelled Lactobacillus plantarum or Lact. plantarum -like, and isolated from different natural sources, were characterized by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the 16S rRNA gene using Hin dIII and Eco RI cleaved chromosomal DNA, together with Lact. plantarum ATCC 14917^T, Lact. pentosus ATCC 8041^T, Lact. plantarum ATCC 10776 and Lact. plantarum ATCC 8014. The fermentation patterns on API 50CH were recorded at 30°C and 37°C for all strains. The phenotypes were heterogeneous, and the ability to ferment 17 of the 49 carbohydrates varied. The fermentation of some carbohydrates, for example D-raffinose and D-arabitol, was temperature-dependent. Strains having identical API profiles were separated by the plasmid profile. All strains but one (affiliated to Lact. casei ) had identical 16S ribosomal DNA sequences ( Lact. plantarum/Lact. pentosus ). The RFLP study resulted in identical ribopatterns for 17 of the strains, including the type strain of Lact. plantarum (pattern A1). Four strains had related fragment patterns to that of Lact. plantarum sensu stricto; three of these strains had more than 60% DNA: DNA homology to the type strain of Lact. plantarum , and one had less than 50% DNA: DNA homology to Lact. plantarum ATCC 14917^T. Two strains had fragment patterns similar to the type strain of Lact. pentosus , and they had more than 80% DNA: DNA homology to Lact. pentosus ATCC 8041^T. One of the Lact. pentosus strains shared one band with the A1 pattern. The ribopatterns of Lact. plantarum were homogeneous (identical for 85% of the strains), irrespective of phenotype and source of isolation. RFLP of the 16S rRNA genes using Eco RI and Hin dIII might be used for species recognition of Lact. plantarum , but seems less suitable for strain typing.     

Construction of Lactobacillus plantarum strain with enhanced L-lysine yield

AIM: To enhance L-lysine secretion in Lactobacillus plantarum. METHODS AND RESULTS: An S-2-aminoethyl-L-cystein (AEC)-resistant mutant of L. plantarum was isolated, and it produced L-lysine at considerably higher level than the parent strain. Aspartokinase in the mutant has been desensitized to feedback inhibition by L-lysine. The nucleotide sequence analysis of thrA2 that codes for aspartokinase in the mutant predicted a substitution of glutamine to histidine at position 421. L-Lysine-insensitive aspartokinase, together with aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase, dihydrodipicolinate synthase, and dihydrodipicolinate reductase genes, was cloned from L. plantarum DNA to a shuttle vector, pRN14, and the genes were then transformed individually into the AEC-resistant mutant and the parent strain. The overexpression of the genes led to the increase in the activity of enzymes they encode in vitro. However, only the strain overexpressing aspartokinase or dihydrodipicolinate synthase produced more L-lysine. CONCLUSIONS: The desensitization of aspartokinase to L-lysine in L. plantarum led to the overproduction of L-lysine. The overexpression of L-lysine-insensitive aspartokinase or dihydrodipicolinate synthase enhanced L-lysine secretion in L. plantarum. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The use of the L-lysine-overproducing strain of L. plantarum in food or feed fermentation may increase the L-lysine content of fermented products.     

Folate overproduction in Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 causes methotrexate resistance

Folate overproduction can serve as a mode of resistance against the folate antagonist methotrexate in Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1. When compared with a wild-type control strain, an engineered high folate-producing strain was found to be insensitive to methotrexate. The growth rate and the viable count of the folate-overproducing L. plantarum strain were not significantly affected by the presence of methotrexate in the growth medium.     

Dominance of Lactobacillus plantarum strains in grass silage as demonstrated by a novel competition assay

An assay was developed for assessing the competitive ability of potential Lactobacillus plantarum silage inoculants. This assay was based on the ability of the test inoculant to outcompete a standard strain ( Lact. plantarum DCU101) co-inoculated at the same rate of 5 × 10⁵ colony forming units g^-1 of grass. Total populations of Lact. plantarum were enumerated with a selective medium and Lact. plantarum DCU101 was identified with a strain-specific DNA probe. The DNA probe was based on a small (2.2 kb), cryptic, indigenous plasmid which was cloned into pAT153, a multicopy cloning vector. Seven Lact. plantarum strains, six of which were isolated from well-preserved grass silages, were used to inoculate laboratory scale silos, and variation in strain dominance was monitored over the 14 d ensilage period.     

Genetic modification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus plantarum</Emphasis> by heterologous gene integration in a not functional region of the chromosome

This report describes the vector-free engineering of Lactobacillus plantarum by chromosomal integration of an exogenous gene without inactivation of physiological traits. The integrative plasmid vector pP7B6 was derived from pGIP73 by replacing the cbh site, encoding the L. plantarum conjugated bile salt hydrolase, with the prophage fragment P7B6, from L. plantarum Lp80 (DSM 4229). Plasmid pP7B6NI was obtained by inserting the nisin immunity gene nisI of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis DSM 20729, preceded by the constitutive promoter P32 from the same strain, in a unique XbaI site of fragment P7B6 and was used to electrotransform L. plantarum Lp80. A food grade recombinant L. plantarum Lp80NI, with 480-fold higher immunity to nisin than the wild type, was derived by integration of pP7B6NI followed by the excision of pP7B6. Polymerase chain reaction tests demonstrated that the integration of nisI in the prophage region had occurred and that the erythromycin resistance marker from pP7B6 was lost. Fifteen among 31 L. plantarum strains tested hybridized with P7B6, indicating that the integration of pP7B6-derived vectors might occur in some other L. plantarum strains. This was experimentally confirmed by constructing the recombinant strain L. plantarum LZNI from the dairy isolate L. plantarum LZ (LMG 24600).     

来自詹氏乳杆菌的耐热D-乳酸脱氢酶的酶学性质研究

【目的】D-乳酸脱氢酶是催化丙酮酸合成D-乳酸的关键酶。由于其不耐热,从而限制了D-乳酸高温发酵菌株的构建。本文从詹氏乳杆菌中克隆新型D-乳酸脱氢酶研究其酶学性质,为构建D-乳酸高温发酵菌株,进一步降低D-乳酸生产成本奠定基础。【方法】通过克隆詹氏乳杆菌的D-乳酸脱氢酶,将其进行体外表达,并与来自植物乳杆菌中的D-乳酸脱氢酶的最适温度、最适pH、动力学参数及热稳定性和热失活性相比较,研究詹氏乳杆菌D-乳酸脱氢酶的耐热性。【结果】詹氏乳杆菌的D-乳酸脱氢酶最适温度(45 °C)比植物乳杆菌中的D-乳酸脱氢酶的最适温度(30 °C)高很多,热失活的时间和温度均要比植物乳杆菌中D-乳酸脱氢酶高很多。同时其催化效率(kcat/Km)是植物乳杆菌D-乳酸脱氢酶的3倍左右。【结论】詹氏乳杆菌的D-乳酸脱氢酶具有更好的耐热性和更高的催化活力。     

Cloning,expression and functional validation of a β-fructofuranosidase from Lactobacillus plantarum

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are prebiotics that selectively stimulate the growth and activity of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. These strains metabolize FOS with endogenous β-fructofuranosidase. In this study, a β-fructofuranosidase gene from Lactobacillus plantarum ST-III designated sacA was cloned into Escherichia coli, and the properties of the recombinant protein (SacA) were examined. The sacA gene encodes a peptide of 501 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 56.7 kDa. Sequence alignment revealed the presence of three highly conserved motifs, NDPNG, RDP and EC, indicating that the enzyme belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 32. The predicted three-dimensional structure of the SacA enzyme was similar to β-fructofuranosidases of bifidobacteria, such that it contained a five-blade β-propeller module and a β-sandwich domain with one additional N-terminal α-helix. The optimal reaction temperature and pH of the enzyme were 37 °C and 6.0, respectively. Substrate hydrolysis and kinetic parameters demonstrated that β-fructofuranosidase from L. plantarum ST-III liberated fructosyl residues from the non-reducing terminus of fructans, such as sucrose, FOS, levan or inulin, and FOS was the preferred substrate. The expression of the sacA gene in a non-FOS-fermenting strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, enabled the recombinant strain to metabolize FOS and sucrose.     

Genome sequence of the naturally plasmid-free Lactobacillus plantarum strain NC8 (CCUG 61730)

Lactobacillus plantarum is a highly versatile lactic acid bacterium found in various ecological niches, such as fermented vegetable, meat, and dairy products and the gastrointestinal tract. We sequenced the genome of L. plantarum NC8, a naturally plasmid-free strain, which has been used as a model strain in many laboratories worldwide.     

植物乳杆菌荚膜缺陷型菌株的诱变选育

以自主分离和鉴定的产荚膜多糖植物乳杆菌C88为出发菌株,采用亚硝基胍诱变、墨汁负染和显微镜观察筛选获得一株荚膜缺陷型突变株,命名为植物乳杆菌C88M3,经多次传代突变菌株具有良好的遗传稳定性。通过16SrDNA序列分析、菌株生长曲线和RAPD分析比较了野生型菌株和荚膜缺陷型菌株在遗传特性和产荚膜情况方面的差异。通过化学诱变方法获得了乳杆菌荚膜缺陷型菌株,对进一步研究荚膜多糖在乳杆菌益生性中的功能和作用机制具有重要意义。     

Lactobacillus paraplantarum sp. now., a new species related to Lactobacillus plantarum

Four strains of facultatively heterofermentative lactobacilli isolated from beer and human feces have physiological characteristics similar to those of Lactobacillus plantarum. Unlike 66% of the L. plantarum strains tested (F. Bringel, M.-C. Curk, and J.-C. Hubert, Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 46:588-594, 1996), these strains do not catabolize alpha-methyl-D-mannoside. However, because they exhibit little DNA relatedness to L. plantarum and Lactobacillus pentosus, these four strains were classified as members of a new species, Lactobacillus paraplantarum; strain CNRZ 1885 (= CIP 104668) is the type strain.     

植物乳杆菌粘附性与其表面特征关系的探究

本文通过16s rDNA鉴定获得4株植物乳杆菌,并以HT29细胞为体外黏附筛选模型,进一步探讨了这些菌株粘附能力与表面疏水性、自聚共聚能力等表型特征的相关性。结果表明,植物乳杆菌AR326菌株对HT29细胞的粘附性最强,并显示高度的自聚性(25%)和共聚性(25%),但其表面疏水性偏低(15%);通过相关性分析发现,植物乳杆菌的自聚性和共聚性与HT29细胞粘附性呈显著相关性(r=1.0和0.8,p0.05),但表面疏水性、自凝聚性和共聚性两两之间并无显著相关性(p0.05)。本研究结果为建立快速筛选高粘附性植物乳杆菌的方法及其菌株在体内定植和分布研究提供一定参考依据。     

Mannose-specific interaction of Lactobacillus plantarum with porcine jejunal epithelium

Host-microorganism interactions in the intestinal tract are complex, and little is known about specific nonpathogenic microbial factors triggering host responses in the gut. In this study, mannose-specific interactions of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v with jejunal epithelium were investigated using an in situ pig Small Intestinal Segment Perfusion model. The effects of L. plantarum 299v wild-type strain were compared with those of two corresponding mutant strains either lacking the gene encoding for the mannose-specific adhesin (msa) or sortase (srtA; responsible for anchoring of cell surface proteins like Msa to the cell wall). A slight enrichment of the wild-type strain associated with the intestinal surface could be observed after 8 h of perfusion when a mixture of wild-type and msa-mutant strain had been applied. In contrast to the mutant strains, the L. plantarum wild-type strain tended to induce a decrease in jejunal net fluid absorption compared with control conditions. Furthermore, after 8 h of perfusion expression of the host gene encoding pancreatitis-associated protein, a protein with proposed bactericidal properties, was found to be upregulated by the wild-type strain only. These observations suggest a role of Msa in the induction of host responses in the pig intestine.     

1株产细菌素乳酸菌的筛选和鉴定

目的 从植物性材料中筛选产细菌素的乳酸菌。方法 琼脂扩散法。结果 所筛选的产细菌素R260菌株经鉴定为植物乳杆菌。排除有机酸、过氧化氢等干扰因素后,发酵液仍有很强的抑菌作用;用胰蛋白酶和胃蛋白酶处理后,发酵液抑菌活性急剧下降,因而确定产生的抑菌物质具有蛋白质性质,是一种细菌素。抑菌谱试验测定表明,此菌株的发酵液不仅抑制革兰阳性菌,而且对部分革兰阴性菌也有抑制作用,因此产生的是一类广谱细菌素。结论筛选到了1株产广谱细菌素的乳酸菌。     

Detection and analysis of extra- and intracellular deoxyribonuclease activities in Lactobacillus plantarum

Extracellular endodeoxyribonuclease activities have been detected in culture supernatant fluids of several Lactobacillus plantarum strains. In the case of Lact. plantarum HER 1325 at least, the extracellular activity is accompanied by a cytoplasmic restriction endonuclease. Among the secreted nucleases, the greatest activity was from Lact. plantarum ATCC 10241. This strain secretes an enzyme, with a molecular mass in the range 10–40 kDa, that cuts double-stranded DNA in a sequence-independent way by initially introducing single-strand nicks in supercoiled molecules, followed by linearization and complete degradation of the substrate.     

Technological and molecular diversity of Lactobacillus plantarum strains isolated from naturally fermented sourdoughs

Thirty Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum strains, isolated from sourdough, were identified by biochemical tests as well as 16S rDNA sequencing and differentiated on the basis of technological properties, such as amylase, protease, phytase and antirope activities. These properties were shown to be widely differing among the strains, indicating a significant technological diversity. Genetic differentiation was achieved by restriction endonuclease analysis-pulsed field gel electrophoresis (REA-PFGE) that allowed the L. plantarum strains to be divided into 10 different genomic groups. Moreover, 32 different starters were employed in dough making experiments; each starter consisted of a single strain of L. plantarum associated with a maltose positive or a maltose negative yeast. The technological properties of the doughs were greatly influenced by the type of strain included in the starter. The time of leavening and the acidification activities detected in the dough were enhanced by the presence of L. plantarum strains. The bacterial and yeast contents and fermentation properties were statistically treated by principal component analysis (PCA), which allowed the discrimination of different typologies of dough. The study of the peculiar characteristics of different strains of L. plantarum is fundamental for a better understanding of their potential in affecting the nutritional value, quality and stability of the baked goods. L. plantarum strains are able to differentially influence the dough quality when employed as starters.