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.     

植物乳杆菌发酵、冻干工艺及其益生特性的研究

目的 以Lactobacillus plantarum SQ-2506为目标,研究该菌株的发酵、冻干工艺及其益生特性。方法 通过对培养基中C源、N源和刺激因子的浓度改变考察对活菌数的影响,从而确定培养基的最佳配方;在确定最佳培养基后做出该菌的生长曲线以确定最佳发酵时间点;同时考察冻干保护剂的配方和预冷时间对菌粉活菌数的影响;此外,对植物乳杆菌进行产酸、产H2O2、生物膜形成能力、抑菌特性以及抗氧化能力的检测。结果 最佳MRS培养基中葡萄糖浓度为0.8%、酪蛋白胨为0.4%、牛肉粉为0.6%、吐温为0.06%;植物乳杆菌的生长曲线在5 h时达到稳定期,此时发酵液活菌数为3.16×109 CFU/mL,发酵液的pH为4.45。最佳冻干保护剂的配方：脱脂乳100 g/L,蔗糖120 g/L,抗坏血酸20 g/L,谷氨酸钠30 g/L;冻干前对上机液预冻时间为2 h,此时菌粉冻干存活率为70.21%。该菌株具有产酸、产H2O 2能力,并对大肠埃希菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和白色假丝酵母均有一定的抑制作用,形成膜能力较强,且具有一定的抗氧化能力。结论 通过培养基成分、发酵条件和冻干工艺的优化以及对其益生特性的研究,为下一步新药开发和规模化生产奠定基础。     

Horizontal transfer of tet(M) and erm(B) resistance plasmids from food strains of Lactobacillus plantarum to Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2 in the gastrointestinal tract of gnotobiotic rats

Two wild-type strains of Lactobacillus plantarum previously isolated from fermented dry sausages were analysed for their ability to transfer antibiotic resistance plasmids in the gastrointestinal tract. For this purpose, we used gnotobiotic rats as an in vivo model. Rats were initially inoculated with the recipient Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2 at a concentration of 10(10) CFU mL(-1). After a week, either of the two donors L. plantarum DG 522 (harbouring a tet(M)-containing plasmid of c. 40 kb) or L. plantarum DG 507 [harbouring a tet(M)-containing plasmid of c. 10 kb and an erm(B)-containing plasmid of c. 8.5 kb] was introduced at concentrations in the range of 10(8)-10(10) CFU mL(-1). Two days after donor introduction, the first transconjugants (TCs) were detected in faecal samples. The detected numbers of tet(M)-TCs were comparable for the two donors. In both cases, this number increased to c. 5 x 10(2) CFU g(-1) faeces towards the end of the experiment. For erm(B)-TCs, the number was significantly higher and increased to c. 10(3) CFU g(-1) faeces. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing in vivo transfer of wild-type antibiotic resistance plasmids from L. plantarum to E. faecalis.     

Transformation of Lactobacillus plantarum with the plasmid pTV1 by electroporation

Abstract Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 was transformed with pTV1 by electroporation using a modification of a procedure described for Escherichia coli . The plasmid pTV1 which contains the pE194 replicon from Staphylococcus aureus and transposon Tn917 from Streptococcus faecalis was shown to replicate as a high copy number plasmid in L. plantarum , and the two encoded antibiotic resistance traits were expressed. Tn917 transposed with a high frequency into plasmid DNA of L. plantarum as shown by restriction enzyme analysis and Southern hybridization studies. There are no previous reports on transposition in the lactobacilli. This system may prove to be an important tool in further work on the genetics of these organisms.     

Survival, growth and persistence under farm conditions of a Lactobacillus plantarum strain inoculated into liquid pig feed

AIMS: To investigate the survival and persistence of Lactobacillus plantarum REB1 in the fermentation process of liquid pig feed on a working farm in standard production conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two feed types, a control diet [nonfermented liquid feed (NFLF)] and a fermented diet [fermented liquid feed (FLF)], were compared. A rifampicin-resistant mutant L. plantarum REB1-Rif was used to initiate the fermentation of the feed. Inoculation with the experimental strain was repeated one or two times per week throughout the three month growing period. Four microbial groups were followed using standard microbiological techniques, as well as pH. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts were high already at the beginning in FLF, while it took nine days to reach the corresponding LAB levels in NFLF. Yeasts were stable in FLF, whereas in NFLF there were occasional high counts during the first week. The numbers of Enterobacteriaceae were low, although in NFLF they were variable. The average pH in NFLF was 4.5 and 4 in FLF. CONCLUSIONS: The inoculation of L. plantarum REB1-Rif provided a LAB population of log 9 colony forming units (CFU) ml(-1) from the first feeding day, stable numbers of yeast and pH, and a drastic reduction of Enterobacteriaceae. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The inoculation by L. plantarum REB1-Rif offered a FLF microbiologically stable from the first week in actual production conditions.     

一株具有良好粘附性的植物乳杆菌的生物学特性及应用

本文研究了植物乳杆菌AR326的最适生长温度、最适接种量、生长曲线、最适初始pH、胆汁耐受性、NaCl耐受性,并进一步探究了单菌株发酵酸奶的性能。结果显示植物乳杆菌AR326生长较快,4 h进入对数期,14 h进入稳定期,最适生长温度为30℃,在初始pH 3.0~7.0范围可生长,适宜的接种量为1.5%~2.0%,耐受胆盐浓度达0.2%,耐高渗透压能力强,可在含NaCl 8%的MRS培养基中生长。发酵乳中菌落数和对照组一致,脱水收缩性优于对照组,因而可用于商业上生产功能性酸奶。     

Development of a minimal growth medium for Lactobacillus plantarum

Aim:  A medium with minimal requirements for the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS was developed. The composition of the minimal medium was compared to a genome-scale metabolic model of L. plantarum .
Methods and Results:  By repetitive single omission experiments, two minimal media were developed: PMM5 (true minimal medium) and PMM7 [a pseudominimal medium, supporting proper biomass formation of 350 mg l⁻¹ dry weight (DW)]. The specific growth rate of L. plantarum on PMM7 was found to be 50% and 63% lower when compared to growth on established growth media (chemically defined medium and MRS, respectively). Using a genome-scale metabolic model of L. plantarum , it was predicted that PMM5 and PMM7 would not support the growth of L. plantarum . This is because the biosynthesis of para- aminobenzoic acid ( p ABA) was predicted to be essential for growth. The discrepancy in simulated growth and experimental growth on PMM7 was further investigated for p ABA; a molecule which plays an important role in folate production. The growth performance and folate production were determined on PMM7 in the presence and absence of p ABA. It was found that a 12 000-fold reduction in folate pools exerted no influence on formation of biomass or growth rate of L. plantarum cultures when grown in the absence of p ABA.
Conclusion:  Largely reduced folate production pools do not have an effect on the growth of L. plantarum , showing that L. plantarum makes folate in a large excess.
Significance and Impact of the study:  These experiments illustrate the importance of combining genome-scale metabolic models with growth experiments on minimal media.     

Identification and characterization of antibiotic resistance genes in Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus plantarum

Aims:  The study aimed to identify the resistance genes mediating atypical minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin and chloramphenicol within two sets of representative strains of the species Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus plantarum and to characterize identified genes by means of gene location and sequencing of flanking regions.
Methods and Results:  A tet (W) gene was found in 24 of the 28 Lact. reuteri strains with atypical MIC for tetracycline, whereas four of the six strains with atypical MIC for erythromycin were positive for erm (B) and one strain each was positive for erm (C) and erm (T). The two Lact. plantarum strains with atypical MIC for tetracycline harboured a plasmid-encoded tet (M) gene. The majority of the tet (W)-positive Lact. reuteri strains and all erm -positive Lact. reuteri strains carried the genes on plasmids, as determined by Southern blot and a real-time PCR method developed in this study.
Conclusions:  Most of the antibiotic-resistant strains of Lact. reuteri and Lact. plantarum harboured known plasmid-encoded resistance genes. Examples of putative transfer machineries adjacent to both plasmid- and chromosome-located resistance genes were also demonstrated.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  These data provide some of the knowledge required for assessing the possible risk of using Lact. reuteri and Lact. plantarum strains carrying antibiotic resistance genes as starter cultures and probiotics.     

Integration of an unstable plasmid into the chromosome of Lactobacillus plantarum

Abstract A 2.3 kb Eco RI restriction fragment of Lactobacillus plantarum genomic DNA was cloned into pSA3 to generate pJRI. Both pSA3 and pJR1 were transformed into L. plantarum . Growth of the transformants in the absence of the selection pressure, erythromycin (both plasmids confer Em^r), led to a stable sub-population of EM^r bacteria in which pSA3 and pJR1 had integrated into the L. plantarum genome. Amplification of the chromosomally located plasmids was observed when the organism was grown in the presence of erythromycin. The integrated plasmid sequences were stably maintained in the absence of selection pressure, and did not affect the growth rate of the lactic acid bacterium in rich media.     

Complete genome sequencing of exopolysaccharide-producing Lactobacillus plantarum K25 provides genetic evidence for the probiotic functionality and cold endurance capacity of the strain

Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) K25 is a probiotic strain isolated from Tibetan kefir. Previous studies showed that this exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing strain was antimicrobial active and cold tolerant. These functional traits were evidenced by complete genome sequencing of strain K25 with a circular 3,175,846-bp chromosome and six circular plasmids, encoding 3365 CDSs, 16 rRNA genes and 70 tRNA genes. Genomic analysis of L. plantarum K25 illustrates that this strain contains the previous reported mechanisms of probiotic functionality and cold tolerance, involving plantaricins, lysozyme, bile salt hydrolase, chaperone proteins, osmoprotectant, oxidoreductase, EPSs and terpenes. Interestingly, strain K25 harbors more genes that function in defense mechanisms, and lipid transport and metabolism, in comparison with other L. plantarum strains reported. The present study demonstrates the comprehensive analysis of genes related to probiotic functionalities of an EPS-producing L. plantarum strain based on whole genome sequencing.     

一种快速定量检测益生菌制品中植物乳杆菌的方法

目的建立快速定量检测植物乳杆菌的方法,排除近缘菌的干扰。方法利用SMM系统筛选植物乳杆菌种特异序列,根据特异序列设计引物进行实时荧光定量PCR反应。结果设计的引物具有良好的种特异性,检测限为2．26×10^2CFU／mL。结论该方法快速灵敏,可以在实际生产中应用。     

Metabolic perturbation of acrylate pathway in Lactobacillus plantarum

Engineering microbes with heterologous pathway for production of bio-based products has received considerable attention. Reconstituting such non-native pathway in addition to desired product formation often brings an allosteric modulation in enzymes competing at fragile nodes that result in by-product redistribution, in order to retain energy and redox balance. This work, Lactobacillus plantarum engineered with acrylate pathway for propionate production was studied under similar perspectives. Upon expression, the heterologous pathway did not result in propionic acid production under standard glucose concentration of 20?g/L, but 0.01?mM of propionate was formed when grown under low glucose concentration of 1?g/L. Further analysis of secreted metabolites with increased glucose concentration of 10 and 30?g/L remained futile towards propionate formation but showed reorientation in pyruvate metabolism which was related to the control imposed by the host to regulate the hidden constraints caused by gene perturbation. Further, it was ensured that the limitation of supplements did not play any functional role in inhibiting propionic acid synthesis but still followed similar metabolic pattern which was quite unclear though interpreted to certain extent. Thus, the findings gave insights into physiological and metabolic capabilities of Lactobacillus plantarum that at least in principle can be used to enhance the strain performance for increased propionic acid production.     

益生乳酸菌Lactobacillus casei Zhang和Lactobacillus plantarum P8对全价饲料pH及微生物类群变化的研究

研究了益生乳酸菌干酪乳杆菌Zhang(Lactobacillus casei Zhang)和植物乳杆菌P8(Lactobacillus planta-rum P8)对全价饲料pH及微生物类群变化的影响。分别将L.casei Zhang、L.plantarum P8单一菌种及复合菌种(11)以6.30 lg cfu/g的接种总量发酵全价饲料,测定25℃10 d发酵期间全价饲料pH和微生物类群的变化,应用选择培养基测定发酵饲料中的乳酸菌及杂菌(酵母菌、霉菌、大肠菌群、芽胞杆菌和梭状芽胞杆菌)的动态变化,应用RT-PCR技术测定试验组中的L.casei Zhang和L.plantarum P8的动态变化。结果显示,试验组pH下降显著,发酵10 d时,L.casei Zhang、L.plantarum P8单一菌种和复合菌种发酵饲料的pH分别为4.23、4.24和4.22,显著低于对照组(P0.05);L.casei Zhang、L.plantarum P8单一菌种和复合菌种发酵饲料中的L.casei Zhang、L.plantarum P8活菌数分别为8.91、8.89、6.58和8.69 lg cfu/g。发酵期间,试验组中酵母菌、霉菌、大肠菌群、芽胞杆菌及梭状芽胞杆菌活菌数显著低于对照组(P0.05),其中L.plantarum P8单一菌种发酵和复合菌种发酵对杂菌抑制效果显著优于L.casei Zhang单一菌种发酵(P0.05)。结果表明,全价饲料经L.casei Zhang、L.plantarum P8发酵可以显著降低其pH,抑制其中杂菌的生长,同时L.casei Zhang、L.plantarum P8在饲料中具有良好的稳定性。     

Comparison of growth-phase-dependent cytosolic proteomes of two Lactobacillus plantarum strains used in food and feed fermentations

Lactobacillus plantarum is a facultative heterofermentative lactic acid bacterium highly adapted to a wide variety of environments and widely used in food and feed fermentations. Proteomes of two strains of L. plantarum, one isolated from spontaneously fermented cereal-based feed (strain REB1), and the other from white cabbage (strain MLBPL1), were studied to elucidate the strain-specific variation and the physiological changes occurring between the growth (lag, early-exponential, late-exponential and early-stationary) phases of this bacterium when cultivated in a standard rich medium. A total of 231 protein spots were identified by LC-MS/MS. These proteins showed that strain MLBPL1 had more proteins with growth phase-dependent expression than REB1, which possesses a more constant expression profile. The proteins with growth phase-dependent expression in REB1 and MLBPL1 were mainly associated with energy metabolism (glycolysis, phosphoketolase pathway and ribose metabolism), all having preferential expression in the early-exponential phase, confirming the use of different carbohydrates simultaneously. Indication of energy production was also seen in lag and early-stationary phases.     

植物乳杆菌编码复制起始蛋白天然质粒的系统进化分析

【目的】探究复制起始蛋白(Replication initiation protein,Rep)是否可以作为天然质粒系统进化关系研究的分子标记。【方法】以植物乳杆菌天然质粒编码的Rep为研究对象,通过构建Rep系统进化树详细分析和讨论这些质粒的系统进化关系。【结果】植物乳杆菌45个编码Rep天然质粒可以划分为5个进化关系紧密的家族和1个独立进化质粒p G6302,家族1-4质粒可以进一步划分为10个进化关系更近的亚家族类群,因此这些质粒可能起源于6个祖先质粒。【结论】Rep氨基酸序列显示了适度的保守性和变异性,是植物乳杆菌编码Rep质粒进化研究理想的分子标记,为植物乳杆菌天然质粒系统进化研究提供了一种简单、有效的分析方法和标准,并为植物乳杆菌或其他乳酸菌天然质粒系统进化研究提供了分子水平的佐证和依据。     

1株植物乳杆菌生物学特性的研究

研究1株植物乳杆菌(N3)的生物学特性,实验结果表明该菌能耐受80~85℃的高温和0.20kg/cm2蒸汽压力;直接分解玉米淀粉的乳酸产率为7.05%(36 h)和8.19%(48 h);能耐受pH为4.5的酸性环境;在人工胃液中的活菌数为4.1×106CFU/g;对金霉素、土霉素、痢特灵和氟哌酸等抗生素的敏感性强,而对防霉剂和脱霉素不敏感。植物乳杆菌(N3)是1株优良的益生素生产菌。