Adsorption of temperate phages of Lactobacillus delbrueckii strains and phage resistance linked to their cell diversity

Aims: The aim of this work was to study the adsorption step of two new temperate bacteriophages (Cb1/204 and Cb1/342) of Lactobacillus delbrueckii and to isolate phage‐resistant derivatives with interesting technological properties. Methods and Results: The effect of divalent cations, pH, temperature and cell viability on adsorption step was analysed. The Ca²⁺ presence was necessary for the phage Cb1/342 but not for the phage Cb1/204. Both phages showed to be stable at pH values between 3 and 8. Their adsorption rates decreased considerably at pH 8 but remained high at acid pH values. The optimum temperatures for the adsorption step were between 30 and 40°C. For the phage Cb1/342, nonviable cells adsorbed a lower quantity of phage particles in comparison with the viable ones, a fact that could be linked to disorganization of phage receptor sites and/or to the physiological cellular state. The isolation of phage‐resistant derivatives with good technological properties from the sensitive strains and their relationship with the cell heterogeneity of the strains were also made. Conclusions: Characterization of the adsorption step for the first temperate Lact. delbrueckii phages isolated in Argentina was made, and phage‐resistant derivatives of their host strains were obtained. Significance and Impact of the Study: Some phage‐resistant derivatives isolated exhibited good technological properties with the prospective to be used at industrial level.     

Interactions between Lactobacillus sakei and CNC (Staphylococcus xylosus and Kocuria varians) and their influence on proteolytic activity

Aims: To evaluate interactions between Lactobacillus sakei and coagulase negative cocci (CNC) (Staphylococcus xylosus and Kocuria varians) and to investigate the influence of these interactions on their own proteolytic activity. Methods and Results: Interactions occurring between strains of Lact. sakei and CNC were assessed by spectrophotometric analysis. The growth of 35 strains of Lact. sakei, used as indicators, was compared to that obtained combining the same strains with growing cells or cell‐free supernatants of 20 CNC (18 Staph. xylosus and 2 K. varians). The proteolytic activity expressed by single strains or by their combinations was assessed on sarcoplasmic protein extracts by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results evidenced that interactions are able to affect not only the growth but also the in vitro proteolytic activity of Lact. sakei and CNC used in combination. Conclusions: A relationship between the presence of interactions among useful strains and the strength of technological characteristics, such as proteolysis, was defined. Significance and Impact of the Study:  The study highlighted that CNC are able to stimulate the growth of some Lact. sakei strains. At the same time, this interaction positively influences the proteolytic activity of strains used in combination. Given the importance of proteolysis during the ripening of fermented meats, this phenomenon should be taken into account to select meat starter cultures.     

Environment or kin: whence do bees obtain acidophilic bacteria?

As honey bee populations decline, interest in pathogenic and mutualistic relationships between bees and microorganisms has increased. Honey bees and bumble bees appear to have a simple intestinal bacterial fauna that includes acidophilic bacteria. Here, we explore the hypothesis that sweat bees can acquire acidophilic bacteria from the environment. To quantify bacterial communities associated with two species of North American and one species of Neotropical sweat bees, we conducted 16S rDNA amplicon 454 pyrosequencing of bacteria associated with the bees, their brood cells and their nests. Lactobacillus spp. were the most abundant bacteria in many, but not all, of the samples. To determine whether bee-associated lactobacilli can also be found in the environment, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Lactobacillus. Previously described groups that associate with Bombus and Apis appeared relatively specific to these genera. Close relatives of several bacteria that have been isolated from flowers, however, were isolated from bees. Additionally, all three sweat bee species associated with lactobacilli related to flower-associated lactobacilli. These data suggest that there may be at least two different means by which bees acquire putative probiotics. Some lactobacilli appear specific to corbiculate apids, possibly because they are largely maternally inherited (vertically transmitted). Other lactobacilli, however, may be regularly acquired from environmental sources such as flowers. Sweat bee-associated lactobacilli were found to be abundant in the pollen and frass inside the nests of halictids, suggesting that they could play a role in suppressing the growth of moulds and other spoilage organisms.     

乳酸杆菌S-层蛋白性质及其益生功能研究进展

乳酸杆菌为应用最早、研究最多的益生菌种之一,能够调节肠道微生物区系的平衡,增强机体的免疫力和抵抗力。S-层蛋白在乳酸杆菌黏附过程中起重要作用,因此乳酸杆菌中的S-层蛋白成为研究热点。本文对乳酸杆菌S-层蛋白的结构、分离提纯方法、基因克隆情况和益生功能做了详细阐述。     

戊糖乳杆菌发酵培养基氮源条件的优化

对戊糖乳杆菌发酵培养基的氮源条件进行了优化。通过单因素实验及响应面分析优化利用木糖高产乳酸的戊糖乳杆菌发酵培养基的不同氮源组合。优化得到的牛肉膏与柠檬酸氢二铵复合的最佳组成为牛肉膏17.72 g/L,柠檬酸氢二铵1.91 g/L,得到乳酸实际最大产量42.37 g/L。添加玉米浆与酵母粉和无机氮源复合的最佳组成为玉米浆46.54 g/L,酵母粉21.95 g/L,柠檬酸氢二铵9.95 g/L,可得到乳酸最大产量41.06 g/L。通过响应面优化减少了有机氮源的种类。牛肉膏与柠檬酸氢二铵的复合得到了更高的乳酸产量,且减少了有机氮源用量,节约了成本。玉米浆与酵母粉的复合解决了单一玉米浆造成的木糖利用速率过低的问题,同样得到较高浓度的乳酸。     

儿童迁延性腹泻患者肠道菌群和肠黏膜屏障功能的变化以及双歧杆菌三联活菌散的干预作用

目的 探讨儿童迁延性腹泻患者肠道菌群和肠黏膜屏障功能的变化以及双歧杆菌三联活菌散的干预作用。方法 选取儿科就诊迁延性腹泻患儿40例为观察组,予以双歧杆菌三联活菌散1.0 g/次,3次/d,溶解于温水中口服,连用8周,检测观察组患儿治疗前后肠道菌群数量及肠黏膜屏障指标的变化。另选择同期在我院体检的正常儿童30例为对照组。结果 观察组患儿治疗前双歧杆菌、乳杆菌的数量及B/E比值明显少于对照组,而大肠埃希菌数量明显多于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗8周后,观察组患儿双歧杆菌、乳杆菌的数量及B/E比值较治疗前明显上升,大肠埃希菌数量较治疗前明显下降（P<0.05）;观察组患儿治疗前血清D-乳酸、PCT和DAO水平明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗8周后,血清D-乳酸、PCT和DAO水平较治疗前明显下降（P<0.05）。结论 儿童迁延性腹泻患者存在肠道菌群紊乱,引起肠黏膜屏障功能受损,肠黏膜的通透性异常。双歧杆菌三联活菌散治疗儿童迁延性腹泻患者可纠正肠道菌群紊乱,保护肠黏膜屏障功能,降低其通透性,达到治疗腹泻的目的。     

Acid lactic lactobacilli as a biotechnological toll to improve food quality and human health

The genus Lactobacillus has been widely used in food industry as starter or adjunct culture due to its probiotic features. Its biotechnological features improve the spectrum of uses of lactobacilli, which can affect its applicability directly. In this sense, this literature review gathers information and discusses the biotechnological potential of technological/probiotic lactobacilli aiming to improve food quality and human health. The primary and secondary metabolism generates specific substances, such as organic acids, carbon dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, diacetyl, fatty acids, and bacteriocins, which are determinant due to their probiotic potential, antimicrobial activity, and the development of new food flavors. In order to become industrially and commercially attractive, it is necessary develop a large-scale process with lower production costs.     

Green synthesis of enantiopure (S)‐1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)ethanol by whole‐cell biocatalyst

Optically active aromatic alcohols are valuable chiral building blocks of many natural products and chiral drugs. Lactobacillus paracasei BD87E6, which was isolated from a cereal‐based fermented beverage, was shown as a biocatalyst for the bioreduction of 1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl) ethanone to (S)‐1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl) ethanol with highly stereoselectivity. The bioreduction conditions were optimized using L. paracasei BD87E6 to obtain high enantiomeric excess (ee) and conversion. After optimization of the bioreduction conditions, it was shown that the bioreduction of 1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)ethanone was performed in mild reaction conditions. The asymmetric bioreduction of the 1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)ethanone had reached 92% yield with ee of higher than 99.9% at 6.73 g of substrate. Our study gave the first example for enantiopure production of (S)‐1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)ethanol by a biological green method. This process is also scalable and has potential in application. In this study, a basic and novel whole‐cell mediated biocatalytic method was performed for the enantiopure production of (S)‐1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)ethanol in the aqueous medium, which empowered the synthesis of a precious chiral intermediary process to be converted into a sophisticated molecule for drug production.     

Optimization of Exopolysaccharide Overproduction by Lactobacillus confusus in Solid State Fermentation under High Salinity Stress

It is believed that high concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) suppress the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharide (EPS) in lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Nevertheless, overproduction of EPSs due to high salinity stress in solid state fermentation performed on an agar surface was demonstrated in this study using a response surface methodology via a central composite design (CCD). Under optimized conditions with NaCl 4.97% and sucrose 136.5 g/L at 40.79 h of incubation, the EPS yield was 259% (86.36 g/L of EPS), higher than the maximum yield produced with the modified MRS medium containing only 120 g/L of sucrose without NaCl (33.4 g/L of EPS). Biosynthesis of EPS by Lactobacillus confusus TISTR 1498 was independent of biomass production. Our results indicated that high salinity stress can enhance EPS production in solid state fermentation.     

干酪乳杆菌arat基因的敲除及其对苯乳酸合成代谢的影响

苯乳酸（PLA）作为一种新型的广谱抑菌物质,在食品行业具有巨大的发展潜力,作为乳酸菌的天然代谢产物之一,对其代谢机理的研究具有非常重要的意义。通过CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑系统对一株干酪乳杆菌（Lactobacillus casei）1.8727的芳香族氨基转移酶基因arat进行敲除,得到一株arat缺失菌株（L. casei）1.8727Δarat。通过HPLC方法分析其代谢产物,发现发酵72 h时,PLA产量比出发菌株提高约66.7%,而苯丙氨酸（Phe）比出发菌株提高约57.8%。首次在L. casei 1.8727中成功应用基因编辑手段敲除了arat基因,研究表明该菌株具有自身合成代谢Phe的能力,arat作为PLA代谢途径的关键酶基因,其缺失并未使PLA产量下调,而是促进了PLA与Phe的合成代谢,证明干酪乳杆菌中可能存在其他的代偿途径,arat基因缺失所造成的代谢流的改变最终造成PLA与Phe产量的提高,同时PLA的合成代谢可能涉及多个基因的参与,是一个复杂的代谢网络。研究结果对于深入研究PLA的合成代谢机制具有重要意义,为后续PLA合成代谢途径提供了新的思路及方法。