Unusual genome complexity in Lactobacillus salivarius JCM1046

Integrative and Conjugative Elements and Prophage DNA as Carriers of Resistance Genes in Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Strains from Domestic Geese in Poland

Goose erysipelas is a serious problem in waterfowl breeding in Poland. However, knowledge of the characteristics of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strains causing this disease is limited. In this study, the antimicrobial susceptibility and serotypes of four E. rhusiopathiae strains from domestic geese were determined, and their whole-genome sequences (WGSs) were analyzed to detect resistance genes, integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), and prophage DNA. Sequence type and the presence of resistance genes and transposons were compared with 363 publicly available E. rhusiopathiae strains, as well as 13 strains of other Erysipelothrix species. Four strains tested represented serotypes 2 and 5 and the MLST groups ST 4, 32, 242, and 243. Their assembled circular genomes ranged from 1.8 to 1.9 kb with a GC content of 36-37%; a small plasmid was detected in strain 1023. Strains 1023 and 267 were multidrug-resistant. The resistance genes detected in the genome of strain 1023 were erm47, tetM, and lsaE-lnuB-ant(6)-Ia-spw cluster, while strain 267 contained the tetM and ermB genes. Mutations in the gyrA gene were detected in both strains. The tetM gene was embedded in a Tn916-like transposon, which in strain 1023, together with the other resistance genes, was located on a large integrative and conjugative-like element of 130 kb designated as ICEEr1023. A minor integrative element of 74 kb was identified in strain 1012 (ICEEr1012). This work contributes to knowledge about the characteristics of E. rhusiopathiae bacteria and, for the first time, reveals the occurrence of erm47 and ermB resistance genes in strains of this species. Phage infection appears to be responsible for the introduction of the ermB gene into the genome of strain 267, while ICEs most likely play a key role in the spread of the other resistance genes identified in E. rhusiopathiae.

Evaluation of Safety and Probiotic Traits from a Comprehensive Genome-Based In Silico Analysis of Ligilactobacillus salivarius P1CEA3, Isolated from Pigs and Producer of Nisin S

Ligilactobacillus salivarius is an important member of the porcine gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Some L. salivarius strains are considered to have a beneficial effect on the host by exerting different probiotic properties, including the production of antimicrobial peptides which help maintain a healthy gut microbiota. L. salivarius P1CEA3, a porcine isolated strain, was first selected and identified by its antimicrobial activity against a broad range of pathogenic bacteria due to the production of the novel bacteriocin nisin S. The assembled L. salivarius P1CEA3 genome includes a circular chromosome, a megaplasmid (pMP1CEA3) encoding the nisin S gene cluster, and two small plasmids. A comprehensive genome-based in silico analysis of the L. salivarius P1CEA3 genome reveals the presence of genes related to probiotic features such as bacteriocin synthesis, regulation and production, adhesion and aggregation, the production of lactic acid, amino acids metabolism, vitamin biosynthesis, and tolerance to temperature, acid, bile salts and osmotic and oxidative stress. Furthermore, the strain is absent of risk-related genes for acquired antibiotic resistance traits, virulence factors, toxic metabolites and detrimental metabolic or enzymatic activities. Resistance to common antibiotics and gelatinase and hemolytic activities have been discarded by in vitro experiments. This study identifies several probiotic and safety traits of L. salivarius P1CEA3 and suggests its potential as a promising probiotic in swine production.

Assessment of beneficial effects and identification of host adaptation-associated genes of Ligilactobacillus salivarius isolated from badgers

BACKGROUND

Ligilactobacillus salivarius has been frequently isolated from the gut microbiota of humans and domesticated animals and has been studied as a candidate probiotic. Badger (Meles meles) is known as a "generalist" species that consumes complex foods and exhibits tolerance and resistance to certain pathogens, which can be partly attributed to the beneficial microbes such as L. salivarius in the gut microbiota. However, our understanding of the beneficial traits and genomic features of badger-originated L. salivarius remains elusive.

RESULTS

In this study, nine L. salivarius strains were isolated from wild badgers' feces, one of which exhibited good probiotic properties. Complete genomes of the nine L. salivarius strains were generated, and comparative genomic analysis was performed with the publicly available complete genomes of L. salivarius obtained from humans and domesticated animals. The strains originating from badgers harbored a larger genome, a higher number of protein-coding sequences, and functionally annotated genes than those originating from humans and chickens. The pan-genome phylogenetic tree demonstrated that the strains originating from badgers formed a separate clade, and totally 412 gene families (12.6% of the total gene families in the pan-genome) were identified as genes gained by the last common ancestor of the badger group. The badger group harbored significantly more gene families responsible for the degradation of complex carbohydrate substrates and production of polysaccharides than strains from other hosts; many of these were acquired by gene gain events.

CONCLUSIONS

A candidate probiotic and nine L. salivarius complete genomes were obtained from the badgers' gut microbiome, and several beneficial genes were identified to be specifically present in the badger-originated strains that were gained in the evolution. Our study provides novel insights into the adaptation of L. salivarius to the intestinal habitat of wild badgers and provides valuable strain and genome resources for the development of L. salivarius as a probiotic.

Antibiotic susceptibility of Lactobacillus plantarum strains, isolated from katak

Several Lactobacillus species are accepted as microorganisms with Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) in the EFSA’s list. One of them, Lactobacillus plantarum is a widely distributed species with a proven probiotic potential and technological relevance. In addition, every strain must complete several requirements, before implementation. Antibiotic susceptibility is one of EFSA’s important criteria regarding the safety of probiotics. The reason is to avoid any possibility of antibiotic resistance genes transfer to opportunistic pathogens in the gut. In the present study 14 Lactobacillus plantarum strains were assessed for susceptibility to 21 antibiotics from different groups. A high number of resistant strains was determined toward 12 antibiotics (penicillins – penicillin, piperacillin; IIIth generation cephalosporins – cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime; glycopeptides – vancomycin; tetracyclines – tetracycline; aminoglycosides – gentamicin; macrolides – clarithromycin; quinolones – nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin). Concerning the other tested antibiotics, strain-specific antibiotic-sensitivity patterns were observed. Antibiotic resistance was also discussed as an advantage in the selection of probiotic strains, however only when it is not transferable. Estimated susceptibility patterns of some of tested candidate probiotic strains are also important, considering the use of the latter as agents accompanying antibiotic therapy

Complete genome sequence and probiotic properties of Lactococcus petauri LZys1 isolated from healthy human gut

Introduction. Lactococcus petauri LZys1 (L. petauri LZys1) is a type of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which was initially isolated from healthy human gut.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. It was previously anticipated that L. petauri LZys1 has potential characteristics of probiotic properties. The genetic structure and the regulation functions of L. petauri LZys1 need to be better revealed.Aim. The aim of this study was to detect the probiotic properties L. petauri LZys1 and to reveal the genome information related to its genetic adaptation and probiotic profiles.Methodology. Multiple in vitro experiments were carried out to evaluate its lactic acid-producing ability, resistance to pathogenic bacterial strains, auto-aggregation and co-aggregation ability, and so on. Additionally, complete genome sequencing, gene annotation, and probiotic associated gene analysis were performed.Results. The complete genome of L. petauri LZys1 comprised of 1 985 765 bp, with a DNA G+C content of 38.07 %, containing 50 tRNA, seven rRNA, and four sRNA. A total of 1931 genes were classified into six functional categories by Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. The neighbour-joining phylogeny tree based on the whole genome of L. petauri LZys1 and other probiotics demonstrated that L. petauri LZys1 has a significant similarity to Lactococcus garvieae. The functional genes were detected to expound the molecular mechanism and biochemical processes of its potential probiotic properties, such as atpB gene.Conclusion. All the results described in this study, together with relevant information previously reported, made L. prtauri LZys1 a very interesting potential strain to be considered as a prominent candidate for probiotic use.

Fxr signaling and microbial metabolism of bile salts in the zebrafish intestine

Bile salt synthesis, secretion into the intestinal lumen, and resorption in the ileum occur in all vertebrate classes. In mammals, bile salt composition is determined by host and microbial enzymes, affecting signaling through the bile salt-binding transcription factor farnesoid X receptor (Fxr). However, these processes in other vertebrate classes remain poorly understood. We show that key components of hepatic bile salt synthesis and ileal transport pathways are conserved and under control of Fxr in zebrafish. Zebrafish bile salts consist primarily of a C27 bile alcohol and a C24 bile acid that undergo multiple microbial modifications including bile acid deconjugation that augments Fxr activity. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we provide a cellular atlas of the zebrafish intestinal epithelium and uncover roles for Fxr in transcriptional and differentiation programs in ileal and other cell types. These results establish zebrafish as a nonmammalian vertebrate model for studying bile salt metabolism and Fxr signaling.

Selection of Immunobiotic Ligilactobacillus salivarius Strains from the Intestinal Tract of Wakame-Fed Pigs: Functional and Genomic Studies

In this article, Ligilactobacillus salivarius FFIG strains, isolated from the intestinal tract of wakame-fed pigs, are characterized according to their potential probiotic properties. Strains were evaluated by studying their interaction with porcine intestinal epithelial (PIE) cells in terms of their ability to regulate toll-like receptor (TLR)-3- or TLR4-mediated innate immune responses, as well as by assessing their adhesion capabilities to porcine epithelial cells and mucins. These functional studies were complemented with comparative genomic evaluations using the complete genome sequences of porcine L. salivarius strains selected from subgroups that demonstrated different “immune” and “adhesion” phenotypes. We found that their immunomodulatory and adhesion capabilities are a strain-dependent characteristic. Our analysis indicated that the differential immunomodulatory and adhesive activities of FFIG strains would be dependent on the combination of several surface structures acting simultaneously, which include peptidoglycan, exopolysaccharides, lipoteichoic acid, and adhesins. Of note, our results indicate that there is no correlation between the immunomodulatory capacity of the strains with their adhesion ability to mucins and epithelial cells. Therefore, in the selection of strains destined to colonize the intestinal mucosa and modulate the immunity of the host, both properties must be adequately evaluated. Interestingly, we showed that L. salivarius FFIG58 functionally modulated the innate immune responses triggered by TLR3 and TLR4 activation in PIE cells and efficiently adhered to these cells. Moreover, the FFIG58 strain was capable of reducing rotavirus replication in PIE cells. Therefore, L. salivarius FFIG58 is a good candidate for further in vivo studying the protective effect of lactobacilli against intestinal infections in the porcine host. We also reported and analyzed, for the first time, the complete genome of several L. salivarius strains that were isolated from the intestine of pigs after the selective pressure of feeding the animals with wakame. Further genomic analysis could be of value to reveal the metabolic characteristics and potential of the FFIG strains in general and of the FFIG58 strain, in particular, relating to wakame by-products assimilation.

Early Inoculation of Microbial Suspension in Suckling Piglets Affects the Transmission of Maternal Microbiota and the Associated Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Antibiotic resistance of microbes thriving in the animal gut is a growing concern for public health as it may serve as a hidden reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). We compared 16 control piglets to 24 piglets fed for 3 weeks with S1 or S2 fecal suspensions from two sows that were not exposed to antibiotics for at least 6 months: the first suspension decreased the erythromycin resistance gene ermB and the aminoglycoside phosphotransferase gene conferring resistance to kanamycine (aphA3), while the second decreased the tetracycline resistance gene tetL, with an unexpected increase in ARGs. Using 16S RNA sequencing, we identified microbial species that are likely to carry ARGs, such as the lincosamide nucleotidyltransferase lnuB, the cephalosporinase cepA, and the tetracycline resistance genes tetG and tetM, as well as microbes that never co-exist with the tetracycline resistance gene tetQ, the erythromycin resistance gene ermG and aphA3. Since 73% of the microbes detected in the sows were not detected in the piglets at weaning, a neutral model was applied to estimate whether a microbial species is more important than chance would predict. This model confirmed that force-feeding modifies the dynamics of gut colonization. In conclusion, early inoculation of gut microbes is an interesting possibility to stimulate gut microbiota towards a desirable state in pig production, but more work is needed to be able to predict which communities should be used.

Draft Genome Sequence of Ligilactobacillus salivarius FFIG58, Isolated from the Intestinal Tract of Wakame-Fed Pig

Ligilactobacillus salivarius FFIG58 was isolated from the intestine of a wakame-fed pig and sequenced with an Illumina HiSeq system. FFIG58 genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 1,984,180 bp, with 1,994 protein-coding genes and a GC content of 32.9%. This draft genome sequence will contribute to a better understanding of the porcine gut microbiome.

Ligilactobacillus salivarius FFIG58 was isolated from the intestine of a wakame-fed pig and sequenced with an Illumina HiSeq system. FFIG58 genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 1,984,180 bp, with 1,994 protein-coding genes and a GC content of 32.9%. This draft genome sequence will contribute to a better understanding of the porcine gut microbiome.

Lactobacilli Isolated From Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Antagonize Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in a Species-Dependent Manner

Background: Wildlife poses a significant burden for the complete eradication of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). In particular, wild boar (Sus scrofa) is one of the most important reservoirs of Mycobacterium bovis, the causal agent of bTB. Wild boar can display from mild TB lesions, usually found in head lymph nodes, to generalized TB lesions distributed in different anatomical regions; but rarely clinical signs, which complicates the diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis infection and bTB control. Among the possibilities for this variability in lesion distribution is the influence of the host-beneficial commensal-primed immune barrier. In this respect, beneficial microbes may delay bTB dissemination as a consequence of an antagonistic competition for nutrients and phagocytes. In order to explore this possibility, we have tested whether typical commensals such as lactobacilli have the capacity to reduce the survival rate of the surrogate M. bovis strain Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG); and to modulate its phagocyte intake.

Results: Three Lactobacillus species, L. casei, L. plantarum, and L. salivarius, isolated from wild boar feces displayed a pH-dependent inhibitory activity against BCG and influenced its intake by porcine blood phagocytes in a species-dependent manner. All lactobacilli showed a very significant bactericidal effect against BCG at low pH, but only isolates of L. plantarum and L. casei displayed such antimycobacterial activity at neutral pH. The genomes of these isolates revealed the presence of two-peptide bacteriocins whose precursor genes up-regulate in the presence of BCG cells. Furthermore, L. plantarum reduced significantly the BCG phagocytic intake, whereas L. casei had the opposite effect. L. salivarius had no significant influence on the phagocytic response to BCG.

Conclusions: Our in vitro results show that lactobacilli isolated from wild boar antagonize BCG as a consequence of their antimycobacterial activity and a competitive phagocytic response. These findings suggest that commensal bacteria could play a beneficial role in influencing the outcome of bTB dissemination. Further work with lactobacilli as a potential competitive pressure to control bTB will need to take into account the complex nature of the commensal microbiome, the specific immunity of the wild boar and the in vivo infection context with pathogenic strains of M. bovis.

Genus-Wide Assessment of Antibiotic Resistance in Lactobacillus spp

Lactobacillus species are widely used as probiotics and starter cultures for a variety of foods, supported by a long history of safe usage. Although more than 35 species meet the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) criteria for qualified presumption of safety status, the safety of Lactobacillus species and their carriage of antibiotic resistance (AR) genes is under continuing ad hoc review. To comprehensively update the identification of AR in the genus Lactobacillus, we determined the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of 182 Lactobacillus type strains and compared these phenotypes to their genotypes based on genome-wide annotations of AR genes. Resistances to trimethoprim, vancomycin, and kanamycin were the most common phenotypes. A combination of homology-based screening and manual annotation identified genes encoding resistance to aminoglycosides (20 sequences), tetracycline (18), erythromycin (6), clindamycin (60), and chloramphenicol (42). In particular, the genes aac(3) and lsa, involved in resistance to aminoglycosides and clindamycin, respectively, were found in Lactobacillus spp. Acquired determinants predicted to code for tetracycline and erythromycin resistance were detected in Lactobacillus ingluviei, Lactobacillus amylophilus, and Lactobacillus amylotrophicus, flanked in the genome by mobile genetic elements with potential for horizontal transfer.IMPORTANCELactobacillus species are generally considered to be nonpathogenic and are used in a wide variety of foods and products for humans and animals. However, many of the species examined in this study have antibiotic resistance levels which exceed those recommended by the EFSA, suggesting that these cutoff values should be reexamined in light of the genetic basis for resistance discussed here. Our data provide evidence for rationally revising the regulatory guidelines for safety assessment of lactobacilli entering the food chain as starter cultures, food preservatives, or probiotics and will facilitate comprehensive genotype-based assessment of strains for safety screening.

Comparative Genomics of Lactobacillus acidipiscis ACA-DC 1533 Isolated From Traditional Greek Kopanisti Cheese Against Species Within the Lactobacillus salivarius Clade

Lactobacillus acidipiscis belongs to the Lactobacillus salivarius clade and it is found in a variety of fermented foods. Strain ACA-DC 1533 was isolated from traditional Greek Kopanisti cheese and among the available L. acidipiscis genomes it is the only one with a fully sequenced chromosome. L. acidipiscis strains exhibited a high degree of conservation at the genome level. Investigation of the distribution of prophages and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPRs) among the three strains suggests the potential existence of lineages within the species. Based on the presence/absence patterns of these genomic traits, strain ACA-DC 1533 seems to be more related to strain JCM 10692^T than strain KCTC 13900. Interestingly, strains ACA-DC 1533 and JCM 10692^T which lack CRISPRs, carry two similar prophages. In contrast, strain KCTC 13900 seems to have acquired immunity to these prophages according to the sequences of spacers in its CRISPRs. Nonetheless, strain KCTC 13900 has a prophage that is absent from strains ACA-DC 1533 and JCM 10692^T. Furthermore, comparative genomic analysis was performed among L. acidipiscis ACA-DC 1533, L. salivarius UCC118 and Lactobacillus ruminis ATCC 27782. The chromosomes of the three species lack long-range synteny. Important differences were also determined in the number of glycobiome related proteins, proteolytic enzymes, transporters, insertion sequences and regulatory proteins. Moreover, no obvious genomic traits supporting a probiotic potential of L. acidipiscis ACA-DC 1533 were detected when compared to the probiotic L. salivarius UCC118. However, the existence of more than one glycine-betaine transporter within the genome of ACA-DC 1533 may explain the ability of L. acidipiscis to grow in fermented foods containing high salt concentrations. Finally, in silico analysis of the L. acidipiscis ACA-DC 1533 genome revealed pathways that could underpin the production of major volatile compounds during the catabolism of amino acids that may contribute to the typical piquant flavors of Kopanisti cheese.

Characterization of the Sorbitol Utilization Cluster of the Probiotic Pediococcus parvulus 2.6: Genetic, Functional and Complementation Studies in Heterologous Hosts

Pediococcus parvulus 2.6 secretes a 2-substituted (1,3)-β-D-glucan with prebiotic and immunomodulatory properties. It is synthesized by the GTF glycosyltransferase using UDP-glucose as substrate. Analysis of the P. parvulus 2.6 draft genome revealed the existence of a sorbitol utilization cluster of six genes (gutFRMCBA), whose products should be involved in sorbitol utilization and could generate substrates for UDP-glucose synthesis. Southern blot hybridization analysis showed that the cluster is located in a plasmid. Analysis of metabolic fluxes and production of the exopolysaccharide revealed that: (i) P. parvulus 2.6 is able to metabolize sorbitol, (ii) sorbitol utilization is repressed in the presence of glucose and (iii) sorbitol supports the synthesis of 2-substituted (1,3)-β-D-glucan. The sorbitol cluster encodes two putative regulators, GutR and GutM, in addition to a phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase transport system and sorbitol-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Therefore, we investigated the involvement of GutR and GutM in the expression of gutFRMCBA. The promoter-probe vector pRCR based on the mrfp gene, which encodes the fluorescence protein mCherry, was used to test the potential promoter of the cluster (P gut ) and the genes encoding the regulators. This was performed by transferring by electrotransformation the recombinant plasmids into two hosts, which metabolize sorbitol: Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei. Upon growth in the presence of sorbitol, but not of glucose, only the presence of P gut was required to support expression of mrfp in L. plantarum. In L. casei the presence of sorbitol in the growth medium and the pediococcal gutR or gutR plus gutM in the genome was required for P gut functionality. This demonstrates that: (i) P gut is required for expression of the gut cluster, (ii) P gut is subjected to catabolic repression in lactobacilli, (iii) GutR is an activator, and (iv) in the presence of sorbitol, trans-complementation for activation of P gut exists in L. plantarum but not in L. casei.

Whole-Genome Sequencing of Lactobacillus salivarius Strains BCRC 14759 and BCRC 12574

Lactobacillus salivarius BCRC 14759 has been identified as a high-exopolysaccharide-producing strain with potential as a probiotic or fermented dairy product. Here, we report the genome sequences of L. salivarius BCRC 14759 and the comparable strain BCRC 12574, isolated from human saliva. The PacBio RSII sequencing platform was used to obtain high-quality assemblies for characterization of this probiotic candidate.

Phylogenomics and comparative genomics of Lactobacillus salivarius, a mammalian gut commensal

The genus Lactobacillus is a diverse group with a combined species count of over 200. They are the largest group within the lactic acid bacteria and one of the most important bacterial groups involved in food microbiology and human nutrition because of their fermentative and probiotic properties. Lactobacillus salivarius, a species commonly isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals, has been described as having potential probiotic properties and results of previous studies have revealed considerable functional diversity existing on both the chromosomes and plasmids. Our study consists of comparative genomic analyses of the functional and phylogenomic diversity of 42 genomes of strains of L. salivarius using bioinformatic techniques. The main aim of the study was to describe intra-species diversity and to determine how this diversity is spread across the replicons. We found that multiple phylogenomic and non-phylogenomic methods used for reconstructing trees all converge on similar tree topologies, showing that different metrics largely agree on the evolutionary history of the species. The greatest genomic variation lies on the small plasmids, followed by the repA-type circular megaplasmid, with the chromosome varying least of all. Additionally, the presence of extra linear and circular megaplasmids is noted in several strains, while small plasmids are not always present. Glycosyl hydrolases, bacteriocins and proteases vary considerably on all replicons while two exopolysaccharide clusters and several clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated systems show a lot of variation on the chromosome. Overall, despite its reputation as a mammalian gastrointestinal tract specialist, the intra-specific variation of L. salivarius reveals potential strain-dependant effects on human health.

Comparative Genomics Reveals Biomarkers to Identify Lactobacillus Species

Bacteria possessing multiple copies of 16S rRNA (rrs) gene demonstrate high intragenomic heterogeneity. It hinders clear distinction at species level and even leads to overestimation of the bacterial diversity. Fifty completely sequenced genomes belonging to 19 species of Lactobacillus species were found to possess 4-9 copies of rrs each. Multiple sequence alignment of 268 rrs genes from all the 19 species could be classified into 20 groups. Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis TMW 1.1304 was the only species where all the 7 copies of rrs were exactly similar and thus formed a distinct group. In order to circumvent the problem of high heterogeneity arising due to multiple copies of rrs, 19 additional genes (732-3645 nucleotides in size) common to Lactobacillus genomes, were selected and digested with 10 Type II restriction endonucleases (RE), under in silico conditions. The following unique gene-RE combinations: recA (1098 nts)-HpyCH4 V, CviAII, BfuCI and RsaI were found to be useful in identifying 29 strains representing 17 species. Digestion patterns of genes-ruvB (1020 nts), dnaA (1368 nts), purA (1290 nts), dnaJ (1140 nts), and gyrB (1944 nts) in combination with REs-AluI, BfuCI, CviAI, Taq1, and Tru9I allowed clear identification of an additional 14 strains belonging to 8 species. Digestion pattern of genes recA, ruvB, dnaA, purA, dnaJ and gyrB can be used as biomarkers for identifying different species of Lactobacillus.

The Identification of Novel Diagnostic Marker Genes for the Detection of Beer Spoiling Pediococcus damnosus Strains Using the BlAst Diagnostic Gene findEr

As the number of bacterial genomes increases dramatically, the demand for easy to use tools with transparent functionality and comprehensible output for applied comparative genomics grows as well. We present BlAst Diagnostic Gene findEr (BADGE), a tool for the rapid prediction of diagnostic marker genes (DMGs) for the differentiation of bacterial groups (e.g. pathogenic / nonpathogenic). DMG identification settings can be modified easily and installing and running BADGE does not require specific bioinformatics skills. During the BADGE run the user is informed step by step about the DMG finding process, thus making it easy to evaluate the impact of chosen settings and options. On the basis of an example with relevance for beer brewing, being one of the oldest biotechnological processes known, we show a straightforward procedure, from phenotyping, genome sequencing, assembly and annotation, up to a discriminant marker gene PCR assay, making comparative genomics a means to an end. The value and the functionality of BADGE were thoroughly examined, resulting in the successful identification and validation of an outstanding novel DMG (fabZ) for the discrimination of harmless and harmful contaminations of Pediococcus damnosus, which can be applied for spoilage risk determination in breweries. Concomitantly, we present and compare five complete P. damnosus genomes sequenced in this study, finding that the ability to produce the unwanted, spoilage associated off-flavor diacetyl is a plasmid encoded trait in this important beer spoiling species.

Expanding the biotechnology potential of lactobacilli through comparative genomics of 213 strains and associated genera

Lactobacilli are a diverse group of species that occupy diverse nutrient-rich niches associated with humans, animals, plants and food. They are used widely in biotechnology and food preservation, and are being explored as therapeutics. Exploiting lactobacilli has been complicated by metabolic diversity, unclear species identity and uncertain relationships between them and other commercially important lactic acid bacteria. The capacity for biotransformations catalysed by lactobacilli is an untapped biotechnology resource. Here we report the genome sequences of 213 Lactobacillus strains and associated genera, and their encoded genetic catalogue for modifying carbohydrates and proteins. In addition, we describe broad and diverse presence of novel CRISPR-Cas immune systems in lactobacilli that may be exploited for genome editing. We rationalize the phylogenomic distribution of host interaction factors and bacteriocins that affect their natural and industrial environments, and mechanisms to withstand stress during technological processes. We present a robust phylogenomic framework of existing species and for classifying new species.

Lactobacillus is a lactic acid bacteria and has a wide range of application from use in probiotic food production to biotherapeutics. Here, the authors sequence and compare the genomes of 213 different Lactobacillus strains and related genera, and provide new insight into phylogenomic organization and adaptive immunity elements in this bacteria family.

Impact of exopolysaccharide production on functional properties of some Lactobacillus salivarius strains

The aim of this work was to characterize functional properties of Lactobacillus salivarius strains isolated from chicken feces. Detection of genes responsible for exopolysaccharide (EPS) production revealed that all strains harbored a dextransucrase gene, but p-gtf gene was only detected in strain E4. Analysis of EPS production levels showed significant alterations among strains tested. Biofilm formation was found to be medium composition dependant, and there was a negative correlation with biofilm formation and EPS production. Autoaggregation properties and coaggregation of L. salivarius strains with chicken pathogens were appeared to be specific at strain level. An increment in bacterial adhesion to chicken gut explants was observed in L. salivarius strains with the reduction in EPS production levels. This study showed that strain-specific properties can determine the functional properties of L. salivarius strains, and the interference of these properties might be crucial for final selection of these strains for technological purposes.

Complete genome sequence and analysis of Lactobacillus hokkaidonensis LOOC260(T), a psychrotrophic lactic acid bacterium isolated from silage

Background

Lactobacillus hokkaidonensis is an obligate heterofermentative lactic acid bacterium, which is isolated from Timothy grass silage in Hokkaido, a subarctic region of Japan. This bacterium is expected to be useful as a silage starter culture in cold regions because of its remarkable psychrotolerance; it can grow at temperatures as low as 4°C. To elucidate its genetic background, particularly in relation to the source of psychrotolerance, we constructed the complete genome sequence of L. hokkaidonensis LOOC260^T using PacBio single-molecule real-time sequencing technology.

Results

The genome of LOOC260^T comprises one circular chromosome (2.28 Mbp) and two circular plasmids: pLOOC260-1 (81.6 kbp) and pLOOC260-2 (41.0 kbp). We identified diverse mobile genetic elements, such as prophages, integrated and conjugative elements, and conjugative plasmids, which may reflect adaptation to plant-associated niches. Comparative genome analysis also detected unique genomic features, such as genes involved in pentose assimilation and NADPH generation.

Conclusions

This is the first complete genome in the L. vaccinostercus group, which is poorly characterized, so the genomic information obtained in this study provides insight into the genetics and evolution of this group. We also found several factors that may contribute to the ability of L. hokkaidonensis to grow at cold temperatures. The results of this study will facilitate further investigation for the cold-tolerance mechanism of L. hokkaidonensis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1435-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.