Isolation of bacteriocinogenic Lactobacillus plantarum strains from ben saalga, a traditional fermented gruel from Burkina Faso

A collection of lactic acid bacteria isolated from ben saalga, a traditional fermented gruel from Burkina Faso, was screened for bacteriocin production. Seven isolates were selected for their broad antimicrobial spectra, which overall included strains of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus licheniformis, Enterococcus faecalis, Listeria innocua, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. Cluster analysis of RAPD-PCR patterns revealed that six of the isolates represent different strains. The six selected strains were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum by 16S rDNA sequencing, species-specific PCR and multiplex PCR of the recA gene. PCR amplification revealed the presence of genes of the plantaricin cluster described in L. plantarum C11. Among them, strain 5.2.2 carried the largest number of genes from this cluster.     

The locus responsible for production of plantaricin S,a class IIb bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum LPCO10, is widely distributed among wild-type Lact. plantarum strains isolated from olive fermentations

The genes plsA and plsB encoding for production of plantaricin S (Pls), a two-peptide bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum LPCO10, are commonly distributed among wild-type Lact. plantarum strains isolated from olive fermentations. Among 68 independent isolates from different olive processing plants in South Spain, 15 of them were shown to produce bacteriocins that were active against other lactic acid bacteria, as well as spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. On the basis of PCR amplification and hybridization with specific probes, the Pls operon was detected in all the bacteriocin producer strains but not in the non-producer ones. Purification and subsequent amino acid sequencing of the bacteriocin produced by some of the 15 isolates yielded both the alpha and beta peptides from Pls. These results suggest that bacteriocin production contributes an ecological advantage for the wild-type Lact. plantanum strains in the colonization of the spontaneous, traditional olive fermentation process.     

New efficient amylase-producing strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and L. fermentum isolated from different Nigerian traditional fermented foods

Amylolytic lactic acid bacteria (ALAB) were isolated from Nigerian traditional fermented foods (fufu, burukutu, ogi-baba and kunu-zakki) with the aim of selecting efficient amylase-producing strains. Nine isolates were characterized on the basis of their phenotypic and taxo-molecular characteristics. Three groups could be distinguished by their fermentation profiles and this was confirmed by DNA restriction analysis. Though fermentation profiles gave good identification of strain K9 (unique representative of group III) as Lactobacillus fermentum, they could not be used to ascertain the taxonomic position of strains of groups I and II. Analysis of partial 16S rRNA sequences led to the identification of these groups as L. plantarum strains and confirmed the species of strain K9 as L. fermentum. The two distinct phenotypic groups of L. plantarum differed in their use of D-xylose, L-arabinose, melibiose and were different from the previously described amylolytic L. plantarum A6 isolated from retted cassava in Congo. L. fermentum K9 was different from L. fermentum OgiE1 and Mw2 isolated from Benin maize sourdough and it is the first amylolytic L. fermentum described from Nigerian fermented products. Enzymatic profiles showed some differences between the strains of a similar fermentation group. One of the most relevant characteristics of the isolates was a higher yield of amylase production than those reported for previously described ALAB grown under the same conditions. Furthermore, all isolates were tolerant to an exposure at pH 2 and to bile salts.     

Numerical taxonomy of lactobacilli surviving radurization of meat

All 113 Gram-positive, catalase-negative, rod-shaped bacteria isolated from radurized (5 kGy) minced beef were homofermentative, aciduric and belonged to the sub-genus Streptobacterium. Lactobacillus sake was the predominant species with 100 strains being identified as such. Two strains produced L(+)-lactic acid and were identified as L. farciminis. Three strains were indistinguishable from L. curvatus and 8 strains were intermediate between L. sake and L. curvatus and were designated L. sake/curvatus. Numerical taxonomy by unweighted pair-group average linkage analysis revealed the existence of 5 clusters of these strains. Two isolates and all 7 reference strains were unclustered. Cluster 1 consisted of 4 sub-clusters (a-d) which all showed greater than 90% similarity. Clusters 2–5 were observed at 89, 88, 86 and 84% respectively. Cluster 1 contained 86 of the isolates which were split into sub-cluster: 1a (12 strains); 1b (44); 1c (17); 1d (13). All strains were closest to L. sake except for one strain in cluster 1b and five in cluster 1c which were L. sake/curvatus. Cluster 2 contained 9 isolates of which 3 strains were designated L. curvatus, one L. sake/curvatus and five L. sake. Cluster 3 contained 7 strains, 6 of which were L. sake and one was L. sake/curvatus. Cluster 4 contained 6 strains, all of which were L. sake and finally, cluster 5 contained 3 strains, two of which were L. sake whilst the other produced L(+)-lactic acid and was designated L. farciminis. DNA mol% G+C studies done on 7 L. sake isolates indicated a very wide range (37.3−44.2 mol%) of values within these strains.     

Use of Lactobacillus strains to start cassava fermentations for Gari production

Two Lactobacillus strains, Lactobacillus plantarum BFE 6710 and Lactobacillus fermentum BFE 6620, were used to start cassava fermentations in a pilot study under field production conditions in Kenya, to determine their potential to establish themselves as predominant lactobacilli during the fermentation. Predominant strains from three fermentations were isolated throughout the 48 h fermentation period. The use of these strains in high numbers clearly resulted in 1 to 2 log higher lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts over the course of the fermentation when compared to the uninoculated control. 178 predominant LAB isolates were grouped based on their phenotypic characteristics, and were characterised to strain level by RAPD-PCR, followed by PFGE strain typing. Overall, L. plantarum strains represented the majority of the isolates, followed by Weissella confusa and Lactococcus garvieae strains. The results of RAPD-PCR and PFGE strain typing techniques indicated that L. plantarum BFE 6710 was successful in asserting itself as a predominant strain. In contrast, L. fermentum BFE 6620 failed to establish itself as a predominant organism in the fermentation. The success of the L. plantarum strains to predominate in the cassava fermentation demonstrates the potential for development of Lactobacillus starter cultures to industrialise the Gari production process.     

Biochemical characterization of lactic acid bacteria isolated from spontaneous fermentation of 'Almagro' eggplants

A total of 149 strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from the spontaneous fermentation of 'Almagro' eggplants were characterized and identified. Of the isolates, 148 were determined as belonging to the genus Lactobacillus. A coccoid, gram-positive database-negative isolate was obtained in the early stages of fermentation. The Lactobacillus strains were divided into six groups based on sugar fermentation patterns and other physiological and morphological characteristics, and were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum biotype 1 (54.4%), Lactobacillus brevis biotype 2 (19.5%), Lactobacillus fermentum (9.4%), Lactobacillus brevis biotype 3 (5.4%), Lactobacillus pentosus (4.7%) and nine strains, which were not included in the previous species, were grouped as Lactobacillus spp. (6.0%). Fermentation was initiated by Lactobacillus brevis biotype 2 and Lactobacillus fermentum. During the fermentation Lactobacillus plantarum became the predominant species.     

Subtyping Listeria monocytogenes from bulk tank milk using automated repetitive element-based PCR

Sixty-one Listeria monocytogenes strains from raw milk were analyzed with an automated repetitive element-based PCR (rep-PCR) system to examine the utility of this system for serotype grouping and to determine whether specific regional relationships could be identified. Results of the similarity analysis revealed two primary clusters of L. monocytogenes isolates. Cluster 2 exclusively contained serogroup 1/2a isolates; however, two 1/2a isolates were also found in cluster 1. Isolates of serogroups 1/2b, 4b, 3b, and 4c were also in cluster 1. Clusters 1 and 2 were separated at a relative similarity of 86%. Listeria species other than L. monocytogenes (L. ivanovii, L. seeligeri, L. welshimeri, L. grayi, and L. innocua) had similarity scores of less than 80% in pairwise comparisons with the L. monocytogenes isolates. Thus, this method may be useful for species identification once an isolate is characterized as Listeria. When rep-PCR fingerprints of the L. monocytogenes 1/2a isolates were compared, there was no apparent regional grouping. However, discrimination between isolates suggests that the rep-PCR assay might be useful for tracking L. monocytogenes 1/2a and for tracking isolates across regions or within smaller ecological niches. The automated rep-PCR method could not discriminate between serotypes 1/2b and 4b but may be useful for discriminating between 1/2a and other serotypes and for tracking isolates within serotype 1/2a.     

Genetic diversity, dynamics, and activity of Lactobacillus community involved in traditional processing of artisanal Manchego cheese

A total of 248 strains of predominant lactobacilli isolated during the manufacture and ripening of artisanal Manchego cheeses obtained from two dairies were obtained and the genetic diversity of 197 investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR). 51 isolates could not be lysed and were therefore not genotyped. Forty-two distinct RAPD patterns, grouped in six major clusters at a similarity level of 54%, were obtained. Phenotypic characterization of isolates enabled their assignment to the species L. plantarum, L. brevis, L. paracasei subsp. paracasei, L. fermentum, L. pentosus, L. acidophilus and L. curvatus. In samples from both dairies, the species L. plantarum, L. brevis and L. paracasei subsp. paracasei dominated during ripening. Three genotypes showed excellent physiological characteristics and were therefore proposed as adjunct cultures for Manchego cheese manufacture.     

Culture-independent analysis of the microbial composition of the African traditional fermented foods poto poto and dégué by using three different DNA extraction methods

The microbial composition of the traditional fermented foods poto poto (a maize dough from the Rep. of Congo) and dégué (a millet dough from Burkina Faso) was studied by a culture-independent approach using TTGE to separate the amplified target V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene from total microbial community, followed by DNA sequencing and homology search. Three different extraction methods were used. Guanidium thiocyanate-based DNA extraction provided better performance regarding purity and DNA yield, allowing the detection of a higher number of DNA bands by TTGE in poto poto. By contrast, all three methods yielded similar results for dégué samples, indicating that the performance of the DNA extraction method largely depends on the food composition. Sequencing of DNA bands from TTGE gels corresponding to poto poto samples revealed the presence of Lactobacillus gasseri, Enterococcus sp., Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus plantarum/paraplantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Bacillus sp., Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus casei. The following bacteria were identified in dégué: L. gasseri, Enterococcus sp., E. coli, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus brevis, and L. casei.     

Characterization of a lytic Lactobacillus plantarum bacteriophage and molecular cloning of a lysin gene in Escherichia coli

Bacteriophage SC921, which can infect Lactobacillus plantarum specifically, was isolated from a fermented vegetable source, Kimchi. This phage is active against six of 11 strains of L. plantarum tested as hosts. Morphologically, it has an isometric head (60 nm in diameter) and a non-contractile tail (260 nm long and 9-11 nm wide), indicating that it belongs to Bradley's group B or the Siphoviridae family according to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). The bouyant density was 1.58 g/cm3. SDS-PAGE experimentation indicated that the phage particle contains two major structural proteins and several minor proteins. The genome was a double stranded linear DNA molecule with cohesive ends and 66.5 kb long by mapping genomic DNA digested with the restriction endonucleases: KpnI, SmaI, and XbaI. The [G + C] content of the phage DNA is 39.4%. For this lysin gene study, 9.4 kb of KpnI-digested DNA fragment was cloned into pUC19 and expressed in Escherichia coli. The KpnI fragment was considered as the genetic element responsible for the lysis gene of L. plantarum bacteriophage. The cloned fragment in pUC19 was hybridized to a 9.4-kb fragment generated by KpnI digestion of SC 921 as a probe. This confirmed that the fragment in pUC19 originated from phage DNA. The lysin gene was near the middle of the phage genome.     

Genetic homogeneity among Listeria monocytogenes strains from infected patients and meat products from two geographic locations determined by phenotyping,ribotyping and PCR analysis of virulence genes

Thirty Listeria monocytogenes isolates from human patients and foods originated from two different geographic locations without any epidemiological relations were analyzed for their genotypic and phenotypic virulence gene expressions and genetic relatedness. All strains contained virulence genes, inlA, inlB, actA, hlyA, plcA and plcB, with expected product size in PCR assay except for the actA gene. Some strains produced actA gene product of 268 and others 385 bp. Phenotypically, all were hemolytic but showed variable expressions of phospholipase activity. Ribotyping classified isolates into 12 different groups based on the similarity to DuPont Identification numbers (DID), which consisted primarily of clinical or food isolates or both. Cluster analysis also indicated possible existence of clones of L. monocytogenes that are found in food or human hosts or are evenly distributed between these two. Two isolates (F1 from food and CHL1250 from patient) had unique ribotype patterns that were not previously reported in the RiboPrinter database. This study indicates distribution of diverse L. monocytogenes strains in clinical and food environments. The isolates showed 92-99% genetic homogeneity, in spite of their origins from two different geographic locations and environments.     

桶装水中铜绿假单胞菌耐药性分析及RAPD-PCR分型研究

采用Kirby-Bauer纸片扩散法和随机扩增多态性DNA(Random Amplified Polymorphic,RAPD)分型法对23株水源性铜绿假单胞菌进行耐药性及遗传多样性研究。药敏实验结果显示,23株分离株对磺胺甲基异恶唑/甲氧苄氨嘧啶(SXT)、四环素(TE)、米诺环素(MH)的耐药率分别为69.4%、13.2%和39.2%,对另外13种抗生素的敏感性几乎100%。RAPD-PCR指纹图谱聚类分析显示,在相对系数为62%时,引物208将24株菌分为5簇(A~E),其中C为主要的簇,引物272将24株菌分为4簇(F~I),其中I和G簇为主要的簇。23株分离株中无耐药菌株主要集中在B簇,3株多重耐药菌株集中在D簇,对SXT、MH耐药菌株主要集中在I簇。本研究发现水源性铜绿假单胞菌具有较高的遗传多样性,且存在多重耐药,为水源性铜绿假单胞菌的污染溯源和控制提供了相应的数据支持。     

Differentiation and characterization by molecular techniques of Bacillus cereus group isolates from poto poto and dégué, two traditional cereal-based fermented foods of Burkina Faso and Republic of Congo

Poto poto (a maize sourdough) and dégué (a pearl millet-based food) are two traditional African fermented foods. The molecular biology of toxigenic and pathogenic bacteria found in those foods is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to study the phylogenetic relatedness and toxigenic potential of 26 Bacillus cereus group isolates from these traditional fermented foods. The relatedness of the isolates was evaluated with repetitive element sequence-based PCR (REP-PCR) and 16S rDNA sequencing analysis. A multiplex real-time PCR assay targeting the lef and capC genes of B. anthracis pXO1 and pXO2 plasmids and the sspE chromosomal gene of B. cereus and B. anthracis also was carried out. Melting curve analysis of the sspE amplification product was used to differentiate B. cereus from B. anthracis, and the presence of the B. cereus enterotoxin genes was determined with PCR amplification. Isolates had 15 different REP-PCR profiles, according to which they could be clustered into four groups. 16S rDNA sequencing analysis identified 23 isolates as B. cereus or B. anthracis and three isolates as B. cereus or Bacillus sp. Multiplex real-time PCR amplification indicated the absence of the lef and capC genes of B. anthracis pXO 1 and pXO2 plasmids, and melting curve analysis revealed amplification of the 71-bp sspE product typical of B. cereus in all isolates instead of the 188-bp amplicon of B. anthracis, confirming the identity of these isolates as B. cereus. Four isolates had amylolytic activity. All isolates had lecithinase activity and beta-hemolytic activity. Enterotoxin production was detected in two isolates. The emetic toxin gene was not detected in any isolate. The nheB toxin gene was detected in 19 isolates by PCR amplification; one of these isolates also contained the hblD (L1) gene. The cytotoxin K cytK-1 gene was not detected, but the cytK-2 gene was clearly detected in six isolates.     

4种胆盐水解酶在发酵乳杆菌AR497中的异源表达

为提高发酵乳杆菌耐胆盐能力,将植物乳杆菌AR113来源的4种BSH基因(BSH1、BSH2、BSH3和BSH4)转化至发酵乳杆菌AR497中进行表达。结果表明,植物乳杆菌来源的4种BSH同功酶异源表达可提高发酵乳杆菌的耐胆盐能力。在2.0mg/mL甘氨脱氧胆酸钠浓度下,表达BSH2的工程菌致死率最低,其他菌株生长被完全抑制;BSH酶活测定表明,BSH2表达菌株酶活最高,达57.74U/mL,比对照空质粒菌株提高了2.88倍。     

恩施市泡萝卜中乳酸菌的分离鉴定及其对品质的影响

对5份恩施地区泡萝卜中的乳酸菌进行了分离鉴定,同时对其分离株在以萝卜为原料的泡菜中的发酵特性进行了评价。结果表明:分离出18株乳酸菌菌株,分别为隶属于片球菌属(Pediococcus)的戊糖片球菌(P.pentosaceus)和隶属于乳酸杆菌属(Lactobacillus)的食品乳杆菌(L.alimentarius)、短乳杆菌(L.brevis)、副干酪乳杆菌(L.paracasei)、发酵乳杆菌(L.fermentum)和植物乳杆菌(L.plantarum),其中8株分离株为L.plantarum。通过质构分析发现,乳酸菌纯种发酵制备的多数泡萝卜样品硬度和脆性均明显高于自然发酵样品。通过电子鼻分析发现,W1C、W3C和W5C对多数乳酸菌纯种发酵泡萝卜水的响应值明显偏高。通过主成分分析发现,菌株L.paracasei HBUAS51063和L.plantarum HBUAS51053具有相对较佳的发酵特性。由此可见,恩施市泡萝卜中乳酸菌以L.plantarum为主,乳酸菌纯种发酵可提升多数泡萝卜的品质。     

Characterisation of lactic acid bacteria from spoiled, vacuum-packaged, cold-smoked rainbow trout using ribotyping

A total of 405 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from spoiled, vacuum-packaged, salted, sodium nitrite- or potassium nitrate-treated, cold-smoked rainbow trout stored at 4 degrees C or 8 degrees C were characterised and identified using a molecular method. The isolates were initially classified according to their restriction endonuclease profiles using HindIII and EcoRI restriction endonucleases and further characterised by rRNA gene restriction patterns (ribotypes). Numerical analysis of these ribopatterns was performed together with 19 reference LAB strain patterns in order to identify the isolates to species level. The strains were divided with HindIII and EcoRI ribopatterns into ten and nine clusters at the similarity level of 65% and 50%, respectively. The Leuconostoc-clusters and the Lb. sakei/Lb. curvatus-clusters formed the two main groups. Only one isolate was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum and no Carnobacterium strains were discovered. For both enzymes, the 35 isolates possessing six individual ribotypes and forming five clusters could not be identified further with the reference strains used. The relative proportion of Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides was higher in all samples stored at 4 degrees C. Most of the Leuconostoc citreum were found in the samples stored at 8 degrees C, and particularly in the nitrite-treated samples.     

Ribotype analysis of strain distribution in Listeria monocytogenes

Changes in the temporal and spatial patterns of strain distribution for the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes were studied by ribotyping using the Qualicon Riboprinter system. Ribotype patterns were obtained by using the restriction enzymes EcoRI and PvuII for 72 isolates of L. monocytogenes recovered from smoked salmon samples over a period of 3 years. Each pattern was classified both by comparison to a pattern library and by comparison among the 72 isolate patterns. Eleven EcoRI-based ribogroups and 16 PvuII groups were identified. Eight of the 11 EcoRI ribogroups were found in isolates obtained over a period of >12 months, and 75% of the EcoRI ribogroups that were found in more than one food sample were distributed nationally. Within the set of isolates, there were 26 instances where more than one isolate was obtained from a single food sample. In 35% of these instances, the co-isolates produced different ribotype patterns, indicating that multiple strains of L. monocytogenes commonly coexist in the same environment. Overall, these data indicate that the population of L. monocytogenes consists of a number of widely dispersed strains with little geographic or temporal stratification.     

5株发酵食品源乳酸菌的抗药性分析

以实验室前期分离自混合果蔬酵素的植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum S)、分离自树莓酵素的植物乳杆菌(L. plantarum WD)和分离自不同奶制品的保加利亚乳杆菌(L. bulgaricus LB-DR)、鼠李糖乳杆菌(L. rhamnosus Lr-05-281)与干酪乳杆菌(L. casei D-400)5株乳酸菌为研究对象,采用平板药敏纸片扩散法、PCR及RT-PCR技术从表型、基因型以及基因表达几个方面分析菌株的抗药性。结果表明5株菌对氨基糖苷类、喹诺酮类、糖肽类抗生素、多粘菌素B均有抗性;对大环内酯类、四环素类、磺胺类抗生素、呋喃妥因均敏感,并有较为相似的耐药谱;而对不同的β-内酰胺类抗生素敏感性不同;5株乳酸菌均含有质粒,供试的12个抗性基因中,在质粒上检测到erm、aph、vanⅠ、aacⅠ4种抗性基因,基因组DNA上检测到aph、erm、vanⅠ、blaⅡ、aacⅠ、aacⅡ6种抗性基因。部分抗性基因在MRS和加抗生素的MRS培养下会表达,不表达的抗性基因在相应抗生素诱导的条件下其抗性基因不表达。L. plantarum WD菌株质粒上因只含一种vanⅠ抗性基因,其应用安全性较好。     

不同来源植物乳杆菌基因组的比较分析

目的 对分离自母乳、婴儿肠道的植物乳杆菌进行全基因组测序,分析菌株间亲缘关系和细菌素合成相关基因。方法 本研究采用Illumina高通量测序平台对不同来源的植物乳杆菌进行全基因组测序,质控过滤后的数据经Unicycler组装获得基因组精细图,通过比对COG、CAZy数据库对功能基因进注释,并借助BAGEL4等生物信息学分析工具鉴别植物乳杆菌素合成相关的基因簇,分析不同来源植物乳杆菌的益生潜力。结果 本研究5株植物乳杆菌基因组平均GC含量为44 %,母乳源植物乳杆菌基因数量多于婴儿肠道源菌株。进化树和ANI分析结果显示,分离所得菌株具有较高的同源性,相同来源的菌株更倾向于聚类到一个分支。功能注释结果显示,母乳源菌株与肠道源菌株相比拥有更多编码碳水化合物代谢的基因,且拥有完整的产植物乳杆菌素基因簇。结论 植物乳杆菌基因组GC含量、功能基因数目及产细菌素基因簇结构等与分离源有一定的关联,母乳源植物乳杆菌更适于作为潜在益生菌的候选菌株,本研究为益生菌的益生潜力研究提供了遗传学基础。     

Isolation and molecular characterization of antibiotic-resistant lactic acid bacteria from poultry and swine meat products

The transfer via the food chain from animals to humans of microbes that are resistant to antimicrobial agents is of increasing concern. To determine the contributions of nonpathogenic microflora to the occurrence and spread of antibiotic resistance (AR) genes in the food chain, 123 lactic acid bacteria were isolated from 29 samples of raw and processed pork and chicken meat products that had previously tested positive for one or more AR genes that encode clinically relevant ARs: tet(M), tet(O), tet(K), erm(A), erm(B), erm(C), aac (6')-Ie aph (2")-Ia, mecA, and blaZ. All of the isolates were initially tested for their AR gene profiles by PCR. The 59 isolates carrying a tet, erm, or blaZ gene were taken through molecular identification, analyzed by determination of the MIC, and subjected to genetic fingerprinting. Lactococcus garvieae was the predominant species (28 isolates), followed by Lactobacillus plantarum (11 isolates) and L. salivarius (6 isolates), whereas Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactobacillus johnsonii, L. reuteri, L. crispatus, and L. brevis were identified at lower frequencies. The tet(M) and erm(B) genes were the most frequently detected. Assessment of multiple resistances in 18 tet positive (tet+) isolates revealed that tet(M) plus erm(B) and tet(K) plus erm(B) were the most frequent AR gene patterns. Partial sequencing of the tet(M) open reading frame of three selected strains showed high sequence similarities (> 99%) with tet(M) genes previously found in human pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes and Neisseria meningitidis). Southern hybridization with plasmid profiles revealed these strains contained tet(M)-carrying plasmids.