Transglycosylation Activity of Engineered Bifidobacterium Lacto-N-Biosidase Mutants at Donor Subsites for Lacto-N-Tetraose Synthesis

The health benefits of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) make them attractive targets as supplements for infant formula milks. However, HMO synthesis is still challenging and only two HMOs have been marketed. Engineering glycoside hydrolases into transglycosylases may provide biocatalytic routes to the synthesis of complex oligosaccharides. Lacto-N-biosidase from Bifidobacterium bifidum (LnbB) is a GH20 enzyme present in the gut microbiota of breast-fed infants that hydrolyzes lacto-N-tetraose (LNT), the core structure of the most abundant type I HMOs. Here we report a mutational study in the donor subsites of the substrate binding cleft with the aim of reducing hydrolytic activity and conferring transglycosylation activity for the synthesis of LNT from p-nitrophenyl β-lacto-N-bioside and lactose. As compared with the wt enzyme with negligible transglycosylation activity, mutants with residual hydrolase activity within 0.05% to 1.6% of the wild-type enzyme result in transglycosylating enzymes with LNT yields in the range of 10–30%. Mutations of Trp394, located in subsite -1 next to the catalytic residues, have a large impact on the transglycosylation/hydrolysis ratio, with W394F being the best mutant as a biocatalyst producing LNT at 32% yield. It is the first reported transglycosylating LnbB enzyme variant, amenable to further engineering for practical enzymatic synthesis of LNT.     

Effect of enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins on growth of Bifidobacterium bifidus in milk

The effect of enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins in milk using neutrase on the growth of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium bifidus was evaluated by estimation of microbial growth, acidity, viscosity and flavour production. A significant increase in the growth of B bifidus was observed in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk. The setting time of bifidus‐cultured milk was advanced by about 12 h at 5% degree of hydrolysis. Enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins prior to cultivation also significantly increased the viscosity of the product. An approximately 60% increase in viscosity of the product was observed in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk. Production of steam‐volatile monocarbonyls as an indication of development of flavour was also higher in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk. The concentration of steam‐volatile monocarbonyls was 2.47 µmol per 100 ml in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk but only 1.84 µmol per 100 ml in control milk at the setting point of the curd. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Early-Life Development of the Bifidobacterial Community in the Infant Gut

The establishment of the gut microbiota poses implications for short and long-term health. Bifidobacterium is an important taxon in early life, being one of the most abundant genera in the infant intestinal microbiota and carrying out key functions for maintaining host-homeostasis. Recent metagenomic studies have shown that different factors, such as gestational age, delivery mode, or feeding habits, affect the gut microbiota establishment at high phylogenetic levels. However, their impact on the specific bifidobacterial populations is not yet well understood. Here we studied the impact of these factors on the different Bifidobacterium species and subspecies at both the quantitative and qualitative levels. Fecal samples were taken from 85 neonates at 2, 10, 30, 90 days of life, and the relative proportions of the different bifidobacterial populations were assessed by 16S rRNA–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequencing. Absolute levels of the main species were determined by q-PCR. Our results showed that the bifidobacterial population establishment is affected by gestational age, delivery mode, and infant feeding, as it is evidenced by qualitative and quantitative changes. These data underline the need for understanding the impact of perinatal factors on the gut microbiota also at low taxonomic levels, especially in the case of relevant microbial populations such as Bifidobacterium. The data obtained provide indications for the selection of the species best suited for the development of bifidobacteria-based products for different groups of neonates and will help to develop rational strategies for favoring a healthy early microbiota development when this process is challenged.     

Microencapsulated Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus gasseri in Combination with Quercetin Inhibit Colorectal Cancer Development in ApcMin/+ Mice

Recent studies have suggested that flavonoids such as quercetin and probiotics such as Bifidobacterium bifidum (Bf) and Lactobacillus gasseri (Lg) could play a relevant role in inhibiting colon cancer cell growth. Our study investigated the role of dietary supplementation with microencapsulated probiotics (Bf and Lg) along with quercetin in the development of mouse colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Adenomatous polyposis coli/multiple intestinal neoplasia (Apc^Min/+) mice were fed a standard diet or the same diet supplemented with microencapsulated probiotics (Bf and Lg strains, 10⁷ CFU/100 g food) or both probiotics strains plus microencapsulated quercetin (15 mg/100 g food) for 73 days. Changes in body and organ weights, energy metabolism, intestinal microbiota, and colon tissue were determined. The expression of genes related to the Wnt pathway was also analyzed in colon samples. Results: Dietary supplementation with microencapsulated probiotics or microencapsulated probiotics plus quercetin reduced body weight loss and intestinal bleeding in Apc^Min/+ mice. An improvement in energy expenditure was observed after 8 weeks but not after 10 weeks of treatment. A supplemented diet with microencapsulated Bf and Lg reduced the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and adenomas by 45% and 60%, respectively, whereas the supplementation with Bf, Lg and quercetin decreased the number of ACF and adenomas by 57% and 80%, respectively. Microencapsulated Bf and Lg in combination with quercetin could exert inhibition of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the colon of Apc^Min/+ mice Conclusions: The administration of microencapsulated Bf and Lg, individually or in combination with quercetin, inhibits the CRC development in Apc^Min/+ mice.     

乳化法制备两歧双歧杆菌微胶囊

以两歧双歧杆菌BB01和BB28为试验菌株,活茵数及包埋产率为指标,研究了海藻酸钠浓度、CaCI：浓度、乳化时间及固定化时间对乳化法制备两歧双歧杆菌微胶囊的影响．结果表明：当两歧双歧杆菌BB01微胶囊制备的条件分别为海藻酸钠浓度2％、CaCl2浓度1％、乳化时间10min、固定化时间15min时,对应的活菌数分别为4．9×10^9cfu／mL、3．06×10^9cfu／mL、2．47×10^9cfu／mL和4．37×10^9cfu／mL,包埋产率分别为80％、56．7％、40．9％和54．1％;当两歧双歧杆菌BB28微胶囊制备的条件分别为海藻酸钠浓度2．5oA、CaCl。浓度1％、乳化时间15min、固定化时间15min时,对应的活菌数分别为4．0×10^9cfu／mL、41×10^9cfu／mL、1．59×10^9cfu／mL和5．55×10^9cfu／mL,包埋产率分别为80％、92％、87％和76．1％．     

Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus和Streptococcus thermophilus接种比例对Bifidobacterium lactis益生菌发酵乳品质的影响

将Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp.bulgaricus ND02(LB-ND02)和Streptococcus thermophilus ND03(ST-ND03)按1∶1、1∶10、1∶100、1∶1000接种于脱脂乳中,同时接入益生菌Bifidobacterium lactis V9(B.lactis V9,接种量为2.0×107g-1),于42℃进行发酵。通过对发酵及贮藏过程中发酵乳指标的测定,评价LB-ND02和ST-ND03的接种比例对发酵乳品质的影响。结果表明,随着LB-ND02接种比例减小,凝乳时间显著延长,B.lactis V9活菌数显著提高。4℃贮藏28 d后,随LB-ND02接种比例减小,B.lactis V9存活率差异显著,后酸化也显著减弱。研究发现,LB-ND02和ST-ND03的接种比例,显著影响发酵乳的发酵时间、B.lactis V9活菌数、后酸化及黏度。     

Effect of different levels of fat and inulin on the microbial growth and metabolites in probiotic yogurt containing nonviable bacteria

Effects of different levels of fat and inulin on bacterial cell counts, degree of proteolysis and concentrations of organic acids in the yogurt containing inactivated cells of probiotic strains Bifidobacterium animalis and Lactobacillus acidophilus were investigated. Results showed that both L. acidophilus and B. animalis grew well in the yogurt samples reaching cell counts higher than 10⁶ CFU mL^?1 at the final pH of 4.5. Inulin at the concentration of 1% had no significant effects on the production of organic acids and cell counts of L. acidophilus, but promoted the growth of B. animalis with a reduction in the degree of proteolysis. Generally, different fat levels showed significant effects on the production of organic acids and nonsignificant effects on the cell counts of probiotic bacteria and degree of proteolysis. In case of lactic acid, the ratio of L‐ (+)to D‐ (?) isomer ranged from 50/50 to 80/20 in yogurt samples.     

Biochemical Characterization and Complete Conversion of Coenzyme Specificity of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase from Bifidobacterium longum

Bifidobacterium longum is a very important gram-positive non-pathogenic bacterium in the human gastrointestinal tract for keeping the digestive and immune system healthy. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) from B. longum (BlIDH), a novel member in Type II subfamily, was overexpressed, purified and biochemically characterized in detail. The active form of BlIDH was an 83-kDa homodimer. Kinetic analysis showed BlIDH was a NADP⁺-dependent IDH (NADP-IDH), with a 567- and 193-fold preference for NADP⁺ over NAD⁺ in the presence of Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺, respectively. The maximal activity for BlIDH occurred at 60 °C (with Mn²⁺) and 65 °C (with Mg²⁺), and pH 7.5 (with Mn²⁺) and pH 8.0 (with Mg²⁺). Heat-inactivation profiles revealed that BlIDH retained 50% of maximal activity after incubation at 45 °C for 20 min with either Mn²⁺ or Mg²⁺. Furthermore, the coenzyme specificity of BlIDH can be completely reversed from NADP⁺ to NAD⁺ by a factor of 2387 by replacing six residues. This current work, the first report on the coenzyme specificity conversion of Type II NADP-IDHs, would provide better insight into the evolution of NADP⁺ use by the IDH family.     

Native and Engineered Probiotics: Promising Agents against Related Systemic and Intestinal Diseases

Intestinal homeostasis is a dynamic balance involving the interaction between the host intestinal mucosa, immune barrier, intestinal microecology, nutrients, and metabolites. Once homeostasis is out of balance, it will increase the risk of intestinal diseases and is also closely associated with some systemic diseases. Probiotics (Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, Akkermansia muciniphila, Clostridium butyricum, lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium spp.), maintaining the gut homeostasis through direct interaction with the intestine, can also exist as a specific agent to prevent, alleviate, or cure intestinal-related diseases. With genetic engineering technology advancing, probiotics can also show targeted therapeutic properties. The aims of this review are to summarize the roles of potential native and engineered probiotics in oncology, inflammatory bowel disease, and obesity, discussing the therapeutic applications of these probiotics.     

产肠毒素大肠杆菌基因工程疫苗在SD大鼠中的免疫原性

目的观察产肠毒素大肠杆菌(Enterotoxigenic E.coli,ETEC)基因工程疫苗在SD大鼠中的免疫原性。方法将含ETEC抗原成分热不稳定肠毒素B亚单位(Heat-labile enterotoxin Bsubunit,LTB)的双歧杆菌疫苗给SD大鼠灌胃4次,同时设对照组,以PBS平行灌胃。采用ELISA法检测大鼠粪便上清液IgA及血清IgG抗体水平;免疫组化法检测大鼠空肠中sIgA抗体的表达;肠绊试验检测肠毒素的活性。结果免疫疫苗的SD大鼠粪便上清液中产生了IgA抗体,血清中产生了特异性的IgG抗体,肠道内产生了特异性分泌型sIgA抗体;免疫组化结果显示,随着免疫次数的增加,抗体分泌量明显增加;双歧杆菌疫苗免疫的大鼠能够抵抗LT抗原的侵袭,而对照组大鼠则出现明显的肠道积液现象。结论构建的双歧杆菌疫苗具有良好的免疫效果,可保护SD大鼠免受ETEC的感染。