Reclassification of Leuconostoc argentinum as a later synonym of Leuconostoc lactis

Phylogenomic analysis of the genus Leuconostoc

Leuconostoc is a genus of saccharolytic heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria that inhabit plant-derived matrices and a variety of fermented foods (dairy products, dough, milk, vegetables, and meats), contributing to desired fermentation processes or playing a role in food spoilage. At present, the genus encompasses 17 recognized species. In total, 216 deposited genome sequences of Leuconostoc were analyzed, to check the delineation of species and to infer their evolutive genealogy utilizing a minimum evolution tree of Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) and the core genome alignment. Phylogenomic relationships were compared to those obtained from the analysis of 16S rRNA, pheS, and rpoA genes. All the phylograms were subjected to split decomposition analysis and their topologies were compared to check the ambiguities in the inferred phylogenesis. The minimum evolution ANI tree exhibited the most similar topology with the core genome tree, while single gene trees were less adherent and provided a weaker phylogenetic signal. In particular, the 16S rRNA gene failed to resolve several bifurcations and Leuconostoc species. Based on an ANI threshold of 95%, the organization of the genus Leuconostoc could be amended, redefining the boundaries of the species L. inhae, L. falkenbergense, L. gelidum, L. lactis, L. mesenteroides, and L. pseudomesenteroides. Two strains currently recognized as L. mesenteroides were split into a separate lineage representing a putative species (G16), phylogenetically related to both L. mesenteroides (G18) and L. suionicum (G17). Differences among the four subspecies of L. mesenteroides were not pinpointed by ANI or by the conserved genes. The strains of L. pseudomesenteroides were ascribed to two putative species, G13 and G14, the former including also all the strains presently belonging to L. falkenbergense. L. lactis was split into two phylogenetically related lineages, G9 and G10, putatively corresponding to separate species and both including subgroups that may correspond to subspecies. The species L. gelidum and L. gasicomitatum were closely related but separated into different species, the latter including also L. inhae strains. These results, integrating information of ANI, core genome, and housekeeping genes, complemented the taxonomic delineation with solid information on the phylogenetic lineages evolved within the genus Leuconostoc.

Growth and Biocontrol of Listeria monocytogenes in Greek Anthotyros Whey Cheese without or with a Crude Enterocin A-B-P Extract: Interactive Effects of the Native Spoilage Microbiota during Vacuum-Packed Storage at 4 °C

Effective biopreservation measures are needed to control the growth of postprocess Listeria monocytogenes contamination in fresh whey cheeses stored under refrigeration. This study assessed growth and biocontrol of inoculated (3 log₁₀ CFU/g) L. monocytogenes in vacuum-packed, fresh (1-day-old) or ‘aged’ (15-day-old) Anthotyros whey cheeses, without or with 5% of a crude enterocin A-B-P extract (CEntE), during storage at 4 °C. Regardless of CEntE addition, the pathogen increased by an average of 2.0 log₁₀ CFU/g in fresh cheeses on day 15. Gram-negative spoilage bacteria also increased by an average of 2.5 log₁₀ CFU/g. However, from day 15 to the sell-by date (days 35–40), L. monocytogenes growth ceased, and progressively, the populations of the pathogen declined in most cheeses. This was due to an unmonitored, batch-dependent natural acidification by spoilage lactic acid bacteria, predominantly Leuconostoc mesenteroides, which reduced the cheese pH to 5.5, and finally to ≤5.0. The pH reductions and associated declines in pathogen viability were greater in the CEntE-treated samples within each batch. L. monocytogenes failed to grow in cheeses previously ‘aged’ in retail for 15 days. Overall, high population levels (>7.5 log₁₀ CFU/g) of psychrotrophic Enterobacteriaceae, particularly Hafnia alvei, were associated with an extended growth and increased survival of L. monocytogenes during storage.

Assessment of the Spoilage Microbiota during Refrigerated (4 °C) Vacuum-Packed Storage of Fresh Greek Anthotyros Whey Cheese without or with a Crude Enterocin A-B-P-Containing Extract

Although fresh whey cheeses are prone to rapid deterioration, mainly by psychrotrophic Gram-negative bacteria and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), data on the specific spoilage species in traditional Greek whey cheeses are scarce. Therefore, this study quantified growth and characterized the primary spoilage bacteria in fresh Anthotyros whey cheeses stored at 4 °C in a vacuum for 40 days, without or with an added 5% (v/w) of an enterocin A-B-P crude extract (CEntE). Psychrotrophic Pseudomonas spp., Aeromonas spp., Hafnia spp. and Serratia spp. grew faster than LAB during early storage. However, LAB outgrew the Gram-negative bacteria and prevailed by mid to late storage in all cheese batches, causing a strong or milder batch-dependent natural acidification. Two major non-slime-producing and two minor biotypes of Leuconostoc-like bacteria, all identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides by 16S rRNA sequencing, dominated the LAB association (76.7%), which also included four subdominant Carnobacterium maltaromaticum biotypes (10.9%), one Leuconostoc lactis biotype (3.3%) and few Lactococcus (1.6%), mesophilic Lactobacillus (0.8%) and Enterococcus (0.8%). Growth and distribution of LAB and Gram-negative species were strongly batch-dependent and plant-dependent. The CEntE neither retarded growth nor altered the whey cheese spoilage association but enhanced LAB growth and the declines of Gram-negative bacteria by late storage.

A novel multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) protocol for Leuconostoc lactis isolates from traditional dairy products in China and Mongolia

BACKGROUND

Economically, Leuconostoc lactis is one of the most important species in the genus Leuconostoc. It plays an important role in the food industry including the production of dextrans and bacteriocins. Currently, traditional molecular typing approaches for characterisation of this species at the isolate level are either unavailable or are not sufficiently reliable for practical use. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is a robust and reliable method for characterising bacterial and fungal species at the molecular level. In this study, a novel MLST protocol was developed for 50 L. lactis isolates from Mongolia and China.

RESULTS

Sequences from eight targeted genes (groEL, carB, recA, pheS, murC, pyrG, rpoB and uvrC) were obtained. Sequence analysis indicated 20 different sequence types (STs), with 13 of them being represented by a single isolate. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of eight MLST loci indicated that the isolates belonged to two major groups, A (34 isolates) and B (16 isolates). Linkage disequilibrium analyses indicated that recombination occurred at a low frequency in L. lactis, indicating a clonal population structure. Split-decomposition analysis indicated that intraspecies recombination played a role in generating genotypic diversity amongst isolates.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that MLST is a valuable tool for typing L. lactis isolates that can be used for further monitoring of evolutionary changes and population genetics.

Reclassification of the genus Leuconostoc and proposals of Fructobacillus fructosus gen. nov., comb. nov., Fructobacillus durionis comb. nov., Fructobacillus ficulneus comb. nov. and Fructobacillus pseudoficulneus comb. nov

A taxonomic study was made of the genus Leuconostoc. The species in the genus were divided into three subclusters by phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences. The three subclusters were the Leuconostoc mesenteroides subcluster (comprising L. carnosum, L. citreum, L. gasicomitatum, L. gelidum, L. inhae, L. kimchii, L. lactis, L. mesenteroides and L. pseudomesenteroides), the L. fructosum subcluster (L. durionis, L. ficulneum, L. fructosum and L. pseudoficulneum) and the L. fallax subcluster (L. fallax). Phylogenetic trees based on the sequences of the 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic spacer region, the rpoC gene or the recA gene indicated a good correlation with the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. The species in the L. fructosum subcluster were morphologically distinguishable from the species in the L. mesenteroides subcluster and L. fallax as species in the L. fructosum subcluster had rod-shaped cells. In addition, the four species in the L. fructosum subcluster needed an electron acceptor for the dissimilation of d-glucose and produced acetic acid from d-glucose rather than ethanol. On the basis of evidence presented in this study, it is proposed that the four species in the L. fructosum subcluster, Leuconostoc durionis, Leuconostoc ficulneum, Leuconostoc fructosum and Leuconostoc pseudoficulneum, should be transferred to a novel genus, Fructobacillus gen. nov., as Fructobacillus durionis comb. nov. (type strain D-24(T)=LMG 22556(T)=CCUG 49949(T)), Fructobacillus ficulneus comb. nov. (type strain FS-1(T)=DSM 13613(T)=JCM 12225(T)), Fructobacillus fructosus comb. nov. (type strain IFO 3516(T)=DSM 20349(T)=JCM 1119(T)=NRIC 1058(T)) and Fructobacillus pseudoficulneus comb. nov. (type strain LC-51(T)=DSM 15468(T)=CECT 5759(T)). The type species of the genus Fructobacillus is Fructobacillus fructosus gen. nov., comb. nov.. No significant physiological and biochemical differences were found between the species in the L. mesenteroides subcluster and L. fallax in the present study and thus L. fallax remains as a member of the genus Leuconostoc.

Leuconostoc holzapfelii sp. nov., isolated from Ethiopian coffee fermentation and assessment of sequence analysis of housekeeping genes for delineation of Leuconostoc species

A Gram-positive, ovoid lactic acid bacterium, strain LMG 23990(T), was isolated from Ethiopian coffee fermentation. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the novel strain belongs to the genus Leuconostoc, with Leuconostoc citreum and Leuconostoc lactis as the closest neighbours (99.6 and 99.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively). Genotypic fingerprinting by fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism, whole-cell protein electrophoresis, DNA-DNA hybridizations, comparative sequence analysis of pheS, rpoA, atpA, and physiological and biochemical tests allowed us to differentiate strain LMG 23990(T) from all established Leuconostoc species. Strain LMG 23990(T) (=CCUG 54536(T)) therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Leuconostoc holzapfelii sp. nov. is proposed.

Isolation and characterization of human intestinal bacteria capable of transforming the dietary carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is a carcinogenic heterocyclic aromatic amine formed in meat products during cooking. Although the formation of hazardous PhIP metabolites by mammalian enzymes has been extensively reported, research on the putative involvement of the human intestinal microbiota in PhIP metabolism remains scarce. In this study, the in vitro conversion of PhIP into its microbial derivate, 7-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-phenyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydropyrido[3',2':4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5-ium chloride (PhIP-M1), by fecal samples from 18 human volunteers was investigated. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that all human fecal samples transformed PhIP but with efficiencies ranging from 1.8 to 96% after 72 h of incubation. Two PhIP-transforming strains, PhIP-M1-a and PhIP-M1-b, were isolated from human feces and identified by fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism and pheS sequence analyses as Enterococcus faecium strains. Some strains from culture collections belonging to the species E. durans, E. avium, E. faecium, and Lactobacillus reuteri were also able to perform this transformation. Yeast extract, special peptone, and meat extract supported PhIP transformation by the enriched E. faecium strains, while tryptone, monomeric sugars, starch, and cellulose did not. Glycerol was identified as a fecal matrix constituent required for PhIP transformation. Abiotic synthesis of PhIP-M1 and quantification of the glycerol metabolite 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3-HPA) confirmed that the anaerobic fermentation of glycerol via 3-HPA is the critical bacterial transformation process responsible for the formation of PhIP-M1. Whether it is a detoxification is still a matter of debate, since PhIP-M1 has been shown to be cytotoxic toward Caco-2 cells but is not mutagenic in the Ames assay.

Biodiversity of lactic acid bacteria in Romanian dairy products

Traditionally fermented dairy products are still a very important part of the daily food in Romania, especially for people living in the countryside. To study the biodiversity of lactic acid bacterium strains of these products, 110 samples (raw and fermented milk, sour cream, and cheese) were collected from farm houses, monasteries, and local markets throughout Romania. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated using six different cultivation conditions. All 599 isolates were tested for their Gram reaction, catalase activity, and morphology. A rep-PCR fingerprinting technique with the (GTG)5 primer and, in some cases SDS-PAGE of total cell proteins and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used to cluster and/or identify the LAB. The biodiversity of the isolated strains was correlated with the type of product and/or technology applied. The most frequent LAB found in Romanian raw milk and fermented dairy products were Lactococcus lactis, Leuconostoc spp., and Enterococcus spp. Among the latter, a new species E. saccharominimus was found.