Screening for Lactobacillus plantarum Strains That Possess Organophosphorus Pesticide-Degrading Activity and Metabolomic Analysis of Phorate Degradation

Evaluation of Functional Properties of Some Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains for Probiotic Applications in Apiculture

This study evaluates the suitability of three lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains-Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Apilactobacillus kunkeei-for use as probiotics in apiculture. Given the decline in bee populations due to pathogens and environmental stressors, sustainable alternatives to conventional treatments are necessary. This study aimed to assess the potential of these LAB strains in a probiotic formulation for bees through various in vitro tests, including co-culture interactions, biofilm formation, auto-aggregation, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, antibiotic susceptibility, and resistance to high osmotic concentrations. This study aimed to assess both the individual effects of the strains and their combined effects, referred to as the LAB mix. Results indicated no mutual antagonistic activity among the LAB strains, demonstrating their compatibility with multi-strain probiotic formulations. The LAB strains showed significant survival rates under high osmotic stress and simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The LAB mix displayed enhanced biofilm formation, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial efficacy against different bacterial strains. These findings suggest that a probiotic formulation containing these LAB strains could be used for a probiotic formulation, offering a promising approach to mitigating the negative effects of pathogens. Future research should focus on in vivo studies to validate the efficacy of these probiotic bacteria in improving bee health.

Role of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Insecticide Residue Degradation

Lactic acid bacteria are gaining global attention, especially due to their role as a probiotic. They are increasingly being used as a flavoring agent and food preservative. Besides their role in food processing, lactic acid bacteria also have a significant role in degrading insecticide residues in the environment. This review paper highlights the importance of lactic acid bacteria in degrading insecticide residues of various types, such as organochlorines, organophosphorus, synthetic pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, and diamides. The paper discusses the mechanisms employed by lactic acid bacteria to degrade these insecticides, as well as their potential applications in bioremediation. The key enzymes produced by lactic acid bacteria, such as phosphatase and esterase, play a vital role in breaking down insecticide molecules. Furthermore, the paper discusses the challenges and future directions in this field. However, more research is needed to optimize the utilization of lactic acid bacteria in insecticide residue degradation and to develop practical strategies for their implementation in real-world scenarios.

Distribution of organophosphorus pesticides and its potential connection with probiotics in sediments of a shallow freshwater lake

Despite the serious health threats due to wide use of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) have been experimentally claimed to be remediated by probiotic microorganisms in various food and organism models, the interactions between OPPs and probiotics in the natural wetland ecosystem was rarely investigated. This study delves into the spatial and temporal distribution, contamination levels of OPPs in the Baiyangdian region, the diversity of probiotic communities in varying environmental contexts, and the potential connection with OPPs on these probiotics. In typical shallow lake wetland ecosystem-Baiyangdian lake in north China, eight OPPs were identified in the lake sediments, even though their detection rates were generally low. Malathion exhibited the highest average content among these pesticides (9.51 ng/g), followed by fenitrothion (6.70 ng/g). Conversely, chlorpyrifos had the lowest detection rate at only 2.14%. The region near Nanliu Zhuang (F10), significantly influenced by human activities, displayed the highest concentration of total OPPs (136.82 ng/g). A total of 145 probiotic species spanning 78 genera were identified in Baiyangdian sediments. Our analysis underscores the relations of environmental factors such as phosphatase activity, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) with probiotic community. Notably, several high-abundance probiotics including Pseudomonas chlororaphis, Clostridium sp., Lactobacillus fermentum, and Pseudomonas putida, etc., which were reported to exhibit significant potential for the degradation of OPPs, showed strongly correlations with OPPs in the Baiyangdian lake sediments. The outcomes of this research offer valuable insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics of OPPs in natural large lake wetland and the probability of their in-situ residue bioremediation through the phosphatase pathway mediated by probiotic such as Lactic acid bacteria in soils/sediments contaminated with OPPs.

Probiotic bacteria alleviate chlorpyrifos-induced rat testicular and renal toxicity: A possible mechanism based on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) has caused many potential toxicities in nontarget organisms. Fewer studies have been conducted on the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in mitigating tissue damage induced by CPF in vivo. Therefore, we investigated CPF renal and testicular toxicity and the alleviating effect of probiotic lactobacilli, based on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, on induced toxicity in an animal model. Biochemical assays showed that CPF induced oxidative stress along with a change in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in a tissue-dependent manner. After treatment with CPF, testicular and renal levels of TNF-α were significantly reduced and enhanced, respectively, compared to the control group. The probiotic treatment restored renal and testicular TNF-α levels and modulated and blocked the increasing effect of CPF on renal IL-1β levels. Testicular IL-1β levels in the probiotic-treated and CPF groups demonstrated similar values. Exposure to CPF significantly induced renal histopathological damage that, of course, was completely inhibited by treatment with Lactobacillus casei and the LAB mixture. In summary, CPF showed significant toxicological effects on oxidative stress and the inflammation rate in CPF-exposed rats. Therefore, supplementation with probiotic bacteria may alleviate CPF renal toxicity and mitigate its oxidative stress and inflammation effects.

Does Leptinotarsa decemlineata larval survival after pesticide treatment depend on microbiome composition?

BACKGROUND

The microbiomes of some arthropods are believed to eliminate pesticides by chemical degradation or stimulation of the host immune system. The Colorado potato beetle (CPB; Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is an important agricultural pest with known resistance to used pesticides. We sought to analyze microbiome composition in CPB larvae from different sites and to identify the effect of pesticides on the microbiome of surviving and dead larvae after chlorpyrifos treatment in laboratory. Changes in the Lactococcus lactis community in larvae treated with chlorpyrifos and fed by potato leaves with L. lactis cover were studied by manipulative experiment. The microbiome was characterized by sequencing the 16S RNA gene.

RESULTS

The microbiome of L. decemlineata larvae is composed of a few operational taxonomic units (OTUs) (Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudocitrobacter, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, L. lactis, Enterococcus, Burkholderia and Spiroplasma leptinotarsae). The microbiome varied among the samples from eight sites and showed differences in profiles between surviving and dead larvae. The survival of larvae after chlorpyrifos treatment was correlated with a higher proportion of L. lactis sequences in the microbiome. The S. leptinotarsa profile also increased in the surviving larvae, but this OTU was not present in all sampling sites. In manipulative experiments, larvae treated with L. lactis had five-fold lower mortality rates than untreated larvae.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that the microbiome of larvae is formed from a few bacterial taxa depending on the sampling site. A member of the gut microbiome, L. lactis, is believed to help overcome the toxic effects of chlorpyrifos in the larval gut. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Using metabolomics to understand stress responses in Lactic Acid Bacteria and their applications in the food industry

BACKGROUND

Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) are commonly used as starter cultures, probiotics, to produce lactic acid and other useful compounds, and even as natural preservatives. For use in any food product however, LAB need to survive the various stresses they encounter in the environment and during processing. Understanding these mechanisms may enable direction of LAB biochemistry with potential beneficial impact for the food industry.

AIM OF REVIEW

To give an overview of the use of LAB in the food industry and then generate a deeper biochemical understanding of LAB stress response mechanisms via metabolomics, and methods of screening for robust strains of LAB.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

Uses of LAB in food products were assessed and factors which contribute to survival and tolerance in LAB investigated. Changes in the metabolic profiles of LAB exposed to stress were found to be associated with carbohydrates, amino acids and fatty acid levels and these changes were proposed to be a result of the bacteria trying to maintain cellular homeostasis in response to external conditions and minimise cellular damage from reactive oxygen species. This correlates with morphological analysis which shows that LAB can undergo cell elongation and shortening, as well as thinning and thickening of cell membranes, when exposed to stress. It is proposed that these innate strategies can be utilised to minimise negative effects caused by stress through selection of intrinsically robust strains, genetic modification and/or prior exposure to sublethal stress. This work demonstrates the utility of metabolomics to the food industry.

Postbiotics as Potential Detoxification Tools for Mitigation of Pesticides

Pesticides possess a pivotal role in the realm of agriculture and food manufacturing, as they effectively manage the proliferation of weeds, insects, plant pathogens, and microbial contaminations. They are valuable in some ways, but if misused, they can cause health issues like cancer, reproductive toxicity, neurological illnesses, and endocrine system disturbances. In this regard, practical methods for reducing pesticide residue in food should be used. For reducing pesticide residue in food processing, some strategies have been suggested. Recent research has been done on detoxification processes, including microorganisms like probiotics and their metabolites. The term "postbiotics" describes soluble substances, such as peptides, enzymes, teichoic acids, muropeptides generated from peptidoglycans, polysaccharides, proteins, and organic acids that are secreted by living bacteria or released after bacterial lysis. Due to their distinct chemical makeup, safe dosage guidelines, lengthy shelf lives, and presence of various signaling molecules that may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesogenic, immunomodulatory, anti-hypertensive, and immunomodulatory effects, these postbiotics have attracted interest. They also can detoxify heavy metals, mycotoxins, and pesticides. Hydrolytic enzymes have been proposed as a potential mechanism for pesticide degradation. Postbiotics can also reduce reactive oxygen species production, enhance gastrointestinal barrier function, reduce inflammation, and modulate host xenobiotic metabolism. This review highlights pesticide residues in food products, definitions and safety aspect of postbiotics, as well as their biological role in detoxification of pesticides and the protective role of these compounds against the adverse effects of pesticides.

Effect of the probiotic strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P9, on chronic constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Chronic constipation (CC) is a common gastrointestinal condition associated with intestinal inflammation, and the condition considerably impairs patients' quality of life. We conducted a large-scale 42-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of probiotics in alleviating CC. 163 patients diagnosed with CC (following Rome IV criteria) were randomly divided into probiotic (n = 78; received Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P9 [P9]; 1×10¹¹ CFU/day) and placebo (n = 85; received placebo material) groups. Ingesting P9 significantly improved the weekly mean frequency of complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs) and spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs), while significantly reducing the level of worries and concerns (WO; P < 0.05). Comparing with the placebo group, P9 group was significantly enriched in potentially beneficial bacteria (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Ruminococcus_B gnavus), while depriving of several bacterial and phage taxa (Oscillospiraceae sp., Lachnospiraceae sp., and Herelleviridae; P < 0.05). Interesting significant correlations were also observed between some clinical parameters and subjects' gut microbiome, including: negative correlation between Oscillospiraceae sp. and SBMs; positive correlation between WO and Oscillospiraceae sp., Lachnospiraceae sp. Additionally, P9 group had significantly (P < 0.05) more predicted gut microbial bioactive potential involved in the metabolism of amino acids (L-asparagine, L-pipecolinic), short-/medium-chain fatty acids (valeric acid and caprylic acid). Furthermore, several metabolites (p-cresol, methylamine, trimethylamine) related to the intestinal barrier and transit decreased significantly after P9 administration (P < 0.05). In short, the constipation relief effect of P9 intervention was accompanied by desirable changes in the fecal metagenome and metabolome. Our findings support the notion of applying probiotics in managing CC.

Microbial Detoxification of Residual Pesticides in Fermented Foods: Current Status and Prospects

The treatment of agricultural areas with pesticides is an indispensable approach to improve crop yields and cannot be avoided in the coming decades. At the same time, significant amounts of pesticides remain in food and their ingestion causes serious damage such as neurological, gastrointestinal, and allergic reactions; cancer; and even death. However, during the fermentation processing of foods, residual amounts of pesticides are significantly reduced thanks to enzymatic degradation by the starter and accompanying microflora. This review concentrates on foods with the highest levels of pesticide residues, such as milk, yogurt, fermented vegetables (pickles, kimchi, and olives), fruit juices, grains, sourdough, and wines. The focus is on the molecular mechanisms of pesticide degradation due to the presence of specific microbial species. They contain a unique genetic pool that confers an appropriate enzymological profile to act as pesticide detoxifiers. The prospects of developing more effective biodetoxification strategies by engaging probiotic lactic acid bacteria are also discussed.

Binding and Detoxification of Insecticides by Potentially Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Environment-An In Vitro Study

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) naturally inhabiting the digestive tract of honeybees are known for their ability to detoxify xenobiotics. The effect of chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, and imidacloprid on the growth of LAB strains was tested. All strains showed high resistance to these insecticides. Subsequently, the insecticide binding ability of LAB was investigated. Coumaphos and chlorpyrifos were bound to the greatest extent (up to approx. 64%), and imidacloprid to a much weaker extent (up to approx. 36%). The insecticides were detected in extra- and intracellular extracts of the bacterial cell wall. The ability of selected LAB to reduce the cyto- and genotoxicity of insecticides was tested on two normal (ovarian insect Sf-9 and rat intestinal IEC-6) cell lines and one cancer (human intestinal Caco-2) cell line. All strains exhibited various levels of reduction in the cyto- and genotoxicity of tested insecticides. It seems that coumaphos was detoxified most potently. The detoxification abilities depended on the insecticide, LAB strain, and cell line. The detoxification of insecticides in the organisms of honeybees may reduce the likelihood of the penetration of these toxins into honeybee products consumed by humans and may contribute to the improvement of the condition in apiaries and honeybee health.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P9 improved gut microbial metabolites and alleviated inflammatory response in pesticide exposure cohorts

Multiple pesticide residue accumulations increase the probability of chronic metabolic diseases in humans. Thus, we applied multi-omics techniques to reveal how the gut microbiome responded to pesticide exposure. Then, we explored how probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P9 (P9) consumption impacted the gut microbiota and immune factors after high pesticide exposure. Multi-omics results indicated frequent exposure to pesticides did not alter the composition of the intestinal microbiota, but it did increase the abundance of Lipopolysaccharide in the gut, which might contribute to chronic inflammation. Supplementation with P9 maintained the homeostasis of the gut microbiota and reduced the abundance of pathogens in the high pesticide-exposed subjects. By detecting metabolites, we observed uridine and 5-oxoproline concentrations increased significantly after P9 consumption. Furthermore, P9 alleviated immune factors disorder and promoted pesticide residue excretion. Our findings provide new insights into the application of probiotics for pesticide detoxification, and suggest probiotics as daily supplements for pesticide exposure prevention.

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High-frequency pesticide exposure induced inflammatory responses to occur

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P9 maintained gut microbiota homeostasis in subjects with high pesticide exposure

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P9 significantly increased the level of beneficial metabolites in the subjects

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P9 reduced inflammatory response and promoted excretion of pesticide residues

Functional Properties and Antimicrobial Activity from Lactic Acid Bacteria as Resources to Improve the Health and Welfare of Honey Bees

Simple Summary

Honey bees play a pivotal role in the sustainability of ecosystems and biodiversity. Many factors including parasites, pathogens, pesticide residues, forage losses, and poor nutrition have been proposed to explain honey bee colony losses. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are normal inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of honey bees and their role has been consistently reported in the literature. In recent years, there have been numerous scientific evidence that the intestinal microbiota plays an essential role in honey bee health. Management strategies, based on supplementation of the gut microbiota with probiotics, may be important to increase stress tolerance and disease resistance. In this review, recent scientific advances on the use of LABs as microbial supplements in the diet of honey bees are summarized and discussed.

Abstract

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are agriculturally important pollinators. Over the past decades, significant losses of wild and domestic bees have been reported in many parts of the world. Several biotic and abiotic factors, such as change in land use over time, intensive land management, use of pesticides, climate change, beekeeper’s management practices, lack of forage (nectar and pollen), and infection by parasites and pathogens, negatively affect the honey bee’s well-being and survival. The gut microbiota is important for honey bee growth and development, immune function, protection against pathogen invasion; moreover, a well-balanced microbiota is fundamental to support honey bee health and vigor. In fact, the structure of the bee’s intestinal bacterial community can become an indicator of the honey bee’s health status. Lactic acid bacteria are normal inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of many insects, and their presence in the honey bee intestinal tract has been consistently reported in the literature. In the first section of this review, recent scientific advances in the use of LABs as probiotic supplements in the diet of honey bees are summarized and discussed. The second section discusses some of the mechanisms by which LABs carry out their antimicrobial activity against pathogens. Afterward, individual paragraphs are dedicated to Chalkbrood, American foulbrood, European foulbrood, Nosemosis, and Varroosis as well as to the potentiality of LABs for their biological control.

The Preventive Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum ZS62 on DSS-Induced IBD by Regulating Oxidative Stress and the Immune Response

In this study, we used DSS to establish an IBD mouse model to study the preventive effect of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) ZS62 on IBD in the context of oxidative stress and the immune response. We assessed the mitigating effect of this strain on IBD mice by examining the length of and histopathological changes in the colon, determining the serum antioxidant index and the levels of inflammatory cytokines, as well as the mRNA and protein expression levels of relevant genes. The study results showed that L. plantarum ZS62 could inhibit colonic atrophy in IBD mice, reduce the degree of colonic damage, downregulate the serum levels of MDA, MPO, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ and the relative mRNA and protein expression of IL-1β, IL-12, TNF-α, COX-2, iNOS, and NF-κB p65 in mouse colon tissues, and upregulate the serum levels of CAT, T-SOD, and IL-10 and the relative mRNA and protein expression of Cu/Zn SOD, Mn SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, IL-10, and IκB-α in colon tissues. In summary, L. plantarum ZS62 exhibited a good preventive effect on DSS-induced IBD by regulating oxidative stress and the immune response.

Probiotic Administration Mitigates Bisphenol A Reproductive Toxicity in Zebrafish

Although the use of bisphenol A (BPA) has been banned in a number of countries, its presence in the environment still creates health issues both for humans and wildlife. So far, BPA toxicity has been largely investigated on different biological processes, from reproduction to development, immune system, and metabolism. In zebrafish, Danio rerio, previous studies revealed the ability of environmentally relevant concentrations of this contaminant to significantly impair fertility via epigenetic modification. In addition, several studies demonstrated the ability of different probiotic strains to improve organism health. This study provides information on the role of the probiotic mixture SLAb51 to counteract adverse BPA effects on reproduction. A 28-day trial was set up with different experimental groups: BPA, exposed to 10 µg/L BPA; P, receiving a dietary supplementation of SLAb51 at a final concentration of 10⁹ CFU/g; BPA+P exposed to 10 µg/L BPA and receiving SLAb51 at a final concentration of 10⁹ CFU/g and a C group. Since oocyte growth and maturation represent key aspects for fertility in females, studies were performed on isolated class III (vitellogenic) and IV (in maturation) follicles and liver, with emphasis on the modulation of the different vitellogenin isoforms. In males, key signals regulating spermatogenesis were investigated. Results demonstrated that in fish exposed to the combination of BPA and probiotic, most of the transcripts were closer to C or P levels, supporting the hypothesis of SLAb51 to antagonize BPA toxicity. This study represents the first evidence related to the use of SLAb51 to improve reproduction and open new fields of investigation regarding its use to reduce endocrine disrupting compound impacts on health.

Malathion Biodegradation by L. casei (NRRL1922) and L. acidophilus (NRRL 23431) in Fermented Skimmed Milk

The aim of this study was to investigate and trace the biodegradation products of the pesticide malathion in a comparative manner by two different lactobacilli strains; L. casei (NRRL1922) and L. acidophilus (NRRL 23431). The two strains were cultivated separately into skimmed milk supplemented with 5 ng/ml malathion. After incubation under the appropriate conditions, randomized samples were taken at intervals 24, 48, 72 and 120 hours along with control samples and analyzed for the presence of malathion and its degradation products by the GC-MS spectrometry; As well as, analyzed to record the level of phosphatase enzyme which suggested to be involved in the biodegradation process. The results showed a high ability of the two tested strains to degrade malathion with a superiority of L. acidophilus (NRRL 23431) over L. casei (NRRL 1922). The level of phosphatase enzyme was elevated in both strains in the presence of malathion and decreased gradually upon the depletion of malathion from the sample, which reflects the role of the phosphatase enzyme in the biodegradation process.

Reducing the reproductive toxicity activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum: a review of mechanisms and prospects

Food pollution can cause a variety of negative effects on human health, especially reproductive toxicity. Common food contaminants include biological contaminants, chemical contaminants, and physical contaminants, among which endocrine disruptors, pesticides, and heavy metals have the greatest reproductive toxicity in chemical contaminants. Humans mainly solve food pollution through three aspects: decreasing the pollution of food raw materials, lowering the pollution in food processing, and reducing the harm to the human body after food pollutants enter the human body. With more and more research on probiotics, not only beneficial effects, but also the ability to reduce the toxicity of food contaminants is found. Thus, microbial treatment has been proved to be a more effective way to deal with food pollution. Recent research shows that several strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum can adsorb or degrade some chemical pollutants and relieve inflammation and oxidative stress caused by them. This review summarized the research to explore the possible role of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in protecting human reproductive ability and maintaining food safety.

Probiotics as a biological detoxification tool of food chemical contamination: A review

Nowadays, people are exposed to diverse environmental and chemical pollutants produced by industry and agriculture. Food contaminations such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, and mycotoxins are a serious concern for global food safety with economic and public health implications especially in the newly industrialized countries (NIC). Mounting evidence indicates that chronic exposure to food contaminants referred to as xenobiotics exert a negative effect on human health such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and intestinal disorders linked with perturbation of the composition and metabolic profile of the gut microflora. Although the physicochemical technologies for food decontamination are utilized in many cases but require adequate conditions which are often not feasible to be met in many industrial sectors. At present, one promising approach to reduce the risk related to the presence of xenobiotics in foodstuffs is a biological detoxification done by probiotic strains and their enzymes. Many studies confirmed that probiotics are an effective, feasible, and inexpensive tool for preventing xenobiotic-induced dysbiosis and alleviating their toxicity. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge of the direct mechanisms by which probiotics can influence the detoxification of xenobiotics. Moreover, probiotic-xenobiotic interactions with the gut microbiota and the host response were also discussed.

Characterization of Apis mellifera Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Lactic Acid Bacteria for Honeybee Protection-A Review

Numerous honeybee (Apis mellifera) products, such as honey, propolis, and bee venom, are used in traditional medicine to prevent illness and promote healing. Therefore, this insect has a huge impact on humans’ way of life and the environment. While the population of A. mellifera is large, there is concern that widespread commercialization of beekeeping, combined with environmental pollution and the action of bee pathogens, has caused significant problems for the health of honeybee populations. One of the strategies to preserve the welfare of honeybees is to better understand and protect their natural microbiota. This paper provides a unique overview of the latest research on the features and functioning of A. mellifera. Honeybee microbiome analysis focuses on both the function and numerous factors affecting it. In addition, we present the characteristics of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as an important part of the gut community and their special beneficial activities for honeybee health. The idea of probiotics for honeybees as a promising tool to improve their health is widely discussed. Knowledge of the natural gut microbiota provides an opportunity to create a broad strategy for honeybee vitality, including the development of modern probiotic preparations to use instead of conventional antibiotics, environmentally friendly biocides, and biological control agents.

Recent Advanced Technologies for the Characterization of Xenobiotic-Degrading Microorganisms and Microbial Communities

Global environmental contamination with a complex mixture of xenobiotics has become a major environmental issue worldwide. Many xenobiotic compounds severely impact the environment due to their high toxicity, prolonged persistence, and limited biodegradability. Microbial-assisted degradation of xenobiotic compounds is considered to be the most effective and beneficial approach. Microorganisms have remarkable catabolic potential, with genes, enzymes, and degradation pathways implicated in the process of biodegradation. A number of microbes, including Alcaligenes, Cellulosimicrobium, Microbacterium, Micrococcus, Methanospirillum, Aeromonas, Sphingobium, Flavobacterium, Rhodococcus, Aspergillus, Penecillium, Trichoderma, Streptomyces, Rhodotorula, Candida, and Aureobasidium, have been isolated and characterized, and have shown exceptional biodegradation potential for a variety of xenobiotic contaminants from soil/water environments. Microorganisms potentially utilize xenobiotic contaminants as carbon or nitrogen sources to sustain their growth and metabolic activities. Diverse microbial populations survive in harsh contaminated environments, exhibiting a significant biodegradation potential to degrade and transform pollutants. However, the study of such microbial populations requires a more advanced and multifaceted approach. Currently, multiple advanced approaches, including metagenomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, are successfully employed for the characterization of pollutant-degrading microorganisms, their metabolic machinery, novel proteins, and catabolic genes involved in the degradation process. These technologies are highly sophisticated, and efficient for obtaining information about the genetic diversity and community structures of microorganisms. Advanced molecular technologies used for the characterization of complex microbial communities give an in-depth understanding of their structural and functional aspects, and help to resolve issues related to the biodegradation potential of microorganisms. This review article discusses the biodegradation potential of microorganisms and provides insights into recent advances and omics approaches employed for the specific characterization of xenobiotic-degrading microorganisms from contaminated environments.

Identification of Genome Sequences of Polyphosphate-Accumulating Organisms by Machine Learning

In the field of sewage treatment, the identification of polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) usually relies on biological experiments. However, biological experiments are not only complicated and time-consuming, but also costly. In recent years, machine learning has been widely used in many fields, but it is seldom used in the water treatment. The present work presented a high accuracy support vector machine (SVM) algorithm to realize the rapid identification and prediction of PAOs. We obtained 6,318 genome sequences of microorganisms from the publicly available microbial genome database for comparative analysis (MBGD). Minimap2 was used to compare the genomes of the obtained microorganisms in pairs, and read the overlap. The SVM model was established using the similarity of the genome sequences. In this SVM model, the average accuracy is 0.9628 ± 0.019 with 10-fold cross-validation. By predicting 2,652 microorganisms, 22 potential PAOs were obtained. Through the analysis of the predicted potential PAOs, most of them could be indirectly verified their phosphorus removal characteristics from previous reports. The SVM model we built shows high prediction accuracy and good stability.

The characteristics of patulin detoxification by Lactobacillus plantarum 13M5

Patulin (PAT) is a widespread mycotoxin that harms the health of both humans and animals. In this study, among the 17 tested Lactobacillus plantarum strains, L. plantarum 13M5, isolated from traditional Chinese fermented foods, showed the highest PAT degradation rate of up to 43.8% (PAT 5 mg/L). Evaluation of the living and dead 13M5 cells revealed that only the living cells had the ability to remove PAT and degrade it into E-ascladiol. A cell-based assay revealed that L. plantarum 13M5 administration alleviated PAT-induced injuries in Caco-2 cells, including cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and tight junction disruption. Our results suggest that L. plantarum 13M5 has the potential to reduce PAT toxicity and can thus be used as a probiotic supplement to reduce or eliminate the toxicity of PAT ingested from diet.

Fermentation Characteristics of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis Isolated From Naturally Fermented Dairy Products and Screening of Potential Starter Isolates

It is well known that consumers are keen to try fermented milk products with different flavors and starter cultures are important in determining the resulting fermented dairy products. Here, we present the phenome of 227 Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis isolates from traditionally fermented dairy products and the selection of potential starter strains. Large-scale phenotyping revealed significant technological diversity in fermentation characteristics amongst the isolates including variation in fermentation time, viscosity, water holding capacity (WHC) and free amino nitrogen (FAN) production. The 16 isolates with the best fermentation characteristics were compared, in a sensory evaluation, with the commercial starter Chr. Hansen R-704 as excellent fermentation characteristics to identify potential starter isolates and find the isolate which can product good flavors. From these, and from solid phase micro extraction (SPME) - gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, we identified IMAU11823 and IMAU11919 as producing 3-methyl butanal and 3-methyl-2-butanone which contribute to the malt aroma. This study expands the characterization of L. lactis subsp. lactis phenotypic dataset and technological diversity and identified isolates with potential culture starter in the fermentation industry.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Potential Organic Phosphorus-Degrading Bacterium Brevibacterium frigoritolerans GD44, Isolated from Radioactive Soil in Xinjiang, China

Brevibacterium frigoritolerans, a strain quite potential use in environmental pollution, is also able to degrade the pesticide phorate. Here, we report a strain isolated from radioactive soil in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. The genome of strain GD44 encompasses 5,471,331 base pairs with a GC content of 40.42%. The sequence was assembled into 1985 open reading frames (ORFs) encoding 5053 proteins. Sequence analysis identified the genes encoding enzymes related to the degradation of organophosphorus compounds such as esterase, phosphotransferase, C-P lyase, and alkaline phosphatase. The nitrate reductase gene was also found in GD44, which was associated with biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles used for bacteriostat. In addition, Antibiotic Resistance Ontology (ARO) genes accounted for 10.6%, including the vancomycin resistance gene cluster. Therefore, the whole-genome sequence of B. frigoritolerans GD44 will be beneficial for identifying and analyzing genes utilized for soil remediation and antibacterial agent, which will provide genetic evaluation for potential application in the future.