Delayed expansion and contraction of CD8+ T cell response during infection with virulent Salmonella typhimurium

Ag presentation to CD8(+) T cells often commences immediately after infection, which facilitates their rapid expansion and control of infection. Subsequently, the primed cells undergo rapid contraction. We report that this paradigm is not followed during infection with virulent Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhimurium (ST), an intracellular bacterium that replicates within phagosomes of infected cells. Although susceptible mice die rapidly (approximately 7 days), resistant mice (129 x 1SvJ) harbor a chronic infection lasting approximately 60-90 days. Using rOVA-expressing ST (ST-OVA), we show that T cell priming is considerably delayed in the resistant mice. CD8(+) T cells that are induced during ST-OVA infection undergo delayed expansion, which peaks around day 21, and is followed by protracted contraction. Initially, ST-OVA induces a small population of cycling central phenotype (CD62L(high)IL-7Ralpha(high)CD44(high)) CD8(+) T cells. However, by day 14-21, majority of the primed CD8(+) T cells display an effector phenotype (CD62L(low)IL-7Ralpha(low)CD44(high)). Subsequently, a progressive increase in the numbers of effector memory phenotype cells (CD62L(low)IL-7Ralpha(high)CD44(high)) occurs. This differentiation program remained unchanged after accelerated removal of the pathogen with antibiotics, as majority of the primed cells displayed an effector memory phenotype even at 6 mo postinfection. Despite the chronic infection, CD8(+) T cells induced by ST-OVA were functional as they exhibited killing ability and cytokine production. Importantly, even memory CD8(+) T cells failed to undergo rapid expansion in response to ST-OVA infection, suggesting a delay in T cell priming during infection with virulent ST-OVA. Thus, phagosomal lifestyle may allow escape from host CD8(+) T cell recognition, conferring a survival advantage to the pathogen.

Bifidobacterium adolescentis is intrinsically resistant to antitubercular drugs

Multiple mutations in the β subunit of the RNA polymerase (rpoβ) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) are the primary cause of resistance to rifamycin (RIF). In the present study, bifidobacterial rpoβ sequences were analyzed to characterize the mutations that contribute to the development of intrinsic resistance to RIF, isoniazid, streptomycin and pyrazinamide. Sequence variations, which mapped to cassettes 1 and 2 of the rpoβ pocket, are also found in multidrug-resistant Mtb (MDR Mtb). Growth curves in the presence of osmolytes and different concentrations of RIF showed that the bacteria adapted rapidly by shortening the growth curve lag time. Insight into the adapted rpoβ DNA sequences revealed that B. adolescentis harbored mutations both in the RIF pocket and in regions outside the pocket. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and mutant prevention concentrations (MPCs) indicated that B. longum, B. adolescentis and B. animalis are resistant to antitubercular drugs. 3D-homology modeling and binding interaction studies using computational docking suggested that mutants had reduced binding affinity towards RIF. RIF-exposed/resistant bacteria exhibited variant protein profiles along with morphological differences, such as elongated and branched cells, surface conversion from rough to smooth, and formation of a concentrating ring.

Ocins for Food Safety

The food industry produces highly perishable products. Food spoilage represents a severe problem for food manufacturers. Therefore, it is important to identify effective preservation solutions to prevent food spoilage. Ocins (e.g., bacteriocins, lactocins, and enterocins) are antibacterial proteins synthesized by bacteria that destroy or suppress the growth of related or unrelated bacterial strains. Ocins represent a promising strategy for food preservation, because of their antagonist effects toward food spoilage microorganisms, high potency, and low toxicity. Additionally, they can be bioengineered. The most common and commercially available ocins are nisin, plantaracin, sakacin P, and pediocin. Several ocins have been characterized and studied biochemically and genetically; however, their structure-function relationship, biosynthesis, and mechanism of action are not understood. This narrative review focuses primarily on ocins and their relevance to the food industry to help prevent food spoilage. In particular, the applications and limitations of ocins in the food industry are highlighted.

Characterization of a Potent New-Generation Antimicrobial Peptide of Bacillus

An antimicrobial peptide [Bacillus antimicrobial peptide (BAMP)] produced by Bacillus paralicheniformis was isolated from the Indian traditional fermented food and characterized. The antimicrobial peptide BAMP showed many unique features such as thermostability (4.0-125°C), pH tolerance (pH 2.0-9.0), and resistance to physiological enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin, pepsin, proteinase K, protease, and catalase), and food-grade metal salts do not inhibit the activity. The broad spectrum of BAMP (antimicrobial activity) makes it a suitable candidate for food preservation as well as antimicrobial therapy. BAMP was found to exhibit a bacteriostatic effect on Salmonella typhi and controls the viability of Listeria monocytogenes in chicken meat efficiently. BAMP was found to establish eubiosis, as it is not antagonistic to Lactobacillus. Its non-hemolytic nature makes it suitable for therapy. Various genome prediction tools were adopted and applied to understand their localization, gene arrangement, and type of antimicrobials. Founded on its superior functional attributes, BAMP is a potent new-generation antimicrobial peptide.

Assessing the antimicrobial activities of Ocins

The generation of a zone of inhibition on a solid substrate indicates the bioactivity of antimicrobial peptides such as bacteriocin and enterocin. The indicator strain plays a significant role in bacteriocin assays. Other characteristics of bacteriocins, such as their dispersal ability and the different zymogram components, also affect bacteriocin assays. However, universal well diffusion assays for antimicrobials, irrespective of their ability to diffuse (bacteriocin and enterocin), do not exist. The ability of different zymography components to generate non-specific activities have rarely been explored in the literature. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the impact of major factors (diffusion and rate of diffusion) in a solid substrate bioassay, and to document the adverse effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate in zymograms used to estimate the approximate molecular weight of bacteriocins.

Bifid Shape Is Intrinsic to Bifidobacterium adolescentis

Although the genus Bifidobacterium was originally named for its bifid morphology, not all bifidobacterial species have a similar structure, and very few of them adopt a bifid shape under stress conditions. The exposure of respective bifidobacterial species to various conditions, such as different pH, temperatures, medium components, in vivo growth in Caenorhabditis elegans, and subculture, did not affect their diverse morphologies. Extensive scanning electron microscopy studies suggested that the bifid shape of B. adolescentis are maintained irrespective of the conditions. Hence, we conclude that the bifid morphology is intrinsic to B. adolescentis. Most bifidobacterial species are anaerobic and rod-shaped, whereas, after the first generation, they become microaerophilic or aerophilic. CaCl2 (treatment of B. animalis) signaling triggered a change from the rod shape to the bifid shape and vice versa in B. adolescentis.

Ocins database: a database of bug-busters from Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Enterococcus

The ocins are antimicrobial polypeptides produced by probiotic microbes, such as Lactobacillus , Enterococcus , Streptococcus , Leuconostoc and Bifidobacterium . They are produced in response to stress and for the self-defense of the bacterium. It is indispensable to understand their mechanistic characteristics, structures, and functions, if the food industry is to reduce contamination levels and produce germfree foods. Databases of the ocins that are readily accessible to the food industry are scarce, but urgently required. Therefore, we established a very useful, unique, and a simple ocin database, which not merely provides information about ocins, but also directs their utilisation in the food industry. The database includes information about each ocin, its amino acid sequence, molecular weight, and isoelectric point. The database also possesses all the currently known ocin (probiotic origin only) sequences and structures, target organisms, and relevant to food industries (aqua culture, dairy and meat industries), which is hard to obtain in other databases. The database is free for public and accessed at http://ocins.cftri.com/ocins/.

Acquiring bifidobacteria species from formula-fed and breast-fed newborns: identifying, quantifying and creating an antibiogram

After examining the Bifidobacterium spp. population in faeces samples from breast-fed and formula-fed infants, an antibiogram was created. The prevalence of Bifidobacterium spp. in faeces was determined using common bacterial growth media, including Man Rogos Sharpe (MRS), Brain Heart Infusion (BHI), Luria Bertani (LB) broth and Bifidobacteria agar. According to the findings, formula-fed babies had a low population of Bifidobacterium spp. in their stools while breast-fed babies had a high population. By using phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA and xfp (xylose/fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase) genes, and RFLP mapping of Bifidobacterium isolates, it was possible to identify a new and unique Bifidobacterium species. The intensity of the reddish brown colour produced during the F6PPK (fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase) assay is an accurate indicator of the proportion of various bifidobacteria present. Bifidobacteria agar media produced the greatest amounts of bifidobacteria diversity and recovery. Small (SCV) and Big colony variations (BCV) were formed during growth on different media. The various antibiotic MIC values changed depending on the use of different media, growth circumstances, bile salt treatment and low pH. The findings of this study demonstrate that test conditions also impact the diversity of microbiological conditions that distinguish between resistant and susceptible bacteria.

Genomic Characterization and Probiotic Properties of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus Isolated from Fermented Rice

The aim of the study was the preliminary genetic and phenotypic characterization of a potential probiotic strain of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus (strain krglsrbmofpi2) obtained from traditionally fermented rice. Genome sequencing revealed that the strain has a 3.7-Mb genome with a GC content of 46 and a total of 3192 protein-coding sequences. Using bioinformatic methods, we have successfully identified phage genes, plasmids, pathogenicity, antibiotic resistance and a variety of bacteriocins. Through comprehensive biochemical and biophysical analyses, we have gained valuable insights into its auto-aggregation, co-aggregation, antibiotic resistance, hydrophobicity, antioxidant activity and tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The safety evaluation of the isolated L. pentosus was performed on the basis of its haemolytic activity. Our studies have shown that this strain has a strong antagonistic activity against the priority pathogens identified by the World Health Organization such as Vibrio cholerae, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Typhi, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. It is essential to fully understand the genetic and functional properties of the L. pentosus strain before considering its use as a useful probiotic in the food industry.

Understanding bacteriocin heterologous expression: A review

Bacteriocins are a diverse group of ribosomally synthesised antimicrobial peptides/proteins that play an important role in self-defence. They are widely used as bio-preservatives and effective substitutes for disease eradication. They can be used in conjunction with or as an alternative to antibiotics to minimize the risk of resistance development. There are remarkably few reports indicating resistance to bacteriocins. Although there are many research reports that emphasise heterologous expression of bacteriocin, there are no convincing reports on the significant role that intrinsic and extrinsic factors play in overexpression. A coordinated and cooperative expression system works in concert with multiple genetic elements encoding native proteins, immunoproteins, exporters, transporters and enzymes involved in the post-translational modification of bacteriocins. The simplest way could be to utilise the existing E. coli expression system, which is conventional, widely used for heterologous expression and has been further extended for bacteriocin expression. In this article, we will review the intrinsic and extrinsic factors, advantages, disadvantages and major problems associated with bacteriocin overexpression in E. coli. Finally, we recommend the most effective strategies as well as numerous bacteriocin expression systems from E. coli, Lactococcus, Kluveromyces lactis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris for their suitability for successful overexpression.

Draft genome sequence of a Lactiplantibacillus pentosus strain isolated from traditionally fermented rice

Lactiplantibacillus pentosus is a probiotic bacterium reported to be present in various fermented foods, such as fermented olives, and it significantly influences human health. The present study concerns a lactic acid bacterial strain designated L. pentosus krglsrbmofpi2, isolated from traditional fermented rice, and which has been shown to have an assortment of beneficial attributes. Using Illumina technologies, we have sequenced and investigated the whole genome sequence of L. pentosus krglsrbmofpi2 to understand its functionality and safety. The chromosomal genome was 3.7 Mb in size with 46% GC content and 3192 protein-coding genes. Additional extensive bioinformatics investigations were carried out involving whole genome sequence assembly and annotation.

Understanding the Necessity of Regulatory Protein Machinery in Heterologous Expression of Class-III Type of Ocins

To date, there have been no or just a few reports of successful cloning and expression to create biologically active ocins or bacteriocins. Cloning, expression, and production of class I ocins are problematic because of their structural arrangements, coordinated functions, size, and posttranslational modifications. Mass synthesis of these molecules is necessary for commercialization and to restrict the excessive use of conventional antibiotics, which encourages the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the case of class III ocins, there are no reports of obtaining biological active proteins to date. Being able to obtain biologically active proteins requires an understanding of mechanistic features due to their expanding importance and broad spectrum of activity. As a result, we intend to clone and express the class III type. The class I types that are devoid of posttranslational modifications were transformed into class III through fusion. Therefore, this construct resembles a class III type ocin. With the exception of Zoocin, expression of the proteins was found to be physiologically ineffective after cloning. But, few cell morphological changes such as elongation, aggregation, and the formation of terminal hyphae were observed. However, it was discovered that the target indicator had been altered to Vibrio spp. in a few. All the three ocins were subjected to in-silico structure prediction/analysis. Finally, we confirm the existence of unidentified additional intrinsic factors for successful expression to obtain biologically active protein.