Comparative Genomics of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Reveals a Strict Monophyletic Bifidobacterial Taxon

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bFor many years, bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) have received considerable scientific attention, mainly due to their contribution to biofilm formation and, above all, because EPS are potential virulence factors. In recent times, interest in EPS research has enjoyed a welcome boost thanks to the discovery of their ability to mediate communication processes with their surrounding environment and to their contribution to host health maintenance. In this review, we provide a fresh perspective on the genetics and activity of these polymers in members of the Bifidobacterium genus, a common gut inhabitant of humans and animals that has been associated with several health-promoting effects. Bifidobacteria can use EPS to protect themselves against the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, thus improving their persistence in the host. Indeed, the relevant function of EPS for bifidobacteria is underlined by the fact that most genomes sequenced until now contain genes related to EPS biosynthesis. A high interspecies variability in the number of genes and structural organization is denoted among species/subspecies; thus, eps clusters in this genus do not display a consensus genetic architecture. Their different G؉C content compared to that of the whole genome suggests that eps genes have been acquired by horizontal transfer. From the host perspective, EPS-producing bifidobacteria are able to trigger both innate and adaptive immune responses, and they are able to modulate the composition and activity of the gut microbiota. Thus, these polymers seem to be critical in understanding the physiology of bifidobacteria and their interaction with the host.

Section: In Silico Analysis Of Bifido-eps Clustersmentioning

confidence: 44%

Genomic Overview and Biological Functions of Exopolysaccharide Biosynthesis in Bifidobacterium spp

Hidalgo-Cantabrana

Sánchez

Milani

et al. 2014

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“…In contrast, tet(W) homologs, previously identified in Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (19,20), are present in the genomes of 11 bifidobacterial species (Fig. 2), based on in silico tet(W) domain prediction, thus highlighting the fact that this AR gene represents a relatively broad speciesspecific genetic signature within the bifidobacterial pan-genome.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes among Human Gut-Derived Bifidobacteria

Duranti

Lugli

Mancabelli

et al. 2017

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“…lactis deserves a special mention (25). Members of this bifidobacterial species can transit and impact resident microbial communities even if their overall effects are still not well defined (66)(67)(68).…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…lactis taxon can only hydrolyze/metabolize very limited number of carbohydrates, perhaps underlining a rather high level of genetic adaptation to an ecological niche or perhaps due to massive genome decay as a result of its industrial exploitation, which has involved long-term cultivation of B. animalis subsp. lactis on synthetic media (25,43).…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other bifidobacterial genomes that have been fully decoded include the human oral cavity isolate Bifidobacterium dentium Bd1 (22), as well as many strains belonging to the Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis taxon, which due to their purported health-promoting activities have attracted a lot of commercial interest (23)(24)(25). Until 2014, genome sequences of only 10 of the 47 (sub)species assigned to the Bifidobacterium genus were available.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genomics of the Genus Bifidobacterium Reveals Species-Specific Adaptation to the Glycan-Rich Gut Environment

Milani

Turroni

Duranti

et al. 2016

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136

b Bifidobacteria represent one of the dominant microbial groups that occur in the gut of various animals, being particularly prevalent during the suckling period of humans and other mammals. Their ability to compete with other gut bacteria is largely attributed to their saccharolytic features. Comparative and functional genomic as well as transcriptomic analyses have revealed the genetic background that underpins the overall saccharolytic phenotype for each of the 47 bifidobacterial (sub)species representing the genus Bifidobacterium, while also generating insightful information regarding carbohydrate resource sharing and crossfeeding among bifidobacteria. The abundance of bifidobacterial saccharolytic features in human microbiomes supports the notion that metabolic accessibility to dietary and/or host-derived glycans is a potent evolutionary force that has shaped the bifidobacterial genome.