Horizontally Acquired Polysaccharide-Synthetic Gene Cluster From Weissella cibaria Boosts the Probiotic Property of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum

Abstract

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum are probiotic bacteria, maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal epithelial barrier, and preventing the infection of pathogenic bacteria. Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are often involved in the probiotic property of L. plantarum. Here, we identified a new EPS-synthetic gene cluster, cpsWc, carrying 13 genes, laid on a large plasmid in a well-characterized probiotic L. plantarum strain LTC-113. The cpsWc gene cluster was horizontally acquired from Weissella cibaria, enhancing the biofilm formation ability of the host strain and its tolerance to harsh environmental stresses, including heat, acid, and bile. Transfer of cpsWc also conferred the probiotic properties to other L. plantarum strains. Moreover, cpsWc strengthened the adhesion of LTC-113 to intestinal epithelial cells. Both the cpsWc-carrying LTC-113 and its EPSs per se effectively attenuated the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory effect of intestinal epithelial cells, and inhibited the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria, such as S. typhimurium and E. coli by exclusion and competition. The newly identified cpsWc gene cluster emphasized the contribution of mobile EPS-synthetic element on the probiotic activity of L. plantarum, and shed a light on the engineering of probiotic bacteria.

Microbiome-metabolomics deciphers the effects of Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides on aged constipated rats

“…It can also affect the composition of intestinal microbiota. 50 Weissella is a sort of probiotic bacteria of Lactobacillus , which helps in maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal epithelial barrier, and preventing the infection of pathogenic bacteria. 51 Facklamia is a pernicious bacterium, which can lower the immunity of people.…”

Molecular Organization and Functional Analysis of a Novel Plasmid-Borne cps Gene Cluster from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum YC41

“…Compared with the wild type, the survival rate of an epsE mutant was decreased by 10% under heat shock in Lactobacillus johnsonii FI9785 ( 15 ). It has also been reported that CPS resulted in a 20% improvement in bacterial survival in the presence of 1% bile salt in L. plantarum LTC-113 ( 16 ). However, in L. plantarum Lp90 and SF2A35B, there were no significant differences in survival rates between the wild-type strains and the corresponding cps deletion mutants under gastrointestinal (GI) tract-mimicking conditions ( 17 ).…”

“…Up to now, 192 L. plantarum strains with complete genome sequences and 539 L. plantarum strains with draft genome sequences have been deposited in the NCBI database. cps gene clusters located in chromosomes are found in 43 L. plantarum strains, and the genetic organizations of the gene clusters were further characterized in 12 strains, L. plantarum WCFS1, ZJ316, ST-III, NC8, JDM1, P8, 16, SF2A35B, Lp90, LTC-113, SN35N, and K25 ( 16 , 20 , 21 ). Furthermore, plasmid-borne cps gene clusters have been found in 10 L. plantarum strains, L. plantarum ZJ316, 16, C410L1, HFC8, LZ227, TMW1.1623, ZJ102, LTC-113, SN35N, and K25 ( 16 , 20 , 21 ).…”

“…cps gene clusters located in chromosomes are found in 43 L. plantarum strains, and the genetic organizations of the gene clusters were further characterized in 12 strains, L. plantarum WCFS1, ZJ316, ST-III, NC8, JDM1, P8, 16, SF2A35B, Lp90, LTC-113, SN35N, and K25 ( 16 , 20 , 21 ). Furthermore, plasmid-borne cps gene clusters have been found in 10 L. plantarum strains, L. plantarum ZJ316, 16, C410L1, HFC8, LZ227, TMW1.1623, ZJ102, LTC-113, SN35N, and K25 ( 16 , 20 , 21 ). Only the plasmid-borne cps gene cluster in L. plantarum LTC-113 has been well characterized ( 16 ).…”

“…Furthermore, plasmid-borne cps gene clusters have been found in 10 L. plantarum strains, L. plantarum ZJ316, 16, C410L1, HFC8, LZ227, TMW1.1623, ZJ102, LTC-113, SN35N, and K25 ( 16 , 20 , 21 ). Only the plasmid-borne cps gene cluster in L. plantarum LTC-113 has been well characterized ( 16 ). Thus, it will be necessary to further characterize cps gene clusters on plasmids in L. plantarum .…”