Identification of L actobacillus strains with probiotic features from the bottlenose dolphin ( T ursiops truncatus )

Abstract

AimsIn order to develop complementary health management strategies for marine mammals, we used culture-based and culture-independent approaches to identify gastrointestinal lactobacilli of the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus.Methods and ResultsWe screened 307 bacterial isolates from oral and rectal swabs, milk and gastric fluid, collected from 38 dolphins in the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, for potentially beneficial features. We focused our search on lactobacilli and evaluated their ability to modulate TNF secretion by host cells and inhibit growth of pathogens. We recovered Lactobacillus salivarius strains which secreted factors that stimulated TNF production by human monocytoid cells. These Lact. salivarius isolates inhibited growth of selected marine mammal and human bacterial pathogens. In addition, we identified a novel Lactobacillus species by culture and direct sequencing with 96·3% 16S rDNA sequence similarity to Lactobacillus ceti.ConclusionsDolphin-derived Lact. salivarius isolates possess features making them candidate probiotics for clinical studies in marine mammals.Significance and Impact of the StudyThis is the first study to isolate lactobacilli from dolphins, including a novel Lactobacillus species and a new strain of Lact. salivarius, with potential for veterinary probiotic applications. The isolation and identification of novel Lactobacillus spp. and other indigenous microbes from bottlenose dolphins will enable the study of the biology of symbiotic members of the dolphin microbiota and facilitate the understanding of the microbiomes of these unique animals.

Evaluation of annual survival and mortality rates and longevity of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at the United States Navy Marine Mammal Program from 2004 through 2013

“…[32][33][34] Unlike humans, however, dolphins can mask overt evidence of infections until disease reaches an advanced stage, an ability that is believed to help them evade predators. 7,9,10,[12][13][14]16,[41][42][43][44][45] These clinical research successes have been, in part, the result of focus on the highest-priority clinical needs, the ability to train dolphins to perform certain behaviors that facilitate examination, access to clinical and longitudinal dolphin health data and archived biological specimens, collaborations with leading national experts, and adequate funding. Currently available diagnostic imaging procedures, such as ultrasonography, radiography, CT, and the use of CT-or ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and biopsy techniques to obtain specimens of diseased tissues, along with the development and use of broth cultures and PCR assays for the detection of various pathogens, have improved the ability to identify and confirm infections in the early stages of disease, characterize the severity of the disease, and monitor the response to treatment.…”

Improvement of LysM-Mediated Surface Display of Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins) in Recombinant and Nonrecombinant Strains of Lactococcus lactis and Lactobacillus Species

“…Lb. salivarius ATCC 11741 therefore has the potential to become a nonrecombinant surface display host, particularly as it has already been reported to be a probiotic with antipathogenic and TNF-␣-stimulatory activities (38). However, its applicability will have to be verified in further studies.…”

Environmental Sources of Bacteria Differentially Influence Host-Associated Microbial Dynamics

“…Dolphin-microbe interactions have been studied with respect to pathogen surveillance ( 15 , 16 ), identification of potential probiotic strains ( 17 ), identification of novel taxa ( 18 , 19 ), and characterization of variation in the dolphin microbiota across body sites ( 19 – 22 ). In the wild, dolphins are exposed to a broad diversity of microbes in the water and their food and through physical interactions with other dolphins and animals.…”