Capsular polysaccharide inhibits adhesion of 105-A to enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells and phagocytosis by macrophages.

Background: 105-A produces markedly high amounts of capsular polysaccharides (CPS) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) that should play distinct roles in bacterial-host interactions. To identify the biological function of 105-A CPS/EPS, we carried out an informatics survey of the genome and identified the EPS-encoding genetic locus of 105-A that is responsible for the production of CPS/EPS. The role of CPS/EPS in the adaptation to gut tract environment and bacteria-gut cell interactions was investigated using the Δ mutant.

Complete Genome Sequence of Bifidobacterium longum 105-A, a Strain with High Transformation Efficiency.

Bifidobacterium longum 105-A shows high transformation efficiency and allows for the generation of gene knockout mutants through homologous recombination. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of strain 105-A. Genes encoding at least four putative restriction-modification systems were found in this genome, which might contribute to its transformation efficiency.