Exploring the hemicellulolytic properties and safety of Bacillus paralicheniformis as stepping stone in the use of new fibrolytic beneficial microbes.

Bacillus strains from the Moroccan Coordinated Collections of Microorganisms (CCMM) were characterised and tested for fibrolytic function and safety properties that would be beneficial for maintaining intestinal homeostasis, and recommend beneficial microbes in the field of health promotion research. Forty strains were investigated for their fibrolytic activities towards complex purified polysaccharides and natural fibres representative of dietary fibres (DFs) entering the colon for digestion. We demonstrated hemicellulolytic activities for nine strains of Bacillus aerius, re-identified as Bacillus paralicheniformis and Bacillus licheniformis, using xylan, xyloglucan or lichenan as purified polysaccharides, and orange, apple and carrot natural fibres, with strain- and substrate-dependent production of glycoside hydrolases (GHs).

Sperm-fluid-cell interplays in the bovine oviduct: glycosaminoglycans modulate sperm binding to the isthmic reservoir.

When entering the oviduct for fertilisation, spermatozoa come into contact with the oviduct fluid (OF) and can bind to luminal epithelial cells in the isthmus to form a sperm reservoir. The objective of this study was to examine how the OF modulates sperm adhesion to the oviduct reservoir using an in vitro model of oviduct epithelial spheroids (OES). Bovine oviducts from a local slaughterhouse were used to collect OF and isthmic fragments for the in vitro incubation of OES.

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: and fermentation metabolism and enteropathogenicity.

Bacterial colonization in the gut plays a pivotal role in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) development, but the relationship between bacteria and NEC remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate whether bacterial butyrate end-fermentation metabolites participate in the development of NEC lesions and confirm the enteropathogenicity of and in NEC. First, we produced and strains impaired in butyrate production by genetically inactivating the gene encoding β-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase that produces end-fermentation metabolites.

Three Distinct Proteases Are Responsible for Overall Cell Surface Proteolysis in Streptococcus thermophilus.

The lactic acid bacterium Streptococcus thermophilus was believed to display only two distinct proteases at the cell surface, namely, the cell envelope protease PrtS and the housekeeping protease HtrA. Using peptidomics, we demonstrate here the existence of an additional active cell surface protease, which shares significant homology with the SepM protease of Streptococcus mutans. Although all three proteases-PrtS, HtrA, and SepM-are involved in the turnover of surface proteins, they demonstrate distinct substrate specificities.

Do Primocolonizing Bacteria Enable Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Intestinal Colonization Independently of the Capacity To Consume Oxygen?

Aerobic bacteria are frequent primocolonizers of the human naive intestine. Their generally accepted role is to eliminate oxygen, which would allow colonization by anaerobes that subsequently dominate bacterial gut populations. In this hypothesis-based study, we revisited this dogma experimentally in a germfree mouse model as a mimic of the germfree newborn.

Highly sensitive detection of Campylobacter spp. In chicken meat using a silica nanoparticle enhanced dot blot DNA biosensor.

Paper-based DNA biosensors are powerful tools in point-of-care diagnostics since they are affordable, portable, user-friendly, rapid and robust. However, their sensitivity is not always as high as required to enable DNA quantification. To improve the response of standard dot blots, we have applied a new enhancement strategy that increases the sensitivity of assays based on the use of biotinylated silica-nanoparticles (biotin-Si-NPs).

Freeze-dried fecal samples are biologically active after long-lasting storage and suited to fecal microbiota transplantation in a preclinical murine model of infection.

Fecal microbiota transplantation is now recommended for treating recurrent forms of infection. Recent studies have reported protocols using capsules of either frozen or freeze-dried stool allowing oral administration in in- and out-patient settings. However, a central question remains the viability, engraftment, and efficacy of the microbiome over time during storage life.

Identification of New Factors Modulating Adhesion Abilities of the Pioneer Commensal Bacterium .

Biofilm formation is crucial for bacterial community development and host colonization by , a pioneer colonizer and commensal bacterium of the human gastrointestinal tract. This ability to form biofilms depends on bacterial adhesion to host surfaces, and on the intercellular aggregation contributing to biofilm cohesiveness. Many isolates auto-aggregate, an adhesion process mediated by cell surface proteins.

Impact of Cell Surface Molecules on Conjugative Transfer of the Integrative and Conjugative Element ICE of Streptococcus thermophilus.

Integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) are chromosomal elements that are widely distributed in bacterial genomes, hence contributing to genome plasticity, adaptation, and evolution of bacteria. Conjugation requires a contact between both the donor and the recipient cells and thus likely depends on the composition of the cell surface envelope. In this work, we investigated the impact of different cell surface molecules, including cell surface proteins, wall teichoic acids, lipoteichoic acids, and exopolysaccharides, on the transfer and acquisition of ICE from The transfer of ICE from wild-type (WT) donor cells to mutated recipient cells increased 5- to 400-fold when recipient cells were affected in lipoproteins, teichoic acids, or exopolysaccharides compared to when the recipient cells were WT.

Three glycosylated serine-rich repeat proteins play a pivotal role in adhesion and colonization of the pioneer commensal bacterium, Streptococcus salivarius.

Bacterial adhesion is a critical step for colonization of the host. The pioneer colonizer and commensal bacterium of the human gastrointestinal tract, Streptococcus salivarius, has strong adhesive properties but the molecular determinants of this adhesion remain uncharacterized. Serine-rich repeat (SRR) glycoproteins are a family of adhesins that fulfil an important role in adhesion.

Forced- and Self-Rotation of Magnetic Nanorods Assembly at the Cell Membrane: A Biomagnetic Torsion Pendulum.

In order to provide insight into how anisotropic nano-objects interact with living cell membranes, and possibly self-assemble, magnetic nanorods with an average size of around 100 nm × 1 µm are designed by assembling iron oxide nanocubes within a polymeric matrix under a magnetic field. The nano-bio interface at the cell membrane under the influence of a rotating magnetic field is then explored. A complex structuration of the nanorods intertwined with the membranes is observed.

Impact of temperature on SP17 morphology and biofilm structure during growth on alkanes.

Alkanes are widespread pollutants found in soil, freshwater and marine environments. () strain SP17 is a marine bacterium able to use many hydrophobic organic compounds, including alkanes, through the production of biofilms that allow their poor solubility to be overcome. This study pointed out that temperature is an environmental factor that strongly affects the biofilm formation and morphology of on the model alkanes, hexadecane and paraffin.

Overexpression of Enterococcus faecalis elr operon protects from phagocytosis.

Background: Mechanisms underlying the transition from commensalism to virulence in Enterococcus faecalis are not fully understood. We previously identified the enterococcal leucine-rich protein A (ElrA) as a virulence factor of E. faecalis.

Plant-derived compounds as natural antimicrobials to control paper mill biofilms.

Biofilms can cause severe problems in industrial paper mills, particularly of economic and technological types (clogging of filters, sheet breaks or holes in the paper, machine breakdowns, etc.). We present here some promising results on the use of essential oil compounds to control these biofilms.

Enterococcus faecalis prophage dynamics and contributions to pathogenic traits.

Polylysogeny is frequently considered to be the result of an adaptive evolutionary process in which prophages confer fitness and/or virulence factors, thus making them important for evolution of both bacterial populations and infectious diseases. The Enterococcus faecalis V583 isolate belongs to the high-risk clonal complex 2 that is particularly well adapted to the hospital environment. Its genome carries 7 prophage-like elements (V583-pp1 to -pp7), one of which is ubiquitous in the species.

Pilus biogenesis in Lactococcus lactis: molecular characterization and role in aggregation and biofilm formation.

The genome of Lactococcus lactis strain IL1403 harbors a putative pilus biogenesis cluster consisting of a sortase C gene flanked by 3 LPxTG protein encoding genes (yhgD, yhgE, and yhhB), called here pil. However, pili were not detected under standard growth conditions. Over-expression of the pil operon resulted in production and display of pili on the surface of lactococci.

Biofilms of a Bacillus subtilis hospital isolate protect Staphylococcus aureus from biocide action.

The development of a biofilm constitutes a survival strategy by providing bacteria a protective environment safe from stresses such as microbicide action and can thus lead to important health-care problems. In this study, biofilm resistance of a Bacillus subtilis strain (called hereafter ND(medical)) recently isolated from endoscope washer-disinfectors to peracetic acid was investigated and its ability to protect the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus in mixed biofilms was evaluated. Biocide action within Bacillus subtilis biofilms was visualised in real time using a non-invasive 4D confocal imaging method.

Characteristics of microbial biofilm on wooden vats ('gerles') in PDO Salers cheese.

The purpose of this study was to characterize microbial biofilms from 'gerles' (wooden vats for making PDO Salers cheese) and identify their role in milk inoculation and in preventing pathogen development. Gerles from ten farms producing PDO Salers cheese were subjected to microbial analysis during at least 4 periods spread over two years. They were distinguished by their levels of Lactobacillus (between 4.

The effect of in vitro growth conditions on the resistance of Acanthamoeba cysts.

Despite increasing concerns of direct pathogenicity and/or their role as hosts for other microorganisms there are currently no standard methods for the inactivation of amoebae that belong to the genus Acanthamoeba. Methods used to grow amoebae and produce cysts for these tests may be important as they can dramatically modify cyst susceptibility. We compared resistance of cysts produced from trophozoites grown in peptone-yeast extract-glucose broth or by feeding on HEp-2 cells and then encysted in Neff's medium.

The canine oocyte: uncommon features of in vivo and in vitro maturation.

The biology of the canine oocyte is unusual compared with that of other mammalian females. The present paper reviews both in vivo and in vitro specificities of canine oocytes. Final follicular growth in the bitch is characterised by an early appearance of LH binding sites in the granulosa, a high proportion of polyovular follicles and a preovulatory luteinisation, starting at the time of the LH surge.

Drastic changes in fecal and mucosa-associated microbiota in adult patients with short bowel syndrome.

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is observed in Humans after a large resection of gut. Since the remnant colon and its associated microbiota play a major role in the outcome of patients with SBS, we studied the overall qualitative and quantitative microbiota composition of SBS adult patients compared to controls. The population was composed of 11 SBS type II patients (with a jejuno-colonic anastomosis) and 8 controls without intestinal pathology.

Genetic features of resident biofilms determine attachment of Listeria monocytogenes.

Planktonic Listeria monocytogenes cells in food-processing environments tend most frequently to adhere to solid surfaces. Under these conditions, they are likely to encounter resident biofilms rather than a raw solid surface. Although metabolic interactions between L.

Outer membrane modifications of Pseudomonas fluorescens MF37 in response to hyperosmolarity.

The effect of hyperosmotic condition on the outer membrane protein (Omp) composition of Pseudomonas fluorescens was investigated by proteomic analyses. The abundances of 12 proteins, including porins, lipoproteins, and the flagella subunit FliC, were modified. This was at least partly explained by altered gene expression, as shown by mRNA level study.

Importance of bacterial surface properties to control the stability of emulsions.

In colloidal media such as emulsions or food matrixes, the stability results from physicochemical interactions. The same type of interaction is involved in the attachment processes of microorganisms, through their surface properties, to interfaces. When bacteria are present in a food matrix, it is probable that their surface interacts with the other constituents.

Adsorption on stainless steel surfaces of biosurfactants produced by gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria: consequence on the bioadhesive behavior of Listeria monocytogenes.

The ability of adsorbed biosurfactants (Pf and Lb) obtained from gram-negative bacterium (Pseudomonas fluorescens) or gram-positive bacterium (Lactobacillus helveticus) to inhibit adhesion of four listerial strains to stainless steel was investigated. These metallic surfaces were characterized using the following complementary analytical techniques: contact-angle measurements (CAM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), polarization modulation-infrared reflection-adsorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Contact-angles with polar liquids (water and formamide) indicated that the stainless steel surface covered with adsorbed biosurfactant was more hydrophilic and electron-donating than bare stainless steel.