Lactobacillus fermentum BCS87 expresses mucus- and mucin-binding proteins on the cell surface.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and characterize adhesion-associated proteins in the potential probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum BCS87.


RESULTS
Protein suspensions obtained from the treatment of Lact. fermentum BCS87 with 1 mol 1(-1) LiCl were analysed by Western blotting using HRP-labelled porcine mucus and mucin. Two adhesion-associated proteins with relative molecular weight of 29 and 32 kDa were identified. The N-terminal and internal peptides of the 32 kDa protein (32-Mmubp) were sequenced, and the corresponding gene (32-mmub) was found by inverse polymerase chain reaction. The complete nucleotide sequence of 32-mmub revealed an open reading frame of 903 bp encoding a primary protein of 300 amino acids and a mature protein of 272 residues. A basic local alignment search showed 47-99% identity to solute-binding components of ATP binding cassette transporter proteins in Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Clostridium. An OpuAC-conserved domain was identified and phylogenetic relationship analysis confirmed that 32-Mmubp belongs to the OpuAC family.


CONCLUSIONS
Adhesion of Lact. fermentum BCS87 appeared to be mediated by two surface-associated proteins. 32-Mmubp is a component of ABC transporter system that also functions as an adhesin.


CONCLUSIONS
Characterization of 32-Mmubp and 32-mmub will contribute to understanding the host-bacteria interactions of Lact. fermentum with the intestinal tract of pigs.
Macías-Rodríguez
M E
ME
Laboratorio de Patogénesis Microbiana, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México.
Zagorec
M
M
Ascencio
F
F
Vázquez-Juárez
R
R
Rojas
M
M
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism; D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D052197:Limosilactobacillus fermentum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D019936:Probiotics
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D009077:Mucins