title: Kefir fermented milk and kefiran promote growth of Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010 and modulate its gene expression.
abstract: Bifidobacteria constitute one of the dominant groups of microorganisms colonizing the human gut of infants. Their ability to utilize various host-derived glycans as well as dietary carbohydrates has received considerable scientific attention. However, very little is known about the role of fermented foods, such as kefir, or their constituent glycans, such as kefiran, as substrates for bifidobacterial growth and for the modulation of the expression of bifidobacterial host-effector molecules. Here, we show that Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010 exhibits high growth performance among the bifidobacterial strains tested when cultivated on kefir and/or kefiran polymer. Furthermore, a 16S rRNA metagenomic approach revealed that the microbiota of kefir is modified upon the addition of PRL2010 cells to the kefir matrix. Finally, our results show that kefir and kefiran are able to influence the transcriptome of B. bifidum PRL2010 causing increased transcription of genes involved in the metabolism of dietary glycans as well as genes that act as host-microbe effector molecules such as pili. Altogether, these data support the use of kefir as a valuable means for the delivery of effective microbial cells in probiotic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Fausta
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serafini
authors.affiliation: Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Department of Microbiology, Bioscience Institute, National University of Ireland, Western Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Turroni
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia y Bioquimica de Productos Lacteos (IPLA - CSIC), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruas-Madiedo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele Andrea
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lugli
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duranti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zamboni
authors.affiliation: Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Department of Microbiology, Bioscience Institute, National University of Ireland, Western Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bottacini
authors.affiliation: Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Department of Microbiology, Bioscience Institute, National University of Ireland, Western Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Douwe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Sinderen
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia y Bioquimica de Productos Lacteos (IPLA - CSIC), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain.
authors.forename: Abelardo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Margolles
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Italy. Electronic address: marco.ventura@unipr.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ventura
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D043302:Cultured Milk Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D019936:Probiotics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C050180:kefir grain polysaccharide
keywords: 16S rRNA metagenomics; Bifidobacteria; Bifidobacterium bifidum; Kefir; Kefiran; Transcriptomics