Project description:Bifidobacterium isolates from the human vaginal microbiome including B. breve, B. longum, and unclassified Bifidobacterium spp. Genome sequencing and assembly
Project description:Bifidobacterium thermophilum RBL67 (RBL67), a human fecal isolate and promising probiotic candidate, showed antagonistic and protective effects against Salmonella and Listeria in vitro. However, the underlying mechanisms fostering these health-related effects remain unknown. Therefor the transcriptome response of RBL67 and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium N-15 (N-15) in co-culture compared to the response in their respective mono-cultures. RNA was extracted from culture samples taken after 4 (N-15) or 5 h (RBL67) and RNAseq was performed on an Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencer. Three biological replciates were performed resulting in 12 data sets: 3 RBL67 mono culture, 3 N15 mono-culture, 3 RBL67 co-culture, 3 N15 co-culture. Our study provided first insights into probiotic-pathogen interaction on transcriptional level and suggests a mechanism for how probiotic organisms can protect the host from infections.
Project description:Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) function as prebiotics for beneficial bacteria in the developing gut, often dominated by Bifidobacterium spp. To understand the relationship between Bifidobacterium utilizing HMOs and how the metabolites that are produced could affect the host, we analyzed the metabolism of HMO 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL), 3-fucosyllactose (3FL and difucosyllactose (DFL) in Bifidobacterium longum ssp. infantis Bi-26 and ATCC15697. RNA-seq and metabolite analysis was performed on samples at early (A600=0.25), mid-log (0.5-0.7) and late-log phases (1.0-2.0) of growth.
Project description:<p><em>Candida</em> species are the most common cause of opportunistic fungal infections. Rapid identification and novel approaches for the characterization of these fungi are of great interest to improve the diagnosis and the knowledge about their pathogenic properties. This study aimed to characterize clinical isolates of <em>Candida</em> spp. by proteomics (MALDI-TOF MS) and metabolomics (<sup>1</sup>H-NMR), and to correlate their metabolic profiles with <em>Candida</em> species, source of infection and different virulence associated parameters. In particular, 49 <em>Candida</em> strains from different sources (blood, n = 15; vagina, n = 18; respiratory tract, n = 16), belonging mainly to <em>C. albicans</em> complex (61%), <em>C. glabrata</em> (20%) and <em>C. parapsilosis</em> (12%) species were used. Several extracellular and intracellular metabolites showed significantly different concentrations among isolates recovered from different sources of infection, as well as among different <em>Candida</em> species. These metabolites were mainly related to the glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, nucleic acid synthesis and amino acid and lipid metabolism. Moreover, we found specific metabolic fingerprints associated with the ability to form biofilm, the antifungal resistance (i.e. caspofungin and fluconazole) and the production of secreted aspartyl proteinase. In conclusion, <sup>1</sup>H-NMR-based metabolomics can be useful to deepen <em>Candida</em> spp. virulence and pathogenicity properties.</p>
Project description:Bifidobacterium thermophilum RBL67 (RBL67), a human fecal isolate and promising probiotic candidate, showed antagonistic and protective effects against Salmonella and Listeria in vitro. However, the underlying mechanisms fostering these health-related effects remain unknown. Therefor the transcriptome response of RBL67 and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium N-15 (N-15) in co-culture compared to the response in their respective mono-cultures. RNA was extracted from culture samples taken after 4 (N-15) or 5 h (RBL67) and RNAseq was performed on an Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencer. Three biological replciates were performed resulting in 12 data sets: 3 RBL67 mono culture, 3 N15 mono-culture, 3 RBL67 co-culture, 3 N15 co-culture. Our study provided first insights into probiotic-pathogen interaction on transcriptional level and suggests a mechanism for how probiotic organisms can protect the host from infections. RNA was extracted from culture samples taken after 4 (N-15) or 5 h (RBL67) and RNAseq was performed on an Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencer. Three biological replciates were performed resulting in 12 data sets: 3 RBL67 mono culture, 3 N15 mono-culture, 3 RBL67 co-culture, 3 N15 co-culture.
Project description:Bifidobacteria constitute commensal bacteria that commonly inhabit the mammalian gastro intestinal tract. The gut commensal Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 was previously shown to utilise a variety of plant/diet-derived carbohydrates, including cellodextrin, starch and galactan. In the current study, we investigated the ability of this strain to utilize (parts of) a host-derived source of carbohydrate, namely the mucin glycoprotein. Here, we demonstrate that B. breve UCC2003 exhibits growth properties in a mucin-based medium, but only when in the presence of Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010, which is known to metabolize mucin. Based on HPAEC analysis, transcriptome data and insertion mutagenesis, it appears that B. breve UCC2003 sustains this improved survival in co-culture by cross-feeding on a combination of fucose, sialic acid and galactose-containing oligosaccharides.
Project description:To characterize how symbiotic bacteria affect the lolecular and cellular mechanisms of epithelial homeostasis, human colonic Caco-2 cells were co-culture with Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium breve.