Project description:Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis is a bacterial commensal that colonizes the breast-fed infant gut where it utilizes indigestible components delivered in human milk. Accordingly, human milk contains several non-protein nitrogenous molecules, including urea at high abundance. This project investigates the degree to which urea is utilized as a primary nitrogen source by Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis and incorporation of hydrolysis products into the expressed proteome.
Project description:The purpose of this project was to determine the whole transcriptome response of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis to human milk urea compared to complex nitrogen and L-cysteine.
Project description:The purpose of this project was to determine the whole transcriptome response of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. Infantis to pooled and individual human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) relative to lactose
Project description:Genetic engineering of filamentous fungi has promise for accelerating the transition to a more sustainable food system and enhancing the nutritional value, sensory appeal, and scalability of microbial foods. However, genetic tools and demonstrated use cases for bioengineered food production by edible strains are lacking. Here, we developed a synthetic biology toolkit for Aspergillus oryzae, an edible fungus traditionally used in fermented foods and currently used in protein production and meat alternatives. Our toolkit includes a CRISPR-Cas9 method for genome integration, neutral loci, and new promoters. We use these tools to enhance the elevate levels of the nutraceutical ergothioneine and intracellular heme in the edible biomass. The biomass overproducing heme is red in color and is readily formulated into imitation meat patties with minimal processing. These findings highlight the promise of genetic approaches to enhance fungal meat alternatives and provide useful engineering tools for diverse applications in fungal food production and beyond.
Project description:Diet-microbe interactions play a crucial role in infant development and modulation of the early-life microbiota. The genus Bifidobacterium dominates the breast-fed infant gut, with strains of B. longum subsp. longum (B. longum) and B. longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis) particularly prevalent within the early-life microbiota. Although, transition from milk to a more diversified diet later in infancy initiates a shift to a more complex microbiome, with concurrent reductions in Bifidobacterium abundance, specific strains of B. longum may persist in individual hosts for prolonged periods of time. Here, we sought to investigate the adaptation of B. longum to the changing infant diet during the early-life developmental window. Genomic characterisation of 75 strains isolated from nine either exclusively breast- or formula-fed infants in the first 18 months of their lives revealed subspecies- and strain-specific intra-individual genomic diversity with respect to glycosyl hydrolase families and enzymes, which corresponded to different dietary stages. Complementary phenotypic growth studies indicated strain-specific differences in human milk oligosaccharide and plant carbohydrate utilisation profiles between and within individual infants, while proteomic profiling identified proteins involved in metabolism of selected carbohydrates. Our results indicate a strong link between infant diet and B. longum subspecies/strain genomic and carbohydrate utilisation diversity, which aligns with a changing nutritional environment i.e. moving from breast milk to a solid food diet. These data provide additional insights into possible mechanisms responsible for the competitive advantage of this bifidobacterial species and their long-term persistence in a single host and may contribute to rational development of new dietary therapies for this important development window.
Project description:We describe the molecular cross talk established under in vivo conditions between a set of human gut bifidobacterial commensals. Eleven groups of five conventional female 8-wk-old BALB/c mice taking a standard polysaccharide-rich Chow diet were administered a single daily dose of 109 CFU of either B. bifidum PRL2010, B. breve 12L , B. adolescentis 22L , B. longum subsp. infantis ATCC15697, or bifidobacterial couples, i.e., PRL2010-12L, PRL2010-22L, PRL2010-ATCC15696, 12L-22L, 12L-ATCC15697, 22L-ATCC15697, or a combination of all bifidobacterial strains. The transcriptome of bifidobacterial strains under in vivo conditions was analyzed. The transcripts expressed in B. bifidum PRL2010, B. breve 12L, B. adolescentis 22L and B. longum subsp. infantis ATCC15697 were profiled using a custom-made PRL2010-12L-22L-ATCC15697 (multibifido)-array representing 100%, 99%, 96%, 99% of the identified genes of these organisms, respectively.The observed functional changes in the trascriptomes of bifidobacteria might be caused by the possible shifts of the mice cecum microbiota upon colonization with bifidobacteria. Thus, we assessed if the presence of B. bifidum PRL2010, B. breve 12L, B. adolescentis 22L and B. longum subsp. infantis ATCC15697 on mono-, bi- or multi-association in the cecum of mice affects the overall composition of the microbiota of this environment.
Project description:We describe the molecular cross talk established under in vivo conditions between a set of human gut bifidobacterial commensals. Eleven groups of five conventional female 8-wk-old BALB/c mice taking a standard polysaccharide-rich Chow diet were administered a single daily dose of 109 CFU of either B. bifidum PRL2010, B. breve 12L , B. adolescentis 22L , B. longum subsp. infantis ATCC15697, or bifidobacterial couples, i.e., PRL2010-12L, PRL2010-22L, PRL2010-ATCC15696, 12L-22L, 12L-ATCC15697, 22L-ATCC15697, or a combination of all bifidobacterial strains. The transcriptome of bifidobacterial strains under in vivo conditions was analyzed. The transcripts expressed in B. bifidum PRL2010, B. breve 12L, B. adolescentis 22L and B. longum subsp. infantis ATCC15697 were profiled using a custom-made PRL2010-12L-22L-ATCC15697 (multibifido)-array representing 100%, 99%, 96%, 99% of the identified genes of these organisms, respectively.The observed functional changes in the trascriptomes of bifidobacteria might be caused by the possible shifts of the mice cecum microbiota upon colonization with bifidobacteria. Thus, we assessed if the presence of B. bifidum PRL2010, B. breve 12L, B. adolescentis 22L and B. longum subsp. infantis ATCC15697 on mono-, bi- or multi-association in the cecum of mice affects the overall composition of the microbiota of this environment.
Project description:We describe the molecular cross talk established under in vivo conditions between a set of human gut bifidobacterial commensals. Eleven groups of five conventional female 8-wk-old BALB/c mice taking a standard polysaccharide-rich Chow diet were administered a single daily dose of 109 CFU of either B. bifidum PRL2010, B. breve 12L , B. adolescentis 22L , B. longum subsp. infantis ATCC15697, or bifidobacterial couples, i.e., PRL2010-12L, PRL2010-22L, PRL2010-ATCC15696, 12L-22L, 12L-ATCC15697, 22L-ATCC15697, or a combination of all bifidobacterial strains. The transcriptome of bifidobacterial strains under in vivo conditions was analyzed. The transcripts expressed in B. bifidum PRL2010, B. breve 12L, B. adolescentis 22L and B. longum subsp. infantis ATCC15697 were profiled using a custom-made PRL2010-12L-22L-ATCC15697 (multibifido)-array representing 100%, 99%, 96%, 99% of the identified genes of these organisms, respectively.The observed functional changes in the trascriptomes of bifidobacteria might be caused by the possible shifts of the mice cecum microbiota upon colonization with bifidobacteria. Thus, we assessed if the presence of B. bifidum PRL2010, B. breve 12L, B. adolescentis 22L and B. longum subsp. infantis ATCC15697 on mono-, bi- or multi-association in the cecum of mice affects the overall composition of the microbiota of this environment.