Insights into teichoic acid biosynthesis by Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2015 Sep;362(17):fnv141. doi: 10.1093/femsle/fnv141. Epub 2015 Aug 21.

Abstract

Bifidobacteria are colonizers of the human gut, where they are interacting with their host as well as with other members of the intestinal microbiota. Teichoic acids (TAs) have previously been shown to play an important role in modulating microbe-host interactions in the human gut. However, so far, there is a paucity of information regarding the presence of TAs in the cell envelope of bifidobacteria. In silico analyses targeting the chromosomes of all 48 (sub)species that currently represent the genus Bifidobacterium revealed the presence of genes responsible for TA biosynthesis, suggesting that bifidobacteria contain both wall TAs and lipoteichoic acids. Transcriptome analyses of the infant gut commensal Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010 highlighted that the transcription of the presumptive TA biosynthetic loci is modulated in response to environmental conditions reflecting those of the human gut. Furthermore, chemical characterization of TAs produced by PRL2010 indicates the presence of lipoteichoic acids.

Keywords: bifidobacteria; functional genomics; genomics; host–microbe interactions; microbiota.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bifidobacterium / enzymology*
  • Bifidobacterium / genetics*
  • Biosynthetic Pathways / genetics*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / physiology
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / chemistry
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / physiology
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genome, Bacterial*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lipopolysaccharides / genetics
  • Lipopolysaccharides / isolation & purification
  • Mice
  • Probiotics
  • Teichoic Acids / biosynthesis*
  • Teichoic Acids / chemistry
  • Teichoic Acids / genetics
  • Teichoic Acids / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Teichoic Acids
  • lipoteichoic acid