Intracellular accumulation of trehalose protects Lactococcus lactis from freeze-drying damage and bile toxicity and increases gastric acid resistance.

ABSTRACT: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a promising candidate for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Intragastric administration of Lactococcus lactis genetically modified to secrete IL-10 in situ in the intestine was shown to be effective in healing and preventing chronic colitis in mice. However, its use in humans is hindered by the sensitivity of L. lactis to freeze-drying and its poor survival in the gastrointestinal tract. We expressed the trehalose synthesizing genes from Escherichia coli under control of the nisin-inducible promoter in L. lactis. Induced cells accumulated intracellular trehalose and retained nearly 100% viability after freeze-drying, together with a markedly prolonged shelf life. Remarkably, cells producing trehalose were resistant to bile, and their viability in human

SUBMITTER: Termont S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1694204 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature