Dataset Information

Carbohydrate Syntrophy enhances the establishment of Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 in the neonatal gut

ABSTRACT: To extend our understanding of bifidobacterial mutualism and carbohydrate syntrophy in the gut we adopted advanced functional genomics to create single- and double-deletion isogenic strains of the NagA encoding genes of B. breve UCC2003. The resulting strains were examined, as compared to the parent strain, for their ability to metabolise particular host derived carbohydrates. In addition, the B. breve strains were examined for their crossfeeding capability and ability to establish, in the presence of B. bifidum ATCC29521, in the gut of dam fed neonatal mice. Overall design: DNA-microarrays containing oligonucleotide primers representing each of the 1864 annotated genes on the genome of B. breve UCC2003 were designed by and obtained from Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, Ca., USA). Methods for cell disruption, RNA isolation, RNA quality control, complementary DNA synthesis and labeling were performed as described previously (Pokusaeva et al., 2009). Labeled cDNA was hybridized using the Agilent Gene Expression hybridization kit (part number 5188-5242) as described in the Agilent Two-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis v4.0 manual (G4140-90050). Following hybridization, microarrays were washed in accordance with Agilent’s standard procedures and scanned using an Agilent DNA microarray scanner (model G2565A). Generated scans were converted to data files with Agilent's Feature Extraction software (Version 9.5). DNA-microarray data were processed as previously described (Garcia De La Nava et al., 2003). Differential expression tests were performed with the Cyber-T implementation of a variant of the t-test (Long et al., 2001). A gene was considered differentially expressed when p < 0.001 and an expression ratio of >3 or <0.33 relative to the control.

INSTRUMENT(S): Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 Agilent 2x11K format

ORGANISM(S): Bifidobacterium Breve Ucc2003

SUBMITTER: Mary O'Connell Motherway

PROVIDER: GSE110077 | GEO | 2018-07-19

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Carbohydrate Syntrophy enhances the establishment of Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 in the neonatal gut.

O'Connell Motherway Mary M O'Brien Frances F O'Driscoll Tara T Casey Patrick G PG Shanahan Fergus F van Sinderen Douwe D

Scientific reports 20180713 1

The non-digestible oligosaccharide fraction of maternal milk represents an important of carbohydrate and energy source for saccharolytic bifidobacteria in the gastrointestinal tract during early life. However, not all neonatal bifidobacteria isolates can directly metabolise the complex sialylated, fucosylated, sulphated and/or N-acetylglucosamine-containing oligosaccharide structures present in mothers milk. For some bifidobacterial strains, efficient carbohydrate syntrophy or crossfeeding is ke ...[more]

PMID: 30006512

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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. DNA-microarrays containing oligonucleotide primers representing each of the 1864 annotated genes on the genome of B. breve UCC2003 (O'Connell Motherway et al., 2011) were designed by and obtained from Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, Ca., USA). Methods for cell disruption, RNA isolation, RNA quality control, complementary DNA synthesis and labeling were performed as described previously (Pokusaeva et al., 2009). Labeled cDNA was hybridized using the Agilent Gene Expression hybridization kit (part number 5188-5242) as described in the Agilent Two-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis v4.0 manual (G4140-90050). Following hybridization, microarrays were washed in accordance with Agilent’s standard procedures and scanned using an Agilent DNA microarray scanner (model G2565A). Generated scans were converted to data files with Agilent's Feature Extraction software (Version 9.5). DNA-microarray data were processed as previously described (Garcia De La Nava et al., 2003). Differential expression tests were performed with the Cyber-T implementation of a variant of the t-test (Long et al., 2001). A gene was considered differentially expressed when p < 0.001 and an expression ratio of >3 or <0.33 relative to the control.

Project description:Members of the genus Bifidobacterium are typically found in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of humans and other mammals. Bifidobacterium breve strains are numerically prevalent among the gut microbiota of healthy, breast-fed infants. The metabolism of sialic acid, a ubiquitous monosaccharide in the infant and adult gut, by B. breve UCC2003 is dependent on a large gene cluster, designated the nan/nag cluster. This study describes the transcriptional regulation of the nan/nag cluster and thus sialic acid metabolism in B. breve UCC2003. Insertion mutagenesis and transcriptome analysis revealed that the nan/nag cluster is regulated by a GntR family transcriptional repressor, designated NanR. NanR was shown to bind to two promoter regions within this cluster, each of which containing an imperfect inverted repeat that is believed to act as the NanR operator sequence. Formation of the DNA-NanR complex is prevented in the presence of sialic acid, which we had previously shown to induce transcription of this gene cluster. NanR represents the first GntR-type transcriptional regulator to be characterised from bifidobacteria. DNA-microarrays containing oligonucleotide primers representing each of the 1864 annotated genes on the genome of B. breve UCC2003 (O'Connell Motherway et al., 2011) were designed by and obtained from Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, Ca., USA). Methods for cell disruption, RNA isolation, RNA quality control, complementary DNA synthesis and labeling were performed as described previously (Pokusaeva et al., 2009). Labeled cDNA was hybridized using the Agilent Gene Expression hybridization kit (part number 5188-5242) as described in the Agilent Two-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis v4.0 manual (G4140-90050). Following hybridization, microarrays were washed in accordance with Agilent’s standard procedures and scanned using an Agilent DNA microarray scanner (model G2565A). Generated scans were converted to data files with Agilent's Feature Extraction software (Version 9.5). DNA-microarray data were processed as previously described (Garcia De La Nava et al., 2003). Differential expression tests were performed with the Cyber-T implementation of a variant of the t-test (Long et al., 2001). A gene was considered differentially expressed when p < 0.001 and an expression ratio of >3 or <0.33 relative to the control.

Project description:This work reports on the identification and molecular characterization of a two-component regulatory system (2CRS), encoded by serRK, which is believed to control the expression of the ser2003 locus in Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003. The ser2003 locus consists of two genes, Bbr_1319 (sagA) and Bbr_1320 (serU), which are predicted to encode a hypothetical membrane-associated protein and a serpin-like protein, respectively. The response regulator SerR was shown to bind to the promoter region of ser2003 and the probable recognition sequence of SerR was determined by a combinatorial approach of in vitro site-directed mutagenesis, coupled to transcriptional fusion and EMSA assays. The importance of the serRK 2CRS in the response of B. breve to protease-mediated induction was confirmed by generating B. breve-s-serR and B. breve-::serU insertion mutants, which exhibited altered ser2003 transcriptional induction patterns as compared to their parent strain UCC2003. DNA-microarrays containing oligonucleotide primers representing each of the 1864 annotated genes on the genome of B. breve UCC2003 (O'Connell Motherway et al., 2011) were designed by and obtained from Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, Ca., USA). Methods for cell disruption, RNA isolation, RNA quality control, complementary DNA synthesis and labeling were performed as described previously (Pokusaeva et al., 2009). Labeled cDNA was hybridized using the Agilent Gene Expression hybridization kit (part number 5188-5242) as described in the Agilent Two-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis v4.0 manual (G4140-90050). Following hybridization, microarrays were washed in accordance with Agilent’s standard procedures and scanned using an Agilent DNA microarray scanner (model G2565A). Generated scans were converted to data files with Agilent's Feature Extraction software (Version 9.5). DNA-microarray data were processed as previously described (Garcia De La Nava et al., 2003). Differential expression tests were performed with the Cyber-T implementation of a variant of the t-test (Long et al., 2001). A gene was considered differentially expressed when p < 0.001 and an expression ratio of >3 or <0.33 relative to the control.

Project description:Bifidobacteria constitute a specific group of commensal bacteria which inhabit the gastrointestinal tract of humans and other mammals. Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 has previously been shown to utilise several plant-derived carbohydrates that include cellodextrins, starch and galactan. In the current study, we investigate the ability of this strain to utilise the mucin- and human milk oligosaccharide (HMO)-derived carbohydrate, sialic acid. Using a combination of transcriptomic and functional genomic approaches, we identified a gene cluster dedicated to the uptake and metabolism of sialic acid. Furthermore, we demonstrate that B. breve UCC2003 can cross feed on sialic acid derived from the metabolism of 3’ sialyllactose, a HMO, by Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010. DNA-microarrays containing oligonucleotide primers representing each of the 1864 annotated genes on the genome of B. breve UCC2003 (O'Connell Motherway et al., 2011) were designed by and obtained from Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, Ca., USA). Methods for cell disruption, RNA isolation, RNA quality control, complementary DNA synthesis and labeling were performed as described previously (Pokusaeva et al., 2009). Labeled cDNA was hybridized using the Agilent Gene Expression hybridization kit (part number 5188-5242) as described in the Agilent Two-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis v4.0 manual (G4140-90050). Following hybridization, microarrays were washed in accordance with Agilent’s standard procedures and scanned using an Agilent DNA microarray scanner (model G2565A). Generated scans were converted to data files with Agilent's Feature Extraction software (Version 9.5). DNA-microarray data were processed as previously described (Garcia De La Nava et al., 2003). Differential expression tests were performed with the Cyber-T implementation of a variant of the t-test (Long et al., 2001). A gene was considered differentially expressed when p < 0.001 and an expression ratio of >3 or <0.33 relative to the control.

Project description:In this study, we describe the functional characterisation of the B. breve UCC2003 gal locus, which is dedicated to the utilisation of galactan, a plant-derived polysaccharide. Using a combination of molecular approaches we conclude that the galA gene of B. breve UCC2003 encodes a beta-1,4-endogalactanase producing galacto-oligosaccharides, which are specifically internalised by an ABC transport system, encoded by galBCDE, and which are then hydrolysed to galactose moieties by a dedicated intracellular beta-galactosidase, specified by galG. The generated galactose molecules are presumed to be fed into the fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase pathway via the Leloir pathway, thereby allowing B. breve UCC2003 to use galactan as its sole carbon and energy source. In addition to these findings we demonstrate that GalR is a LacI-type DNA-binding protein, which not only appears to control transcription of the galCDEGR operon, but also that of the galA gene. DNA-microarrays containing oligonucleotide primers representing each of the 1864 annotated genes on the genome of B. breve UCC2003 were designed by and obtained from Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, Ca., USA). Methods for cell disruption, RNA isolation, RNA quality control, complementary DNA synthesis and labeling were performed as described previously (Pokusaeva et al., 2009). Labeled cDNA was hybridized using the Agilent Gene Expression hybridization kit (part number 5188-5242) as described in the Agilent Two-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis v4.0 manual (G4140-90050). Following hybridization, microarrays were washed in accordance with Agilent’s standard procedures and scanned using an Agilent DNA microarray scanner (model G2565A). Generated scans were converted to data files with Agilent's Feature Extraction software (Version 9.5). DNA-microarray data were processed as previously described (Garcia De La Nava et al., 2003). Differential expression tests were performed with the Cyber-T implementation of a variant of the t-test (Long et al., 2001). A gene was considered differentially expressed when p < 0.001 and an expression ratio of >3 or <0.33 relative to the control.

Project description:Members of the genus Bifidobacterium are common inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of humans and other mammals, where they ferment many diet-derived carbohydrates that cannot be digested by their host. To extend our understanding of bifidobacterial carbohydrate utilisation, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which various strains of Bifidobacterium breve metabolize four distinct α-glucose and/or α-galactose-containing oligosaccharides, namely raffinose, stachyose, melibiose and melezitose. Here we demonstrate that all B. breve strains examined possess the ability to utilise raffinose, stachyose and melibiose. However, the ability to metabolize melezitose was not ubiquitous for all tested B. breve strains. Transcriptomic and functional genomic approaches identified a gene cluster dedicated to the metabolism of α-galactose-containing carbohydrates, while an adjacent gene cluster, dedicated to the metabolism of α-glucose-containing melezitose, was identified, yet being present only in those B. breve strains that were able to support growth on this carbohydrate. DNA-microarrays containing oligonucleotide primers representing each of the 1864 annotated genes on the genome of B. breve UCC2003 (O'Connell Motherway et al., 2011) were designed by and obtained from Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, Ca., USA). Methods for cell disruption, RNA isolation, RNA quality control, complementary DNA synthesis and labeling were performed as described previously (Pokusaeva et al., 2009). Labeled cDNA was hybridized using the Agilent Gene Expression hybridization kit (part number 5188-5242) as described in the Agilent Two-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis v4.0 manual (G4140-90050). Following hybridization, microarrays were washed in accordance with Agilent’s standard procedures and scanned using an Agilent DNA microarray scanner (model G2565A). Generated scans were converted to data files with Agilent's Feature Extraction software (Version 9.5). DNA-microarray data were processed as previously described (Garcia De La Nava et al., 2003). Differential expression tests were performed with the Cyber-T implementation of a variant of the t-test (Long et al., 2001). A gene was considered differentially expressed when p < 0.001 and an expression ratio of >3 or <0.33 relative to the control.

Project description:In the present study we show that a functional luxS gene is present in all members of the genus Bifidobacterium and that AI-2 production by Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 is necessary to confer protection against Salmonella infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mutants carrying a disrupted luxS gene conferred less protection than the WT, whereas administration of a complemented strain, a LuxS-overexpression strain and the WT resulted in similar survival. Transcriptome data obtained for both the WT and the luxS-insertion mutant grown in vitro suggest that LuxS has a metabolic role that impacts on iron metabolism. In line with this, we demonstrated that the luxS mutant is significantly more susceptible to the ferrous ion chelator 2,2-dipyridyl than the WT strain. Furthermore, qRT-PCR shows that the iron regulated genes are upregulated under in vivo conditions, while we also show that LuxS is required for colonization of BALB/c mice. Altogether, our findings provide detailed insights into the molecular mechanism underlying gut pathogen protection conferred by bifidobacteria. DNA-microarrays containing oligonucleotide primers representing each of the 1864 annotated genes on the genome of B. breve UCC2003 (O'Connell Motherway et al., 2011) were designed by and obtained from Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, Ca., USA). Methods for cell disruption, RNA isolation, RNA quality control, complementary DNA synthesis and labeling were performed as described previously (Pokusaeva et al., 2009). Labeled cDNA was hybridized using the Agilent Gene Expression hybridization kit (part number 5188-5242) as described in the Agilent Two-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis v4.0 manual (G4140-90050). Following hybridization, microarrays were washed in accordance with Agilentâs standard procedures and scanned using an Agilent DNA microarray scanner (model G2565A). Generated scans were converted to data files with Agilent's Feature Extraction software (Version 9.5). DNA-microarray data were processed as previously described (Garcia De La Nava et al., 2003). Differential expression tests were performed with the Cyber-T implementation of a variant of the t-test (Long et al., 2001). A gene was considered differentially expressed when p < 0.001 and an expression ratio of >3 or <0.33 relative to the control.

Project description:Development of the human gut microbiota commences at birth with bifidobacteria being among the first colonizers of the sterile newborn gastrointestinal tract. To date the genetic basis of bifidobacterial colonization and persistence remains poorly understood. Transcriptomic analysis of the 2,422,684 bp genome of Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003, a strain isolated from a nursling stool, during colonization of a mouse model revealed the differential expression of a type IVb or so-called Tad pilus-encoding cluster. Mutational analysis coupled with colonization experiments demonstrated that the UCC2003 tad gene cluster is essential for colonization. Immunogold transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of the Tad pili at the cell poles of B. breve UCC2003. Conservation of the Tad pilus-encoding locus among sequenced bifidobacterial genomes supports the notion of a ubiquitous and novel host colonization and persistence mechanism for bifidobacteria. Colonisation of BalbC mice: Seven-week-old male, BalbC mice were housed in individually vented cages (Animal care systems, Colorado) under a strict 12 h light cycle. Mice (n = 5 per group) were fed a standard polysaccharide-rich mouse chow diet and water ad libidum. Mice were inoculated by oral gavage (109 cfu of B. breve UCC2003 pPKCM7 or B. breve UCC 2003-tadA pPKCM7 in 100 ul of PBS). Fecal pellets were collected at intervals over 25 days to enumerate bacteria. Twenty five days after inoculation, mice were sacrificed and their intestinal tracts quickly dissected. Aliquots of small intestine, caecum and large intestine were harvested for determination of colony forming units (cfu) (serial dilution plating on RCA agar plates with appropriate antibiotics). Caeca were placed in RNA later for immediate RNA isolation (see below). Microarray procedures: DNA microarrays containing oligonucleotide primers representing each of the 1926 annotated genes of B. breve UCC2003 were obtained from Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, CA). An overnight culture of B. breve was used to inoculate (1 % inoculum) 50 ml of MRS broth. Cells were incubated at 37°C until an optical density at 600 nm (OD600) of 0.5 was reached. Cells were then harvested by centrifugation at 8,000 x g for 1 min at room temperature and immediately frozen at -80oC. Methods for cell disruption, RNA isolation, RNA quality control were performed as described previously (van Hijum et al., 2005). Caeca, isolated from mice, were placed in RNAlater (Ambion) and immediately processed. Bacterial mRNA was extracted from caecal RNA preparations using the MicrobEnrich and MicrobExpress kits (Ambion) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. cDNA from bacterial mRNA was synthesized using the cDNA synthesis and labelling kit DSK-001 (Kreatech) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 1 μl of each cDNA solution (10 ng) was amplified in triplicate using the GenomiPhi™ V2 DNA Amplification Kit (Amersham Biosciences) according to the manufacturer's protocol and labelled with Cy3 or Cy5 using Cy3-ULS and Cy5-ULS from the cDNA synthesis and labelling kit DSK-001 (Kreatech). Labelled and amplified cDNA was hybridized using the Agilent Gene Expression hybridization kit (part number 5188-5242) as described in the Agilent Two-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis (v4.0) manual (publication number G4140-90050). Following hybridization, microarrays were washed as described in the manuals and scanned using Agilent's DNA microarray scanner G2565A. The scanning results were converted to data files with Agilent's Feature Extraction software (version 9.5). DNA microarray data was processed as previously described (Zomer et al. 2009). Differential expression tests were performed using a t test. A gene was considered differentially expressed between a test strain and control when an expression ratio of >5 or <0.2 relative to the result for the control was obtained with a corresponding P value that was <0.0001. DNA microarrays containing oligonucleotide primers representing each of the 1926 annotated genes of B. breve UCC2003 were obtained from Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, CA). An overnight culture of B. breve was used to inoculate (1 % inoculum) 50 ml of MRS broth. Cells were incubated at 37°C until an optical density at 600 nm (OD600) of 0.5 was reached. Cells were then harvested by centrifugation at 8,000 x g for 1 min at room temperature and immediately frozen at -80oC. Methods for cell disruption, DNA isolation were performed as described previously (O'Riordan et al. 1998). Genomic DNA (gDNA) labeling for comparative genome hybridizations (CGH) was undertaken according to the BµG@S standard protocols (Hinds et al. 2002). In brief 5 µg of bifidobacterial genomic DNA was labeled with dCTP Cy3 (UCC2003) or dCTP Cy5 (test strain) using random primers (Promega) and a DNA polymerase I large Klenow fragment (Invitrogen). Labelled gDNA was hybridized using the Agilent CGH kit (part number 5188-5220) as described in the Agilent Oligonucleotide Array-Based CGH for Genomic DNA Analysis (v6.0) manual (publication number G4410-90010). Validation of the CGH was performed by comparing the hybridization efficiency of DNA of the B. breve type strain DSM 20213 to sequence identity of this strain with the probes on the microarray. A clear correlation was observed between sequence identity and hybridization efficiency, suggesting that an ln 2 fold change in signal intensity between target and control is sufficient to determine whether a gene is present or absent on a given genome. Therefore, a gene was considered absent when the ratio between a test strain and UCC2003 was < ln 2 with a corresponding P value that was <0.0001.

Project description:Members of the genus Bifidobacterium are Gram-positive bacteria which are commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of mammals, including humans. Growth of bifidobacteria has been shown to be selectively stimulated by various carbohydrates found in the human diet. To extend our understanding of the regulation of bifidobacterial carbohydrate utilization systems, we investigated the regulation of two carbohydrate utilisation clusters dedicated to the metabolism of raffinose type sugars and melezitose. Transcriptomic and functional genomic approaches clearly identified that the raffinose utilisation system is positively regulated by the activator RafR, while the melezitose utilisation system is negatively regulated by lacI type transcriptional regulators. A B. breve UCC2003-rafR insertion mutant was incapable of utilising raffinose containing sugars or melibiose as a sole carbohydrate source, while the UCC2003-lacI1 and UCC2003-lacI2 insertion mutants retained their ability to utilise melezitose as a sole carbohydrate source. In silico analysis and DNA/protein interaction studies revealed a novel conserved 22 bp palindromic sequence as the RafR binding operator sequence in the rafB promoter region. Within the melezitose utilisation cluster a 20bp palindromic sequence for the melA promoter region and a 24bp palindromic sequence for the Bbr_1863 promoter region DNA-microarrays containing oligonucleotide primers representing each of the 1864 annotated genes on the genome of B. breve UCC2003 (O'Connell Motherway et al., 2011) were designed by and obtained from Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, Ca., USA). Methods for cell disruption, RNA isolation, RNA quality control, complementary DNA synthesis and labeling were performed as described previously (Pokusaeva et al., 2009). Labeled cDNA was hybridized using the Agilent Gene Expression hybridization kit (part number 5188-5242) as described in the Agilent Two-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis v4.0 manual (G4140-90050). Following hybridization, microarrays were washed in accordance with Agilent’s standard procedures and scanned using an Agilent DNA microarray scanner (model G2565A). Generated scans were converted to data files with Agilent's Feature Extraction software (Version 9.5). DNA-microarray data were processed as previously described (Garcia De La Nava et al., 2003). Differential expression tests were performed with the Cyber-T implementation of a variant of the t-test (Long et al., 2001). A gene was considered differentially expressed when p < 0.001 and an expression ratio of >3 or <0.33 relative to the control.

Project description:Phenotypic screening of a random mutant library combined with microarray analysis of the transcriptional response of B. breve UCC2003 to iron limitation, allowed the identification of a number of genes implicated in the survival of Bifidbacterium breve UCC2003 under iron-limiting conditions. Of the identified genes, two putative iron-uptake systems, were further characterised: (i) a presumed ferrous iron uptake system, designated here as bfeUO, and (ii) a predicted ferric iron/siderophore uptake system, designated sifABCDE. In silico analysis also illustrated that these two clusters are highly conserved across members of the genus Bifidobacterium and are invariably co-located. Murine colonization studies demonstrated that B. breve UCC2003-bfeU and B. breve UCC2003-sifA insertion mutants are able to colonize a healthy murine gut as efficiently as the wild type B. breve strain, indicating that these genes are not crucial for gut survival or colonization in a healthy host. Overall design: DNA-microarrays containing oligonucleotide primers representing each of the 1864 annotated genes on the genome of B. breve UCC2003 (O'Connell Motherway et al., 2011) were designed by and obtained from Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, Ca., USA). Methods for cell disruption, RNA isolation, RNA quality control, complementary DNA synthesis and labeling were performed as described previously (Pokusaeva et al., 2009). Labeled cDNA was hybridized using the Agilent Gene Expression hybridization kit (part number 5188-5242) as described in the Agilent Two-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis v4.0 manual (G4140-90050). Following hybridization, microarrays were washed in accordance with Agilent’s standard procedures and scanned using an Agilent DNA microarray scanner (model G2565A). Generated scans were converted to data files with Agilent's Feature Extraction software (Version 9.5). DNA-microarray data were processed as previously described (Garcia De La Nava et al., 2003). Differential expression tests were performed with the Cyber-T implementation of a variant of the t-test (Long et al., 2001). A gene was considered differentially expressed when p < 0.001 and an expression ratio of >3 or <0.33 relative to the control.