Project description:The contribution of small RNAs to the regulation of cell wall defense mechanisms, which play a central role in protecting bacteria from environmental insults, remains poorly understood in Lactococcus cremoris, a paradigmatic organism for studying lactic acid bacteria. Analysis of the profiles of 193 putative sRNAs, including 131 newly identified in this study, revealed altered expression of 20 and 25 sRNAs following treatment with major cell wall-targeting antimicrobials lysozyme and penicillin G, respectively. Further analysis and genome-wide functional screening identified four sRNAs that modulate the lysozyme response in opposite directions, with sLLM1042+, sLLM2-, and sLLM1993+ conferring increased, and sLLM461+ decreased, resistance. Moreover, elevated expression of sLLM2- or sLLM1042+ promoted the sensitivity of cells to penicillin G and certain abiotic stresses, and had pleiotropic effects on gene regulation at both RNA and protein levels, positioning them as key elements in regulatory networks. Notably, the sLLM2- mediated decrease in four putative tellurium resistance proteins resulted in L. cremoris sensitivity to tellurite stress. As sLLM2- mutations, altering lysozyme and penicillin responses, reduce the expression of alanine racemase Alr, we suggest that its upregulation possibly modulates D-alanine levels, thereby affecting lipoteichoic acid modification or peptidoglycan synthesis. Our findings underscored the broad roles of sRNAs in defensive responses to cell wall-targeting antimicrobials in lactic acid bacteria.
Project description:The contribution of small RNAs to the regulation of cell wall defense mechanisms, which play a central role in protecting bacteria from environmental insults, remains poorly understood in Lactococcus cremoris, a paradigmatic organism for studying lactic acid bacteria. Analysis of the profiles of 193 putative sRNAs, including 131 newly identified in this study, revealed altered expression of 20 and 25 sRNAs following treatment with major cell wall-targeting antimicrobials lysozyme and penicillin G, respectively. Further analysis and genome-wide functional screening identified four sRNAs that modulate the lysozyme response in opposite directions, with sLLM1042+, sLLM2-, and sLLM1993+ conferring increased, and sLLM461+ decreased, resistance. Moreover, elevated expression of sLLM2- or sLLM1042+ promoted the sensitivity of cells to penicillin G and certain abiotic stresses, and had pleiotropic effects on gene regulation at both RNA and protein levels, positioning them as key elements in regulatory networks. Notably, the sLLM2- mediated decrease in four putative tellurium resistance proteins resulted in L. cremoris sensitivity to tellurite stress. As sLLM2- mutations, altering lysozyme and penicillin responses, reduce the expression of alanine racemase Alr, we suggest that its upregulation possibly modulates D-alanine levels, thereby affecting lipoteichoic acid modification or peptidoglycan synthesis. Our findings underscored the broad roles of sRNAs in defensive responses to cell wall-targeting antimicrobials in lactic acid bacteria.
Project description:Lactococcus garvieae junior synonym Enterococcus seriolicida) is an emerging zoonotic agent isolated from economically important fish (rainbow trout and yellowtail), from cattle, and from humans. Clindamycin susceptibility is the only phenotypic test which can differentiate L. garvieae from Lactococcus lactis, another emerging agent in humans. A PCR assay for the identification of L. garvieae was developed and resulted in an amplified fragment of 1,100 bp in size. The PCR assay was shown to be specific to L. garvieae. The PCR assay was positive for all the L. garvieae strains tested, which originated from three different continents (Asia, Australia, and Europe). The PCR assay was negative for the phenotypically similar L. lactis and for all the other fish pathogens tested, including Streptococcus iniae and Aeromonas salmonicida. The PCR assay was applied to plasma obtained from diseased animals and was found sensitive enough to detect bacteria from 1 microl of plasma. The PCR assay that was developed is the only practical test besides the clindamycin test which can specifically identify the zoonotic agent L. garvieae and which can differentiate it from L. lactis.
Project description:This report describes the morphological characterization and genome analysis of an induced prophage (PLg-TB25) from a dairy strain of Lactococcus garvieae. The phage belongs to the Siphoviridae family and its morphology is typical of other lactococcal phages. A general analysis of its genome did not reveal similarities with other lactococcal phage genomes, confirming its novelty. However, similarities were found between genes of its morphogenesis cluster and genes of Gram-positive bacteria, suggesting that this phage genome resulted from recombination events that took place in a heterogeneous microbial environment. An in silico search for other prophages in 16 L. garvieae genomes available in public databases, uncovered eight seemingly complete prophages in strains isolated from dairy and fish niches. Genome analyses of these prophages revealed three novel L. garvieae phages. The remaining prophages had homology to phages of Lactococcus lactis (P335 group) suggesting a close relationship between these lactococcal species. The similarity in GC content of L. garvieae prophages to the genomes of L. lactis phages further supports the hypothesis that these phages likely originated from the same ancestor.
Project description:Lactococcus garvieae is a fish pathogen and an emerging zoonotic opportunistic pathogen as well as a component of natural microbiota in dairy products. Here, we present the first report of a genome sequence of L. garvieae TB25, isolated from a dairy source, and that of L. garvieae LG9, isolated from rainbow trout.