Insights into teichoic acid biosynthesis by Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010

• Published in: FEMS microbiology letters Vol. 362; no. 17; p. fnv141
• Main Authors: Colagiorgi, Angelo, Turroni, Francesca, Mancabelli, Leonardo, Serafini, Fausta, Secchi, Andrea, van Sinderen, Douwe, Ventura, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Acids; Animals; Bifidobacterium - enzymology; Bifidobacterium - genetics; Bifidobacterium bifidum; Biosynthesis; Biosynthetic Pathways - genetics; Chromosomes; Computer Simulation; Digestive system; Environmental conditions; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - physiology; Gastrointestinal tract; Gastrointestinal Tract - chemistry; Gastrointestinal Tract - physiology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Genome, Bacterial; Humans; Infant; Intestinal microflora; Intestine; Lipopolysaccharides - genetics; Lipopolysaccharides - isolation & purification; Mice; Microbiology; Microbiota; Organic chemistry; Probiotics; Teichoic acids; Teichoic Acids - biosynthesis; Teichoic Acids - chemistry; Teichoic Acids - genetics; Teichoic Acids - isolation & purification; Transcription; microbiota; genomics; bifidobacteria; functional genomics; host–microbe interactions
• ISSN: 1574-6968; 0378-1097; 1574-6968
• DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnv141

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. Description of the teichoic acid of bifidobacteria.