Comparative Genomic and Functional Analysis of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Strains Marketed as Probiotics

Abstract

ABSTRACTFourLactobacillusstrains were isolated from marketed probiotic products, includingL. rhamnosusstrains from Vifit (Friesland Campina) and Idoform (Ferrosan) andL. caseistrains from Actimel (Danone) and Yakult (Yakult Honsa Co.). Their genomes and phenotypes were characterized and compared in detail withL. caseistrain BL23 andL. rhamnosusstrain GG. Phenotypic analysis of the new isolates indicated differences in carbohydrate utilization betweenL. caseiandL. rhamnosusstrains, which could be linked to their genotypes. The two isolatedL. rhamnosusstrains had genomes that were virtually identical to that ofL. rhamnosusGG, testifying to their genomic stability and integrity in food products. TheL. caseistrains showed much greater genomic heterogeneity. Remarkably, all strains contained an intactspaCBApilus gene cluster. However, only theL. rhamnosusstrains produced mucus-binding SpaCBA pili under the conditions tested. Transcription initiation mapping demonstrated that the insertion of aniso-IS30element upstream of the pilus gene cluster inL. rhamnosusstrains but absent inL. caseistrains had constituted a functional promoter driving pilus gene expression. AllL. rhamnosusstrains triggered an NF-κB response via Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in a reporter cell line, whereas theL. caseistrains did not or did so to a much lesser extent. This study demonstrates that the twoL. rhamnosusstrains isolated from probiotic products are virtually identical toL. rhamnosusGG and further highlights the differences between these andL. caseistrains widely marketed as probiotics, in terms of genome content, mucus-binding and metabolic capacities, and host signaling capabilities.