Genetic analysis and morphological identification of pilus-like structures in members of the genus <it>Bifidobacterium</it>
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cell surface pili in Gram positive bacteria have been reported to orchestrate the colonization of host tissues, evasion of immunity and the development of biofilms. So far, little if any information is available on the presence of pi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2011-08-01
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| Series: | Microbial Cell Factories |
| _version_ | 1811318276111728640 |
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| author | Zhang Ziding Viappiani Alice O’Connell Motherway Mary Bottacini Francesca He Fei Turroni Francesca Amidani Davide Serafini Fausta Foroni Elena Rivetti Claudio van Sinderen Douwe Ventura Marco |
| author_facet | Zhang Ziding Viappiani Alice O’Connell Motherway Mary Bottacini Francesca He Fei Turroni Francesca Amidani Davide Serafini Fausta Foroni Elena Rivetti Claudio van Sinderen Douwe Ventura Marco |
| author_sort | Zhang Ziding |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cell surface pili in Gram positive bacteria have been reported to orchestrate the colonization of host tissues, evasion of immunity and the development of biofilms. So far, little if any information is available on the presence of pilus-like structures in human gut commensals like bifidobacteria.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>In this report, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) of various bifidobacterial strains belonging to <it>Bifidobacterium bifidum</it>, <it>Bifidobacterium longum</it> subsp. <it>longum</it>, <it>Bifidobacterium dentium</it>, <it>Bifidobacterium adolescentis</it> and <it>Bifidobacterium animalis</it> subsp. <it>lactis</it> revealed the existence of appendages resembling pilus-like structures. Interestingly, these microorganisms harbour two to six predicted pilus gene clusters in their genome, with each organized in an operon encompassing the major pilin subunit-encoding gene (designated <it>fim</it>A or <it>fim</it>P) together with one or two minor pilin subunit-encoding genes (designated as <it>fim</it>B and/or <it>fim</it>Q), and a gene encoding a sortase enzyme (<it>str</it>A). Quantitative Real Time (qRT)-PCR analysis and RT-PCR experiments revealed a polycistronic mRNA, encompassing the <it>fim</it>A/P and <it>fim</it>B/Q genes, which are differentially expressed upon cultivation of bifidobacteria on various glycans.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:23:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e9baa8fa9e254c19b4335c84bb486c01 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2859 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:23:49Z |
| publishDate | 2011-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbial Cell Factories |
| spelling | doaj.art-e9baa8fa9e254c19b4335c84bb486c012022-12-22T02:47:06ZengBMCMicrobial Cell Factories1475-28592011-08-0110Suppl 1S1610.1186/1475-2859-10-S1-S16Genetic analysis and morphological identification of pilus-like structures in members of the genus <it>Bifidobacterium</it>Zhang ZidingViappiani AliceO’Connell Motherway MaryBottacini FrancescaHe FeiTurroni FrancescaAmidani DavideSerafini FaustaForoni ElenaRivetti Claudiovan Sinderen DouweVentura Marco<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cell surface pili in Gram positive bacteria have been reported to orchestrate the colonization of host tissues, evasion of immunity and the development of biofilms. So far, little if any information is available on the presence of pilus-like structures in human gut commensals like bifidobacteria.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>In this report, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) of various bifidobacterial strains belonging to <it>Bifidobacterium bifidum</it>, <it>Bifidobacterium longum</it> subsp. <it>longum</it>, <it>Bifidobacterium dentium</it>, <it>Bifidobacterium adolescentis</it> and <it>Bifidobacterium animalis</it> subsp. <it>lactis</it> revealed the existence of appendages resembling pilus-like structures. Interestingly, these microorganisms harbour two to six predicted pilus gene clusters in their genome, with each organized in an operon encompassing the major pilin subunit-encoding gene (designated <it>fim</it>A or <it>fim</it>P) together with one or two minor pilin subunit-encoding genes (designated as <it>fim</it>B and/or <it>fim</it>Q), and a gene encoding a sortase enzyme (<it>str</it>A). Quantitative Real Time (qRT)-PCR analysis and RT-PCR experiments revealed a polycistronic mRNA, encompassing the <it>fim</it>A/P and <it>fim</it>B/Q genes, which are differentially expressed upon cultivation of bifidobacteria on various glycans.</p> |
| spellingShingle | Zhang Ziding Viappiani Alice O’Connell Motherway Mary Bottacini Francesca He Fei Turroni Francesca Amidani Davide Serafini Fausta Foroni Elena Rivetti Claudio van Sinderen Douwe Ventura Marco Genetic analysis and morphological identification of pilus-like structures in members of the genus <it>Bifidobacterium</it> Microbial Cell Factories |
| title | Genetic analysis and morphological identification of pilus-like structures in members of the genus <it>Bifidobacterium</it> |
| title_full | Genetic analysis and morphological identification of pilus-like structures in members of the genus <it>Bifidobacterium</it> |
| title_fullStr | Genetic analysis and morphological identification of pilus-like structures in members of the genus <it>Bifidobacterium</it> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic analysis and morphological identification of pilus-like structures in members of the genus <it>Bifidobacterium</it> |
| title_short | Genetic analysis and morphological identification of pilus-like structures in members of the genus <it>Bifidobacterium</it> |
| title_sort | genetic analysis and morphological identification of pilus like structures in members of the genus it bifidobacterium it |
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