Research activities are focused on a specific group of Gram-positive bacteria, generically referred to as "lactic acid bacteria" (LAB), which are of major industrial importance in food fermentation. Moreover, some LAB species are natural members of the intestinal microflora of mammals where they play a beneficial health role.
A multidisciplinary range of genomics/post-genomics, biochemical, and biophysical approaches are used to study the function of genes that are involved in:
- Carbon metabolism
- Cell wall biosynthesis
- Metabolic adaptation to environmental parameters
Metabolic engineering and heterologous expression technologies are also used to engineer LAB strains to serve as starters in dairy fermentation, or as host systems for the production and the delivery of specific compounds of food and pharmaceutical interest.
Carbon metabolism, genetic control and metabolic engineering.
Homofermentative LAB have a relatively simple metabolism completely focused on the rapid conversion of sugars to lactic acid.
Other products are also formed as by-products, such as acetic acid, acetaldehyde, ethanol, and diacetyl, all contributing to the specific flavour of fermented food products. There is almost no overlap between nitrogen and carbon metabolism due to a limited biosynthetic capacity and a limited effect of oxygen on central metabolism (no obvious respiration and Krebs cycle). For all these reasons, these microorganisms are considered as ideal targets of metabolic engineering.
The study of carbon metabolism in homofermentative LAB is mainly focused on pyruvate/glycolytic intermediates dissipating enzymes.
Fundamental studies are focused on the functional role of the following enzymes: lactate dehydrogenases, lactate racemase, lactate oxidases, pyruvate oxidases, NADH oxidases, mannitol dehydrogenases, sorbitol dehydrogenases.
- Gene cloning, inactivation, overexpression
- Transcriptional regulation by oxygen, carbon source, ...
- Physiological role of these enzymes: maintenance of the redoxbalance, maintenance of the proton gradient through ATP production and survival in stationary phase, interconnection between D-lactate production and cell wall biosynthesis
Concerning applications, we have demonstrated the potential of recombinant strains regarding to pyruvate/glycolytic intermediate rerouting for the production of :
- Lactic acid isomers
- Aroma compounds (acetate, acetaldehyde, diacetyl)
- Low calorie sugars/sweeteners (mannitol, sorbitol, alanine)
We have also assessed the potential of recombinant lactobacilli for the scavenging of intestinal ammonium in several hyperammoniemic mouse models of hepatic encephalopathy.
Biosynthesis of the cell wall, control of lysis and interactions with the host.
The cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria (including LAB) contains four components (peptidoglycan (PG), teichoic acids (TA), polysaccharides (PS), S-layer [optional] and cell wall associated proteins). The primary role of the cell wall is to resist to turgor pressures of the order of 20 atm in Gram-positive bacteria. A second major function of the cell wall is as an interface between the microorganism and its environment performing numerous interactions mediated by the general biophysical properties of the cell wall (e.g. hydrophobicity, charge) and/or specific cell wall compounds (e.g. PG fragments/TA and immunomodulation, surface proteins and adhesion to epithelial cells).
We have adopted a genetic approach to better understand the functional role of the different constituents of the cell wall in Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactococcus lactis by affecting their biosynthesis through targeted gene inactivation.
Our current researches in this area are:
- Modification in size and composition of peptidoglycan precursors: functional role of alanine racemase, glutamate racemase, lactate racemase, D-Ala-D-Ala dipeptidase, D-Ala-D-Ala[or D-Lac] ligase
- D-alanylation and glycosylation of teichoic acids regarding to the action of autolysins: functional role the dlt operon (D-alanylation) and tagE genes (glucosylation)
- Role of peptidoglycan hydrolases
- Role of post-modifications of peptidoglycan: O-acetylation, amidation
Various phenotypic traits of the resulting mutants are analysed: growth, autolysis, cell morphology, resistance/sensitivity to antibiotics, biophysical properties, chemical composition of cell wall compounds and their precursors, interactions with the host [e.g. adhesion to epithelial cells, in vivo persistence in the GI tract of animal models].
A number of collaborations with experts in the field were developed to set up some of these advanced analyses (Y. Dufrêne [UCLouvain/LIBST], M. Kleerebezem [Nl], M.-P. Chapot-Chartier [Fr], J Kok [Nl], J. Errington [UK]).
Concerning applications, some of the constructed mutants were shown to be more immunogenic when used as live delivery vehicles for oral immunisation. Mutants affected in D-alanylation of TA displayed interesting immunomodulatory properties, they are stimulating IL-10 production (anti-inflammatory cytokine) and have a preventive effect in a mice model of inflammatory bowel disease.
Metabolic adaptation to environmental parameters and gene regulation
We sequenced the first genome of Streptococcus thermophilus (strain LMG18311, 1.8 Mb, collaboration with Prof. A. Goffeau, Prof. M. Boutry [IS/UCLouvain] and Dr. S. D. Ehrlich [INRA, Fr]) in order to exploit post-genomics tools for the study of transcriptional regulatory networks dealing with the adaptive response to environmental parameters.
DNA microarrays are routinely used and the requested bioinformatics tools for data storage and analysis were implemented.
The genome sequence has revealed a strong adaptation of S. thermophilus to its ecological niche (milk) with a reduced capacity in sugar catabolism and an increased capacity in nitrogen assimilation. Furthermore, most of the genes involved in the pathogenicity of streptococci are absent or inactivated. Its innocuous nature, its exploitation in controlled fermentations and its adaptation to grow in milk suggest the development of a unique specificity in its response to environmental parameters.
Our current researches in this area are:
- Functional role of global regulation circuits: carbon metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, SOS response, ...
- Functional role of two-components regulatory systems and quorum-sensing: bacteriocin production, biofilm formation and competence
A comparative analysis of similar regulatory networks studied by global approaches in other Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, closely related LAB, and pathogenic streptococci) will allow to establish common regulatory pathways and to reveal key target genes in the adaptive response of S. thermophilus. The ultimate goal is to get a comprehensive view at the cell level of the most important parameters controlling metabolism adaptation in this microbe.
