AnaerobePub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-02-26DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102945
A. Neubeck , N. Callac , S. Isaksson , A. Schnürer
{"title":"Growth of hydrogenotrophic methanogen Methanoculleus bourgensis MAB1 in the presence of dunite","authors":"A. Neubeck , N. Callac , S. Isaksson , A. Schnürer","doi":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102945","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102945","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the long-term potential of low-temperature serpentinization of dunite to support the growth of the hydrogenotrophic methanogen <em>Methanoculleus bourgensis</em> strain MAB1. Incubation experiments were conducted for over 800 days, using dunite powder as the sole energy source, with and without the addition of nickel, an essential cofactor for methanogenesis. The results indicated that hydrogen released from dunite was sufficient to sustain methanogen growth, but the process was slow, with methane production beginning only after approximately 300 days. The release of toxic metals from dunite, particularly zinc, appeared to inhibit methanogen growth over time, leading to the cessation of methane production after 528 days and likely the lysing of the methanogenic cells. The study suggests that hydrogen availability, rather than nickel, is the limiting factor for methanogen growth in these conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8050,"journal":{"name":"Anaerobe","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102945"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143531190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A retrospective study comparing the effectiveness of carbapenems and tazobactam/piperacillin as an empirical treatment for patients infected with Bacteroides fragilis","authors":"Hideo Kato , Mao Hagihara , Nobuhiro Asai , Hiroshige Mikamo , Takuya Iwamoto","doi":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102950","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102950","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Bacteroides fragilis</em> is one of the most frequently isolated pathogenic anaerobic bacteria. Infections caused by <em>B. fragilis</em> are commonly treated with carbapenems or tazobactam/piperacillin. However, there is no evidence for the optimal antibiotic choice against infections caused by <em>B. fragilis</em> as an empirical therapy owing to its varied antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Hence, we compared the effectiveness of carbapenems and tazobactam/piperacillin as an antibiotic therapy in patients infected with <em>B. fragilis</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We investigated mortality, clinical and antimicrobial efficacy, and the percentage of patients who switched to broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as carbapenems or tazobactam/piperacillin, due to the aggravated symptoms of infection in patients receiving carbapenems or tazobactam/piperacillin from 2019 to 2024.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 60 patients were included in the study; 24 patients received carbapenems and 36 received tazobactam-piperacillin as an empirical treatment against <em>B. fragilis</em> infections. None of the patients in either group died. Compared to carbapenem treatment, tazobactam/piperacillin treatment significantly improved inflammatory markers, including body temperature and C-reactive protein (45.8 % vs. 72.2 %, <em>p</em> = 0.039 and 37.5 % vs. 63.4 %, <em>p</em> = 0.045, respectively; carbapenem vs. tazobactam/piperacillin). The percentage of patients switching from carbapenems to tazobactam/piperacillin or vice versa was significantly lower in the tazobactam/piperacillin group than in the carbapenem group (41.7 % vs. 11.1 %, <em>p</em> < 0.001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings suggest that tazobactam/piperacillin can be used as the first-line empirical treatment for patients infected with <em>B. fragilis</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8050,"journal":{"name":"Anaerobe","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102950"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AnaerobePub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-02-25DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102948
Xia Wang , Shi-Yan Jiao , Jie Wang, Ran-Ran Wu, Tong-Tong Zhang, Chun-Miao Wang, Xiao-Jun Li
{"title":"Description of three new Leptotrichia species isolated from dental biofilm: Leptotrichia rugosa sp. nov., Leptotrichia mesophila sp. nov. and Leptotrichia alba sp. nov.","authors":"Xia Wang , Shi-Yan Jiao , Jie Wang, Ran-Ran Wu, Tong-Tong Zhang, Chun-Miao Wang, Xiao-Jun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102948","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102948","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Three bacterial strains, namely HSP-334<sup>T</sup>, HSP-342<sup>T</sup> and HSP-536<sup>T</sup>, were isolated from human oral dental biofilm. These strains were identified as Gram stain-negative, straight or slightly curved anaerobes. Based on 16S rRNA genes analysis, strain HSP-334<sup>T</sup> exhibited the closest identity to <em>Leptotrichia shahii</em> LB37<sup>T</sup> (92.25 %). Strain HSP-342<sup>T</sup> demonstrated the highest similarity to <em>Leptotrichia hongkongensis</em> HKU24<sup>T</sup> (98.03 %), while strain HSP-536<sup>T</sup> displayed the greatest resemblance to <em>Leptotrichia buccalis</em> DSM 1135<sup>T</sup> (97.77 %). Notably, the maximum sequence similarity among the three isolates ranged from 91.56 % to 94.12 %. All the phylogenies showed that strains HSP-334<sup>T</sup>, HSP-342<sup>T</sup>, HSP-536<sup>T</sup>, all members of genus <em>Leptotrichia</em> and <em>Pseudoleptotrichia goodfellowii</em> JCM 16774<sup>T</sup> were clustered in one subclade within the family <em>Leptotrichiaceae</em>. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values calculated between these three strains and their phylogenetically related species were determined to be lower than the established species delineation threshold values. The major cellular fatty acids detected in these novel strains were C<sub>16:0</sub> and C<sub>18:1</sub> <em>ω</em>7<em>c</em>. Strains HSP-334<sup>T</sup>, HSP-342<sup>T</sup> and HSP-536<sup>T</sup> could be distinguished from each other by several phenotypic characteristics. Based on the comprehensive polyphasic taxonomic characterizations conducted, strains HSP-334<sup>T</sup>, HSP-342<sup>T</sup> and HSP-536<sup>T</sup> represent three novel species of the genus <em>Leptotrichia</em>, for which the name <em>Leptotrichia rugosa</em> sp. nov. (type strain HSP-334<sup>T</sup> = JCM 36566<sup>T</sup> = CGMCC 1.18095<sup>T</sup> = MCCC 1K09354<sup>T</sup>), <em>Leptotrichia mesophila</em> sp. nov. (type strain HSP-342<sup>T</sup> = JCM 36567<sup>T</sup> = CGMCC 1.18052<sup>T</sup> = MCCC 1K09338<sup>T</sup>) and <em>Leptotrichia alba</em> sp. nov. (type strain HSP-536<sup>T</sup> = JCM 36662<sup>T</sup> = CGMCC 1.18096<sup>T</sup> = MCCC 1K09339<sup>T</sup>) are proposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8050,"journal":{"name":"Anaerobe","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102948"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143522351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AnaerobePub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102942
Christiane Gruetzmacher , Marilena Nakaguma , Raquel Soares Jallad , Flora Ladeira Craveiro , Ana Paula da Silva Tenorio , Mario Padula , Rafael Loch Batista
{"title":"Hypopituitarism secondary to internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm following Lemierre's syndrome caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum","authors":"Christiane Gruetzmacher , Marilena Nakaguma , Raquel Soares Jallad , Flora Ladeira Craveiro , Ana Paula da Silva Tenorio , Mario Padula , Rafael Loch Batista","doi":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102942","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102942","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lemierre's syndrome (LS) is a rare complication of oropharyngeal infections, often causing sepsis, internal jugular vein thrombosis, and metastatic infections. We present a unique case of a 48-year-old male with LS complicated by an internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm compressing the pituitary gland, resulting in panhypopituitarism. Diagnosis was confirmed via imaging and detection of <em>Fusobacterium nucleatum</em>. Treatment included antibiotics, anticoagulation, and hormone replacement. Although the patient recovered from pituitary deficiencies, growth hormone deficiency persisted. This case emphasizes the importance of recognizing endocrine dysfunctions in LS and highlights the need for multidisciplinary management to address vascular and neuroendocrine complications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8050,"journal":{"name":"Anaerobe","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102942"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143122029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Polymorphonuclear neutrophil depletion in ileal tissues reduces the immunopathology induced by Clostridioides difficile toxins","authors":"Montoya-Torres Brayan , Alfaro-Alarcón Alejandro , Quesada-Gómez Carlos , Chaves-Olarte Esteban , Barquero-Calvo Elías","doi":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102947","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102947","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div><em>Clostridioides difficile</em>, a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections, causes significant morbidity and mortality. Its pathogenesis centers on TcdA and TcdB toxins, which disrupt intestinal integrity, trigger inflammation, and promote extensive neutrophil infiltration.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The main objective of this study was to evaluate the role of PMNs in CDI using neutrophil depletion in a murine-ileal-ligated loop.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Mice were treated with <em>C. difficile</em> toxins TcdA, TcdB, and TcdBv, with PMN depletion achieved via intraperitoneal injections of Ly6G/Ly6C antibody. Histopathological analysis, cytokine quantification, and MPO activity assays were performed to assess the inflammatory and tissue damage responses.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>PMN depletion significantly reduced histopathological damage and proinflammatory responses. TcdA induced the highest inflammation and epithelial damage, while TcdB showed lower activity, except for MPO. TcdBv<sub>NAP1</sub>'s activity was comparable to that of TcdB<sub>NAP1</sub> but less than TcdA. The findings indicate that TcdA's enterotoxin effects are more damaging than TcdBs from different strains and confirm the critical role of PMNs in CDI pathogenesis.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our results show that PMN depletion reduced inflammatory responses and tissue damage, highlighting potential therapeutic strategies targeting PMN regulation. Further research on PMN extracellular traps (NETs) and their role in CDI is necessary to develop comprehensive treatments. Future studies should focus on combined <em>in vivo</em> and <em>in vitro</em> approaches to fully understand the pathological mechanisms and identify effective biomarkers for CDI therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8050,"journal":{"name":"Anaerobe","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102947"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143536405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AnaerobePub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-02-24DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102944
Ramírez-Sánchez Isabel Cristina , Posada-Rios Diego
{"title":"Cutibacterium avidum: A virulent pathogen in esthetic surgery infection, a case series","authors":"Ramírez-Sánchez Isabel Cristina , Posada-Rios Diego","doi":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102944","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102944","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Cutibacterium avidum</em> is a member of the skin microbiota whose composition changes with age. Recently, it has been implicated in infections associated with implants and other medical devices, and it is now recognized as an etiological agent of surgical site infections. We present six cases of surgical site infections following aesthetic surgery: three cases linked to gluteal implants, one to gluteoplasty without implants, one to liposuction and one to abdominoplasty. Previously, <em>C. avidum</em> was considered a contaminant; however, recent findings indicate virulence factors and pathogenic behavior, so this microbe now is regarded as a potential causative agent of infection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8050,"journal":{"name":"Anaerobe","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102944"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143514241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clostridioides difficile in raw mechanically separated poultry meat and pasteurized product made from contaminated meat","authors":"Majda Biasizzo , Urška Henigman , Jana Avberšek , Urška Jamnikar-Ciglenečki , Stanka Vadnjal","doi":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102946","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102946","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div><em>Clostridioides difficile</em> (<em>C. difficile</em>) is an important foodborne pathogen found in a wide range of products. This study investigated the occurrence of <em>C. difficile</em> in mechanically separated chicken and turkey meat (MSM) and in pasteurized products made from contaminated MSM.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The presence of <em>C</em>. <em>difficile</em> was analysed in 56 MSM samples (32 from turkey and 24 from chicken) and in six pasteurized meat products made from raw meats previously identified as <em>C. difficile</em>-positive. After enrichment, detection was performed by real-time PCR, and culture on selective media for <em>C. difficile</em>. The isolated strains were then characterized by PCR-ribotyping, toxinotyping, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><em>C</em>. <em>difficile</em> was detected in 16.1 % of MSM samples via real-time PCR, with a 10.7 % isolation rate. One pasteurized product also tested positive. The six isolates obtained displayed diverse PCR-ribotypes, five of which were toxigenic. Notably, the PCR-ribotypes and sequence types in the pasteurized product differed from those identified in the raw meat used for its production.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The presence of <em>C</em>. <em>difficile</em> in raw and subsequently pasteurized meat product indicates that the pathogen can survive the pasteurization process and may be present in such products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8050,"journal":{"name":"Anaerobe","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102946"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143514189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AnaerobePub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102941
Robert Knop, Simon Keweloh, Johanna Pukall, Silvia Dittmann, Daniela Zühlke, Susanne Sievers
{"title":"A rubrerythrin locus of Clostridioides difficile encodes enzymes that efficiently detoxify reactive oxygen species","authors":"Robert Knop, Simon Keweloh, Johanna Pukall, Silvia Dittmann, Daniela Zühlke, Susanne Sievers","doi":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102941","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102941","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The microaerophilic conditions in the large intestine and reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the immune system represent a challenge for the strictly anaerobic pathogen <em>Clostridioides difficile</em>, which protects itself by a variety of oxidative stress proteins. Four of these are encoded in an operon that has been implicated in the detoxification of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>2</sub><sup>●-</sup>. In this study, proteins of this operon, i. e. a rubrerythrin (Rbr), a superoxide reductase (Sor) and a putative glutamate dehydrogenase (CD630_08280) were investigated for their ROS detoxifying activity <em>in vitro</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Recombinant proteins were overexpressed in <em>C. difficile</em> and purified anaerobically by affinity chromatography. The H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-reductase activity was determined by measuring the NADH consumption after peroxide addition. Superoxide detoxification potential of Sor was detected colorimetrically using a xanthine/xanthine oxidase system with cytochrome <em>c</em> as analytical probe.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Proposed roles of the investigated proteins in the detoxification pathways of ROS could partially be demonstrated. Specifically, Rbr and glutamate dehydrogenase synergistically detoxify H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, although with a very low turnover. Furthermore, Sor was shown to scavenge O<sub>2</sub><sup>●-</sup> by superoxide dismutase activity and its activity was compared to superoxide dismutase of <em>Escherichia coli</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The investigated gene locus codes for an oxidative stress operon whose members have the potential to neutralize O<sub>2</sub><sup>●-</sup> and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> to water and thus complements the arsenal of ROS detoxifying mechanisms that are already known in <em>C. difficile</em>. However, full activity with adequate physiological electron transfer partners still needs to be demonstrated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8050,"journal":{"name":"Anaerobe","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102941"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143078486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coculture systems to study interactions between anaerobic bacteria and intestinal epithelium","authors":"Lyudmila Boyanova, Raina Gergova, Rumyana Markovska","doi":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102949","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102949","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coculture systems (CCSs) are experimental tools used to study the interactions of anaerobic bacteria among themselves and the gut epithelial cells under conditions simulating the human gut, unlike those in animal models. Although the studies on animal models are useful in determining the relationship between the causative agents of infections and human infections, they have disadvantages, such as ethical issues, in addition to the differences in the microbiota of the animal and humans. Therefore, the results obtained using animal models cannot be directly extrapolated to humans. CCSs can more completely reflect <em>in vivo</em> gut homeostasis and contribute to better understanding of the interplay between the intestinal cells and anaerobes, prevalent among the gut bacteria. Moreover, they provide new insights on the pathogenesis of infections and aid in assessing the usefulness of new probiotics and antibacterials. Therefore, CCSs, including the gut-on-a-chip models, can significantly improve microbiota-based therapy. Moreover, they can also be used to detect microbiota-derived metabolites such as those with mutagenic properties. The aim of this review was to explore selected CCS models of anaerobes with intestinal epithelium and their application in investigating intestinal homeostasis. The focus was to highlight the application of different CCSs and important data obtained from their implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8050,"journal":{"name":"Anaerobe","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102949"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143514263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AnaerobePub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102940
Liam Wood , Bunmi B. Omorotionmwan , Adam M. Blanchard , Adam Dowle , David Tooth , Tom S. Bailey , Ruth Griffin
{"title":"A rapid genome-proteome approach to identify rate-limiting steps in the butyrate production pathway in probiotic Clostridium butyricum, CBM588","authors":"Liam Wood , Bunmi B. Omorotionmwan , Adam M. Blanchard , Adam Dowle , David Tooth , Tom S. Bailey , Ruth Griffin","doi":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102940","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102940","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div><em>Clostridium butyricum</em> ferments non-digested dietary fibre in the colon to produce butyric acid. Butyrate is a four-carbon, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) which has multiple health benefits. Many microbial products of pharmaceutical or industrial interest, such as butyrate, are produced in low quantities due to rate-limiting steps in their metabolic pathway, including low abundance or low activity of one or more enzymes in the pathway. By identifying the former, appropriate enzymes can be over-expressed to increase product yields, however, methods to determine these enzymes are laborious. To improve butyrate production in <em>C. butyricum</em> probiotic strain, CBM588, a novel rapid genome-proteome approach was deployed.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>First, whole genome sequencing was performed and the 8 genes involved in butyrate production identified on the chromosome. Second, the relative abundance of these enzymes was investigated by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of total cytosolic proteins from early stationary phase cultures.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Phosphotransbutyrylase (Ptb), butyrate kinase (Buk) and crotonase (Crt) were found to be the least abundant. Over-expression episomally of the corresponding genes individually or of the <em>ptb-buk</em> bicistron led to significant increases in butyrate titre per density of culture from 10 to 24 h, compared to the wild type.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings pave the way for over-expressing these genes chromosomally to generate a recombinant probiotic with improved butyrate production and potentially enhanced gut health properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8050,"journal":{"name":"Anaerobe","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102940"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143073401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}