Relationships between the genome and some phenotypical properties of Lactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716, a probiotic strain isolated from human milk

Abstract

Lactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716, isolated from human milk, has immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antiinfectious properties, as revealed by several in vitro and in vivo assays, which suggests a strong potential as a probiotic strain. In this work, some phenotypic properties of L. fermentum CECT 5716 were evaluated and the genetic basis for the obtained results was searched for in the strain genome. L. fermentum CECT 5716 does not contain plasmids and showed neither bacteriocin nor biogenic amines biosynthesis ability but was able to produce organic acids, glutathione, riboflavin, and folates, and to moderately stimulate the maturation of mouse dendritic cells. No prophages could be induced and the strain was sensitive to all antibiotics proposed by EFSA standards while no transmissible genes potentially involved in antibiotic resistance were detected in its genome. Comparison with the genome of L. fermentum IFO3956 revealed the presence of 15 protein-encoding genes that were only found in that of L. fermentum CECT 5716. Globally, there was an agreement between the phenotype properties of L. fermentum CECT 5716 and the genetic information contained in its genome.