Previous Article | Next Article 
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, March 2006, p. 2170-2177, Vol. 72, No. 3
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/AEM.72.3.2170-2177.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Heterologous Expression of BetL, a Betaine Uptake System, Enhances the Stress Tolerance of Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118
Vivien M. Sheehan,
Roy D. Sleator,
Gerald F. Fitzgerald,* and
Colin Hill
Department of Microbiology and Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College, Cork, Ireland
Received 11 July 2005/
Accepted 27 December 2005
Given the increasing commercial and clinical relevance of probiotic cultures, improving the technological robustness of what are often process-sensitive cultures is an important biological goal. The nisin-controlled expression system was used to direct the heterologous expression of the listerial betaine uptake system BetL in the probiotic strain Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118. Following nisin induction, strains expressing betL exhibited a significant increase in resistance to several stresses, including elevated osmo-, cryo-, baro-, and chill tolerance, as well as increased resistance to spray- and freeze-drying. The ability to confer additional stress tolerance on a probiotic culture may be an important step in delivering viable cultures for maximal efficacy.
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, University College, Cork, Ireland. Phone: 353-21-4902396. Fax: 353-21-4903101. E-mail:
g.fitzgerald{at}ucc.ie.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, March 2006, p. 2170-2177, Vol. 72, No. 3
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/AEM.72.3.2170-2177.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Sleator, R. D., Watson, D., Hill, C., Gahan, C. G. M.
(2009). The interaction between Listeria monocytogenes and the host gastrointestinal tract. Microbiology
155: 2463-2475
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
den Besten, H. M. W., Mols, M., Moezelaar, R., Zwietering, M. H., Abee, T.
(2009). Phenotypic and Transcriptomic Analyses of Mildly and Severely Salt-Stressed Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 Cells. Appl. Environ. Microbiol.
75: 4111-4119
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Sleator, R. D., Hill, C.
(2008). Designer probiotics: a potential therapeutic for Clostridium difficile?. J Med Microbiol
57: 793-794
[Full Text]
-
Sheehan, V. M., Sleator, R. D., Hill, C., Fitzgerald, G. F.
(2007). Improving gastric transit, gastrointestinal persistence and therapeutic efficacy of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003. Microbiology
153: 3563-3571
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Corcoran, B. M., Ross, R. P., Fitzgerald, G. F., Dockery, P., Stanton, C.
(2006). Enhanced Survival of GroESL-Overproducing Lactobacillus paracasei NFBC 338 under Stressful Conditions Induced by Drying.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol.
72: 5104-5107
[Abstract]
[Full Text]