Open AccessFunctional genome analysis of Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 reveals type IVb tight adherence (Tad) pili as an essential and conserved host-colonization factor
Author(s) -
Mary O’Connell Motherway,
Aldert Zomer,
Sinead C. Leahy,
Justus Reunanen,
Francesca Bottacini,
Marcus J. Claesson,
Frances O’Brien,
Kiera Flynn,
Patrick G. Casey,
José Antonio Moreno Muñoz,
Breda Kearney,
Aileen Houston,
Cáitlín O’Mahony,
Desmond G. Higgins,
Fergus Shanahan,
Airi Palva,
Willem M. de Vos,
Gerald F. Fitzgerald,
Marco Ventura,
Paul W. O’Toole,
Douwe van Sinderen
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.1105380108
Subject(s) - bifidobacterium breve , pilus , biology , genome , colonization , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , transcriptome , genetics , locus (genetics) , bifidobacterium , genomic island , bacterial genetics , host adaptation , bacteria , virulence , gene expression , lactobacillus , escherichia coli
Development of the human gut microbiota commences at birth, with bifidobacteria being among the first colonizers of the sterile newborn gastrointestinal tract. To date, the genetic basis ofBifidobacterium colonization and persistence remains poorly understood. Transcriptome analysis of theBifidobacterium breve UCC2003 2.42-Mb genome in a murine colonization model revealed differential expression of a type IVb tight adherence (Tad) pilus-encoding gene cluster designated “tad2003 .” Mutational analysis demonstrated that thetad2003 gene cluster is essential for efficient in vivo murine gut colonization, and immunogold transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of Tad pili at the poles ofB. breve UCC2003 cells. Conservation of the Tad pilus-encoding locus among otherB. breve strains and among sequencedBifidobacterium genomes supports the notion of a ubiquitous pili-mediated host colonization and persistence mechanism for bifidobacteria.