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Type IV pili are widespread among non‐pathogenic Gram‐positive gut bacteria with diverse carbohydrate utilization patterns
Author(s) -
Rozman Vita,
Accetto Tomaž,
Duncan Sylvia H.,
Flint Harry J.,
Vodovnik Maša
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.15362
Subject(s) - biology , pilus , microbiology and biotechnology , firmicutes , bacteria , pathogenic bacteria , actinobacteria , bacteroidetes , gram , escherichia coli , genetics , gene , 16s ribosomal rna
Summary Type IV pili (T4P) are bacterial surface‐exposed appendages that have been extensively studied in Gram‐negative pathogenic bacteria. Despite recent sequencing efforts, little is known regarding these structures in non‐pathogenic anaerobic Gram‐positive species, particularly commensals of the mammalian gut. Early studies revealed that T4P in two ruminal Gram‐positive species are associated with growth on cellulose, suggesting possible associations of T4P with substrate utilization patterns. In the present study, genome sequences of 118 taxonomically diverse, mainly Gram‐positive, bacterial strains isolated from anaerobic (gastrointestinal) environments, have been analysed. The genes likely to be associated with T4P biogenesis were analysed and grouped according to T4P genetic organization. In parallel, consortia of Carbohydrate Active enZYmes (CAZymes) were also analysed and used to predict carbohydrate utilization abilities of selected strains. The predictive power of this approach was additionally confirmed by experimental assessment of substrate‐related growth patterns of selected strains. Our analysis revealed that T4P systems with diverse genetic organization are widespread among Gram‐positive anaerobic non‐pathogenic bacteria isolated from different environments, belonging to two phylogenetically distantly related phyla: Firmicutes and Actinobacteria .