http://sgpwe.izt.uam.mx/files/users/uami/acym/Enterococos_en_alimentos_y_salud-2006.pdf

The role and application of enterococci in food and health.

Enterococci are used as starter and probiotic cultures in foods, and they occur as natural food contaminants. The genus Enterococcus is of increased significance as a cause of nosocomial infections, and this trend is exacerbated by the development of antibiotic resistance. In this study, we investigated the incidence of known virulence determinants in starter, food, and medical strains of Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, and E. durans. PCR and gene probe strategies were used to screen enterococcal isolates from both food and medical sources. Different and distinct patterns of incidence of virulence determinants were found for the E. faecalis and E. faecium strains. Medical E. faecalis strains had more virulence determinants than did food strains, which, in turn, had more than did starter strains. All of the E. faecalis strains tested possessed multiple determinants (between 6 and 11). E. faecium strains were generally free of virulence determinants, with notable exceptions. Significantly, esp and gelE determinants were identified in E. faecium medical strains. These virulence determinants have not previously been identified in E. faecium strains and may result from regional differences or the evolution of pathogenic E. faecium. Phenotypic testing revealed the existence of apparently silent gelE and cyl genes. In E. faecalis, the trend in these silent genes mirrors that of the expressed determinants. The potential for starter strains to acquire virulence determinants by natural conjugation mechanisms was investigated. Transconjugation in which starter strains acquired additional virulence determinants from medical strains was demonstrated. In addition, multiple pheromone-encoding genes were identified in both food and starter strains, indicating their potential to acquire other sex pheromone plasmids. These results suggest that the use of Enterococcus spp. in foods requires careful safety evaluation.

Molecular screening of Enterococcus virulence determinants and potential for genetic exchange between food and medical isolates.

A large number of new bacteriocins in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has been characterized in recent years. Most of the new bacteriocins belong to the class II bacteriocins which are small (30–100 amino acids) heat-stable and commonly not post-translationally modified. While most bacteriocin producers synthesize only one bacteriocin, it has been shown that several LAB produce multiple bacteriocins (2–3 bacteriocins).

Biosynthesis of bacteriocins in lactic acid bacteria

http://wpage.unina.it/giamauri/Materiale_vario/Preservation_fermentation.pdf

Preservation and fermentation: past, present and future.

/pdf/biosynthesis-and-mode-of-action-of-lantibiotics-4ckj6jz79p.pdf

Biosynthesis and mode of action of lantibiotics.

Pheromone-responsive conjugative plasmids are unique to the species Enterococcus faecalis. Many pheromone-responsive plasmids, including those frequently isolated from sites of infection, express a novel cytolysin that possesses both hemolytic and bacteriocin activities. Further, this cytolysin has been shown to be a toxin in several disease models. In the present study, nucleotide sequence determination, mutagenesis, and complementation analysis were used to determine the organization of the E. faecalis plasmid pAD1 cytolysin determinant. Four open reading frames are required for expression of the cytolysin precursor (cylLL, cylLS, cylM, and cylB). The inferred products of two of these open reading frames, CyILL and CyILS, constitute the cytolysin precursor and bear structural resemblance to posttranslationally modified bacteriocins termed lantibiotics. Similarities between the organization of the E. faecalis cytolysin determinant and expression units for lantibiotics exist, indicating that the E. faecalis cytolysin represents a new branch of this class and is the first known to possess toxin activity. Images

Genetic structure of the Enterococcus faecalis plasmid pAD1-encoded cytolytic toxin system and its relationship to lantibiotic determinants.

The E. faecalis cytolysin represents a new class of cytolytic agents which are related to a family of antibacterial peptides termed lantibiotics. Despite considerable similarity at the genetic level, the E. faecalis cytolysin differs from the lantibiotics in several respects. First, the E. faecalis cytolysin consists of two dissimilar precursors, both of which are required to effect target cell lysis. A second important difference is that the E. faecalis cytolysin is active against eukaryotic as well as Gram-positive prokaryotic cells. Originally identified as a haemolysin [32], the E. faecalis cytolysin has been shown to make a contribution to bacterial virulence in endocarditis [8, 33] and endophthalmitis [7] models, and the cytolytic phenotype is enriched among clinical isolates of the organism [2, 3]. Similarities between the E. faecalis cytolysin and lantibiotics such as nisin (which is used as a food preservative in several countries [34] and is the subject of continuing attempts at rational design of lantibiotic-based food preservatives [25]), and the observation of an association between the E. faecalis cytolysin and bacterial virulence indicate that it may be possible to engineer lantibiotics to a point where undesired toxic or cytolytic activities will arise. Further comparison of the chemical, structural and biological properties of the E. faecalis cytolysin and classical lantibiotics will define these limits.

C. P. Bogie

Papers

Genetic structure of the Enterococcus faecalis plasmid pAD1-encoded cytolytic toxin system and its relationship to lantibiotic determinants.

The Enterococcus faecalis cytolysin determinant and its relationship to those encoding lantibiotics.