Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Lauren Tso, Kevin S. Bonham, Alyssa Fishbein, Sophie Rowland, Vanja Klepac-Ceraj
Summary: Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis is a microorganism capable of metabolizing human breast milk and a pioneer colonizer in the guts of breastfed infants. Differentiating B. infantis from its close relatives poses a challenge, as only a small percentage of infants harbor B. infantis in their gut microbiota. These findings underscore the importance of accurate identification of B. infantis.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Liuyi Chang, Peng Wang, Shujuan Sun, Zhaopeng Shen, Xiaolu Jiang
Summary: A novel synbiotic multiparticulate microparticle containing alginate oligosaccharide, chitosan oligosaccharide, and Bifidobacterium longum CICC 6259 was developed in this study for potential industrial applications. In vitro experiments showed that marine oligosaccharide microcapsules had a larger diameter and increased survival of cells after exposure to simulated gastrointestinal juices compared to basic alginate microcapsules. In vivo studies demonstrated that these microcapsules significantly altered the gut microbiome in mice by increasing the content of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and reducing the content of Enterococcus and Escherichia.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Dakyung Kim, Kyu Ri Lee, Na Ri Kim, Soo-Jeung Park, Minhee Lee, Ok-Kyung Kim
Summary: Dietary supplementation with the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum and prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharide individually or in combination showed protective effects against UVB-induced photoaging, exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. The combination of B. longum and galacto-oligosaccharide demonstrated stronger protective effects than either supplement alone. Supplementing with both B. longum and galacto-oligosaccharide increased serum levels of SCFAs and acetate, suggesting their potential use as functional food to protect against UVB-induced photoaging.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL FOOD
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Hongye Li, Jonathan A. Lane, Juchun Chen, Zerong Lu, Hongwei Wang, Sushil Dhital, Xiong Fu, Qiang Huang, Feitong Liu, Bin Zhang
Summary: This study examined the fermentation characteristics of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) by different Bifidobacterium longum-dominant infant fecal microbiota in vitro. Results showed that different types of HMOs had varying effects on fermentation rates and metabolite production, with sialylated HMOs producing less lactate. Additionally, HMOs and GOS were found to maintain or increase the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium longum, while FOS promoted Klebsiella pneumoniae.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Xiaomeng You, Asha Rani, Ezgi Ozcan, Yang Lyu, David A. Sela
Summary: Human milk shapes the microbiota in the infant gut, and urea in milk may serve as a nitrogen source for the microbiota. Bifidobacterium infantis strains are capable of utilizing urea nitrogen and play a role in infant nutrition and development. Isotopically labeled urea nitrogen can be incorporated into microbial products for infant host utilization.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ruocen Tian, Zhiming Yu, Leilei Yu, Fengwei Tian, Jianxin Zhao, Hao Zhang, Wei Chen, Qixiao Zhai
Summary: This study investigated the application of Bifidobacterium longum CCFM5871 as an adjunct starter culture for the production of fermented milk. Genome analysis revealed that CCFM5871 possesses various carbohydrate metabolic pathways, and comparative genomic analysis showed similar functional genes in other bifidobacteria strains used in dairy fermentation. The results demonstrated that supplementation with CCFM5871 increased acidification and solidification of fermented milk, without significantly affecting flavor and taste compared to the control group.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Tong Jiang, Ying Li, Longyan Li, Tingting Liang, Mingzhu Du, Lingshuang Yang, Juan Yang, Runshi Yang, Hui Zhao, Moutong Chen, Yu Ding, Jumei Zhang, Juan Wang, Xinqiang Xie, Qingping Wu
Summary: This study explored the benefits and underlying mechanisms of Bifidobacterium longum 070103 fermented milk in high-fat and high-sugar fed mice. The results showed that BLFM attenuated obesity and related symptoms in these mice possibly through modulation of gut microbes and metabolites.
Review
Microbiology
Patricia Sanz Morales, Anisha Wijeyesekera, Margaret Denise Robertson, Peter P. J. Jackson, Glenn R. Gibson
Summary: Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a common gastrointestinal disorder, and human milk oligosaccharides show promise as a potential therapeutic option for improving symptoms by altering the gut microbiota.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kento Orihara, Kana Yahagi, Yuki Saito, Yohei Watanabe, Toshio Sasai, Taeko Hara, Naoki Tsukuda, Kaihei Oki, Junji Fujimoto, Takahiro Matsuki
Summary: Bifidobacterium kashiwanohense strains can utilize both milk- and plant-derived carbohydrates, including long-chain xylans and human milk oligosaccharides. This study identified key genetic factors that contribute to their ability to assimilate various carbohydrates and revealed their prevalence in the gut of not only infants, but also adults and weaning children worldwide.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Liv R. Dedon, Margaret A. Hilliard, Asha Rani, Zunny Tatiana Daza-Merchan, Galaxie Story, Carrie-Ellen Briere, David A. Sela
Summary: This study investigates the effect of fucosylated human milk oligosaccharides (fHMOs) on the gut microbiota of infants. The results show that the structure of fHMOs influences the composition of the gut microbiome, but has minimal impact on the production of short chain fatty acids.
MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shinya Fushinobu
Summary: UDP-glucose 4-epimerase (GalE) plays a crucial role in sugar metabolism by interconverting UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose, or UDP-N-acetylglucosamine and UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine. GalEs are classified into three groups based on substrate specificity, and their phylogenetic relationships and structural basis suggest possible molecular evolution. Recent studies on GalEs and related enzymes provide updated insights into their evolutionary diversification.
CURRENT OPINION IN CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Guy Shani, Jennifer L. Hoeflinger, Britta E. Heiss, Chad F. Masarweh, Jules A. Larke, Nick M. Jensen, Saumya Wickramasinghe, Jasmine C. Davis, Elisha Goonatilleke, Amr El-Hawiet, Linh Nguyen, John S. Klassen, Carolyn M. Slupsky, Carlito B. Lebrilla, David A. Mills
Summary: This study identifies key gene differences among Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum isolates that may impact whether a microbe successfully colonizes an infant gut. The presence or absence of specific alpha-fucosidases seems to direct the strain-specific fucosylated HMO utilization pattern among bifidobacteria. Such knowledge furthers our understanding of how diet drives bacterial colonization of the infant gut.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Krista Salli, Johanna Hirvonen, Heli Anglenius, Ashley A. A. Hibberd, Ilmari Ahonen, Markku T. T. Saarinen, Johanna Maukonen, Arthur C. C. Ouwehand
Summary: In this study, the effects of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) on infant faecal microbiota and microbial metabolites were evaluated using a semi-continuous colon simulator. The results showed that HMOs decreased diversity and increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium species, which correlated with the production of microbial metabolites. These findings suggest that HMOs and probiotics have benefits for the developing infant gut microbiota.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Valeria Melendez Hebib, Diana H. Taft, Barbara Stoll, Jinxin Liu, Lee Call, Gregory Guthrie, Nick Jensen, Amy B. Hair, David A. Mills, Douglas G. Burrin
Summary: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the leading cause of death caused by gastrointestinal disease in preterm infants. Major risk factors include prematurity, formula feeding, and gut microbial colonization. Probiotics have been shown to reduce NEC incidence in infants, but their effectiveness depends on the specific species used.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pablo J. Schwarzbaum, Julieta Schachter, Luis M. Bredeston
Summary: In eukaryotic cells, it is crucial for chaperone proteins to take up cytosolic ATP into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen. The human transport protein SLC35B1 has been proposed to mediate ATP/ADP exchange in the ER, but the molecular mechanisms underlying ATP uptake are not fully understood. This study extensively characterized the transport kinetics of human SLC35B1 using yeast expression system, and identified key residues involved in transport. The results suggest a low-affinity external site and a high-affinity internal site in the ER, and indicate that SLC35B1 can promote ATP transport in exchange for ADP or UDP.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Miriam N. Ojima, Yuya Asao, Aruto Nakajima, Toshihiko Katoh, Motomitsu Kitaoka, Aina Gotoh, Junko Hirose, Tadasu Urashima, Satoru Fukiya, Atsushi Yokota, Maher Abou Hachem, Mikiyasu Sakanaka, Takane Katayama
Summary: In this study, the authors examined the HMO consumption phenotypes of two bifidobacterial species and found that the diversity of the FL transporter led to uptake specificities of fucosylated sugars ranging from simple trisaccharides to complex hexasaccharides. These findings explain the adaptation and proliferation of bifidobacteria in the competitive and HMO-rich infant gut environment.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Toma Kashima, Kouki Okumura, Akihiro Ishiwata, Machika Kaieda, Tohru Terada, Takatoshi Arakawa, Chihaya Yamada, Kentaro Shimizu, Katsunori Tanaka, Motomitsu Kitaoka, Yukishige Ito, Kiyotaka Fujita, Shinya Fushinobu
Summary: A novel glycoside hydrolase family member, alpha-D-fructofuranosidase and difructose dianhydride I synthase/hydrolase, was identified in Bifidobacterium dentium. This enzyme has unique activities and is not homologous with known enzymes, indicating its novelty in the field of glycoside hydrolases.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wataru Saburi, Takanori Nihira, Hiroyuki Nakai, Motomitsu Kitaoka, Haruhide Mori
Summary: Glycoside phosphorylases are promising enzymes for efficient glycoside production. In this study, a new glycoside phosphorylase, solabiose phosphorylase, was characterized from an uncharacterized protein. The enzyme showed specific activity towards d-galactose, producing solabiose through a sequential bi-bi mechanism. Solabiose was successfully produced from lactose and sucrose without the need for chromatographic procedures.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuntaro Machida, Katsuichi Saito, Mamoru Nishimoto, Motomitsu Kitaoka
Summary: This study reports a method to produce Lacto-N-biose I (LNB) without the use of genetically modified enzymes. By selectively inactivating interfering enzymes, GlcNAc was successfully converted into LNB.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED GLYCOSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Akihiro Ishiwata, Kiyotaka Fujita, Shinya Fushinobu, Katsunori Tanaka, Yukishige Ito
Summary: Methyl beta-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1 -> 2)-, -(1 -> 3)-, and -(1 -> 5)-alpha-L-arabinofuranosides have been stereoselectively synthesized using the NAP-IAD method. The substrate specificity of HypBA1 and XeHypBA1 on the different disaccharide linkages was studied, showing that HypBA1 has lower activity on beta-(1 -> 5)-linked disaccharide and XeHypBA1 has higher specificity on beta-(1 -> 2)-linked disaccharide.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Miriam N. Ojima, Lin Jiang, Aleksandr A. Arzamasov, Keisuke Yoshida, Toshitaka Odamaki, Jinzhong Xiao, Aruto Nakajima, Motomitsu Kitaoka, Junko Hirose, Tadasu Urashima, Toshihiko Katoh, Aina Gotoh, Douwe van Sinderen, Dmitry A. Rodionov, Andrei L. Osterman, Mikiyasu Sakanaka, Takane Katayama
Summary: This study applied assembly theory to investigate the formation of bifidobacterial communities in the infant gut. The results showed that arrival order and sugar consumption phenotypes significantly affected community formation. Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis dominated through inhibitory priority effects, while Bifidobacterium breve benefited from facilitative priority effects and utilized a specific degradant to dominate. This study highlights the importance of initial community assembly and its impact on the maturation trajectory of the infant gut microbiota.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kazuhiro Chiku, Ayaka Ohfuji, Nozomi Ohtake, Mitsuru Yoshida, Hiroshi Ono, Motomitsu Kitaoka
Summary: Isomaltose and isomaltulose undergo isomerization and release of glucose upon heating in sodium phosphate buffer. The concentration of these disaccharides decreases with heating time, but this decrease is not directly correlated with the release of glucose or fructose. The reaction also leads to a slight decrease in pH and the formation of organic acids, along with the presence of formic acid and species resulting from hydroxyl group elimination. The released glucose is likely generated through tautomerization and cleavage of the glycosidic linkage.
CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Akihiro Ishiwata, Satoru Narita, Kenta Kimura, Katsunori Tanaka, Kiyotaka Fujita, Shinya Fushinobu, Yukishige Ito
Summary: In this study, a cysteine beta-L-arabinofuranosidase (Arafase) called HypBA1 was isolated from Bifidobacterium longum in the human gut microbiota to investigate the mechanism of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 127. Moreover, design and synthesis of mechanism-based inhibitors, such as L-Araf-haloacetamides, were carried out. The experimental results showed that the probes 1, especially alpha/beta-1-Br, inhibited the hydrolysis of HypBA1. The conformational implications of these observations were also discussed. Further examinations using L-Araf-azides (alpha/beta-5) provided additional mechanistic observations of the GH127/146 cysteine glycosidases.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Motomitsu Kitaoka
Summary: We developed a Microsoft Excel file called Enzyme Kinetics_Calculator, which contains macro programs that can automatically calculate kinetic parameters and their standard errors for typical enzymatic reactions. The file also includes functionalities to generate [S]-v plots and 1/[S]-1/v plots with theoretical lines. Enzyme Kinetics_Calculator is available as a supplementary file on the J. Appl. Glycosci. website.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED GLYCOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Qilin Gao, Bingbing Ma, Qianwen Wang, Hao Zhang, Shinya Fushinobu, Jian Yang, Susu Lin, Keke Sun, Bing-Nan Han, Lian-Hua Xu
Summary: In this study, the conversion efficiency of TES and ASD by CYP154C2 was efficiently enhanced with high regio- and stereoselectivity through crystal structure analysis and structure-guided rational design. These results provide an effective strategy and theoretical basis for the 2 alpha-hydroxylation of steroids, and the structure-guided rational design of P450s should facilitate P450 applications in the biosynthesis of steroid drugs.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Xin Huang, Yue Sun, Suhong Li, Motomitsu Kitaoka, Tuoping Li
Summary: To enhance the thermal stability of Lacto-N-biose (LNB), it was encapsulated within OVA-CMC microparticles. With a mass ratio of OVA:CMC:LNB as 1.5:1:1, the microparticles exhibited a particle size of 623 +/- 4 nm, encapsulation efficiency of 83 +/- 1.38%, and loading efficiency of 45 +/- 0.92%. Characterization techniques such as SEM, FT-IR, and XRD confirmed the spherical and uniform distribution of the OVA-CMC-LNB microparticles. Hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions were identified as the main forces responsible for the microparticles' assembly. Thermal analysis revealed that the microparticles remained structurally stable at 240 degrees C, greatly improving the thermal stability of LNB. In vitro digestion experiments demonstrated a release rate of LNB from the microparticles of 95 +/- 1.31%. These findings provide a theoretical and technological framework for enhancing the thermal stability of LNB delivery systems.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Toshihiko Katoh, Chihaya Yamada, Michael D. Wallace, Ayako Yoshida, Aina Gotoh, Moe Arai, Takako Maeshibu, Toma Kashima, Arno Hagenbeek, Miriam N. Ojima, Hiromi Takada, Mikiyasu Sakanaka, Hidenori Shimizu, Keita Nishiyama, Hisashi Ashida, Junko Hirose, Maria Suarez-Diez, Makoto Nishiyama, Ikuo Kimura, Keith A. Stubbs, Shinya Fushinobu, Takane Katayama
Summary: The BbhII enzyme from Bifidobacterium bifidum is involved in the breakdown of mucin O-glycans, modulating host-microbiota symbiosis and dysbiosis.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Junichi Mano, Hirotoshi Sushida, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Ken Naito, Hiroshi Ono, Masakazu Ike, Ken Tokuyasu, Motomitsu Kitaoka
Summary: By extensively screening microbial strains, we discovered that the BS15 strain efficiently produces PEFAs with high titer. The strain was able to produce high concentrations of PEFA and dry cells in batch fermentation. Additionally, the genome sequence of the BS15 strain was analyzed and a high-quality reference genome was generated.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shun Maruyama, Kota Sawano, Satoko Amaki, Takehiro Suzuki, Satoru Narita, Kenta Kimura, Takatoshi Arakawa, Chihaya Yamada, Yukishige Ito, Naoshi Dohmae, Kiyotaka Fujita, Akihiro Ishiwata, Shinya Fushinobu
Summary: This study investigated the catalytic mechanism and substrate binding structure of the beta-l-arabinofuranosidase HypBA1 from Bifidobacterium longum. Zn2+ ion and cysteine were found to play key roles in catalysis, and the mode of substrate binding affected the catalytic activity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chihaya Yamada, Takane Katayama, Shinya Fushinobu
Summary: Glycoside hydrolase family 136 (GH136) was established based on the discovery and structural analysis of lacto-N-biosidase (LNBase) from Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum JCM1217 (BlLnbX). Homologous genes of BlLnbX are widely found in human gut bacteria and monkey Bifidobacterium spp. Other bacterial strains like Bifidobacterium saguini, Tyzzerella nexilis, and Ruminococcus lactaris also exhibit LNBase activity. Crystal structures of LNBases from B. saguini and T. nexilis were determined in complex with lacto-N-biose I, showing a conserved fold and catalytic residues.
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
