Analysis of probiotic or virulent properties of Enterococcus mundtii by comparative genomics

GUILLERMO REPIZO; MARTÍN ESPARIZ; VÍCTOR S. BLANCATO; CRISTIAN A. SUÁREZ; LUIS ESTEBAN; CHRISTIAN MAGNI

Rosario

Congreso; 4to. Congreso Argentino de Bioinformática y Biología Computacional (4CAB2C) y 4ta. Conferencia Internacional de la Sociedad Iberoamericana de Bioinformática (SolBio); 2013

Asociación Argentina de Bioinformática y Biología Computacional y Sociedad Iberoamericana de Bioinformática

The genus Enterococcus is a diverse group of low GC% gram-positive bacteria that contains over 33 species. The genera include commensal, environmental but also opportunistic human pathogens such E. faecalis and E. faecium. Enterococcus mundtii is a yellow-pigmented microorganism rarely found in human infections. Specifically, E. mundtii CRL1656 strain has been proposed as a probiotic microorganism to prevent mastitis in cows [1]. This strain was isolated from stripping milk of an Argentinean cow and its genome was recently sequenced [2]. The aim of this study was to gain insights into the similarities in the genetic content of E. mundtii with respect to other enterococcal species and, more specifically, to investigate on the genes coding for virulence factors shared with enterococcal opportunistic pathogens. [1] Espeche MC, Otero MC, Sesma F, Nader-Macias ME: Screening of surface properties and antagonistic substances production by lactic acid bacteria isolated from the mammary gland of healthy and mastitic cows. Vet Microbiol 2009,135:346-357 [2] Magni, C. et al: Draft genome sequence of Enterococcus mundtii CRL1656. J Bacteriol 2012, 194:550.