Detection and molecular characterization of butyrate-producing genes in probiotic lactic acid bacteria for use in livestock

A R Oloyede,O M Albert,O A Arowosegbe

doi:10.4314/njb.v33i1.8

Abstract

Butyrate-producing gut microflora synthesizes and secretes butyrate which serves as source of energy and stimulates rumen development in young animals. The present study was undertaken to characterize and screen butyrate-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for probiotic use in animals in order to manipulate their gut flora for the benefit of host health and productivity. Twenty strains of LAB isolates from faeces of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats were screened for probiotic potentials. The potential probiotic LAB were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing method. Polymerase chain reaction was then used to detect the butyrate kinase (buk) gene in probiotic LAB strains. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified the potential probiotic LAB as strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. reuteri, L. plantarum, L. helveticus and L. fermentum. Their probiotic potentials were demonstrated by their ability to tolerate low pH, bile acid and lysozyme. The PCR analysis revealed that gene encoding butyrate kinase is present in only Lactobacillus plantarum PLB5. The study revealed that these LAB strains could be developed into useful probiotics in improving the health, nutrient digestibility and growth performance of livestock, but only L. plantarum PLB5 possesses the ability to produce butyrate.Keywords: Butyrate, probiotic, lactic acid bacteria, 16S rRNA, Polymerase chain reaction

Highlights

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play essential roles in the manufacture of many fermented products such as cheese and yoghurt (Perea-Velex et al, 2007)
Twenty lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from faeces of West African dwarf (WAD) goats using De Mann Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) agar (Oxoid, U.K), incubated at 35oC under anaerobic conditions. These isolates were screened for probiotic activity by subjecting them to series of invitro probiotic tests such as tolerance to low pH, tolerance to bile, tolerance to lysozyme, antibiotics resistance patterns, antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats and haemolytic test using the methods described by Oloyede and Afolabi (2013) with little modifications
Genotypic identification results showed that the probiotic lactic acid bacteria isolated from faeces of WAD goats belonged to the species of Lactobacillus

Summary

Introduction

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play essential roles in the manufacture of many fermented products such as cheese and yoghurt (Perea-Velex et al, 2007) Applications of these organisms are being extended to the area of growth and health improvement in animals, human and aquaculture, which is known as a probiotic activity (Soccol et al, 2010). Several strains of Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Streptococcus, Pediococcus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus and some yeasts (Saccharomyces boulardii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) are known to possess probiotic properties (Mercenier et al, 2003; Oloyede and Afolabi, 2013). Majority of these probiotic organisms are known as 'generally regarded as safe' (GRAS)

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Conclusion