Functional genomics of the lactic acid bacterium Limosilactobacillus fermentum LAB-1: metabolic, probiotic and biotechnological perspectives

LAB-1, a lactic acid bacterium demonstrating strong antimicrobial effects against clinical pathogens. Gene functional characterization revealed a large number of genes for carbohydrate metabolism and a heterofermentative system for carbon dissimilation. Genes for intact pyruvate oxidation, pentose phosphate, and PRPP biosynthetic pathways were identified. Substantial carbohydrate-active enzymes and transporters were also predicted. Metabolic reconstruction revealed complete sets of enzymes for arginine, lysine, methionine, threonine, proline, and ornithine biosynthesis. The bacterium harbors a diverse range of peptidases, and a large variety of peptide and amino acid uptake systems. It encodes restriction-modification and CRISPR-Cas systems for protection against phage infections and carries a wide spectrum of stress proteins for adaptation in the gut and industrial conditions. Genes related to the biosynthesis of…