Altering the probiotic epigneome, its potential application in fermentation

Abstract

Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression and function that occur without a change in the underlying DNA sequence. These changes in humans, can be caused by a variety of factors, including dietary intake, environmental exposures, and lifestyle factors. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, can turn genes on or off and affect the expression of certain proteins. However, epigenetics also has great potential for interdisciplinary applications, including in the fields of microbiology and fermentation science. This study aimed to investigate the impact of certain human dietary compounds on probiotic strains which also present in the gut, specifically focusing on Lactobacillus acidophilus, and to apply the acquired knowledge to enhance the effectiveness of probiotic strains used in fermentation processes. The study explored epigenetic effects of six dietary compounds on the target probiotic strains. These compounds were compared to a known DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine, as a positive control. The microbial epigenetic effects were evaluated using whole genome bisulphite sequencing, RNA sequencing, and metabolomic profiling. The results show that each dietary compound has a unique epigenetic-based impact on regulation of gene expression in L. acidophilus. The study also investigates the application of epigenetically-modified probiotics in milk fermentation to develop a novel probiotic yogurt that could provide additional functional benefits in the gut and overall health benefits to the body.