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. 2024 Aug 27;12(9):1771.
doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12091771.

Strain-Dependent Adhesion Variations of Shouchella clausii Isolated from Healthy Human Volunteers: A Study on Cell Surface Properties and Potential Probiotic Benefits

Tanisha Dhakephalkar  1 , Vaidehi Pisu  2   3 , Prajakta Margale  2 , Siddhi Chandras  2   3 , Deepa Shetty  2 , Shilpa Wagh  1 , Sumit Singh Dagar  2   3 , Neelam Kapse  2 , Prashant K Dhakephalkar  2   3
Affiliations

Strain-Dependent Adhesion Variations of Shouchella clausii Isolated from Healthy Human Volunteers: A Study on Cell Surface Properties and Potential Probiotic Benefits

Tanisha Dhakephalkar et al. Microorganisms. .

Abstract

The probiotic potential of Shouchella clausii is widely recognized, but little is known about its adhesive properties. Hence, this study aims to investigate the adhesion potential and cell surface properties of four human-origin S. clausii strains (B619/R, B603/Nb, B106, and B637/Nm). We evaluated epithelial adhesion, Extracellular Matrix (ECM) binding, aggregation ability, and cell surface hydrophobicity and used genome analysis for validation. Our results demonstrate that adhesion capability is a strain-specific attribute, with significant variations observed among the four strains. B619/R, B603/Nb, and B106 displayed stronger adhesion properties than B637/Nm. Supplementary adhesion assays showed that B637/Nm displayed high hydrophobicity, significant auto-aggregation, and significant mucin-binding abilities. Conversely, B619/R, B603/Nb, and B106 had mildly hydrophobic surfaces and low aggregation abilities. Genome annotation revealed the presence of various adhesion proteins in four strains. Notably, the reduced adhesion potential of B637/Nm was supported by the absence of the cell wall surface anchor family protein (LPxTG motif), which is crucial for interactions with intestinal epithelial cells or mucus components. Further, docking studies provided insights into the interaction of adhesion proteins with gut mucins. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how S. clausii strains interact with the gut environment, facilitating the development of probiotic formulations tailored for improved gut health and well-being.

Keywords: Shouchella clausii; adhesion; aggregation; genome; hydrophobicity; pathogen exclusion.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors Tanisha Dhakephalkar and Shilpa Wagh were employed by the company Hi Tech BioSciences India Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Scanning electron micrographs of differentiated HT-29 cell monolayers with adhering S. clausii strains.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scanning electron micrographs of differentiated Caco-2 cell monolayers with adhering S. clausii strains.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Modeled structure of the cell wall surface anchor family protein (LPxTG motif).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Modeled structures of adhesion protein and gut mucins.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Molecular docking studies of adhesion protein of S. clausii with gastrointestinal mucins.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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