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June 2020

Safety assessment of a nham starter culture Lactobacillus plantarum BCC9546 via whole-genome analysis

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Nipa Chokesajjawatee, Pannita Santiyanont, Kanittha Chantarasakha, Kanokarn Kocharin, Chinae Thammarongtham, Supatcha Lertampaiporn, Tayvich Vorapreeda, Tanawut Srisuk, Thidathip Wongsurawat, Piroon Jenjaroenpun, Intawat Nookaew, and Wonnop Visessanguan

Scientific reports. 2020 Jun 24;10(1):1-2.

Abstract

The safety of microbial cultures utilized for consumption is vital for public health and should be thoroughly assessed. Although general aspects on the safety assessment of microbial cultures have been suggested, no methodological detail nor procedural guideline have been published. Herein, we propose a detailed protocol on microbial strain safety assessment via whole-genome sequence analysis. A starter culture employed in traditional fermented pork production, nham, namely Lactobacillus plantarum BCC9546, was used as an example. The strain’s whole-genome was sequenced through several next-generation sequencing techniques. Incomplete plasmid information from the PacBio sequencing platform and shorter chromosome size from the hybrid Oxford Nanopore-Illumina platform were noted. The methods for 1) unambiguous species identification using 16S rRNA gene and average nucleotide identity, 2) determination of virulence factors and undesirable genes, 3) determination of antimicrobial resistance properties and their possibility of transfer, and 4) determination of antimicrobial drug production capability of the strain were provided in detail. Applicability of the search tools and limitations of databases were discussed. Finally, a procedural guideline for the safety assessment of microbial strains via whole-genome analysis was proposed.

Read the publication here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-66857-2

16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Profiling of Baby and Adult Captive Elephants in Thailand

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Sangam Kandel, Supaphen Sripiboon, Piroon Jenjaroenpun, David W. Ussery, Intawat Nookaew, Michael S. Robeson II, Thidathip Wongsurawat

Microbiology Resource Announcements Jun 2020, 9 (24) e00248-20; DOI: 10.1128/MRA.00248-20.

Abstract

Here, we present a 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequence data set and profiles demonstrating the bacterial diversity of baby and adult elephants from four different geographical locations in Thailand. The dominant phyla among baby and adult elephants were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Kiritimatiellaeota, Euryarchaeota, and Tenericutes.

Read the publication here: https://mra.asm.org/content/9/24/e00248-20