Genome Characteristics of Lactobacillus fermentum Strain JDFM216 for Application as Probiotic Bacteria

Abstract

<i>Lactobacillus fermentum</i> strain JDFM216, isolated from a Korean infant feces sample, possesses the ability to enhance the longevity and immune response of a <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> host. To explore the characteristics of strain JDFM216 at the genetic level, we performed whole-genome sequencing using the PacBio system. The circular draft genome has a total length of 2,076,427 bp and a total of 2,682 encoding sequences were identified. Five phylogenetically featured genes possibly related to the longevity and immune response of the host were identified in <i>L. fermentum</i> strain JDFM216. These genes encode UDP-<i>N</i>-acetylglucosamine 1-carboxyvinyltransferase (E.C. 2.5.1.7), ErfK/YbiS/YcfS/YnhG family protein, site-specific recombinase XerD, homocysteine S-methyltransferase (E.C. 2.1.1.10), and aspartate-ammonia ligase (E.C. 6.3.1.1), which are involved in peptidoglycan synthesis and amino acid metabolism in the gut environment. Our findings on the genetic background of <i>L. fermentum</i> strain JDFM216 and its potential candidate genes for host longevity and immune response provide new insight for the application of this strain in the food industry as newly isolated functional probiotic.