Presenter: Dallin Leatham, College of Science, Microbiology
Authors: Dallin Leatham, Taylor Oberg, Craig Oberg
Faculty Advisor: Craig Oberg, College of Sciences, Microbiology
Institution: Weber State University
Using the genome of Lactobacillus curvatus WSU1, a bioinformatics analysis revealed the organism contained the genes for a potential metabolomic pathway which utilized lactic acid to produce propanol and propionic acid which are two potential antimicrobials. No specific gene was found for the conversion of the intermediate 1,2-propanediol to lactaldehyde but a likely candidate was proposed. LAB can often produce 1,2-propanediol from acetate and hydroxyacetate. It is hypothesized that like Lactobacillus reuteri, L. curvatus can utilize glycerol to produce 3-hydroxypropionic acid and 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (reuterin) both of which are known antimicrobials. All of these processes are strictly anaerobic thus all cultures were grown in medicine bottles containing septum’s with the headspace purged with 95% N2 and 5% CO2. The cultures were grown in carbohydrate restricted MRS containing either lactate, 1,2-propanediol, hydroxyacetate, acetate, or glycerol at 80mM concentration. The proposed metabolomic pathway may need B12 in order to function thus the cultures were grown in duplicates with half containing B12. A GC analysis will be done to test for the presence of 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde, propionic acid, propanol, and 3-hydroxypropionic acid at day 0, 1 and 7 of growth. The presence of certain products could prove the functionality of the proposed metabolic pathway and/or if L. curvatus can utilize glycerol similar to L. reuteri. If L. curvatus is able to produce antimicrobial compounds it would be of vital interest to the food industry. As a common NSLAB, it could be added to products to help inhibit the growth of pathogens or spoilage organisms.