Lactobacillus rhamnosus polynucleotides, polypeptides and methods for using them

A method for improving the properties of microbes used in the manufacture of milk-derived products, food, food additives, nutritional supplements and probiotic supplements, which comprises modulating the polynucleotide content or composition of said microbes by transforming said microbes with one or more polynucleotide sequences selected from the group consisting of

• (a) Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain HN001 sequences encoding polypeptides that modify the flavor, aroma, texture, nutritional, immune system modulating and health-related benefits of milk-derived products, food, food additives, or nutritional supplements;
• and
• (b) Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain HN001 sequences encoding polypeptides that increase the survivability of said microbes in dairy product manufacturing processes or products.

A method for modifying the flavor, aroma, texture and/or nutritional, immune system modulating and health benefits of milk-derived products, food, food additives, nutritional supplements, or probiotic supplements, which comprises adding one or more polypeptides to the milk being processed, wherein said polypeptides are selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain HN001 peptidases, esterases, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenases, acetoin dehydrogenases, 6-phospho β-galactosidases, aromatic aminotransferases, acetyl kinases, malic enzymes, malate dehydrogenases, malY/Pat B pyridoxal 5′ phosphate aminotransferases, histidinol-phosphate aminotransferases, dihydropicolinate synthases, dihydropicolinate reductases, aspartate aminotransferases, mal Y aminotransferases, cystathione β lyases, serine dehydratases, aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductases, basic surface proteins, outer membrane proteins, extracellular matrix binding proteins, high molecular weight adhesion proteins, periplasmic binding proteins, autoaggregation proteins, and tagatose bisphosphate aldolases.

A therapeutic composition effective for treating or preventing a gastrointestinal condition or disorder in a mammal caused by the presence of pathogenic microbes in the gastrointestinal tract or by the absence of normal intestinal microbes in the intestinal tract or due to the presence of an autoimmune, allergic or atopic syndrome, wherein said composition comprises one or more species or strains of probiotic microbes that are non-pathogenic to mammalian organisms, wherein said microbes comprise one or more expressible polynucleotide sequences derived from Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 that encode polypeptides selected from the group consisting of autoaggregation proteins, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenases, basic surface proteins, outer membrane proteins, extracellular matrix binding proteins, high molecular weight adhesion proteins, and periplasmic binding proteins.

A transgenic microbial population comprising an expressible polynucleotide sequence isolated from Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 that encodes aflatoxin β1 aldehyde reductase, wherein said composition is effective in detoxifying carcinogens, including aflatoxin, and wherein said microbial population is nonpathogenic and can be administered to a mammal, or introduced to a food or feedstuff for use as an anticarcinogenic agent.

An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence present in Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain HN001 that encodes a polypeptide capable of modifying the flavor, aroma, texture and/or nutritional, immunomodulatory or health benefits of milk-derived products, food, food additives, nutritional supplements, or probiotic supplements, wherein said polypeptides are selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain HN001 peptidases, esterases, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenases, acetoin dehydrogenases, 6-phospho β-galactosidases, aromatic aminotransferases, acetyl kinases, malic enzymes, malate dehydrogenases, malY/Pat B pyridoxal 5′ phosphate aminotransferases, histidinol-phosphate aminotransferases, dihydropicolinate synthases, dihydropicolinate reductases, aspartate aminotransferases, mal Y aminotransferases, cystathione β lyases, serine dehydratases, aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductases, and basic surface proteins, outer membrane proteins, extracellular matrix binding proteins, high molecular weight adhesion proteins, periplasmic binding proteins, autoaggregation proteins, and tagatose bisphosphate aldolases.

An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence present in Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain HN001 that encodes a polypeptide that increases the survivability of microbes in dairy product manufacturing processes, wherein said polypeptides are selected from the group consisting of malic enzymes, malate dehydrogenases, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenases, dihydropicolinate synthases, dihydropicolinate reductases, aspartate aminotransferases, serine dehydratases, forrnamidopyrimidine-DNA-glycosylases, phosphoenolpyruvate hydratases, tagatose bisphosphate aldolases, phosphoglycerate kinases, triose phosphate isomerases, fructose-bis phosphate aldolases, phosphoryl carrier proteins, and dnaK chaperone proteins.

A therapeutic composition effective for treating or preventing infection of wounds, surgical incisions, or abrasions by pathogenic microbes in the skin, and other tissues, wherein said composition comprises one or more species or strains of probiotic microbes that are non-pathogenic to mammalian organisms, wherein said microbes comprise one or more expressible polynucleotide sequences derived from Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 that encode polypeptides selected from the group consisting of autoaggregation proteins, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenases, basic surface proteins, outer membrane proteins, extracellular matrix binding proteins, high molecular weight adhesion proteins, and periplasmic binding proteins.