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Abundance of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus in Porcine Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract and the Isolation, Characterization and Predation Ability of Porcine Stomach-derived Strain

Abstract

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is a kind of Gram-negative predator that feeds on other Gram-negative bacteria. Due to this, it is recognized as a potential alternative agent for antibiotics, which could alleviate the emergence of multiple drug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections in animal industry. Detailed studies about B. bacteriovorus in porcine GI tract have rarely been reported. The research here mainly focuses on detection of the abundance of B. bacteriovorus in porcine GI tract, and the isolation, characterization and predation ability of stomach-derived B. bacteriovorus. In our study, total bacterial DNA was extracted from each segment in porcine GI tract, which was then analyzed by qPCR. Results strongly suggested that B. bacteriovorus did exist in porcine GI tract, and there was a significant difference between its quantity in cecum (10e4.32 copies g-1 contents) and duodenum (10e2.77 copies g-1 contents) (P<0.05). Meanwhile, B. bacteriovorus was isolated from digesta in porcine stomach, whose presence was further confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. To testify the predation ability of isolate, E. coli and salmonella were fed to it at 37°C. On account of this, the isolate could potentially play some role in controlling the gram-negative bacterial infections in animal industry.

Jianwen He, Weijiang Zheng, Xu Ji, Wen Yao

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