Heyndrickxia coagulans (formerly Bacillus coagulans) is a lactic acid–forming bacterial species. This species was transferred to Weizmannia in 2020, then to Heyndrickxia in 2023.

Description

H. coagulans is a catalase-positive, spore-forming, motile, facultative anaerobe rod shaped microbe. H. coagulans is usually seen as Gram positive when a Gram stain test is performed. However, if the Gram stain test is performed while H. coagulans is entering the stationary phase of growth the microbe may appear Gram negative. Separately isolated in 1935 and described as Lactobacillus sporogenes in the fifth edition of Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, it exhibits characteristics typical of both genera Lactobacillus and Bacillus; its taxonomic position between the families Lactobacillaceae and Bacillaceae was often debated. However, in the seventh edition of Bergey's, it was finally transferred to the genus Bacillus. DNA-based technology was used in distinguishing between the two genera of bacteria, which are morphologically similar and possess similar physiological and biochemical characteristics.

In 2020, further genetic evidence shows that it is sufficiently different from other members of Bacillus to be transferred into its own genus. As a result, it became the type species of Weizmannia. In-vitro tests performed on B. coagulans JBI-YZ6.3 demonstrated tolerance to gastrointestinal environments as well as storage stability.

thumb|579x579px|Biological Characteristics of Heyndrixckia coagulans.

Genome analysis

H. coagulans genome consists of a circular chromosome containing over 3,000,000 base pairs, and over 3,400 genes. Of these genes over 97% accounted for coding sequencing genes while just over 100 code for RNA. Specifically, pyruvate metabolism contained the highest number of annotated genes. This includes a bidirectional enzymatic reaction between pyruvate and phosphoenolpyruvate. This metabolic pathway is supported by coenzymes including acetic acid, ethanol, and L-lactic acid. L-2 also contains a complete glucose metabolic pathway through the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) system. The ethanol/acetic acid metabolic pathway is only used in low nutrient, low temperature conditions. The strengthening of the intestinal barrier by H. coagulans also serves to treat injuries caused by the alkalizing agent cyclophosphamide (CTX), which is a drug that has been increasingly used to treat cancer. Another beneficial function of this microbe is that is can reduce oxidative stress by enchaining the activity of essential enzymes which maintain the structure and function of cell membranes. and cosmetics.

H. coagulans is a thermotolerant bacteria. It is able to use thermotolerant fermentation to successfully convert food waste, like apple and tomato pomaces, into lactic acid. H. coagulans carries out this process by consuming glucose from the food waste and converting it to pyruvate and ATP. The pyruvate is then converted to lactic acid. H. coagulans is able to perform a very high glucose to lactic acid conversion, so very little excess waste is produced. This process provides a way for certain food waste to be reused rather than simply discarded.

Animal health

Similar to its effects in humans, H. coagulans can be added to animal food as a probiotic, particularly for species farmed for commercial animal production. Studies have correlated supplementation of H. coagulans in livestock feed with increased growth, greater immune function, and alleviation of internal toxicity, thus providing higher stock output while decreasing the cost of food.

Uses

H. coagulans was added to the EFSA Qualified Presumption of Safety in 2007 and is still approved as of 2024. H. coagulans is also approved for human and animal consumption as GRAS by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because H. coagulans does not contain mobile genetic elements. Since the bacterium is not pathogenic in humans or animals, it can be used in food, pharmaceutical, and health care products. When consumed orally, H. coagulans has also been effective in both treating as well as preventing recurrence of Clostridioides difficile associated diarrhea in mice. For animals, H. coagulans can be used as a probiotic added to feed pellets, due to the bacterium's resistance to high temperatures.

The 2023 name H. coagulans is nowhere as common as the former name Bacillus coagulans. The former name remains valid under the Prokaryotic Code.

References

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