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Heyndrickxia coagulans

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Heyndrickxia coagulans
Gram stain of Heyndrickxia coagulans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Bacteria
Kingdom: Bacillati
Phylum: Bacillota
Class: Bacilli
Order: Bacillales
Family: Heyndrickxiaceae
Genus: Heyndrickxia
Species:
H. coagulans
Binomial name
Heyndrickxia coagulans
(Hammer 1915) Narsing Rao et al. 2023
Synonyms
  • Bacillus coagulans (Approved Lists 1980) emend. De Clerck et al. 2004
  • Lactobacillus sporogenes in Bergey's fifth ed.
  • Weizmannia coagulans (Hammer, 1915) Gupta et al., 2020

Heyndrickxia coagulans (formerly Bacillus coagulans) is a lactic acid–forming bacterial species. This species was transferred to Weizmannia in 2020,[1][2] then to Heyndrickxia in 2023.[3][2]

Description

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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.[2] H. coagulans grows best at 50 °C (122 °F), but the microbe can sustain growth for a temperature range of 30–55 °C (86–131 °F).[2]

Taxonomic history

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The species was first isolated and described in 1915 by B.W. Hammer at the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station as a cause of an outbreak of coagulation in evaporated milk packed by an Iowa condensary.[4] 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.[2][5]DNA-based technology was used in distinguishing between the two genera of bacteria, which are morphologically similar and possess similar physiological and biochemical characteristics.[6][7]

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.[1] In 2023, even further genetic evidence shows that Weizmannia was not sufficiently distinct from Heyndrickxia to be an independent genus; as a result, all members of Weizmannia were moved to Heyndrickxia.[3]

Microbiology

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The bacterium H. coagulans has been found in various environments including an array of different fruits and vegetables such as potatoes, pickles, corn, and potatoes. [8] In addition, H. coagulans appears in fermented rice and soil. The environmental persistence of this bacteria suggests a significant influence on its properties. The spores are activated in acidic environments such as the stomach and allow the bacteria to survive in a wide range of ecological niches. This creates the tolerance of H. coagulans to persist in gastric juices, bile salts, and adhere to intestinal mucosa, all essential traits for probiotic efficacy. [9] Genome analysis confirmed antibiotic resistance of H. coagulans meaning it can withstand the presence of antibiotics and continue to live in the gut microbiome. Key genes associated with fermentation, stress response, and adhesion were found from genome mining of B. coagulans VHBAX-04. This strain also lacks pathogenicity-related genes, confirming its safety for human use. [9] In-vitro tests performed on B. coagulans JBI-YZ6.3 demonstrated tolerance to gastrointestinal environments as well as storage stability.

Genome analysis

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Genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism including xylA (xylose isomerase) and galT (UDP-glucose--hexose-1-phosphate uridylyl transferase) were identified through genome analysis of B. coagulans AO1167B, which equip this microbe to metabolize a diverse range of sugars allowing it to grow and produce energy in the gut microbiome. [9] Other genes present which provides the bacteria with the ability to ferment lactose and other prebiotic sugars confirm a beneficial relationship with the hosts microbiome. Both ackA (acetate kinase) and pka (phosphotransacetylase) support H. coagulans' ability to produce acetate which support the integrity of the intestinal barrier and metabolic regulation. Other important genes such as bioB (biotin synthase) and thieE (thiamine phosphate synthase) allows the strain to synthesize essential vitamins including biotin, vitamin B12, and thiamine. [9] This evaluation of the microbial genome of B. coagulans provides insightful information on the bacteria's ability to improve stress resistance, enhance immune response, and be used as an effective probiotic.[citation needed]

Metabolism

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Heyndrickxia coagulans strain L-2 had about 79% of its total genes encoding for processes related to metabolism, cellular processes, and signal transmission. [10] 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. [10]

Secondary metabolism occurs in bacteria when microbial growth reaches a certain growth phase, typically stationary phase. This is where primary metabolites are sued as precursors to synthesize substances that are not essential for regular activities. These substances are known as secondary metabolites and are encoded for by genes placed in clusters on the genome. H. coagulans L-2 was found to contain four sequences of secondary metabolite codes throughout the genome. These sequences were embedded in T3PKS, bacteriocin, and β-lactam respectively. These annotated sequences were associated with many different functions including spore formation, drug resistance, defense metabolism, protein folding, and more.[10]

Human health and probiotic qualities

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Heyndrixia coagulans is a probiotic which can prove beneficial for a variety of health outcomes. Additionally, this microbe has been found to have potential in preventing cancer with its antipruritic and anti allergenic properties.[11] One unique benefit of H. coagulans is its ability to improve exercise performance. It does this by speeding up the digestion of food in the digestive tract which can help the body absorb essential amino acids (EAA) necessary for improving skeletal muscle mass and lessening muscle damage. Along with EAA, calcium, magnesium, and other important minerals can be absorbed faster.[11] Intestinal epithelial cells form a lining around the intestinal tract to act as a barrier against pathogens while also regulating the absorption of nutrients and water. H. coagulans has the ability to provide nutrients to the epithelial cells, increasing their ability to stick to the intestinal tract and stop pathogen invasion.[12] 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. While CTX has also been used to treat autoimmune and hereditary immunological disorders, it can negatively impact the microbiota. H. coagulans is able to help restore the damage done by CTX with its probiotic properties. 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.[11] Oxidative stress is caused by an overabundance of free radicals in the cells membrane which can disrupt the body's homeostasis. As a gram-positive bacterium containing lipopolysaccharides in the membrane, H. coagulans can act as an activator of the innate immune response. By increasing the production of the enzymes glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, the microbe can halt peroxidation reactions and restore the cellular membrane. H. coagulans also produces essential nutrients including niacin, biotin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folic acid which are essential for the bodies metabolic processes[11].

Environmental health

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In addition to possessing probiotic qualities that improve human health, research shows that H. coagulans can positively impact certain aspects of environmental health. One of the most notable processes that H. coagulans is able to perform is the conversion of certain organic wastes to lactic acid, which can then be used in a variety of day-to-day substances such as preservatives[13] and cosmetics.[14]

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 preform 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.[15]

Animal health

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When added to their food, H. coagulans can act as a probiotic for animals. The probiotic qualities of H. coagulans have the ability to increase growth, [16] support immune function,[17] and alleviate internal toxicity.[18] This can increase the output while decreasing the cost of food animal production.

Uses

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H. coagulans was added to the EFSA to their Qualified Presumption of Safety in 2007 and is still approved as of 2024.[19][20] 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.[11][21] Since the bacterium is not pathogenic in humans or animals, it can be used in food, pharmaceutical, and health care products.[11] In humans, H. coagulans has been see to regulate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, including diarrhea, constipation, and dehydration, promote normal flora particularly in the reproductive system, and balance immune response.[11][22][23] When consumed orally, H. coagulans has also been effective in both treating as well as preventing recurrence of Clostridioides difficile associated diarrhea in mice.[24][11] Further, one animal research study showed that it can alter inflammatory processes in the context of multiple sclerosis.[25] For animals, H. coagulans can be used as a probiotic added to feed pellets, due to the bacterium's resistance to high temperatures.[21] H. coagulans has also been seen to reduce the negative effects of antibiotics on a patient's normal microbiome.[11]

Marketing

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H. coagulans is often marketed as Lactobacillus sporogenes or a 'sporeforming lactic acid bacterium' probiotic, but this is an outdated name due to taxonomic changes in 1939. Although H. coagulans does produce L+lactic acid, the bacterium used in these products is not a lactic-acid bacterium, as Bacillaceae species do not belong to the lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillales). By definition, lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium) do not form spores. Therefore, using the name Lactobacillus sporogenes is scientifically incorrect.[6][26]

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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  1. ^ a b Gupta RS, Patel S, Saini N, Chen S (2020-11-01). "Robust demarcation of 17 distinct Bacillus species clades, proposed as novel Bacillaceae genera, by phylogenomics and comparative genomic analyses: description of Robertmurraya kyonggiensis sp. nov. and proposal for an emended genus Bacillus limiting it only to the members of the Subtilis and Cereus clades of species". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 70 (11): 5753–5798. doi:10.1099/ijsem.0.004475. ISSN 1466-5026. PMID 33112222.
  2. ^ a b c d e García G, Soto J, Díaz A, Barreto J, Soto C, Pérez AB, Boffill S, Gutiérrez Á, Cano Rd (2024-12-13). "Clinical and In Vitro Safety of Heyndrickxia coagulans AO 1167B: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial". Microorganisms. 12 (12): 2584. doi:10.3390/microorganisms12122584. ISSN 2076-2607. PMC 11677179. PMID 39770785.
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  21. ^ a b Prakit B, Chaiyod R, Khongkool K, Chanasit W, Lertworapreecha M (2025-01-20). "Multifunctional probiotic and safety attributes Heyndrickxia coagulans isolated from stingless bee honey". Annals of Microbiology. 75 (1): 3. doi:10.1186/s13213-025-01791-0. ISSN 1869-2044.
  22. ^ Hun L (2009). "Bacillus coagulans significantly improved abdominal pain and bloating in patients with IBS". Postgraduate Medicine. 121 (2): 119–124. doi:10.3810/pgm.2009.03.1984. PMID 19332970. S2CID 7698543.
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