Whole-genome sequence assembly of Pediococcus pentosaceus LI05 (CGMCC 7049) from the human gastrointestinal tract and comparative analysis with representative sequences from three food-borne strains

Background: Strains of Pediococcus pentosaceus from food and the human gastrointestinal tract have been widely identified, and some have been reported to reduce inflammation, encephalopathy, obesity and fatty liver in animals. In this study, we sequenced the whole genome of P. pentosaceus LI05 (CGMCC 7049), which was isolated from the fecal samples of healthy volunteers, and determined its ability to reduce acute liver injury. No other genomic information for gut-borne P. pentosaceus is currently available in the public domain. Results: We obtained the draft genome of P. pentosaceus LI05, which was 1,751,578 bp in size and possessed a mean G + C content of 37.3%. This genome encoded an abundance of proteins that were protective against acids, bile salts, heat, oxidative stresses, enterocin A, arsenate and universal stresses. Important adhesion proteins were also encoded by the genome. Additionally, P. pentosaceus LI05 genes encoded proteins associated with the biosynthesis of not only three antimicrobials, including prebacteriocin, lysin and colicin V, but also vitamins and functional amino acids, such as riboflavin, folate, biotin, thiamine and gamma-aminobutyrate. A comparison of P. pentosaceus LI05 with all known genomes of food-borne P. pentosaceus strains (ATCC 25745, SL4 and IE-3) revealed that it possessed four novel exopolysaccharide biosynthesis proteins, additional putative environmental stress tolerance proteins and phage-related proteins. Conclusions: This work demonstrated the probiotic properties of P. pentosaceus LI05 from the gut and the three other food-borne P. pentosaceus strains through genomic analyses. We have revealed the major genomic differences between these strains, providing a framework for understanding the probiotic effects of strain LI05, which exhibits unique physiological and metabolic properties.