Abstract
Objective We investigated whether the knock out of small heat shock protein (sHSP) genes ( hsp1 , hsp2 and hsp3 ) impact on probiotic features of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WCFS1, aiming to find specific microbial effectors involved in microbe-host interplay. Results The probiotic properties of L. plantarum WCFS1 wild type, hsp1 , hsp2 and hsp3 mutant clones were evaluated and compared through in vitro trials. Oro-gastro-intestinal assays pointed to significantly lower survival for hsp1 and hsp2 mutants under stomach-like conditions, and for hsp3 mutant under intestinal stress. Adhesion to human enterocyte-like cells was similar for all clones, though the hsp2 mutant exhibited higher adhesiveness. L. plantarum cells attenuated the transcriptional induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines on lipopolysaccharide-treated human macrophages, with some exception for the hsp1 mutant. Intriguingly, this clone also induced a higher IL10/IL12 ratio, which is assumed to indicate the anti-inflammatory potential of probiotics. Conclusions sHSP genes deletion determined some differences in gut stress resistance, cellular adhesion and immuno-modulation, also implying effects on in vivo interaction with the host. HSP1 might contribute to immunomodulatory mechanisms, though additional experiments are necessary to test this feature.