(BMC Genomics, 2024-09-20) Silva, Matheus H.; Batista, Letícia L.; Malta, Serena M.; Santos, Ana C. C.; Mendes-Silva, Ana Paula; Bonetti, Ana M.; Ueira-Vieira, Carlos; dos Santos, Anderson R.
Background
Kefir is a complex microbial community that plays a critical role in the fermentation and production of bioactive peptides, and has health-improving properties. The composition of kefir can vary by geographic localization and weather, and this paper focuses on a Brazilian sample and continues previous work that has successful anti-Alzheimer properties. In this study, we employed shotgun metagenomics and peptidomics approaches to characterize Brazilian kefir further.
Results
We successfully assembled the novel genome of Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens (LkefirU) and conducted a comprehensive pangenome analysis to compare it with other strains. Furthermore, we performed a peptidome analysis, revealing the presence of bioactive peptides encrypted by L. kefiranofaciens in the Brazilian kefir sample, and utilized in silico prospecting and molecular docking techniques to identify potential anti-Alzheimer peptides, targeting β-amyloid (fibril and plaque), BACE, and acetylcholinesterase. Through this analysis, we identified two peptides that show promise as compounds with anti-Alzheimer properties.
Conclusions
These findings not only provide insights into the genome of L. kefiranofaciens but also serve as a promising prototype for the development of novel anti-Alzheimer compounds derived from Brazilian kefir.
