Microbiological analysis reveals antimicrobial traits and metabolic adaptation in food-isolated Enterococcus bulliens, highlighting the need for integrated genomic safety assessments.
Key Points
To isolate and characterize the genomic profile, metabolic potential, and food safety risks of Enterococcus bulliens strain CFF05 isolated from Thai cooked fermented fish.
Isolated E. bulliens strain CFF05 from cooked fermented fish and conducted phenotypic evaluations for hemolytic activity and antimicrobial susceptibility.
Performed long-read whole-genome sequencing to assemble the complete chromosome, followed by average nucleotide identity determination, mobile genetic element screening, and comparative pangenome analysis.
Phenotypic testing revealed beta-hemolytic activity, resistance to ampicillin and clindamycin, and intermediate susceptibility to erythromycin.
Long-read sequencing generated a complete 2.24 Mb chromosome (99.4% average nucleotide identity) harboring vanW, vanY, qacJ, and tlyA homologs, with no plasmids or intact high-risk resistance operons.
Pangenomic analysis identified strain-specific enrichments in amino acid, carbohydrate, and riboflavin biosynthesis pathways reflecting ecological adaptation to fermented food.