EXOPOLYSACCHARIDES AND USES THEREOF"

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DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to exopolysaccharide molecules and their use to boost immune system.

BACKGROUND

The consumption of food products and supplements named probiotics, i.e. containing live microbial cells, to potentially prevent or treat specific diseases, is constantly gaining popularity.

A number of Lactobacillus species, but also some other have been proposed as, and are used as, probiotic strains - live microorganisms as food supplement in order to benefit health.

Strains of Lactobacillus paracasei are Gram-positive, non-spore-forming bacteria that are common inhabitants of the human intestinal tract. Specific strains of L. paracasei are found naturally in a number of fermented food products, and they have traditionally been used in the production of fermented milks and cheeses.

More recently, specific strains of L. paracasei have been used in probiotic dietary supplements, including the strain L. paracasei DG (commercially known as L. casei DG ^® , Enterolactis ^® ). A range of health-promoting properties has been assigned to L. paracasei DG including the improvement of ulcerative colitis and treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and a number of mechanisms have been proposed for the probiotic effect.

One of the most studied mechanisms relates to the ability of probiotic bacteria to antagonize pathogenic organisms by either excretion of antimicrobial agents or the displacement of pathogenic organisms through the competitive occupancy of adhesion sites. In addition, there are a number of reports referring to the health benefits result from stimulation of the immune system by components presented at the surface of probiotic strains. Several studies have demonstrated that the polysaccharides present at the surface of the bacteria, referred to as either capsule or as exopolysaccharides (EPSs), can play a role in both the displacement of pathogenic organisms and the stimulation of the immune system.

In this context, the present invention refers to exopolysaccharide molecules and their use as prebiotics and/or probiotics, in particular to boost immune system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

- Figure 1 shows a comparative genomic analysis of Lactobacillus paracasei DG with other complete genome sequences of L. paracasei strains. (A) Circular genome atlas of L. paracasei (reference genome) and six other publicly available L. paracasei genomes; highlighted in the atlas are the two putative exopolysaccharide (EPS) regions of strain DG.

- Figure 2 shows the NMR analysis of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) isolated from Lactobacillus paracasei DG. In particular, Fig. 2 shows selected regions of thel H-NMR of the DG-EPS recorded at 70°C in D2O and using acetone as an internal standard, anomeric (H-1 ) resonances are labelled A-F in order of decreasing chemical shift.

- Figure 3 shows the NMR analysis of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) isolated from Lactobacillus paracasei DG. In particular, Fig. 3 shows selected regions of overlaid COSY (black contours) and TOCSY (grey contours) spectra for the DG-EPS recorded at 70°C; symbols A-F identify individual sugars and numbers (1 -6) identify the C/H ring position.

- Figure 4 shows the NMR analysis of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) isolated from Lactobacillus paracasei DG. In particular, Fig 4 shows selected regions of the HSQC spectrum of DG-EPS; the location of the individual ring and H6-protons and carbons are identified on the top frame, and the location of the anomeric protons and carbons are identified on the bottom frame. The spectrum was recorded in D2O at 70°C.

- Figure 5 shows the NMR analysis of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) isolated from Lactobacillus paracasei DG. In particular, Fig. 5 shows the anomeric region of a ROESY spectrum recorded for the DG-EPS; inter- and intra-residue NOEs from the anomeric hydrogens to ring protons are individually labelled.

- Figure 6 shows the repeating unit structure of DG-EPS, i.e. the heteropolysaccharide isolated from Lactobacillus paracasei DG.

- Figure 7 shows the gene expression analysis by qRT-PCR in human macrophages THP-1 after 4 h stimulation with purified DG-EPS molecule (0.1 , 1 , and 10 μg ml-1 ), with or without the addition of LPS (1 μg ml-1 ). Expression levels of TNF-a, IL-6, IL-8, CCL20, and COX-2 are shown as the fold change of induction (FOI) relative to the control (unstimulated macrophages), which was set at a value of 1 . Data are presented as mean of three independent experiments ± standard deviation. Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences (according to two-tailed unpaired Student's t test) compared to unstimulated (samples under the left Y axis) or LPS-stimulated (samples under the right Y axis) THP-1 cells: ^* , P<0.05; ^** , P<0.01 .

- Figure 8 shows the in silico predicted functional organization of the EPS- b region of L. paracasei DG; the figure shows the BLASTN search results for the region EPS-b and has been obtained by adding a picture of the putative EPS gene cluster over the graphic representation of the BLASTN output. In white are indicated open reading frames (ORFs) outside the putative EPS operon; in black are ORFs that do not share significant homology with other sequences in GenBank. D.R., direct repeat sequences.

DEFINITION

In the context of the present invention, "exopolysaccharide" means extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) mainly composed of carbohydrates, i.e. natural polymers of high molecular weight secreted by microorganisms into their environment.

In the context of the present invention, "prebiotic" means substances that induce the growth or activity of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria and fungi) that contribute to the well-being of their host.

In the context of the present invention, "boost immune system" means mainly activate immune system cells toward any potentially detrimental elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a first aspect, the present invention refers to an exopolysaccharide comprising at least one repeating unit of rhamnose, galactose and N- acetygalactosamine in a ratio of respectively 4:1 :1 . The exopolysaccharide can be also defined a heteropolysaccharide.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rhamnitol is

1 .2.3.4.5- penta-O-acetyl-L-rhamnitol.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the galactose is1 ,2,3,4,5,6-hexa-O-acetyl-D-galactitol.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the N- acetygalactosamine is 2-acetamido-1 , 3,4,5, 6-penta-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-D- galactitol.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the rhamnitol is 1 ,2,3,4,5-penta-O-acetyl-L-rhamnitol, the galactose is1 ,2,3,4,5,6-hexa- O-acetyl-D-galactitol, and the N-acetygalactosamine is 2-acetamido-

1 .3.4.5.6- penta-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-D-galactitol.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rhamnose residues have L- configuration and/or the galactose and/or the N-acetygalactosamine has (have) D-configuration.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the exopolysaccharide comprises the repeating unit having Formula I:

A D E C B

--.3)-a-L-Rhap-(1 -->3)-a-L-R ap-{1--.3)-p-D-GalpNAc-{1--.2)<t-L-Rhap-(1 --»2)-o.-L- ap-(1 --.

2

1

p-D-Galp

F

(Formula I)

Preferably A as a 2,3-linked rhamnose, preferably B as 2-linked rhamnose, preferably C as a 2-linked rhamnose, preferably D as a 3-linked rhamnose; preferably E (N-acetylgalactosamine) is 1 , 3-linked; and preferably F are terminal galactose monomer. According to a preferred embodiment A is preferably linked to the 3- position of D, C is preferably linked to the 2-position of B, D is preferably linked to the 3-position of E; F is preferably linked to the 2-position of A. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the exopolysaccharide is produced or can be obtained from L. paracasei DG strain or mutant strain thereof.

In other words, when these bacteria are grown in an appropriate medium/broth at the appropriate temperature and for predetermined time, the exopolysaccharide molecules are secreted into the medium/broth. This broth/medium is defined conditioned medium meaning that it contains the metabolites derived from bacteria. The exopolysaccharide is one of the metabolites.

In some embodiments, the exopolysaccharide remains anchored or is part of the cell membrane and/or cell wall.

Therefore, in some embodiments it is possible to isolate the membrane/wall from the bacteria wherein said membrane/wall comprises the exopolysaccharide of the invention.

Therefore, as alternative or in combination of using the conditioned medium it is possible to use the membrane/wall fraction of the bacteria comprising the exopolysaccharide or fragments thereof.

The Lactobacillus paracasei strain DG has been deposited at the National Collection of Microorganisms Cultures of the Pasteur Institute under the code CNCM 1-1572.

A further aspect of the present invention refers to the cluster of genes codifying the proteins involved in the synthesis/expression of the exopolysaccharide of the invention.

This cluster comprises SEQ ID NO: 1 or fragments thereof sequence having 80-99% of identity.

Sequence SEQ ID NO Name ccatctttag attattaaat aatattatcc tagattgcaa taataaagtt SEQ ID NO: 1 Lactobacillus accacctagaaagaggcttg ctcactgctt gaactggggt ttgccaacgg agacattttc paracasei strain taggtttgttattgataaac gctgtggctc gttgaatatt ggcctctgaa acctgatcaa DG

actgtgttcccttcgggaaa tagtagcgaa gttctcgatt gaaccgttcg ttcgtgcccc Exopolysaccharide- gttcattcgggtgataggca tggcaaaagt aaatcggtat ccgatagcgc tttgtaagcg b cctgatcgcaggaaaactct ttaccgtgat caaccgtcac tgatcgaacc ggacccggaa EPS-b region agtctaccatcagtcttgca aatcctttga gaacagcatt ttgtgataag ttttcaagct

tagttgtcgccattaaacgt gtcacccgat cgacaatggt caaaacagca gcctttgacc

cgcgaccaccgcgaactgta tccatctcta aatgtccttt ttcggttcgc cgattagctg

actcactgcgaatctcaatt gaggtgccta ctgcttggtt atagcgcgac cgaaggtctt

gtcttcttttatgacgttta ccgtgatcaa agagttggct tggctgaaaa tcgacttgtc

tttgataaatccagtggtaa atcgtgtgtg gcgcacagtg aacgacataa ccgaccattt

caggggaccaacctaggttt agcttctcag ttaccatccg cttcaactta ggcgttaaaa

tcgagtgccgaccacaacga tgccgacaag tatcggcatg atcctgagct ataatggcgc

agtaatcaccttcagggcaa cggtgaagct catgcctaat agaaatacga gagcggccta

aggtcgcggcgatgtattga atcgtgtggt gttgcatcag ttctatctga gatcgttcaa

ttaaggttataatggccatg ggacctgtcc ttctctctag atggtatgtt atgcaaacac

cattttagcaagaacggaca ggtctttttt cacattttct gggtggtaac tttaattatg

caatctaggttataaaatct tttgatagcc cggcgtttca tctaatgtta aagcataacg

ccgcacattaaaggtggggg aaaccatgtt agacaatatc gggaaattgg tgcaccaaca

gcgccgcagtttgaacttga cgattgagaa gttggcggag cgatccggcg tctcgatcag

tctgatttcgcgaatggagc gtggagacgt caacaatatc agcataaaaa aattgaccga

cattgcgcgggctttaaata tgcaggtagg cgacttcttt attgctccgg aaatgagcga

tattagcacattagcggtgg tgaaatactt aacccactta ccagagaaag aacgggcgcg

tgtttccgaggtactcatgc aggtgattaa cctgtaagta ccaccttttt agaacagtct

gtcacttgaggctgttcttt tttgatatca aaaatgtcag aatgacctta aaaggatggc

gcaacccgttgtcagtcagc tggtaaaacg cgtatactaa atgcactgat tttagacaat

gaacgcgaacttgcacggtt agcttggttt gacaaagtgg cactgaatag ttgatcaagt

atttgttcggctaacaggct ttcttcacaa taaccaaccg ccatgtggag aacgcatttt

aaaagaaggagaatgatcga catgacattt gaagcaattt taccgtcctt taaagccggc

aagaaggccgttcgcaccgg ctgggaaggt actgagttgt atgtgcaact agttccggaa

ggcaaattcgaaggcgacac tttgaatccg tattttttga tcaaaactgc cgacgaagct

ttcagtctctggtcaccgac tgactgtgac attttggctg aagactggca gcttgtgaac

gcatgacgcatttcgacttc accgacaaga ccgtcatcat caccggcgcg gcttctggca

tcggtgcggctcaggcggcg gcttttcagg cagctggtgc cactgtggta ggaattgacc

tccaaccaattagcaacctc acagacgcca ttcaggccga tgtgagcgat cctgccacgg

cagcagcgattgcggctcaa taccagccag atattgtctg caatacggcg ggcgtgttgg

atggttatcaaactgtgacc gatacggcgc tctcggcatg gcagcacatt ctcgatgtcg

atcctaccagtcagttctta atgatcaagg cgctgctgcc ggggatgctg gctcgcggtc

acggtattttcatcaatatg agttccatcg ctggtttagt cggtggtggt ggcggcttgg

cgtatactgctgctaagcac gccgtcatcg tcctcaccaa gcaattagac cttgattacg

ccgccaagggcattcgcgcc aacgcgctcg caccaggcgc tatcaacacg

cccatgaacg ccgctgattttgccggcgac gggaaaatgg ctgcgtgggt agcgcgcgaa

accccagcca aacgctgggccaagcccgag gaagtcgcac aattatcctt gtttctggcc

agcgatgctg ctgattatattcatggaacc gtgattccca ttgacggcgg ctggctcgaa

aagtaaactt aatgcattgcaacaccaaaa ctgaaaacgg aaggcaatcc ttccacgacg

atacttactt tcctttgatcgtcgttacta ctggcatagc cacaaaggag aacaaacatg

caaacaactt caaccacccatcgttcaatc gtcagtctcg ccaaaaccgc catgatcacg

tccatttacg tcgtgatgaccctcatgctc agtccactca gcttcggggt cgtacaagtt

cggttctccg agatgctcaactacacggca ctcttcaacc gccgttatgt ctggggcgtc

acgctgggtg tttttttggccaatttaacc tcgtcaaccg cactcctcga tgtcccaatc

ggcaccctcg gcacgctcgtcttcatcatc atcagccgct ggttagccaa actcgtccaa

ccaaaatggg ctaaattcaccatcatgggt atccttttcg ccttatccat gttcaccatt gccggcgaac tgaccatcctcacaaaagtc ccattctggc caacctacgc taccatcgcg cttggcgaag ccatctcgatggccgtcggt ggcgttgtga tgatgatttt gacgcgattt gtggatttgg ataagtaggcgataaggcta ttgaaagagg ctcctataga aaaaagctta ctggcaggaa aggtttcgctgaagcttttc gatctggcag aagggcaagc aggtctgatt gctgtgttca aaagttgtcgcaggggttag gcttccgatg cacctgattt tggttaaata ttggttaaat acaaaaaagcatcaagacaa ttgtctcgat gcttttttta atggaaggga tacgccctaa atcttttttaagcaagatgc taatcctagg taatgatggt cttttcattg ttactttttc aatgtctgcatgacatcctt agcaatcaac gtgtagtaat gcggccggcc agcgtcgttc ggatggacaccgtcatcagc aaaccagtcg tcattgccac ctgccagata ataccaatcc accacatgcagattggcatg ggttttagct gccgcatgaa tcagcttgtt aaccggatca atccacgctttccccggagc atacgcggtc acccagaaga cctgacgctc agtcccaagc tgatccagaatcccgttaat gtcggcctct gtcataggtc cgttcgtccc caaactgatc acaaccgtgttagccaactt accacttgcc ttcagctgac taataatcgc aggtgctgcc tgcacctgccgaccaacctc agcatcaatc gacatctccg gaaaaagcac cttcaaatat gccgaactccccagcataat cgaatcgcca atcgccgaca ccggcaatgt tttggccgca ttaatctcgctgtcagttaa gccataaagc cgatactgat tcagaacctt ttccttcttc accttcgccttagaatcctt ctgaatgcgc tgccgcgtcg attggttaac cgcaatcgcc tgctcagactgataatgctt gacgtagaag aaccccgcga caccagcagt tgccaatccc aacgcgatacttaatagcca gtctcgtaga cgtagcttgt tttttttcat gatttagtga acccccaaaatttgcattgc ttatatttta aactaaaaat caggttagtc tgattacaag ttagggtcattctgacgggt ttataggaaa ctgtaaatag actgtaataa aatgaaattt gaagttaccaaccttagtaa aaggcgtgta tatcggattc aaactaatct gatagtacaa ccaaaaacatgacattcatt caaaacaggt agacttcgtc acacatgcta ggttattatg gtttggagtagagttttaaa agtctttttt agaaatgcgg gctgcgctgc ttgtggtccg cattttgagtgttggatata aattatggga ttaggtgggg aaagagttaa tgaacaagca aatcgacctt tcgcagttgt ggaatgtatt taaacgcagc tttgttgcaa tgattattct cggaattctt gggatggcgg ctgcttattt cggtgctaaa acgtttattt cgccaaaata tgagtctgat acgtcattgc tggtcaatcg caagcaggat aacgatccaa acatgcaatt gaatgctcag caggctgata ttcagatcat taatacatac aaggacatta tcacacgtcc agtcgtttta caggctgttg cgagtgaact aacaagtccc cagcgtgtat tgataaaaaa agctacaaag gcggtttatg gtacgcgtta caatgcaaca acaggtgttc gagaagaata tgttactcaa aaagctcaac cggcgcaata taagttaaag ccagctcaat actccaatct ttcatctacc gatcttgcta aggtcgtaac agtatccaca cagcaaaatt ctcaagtgtt taccgttaac gttaaagata cagatcctgt tcgggcaaga gatattgcaa atgaagttgc taaggttttt gaaaagaaaa ttgctaaaat catgagcatt tccaatgttt ccgttgtttc aagggcaacg gctgatccga taccagtatt gcctcggttg aatctaatgg cattaattgg cctagtttta ggagtgcttg tcgctttcgt ttggggattg attcgagaac tgacagatca gaccattaag gatattgact ttatcacgga cgaccttggg ttggttaatt tgggaatagt caattatgtt caacatatgc gtgacatgag tgaagcgatc gatgccacaa agtcaataga agctgaggat actgaagatt acgatgcgtc ggactttccg caacgtagcc gtcgccgaat ctaaggagga agaaaacatg aagtggtctt tcaaacaact tttccaccgg caacaagaag atcaagaaac tcaaaagaac ggggtcattt tagtcacttt cgctgaacca aaacatgttg tttcagaaca gtttcgcaca gtgcgaacta atattgagtt tgctggagca gctcttgata agtgtcaagt tgttatgttt acgtcttcag tgatgtccaa gggcaagtcg actgtttcgg caaacgttgc ggtaacttgg gctcaggcgg ggaaaaaggt tttactgatt gattgtgacc ttcgacgacc gactgtacat gcaacttttc gaacgcttaa tctagaggga gtcacaacag tattaacggg gaaaagttct gctcacaata tagttgagca aacatttgtg agtaatttag atattcttac ctccgggccg ctacctccca ctccgtctga acttttaaat tcacaacgta tggctaacct cgtggattgg gcacgcgaca attatgatat tgttgttcta gatgcaccgc cagttttggc agtatctgat gtacaggtct tagtccccaa aacagatggc gtagtggttg tcgcaaagat ggggaagact ttaaagggag acttaagacg aactattgaa gttctgaagc ttgcaaaagc taaacttctt ggatgtgtag agcgtgtgaa tgttaaacgt ggcgatcgcg gctatggcta cggttatggc tacggttatg ggaatgaagg gactaaataa tccgatatta tcaacctaaa gaaaaaaggc atagctcaaa tatttataaa ttgatgctta acgcattgtt gtctgttttt gatgtttggg tggttatctg attatttatg tgatttaata gtggcaagaa aagtttataa atttaatata cttgcacaaa gatttttaag aatgcaagtt tttattcttg caaagttgaa aaagtgattt cgactttagc acggggaacg cgacatacta aagtcacttc acgtagtgcg tttgggggag gaaggatcat gtatcaacac ttcattaaaa gaattttaga tattttggga gcaataatag cattgctaat cttggcaatc ccgtttatca ttattgcaat acttattagg atggattcaa cgggtccagc cttttttcgt cagcaaagaa tggggaagga tgggaagccc tttagaattt acaagtttcg tacaatggac caagaggccc cacacgatct tgcaactgct aaactagata atgctaataa gcagattaca cgggtcggtc gattgctccg aaagacaagt attgatgagt tacctcagtt cattaatgtg ttaaagggcg acatgagcat ggtcggacca cgtccggttg tcttgacaga aactgagcta attgaaatgc gtcacaaaaa tggcgctgaa agtgctttac cggggataac aggattagcg caggtaaacg gaagagatcg gttatccaat ttaagtaaat ctaattacga tggtatttat gtttcttcaa tttcattttt tatagattca aagataatgg tcaaaacttt ctggtatgta gctcttcgat taggtattag agaaggtcgt ccaaattcta aaaaagttaa tgctgctaat atcggagaaa aaaatattag gccgaacgaa cagcaactat ttttaaaaag gaaagcttag atttaatgaa tgataatact aaagaaatta gcttttgtac cgttacttat aacagcgcaa aagaagtgac ccagttaata gaaaatatag agtctctaaa aagcgatttg ttttcctcac gagttttcat tgttgataat gggtcccaag atgacacagt gaatatagtt ttaaagcttt ctcaggaaca ctctaatctt gttttaatta ggcctgatgt gaatagggga tttggagcag gcaacaatca ggtgttaaat atgattacct cggattacca tattctgatt aatccagatg tgcgtatacc gtcctccaga acgattgaaa agatgatcgg gtatatggat actcattctg atgttggact gttatccccc aaaattctta atgttgacgg ctcagttcaa aaattattta gacataatcc tactgtactt gatatggcgt tacggttcat ctcacctaat cttatgaaaa aaaggcaaga ttggttcgtc catgaagaga ccgggtatac tcagagcgga gtgatcgatc aagctagtgg agcatttatg tttttccgta catctgtatt taaaggtata gcgggttttg atgagagata ctttatgtat ttggaggatg cagacattac tcgtaaggtc aatgctgtta gcaaagcaat tttttatcct gaagtaagca tcatgcataa gtggaatcga caaaatcatt caaagttgaa attcattggc tatacaatta agagcatggt tcaatatttt aacaaatggg gatggaagtt attctaacca ctggggagat tgattgaatg atttggctgg gaattgtctg tattagcttt atatctagtt gtttccaaaa attagagaag tcagcgggtt tgatatcttt tttgggttta ggttatttgg cgggcacacc aaatatgttg tacgatcccg atgcttttgt ctatttacaa aattataatt cgggcactga ttatttcgag acaggatata attgggtgac aaagctattt gagcctagtg tagattatca aacatttaga ttatacagta gtttatttat ttttttcctg atgtttttag cagtactttt gatgacaaag cacgtatcaa gtattgcgtt ggtttatgca atcgcaatgt ttccggttga taaagcacag actagaaatg tcatggcagc cgtcttttgt tcctttttgg agttcstgtt gttttgctgt aagcttggga aaagaggaat tcttccctca ttactggtca tttttattag gatctttttt tcatagtctt gcactctact ttcttttact accattatta tggttgttta aaggctttat tgaaaagcat ttttctgcaa ttactacatg tctaattgtt gttgcgttta tttttgaaat cttaggttca acaagcatag cgccactatt agtacaactt ttgggaaagt ttgcaaatcg tgcgaacgtt gcagaaaatg tgtcaacttt atatgctgga ggtcagccat ttagtcagtg gtttgtttct ttcgcagtta ctatgatgat aattttaaca gttcaatttc ttagaaggca ataccctaac aatatgagat cctattacca aatgatttta tgttcttcga tattatggtc agcagcgtta atattgatga ctctttcaat tgactacata agaattctga gaattgttac gtacttctat tttatctata tcgtgaatgt tacttcaaat cagaagagca cggatcgcct tataggggtg acaatcagta ttggatctgc agtcgttttg atgtttgtcg ggttatgggt ctacggattt agtggtgacc aaattcgagc aatttttggg tttatttaag gggactgaag aatgttgaaa gttggagtaa ttgttgttac ttacaatccg gatttaatga ttctacagaa taatctgacg acactaaaaa ggcaaaatgg catcaactgt ctgattgttg ataacggctc taagaattca aacgatttaa aaaaagtaag tgaaaactta aaagtcaaca ttatttcact tgatagtaat cgtgggattg cttatgcaca aaatcgaggt tttgaatttt ttcaaagaga agggttaaag tgggcgctta ctttagacca agacagcata gttcctgata acttactaga agtgtatgta aagcaaaaag aattgaactc ttccgacaca gcaattttaa cttgtagcta cgttgatgag gactggactg gaaagcaaaa agaagctatg cttcagcgtg aaaagattgt gcaaaagcaa tatgtcattt cttcaggtaa tcttgtaaga atttcctctt ggcaaaaagt gggtggattt gacgaattcc tctttattga catggttgac ttcgactttg acgctaaact atttttagct ggctttaaaa tctggcagac gaatgaagtc gtactaaaac attctgttgg acaatcctta aagaagccca tcgtgaaaaa aatacttctg attccagaaa ctgctatttt ggccgatcat tcaccaattc gtcagtatta catttataga aatagtatta ttttcgagaa aagatacacg atgattaccc aacgaaagtt tgttgttctc catactttcg ttgcaacaag gagaatgttt gcgtatagca ataagttacg caagatgttt gcagcttggc gcggagttat tgatggtgcc agatacaatg tagacaagga caaacaattt aaaaaaacac tggcaaaact gaaacgatag ttatttgggg tgaaataatg agaagtgaaa acgtaagtgt cgcaatttgt ttagccacgt ataacgggga gaagtattta gaaaaacaga ttgactcaat agtttcccaa tctgtctcta gttggacatt gtttattaga gatgatggtt ccaccgatgg aacgcaaaaa atcattaaaa agtttgcaaa gaagtatccg caaaaagttt tcaacttatc aggtcttcat ggaggcggaa attctaaaga aaattttttt actattctgc aatgggtgag cgaacacaaa acttttgatt attttatgtt ttctgatcaa gatgacattt ggttacctga taaaattgca ttaagtgtca aggctattga ttctgatgat tctccatgtt tagttcatac tgatctaaaa gttgtcgata aaaacttgga tacaataaca gaatctttca ttcggtacag taacttaaat tctcaagtaa aggatttttc gcatatcctt gtacagaaca atgtaactgg ctgcacaatg ttgtggaata agagtttaaa cgatttaatc gattttcatc cagattctag aatccttatg catgattggt ggattgcttt aattgcatca gcgtttggaa atgtcgtctt tgtaaaaact ccaaccatcc tctatcgaca acatgatgaa aatgtagtgg gggcagaagc ggctggttct gtggcatata ttatttcaaa attgcgtaat tataagttga ttaaaaaagg attgcaacgt acctttgggc aagcaaatat ttttaaagag atttattatc atcggttaga tgccagttct aaaagtatac tagatgagta tttgcagctt cctgccaagt ccaaacttag aaaaatatat ctttctctca agtatggatt tacaaaacaa agcaccatac aaattattgg gcagtttctt tttgtctagt ctgttgaggc tgattaattg cgagttttaa aaaattattt atatagtgtt gggtatcaag ttctaaacat gatattgcca ctcataacag gaccgtatgt tgcacgagtt cttggaccga agggtgttgg gattaatact tatacaggtg cagtaacaca atactttgtt ttattcgctg gcctagggat agcgctttat ggaaatcgac agattgctta tgttaagggt gacccacatc agttaagcat taccttttgg gaaatacagt ttattaaaac gattacaaca gtttgcgcct ttgtcgcttt ttcaatatat ttaattttcg tcaaagaata taagttttat ttactgttac aatccgcgta tattttagct acaggatttg atatttcatg gctttatgag ggcgttgagg attttaaaaa gacctttact agaaacacgt tagttcgaat agtctccctt gttctaatcc tcacgctggt acacaaacaa agtgacgttt gggtatacat agtcattctc gcagcttcta acctcggtgg gtatgttgcg ttgtggccaa ctctaaggcg gctgctcgta cccattaaac tgtctgaatt acatcctagg aaacatttga agggcacact gattttattt gtgccataca tgacgctgaa catttatcct atcattaata aaacattact caaacatttt cttggggttg atgcttccgg ttattttgaa aaaagtgatg tgatgatacg tatggcgttg acagtagtga cgtcggtaag cgcagtatta ctgccacata catccaaggc ttttgctgat ggcaaggttt cgttaattaa gaaattgcta aaaacctctt ttggatatgt gtccatgatg gcattcccaa tcgcattagg aatggcggca atagcaccaa aatttggtgt tttcttttat ggtgaagggt ttgcaccggt tgggccagca atgatgatag aatctagtgc cattattttc atggggtggt cgagcatcac aggtaatcag tatttaattc cgacgatgca gtcaaagcat tacacgcact cagttcttct aggctcggtt ttgaatattg ttcttgacgt tcctcttatc attatttttg ggcttaatgg tgcagcgttt gctactttga ttgctgaagc gtttattgct atatatcagt taataatgat cagtggtcag gttgattatt ccacttggct gatggacatc attaaatatt gtgtagctgc tataatcatg ttctgctttg tttttttcgc aagtagcatg ttgacgatga ccatcttgac cttagtgctt gaaatcatgc ttggtgccat catttactta gtatgtctgt ttcttatgaa acccgcaact aataagcaac tcaaacgggc agcattctca attattaacc gagttcggtc atgattattt ttgggggaat aatgacaata agacgaagag tttcttggtt gattcgttca cctgcacgat tacatgttgt gtatcggatt gacgatttta caaataattt gaaggttcga agactgttac atatactatt gatcccagtc ggcatgttaa acttaattag gctaaaactg atgactagat cacctgaaaa gtttatgtat caattatcaa ttgttactac agtcaaaaat gaggctccat acttaagaga gtggctgaga tatcacattt cggttggagt acagcacttt tatctttatg ataatgatag tcaagataac ttagatgaag tgttaaaaga tttttccgac tacgttactt taacaaagat acacggacga gttagacaat ttgatgcata caatgacgcg ataaatcgat tcaggtatga aacaaagtat atggcggtga tagacgcgga tgagtttatt tttagaccag gtaaagacaa gctgttacta cctcttattg attatttact ttcaaataag tcatttggag gattggcggt gaattgggca atatttggtt cttcgggttt aaaaaagaaa cctttaggat tggttaccga caactttgta tatcgggcca acgataactt taggaaaaac aggctggtta aaactatctg caatccgaga aaagtctttt acttttcagt tagccatgct gcaaattact tgccaggttt ttatgcagtt aatgagaatc aggaaaaagt tgattggaca acaacgcaag ttcccagtat cagtaagatt agaattaatc actattattc aaaatcacaa gaagagtttt tacgaaagcg agctcgaggc gctggggatg ttgttggcct tagagactta ggagaattcg cagaacatga tcgaaatgat gtttttgacg actcgcttag agtttataat gaatcaagag gtttaaacaa agactgaggg ggatattgaa agatgaaggg gattatatta gctgggggat ccggaactcg actctatcca attacgaagg caacaagtaa acagttagtt ccaatttatg acaagcccat gatttattac ccattctctg cgctaatgtt gtctgggatc aaagagtttc tgattatttc tacgccagaa tttctgccac agtttgaaga attatttggt gatggacata ctctgggact aaatattcat tacaaggttc aaacagagcc aaatggattg gctgaggcat ttatccttgg tgcggatttt atcggtaatg attccgttgc tttagtgctg ggagataatg ttttttatgg tgctgggtta tcaaagctat tacaagatgg ggccgcaaag gaatctggcg ccacaatttt tgggtatcag gtaactgatc ctgaacgttt tggtgtagta gaatttgata gccatcaaca cgctgtatcg attgttgaaa agccaaccca tccacgcagt aattatgcag taactggttt gtatttttat gataatgatg tggttaatat tgcaaaaaat gtaaagccat ctgcgcgtgg cgaacttgaa attaccgatg tgaatgagga atatcttcgt cgcgggcagc tagatgtaaa agttatgggc agaggttatg cttggttaga tactggaacg catgactcat tgcttgctgc ttcaagtttt gttgcaacta ttgagaatca acaaaatctt aaagtggcgt gtcttgagga aattgcttat cgtatggggt atattaatct tgaacagttg gaagaacttg cccagccgct caaaaaaaat gattatggtc agtatttgtt gcgtttggtc aaggaggaga gtaagtaatg gctttaaaag taatcccgac aaagttaact gatgtcaagt tggttgagac agatgttttt ggtgataatc gcggtttctt cacagaaacg tatactcgac ctaagtttca agaggcgggc atcacgaatg atttcaatca agataatcag tcattgtctg ctgaagcagg tgtgttaaga ggcatgcact accagatggc tccacatgca caaacaaaat tagttcgtgt ggtaactggt gttgttgaag atgttttggt tgacatccga aagggttcac caacttatgg tcagtgggaa ggatatattt taagcgaatt caaccatcgc caattacttg tgccaaaggg gtttgctcat gggtttatta cattaactcc aaatgttaat tttgcttata aggttgaagg gtattatgct cctgaagctg atcgtggaat tgcctttgat gatcctgaca ttggcattaa ttggccaatg tcaacagcac accttattat gtctgagaag gatcaacacc atccacagct gagggatgct gaaaataact ttgtatacgg ggagatttga taatgaaact tatgatcact ggcggggctg ggtttatcgg ttcaaatttt gttcattttg tttataataa ccatccagat gttcagatta tggttttgga caagctaaca tatgccggca ataaggccaa tattgaagat atcttgggcg atcgtgtcaa attagaagtc ggggatattg ccgacaagaa tttggtcgat aaattgatga gtgaagtcga tacagttgtc aactttgcgg cagaaagtca caatgacaat tcgttgatta atccggatcc gttcctgcac agcaatgtta ttggcaccta tactttactt gaagcagcaa gaaagtacga tgttcgattc caccatattt ccacagatga ggtgtacgga gatctaccat tacgtgcgga tcttccagga cacggggaag gccctggcga gaagttcacc gttaacagtc gttataatcc ttccagccca tattcttcaa ctaaagctgc cagtgacatg ttggtacatg catgggcacg ttcatttggc gtacgcgcaa caatttctaa ttgctcgaat aactatggtc cataccaaca cattgagaaa ttcattcctc ggcaaatcac aaacatttta agcggaatca aaccgaagct ttatggcact ggcaaaaatg ttcgtgattg gattcacaca aacgatcatt caagtgctat ctgggatatt ttgactaacg ggaaaattgg tgagacttac ttgatcggcg ccaatggcga aaaagacaat aagacggtac tcgaacttat cttaaaattg atgggcaaac cagctgatta ctatgaacag gttaaggatc gtccggggca tgatatgcga tatgccattg atgcttccaa aacccgtgaa gaacttggtt gggaacctca gtatacgaat tttgaagaag gtttagcaga taccatcaaa tggtacacag atcatcacag ctggtggcaa ggtgaaaaga ctgcggtaga agaaaagtac caagaaaacg gtcaatgact ttagctcata gtaatggtcg tcactaatta tgaacctgtt attttctgga atgtcgagga gaagatacat gaagactttg attactggtg cgcaaggtca gcttggtaca gaattgcgcc gcctattaga tgcgcagggc gttgcttatc gagcaacaga tgcccatgat ttagacatta ctgatgagac tgcggttaat cagtatttta aagattatca acccgagtta gtttatcact gtgctgccta tacggctgtc gataaggctg aaggtgaagc taaggcaatt aatcaaaaag ttaatgttga cggaacacgt aatttggcaa aagcggccgc tgaagtagat gcgacacttg tttacatcag tacagattat gtatttgatg gtgacagcaa agaaatttat accgtcgatg atcaacctgc tccacgtaat gagtatggcc gggcaaaata tgaaggtgag caacaagtcc aaaaatatct taagaagttc tatattatta gaacctcatg ggtattcggt gaatttggtc ataactttgt ttatacaatg ttggacttag ccaagacaca caaagaactc agcgttgtcg acgatcaata cggtcgtccg tcatggacca agacactcgc agaattcatg acgttcgcag tgaatcaaca tttggattat ggcatttacc acttgtctaa tgataacagt tgtaactggt acgaatttgc tagcgctatt ttggctgaca aagatgttga tgttaagcca gtatcgtcat cagagtatcc gcagaaggca tggcgtccgc gacattcgat tttggactta agtaagacga aggttacagg ctttaagata gacacttggc aagaagcttt gacaaacttt ttacaagtta tcgataaata agtgaaacta gatcaagtgt atcaaaaaga acgtaaaaac caatctggcg attggtttcg gcgccctttt gatacacgta acaataacgg gtctacactt tctggtgttg agaaataatc agcactgaac gtgtaggccc tttttggata acgcaaaaag acacctattc agtgaccatg ctatgcttgt tagcgtcgaa accaaaagca agcgaggtta tgagtaaatg tcccaatacg attctacact gtccgtcctt ggaataccag accataatat caaagtagcc tttgttcgtc atgaatatcg cggcaacggg gtacgtcgcc gccagtatca tgtgattgat gctgagctga cttaccggtt acactgtgtg gctttgaggc cttgcaccct aacgggtttt acacggccca tgtgcgcgtc ctcaacgggg ttgaaatgcc gacagtcatt gacttgcaca agcaacgatg gcgctgtcat aactgttacc acacagtcag tgccaagacg ccactcgtgc aacccaacca cacgatcgcc gctcacatga cagagcgaat catgaagtta gcgcatgaac ggttgccagt caaaaccatc gcccgtatta tcggaatctc agcctcctcg gttcaacgga tcattgacca

aaatctcaaa ctccgaccgg ctcgccggct acccacgcga ctctgctttg atgagttccg

ttccactcat ggcatgatgt cgtttatctg tcttgatgcc gattcacatc atctgattgc

cttgcttggt gatcgatgca accgcacgat taaaaacttc ttcctcgctc attattcact

cgctgaacgc actcgggtcc agacggtcac catggacatg aatgcagctt atcagacgat

tattcatgag gttttcccca aggcccaagt cgtcattgat cggttccata tcattcaact

tgcggctcgt gcccttgatc aggtacgcgt ccaagcgctc aaacagcttg atgacaaaca

cagccgtcct tataagatca tgaagacaaa ctggcggctt tttcatcaaa ctgcgcctga

cgctaaacac aaacagttcc tgtttggttt gaatgaagac gtcacgcaac aggaggccat

cgatattgca cttgatactg agcccaagct caagcaaacc tacgagacct acttagcgct

tcatgatgct ttgatggtga agaaacatcc cgcggaactg gcaaacctgt tagctactta

cgagccaaac ggtacggcaa tggacatgac gatcgcgacg cttaagcgac

acaaagtcgc tgttctcgcc gctgtcacca gcccttattc caacggtccg atcgaagggt

taaccgcctc atcaagtcac tcaaacgatc ctgttttggc ttcaagaatc agctgaactt

cttcaaacga atcataccaa atcacggcat aacatgacaa agacggcggc

atgatcctga agctataata ggcgcagtaa tcaccttcag ggcaacgtga agctcatgcc

taatagaaat acgagagcgg cctaaggtcg cggcgatgta ttgaatcgtg tggtgttgca

tcagttctat ctgagatcgt tcaattaagg ttataatggc catgggacct gtccttctct

ctagatggta tgttatgcaa acaccatttt agcaagaacg gacaggtctt ttttcacatt

ttctgggtgg taactttaat tatgcaatct aggcattaag ggtcaaatta ccagatgata

atatgcctga ttcattaata atcgcgtgtg aaaaaggaac attaatctta ggagaattga

tgatcg

As shown in Figure 8 the regions codifying for the proteins A-P are fundamental for the synthesis/expression/ secretion of the exopolysaccharide.

SEQ ID NO: 1 comprises T1 and/or T2 sequences corresponding to transposon sequences. These sequences can be used for insertional mutagenesis.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, SEQ ID NO: 1 or fragments thereof is introduced, eventually by using a vector, into a cell, preferably a bacterium.

This allows obtaining an engineered cell, preferably an engineered bacterium or yeast comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or fragments thereof.

The engineered cell produces the exopolysaccharide of the invention. A further aspect of the invention refers to a medium comprising the exopolysaccharide of the invention, preferably said medium being the conditioned medium where cells producing said exopolysaccharide have been grown. These cells are preferably bacteria or yeast, preferably genetically engineered. Alternatively, the cells producing the exopolysaccharide of the invention is L. paracasei DG strain, that is the bacterium that naturally produces the exopolysaccharide of the invention. Preferably, the genetically engineered cells comprise the nucleic acid SEQ ID NO: 1 or any fragments thereof.

A further aspect of the present invention refers to a composition comprising the exopolysaccharide as disclosed above or the conditioned medium as disclosed above and further ingredients, preferably excipients. A further aspect of the present invention refers to the exopolysaccharide of the invention or the conditioned medium of the invention or the composition comprising the exopolysaccharide or the conditioned medium of the invention in combination with any further probiotic bacteria or yeast. Preferably, the bacteria belong to the genus Lactobacillus and/or Bifidobacterium.

Preferably said Lactobacillus belongs to a specie selected from: Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus amylolyticus, Lactobacillus amylovorus, Lactobacillus alimentarius, Lactobacillus aviaries, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus cellobiosus, Lactobacillus coryniformis, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus farciminis, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus gallinarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus hilgardii, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens, Lactobacillus kefiri, Lactobacillus mucosae, Lactobacillus panis, Lactobacillus collinoides, Lactobacillus paraplantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus pontis, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis, more preferably is the strain Lactobacillus paracasei DG ^® .

Preferably said Bifidobacterium belongs to a specie selected from: B. animalis, B. B. angulatum, B. asteroides, B. bourn, B. choerinum, B. coryneforme, B. cuniculi, B. denticolens, B. dentium, B. gallicum, B. gallinarum, B. indicum, B. inopinatum, B. lactis, B. magnum, B. merycicum, B. minimum, B. pseudocatenulatum, B. pseudolongum, B. pullorum, B. ruminantium, B. saeculare, B. subtile, B. thermacidophilum, B. thermophilum e B. tsurumiense.

Preferably said yeast is preferably Saccharomyces, more preferably Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Saccharomyces boulardii.

A further aspect of the present invention refers to the exopolysacchande of the invention or the conditioned medium of the invention or the composition comprising the exopolysacchande or the conditioned medium of the invention for use as a medicament.

Preferably, the exopolysacchande of the invention or the conditioned medium of the invention or the composition comprising the exopolysacchande or the conditioned medium of the invention is used in this context to boost immune system response in an individual in need thereof.

Therefore the exopolysacchande of the invention or the conditioned medium of the invention or the composition comprising the exopolysacchande or the conditioned medium of the invention is(are) useful as functional food and/or prebiotic.

In other words, the exopolysacchande of the invention or the conditioned medium of the invention or the composition comprising the exopolysacchande or the conditioned medium of the invention can be added to any food, such as milk, yogurt, cheese or juice to boost immune response.

Therefore, the exopolysacchande of the invention or the conditioned medium of the invention or the composition comprising the exopolysacchande or the conditioned medium of the invention can be useful as adjuvant for treating any disease or deficit or condition caused by impaired or compromised immune response.

Preferably, the disease or deficit or condition of the invention involves a downregulation of at least one cytokine, preferably selected from: IL6, IL8, TNF-cc and CCL20. Indeed, the examples herewith provided show clearly that the exopolysaccharide of the invention is able to increase the expression of cytokines, with particular reference to IL6, IL8, TNF- and CCL20.

Therefore, the boosting of immune system or its response is mainly due to its capability of activating cytokines, preferably pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.

The disease or deficit or condition preferably used to treat intestinal diseases, preferably selected from: autoimmune diseases, preferably rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus or myasthenia gravis, immunodeficienfies, allergy or hypersensitivity reactions and infections, preferably bacterial and/or viral.

Moreover, the exopolysaccharide of the invention or the conditioned medium of the invention or the composition comprising the

exopolysaccharide or the conditioned medium of the invention can be useful as adjuvant for curing/treating non pathological conditions

associated to stress, seasons change, vitamins deficiencies, preferably B12 and/or B19, age, pregnancy, alcohol abuse, drugs use and heavy metals poisoning, preferably lead and/or mercury.

EXAMPLE

Identification of the putative EPS gene cluster

In light of the potential importance of EPS molecules in the cross-talk between probiotic bacteria and host, we performed in silico analyses to identify putative EPS operons in the draft genome of the probiotic strain L. paracasei DG.

The draft genome sequence of L. paracasei DG was obtained through Ion

Torrent PGM (Life Technologies, Germany) as previously described (Guglielmetti et al, 2014). The raw sequence data were assembled using MIRA v.3.9 (http://www.chevreux.org/projects_mira.html), applying default parameters recommended for Ion Torrent data processing. Initial automated annotation of the genome was performed using RAST, combined with BLASTX. Results of the gene-finder program were combined manually with data from BLASTP analysis against a non- redundant protein database provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The L. paracasei DG draft genome sequence was compared with other L. paracasei genome sequences by means of BLAST Ring Image Generator (BRIG). The functional annotation of the EPS-b region was carried out by combining the results of BLASTN, BLASTP and the "CD-search" of the Conserved Domain Database (CDD) available at the NCBI website

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Structure/cdd/wrpsb.cgi).

The DNA sequence of the EPS-b region has been deposited in the EMBL database under the accession number LT629195.

Specifically, comparative analysis with other genomes of the same species led to the identification in the genome of strain L. paracasei DG of two different regions encoding open reading frames (ORFs) putatively involved in the biosynthesis of EPS molecules (regions EPS-a and EPS-b in Fig. 1 ). Notably, whereas EPS-a region is common to all L. paracasei genomes investigated, EPS-b is a 13 kb region coding for several putative glycosyltransferases that includes a region of about 7 kb in the center of the cluster that did not find any match with other sequences in GenBank according to BLASTN search. The %GC of the 7 kb region is much lower (36%) than the average GC content of L. paracasei DG's whole genome (approximately 46%) supporting the idea of the acquisition of these genes by horizontal gene transfer from a phylogenetically unrelated host.

EPS isolation and purification

Lactobacillus paracasei strain DG (deposited at the National Collection of Microorganisms Cultures of the Pasteur Institute under the code CNCM I- 1572) was grown at 37°C in de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) broth (Difco Laboratories Inc., Detroit, Ml) for 24 h. This culture was used to inoculate the chemically defined medium (CDM, Table 1 ).

Table I

Component Concentration (g Γ ¹ )

Sol. 1 (NH ₄ ) ₂ S0 ₄ 2

MgS0 ₄ x 7 H ₂ 0 0.15

MnS0 ₄ x 4 H ₂ 0 0.02

Sol. 2

Adenine 0.005

Pyridoxal 0.002

Nicotinic acid 0.001

Ca ²⁺ -D-pantothenate 0.001

Riboflavin 0.001

Thiamine 0.001

Vitamin B12 0.000001

Biotin 0.00001

p-aminobenzoic acid 0.000005

Folic acid 0.00001

Sol. 4 *

Guanine 0.005

Xanthine 0.005

Uracil 0.005

Sol. 5

K ₂ HP0 ₄ 4.56

Sol. 6

Sodium acetate 0.05

Sodium citrate 0.02

KH ₂ P0 ₄ 0.01

NaCI 0.002

CaCI ₂ 0.002

Sol. 7

Tween 80 1

Tween 20 1

Glycerol 1

Glucose 20

Casaminoacids 10

The multistep extraction and purification of EPS was performed from about 1 L of CDM supplemented with 2% glucose. After growth at 37°C for 48 h, cells were collected by centrifugation at 12,000 ^χ g for 15 min at 4°C (Avant J-26 XPI, Beckman Coulter Ltd, High Wycombe, UK) and separated from the exhausted medium. The two fractions were then treated separately. The exhausted medium was added with an equal volume of absolute ethanol and stored at 4°C for 48 h. After storage, it was centrifuged at 25,000 ^χ g for 35 min at 4°C. The obtained pellet (fraction S1 ) was dissolved in deionized water (about 20-50 ml), whereas the supernatant was added to a second volume of ethanol and stored again at 4°C for 48 h. Subsequently, the centrifugation step was repeated, and the pellet (fraction S2) was dissolved in deionized water as above. Concerning cell fractions, the pellet was washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) to remove polysaccharide impurities and then treated with 1 M sodium hydroxide and stirred overnight at 4°C. Afterwards, it was centrifuged again at 12,000 ^χ g 4°C for 15 min in order to remove sodium hydroxide. Crude EPS was precipitated by the addition of an equal volume of chilled absolute ethanol; this was stored 48 h at 4°C and then centrifuged at 25,000 ^χ g 4°C for 35 min. The recovered pellet (fraction C1 ) was re-dissolved in deionized water (about 20 ml). The resulting supernatant was then added to a second volume of absolute ethanol and again incubated 48 h at 4°C. Another centrifugation, as described above, a second precipitated fraction (C2) was recovered, which was dissolved in deionized water. Small neutral sugars and proteins were then removed by dialysis (with 100 kDa cut-off cellulose acetate membranes) of the extracted fractions for 72 h at 4°C, against three changes of deionized water per day. After three days, the contents of the dialysis membrane were collected and lyophilized in a freeze-dryer (Northern Scientific, York, UK). The dry mass of EPS was then determined. The presence of contaminating bacterial DNA in the EPS preparations was tested through real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) with two primer pairs: universal primers targeting 16S rRNA gene (EUB), and DG strain specific primers targeting welF gene. This analysis revealed the presence of 10-63 ng ml-1 in the 1 mg ml-1 stock solutions of EPS, corresponding to an overall maximum concentration of 0.6 ng ml-1 of DNA incubated with THP-1 cells when the highest concentration of EPS (10 μg ml-1 ) was used in immunological experiments.

The results show that, although growth was slower than that observed in more conventional media such as MRS broth, CDM was chosen as it does not contain contaminating polysaccharides which interfere with the characterization of bacterial polysaccharides by NMR. In order to isolate a sample of polysaccharide suitable for characterization, L. paracasei DG was grown for three days, at which point the cell biomass was separated from the fermentation liquors by centrifugation. High purity EPS was isolated from the supernatant by fractional precipitation of material. Adding one volume of ethanol released small amounts of an EPS material contaminated with proteins (typically 20-25 mg from a 500 ml batch fermentation). The addition of a second volume of ethanol also precipitated a relatively small amount of EPS (20-25 mg) but with much greater purity and of a purity that was suitable for characterization by NMR. As the yields of EPS were low, and in order to determine if additional material was being retained with the biomass, various different methods were attempted in order to recover capsular material bound to the cells. Stirring a suspension of the cells overnight in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (1 M) and then precipitating crude polysaccharide by adding two volumes of ethanol yielded a significant amount of material which included both polysaccharide and protein. The same approach was adopted for the isolation of extracellular polysaccharide molecules from strain L. paracasei LPC-S01 .

The purity of the EPSs released into the supernatant was established by examination of a 1 H-NMR spectrum of the sample (Fig. 2). The low-field region of the spectrum contained six anomeric signals. Within the error of the experiments, the peak area integrals for each of the anomeric signals were the same, implying that a single EPS having a repeating unit containing six monosaccharides had been isolated. In addition to the anomeric signals, a single resonance with an integral height of three was visible at a chemical shift of 2.05 ppm which is indicative of the presence of an N-acetylhexosamine and a further two sets of overlapping doublets, each integrating to six protons, were present at 1 .25 &1 .32 ppm; these signals indicated that the repeat unit contained four 6-deoxyhexoses.

Determination of monomer composition and linkage analysis

To determine the monomer composition of the polysaccharide, the EPS (3 mg) was hydrolyzed by treatment with 2 M trifluoroacetic acid (TFA, 120°C for 2 h); the released monosaccharides were subsequently derivatized to form alditol acetates, which were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To derivatize the monomers, the mix resuspended in 1 ml Milli-Q water was added with 10 mg NaBH4 and incubated at 40°C for 2 h. After evaporation of the solution, 1 ml glacial acetic acid was added to the residue, and again evaporated to dryness. Subsequently, 3 ml methanol were added and then evaporated in order to remove the borate complex and to give the methylated sugar alditols. They were then added with 2 ml pyridine and 2 ml acetic anhydride; acetylation reaction ran at 100°C for 2 h. At the end of the reaction, the solution was evaporated and the acetylated monomers resuspended in water. Extraction with chloroform was performed to collect the organic phase, containing the alditol acetate sugars. Any trace of water was removed by adding anhydrous sodium sulphate and storing the sample 30 min at 4°C. Sodium sulphate was removed by filtration on filter paper and chloroform by evaporation. The resulting residue was resuspended in acetone. The GC-MS analysis was performed on an Agilent 7890A GC system (Santa Clara, CA, USA) coupled to an Agilent 5675c quadrupole MS. The samples were eluted from a HP-5 column (30 m x 0.25 mm id, 0.25 μιη film) using helium as carrier (9 psi, flow rate 1 ml min-1 ) and using a temperature program (start temperature 150°C, hold time 4 min, and a final column temperature of 250°C reached via a rising gradient of 4°C min-1 ). The ratios of the different sugars were determined by examination of the relative responses of the different alditol acetates with reference to the relative responses determined for a standard mixture of alditol acetates. The integral area for amino sugars was low, and this is a result of their having undergone thermal decomposition during analysis. The final monomer ratio, for the amino sugar, was taken from integration of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) peak integrals for the respective anomeric and H2 protons. The absolute configurations of monosaccharides were determined by conversion to their 2-butyl glycosides using the procedure described by Gerwig et al. 1979. To determine the linkage pattern of the EPS, the sample was permethylated using the procedures described by Ciucanu and Kerek, 1984. The permethylated polysaccharide was then hydrolyzed (2 M TFA, 120°C for 2 h) and the methylated monosaccharides converted to methylated alditol acetates. The identity of the methylated alditol acetates was determined by analysis of their individual mass spectrum fragmentation patterns generated during GC-MS analysis. The GC-MS analyses were performed on the same instrumentation as the monomer analysis but using the following temperature program: start temperature 155°C, hold time 1 min, and a final column temperature of 195°C reached via a rising gradient of 0.75°C mini .

GC-MS analysis of the alditol acetates generated during monomer analysis of the EPS identified the presence of 1 , 2,3,4, 5-penta-O-acetyl-L- rhamnitol, 1 ,2,3,4,5,6-hexa-O-acetyl-D-galactitol, and 2-acetamido- 1 ,3,4,5,6-penta-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-D-qalactitol in a ratio of 4:1 :1 . The results of the monomer analysis identified the presence of rhamnose, galactose, and N-acetylqalactosamine in the repeating unit.

The methylated alditol acetates generated during linkage analysis included: a 1 ,5-di-O-acetyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methylhexitol which confirms that the galactose is present in its pyranose form as a terminal sugar; a

1 ,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-2-(acetylmethylamino)-2-deoxy-4,6-di-O-met hylgalacitol, which confirms that the N-acetylgalactosamine is present in its pyranose form as a 1 ,3-linked monosaccharide; two 1 ,2,5-tri-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O- methyl-6-deoxyhexitols, which indicates that two of the rhamnose monomers are 1 ,2-linked; a 1 ,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-2,4-di-O- methylhexitol, which indicates that one of the rhamnose monomers is 1 ,3- linked; and finally a 1 ,2,3,5-tetra-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-4-O-methylhexitol suggesting that the final rhamnose is a 1 ,2,3-linked rhamnose present as a bridging point in the repeating unit.

Conversion of the monomers to mixtures of their epimeric 2-butyl- glycosides confirmed that all the rhamnose monomers were of L-absolute configuration whilst both the galactose and N-acetylqalactosamine were of D-absolute configuration.

NMR analysis of the EPS from L. paracasei

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were recorded for EPS samples that were dissolved (10-20 mg ml-1 ) directly in D2O (Goss Scientific Instruments Ltd., Essex, UK). NMR spectra were recorded at a probe temperature of 70°C. NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Avance 500.13 MHz 1 H (125.75 MHz 13C) spectrometer (Bruker-Biospin, Coventry, UK) operating with Z-field gradients where appropriate and using Bruker's pulse programs. Chemical shifts are expressed in ppm relative to internal acetone (5 2.225 for 1 H and δ 31 .55 for 13C). Spectra recorded included: a 2D gradient-selected double quantum filtered correlation spectrum (gs-DQF-COSY) recorded in magnitude mode at 70°C; total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY) experiments recorded with variable mixing times (60, 90, 120 ms); 1 H-13C heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) spectra (decoupled and coupled); a heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) spectrum; and finally, a rotating frame nuclear Overhauser effect spectrum (ROESY). The 2D spectra were recorded with 256 experiments of 1024 data points. The ROESY spectrum was recorded using a Bruker pulse sequence and 256 experiments of 1024 data points using a mixing time of 200 ms. For the majority of spectra, time-domain data were multiplied by phase-shifted (squared-) sine-bell functions. After applying zero-filling and Fourier transformation, data sets of 1024-1024 points were obtained.

The chemical shifts of each of the protons and carbons in the repeat unit were determined through the inspection of a series of 1 D & 2D NMR spectra (Table II). Table II

Analysis of the 1 H-1 H COSY spectrum (Fig. 3, black contours) in combination with the 1 H-1 H TOCSY spectrum (Fig. 3, grey contours) allowed the scalar coupling within the individual sugars to be tracked from the anomeric protons (labelled A to F in order of decreasing chemical shift- see Fig. 2) from H1 to H6 in the rhamnose sugars (A, B, C, and D) and from H1 to H4 in the galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine monomers (Fig. 3).

A HSQC spectrum was used to correlate ring carbons with their attached protons (Fig. 4) and the distinctive position of C2 and identification of H2 of the N-acetylgalactosamine confirmed, by observation of scalar coupling to H1 resonance at 4.72 on the COSY spectrum, that the anomeric resonance at 4.72 ppm (E in Fig. 2) was that of the N- acetylgalactosamine. The remaining anomeric resonance at 4.53 ppm must therefore belong to the terminal galactose. Through inspection of the carbon chemical shifts of the rhamnose ring carbons, it was possible to identify points of linkages by locating those carbons whose chemical shifts had moved towards low-field positions (above 78 ppm) compared to the values normally associated with unsubstituted ring positions (less than 74 ppm for rhamnose sugars). This identified A as a 2,3-linked rhamnose (C2, δ 79.8 ppm; C3, δ 78.2 ppm), B as a 2-linked rhamnose (C2, δ 79.6 ppm), C as a 2-linked rhamnose (C2, δ 80.3 ppm), and D as a 3-linked rhamnose (C3, δ 79.5 ppm). The results of the linkage analysis already identified that the N-acetylgalactosamine (E) is 1 , 3-linked, and this was confirmed by the high chemical shift of C-3 in E (δ 83.1 ppm). Finally, the chemical shifts of the carbons in residue F are in agreement with this being a terminal galactose monomer.

The anomeric configuration of the monosaccharides was determined by measuring the 1 JC1 -H1 coupling constants which were visible on a coupled HSQC spectrum. Residues A to D had 1 JC1 -H1 coupling constants A (177 Hz), B (172Hz), C (175Hz), and D (174 Hz) which are more than 170 Hz, which indicates that the rhamnose residues are alpha- linked, whilst the size of the 1 JC1 -H1 coupling constants in E (164 Hz) and F (157 Hz) identifies these two resonances as beta-linked monomers. Finally, the sequence of the sugars in the repeating unit was established through inspection of both a 1 H-13C-HMBC spectrum and a 1 H-1 H- ROESY spectrum (Fig. 5). Inter-residue scalar coupling observed on the HMBC spectrum included: coupling between A-H1 & D-C3, indicating A is linked to the 3-position of D; coupling between C-H1 & B-C2, indicating C is linked to the 2-position of B; coupling between D-H1 & E-C3, indicating

D is linked to the 3-position of E; coupling between F-H1 & A-C2, indicating F is linked to the 2-position of A. On the ROESY spectrum, inter- residue NOEs were observed: between A-H1 & D-H3, confirming the A(1 - 3)D linkage; between B-H1 and A-H3 (strong) and A-H4 (moderate), identifying that B is linked to the 3-position of A; between C-H1 & B-H2, confirming the C(1 -2)B linkage; between D-H1 & E-H3, identifying a D(1 - 3)E linkage; between E-H1 & C-H2, identifying the E(1 -2)C linkage; and also between F-H1 & A-H2, confirming the F(1 -2)A linkage.

The combined results of the chemical and NMR analysis of the EPS isolated from L. paracasei DG indicates that the DG-EPS is a novel heteropolvsaccharide having the repeating unit structure reported in Fig. 6.

Bacterial adhesion to Caco-2 cell line

In order to investigate the potential ability of the DG-EPS to mediate the bacterium's interaction with the host, we first used the Caco-2 cell line, which is considered a valuable in vitro tool for studying the mechanisms underlying the interaction between bacterial cells and the human gut.

The adhesion of L. paracasei strains to Caco-2 (ATCC HTB-37) cell layer was assessed as previously described in Balzaretti et al, 2015. In brief, for adhesion experiments, fully differentiated Caco-2 cells were used (i.e., 15 days after confluence). 100 μg ml-1 EPS was incubated with a monolayer of Caco-2 cells for 1 h at 37°C. Finally, monolayers were examined microscopically (magnification, 400χ) under oil immersion after Giemsa staining. All experiments were performed in duplicate.

The potential involvement of DG-EPS was assessed by testing also the adhesion ability of strain DG after removal of the EPS molecule ("naked" DG cells, nDG, prepared through PBS washes and mild sonication) and upon pre-incubation of Caco-2 cells with purified EPS.

The results demonstrate that purified EPS was unable to affect the adhesion properties of strain DG. In fact, the adhesion of L. paracasei DG was not significantly different from that of nDG and was quite modest (about 300 bacteria per 100 Caco-2 cells); in addition, the adhesion ability was unaffected by the co-incubation of the bacterial cells with purified EPS.

Nuclear factor κΒ (NF-κΒ) activation by exopolysaccharides

The activation of nuclear factor κΒ (NF-κΒ) was studied by means of a recombinant Caco-2 cell line stably transfected with vector pNiFty2-Luc (InvivoGen, Labogen, Rho, Italy). Recombinant Caco-2 monolayers (approximately 3x105 cells/well), cultivated in the presence of 50 μg ml-1 zeocin, were washed with 0.1 M Tris-HCI buffer (pH 8.0) and then suspended in fresh Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) containing 100 imM HEPES (pH 7.4) and with 0.1 ml of L. paracasei DG- EPS, corresponding to a final concentration of 100 μg ml-1 . The stimulation was conducted by adding 10 ng ml-1 of interleukin (ΙΙ_)-1 β. After incubation at 37°C for 4 h, the samples were treated, and the bioluminescence was measured as described by Stuknyte et al., 201 1 . Two independent experiments were conducted in triplicate for each condition.

Recently it has been showed that L. paracasei DG possesses an evident ability to reduce NF-κΒ activation in Caco-2 cells at baseline and upon stimulation with the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1 β (Balzaretti, 2015), as determined through a reporter system obtained by transfecting Caco-2 cells with a luciferase reporter vector. Here, the same immunological model has been used to test the EPS macromolecule isolated from strain DG. The results show that the purified EPS molecule, differently from the whole bacterial cells and their exhausted broth, was unable to affect NF- KB activation both at baseline and in the presence of the pro-inflammatory stimulus IL-1 3 (data not shown. Other L. paracasei strains under study (namely, strains LPC-S01 and Shirota) displayed the same ability of strain DG in reducing NF-κΒ activation in Caco-2 cells (13), further suggesting that DG-EPS does not contribute to this specific immunomodulatory effect. Activation of THP-1 human macrophage cell line: cell culture, growth conditions, and stimulation protocol

The monocytic THP-1 cell line was purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, VA, USA). THP-1 cells were originally cultured from the peripheral blood of 1 -year child with acute monocytic leukemia. They are non-adherent cells, which can be differentiated into macrophage-like cells through a protein kinase C-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent signaling pathway by treatment with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The normal growth medium for THP-1 cells consisted of RPMI 1640 medium (Lonza, Basel, Switzerland) supplemented with 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Gibco-BRL, Life Technologies, Milan. Italy), 2 imM L-glutamine, 100 units ml-1 penicillin and 100 g ml-1 streptomycin (Sigma-Aldrich). Cells were seeded at a density of 5x105 cells/well in 24-well plates and incubated at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere of 95% air and 5% CO2. Differentiation was induced by the addition of PMA (Sigma-Aldrich) into the cellular medium at a final concentration of 100 nM and was allowed to proceed for 24 h. Afterwards, cells were washed once with sterile PBS buffer to remove all non-adherent cells, and fresh complete medium was added. Bacteria were used at the multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 50, EPS at final concentrations of 0.1 , 1 , and 10 g ml-1 ; lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Salmonella enterica (Sigma-Aldrich) was used at a final concentration of 1 g ml-1 . An untreated sample, i.e., only RPMI 1640 medium with 10% (v/v) FBS, was used as control.

Preparation of RNA and Real-time Quantitative PCR (gRT-PCR)

After incubating THP-1 cells at 37°C for 4 h, the supernatant was carefully removed from each well, and the total cellular RNA was isolated from the adhered cells with the Total RNA Blood and Cultured Cells Kit (GeneAid, New Taipei City, Taiwan). Afterwards, traces of DNA were removed by treatment with DNAse enzyme (Sigma-Aldrich), following the manufacturer's instructions. RNA concentration and purity was determined with a Take3 Multivolume Plate Reader (Biotek, Luzern, Switzerland), and reverse transcription to cDNA was performed with the iScript™ Select cDNA Synthesis Kit (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA), using the following thermal cycle: 5 min at 25°C, 30 min at 42°C, and 5 min at 85°C. Real-time Quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was carried out in order to measure the imRNA expression levels of cytokines by means of the SYBR

Green technology using the SsoFast EvaGreen Supermix (Bio-Rad) on a Bio-Rad CFX96 system according to the manufacturer's instructions. The primers were as follows (5'D3'):

GAPDH forward, 5'-GGGAAGGTGAAGGTCGGAGT-3';

GAPDH reverse, 5'-TCAGCCTTGACGGTGCCATG-3';

IL-6 forward, 5'-CGGTACATCCTCGACGGCAT;

IL-6 reverse, 5'-TCACCAGGCAAGTCTCCTCAT-3';

IL-8 forward, 5'- TGTGGTATCCAAGAATCAGTGAA-3';

IL-8 reverse, 5'-TATGTTCTGGATATTTCATGGTACA-3';

CCL20 forward, 5'-CTGCTTG ATGTCAGTGCTG ;

CCL20 reverse, 5'-CACCCAAGTCTGTTTTGG-3';

TNF-a forward, 5'-TCAGCTCCACGCCATT-3';

TNF-a reverse, 5'-CCCAGGCAGTCAGATCAT-3';

COX-2 forward, 5'-CCCTTGGGTGTCAAAGGTAA;

COX-2 reverse, 5'-TGAAAAGGCGCAGTTTACG-3\

All primers were designed previously, and their specificity was assessed with melting curves during amplification and by 1 % agarose gels.

Quantitative PCR was carried out according to the following cycle: initial hold at 95°C for 30 s and then 39 cycles at 95°C for 2 s and 60°C (for

TNF-a and cyclooxygenase COX-2) or 58.2°C (for IL-6, IL-8 and CCL20) for 5 s. Gene expression was normalized to the reference glyceraldehyde- 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh) gene. The amount of template cDNA used for each sample was 15 ng. All results regarding cytokine imRNA expression levels are reported as the fold of induction (FOI) relative to the control (namely unstimulated THP-1 ), to which we attributed a FOI of 1 .

Statistically significant differences have been determined through unpaired Student's t test with a two-tailed distribution.

The gene expression of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, the interleukin (IL)-6, the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20), the chemokine IL-8, and the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 were quantified through qRT-PCR. Three concentrations of the purified DG-EPS molecule (0.1 , 1 , and 10 μg ml-1 ) were tested. The same experiments were performed in the presence of 1 μg ml-1 of the pro-inflammatory stimulus LPS.

The results show that the purified DG-EPS can stimulate the expression of all genes under study in a concentration-dependent manner, with the exception of COX-2 (Fig. 7). In particular, the chemokines IL-8 and CCL20 were induced approximately 70-fold by 10 μg ml-1 DG-EPS, whereas the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-a and IL-6 26- and 39-fold, respectively. A similar stimulatory profile was observed with bacterial cells of strain DG (MOI 50), even if to a lower extent (Fig. 8). In addition, when EPS was removed by PBS washes and mild sonication, the bacterial cells of strain DG lost their ability to stimulate the gene expression of TNF-a, IL-8 and CCL20; the addition of 1 μg ml-1 purified EPS partially reconstituted the stimulatory capacity of the cells (Fig. 8).

As expected, the stimulation of THP-1 cells with LPS determined a marked overexpression of all tested genes, particularly IL-6, IL-8, and CCL20. However, the addition of DG-EPS did not significantly affect the LPS- associated inductions of all tested genes (Fig. 7).

In conclusion, thanks to the genomic analysis on L. paracasei strain DG, we could identify two gene clusters putatively coding for EPS biosynthesis. Interestingly, GenBank search revealed that one of these regions, EPS-b, is unprecedented.

After purification of the exopolysaccharidic cell fraction of strain DG, the EPS repeating unit was characterized by means of chromatographic methods and NMR spectroscopy, establishing that it possesses a novel structure.

Effectively, the repeating unit structures of a number of different strains of the L. casei group of species (i.e., L. casei, L. paracasei, and L. rhamnosus) have previously been published, and the one reported here is different.

Any EPS molecule with a different monosaccharide sequence may represent a potential novel MAMP.

DG-EPS displays immunostimulating properties in human leukemia monocytic THP-1 cells by enhancing the gene expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-a and IL-6 and, particularly, the chemokines IL-8 and CCL20. On the contrary, the expression level of the cyclooxyqenase enzyme COX-2 was not affected.

The purified EPS produced by L. paracasei DG displayed an immunostimulatory activity, particularly in terms of chemokines expression. Thus, the EPS from L. paracasei DG, rather than an inert molecule, can be considered a bacterial product that can boost the immune system as either a secreted molecule released from the bacterium or also, plausibly, as a capsular envelope on the bacterial cell wall.

In conclusion, the probiotic strain L. paracasei DG produces a unique rhamnose-rich hetero-exopolysaccharide, named DG-EPS, possessing immunostimulatory properties.

DG-EPS may represent a new molecule for potential nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.