WWW.CHR-HANSEN.COM/ANIMAL-HEALTH

STRAINS MATTER

There is unlimited diversity among living organisms and bacteria are no different.

90% 96%82% 99.9%

Genetic diversity

Range of similarity among B. subtilis strains

Within a species of bacteria, there can be

thousands of different strains.

A strain is a subtype of a microbial species with:

• Unique genetic identity

• Distinctive morphological, biochemical and

behavioral features

The bacterial species Bacillus subtilis

has more than 1000 strains recorded

in international strain banks, which

contrasts the 250 cattle, 190 dog, or 65

chicken recognized breeds.

Assessing bacterial genetic diversity is critical for

strain discrimination.

Selecting and differentiating strains matters

greatly for the health and food industries as

different strains have unique properties.

Strain variability can be used to tackle

major food and health challenges.

Des

ign

by S

cite

- S

cien

ce C

omm

unic

atio

n

Enhanced digestion | Pathogen mitigation | Improved performance

Different Lactobacillus animalis strains show distinct benefits

Similarity between humans and mice or chimpanzees

WWW.CHR-HANSEN.COM/ANIMAL-HEALTH

EXPONENTIAL VARIABILITY IN ENZYME PRODUCTION

Chr. Hansen Animal Health Innovation (EXP-12-AB4609).

Cellulase and xylanase are two fiber degrading enzymes needed to breakdown cellulose and hemicellulose, respectively, and their activity varies exponentially across different Bacillus strains.

HIGH GENETIC DIVERSITY AMONG BACILLUS SUBTILIS STRAINS

Earl et al. (2017) Journal of Bacteriology 189: 1163-1170.

Number of genes associated with different category role groups and level of total divergence among 17 Bacillus subtilis strains.

CATEGORY ROLE GENES DIVERGENT % DIVERGENT

Cell wall 89 24 27

Germination 26 11 42

Binding proteins and lipoproteins 400 123 31

Metabolism of amino acids 201 32 16

Metabolism of sulfur 8 5 63

Anti-microbial peptide production 35 23 66

Regulation of RNA synthesis 224 82 37

Protein folding 12 6 50

Unknown 540 152 28

Total 3,722 1,003 27

Bacillus subtilis Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000Cellulase

Enzy

me

activ

ity (

mU

/ml r

elat

ive

to O

D)

Bacillus subtilis Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Xylanase

Enzy

me

activ

ity (

mU

/ml r

elat

ive

to O

D)

strain 1Pathogen inhibition

strain 2Pathogen inhibition

strain 3No pathogen inhibition

DIFFERENT PATHOGEN INHIBITION OUTCOMES

Chr. Hansen Animal Health Innovation (EXP-16-AI1205).

Inhibitory activity of different Bacillus subtilis strains against the pathogenic bacteria Clostridium perfringens varies greatly.