Lactococcus petauri/garvieae

Insects are a natural nutrient source in the diet of many different animal species and are considered a future source of dietary proteins. However, insects are also carriers of potentially pathogenic microbes, posing a danger to food and feed safety. Lactococcus species are are frequently used in the food industry with some species being pathogenic with an unknown mode of action. . We report here the occurrence of the haemolytic orange pigmented phenotype of Lactococcus garvieae/petauri in the faecal microbiota of golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia), and feed larvae (Zophobas atratus). Pangenome analysis suggested the presence of four species within the L. garvieae/petauri group. The presence of cyl cluster similar to Streptococcus agalactiae suggested that the pigment is similar to granadaene, an orange pigmented cytotoxic lipid produce by group B Streptococcus. Pigment production by L. garvieae/petauri strains was dependent on the presence of the fermentable sugar substrate with no pigment being observed at pH<4.7. he addition of buffering compounds such as MOPS, or arginine, which can be metabolized to ammonium, restored pigment formation. In addition, pigment formation might be related to the source of peptone. Feed insects were identified as a regular source of L. garvieae/petauri based on reanalysis of available 16S rRNA gene libraries, which suggests a source for possible transfer to gut microbiota of humans and animals. Edible insects seem to be a possible pathway for the distribution of granadaene producing lactococci, indicating pathogenic risk and zoonotic potential.