ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Microorganisms in Vertebrate Digestive Systems
Genomic and phenotypic analysis of Weissella cibaria LB13201 and LB13206 isolated from Hanwoo (native Korean cattle) with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory capability
Provisionally accepted
- 1LART Bio Inc., Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- 2Incheon National University, Yeonsu-gu, Republic of Korea
- 3Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Republic of Korea
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Probiotics are widely used in livestock to improve gut health, enhance productivity, and increase disease resistance. Weissella strains, particularly W. cibaria, have probiotic properties. However, research on the Weissella genus remains limited. This study investigated the genomic, functional, and probiotic characteristics of W. cibaria strains LB13201 and LB13206, which were isolated from the bovine vagina. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the strains possess circular chromosomes with two (LB13206) or three (LB13201) plasmids, containing 2,253 and 2,311 coding sequences, respectively. Taxonomic classification confirmed its identity as W. cibaria. The analyzed strains exhibited tolerance to acidic environments and bile salts, along with auto-and co-aggregation capabilities, indicating potential for gut colonization and pathogen exclusion. Functional gene analysis identified carbohydrate-active enzymes, such as glycoside hydrolases and glycosyltransferases, essential for carbohydrate metabolism and food fermentation. Additionally, the presence of a Type III polyketide synthase gene and a terpene-precursor cluster suggests potential for bioactive metabolite production. Despite the absence of bacteriocin-encoding genes, W. cibaria LB13201 and LB13206 displayed antimicrobial activity against pathogens. Comprehensive safety assessments confirmed the absence of virulence factors, antibiotic resistance genes, hemolytic activity, or gelatinase production, supporting its safety profile. The strain also exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting additional health benefits. In conclusion, W. cibaria LB13201 and LB13206 are promising probiotic candidates for potential application in cattle feed additives.
Keywords: anti-inflammatory activity, Antimicrobial activity, Genomic Analysis, Probiotic characteristics, safety assessment, Weissella cibaria
Received: 28 Jul 2025; Accepted: 20 Jan 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Lee, Yum, Gim, Eom, Young Jin, Kim and Jang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Goo Jang
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