Genomic Sequence of Streptococcus salivarius MDI13 and Latilactobacillus sakei MEI5: Two Promising Probiotic Strains Isolated from European Hakes (Merluccius merluccius, L.)

Frequently, diseases in aquaculture have been fought indiscriminately with the use of antibiotics, which has led to the development and dissemination of (multiple) antibiotic resistances in bacteria. Consequently, it is necessary to look for alternative and complementary approaches to chemotheraphy that are safe for humans, animals, and the environment, such as the use of probiotics in fish farming. The objective of this work was the Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatic and functional analyses of <i>S. salivarius</i> MDI13 and <i>L. sakei</i> MEI5, two LAB strains isolated from the gut of commercial European hakes (<i>M. merluccius</i>, L.) caught in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. The WGS and bioinformatic and functional analyses confirmed the lack of transferable antibiotic resistance genes, the lack of virulence and pathogenicity issues, and their potentially probiotic characteristics. Specifically, genes involved in adhesion and aggregation, vitamin biosynthesis, and amino acid metabolism were detected in both strains. In addition, genes related to lactic acid production, active metabolism, and/or adaptation to stress and adverse conditions in the host gastrointestinal tract were detected in <i>L. sakei</i> MEI5. Moreover, a gene cluster encoding three bacteriocins (SlvV, BlpK, and BlpE) was identified in the genome of <i>S. salivarius</i> MDI13. The in vitro-synthesized bacteriocin BlpK showed antimicrobial activity against the ichthyopathogens <i>Lc. garvieae</i> and <i>S. parauberis</i>. Altogether, our results suggest that <i>S. salivarius</i> MDI13 and <i>L. sakei</i> MEI5 have a strong potential as probiotics to prevent fish diseases in aquaculture as an appropriate alternative/complementary strategy to the use of antibiotics.