Gene expression profile of Scardovia spp. in the metatranscriptome of root caries

Abstract A few investigations of caries biofilms have identified Scardovia spp.; however, little is known about its involvement in caries pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to assess the gene expression profile of Scardovia spp. in root caries, and compare it with other microorganisms. Clinical samples from active root caries lesions were collected. Microbial mRNA was isolated and cDNA sequenced. The function and composition of the Scardovia were investigated using two methods: a) de novo assembly of the read data and mapping to contigs, and b) reads mapping to reference genomes. Pearson correlation was performed (p < 0.05). Proportion of Scardovia inopinata and Scardovia wiggsiae sequences ranged from 0-6% in the root caries metatranscriptome. There was a positive correlation between the transcriptome of Lactobacillus spp. and Scardovia spp. (r = 0.70; p = 0.03), as well as with other Bifidobacteriaceae (r = 0.91; p = 0.0006). Genes that code for fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase (the key enzyme for "Bifid shunt"), as well as ABC transporters and glycosyl-hydrolases were highly expressed. In conclusion, "Bifid shunt" and starch metabolism are involved in carbohydrate metabolism of S. inopinata and S. wiggsiae in root caries. There is a positive correlation between the metabolism abundance of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacteriaceae members, and Scardovia in root caries.

Effect of sulfonylurea tribenuron methyl herbicide on soil Actinobacteria growth and characterization of resistant strains

ABSTRACT Repeated application of pesticides disturbs microbial communities and cause dysfunctions on soil biological processes. Granstar® 75 DF is one of the most used sulfonylurea herbicides on cereal crops; it contains 75% of tribenuron-methyl. Assessing the changes on soil microbiota, particularly on the most abundant bacterial groups, will be a useful approach to determine the impact of Granstar® herbicide. For this purpose, we analyzed Actinobacteria, which are known for their diversity, abundance, and aptitude to resist to xenobiotic substances. Using a selective medium for Actinobacteria, 42 strains were isolated from both untreated and Granstar® treated soils. The number of isolates recovered from the treated agricultural soil was fewer than that isolated from the corresponding untreated soil, suggesting a negative effect of Granstar® herbicide on Actinobacteria community. Even so, the number of strains isolated from untreated and treated forest soil was quite similar. Among the isolates, resistant strains, tolerating high doses of Granstar® ranging from 0.3 to 0.6% (v/v), were obtained. The two most resistant strains (SRK12 and SRK17) were isolated from treated soils showing the importance of prior exposure to herbicides for bacterial adaptation. SRK12 and SRK17 strains showed different morphological features. The phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, clustered the SRK12 strain with four Streptomyces type strains (S. vinaceusdrappus, S. mutabilis, S. ghanaensis and S. enissocaesilis), while SRK17 strain was closely related to Streptomyces africanus. Both strains were unable to grow on tribenuron methyl as unique source of carbon, despite its advanced dissipation. On the other hand, when glucose was added to tribenuron methyl, the bacterial development was evident with even an improvement of the tribenuron methyl degradation. In all cases, as tribenuron methyl disappeared, two compounds were detected with increased concentrations. These by-products appeared to be persistent and were not degraded either chemically or by the studied strains. Based on these observations, we suggested that bacterial activity on carbon substrates could be directly involved in the partial breakdown of tribenuron methyl, by generating the required acidity for the first step of the hydrolysis. Such a process would be interesting to consider in bioremediation of neutral and alkaline tribenuron methyl-polluted soils.

Characterization of dioxygenases and biosurfactants produced by crude oil degrading soil bacteria

ABSTRACT Role of microbes in bioremediation of oil spills has become inevitable owing to their eco friendly nature. This study focused on the isolation and characterization of bacterial strains with superior oil degrading potential from crude-oil contaminated soil. Three such bacterial strains were selected and subsequently identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as Corynebacterium aurimucosum, Acinetobacter baumannii and Microbacterium hydrocarbonoxydans respectively. The specific activity of catechol 1,2 dioxygenase (C12O) and catechol 2,3 dioxygenase (C23O) was determined in these three strains wherein the activity of C12O was more than that of C23O. Among the three strains, Microbacterium hydrocarbonoxydans exhibited superior crude oil degrading ability as evidenced by its superior growth rate in crude oil enriched medium and enhanced activity of dioxygenases. Also degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in crude oil was higher with Microbacterium hydrocarbonoxydans. The three strains also produced biosurfactants of glycolipid nature as indicated d by biochemical, FTIR and GCMS analysis. These findings emphasize that such bacterial strains with superior oil degrading capacity may find their potential application in bioremediation of oil spills and conservation of marine and soil ecosystem.

Potential for biocontrol of melanized fungi by actinobacteria isolated from intertidal region of Ilha Do Mel, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract Actinobacteria occur in many environments and have the capacity to produce secondary metabolites with antibiotic potential. Identification and taxonomy of actinobacteria that produce antimicrobial substances is essential for the screening of new compounds, and sequencing of the 16S region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA), which is conserved and present in all bacteria, is an important method of identification. Melanized fungi are free-living organisms, which can also be pathogens of clinical importance. This work aimed to evaluate growth inhibition of melanized fungi by actinobacteria and to identify the latter to the species level. In this study, antimicrobial activity of 13 actinobacterial isolates from the genus Streptomyces was evaluated against seven melanized fungi of the genera Exophiala, Cladosporium, and Rhinocladiella. In all tests, all actinobacterial isolates showed inhibitory activity against all isolates of melanized fungi, and only one actinobacterial isolate had less efficient inhibitory activity. The 16S rDNA region of five previously unidentified actinobacterial isolates from Ilha do Mel, Paraná, Brazil, was sequenced; four of the isolates were identified as Streptomyces globisporus subsp. globisporus, and one isolate was identified as Streptomyces aureus. This work highlights the potential of actinobacteria with antifungal activity and their role in the pursuit of novel antimicrobial substances.

Carbazole degradation in the soil microcosm by tropical bacterial strains

In a previous study, three bacterial strains isolated from tropical hydrocarbon-contaminated soils and phylogenetically identified as Achromobacter sp. strain SL1, Pseudomonas sp. strain SL4 and Microbacterium esteraromaticum strain SL6 displayed angular dioxygenation and mineralization of carbazole in batch cultures. In this study, the ability of these isolates to survive and enhance carbazole degradation in soil were tested in field-moist microcosms. Strain SL4 had the highest survival rate (1.8 x 107 cfu/g) after 30 days of incubation in sterilized soil, while there was a decrease in population density in native (unsterilized) soil when compared with the initial population. Gas chromatographic analysis after 30 days of incubation showed that in sterilized soil amended with carbazole (100 mg/kg), 66.96, 82.15 and 68.54% were degraded by strains SL1, SL4 and SL6, respectively, with rates of degradation of 0.093, 0.114 and 0.095 mg kg−1 h−1. The combination of the three isolates as inoculum in sterilized soil degraded 87.13% carbazole at a rate of 0.121 mg kg−1 h−1. In native soil amended with carbazole (100 mg/kg), 91.64, 87.29 and 89.13% were degraded by strains SL1, SL4 and SL6 after 30 days of incubation, with rates of degradation of 0.127, 0.121 and 0.124 mg kg−1 h−1, respectively. This study successfully established the survivability (> 106 cfu/g detected after 30 days) and carbazole-degrading ability of these bacterial strains in soil, and highlights the potential of these isolates as seed for the bioremediation of carbazole-impacted environments.

The First Case of Eggerthella lenta Bacteremia in Korea

No abstract available.

Actinobacteriological research in India.

Actinobacteria are important sources of compounds for drug discovery and have attracted considerable pharmaceutical, chemical, agricultural and industrial interests. Actinobacteriological research is still in its infancy in India. Early work on actinobacteria started in the 20th century and mostly focused on studying the diversity, identification and screening for antibiotics, enzymes and enzyme inhibitors. Exploration of diverse habitats for the isolation of actinobacteria, have yielded till date 23 novel species. Screening of actinobacteria for antagonistic activity, has led to the discovery of four novel antibiotics. Research on enzymes mostly covered lipases, amylases, proteases, endoglucanases, α-galactosidases, pectin lyases, xylanases, L-asparaginases, L-glutaminase and cellulases. Research on exploiting actinobacteria for other purposes such as production of enzyme inhibitors, single cell protein, bioemulsifier and biosurfactants is still in the experimental stage. This review compiles the work done in last few years, with an emphasis on actinobacterial diversity and bioprospecting for pharmaceutically important compounds like antibiotics, enzymes and other important applications. The chemical creativity and biotechnological potential of Indian actinobacterial strains are yet to be fully explored. A national strategy is required consistent with the opportunities provided by CBD-Nagoya protocol.

16S rRNA gene-based identification of microbiota associated with the parthenogenetic troglobiont sand fly Deanemyia maruaga (Diptera, Psychodidae) from central Amazon, Brazil

Bacteria associated with the parthenogenetic troglobiont sand fly Deanemyia maruaga were characterized by sequencing cloned 16S rDNA PCR products. Eleven novel partial 16S rDNA sequences, with varying degrees of similarity to Actinobacteria, were identified. None of the sequences identified had homology to those known from parthenogenesis-inducing bacteria.

Taxonomic study and partial characterization of antimicrobial compounds from a moderately halophilic strain of the genus Actinoalloteichus

A moderately halophilic actinomycete strain designated AH97 was isolated from a saline Saharan soil, and selected for its antimicrobial activities against bacteria and fungi. The AH97 strain was identified by morphological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses to the genus Actinoalloteichus. Analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence of strain AH97 showed a similarity level ranging between 95.8 percent and 98.4 percent within Actinoalloteichus species, with A. hymeniacidonis the most closely related. The comparison of the physiological characteristics of AH97 with those of known species of Actinoalloteichus showed significant differences. Strain AH97 showed an antibacterial and antifungal activity against broad spectrum of microorganisms known to be human and plant pathogens. The bioactive compounds were extracted from the filtrate culture with n-butanol and purified using thin layer chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography procedures. Two active products were isolated, one hydrophilic fraction (F1) and another hydrophobic (F2). Ultraviolet-visible, infrared, mass and ÕH and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies suggested that these molecules were the dioctyl phthalate (F2) and an aminoglycosidic compound (F1).

Comunidades de hongos actinomicetos en tres tipos de vegetación de la Amazonia colombiana: abundancia, morfotipos y el gen 16s ADNr

Communities of Actynomicetes fungy in three vegetation types of the Colombian Amazon: abundance, morphotypes and the 16s rDNA gene. Among soil microorganisms, Actinomycetes play an important role in the sustainability of natural and agricultural systems: decomposition of organic matter; degradation of recalcitrant compounds like lignin; nitrogen fixation; degradation of agricultural chemicals and biological control in plants and animals. We evaluated their diversity in soils under three different vegetation covers (pasture, tropical primary forest and stubble) at two depths in the Southern Colombian Amazon border. We collected five replicates per vegetation type (in each, three samples at 0-20cm and three at 20-30cm; for a total of 30 samples). Abundance and phenotypic diversity were determined by plate counting. Genomic DNA was extracted from the isolates: the 16s rDNA gene was amplified with specific primers, and its genetic diversity was estimated by means of an amplified restriction analysis (ARDRA). Actynomicetes abundance varied with vegetation and depth, possibly reflecting presence of earthworms, macro-fauna and physico-chemical characteristics associated to fertility, as well as organic matter, total bases, and optimal capacity to cationic interchange. Primary forests had the highest diversity. Sixteen morpho-types (six genera) were identified; Streptomyces was the most abundant everywhere. The heterogeneity of ARDRA patterns prevented species identification because of the intra-species variability in sequences of 16s rDNA operons. This community is a biological indicator of landscape alteration and could include new bio-active compounds of pharmaceutical interest. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (4): 1119-1139. Epub 2009 December 01.

Los actinomicetos son importantes en la sostenibilidad de sistemas naturales. Su diversidad fue evaluada en suelos de bosque, pastizal y rastrojo, y dos profundidades en el Sur del Trapecio Amazónico Colombiano. Se analizaron suelos de cinco repeticiones por cobertura para un total de 15 unidades. Se tomaron seis muestras en cada unidad y dos profundidades, para un total de 30. Los actinomicetos cultivables se determinaron por recuento en placa, se extrajo ADN, se amplificó el gen ADNr 16s y su diversidad genética se estimó por ARDRA. Hubo diferencias de abundancia entre coberturas y profundidades, relacionadas con la vegetación, presencia de lombrices, macrofauna, altos niveles de materia orgánica, y bases totales. Se obtuvieron valores de diversidad fenotípica similares para las tres coberturas, pero los bosques son más diversos. Se identificaron 16 morfotipos, agrupados en séis géneros, siendo Streptomyces el más abundante. La heterogeneidad de los patrones ARDRA no permitió la asignación de especies, reflejándose variaciones en las secuencias de diferentes operones ADNr 16s en un mismo organismo. Las perturbaciones en la cobertura influyen sobre los actinomicetos, generando cambios en su abundancia y diversidad. Su importancia ecológica permite proponerlos como indicadores biológicos de alteración del paisaje.