Antifungal activities of Bacillus velezensis FJAT-52631 and its lipopeptides against anthracnose pathogen Colletotrichum acutatum.

This study was aim at investigating antifungal activities of Bacillus velezensis FJAT-52631 and its lipopeptides against Colletotrichum acutatum ex situ and in situ. The results showed that the strain FJAT-52631 and its crude lipopeptides (10 mg/ml) exhibited strong inhibitory effects on growth of C. acutatum FJAT-30256 with an inhibition rate of 75.3% and an inhibition zone diameter of 17.66 mm, respectively. Both the viable bacterial cultures and lipopeptides of FJAT-52631 could delay the onset of loquat anthracnose by 1 day and lower the incidence of loquat anthracnose in situ. The whole cultures of B. velezensis FJAT-52631 displayed a 50% biocontrol efficacy on loquat anthracnose at the fourth day after inoculation, but the crude lipopeptides not. The average lesion diameter of the whole-culture treated group was 5.62 mm, which was smaller than that of control group (6.81 mm). All the three types of lipopeptides including iturin A, fengycin, and surfactin A secreted from the strain FJAT-52631 exhibited antifungal activities. Among them, surfactin A displayed higher antifungal activity at a concentration of 1.25 mg/mL than other two lipopeptides even if at a concentration of 60 mg/mL. Thus, the results indicated that surfactin A produced by FJAT-52631 played a major role in the biocontrol of the loquat anthracnose. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation revealed the structural deformities in the mycelia of C. acutatum. The above results suggested that the antifungal lipopeptides from B. velezensis FJAT-52631 would be potential in biocontrol against anthracnose disease of loquat caused by C. acutatum.

Bacillus taiwanensis sp. nov., isolated from a soil sample from Taiwan.

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming, aerobic bacterium (FJAT-14571(T)) was isolated from a soil sample in Taiwan. Strain FJAT-14571(T) grew at 20-40 °C (optimum 35 °C), pH 6-10 (optimum pH 8) and 0-2% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0%). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain FJAT-14571(T) was a member of the genus Bacillus and was most closely related to Bacillus oceanisediminis DSM 24771(T) (96.2%). DNA-DNA relatedness between strain FJAT-14571(T) and B. oceanisediminis DSM 24771(T) was low (32.0% ± 0.88%). The diagnostic diamino acid of the peptidoglycan of strain FJAT-14571(T) was meso-diaminopimelic acid and the predominant menaquinone was MK-7 (96.6%). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (46.4%), anteiso-C15 : 0 (7.6%), iso-C17 : 0 (8.2%) and iso-C16 : 0 (10.0 %) and the DNA G+C content was 40.8 mol%. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic properties clearly indicated that strain FJAT-14571(T) represents a novel species within the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus taiwanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FJAT-14571(T) ( = DSM 27845(T) = CGMCC1.1 2698(T)).

Lipopeptide C17 Fengycin B Exhibits a Novel Antifungal Mechanism by Triggering Metacaspase-Dependent Apoptosis in Fusarium oxysporum.

Fusarium wilt is a worldwide soil-borne fungal disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum that causes serious damage to agricultural products. Therefore, preventing and treating fusarium wilt is of great significance. In this study, we purified ten single lipopeptide fengycin components from Bacillus subtilis FAJT-4 and found that C17 fengycin B inhibited the growth of F. oxysporum FJAT-31362. We observed early apoptosis hallmarks, including reactive oxygen species accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and phosphatidylserine externalization in C17 fengycin B-treated F. oxysporum cells. Further data showed that C17 fengycin B induces cell apoptosis in a metacaspase-dependent manner. Importantly, we found that the expression of autophagy-related genes in the TOR signaling pathway was significantly upregulated; simultaneously, the accumulation of acidic autophagy vacuoles in F. oxysporum cell indicated that the autophagy pathway was activated during apoptosis induced by C17 fengycin B. Therefore, this study provides new insights into the antifungal mechanism of fengycin.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus shackletonii LMG 18435T, Isolated from Volcanic Mossy Soil.

Bacillus shackletonii LMG 18435(T) is a Gram-positive, aerobic, and spore-forming bacterium. Here, we report the 5.30-Mb draft genome sequence of B. shackletonii LMG 18435(T), which will promote its fundamental research and provide useful information for genomic taxonomy and phylogenomics of Bacillus-like bacteria.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus plakortidis P203T (DSM 19153), an Alkali- and Salt-Tolerant Marine Bacterium.

Bacillus plakortidis P203(T) is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, and alkali- and salt-tolerant marine bacterium. Here, we report the 3.97-Mb draft genome sequence of B. plakortidis P203(T), which will promote its fundamental research and provide useful information for genomic taxonomy and phylogenomics of Bacillus-like bacteria.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus humi LMG 22167T (DSM 16318), an Endospore-Forming Bacterium Isolated from Soil.

Bacillus humi LMG 22167(T) is a Gram-positive, aerobic, and spore-forming bacterium Here, we report the 4.80-Mb draft genome sequence of B. humi LMG 22167(T), which is the first genome sequence of this species and will promote its fundamental research.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus farraginis R-6540T (DSM 16013), a Spore-Forming Bacterium Isolated at Dairy Farms.

Bacillus farraginis R-6540(T) is a Gram-positive, aerobic, and spore-forming bacterium with very high intrinsic heat resistance. Here, we report the 5.32-Mb draft genome sequence of B. farraginis R-6540(T), which is the first genome sequence of this species and will promote its fundamental research.

High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of Aneurinibacillus migulanus ATCC 9999T (DSM 2895), a Gramicidin S-Producing Bacterium Isolated from Garden Soil.

Aneurinibacillus migulanus ATCC 9999(T) (DSM 2895) is a Gram-positive, round-spore-forming, and gramicidin S-producing bacterium. Here, we report the 6.35-Mb high-quality draft genome sequence of A. migulanus ATCC 9999(T), which will provide useful information for the genomic taxonomy and phylogenomics of Bacillus-like bacteria.

Genome Sequence of Bacillus butanolivorans K9T (DSM 18926), an n-Butanol-Consuming Bacterium Isolated from Soil.

Bacillus butanolivorans K9(T) (DSM 18926) is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, strictly aerobic, and n-butanol-consuming bacterium. Here, we report the 5.68-Mb genome sequence of B. butanolivorans K9(T), which is the first genomic information of this species that will provide useful information for the genomic taxonomy and phylogenomics of Bacillus-like bacteria.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus murimartini LMG 21005T, an Alkalitolerant Bacterium Isolated from a Church Wall Mural in Germany.

Bacillus murimartini LMG 21005(T) is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, and alkalitolerant bacterium isolated from a church wall mural. Here, we report the 4.17-Mb genome sequence of B. murimartini LMG 21005(T), which will accelerate the application of this alkalitolerant bacterium and provide useful information for genomic taxonomy and phylogenomics of Bacillus-like bacteria.

Draft Genome Sequence of Sporosarcina globispora W 25T (DSM 4), a Psychrophilic Bacterium Isolated from Soil and River Water.

Sporosarcina globispora W 25(T) (DSM 4) is a Gram-positive, round-spore-forming, and psychrophilic bacterium. Here, we report the 5.66-Mb genome sequence of S. globispora W 25(T), which will accelerate the application of this psychrophile and provide useful information for genomic taxonomy and phylogenomics of Bacillus-like bacteria.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus pseudalcaliphilus PN-137T (DSM 8725), an Alkaliphilic Halotolerant Bacterium Isolated from Garden Soils.

Bacillus pseudalcaliphilus PN-137(T) (DSM 8725) is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, alkaliphilic, and halotolerant bacterium. Here, we report the 4.49-Mb genome sequence of B. pseudalcaliphilus PN-137(T), which will accelerate the application of this alkaliphile and provide useful information for genomic taxonomy and phylogenomics of Bacillus-like bacteria.

Synthesis of 4'-thiosemicarbazonegriseofulvin and its effects on the control of enzymatic browning and postharvest disease of fruits.

4'-Thiosemicarbazonegriseofulvin, a new thiosemicarbazide derivative of griseofulvin, was synthesized and evaluated for its potential in the control of enzymatic browning and postharvest disease of fruits. Browning on fruits is mainly due to the enzymatic oxidation of phenolic compounds catalyzed by tyrosinase. 4'-Thiosemicarbazonegriseofulvin could effectively inhibit the activity of tyrosinase, and its 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) against tyrosinase was determined to be 37.8 µM. It was a reversible and noncompetitive inhibitor of tyrosinase, and its inhibition constant (K(I)) was determined to be 38.42 µM. The antifungal activity of 4'-thiosemicarbazonegriseofulvin was studied against four fungi (Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium solani, and Colletotrichum truncatum) that often cause postharvest diseases of fruits. The results showed that 4'-thiosemicarbazonegriseofulvin could also strongly inhibit the mycelial growth of the four target fungi; the 50% lethal concentration (LC(50)) values were 5.4, 7.0, 15.3, and 1.5 mM, respectively.