Electro-optical study of the exposure of Azospirillum brasilense carbohydrate epitopes.

The exposure of Azospirillum brasilense carbohydrate epitopes was investigated by electro-optical analysis of bacterial cell suspensions. To study changes in the electro-optical (EO) properties of the suspensions, we used antibodies generated to the complete lipopolysaccharide of A. brasilense type strain Sp7 and also antibodies to the smooth and rough O polysaccharides of Sp7. After 18 hr of culture growth, the EO signal of the suspension treated with antibodies to smooth O polysaccharide was approximately 20% lower than that of the suspension treated with antibodies to complete lipopolysaccharide (control). After 72 hr of culture growth, the strongest EO signal was observed for the cells treated with antibodies to rough O polysaccharide (approximately 46% greater than the control), whereas for the cells treated with antibodies to smooth O polysaccharide, it was much lower (approximately 23% of the control). These data were confirmed by electron microscopy. The results of the study may have importance for the rapid evaluation of changes in lipopolysaccharide form in microbial biotechnology, when the antigenic composition of the bacterial surface requires close control.

Preparation of miniantibodies to Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 surface antigens and their use for bacterial detection.

This article reports the first preparation of miniantibodies to Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 surface antigens by using a combinatorial phage library of sheep antibodies. The prepared phage antibodies were used for the first time for lipopolysaccharide and flagellin detection by dot assay, electro-optical analysis of cell suspensions, and transmission electron microscopy. Interaction of A. brasilense Sp245 with antilipopolysaccharide and antiflagellin phage-displayed miniantibodies caused the magnitude of the electro-optical signal to change considerably. The electro-optical results were in good agreement with the electron microscopic data. This is the first reported possibility of employing phage-displayed miniantibodies in bacterial detection aided by electro-optical analysis of cell suspensions.

Efecto de la biofertilización y los biorreguladores en la germinación y el crecimiento de carica papaya L / Effect of biofertilization and bioregulators on germination and growth of carica papaya L

Con el objetivo de incrementar y acelerar el proceso de germinación de las semillas y obtener una alta producción y homogeneidad de plántulas de Carica papaya variedad Maradol en vivero, se evaluó el efecto de tres biofertilizantes aplicados solos o en combinación (Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum brasilense y Glomus intraradices), y un biorregulador del crecimiento vegetal, el ácido giberélico (AG3), en la germinación y el crecimiento vegetal. Se realizó un experimento bajo un diseño completamente al azar con ocho tratamientos y tres repeticiones. A las semillas se les aplicó un pretratamiento germinativo con alternancia de temperatura para superar la dormancia. Los tratamientos simples con A. chroococcum y A. brasilense, incrementaron el porcentaje de germinación a 90,28 y 88,89% respectivamente. Además, con la aplicación de los biofertilizantes y el AG3, la velocidad de germinación se incrementó y el tiempo medio de germinación se redujo. La doble aplicación en semillas y foliar de los biofertilizantes y el AG3 en plántulas mejoró el crecimiento vegetal. La población de A. chroococcum fue mayor cuando se inoculó en combinación con G. intraradices. La prevalencia de colonización de las plántulas inoculadas con G. intraradices varió de 18,53 a 26,67%, con el mayor valor registrado para el tratamiento combinado con A. brasilense. Finalmente, aplicando esta metodología se logró acelerar la germinación, obteniéndose una mayor homogeneidad en la emergencia de las plántulas, disminuyendo así el tiempo de permanencia en el vivero.

In order to increase and accelerate the process of seed germination and obtain a high yield and homogeneity of papaya seedlings cv. Maradol in nurseries, we evaluated the effect of three biofertilizers applied single or in combination (Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum brasilense and Glomus intraradices) and a plant growth bioregulator, the gibberellic acid 3 (AG3), on the germination and subsequent growth of papaya seedlings. An experimental design completely random with eight treatments and three replications were used. The application of a pre-germinal treatment with alternating temperature had to be applied to seeds to overcome dormancy. Single biofertilization with A. chroococcum and A. brasilense, promoted the germination percentage 90.28 y 88.89% respectively. Germination rate could be enhanced and the mean germination time was reduced with the application of biofertilizer and AG3. Both applications on seeds and leaves of biofertilizers and AG3, had a positive effect on plant growth. The population of A. chroococcum was higher in the combined inoculation with G. intraradices. The prevalence of colonization of plants inoculated with G. intraradices ranged from 18.53 to 26.67%, with the greatest values recorded for the treatment involving combined inoculation with A. brasilense. Finally, with the application of this methodology the seed germination rate was improved, as well as the uniformity of seedlings emergence...

[Study of immunochemical heterogeneity of Azospirillum brasilense lipopolysaccharides].

A comparative immunochemical analysis of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in Azospirillum brasilense model strains Sp7 and Sp245 and in mutants with transformed somatic antigens has been performed. According to the results of a complex of various immunochemical methods, including studies with polyclonal antibodies against the LPS these bacteria, their LPS consist of an assembly of macromolecules with different antigenic characteristics. Two types of O-specific polysaccharides (O-PS) are present in the LPS of every strain of A. brasilense under study. The major difference between the two O-PS is the antigenic heterogeneity of one of them. This heterogeneous O-PS has been shown to possess at least two O-factors (antigenic determinants) different in their structure. Meanwhile, according to all the tests performed, the other O-PS in every strain is immunochemically homogeneous and identical to one of the determinants revealed in the more diversified O-PS. The LPS heterogeneity among the given strains may be due to the pattern of O-specific polysaccharide synthesis, one of the O-PS being an intermediate in the synthesis of the other.

Electrophysical characteristics of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 during interaction with antibodies to various cell surface epitopes.

This work was undertaken to examine the electrooptical characteristics of cells of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 during their interaction with antibodies developed to various cell surface epitopes. We used the dependences of the cell suspension optical density changes induced by electroorientation on the orienting field frequency (740, 1000, 1450, 2000, and 2800kHz). Cell interactions with homologous strain-specific antibodies to the A. brasilense Sp245 O antigen and with homologous antibodies to whole bacterial cells brought about considerable changes in the electrooptical properties of the bacterial suspension. When genus-specific antibodies to the flagellin of the Azospirillum sheathed flagellum and antibodies to the serologically distinct O antigen of A. brasilense Sp7 were included in the A. brasilense Sp245 suspension, the changes caused in the electrooptical signal were slight and had values close to those for the above changes. These findings agree well with the immunochemical characteristics of the Azospirillum O antigens and with the data on the topographical distribution of the Azospirillum major cell surface antigens. The obtained results can serve as a basis for the development of a rapid test for the intraspecies detection of microorganisms.

[Atypical R-S dissociation in Azospirillum brasilense]. / Netipichnyi kharakter R-S dissotsiatsii Azospirillum brasilense.

It was found that atypical R-S dissociation in the type strain A. brasilense Sp7 is not accompanied by drastic changes in the carbohydrate moieties of bacterial lipopolysaccharides but is rather due to different contributions of two O-specific polysaccharides (found in both R and S dissociants) to the age-dependent architectonics of the cell surface.

[Changes in the antigenic properties of Azospirillum brasilense lipopolysaccharide on addition of tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane into the culture medium]. / Izmenenie antigennykh svoistv lipopolisakharidov Azospirillum brasilense pri vnesenii v sredu kul'tivirovaniia tris(gidroksimetil)aminometana.

Addition of tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane (Tris) into the culture medium of Azospirillum brasilense sp245 changes the antigenic properties of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from the external membrane of the bacteria. LPS preparations from the bacteria grown in the presence of Tris have been analyzed by immunodiffusion, using monospecific antibodies. The disappearance of the precipitation band corresponding to one of the two O-specific polysaccharides of the LPS (O-PS1) and changes in the electrophoretic profile have been revealed. However, only minor differences in absorption spectra of products of O-PS1 reaction with phenol/sulfuric acid have been demonstrated between the bacteria grown under standard conditions and in the presence of Tris.

[Immunochemical analysis of O-specific polysaccharides from the soil nitrogen-fixing bacteria Azospirillum brasilense]. / Immunokhimicheskii analiz O-spetsificheskikh polisakharidov pochvennykh azotfiksiruiushchikh bakterii Azospirillum brasilense.

Immunochemical reactivity of O-specific polysaccharide and the monosaccharide composition of O-antigenic determinants of the lipopolysaccharide isolated from the type strain Sp7 of Azospirillum brasilense were studied. An original modification of the method of spectroturbidimetry for disperse biological systems and a nonstandard procedure for the preparation of monospecific antibodies against cell surface antigens were used. The polysaccharide fraction, which contained residues of galactose, rhamnose, and galacturonic acid, was able to bind about 50% of the antibodies raised against whole bacterial cells. Twelve immunodeterminant groups were shown to be present in its molecule. Galactose and, less effectively, rhamnose but not galacturonic acid inhibited the antigen-antibody reactions. It is concluded that the serotype of the strain studied is determined by galactose residues.

Characterization and application of a strain-specific monoclonal antibody against the rhizosphere bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Wa5.

A hybridoma cell line producing a rat monoclonal antibody (MAb Bo-33) directed against lipopolysaccharide of Azospirillum brasilense Wa5 has been established and characterized. Whole bacteria were used as immunogens. The number of antigens per cell was about 1500. The number of antigens per cell of reisolates from the rhizosphere of what was similar to the number of antigens of bacteria cultivated in rich medium. The sensitivity of detection using MAb Bo-33 was about 100 bacteria/ml. Therefore, the MAb was suitable for in situ immunofluorescence detection and a sensitive direct quantification of Azospirillum brasilense Wa5 in rhizosphere extracts.

Production and characterization of strain-specific monoclonal antibodies against outer membrane components of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245.

Several hybridoma cell lines producing murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against outer membrane components of the Gram-negative rhizosphere bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 have been established and characterized. Whole bacterial cells were used as immunogens. Among the clones obtained, 14 hybridoma cell lines were selected for further characterization. Eight MAbs were strain-specific and 6 MAbs showed cross-reactivity with a closely related strain Azospirillum brasilense Sp246. According to the biochemical characterization of the antigenic determinants, MAbs were classified into four groups. The corresponding antigens were lipopolysaccharides (class 1) and an outer membrane protein (class 4), which is common to Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 and Azospirillum brasilense Sp246 as well as two outer membrane proteins (class 2 and class 3) that are characteristic for Azospirillum brasilense Sp245. The number of antigens per cell varied from 4000 (class 1) to 100 (class 4). In each class high affinity MAbs were identified, which made a sensitive direct quantification of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 possible.