The role of oxidative stress in genome destabilization and adaptive evolution of bacteria.

The review is devoted to bacterial genome destabilization by oxidative stress. The article discusses the main groups of substances causing such stress. Stress regulons involved in destabilization of genetic material and mechanisms enhancing mutagenesis, bacterial genome rearrangements, and horizontal gene transfer, induced by oxidative damage to cell components are also considered. Based on the analysis of publications, it can be claimed that rapid development of new food substrates and ecological niches by microorganisms occurs due to acceleration of genetic changes induced by oxidative stress, mediated by several stress regulons (SOS, RpoS and RpoE) and under selective pressure. The authors conclude that non-lethal oxidative stress is probably-one of the fundamental processes that guide evolution of prokaryotes and a powerful universal trigger for adaptive destabilization of bacterial genome under changing environmental conditions.

Pollution impact on microbial communities composition in natural and anthropogenically modified soils of Southern Russia.

Metagenomic studies of soil microbocenoses are extremely relevant nowadays. The study of pollution impact on soil microbiomes is of particular interest. The structure of microbial communities in soils with different levels of pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was studied. High bacterial biodiversity was found in all the studied soil samples, but its lowest values are found in soil samples taken on the territory of technogenically polluted Lake Atamanskoye. Assessment of soil pollution showed the highest content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) for the soils Lake Atamanskoye. The high content of pollutants negatively affects the abundance of representatives of the phyla Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Nitrospirae. Such phyla as Proteobacteria, Candidate Divisions TM7, OD1, WPS-2, Chlamydiae, Cyanobacteria are characterized by positive direct correlation with the content of pollutants, especially with PAHs. A cooperative effect of decrease in the number of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria with an increase in Armatimonadetes probably corresponds to PTEs contamination. The proportion of Candidate Division OD1, Chlamydiae, Cyanobacteria, and Candidate Division WPS-2 was increased in the soil microbiome under the influence of severe combined pollution. Pollutants negatively affect the abundance of dominant unclassified_o__Gaiellales and unclassified_o__WD2101 genera. Iamia, Salinibacterium, Arthrobacter, Kaistobacter, Thiobacillus genera are characterized by a low abundance, but they are presumably the most resistant to soil pollution. It was revealed that the level of soil pollution largely determines the composition and diversity of bacterial communities in the soils of the studied territories. Operating taxonomic units have been established that have prognostic value for assessing the state, level of soil pollution, and their biological safety.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, antibiotic resistance genes, toxicity in the exposed to anthropogenic pressure soils of the Southern Russia.

The influence of anthropogenic pollution, particularly with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on soil toxicity and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is extremely important nowadays. We studied 20 soil samples from a technogenically polluted site, municipal solid wastes (MSW) landfills, and rural settlements in the southwestern part of the Rostov Region of Russia. A close correlation was established between the results of biosensor testing for integral toxicity, the content of genes for the biodegradation of hydrocarbons, and the concentration of PAHs in soils. The relation between the quantitative content of ARGs and the qualitative and quantitative composition of PAHs has not been registered. Soils subjected to different types of the anthropogenic pressure differed in PAHs composition. The technogenic soils are the most polluted ones. These soils are enriched with 5 ring PAHs and carry the maximum variety of assayed ARGs, despite the fact that they do not receive household or medical waste.

Antioxidant enzymes and reactive oxygen species level of the Achromobacter xylosoxidans bacteria during hydrocarbons biotransformation.

The level of catalase and superoxide dismutase induction, as well as generation of superoxide anion radical in cells and accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the culture medium were researched in three strains of oil-degrading bacteria Achromobacter xylosoxidans at cultivation in rich nutrient medium and in the media with hydrocarbons as the only source of carbon. The effects of pentane, decane, hexadecane, cyclohexane, benzene, naphthalene and diesel fuel were evaluated. It was determined that in the microbial cell on media with hydrocarbons, the generation of superoxide anion radical increases, accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and induction of superoxide dismutase synthesis occur, and catalase activity is reduced. Oxidative stress in the cells of A. xylosoxidans was caused by biotransformation of all the studied hydrocarbons. The most pronounced effect was observed at incubation of bacteria with cyclohexane, pentane, diesel fuel, benzene and naphthalene.

Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of lower reaches of the Don River (Russia) and their ecotoxicologic assessment by bacterial lux-biosensors.

The lower Don River in the south of the European part of Russia was studied to determine the concentration, spatial distribution, and sources of 19 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments. Total PAH concentrations ranged from 14.2 to 529 ng/g-dw. Sedimentary PAH concentrations were higher in the delta of the Don River and in the estuaries of rivers Sal and Aksai compared to the main channel of the Don. Analysis of the PAHs sources showed that PAHs came mostly from pyrogenic sources as a result of incomplete combustion of coal. Bioluminescent bacterial sensors were used for ecotoxicological assessment of surface sediments. The surface sediments of all the investigated stations of lower reaches of the Don River were toxic and genotoxic. The maximum concentration of PAHs and the high genotoxicity effect caused by the presence of genotoxicants were found in the surface sediments of the same stations. Significant correlations between the concentrations of individual PAHs in sediments and the genotoxic effect were found. Correlation between genotoxicity of surface sediments and concentration of phenanthrene and benz(k)fluoranthene was the most significant both with and without application of metabolic activation.

Superoxide scavenging activity of plastoquinone derivative 10-(6'-plastoquinonyl)decyltriphenylphosphonium (SkQ1).

The plastoquinone derivative 10-(6'-plastoquinonyl)decyltriphenylphosphonium (SkQ1) has the ability to scavenge superoxide anion radical. This ability is manifested both in vitro and in vivo in experiments with the bacterium Escherichia coli. The protective effect of SkQ1 in vivo significantly exceeds that of ascorbic acid.

[Chemiluminescence analysis of oil oxidizing bacteria Actinetobacter calcoaceticus extracts: effects of the extracts on pSoxS-lux biosensor].

A comparative H2O2-luminol- and Fe(II)-induced chemiluminescence analysis of extracts of two strains of marine oil oxidizing bacteria Actinetobacter calcoaceticus cultivated either in the presence or absence of oil was carried out. Effects of these extracts on E. coli MG1655 biosensor (pSoxS-lux) were studied. Activation of H2O2-induced chemiluminescence in the presence of oil was observed. This suggests activation of free radical lipid peroxidation. Aqueous extracts of microorganisms cultivated in the presence of oil were shown to activate reactive oxygen species production (ROS) in Fe(II)-induced chemiluminescence reaction mixture. Acetone-ethanol extracts induced antioxidative systems of both strains. Chemiluminescence analysis in a biological system carried utilizing E. coli MG1655 (pSoxS-lux) revealed that aqueous extracts of the strains cultivated in the absence of oil contained potential antioxidants.

[New biosensors for assessment of environmental toxicity based on marine luminescent bacteria].

Sixteen strains of luminescent bacteria of Vibrio and Photobacterium genera were isolated from water of the Azov and Black seas. Two strains prospective for biotesting were genetically identified as Vibrio fisher Ve-9579 and Vibrio fisheri Ve-9580 according to Russian Industrial Microorganism Collection (VKMP) classification and accepted for depositing. The isolated luminescent strains exhibited high individual sensitivity to oil derived products, heavy metal salts, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and phenol (up to the maximum concentration limit for fishery impoundments). According to EC50, they are ten times more sensitive to heavy metal salts and potassium dichromate and 2-6 times more sensitive to SDSand phenol compared to P. phosphoreum (Cohn) Ford and Escherichia coli C600 (pPLS-5) strains. Using Vibrio fisheri VKMP Ve-9579 and Vibrio fisheri VKMP Ve-9580 as biosensors, we have shown their high sensitivity and efficacy to marine ecosystem toxicity assessment.

Antimutagenic activity of mitochondria-targeted plastoquinone derivative.

The ability of cationic plastoquinone derivative 10-(6'-plastoquinonyl) decyltriphenylphosphonium (SkQ1) to modify processes of spontaneous and induced mutagenesis was studied. It is shown that daily introduction of this compound into male Wistar rats in doses of 25 and 250 nmol/kg during two weeks decreases spontaneous level of chromosome aberrations in anaphase in the eye cornea from 0.39 +/- 0.09 to 0.13 +/- 0.08 and 0.14 +/- 0.05, respectively. The level of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in blood serum of the investigated animals decreases from 32.12 +/- 1.55 to 25.90 +/- 2.26 and 25.76 +/- 1.50 ng/ml, respectively. These facts indicate that the decrease in spontaneous clastogenesis is caused by decreased level of DNA damage by endogenous reactive oxygen species. A higher dose of SkQ1 also decreases to control level chromosome aberrations caused by oxygen under pressure of 0.5 MPa for 60 min. It is also shown in experiments with bacterial biosensors that SkQ1 is able to efficiently protect cells against genotoxic effect of UV radiation at 300-400 nm.

[Methylene blue as a supressor of the genotoxic effect of ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of 300-400 nm].

Ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of 300-400 nm is characteristic of sunlight at the earth surface and causes DNA damage mediated by energy transfer to O2 with the transformation of the latter in the singlet state. In connection with this, scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) are potential protectors against the genotoxic effect of this kind of radiation. It was found that the methylene blue dye at doses differing by several orders of magnitude from those that are toxic for humans is able to suppress completely the SOS response induced by UV with a wavelength of 300--400 nm in Escherichia coli.