应用变性梯度凝胶电泳和16SrDNA序列分析对kefir粒中细菌多样性的研究

以开菲尔（Kefir）粒为材料,经过DNA抽提和16SrDNA V3区PCR扩增,扩增产物经变性梯度凝胶电泳（DGGE）分离并切割电泳条带进行序列测定,并与现有的数据库进行了比较,对Kefir粒的细菌多样性进行分析。结果表明,DGGE图谱中可检测到的8条带的16SrDNA基因序列中有7个基因序列与GenBank数据库登录的相关序列的相似性大于98％,余下的1个基因序列的相似性也大于96％。相似性大于98％的7个克隆中,有3个属于鞘氨醇杆菌属（Sphingobacterium）,2个属于乳杆菌属（Lactobacillus）,其它2个分别属于肠杆菌属（Errterobacter）和不动杆菌属（Acinetobacter）。首次报道了鞘氨醇杆菌作为优势菌群存在开菲尔Kefir粒中。     

应用变性梯度凝胶电泳和16S rDNA序列分析对kefir粒中细菌多样性的研究

以开菲尔(Kefir)粒为材料,经过DNA抽提和16S rDNA V3区PCR扩增,扩增产物经变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)分离并切割电泳条带进行序列测定,并与现有的数据库进行了比较,对Kefir粒的细菌多样性进行分析。结果表明,DGGE图谱中可检测到的8条带的16S rDNA基因序列中有7个基因序列与GenBank数据库登录的相关序列的相似性大于98%,余下的1个基因序列的相似性也大于96%。相似性大于98%的7个克隆中,有3个属于鞘氨醇杆菌属(Sphingobacterium),2个属于乳杆菌属(Lactobacillus),其它2个分别属于肠杆菌属(Enterobacter)和不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter)。首次报道了鞘氨醇杆菌作为优势菌群存在开菲尔Kefir粒中。     

Application of broad-range 16S rRNA PCR amplification and DGGE fingerprinting for detection of tick-infecting bacteria

Ticks play an important role in the transmission of arthropod-borne diseases of viral, protozoal and bacterial origin. The present article describes a molecular-biological based method, which facilitated the broad-range analyses of bacterial communities in ixodid ticks (Ixodes ricinus). DNA was extracted both from single ticks and pooled adult ticks. Eubacterial 16S rRNA gene fragments (16S rDNA) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with broad-range ribosomal primers. Sequences spanning the hypervariable V3 region of the 16S rDNA and representing individual bacterial taxons were separated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). For phylogenetic identification, DGGE bands were exised, cloned and sequenced. In addition, we set up a 16S rDNA clone library which was screened by DGGE. Sequences were compared with sequences of known bacteria listed in the GenBank database. A number of bacteria were affiliated with the genera Rickettsia, Bartonella, and Borrelia, which are known to be pathogenic and transmitted by ticks. Two sequences were related to the yet to be cultivated Haemobartonella. To our knowledge, Haemobartonella has never been directly detected in I. ricinus. In addition, members of the genera Staphylococcus, Rhodococcus, Pseudomonas, and Moraxella were detected, which have not been identified in ticks so far. Two bacteria were most closely related to a rickettsial endosymbiont of an Acanthamoeba sp., and to an endosymbiont (Legionellaceae, Coxiella group) of the microarthropod Folsomia candida. The results prove that 16S rDNA genotyping in combination with DGGE analysis is a promising approach for the detection and identification of bacteria infecting ticks, regardless of whether these bacteria are fastidious, obligate intracellular or noncultivable.     

对Bt蛋白敏感敏感和敏感的棉铃虫中肠细菌群落的比较

摘要：【目的】通过比较Cry1Ac蛋白抗性及敏感棉铃虫中肠细菌群落的结构组成,研究中肠微生物是否与棉铃虫Bt抗性产生有关。【方法】首先提取了棉铃虫中肠微生物基因组DNA,通过PCR扩增获得了16S rDNA全长片段及V3区。采用基于16S rDNA 的免培养技术—16S rDNA文库建立和变性梯度凝胶电泳（DGGE）研究了国内特有的Bt抗性和敏感品系棉铃虫中肠细菌群落组成,并对其进行分析和比较。【结果】16S rDNA文库测序结果表明,抗性品系与敏感品系棉铃虫中肠细菌群落特别是优势菌群非常相似,但在部分劣势菌群上存在差异。抗性品系中主要优势菌有：不可培养微生物（Uncultured bacterium）占56.4%,鹑鸡肠球菌（Enterococcus gallinarum）占17.0%,铅黄肠球菌（Enterococcus casseliflavus）占17.0%;敏感品系中主要优势菌为不可培养微生物（Uncultured bacterium）60.2%,鹑鸡肠球菌（Enterococcus gallinarum）占19.3%,铅黄肠球菌（Enterococcus casseliflavus）占14.7%。随后进行的PCR验证表明,部分有差异的劣势菌在两种品系虫体都存在。DGGE图谱分析表明,这两个品系棉铃虫中肠菌群相似性达到92.3%。【结论】敏感品系与抗性品系棉铃虫肠道菌群组成极其相似,推测抗性的产生与肠道微生物无直接关系。     

Factors Affecting Interpretation of Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) Patterns from PCR-Amplified Bacterial 16S rRNA Genes: Operon Number and Primer Mismatching

PCR methods have been shown to be biased by several factors. In the present study, we have developed a theoretic and practical approximation to elucidate how the presence of mismatches at the primers annealing regions and the different number of rDNA operons per cell can influence PCR and subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses from bacterial populations. We have performed RFLP analyses of 16S rRNA genes amplified by PCR from mixed bacterial cultures showing different primer identities and number of rDNA operons. Our results clearly corroborate that both factors, number of rDNA operons and primers identity, clearly influence the 16S rDNA-RFLP estimations. It has been demonstrated that a higher number of operons leads to a higher efficiency of detection, but a lower degree of primer complementarity implies a decrease in such efficiency.     

Bifidobacterial diversity in human feces detected by genus-specific PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

We describe the development and validation of a method for the qualitative analysis of complex bifidobacterial communities based on PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Bifidobacterium genus-specific primers were used to amplify an approximately 520-bp fragment from the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), and the fragments were separated in a sequence-specific manner in DGGE. PCR products of the same length from different bifidobacterial species showed good separation upon DGGE. DGGE of fecal 16S rDNA amplicons from five adult individuals showed host-specific populations of bifidobacteria that were stable over a period of 4 weeks. Sequencing of fecal amplicons resulted in Bifidobacterium-like sequences, confirming that the profiles indeed represent the bifidobacterial population of feces. Bifidobacterium adolescentis was found to be the most common species in feces of the human adult subjects in this study. The methodological approach revealed intragenomic 16S rDNA heterogeneity in the type strain of B. adolescentis, E-981074. The strain was found to harbor five copies of 16S rDNA, two of which were sequenced. The two 16S rDNA sequences of B. adolescentis E-981074(T) exhibited microheterogeneity differing in eight positions over almost the total length of the gene.     

Discrimination of Rhizobium tropici and R. leguminosarum strains by PCR-specific amplification of 16S-23S rDNA spacer region fragments and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)

With the aim of detecting Rhizobium species directly in the environment, specific PCR primers for Rh. tropici and Rh. leguminosarum were designed on the basis of sequence analysis of 16S-23S rDNA spacer regions of several Rh. tropici, Rh. leguminosarum and Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains. Primer specificity was checked by comparison with available rDNA spacer sequences in databases, and by PCR using DNA from target and reference strains. Sequence polymorphisms of rDNA spacer fragments among strains of the same species were detected by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The specific PCR primers designed in this study could be applied to evaluate the diversity of Rh. tropici and Rh. leguminosarum by analysing the polymorphisms of 16S-23S spacer rDNA amplified from either whole-cell or soil-extracted DNA.     

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) approaches to study the diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR amplicons of the ammonia monooxygenase gene (amoA) was developed and employed to investigate the diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in four different habitats. The results were compared to DGGE of PCR-amplified partial 16S rDNA sequences made with primers specific for ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Potential problems, such as primer degeneracy and multiple gene copies of the amoA gene, were investigated to evaluate and minimize their possible impact on the outcome of a DGGE analysis. amoA and 16S rDNA amplicons were cloned, and a number of clones screened by DGGE to determine the abundance of different motility types in the clone library. The abundance of clones was compared to the relative intensity of bands emerging in the band pattern produced by direct amplification of the genes from the environmental sample. Selected clones were sequenced to evaluate the specificity of the respective primers. The 16S rDNA primer pair, reported to be specific for ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), generated several sequences that were not related to the known Nitrosospira-Nitrosomonas group and, thus, not likely to be ammonia oxidizers. However, no false positives were found among the sequences retrieved with the modified amoA primers. Some phylogenetic information could be deduced from the position of amoA bands in DGGE gels. The Nitrosomonas-like sequences were found within a denaturant range from 30% to 46%, whereas the Nitrosospira-like sequences migrated to 50% to 60% denaturant. The majority of retrieved sequences from all four habitats with high ammonia loads were Nitrosomonas-like and only few Nitrosospira-like sequences were detected.     

免培养法对一热泉细菌多样性的初步研究

应用免培养法（Cultureindependent）对云南腾冲热海大滚锅高温热泉中细菌的多样性进行初步的分析。经过克隆筛选,测定了5个克隆的16S rDNA插入片段的近全序列,系统发育分析的结果表明,它们分属于Bacillus、Hydrogenobacter和Pseudomonas,有一个克隆尚难确定其分类地位,它属于Thermodesulfobacteriaceae科,介于Geothermbacterium属和Thermodesulfobacteria属之间。经PCR扩增出上述5个克隆16S rDNA插入序列中及环境样品总DNA中的16S rDNA V8高变区约600bp片段,进行变性梯度电泳（DGGE）。所得电泳图谱和5个序列的系统发育树不仅表明该高温热泉存在着丰富的细菌多样性,还显示了它们是该高温热泉中细菌的优势物种。     

Bifidobacterial Diversity in Human Feces Detected by Genus-Specific PCR and Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

We describe the development and validation of a method for the qualitative analysis of complex bifidobacterial communities based on PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Bifidobacterium genus-specific primers were used to amplify an approximately 520-bp fragment from the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), and the fragments were separated in a sequence-specific manner in DGGE. PCR products of the same length from different bifidobacterial species showed good separation upon DGGE. DGGE of fecal 16S rDNA amplicons from five adult individuals showed host-specific populations of bifidobacteria that were stable over a period of 4 weeks. Sequencing of fecal amplicons resulted in Bifidobacterium-like sequences, confirming that the profiles indeed represent the bifidobacterial population of feces. Bifidobacterium adolescentis was found to be the most common species in feces of the human adult subjects in this study. The methodological approach revealed intragenomic 16S rDNA heterogeneity in the type strain of B. adolescentis, E-981074. The strain was found to harbor five copies of 16S rDNA, two of which were sequenced. The two 16S rDNA sequences of B. adolescentis E-981074^T exhibited microheterogeneity differing in eight positions over almost the total length of the gene.     

Analysis of actinomycete communities by specific amplification of genes encoding 16S rRNA and gel-electrophoretic separation in denaturing gradients.

A group-specific primer, F243 (positions 226 to 243, Escherichia coli numbering), was developed by comparison of sequences of genes encoding 16S rRNA (16S rDNA) for the detection of actinomycetes in the environment with PCR and temperature or denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE or DGGE, respectively). The specificity of the forward primer in combination with different reverse ones was tested with genomic DNA from a variety of bacterial strains. Most actinomycetes investigated could be separated by TGGE and DGGE, with both techniques giving similar results. Two strategies were employed to study natural microbial communities. First, we used the selective amplification of actinomycete sequences (E. coli positions 226 to 528) for direct analysis of the products in denaturing gradients. Second, a nested PCR providing actinomycete-specific fragments (E. coli positions 226 to 1401) was used which served as template for a PCR when conserved primers were used. The products (E. coli positions 968 to 1401) of this indirect approach were then separated by use of gradient gels. Both approaches allowed detection of actinomycete communities in soil. The second strategy allowed the estimation of the relative abundance of actinomycetes within the bacterial community. Mixtures of PCR-derived 16S rDNA fragments were used as model communities consisting of five actinomycetes and five other bacterial species. Actinomycete products were obtained over a 100-fold dilution range of the actinomycete DNA in the model community by specific PCR; detection of the diluted actinomycete DNA was not possible when conserved primers were used. The methods tested for detection were applied to monitor actinomycete community changes in potato rhizosphere and to investigate actinomycete diversity in different soils.     

Molecular analyses of the methane-oxidizing microbial community in rice field soil by targeting the genes of the 16S rRNA, particulate methane monooxygenase, and methanol dehydrogenase

Rice field soil with a nonsaturated water content induced CH4 consumption activity when it was supplemented with 5% CH4. After a lag phase of 3 days, CH4 was consumed rapidly until the concentration was less than 1.8 parts per million by volume (ppmv). However, the soil was not able to maintain the oxidation activity at near-atmospheric CH4 mixing ratios (i.e., 5 ppmv). The soil microbial community was monitored by performing denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) during the oxidation process with different PCR primer sets based on the 16S rRNA gene and on functional genes. A universal small-subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) primer set and 16S rDNA primer sets specifically targeting type I methylotrophs (members of the gamma subdivision of the class Proteobacteria [gamma-Proteobacteria]) and type II methylotrophs (members of the alpha-Proteobacteria) were used. Functional PCR primers targeted the genes for particulate methane monooxygenase (pmoA) and methanol dehydrogenase (mxaF), which code for key enzymes in the catabolism of all methanotrophs. The yield of PCR products amplified from DNA in soil that oxidized CH4 was the same as the yield of PCR products amplified from control soil when the universal SSU rDNA primer set was used but was significantly greater when primer sets specific for methanotrophs were used. The DGGE patterns and the sequences of major DGGE bands obtained with the universal SSU rDNA primer set showed that the community structure was dominated by nonmethanotrophic populations related to the genera Flavobacterium and Bacillus and was not influenced by CH4. The structure of the methylotroph community as determined with the specific primer sets was less complex; this community consisted of both type I and type II methanotrophs related to the genera Methylobacter, Methylococcus, and Methylocystis. DGGE profiles of PCR products amplified with functional gene primer sets that targeted the mxaF and pmoA genes revealed that there were pronounced community shifts when CH4 oxidation began. High CH4 concentrations stimulated both type I and II methanotrophs in rice field soil with a nonsaturated water content, as determined with both ribosomal and functional gene markers.     

Comparative diversity of ammonia oxidizer 16S rRNA gene sequences in native, tilled, and successional soils.

Autotrophic ammonia oxidizer (AAO) populations in soils from native, tilled, and successional treatments at the Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Ecological Research site in southwestern Michigan were compared to assess effects of disturbance on these bacteria. N fertilization effects on AAO populations were also evaluated with soils from fertilized microplots within the successional treatments. Population structures were characterized by PCR amplification of microbial community DNA with group-specific 16S rRNA gene (rDNA) primers, cloning of PCR products and clone hybridizations with group-specific probes, phylogenetic analysis of partial 16S rDNA sequences, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis. Population sizes were estimated by using most-probable-number (MPN) media containing varied concentrations of ammonium sulfate. Tilled soils contained higher numbers than did native soils of culturable AAOs that were less sensitive to different ammonium concentrations in MPN media. Compared to sequences from native soils, partial 16S rDNA sequences from tilled soils were less diverse and grouped exclusively within Nitrosospira cluster 3. Native soils yielded sequences representing three different AAO clusters. Probes for Nitrosospira cluster 3 hybridized with DGGE blots from tilled and fertilized successional soils but not with blots from native or unfertilized successional soils. Hybridization results thus suggested a positive association between the Nitrosospira cluster 3 subgroup and soils amended with inorganic N. DGGE patterns for soils sampled from replicated plots of each treatment were nearly identical for tilled and native soils in both sampling years, indicating spatial and temporal reproducibility based on treatment.     

Microbial succession during a composting process as evaluated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis

Microbial succession during a laboratory-scale composting process of garbage was analysed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) combined with measurement of physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, organic acids, total dissolved organic carbon and water-soluble humic substance. From the temperature changes, a rapid increase from 25 to 58 degrees C and then a gradual decrease, four phases were recognized in the process as follows; mesophilic (S), thermophilic (T), cooling (C) and maturing (M). The polymerase chain reaction-amplified 16S rDNA fragments with universal (907R) and eubacterial (341F with GC clamp) primers were subjected to DGGE analysis. Consequently, the DGGE band pattern changed during the composting process. The direct sequences from DGGE bands were related to those of known genera in the DNA database. The microbial succession determined by DGGE was summarized as follows: in the S phase some fermenting bacteria, such as lactobacillus, were present with the existing organic acids; in the T phase thermophilic bacillus appeared and, after the C phase, bacterial populations were more complex than in previous phases and the phylogenetic positions of those populations were relatively distant from strains so far in the DNA database. Thus, the DGGE method is useful to reveal microbial succession during a composting process.     

Assessment of Microbial Populations Dynamics in a Blue Cheese by Culturing and Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

The composition and development of microbial population during the manufacture and ripening of two batches of a blue-veined cheese was examined by culturing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) (PCR-DGGE). Nine selective and/or differential media were used to track the cultivable populations of total and indicator microbial groups. For PCR-DGGE, the V3 hyper variable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and the eukaryotic D1 domain of 28S rDNA were amplified with universal primers, specific for prokaryotes and eukaryotes, respectively. Similarities and differences between the results obtained by the culturing and the molecular method were recorded for some populations. Culturing analysis allows minority microbial groups (coliforms, staphylococci) to be monitored, although in this study PCR-DGGE identified a population of Streptococcus thermophilus that went undetected by culturing. These results show that the characterization of the microbial populations interacting and evolving during the cheese-making process is improved by combining culturing and molecular methods.     

PCR-DGGE analysis for the identification of microbial populations from Argentinean dry fermented sausages

Different PCR-DGGE protocols were evaluated to monitor fermentation process and to investigate bacterial communities developed in two artisanal Argentinean fermented sausages. Bacterial universal primers frequently used in PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were evaluated. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and staphylococci species isolated from Tucumán sausages were used to determine the experimental conditions for PCR amplification and DGGE differentiation. Total microbial DNA extracted directly from both fermented sausages was subjected to DGGE analysis. PCR-DGGE results were different for each set of primers used. Primers Bact-0124f(GC)-Uni-0515r and V1f(GC)-V1r showed to be efficient to differentiate LAB and Staphylococcus cultures while the set V3f(GC)-Uni-0515r allowed to demonstrate the succession of different Lactobacillus and Staphylococcus species during ripening process. An intense band corresponding to Lactobacillus sakei was observed to be present in both samples. Staphylococcus saprophyticus was only observed in Tucumán sausage while a band identified as Brochothrix thermophacta was detected in Córdoba sausage. PCR-DGGE analysis of different 16S rDNA amplicons was able to discriminate between LAB and Gram-positive, coagulase-negative cocci, resulting an effective tool to establish the microbiota developed in artisanal dry sausages.     

Review and re-analysis of domain-specific 16S primers

The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) has facilitated the detection of unculturable microorganisms in virtually any environmental source and has thus been used extensively in the assessment of environmental microbial diversity. This technique relies on the assumption that the gene sequences present in the environment are complementary to the "universal" primers used in their amplification. The recent discovery of new taxa with 16S rDNA sequences not complementary to standard universal primers suggests that current 16S rDNA libraries are not representative of true prokaryotic biodiversity. Here we re-assess the specificity of commonly used 16S rRNA gene primers and present these data in tabular form designed as a tool to aid simple analysis, selection and implementation. In addition, we present two new primer pairs specifically designed for effective "universal" Archaeal 16S rDNA sequence amplification. These primers are found to amplify sequences from Crenarchaeote and Euryarchaeote type strains and environmental DNA.     

Identification, detection, and enumeration of human bifidobacterium species by PCR targeting the transaldolase gene

Methods that enabled the identification, detection, and enumeration of Bifidobacterium species by PCR targeting the transaldolase gene were tested. Bifidobacterial species isolated from the feces of human adults and babies were identified by PCR amplification of a 301-bp transaldolase gene sequence and comparison of the relative migrations of the DNA fragments in denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Two subtypes of Bifidobacterium longum, five subtypes of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and two subtypes of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum could be differentiated using PCR-DGGE. Bifidobacterium angulatum and B. catenulatum type cultures could not be differentiated from each other. Bifidobacterial species were also detected directly in fecal samples by this combination of PCR and DGGE. The number of species detected was less than that detected by PCR using species-specific primers targeting 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Real-time quantitative PCR targeting a 110-bp transaldolase gene sequence was used to enumerate bifidobacteria in fecal samples. Real-time quantitative PCR measurements of bifidobacteria in fecal samples from adults correlated well with results obtained by culture when either a 16S rDNA sequence or the transaldolase gene sequence was targeted. In the case of samples from infants, 16S rDNA-targeted PCR was superior to PCR targeting the transaldolase gene for the quantification of bifidobacterial populations.     

Molecular diversity of Lactobacillus spp. and other lactic acid bacteria in the human intestine as determined by specific amplification of 16S ribosomal DNA.

A Lactobacillus group-specific PCR primer, S-G-Lab-0677-a-A-17, was developed to selectively amplify 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) from lactobacilli and related lactic acid bacteria, including members of the genera Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, and WEISSELLA: Amplicons generated by PCR from a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) tract samples, including those originating from feces and cecum, resulted predominantly in Lactobacillus-like sequences, of which ca. 28% were most similar to the 16S rDNA of Lactobacillus ruminis. Moreover, four sequences of Leuconostoc species were retrieved that, so far, have only been detected in environments other than the GI tract, such as fermented food products. The validity of the primer was further demonstrated by using Lactobacillus-specific PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of the 16S rDNA amplicons of fecal and cecal origin from different age groups. The stability of the GI-tract bacterial community in different age groups over various time periods was studied. The Lactobacillus community in three adults over a 2-year period showed variation in composition and stability depending on the individual, while successional change of the Lactobacillus community was observed during the first 5 months of an infant's life. Furthermore, the specific PCR and DGGE approach was tested to study the retention in fecal samples of a Lactobacillus strain administered during a clinical trial. In conclusion, the combination of specific PCR and DGGE analysis of 16S rDNA amplicons allows the diversity of important groups of bacteria that are present in low numbers in specific ecosystems to be characterized, such as the lactobacilli in the human GI tract.