High-yielding plasmid extraction method from acidophilic heterotrophic bacteria of the genus Acidiphilium

Plasmid yield from Acidiphilium strains always had been poor following various standard methods. We adopted some simple modifications in the alkaline lysis procedure to get a better yield of plasmid from these bacteria. An approximately 10- to 20-fold increase in the plasmid yield was achieved when harvested Acidiphilium cells were preincubated 16-20 h at pH 6 in nitrogen-free medium. Another independent approach showed that freezing (-18 to -20 degrees C) of the harvested cells initially and at two subsequent steps in the alkaline lysis procedure of plasmid DNA extraction improved the yield further by 1.5- to 3-fold. The combination of these changes yielded at least 15- to 30-fold more plasmid from various Acidiphilium strains as compared with standard methods.     

Reductive Dissolution of Jarosite by Acidiphilium cryptum in Presence of Chelating Agents and Dissolved Iron

The mutual effects of Acidiphilium cryptum, nine ligands and dissolved iron on jarosite dissolution were studied in a 2³ full factorial experiment. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and oxalic acid were able to dissolve jarosite chemically, but bacterial action enhanced this dissolution; from 88 ± 1, 46 ± 0 and 36 ± 0 µmol/L d to 129 ± 3, 177 ± 5 and 106 ± 14 µmol/L d, respectively. Oxalate and NTA exhibited a synergistic effect with dissolved iron and bacteria that may be explained by a model in which iron complexes behave as redox mediators in the microbial respiration in which jarosite, a solid substrate, serves as terminal electron acceptor.     

积累PHB菌种隐藏嗜酸菌DX1-1的诱变改良

采用紫外线照射和放射性元素钴60辐射诱变方法,对分离纯化的一株可积累聚β-羟基丁酸酯(PHB)的Acidiphilium cryptumDX1-1进行了诱变改良,以获得PHB高产菌.结果显示钴60诱变最佳诱变剂量为100 Gy,紫外诱变的最佳剂量为15 W、30 cm、60 s,紫外诱变的效果比钴60诱变的效果好.诱变后筛选得到的一株菌UV60-3,PHB含量达到28.56 g/L,是原菌株的1.45倍,并且可稳定遗传.对菌株UV60-3积累PHB的碳氮比进行了探索,结果显示在碳源浓度60 g/L,氮源浓度30 g/L,C/N为3.76时PHB含量最高,PHB含量达到30.57 g/L.     

Isolation and characterisation of the lipopolysaccharide from Acidiphilium strain GS18h/ATCC55963, a soil isolate of Indian copper mine

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the Gram-negative Acidiphilium strain GS18h/ATCC55963, a new soil isolate, exhibited very low endotoxic activity as determined by Limulus gelation activity, lethal toxicity in galactosamine (GalN) sensitised mice, and level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in the blood serum of BALB/c mice. Analysis of the LPS, specially of lipid A which usually accounts for the toxicity, revealed the latter to contain glucosamine and phosphate besides fatty acids, of which 14:0(3-OH), 18:0(3-OH), 18:1 and 19:0(cyclo) are the major components, while 12:0, 16:0, 19:1, 20:0(3-OH) and 20:1(3-OH) are present in small amounts. The 14:0(3-OH) and 18:0(3-OH) fatty acids are amide-linked, whereas the rest are ester bound. Glucose, galactose, mannose, rhamnose, heptose, galacturonic acid and 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) were present in the polysaccharide part of this LPS. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the LPS showed a macromolecular heterogeneity distinctly different from those of Escherichia coli or Salmonella. The toxicity of this LPS being extremely low attributed to fatty acid composition of its lipid A, promises potential therapeutic application.     

Acidiphilium cryptum DX1-1 CO2固定相关基因的克隆及在不同营养方式下的差异表达研究

目的：研究Acidiphilium cryptum DX1-1 CO2固定相关基因的克隆及在不同营养方式下的差异表达。方法：以Acidiphilium cryptum DX1-1（CCTCCM208056）的DNA为模板,基于A．cryptum JF-5同源功能基因序列（JGI,http：／／genome．oml．gov／cgi-bin／JGI_microbial／keggcategories．cgi）设计引物,对菌株DX1-1中的CO2固定相关基因Acry_0824,Acry_082,Acry_1067,Acry_1272,Acry_0022和Acry_0827进行了克隆和序列比对分析;并对它们在不同营养条件下的基因差异表达进行了分析。结果：从菌株DX1—1成功克隆了所选择的CO2固定相关基因,其序列与菌株JF的同源功能基因序列一致性分别达到了99．8％,99．6％,99．6％,99．5％,99．3％和99．8％;Acry_0824,Acry_1272和Acry_0827三个基因在各种混合养条件下表达均上调,说明它们在DX1—1 CO2固定中起较关键的作用。在加入0．1％的葡萄糖混合养条件下,DX1—1细胞明显利用空气中的CO2来生长和累积PHB。结论：限制性葡萄糖可以促进细胞自养生长和累积PHB。     

Transformation of Acidiphilium by electroporation and conjugation.

Two techniques, electroporation and conjugation, have been used to introduce the RK2-based broad-host-range plasmids pRK415 and pLAFR3 into strains of the bacterial genus Acidiphilium. Using electroporation, cells were also transformed with a series of chimeric plasmids constructed by cloning cryptic Acidiphilium plasmids into the Escherichia coli vector pBR328. Various parameters affecting electroporation were investigated. Transformation efficiency varied widely with different recipient strains. Growth at an elevated temperature (37 degrees C) prior to electroporation increased transformation efficiency 10-fold compared with growth at 32 degrees C. For three strains tested, optimum transformation efficiency was obtained with field strengths of 10-15 kV/cm. Transformation efficiency increased linearly with increasing DNA concentration up to 10 micrograms/mL. Transformation efficiencies in these experiments ranged up to 10(4) transformants/micrograms DNA. Mobilization of pRK415 and pLAFR3 from E. coli strain S17.1 into several Acidiphilium strains was achieved following incubation for 3 h on nutrient agar medium (pH 7.0). Conjugation frequencies in the range of 10(-5)-10(-9) per recipient cell were obtained. Conjugation frequency was also dependent on recipient strain.     

一株嗜酸化能异养菌Acidiphilium sp.的分离鉴定及其对Fe(Ⅲ)代谢的研究

从云南省腾冲热泉酸性泥土样品中分离得到一株好氧嗜酸异养细菌Teng-A。菌株Teng-A细胞大小0.6～0.8μm×1.0～1.5μm,单生或成链状排列,革兰氏染色反应为阴性,有周生鞭毛,不产芽孢,该菌适宜的生长温度为29～33℃、pH为3.0～4.0,可以利用许多有机物生长,但不能利用Fe(Ⅱ)、S、Na2S2O3、K2S4O6等为能源生长。菌株Teng-A基因组DNA的(G C)mol%为69.6mol%,其16S rRNA基因与Acidiphilium属菌种的16S rRNA基因的最高相似性大于99%。根据形态学、生理生化特点及系统发育分析表明,菌株Teng-A是Acidiphilium属的一个新成员,崭定名为Acidiphilium sp.strainTeng-A。厌氧条件下,菌株Teng-A可以葡萄糖或H2为电子供体,将Fe(Ⅲ)还原为Fe(Ⅱ),还原速率分别为11.56mg/L.day与15.34mg/L.day。菌株Teng-A与Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidansLJ-1和Leptospirilum ferriphilum LJ-2共同培养,前3dFe2 氧化速度分别为0.44g/L.day和0.41g/L.day,比LJ-1(0.64g/L.day)和LJ-2(0.60g/L.day)单独培养时氧化Fe(Ⅱ)的速率稍慢,但当培养时间超过5d时,Fe(Ⅱ)最终被全部氧化,并且发现在共培养时,Fe(Ⅱ)氧化生成的沉淀物的形态不同于At.ferrooxidans和L.ferriphilum单独培养时产生的沉淀物的形态。最后讨论了Acidiphilium对生物浸矿和生物成矿作用的影响。     

Nucleotide Sequences of Genes Coding for Photosynthetic Reaction Centers and Light-Harvesting Proteins of Acidiphilium rubrum and Related Aerobic Acidophilic Bacteria

The nucleotide sequences of the puf operons of the Zn-bacteriochlorophylla(Zn-BChl a)-containing photosynthetic aerobic bacteria, Acidiphiliumrubrum and Acidiphilium angustum, were determined. The nucleotidesequences of the pufL and –M of Acidiphilium cryptum,Acidiphilium multivorum, and Acidiphilium organovorum were alsodetermined. The puf operons of A. rubrum and A. angustum containedpufB, –A,–L, –M, and –C as seen in otherpurple bacteria with an unknown gene directly upstream of pufB.Comparing the deduced amino acid sequences of the puf genesof the Acidiphilium species with those of other purple bacteriashowed that His L168, which is highly conserved in other bacteria,is replaced by a glu-tamic acid in the Acidiphilium species.The three-dimensional structures of the reaction centers ofBlastochloris (Rhodopseudomonas) viridis and Rhodobacter sphaeroidessuggest that this residue locates closely to a special pairof bacteriochlorophylls and may be involved in the stabilizationand function of "Zn-BChl a". The relative content of chargedamino acid residues in the L and M subunit is a little lowerin A. rubrum (10%of total) than in B. viridis (12%), and thetendency is more pronounced in the cyto-chrome subunit: 12.5%in A. rubrum and 18.8% in B. viridis. (Received July 24, 1997; Accepted September 9, 1997)     

Reduction of ferric iron by acidophilic heterotrophic bacteria: evidence for constitutive and inducible enzyme systems in Acidiphilium spp

AIMS: To compare the abilities of two obligately acidophilic heterotrophic bacteria, Acidiphilium acidophilum and Acidiphilium SJH, to reduce ferric iron to ferrous when grown under different culture conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacteria were grown in batch culture, under different aeration status, and in the presence of either ferrous or ferric iron. The specific rates of ferric iron reduction by fermenter-grown Acidiphilium SJH were unaffected by dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, while iron reduction by A. acidophilum was highly dependent on DO concentrations in the growth media. The ionic form of iron present (ferrous or ferric) had a minimal effect on the abilities of harvested cells to reduce ferric iron. Whole cell protein profiles of Acidiphilium SJH were very similar, regardless of the DO status of the growth medium, while additional proteins were present in A. acidophilum grown microaerobically compared with aerobically-grown cells. CONCLUSIONS: The dissimilatory reduction of ferric iron is constitutive in Acidiphilium SJH while it is inducible in A. acidophilum. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Ferric iron reduction by Acidiphilium spp. may occur in oxygen-containing as well as anoxic acidic environments. This will detract from the effectiveness of bioremediation systems where removal of iron from polluted waters is mediated via oxidation and precipitation of the metal.     

Acidiphilium cryptum DX1-1 CO2 固定相关基因的克隆及在不同营养 方式下的差异表达研究

目的:研究Acidiphilium cryptum DX1-1 CO2固定相关基因的克隆及在不同营养方式下的差异表达。方法:以Acidiphiliumcryptum DX1-1（CCTCC M 208056）的DNA为模板,基于A.cryptum JF-5同源功能基因序列（JGI,http://genome.ornl.gov/cgi-bin/JGI_microbial/kegg_categories.cgi）设计引物,对菌株DX1-1中的CO2固定相关基因Acry₀824,Acry₀82,Acry₁067,Acry₁272,Acry₀022和Acry₀827进行了克隆和序列比对分析;并对它们在不同营养条件下的基因差异表达进行了分析。结果:从菌株DX1-1成功克隆了所选择的CO2固定相关基因,其序列与菌株JF的同源功能基因序列一致性分别达到了99.8%,99.6%,99.6%,99.5%,99.3%和99.8%;Acry₀824,Acry₁272和Acry₀827三个基因在各种混合养条件下表达均上调,说明它们在DX1-1 CO2固定中起较关键的作用。在加入0.1%的葡萄糖混合养条件下,DX1-1细胞明显利用空气中的CO2来生长和累积PHB。结论:限制性葡萄糖可以促进细胞自养生长和累积PHB。     

Development and application of small-subunit rRNA probes for assessment of selected Thiobacillus species and members of the genus Acidiphilium

Culture-dependent studies have implicated sulfur-oxidizing bacteria as the causative agents of acid mine drainage and concrete corrosion in sewers. Thiobacillus species are considered the major representatives of the acid-producing bacteria in these environments. Small-subunit rRNA genes from all of the Thiobacillus and Acidiphilium species catalogued by the Ribosomal Database Project were identified and used to design oligonucleotide DNA probes. Two oligonucleotide probes were synthesized to complement variable regions of 16S rRNA in the following acidophilic bacteria: Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and T. thiooxidans (probe Thio820) and members of the genus Acidiphilium (probe Acdp821). Using (32)P radiolabels, probe specificity was characterized by hybridization dissociation temperature (T(d)) with membrane-immobilized RNA extracted from a suite of 21 strains representing three groups of bacteria. Fluorochrome-conjugated probes were evaluated for use with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) at the experimentally determined T(d)s. FISH was used to identify and enumerate bacteria in laboratory reactors and environmental samples. Probing of laboratory reactors inoculated with a mixed culture of acidophilic bacteria validated the ability of the oligonucleotide probes to track specific cell numbers with time. Additionally, probing of sediments from an active acid mine drainage site in Colorado demonstrated the ability to identify numbers of active bacteria in natural environments that contain high concentrations of metals, associated precipitates, and other mineral debris.     

Draft genome sequence of the electricigen Acidiphilium sp. strain PM (DSM 24941)

Acidiphilium sp. strain PM (DSM 24941) was isolated from Rio Tinto's acidic, heavy metal-rich waters. Voltammetry experiments revealed that this strain is capable of electricity production even under aerobic conditions. Here we report the draft genome sequence of Acidiphilium sp. PM and a preliminary genome analysis that reveals a versatile respiratory metabolism.     

Inducible aluminum resistance of Acidiphilium cryptum and aluminum tolerance of other acidophilic bacteria

Aluminum ions are highly soluble in acidic environments. Toxicity of aluminum ions for heterotrophic, facultatively and obligately chemolithoautotrophic acidophilic bacteria was examined. Acidiphilium cryptum grew in glucose-mineral medium, pH 3, containing 300 mM aluminum sulfate [Al(2)(SO(4))(3)] after a lag phase of about 120 h with a doubling time of 7.6 h, as compared to 5.2 h of growth without aluminum. Precultivation with 1 mM Al(2)(SO(4))(3) and transfer to a medium with 300 mM Al(2)(SO(4))(3) reduced the lag phase from 120 to 60 h, and immediate growth was observed when A. cryptum was precultivated with 50 mM Al(2)(SO(4))(3), suggesting an aluminum-induced resistance. Aluminum resistance was not induced by Fe(3+) ions and divalent cations. Upon exposure of A. cryptum to 300 mM Al(2)(SO(4))(3), the protein profile changed significantly as determined by SDS-PAGE. When other acidophiles were cultivated with 50-200 mM aluminum sulfate, no lag phase was observed while the growth rates and the cellular yields were significantly reduced. This growth response was observed with Acidobacterium capsulatum, Acidiphilium acidophilum, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. Precultivation of these strains with aluminum ions did not alter the growth response caused by aluminum. The content of A. cryptum cultivated with 300 mM Al(2)(SO(4))(3)was 0.44 microg Al/mg cell dry weight, while that of the other strains cultivated with 50 mM Al(2)(SO(4))(3) ranged from 0.30 to 3.47 microg Al/mg cell dry weight.     

Nucleotide sequence analysis of cryptic plasmid pAM5 from Acidiphilium multivorum

Plasmid pAM5 of Acidiphilium multivorum JCM-8867 has been completely sequenced by initial cloning of HindIII-PstI fragments followed by primer walking. It has a size of 5161bp and single site for several restriction enzymes as revealed by DNA sequencing. Sequence analysis predicts five putative open reading frames. ORF1 and ORF3 show significant identity with various plasmid encoded mobilization (Mob) and replication initiation (Rep) proteins, respectively. The putative Mob protein has several characteristics of the MOB(Q) family having the motifs with conserved amino acid residues. Upstream of the Mob ORF, there exists a 34bp oriT region having a nic consensus sequence. The constructed plasmid pSK1 bearing pAM5 mob region can be mobilized to Escherichia coli in presence of conjugative plasmid pRK2013. The replication module comprises of several DnaA like boxes, several perfect direct and inverted repeats, a potential prokaryotic promoter and putative rep gene. The rep module is very similar to several theta replicating iteron family plasmids, suggesting pAM5 replication to follow the same course. Any phenotypic character determinant (e.g., metal resistance, antibiotic resistance etc.) gene is absent in pAM5, suggesting this plasmid to be cryptic in nature. However, a pAM5 derivative plasmid named pSK2, containing the putative pAM5 rep region, can replicate and be stably maintained in Acidiphilium, Acidocella, and E. coli strains; it can also carry foreign DNA fragments. Thus, pSK2 could serve as a cloning shuttle vector between these bacteria. It was observed that pAM5 Rep is essential for pSK2 to replicate in acidophiles. In its natural host, A. multivorum JCM-8867, pAM5 maintains a copy number of 50-60, and its derivative pSK2 maintains a comparatively, higher copy number in E. coli than in acidophiles.     

A microbial fuel cell operating at low pH using the acidophile Acidiphilium cryptum

For the first time, a microbial fuel cell has been developed using an acidophile, Acidiphilium cryptum, as the anode biocatalyst. Electricity production using its natural electron acceptor, iron, as the electron mediating agent at pH values < or =4.0 was demonstrated. Accumulation of Fe(III) at the electrode, however, restricted current output. The combination of nitrilotriacetic acid and Phenosafranin as electron mediators increased the power output to 12.7 mW/m(2) in a two-chamber air-sparged fuel cell. Direct electron transfer from the microorganisms to the anode was also investigated but was not detected under the conditions studied.     

Transformation of the Acidophilic Heterotroph Acidiphilium facilis by Electroporation

We constructed a cloning vector for use in the acidophilic heterotroph Acidiphilium facilis. The vector pAH1O1 (8.8kb) was constructed from a 6.1 kb restriction fragment of the Acidiphilium plasmid pAU1 and a pUC19 carrying a β-lactamase gene. The antibiotic resistance gene was efficiently expressed in A. facilis. Several factors which influenced the transformation efficiency were optimized, resulting in a transformation efficiency of up to 3 X 10³ transformants per μg of plasmid DNA at a field strength of 10kV/cm with a 7.0ms pulse.     

Transformation of Escherichia coli with a large plasmid of Acidiphilium multivorum AIU 301 encoding arsenic resistance.

Acidiphilium multivorum AIU 301 isolated from acid mineral water had strong arsenic resistance. This bacterium harbored a number of plasmids with different molecular sizes. A plasmid of 56 kbp, named pKW301, was isolated from A. multivorum AIU 301. When pKW301 was transferred into Escherichia coli JM109 by electroporation, an E. coli transformant carrying pKW301 exhibited resistance to sodium arsenite, sodium arsenate, and mercuric (II) chloride.     

氧化亚铁钩端螺旋菌在固体平板上的培养及形态观察*

用底层加入嗜酸性异养细菌Heterotroph Acidiphilium SJH的琼脂糖双层培养基,成功地培养得到氧化亚铁钩端螺旋茵(Leptospirillum ferrooxidans)的单菌落,并在电镜下观察到了该菌的形态。     

Acidiphilium aminolytica sp. nov.: An acidophilic chemoorganotrophic bacterium isolated from acidic mineral environment

Acidiphilium aminolytica is proposed for a species of the genusAcidiphilium. Acidiphilium aminolytica can be phenotypically differentiated from all other species of the genusAcidiphilium. The seven strains of this species that have been studied are Gram-negative, aerobic, mesophilic, non-sporeforming, motile, and rod-shaped bacteria. They grow between pH 3.0 and 6.0, but not at pH 6.5. They yield positive results in tests for hippuric acid hydrolysis, catalase and urease production. Oxidase, esculin hydrolysis, and -galactosidase tests are negative. They can used-glucose,d-galactose, inositol, sorbitol,l-lysine,l-glutamate,l-arginine, -alanine,dl-4-aminobutyrate,dl-5-aminovalerate, sperimine, or diaminobutane as a sole carbon source, but cannot use elemental sulfur and ferrous iron as an energy source. The DNA base composition is 58.7–59.2 G+C mol%. The major isoprenoid quinone is ubiquinone with ten isoprene unit (Q-10). The major fatty acid is the C_18:1 fatty acid. Two ornithine amide lipids, the C_18:1 fatty acid esters of -N-3-hydroxystearylornithyltaurine and -N-3-hydroxystearylornithine, are detected as the polar aminolipid. DNA relatedness between this species and the other species ofAcidiphilium, the generaAcidomonas, andAcidobacterium was 29 to 2%. These results indicate, that this new species should be placed in the genusAcidiphilium. The type strain (strain 101) ofA. aminolytica is JCM 8796.     

Ultrastructure of the Acidophilic Aerobic Photosynthetic Bacterium Acidiphilium rubrum

The ultrastructure of cells of Acidiphilium rubrum, which is an acidophilic aerobic photosynthetic bacterium containing zinc-complexed bacteriochlorophyll a, was studied by electron microscopy with the rapid substitution technique. Thin-section electron microscopy indicated that any type of internal photosynthetic membranes was not present in this organism despite a relatively high content of the photopigment. The majority of cells had poly-β-hydroxybutyrate granules and electron-dense spherical bodies identified as being polyphosphate granules. When the organism was grown chemotrophically with 0.1% FeSO₄, it produced another group of electron-dense granules that were associated with the inner part of the cytoplasmic membrane. An energy-dispersive X-ray analysis showed that these membrane-bound, electron-dense granules contained iron. Received: 24 November 1999 / Accepted: 5 January 2000