渤海沉积物产脂肪酶细菌的筛选及其多样性分析

【目的】从渤海沉积物中分离筛选产脂肪酶细菌,分析其物种多样性,增加人们对渤海生态系统中产脂肪酶菌多样性的认识,获取高效产脂肪酶菌株,为海洋产脂肪酶微生物的挖掘提供菌群资源。【方法】分别将8个渤海沉积物样品梯度稀释涂布至吐温-80筛选平板和三丁酸甘油酯筛选平板,选择性分离产脂肪酶细菌;分析基于16SrRNA基因序列的系统发育关系,揭示这些细菌的分类地位和遗传多样性;利用对硝基苯酚法测定胞外脂肪酶活性,筛选出高效产脂肪酶菌株。【结果】从8个渤海沉积物样品中分离获得51株产脂肪酶细菌,这些菌株隶属于Bacteroidetes、Proteobacteria和Firmicutes三个门的8个属,其中Pseudoalteromonas(35.2%)、Marinobacter(23.5%)和Sulfitobacter(17.6%)是优势菌群;脂肪酶酶活性实验表明所有测定菌株都能够分泌脂肪酶,菌株70623分泌的脂肪酶酶活最高,为42.4 U/m L。【结论】渤海沉积物中可培养产脂肪酶细菌类群较为丰富,Pseudoalteromonas、Marinobacter和Sulfitobacter菌株是优势菌群,测定菌株所产胞外脂肪酶能力不同,获得了一株高效产脂肪酶菌株Marinobacter sp.70623。     

天山冻土产低温脂肪酶菌株的筛选及其多样性分析

【目的】通过天山冻土细菌的分离和产低温脂肪酶菌株的筛选,了解天山冻土微生物的物种多样性和产脂肪酶菌株的系统发育多样性,为高效低温脂肪酶生物技术奠定基础。【方法】采用稀浓度的R2A、TSB平板涂布分离天山冻土中可培养细菌,通过选择性培养基筛选产低温脂肪酶的菌株。采用细菌常规生理生化实验、最适生长温度、耐盐性、产酶性能对分离菌株的生理学进行研究,通过16S rRNA基因序列分析确定产脂肪酶菌种的系统进化地位,通过BOX-PCR指纹技术对16S rRNA基因高度同源性的菌株进一步区分。【结果】分离筛选到78株可培养低温菌,选择培养基显示有17株可产低温脂肪酶,其中8株在两种选择培养基中均可产脂肪酶和酯酶。17株产酶菌分别隶属于5个系统发育类群、6个属,其中假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)占大多数(58.9%)。【结论】天山冻土中产低温脂肪酶的细菌具有较丰富的系统发育多样性,依据生长温度,均属于耐冷菌。     

北黄海沉积物可培养产蛋白酶细菌分离鉴定

【目的】揭示北黄海沉积物中可培养产胞外蛋白酶细菌及蛋白酶多样性,增加人们对北黄海生态系统中产蛋白酶菌多样性的认识,为海洋产蛋白酶微生物的挖掘提供菌群资源。【方法】分别将5个北黄海沉积物样品梯度稀释涂布至酪蛋白明胶筛选平板,选择性分离产蛋白酶细菌;并通过分析基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育关系,揭示这些细菌的分类地位和遗传多样性;分别测定胞外蛋白酶活性并对酶活较高的39株菌进行基于苯甲基磺酰氟(PMSF,丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂)、邻菲罗啉(o-phenanthroline,O-P,金属蛋白酶抑制剂)、E-64(半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂)和pepstatin A(天冬氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂)4种抑制剂的酶活抑制实验以及所有菌株对3种底物(酪蛋白、明胶、弹性蛋白)的水解能力;分析这些细菌所产胞外蛋白酶的特性及多样性。【结果】从5个北黄海沉积物样品中分离获得66株产蛋白酶细菌,这些菌株隶属于Bacteroidetes、Proteobacteria、Actinobacteria和Firmicutes 4个门的7个属,其中Pseudoalteromonas(69.9%)、Sulfitobacter(12.1%)和Salegentibacter(10.6%)是优势菌群;沉积物中可培养的产蛋白酶细菌的丰度为104 CFU/g;蛋白酶酶活抑制实验表明所有测定菌株产生的胞外蛋白酶属于丝氨酸蛋白酶和/或金属蛋白酶,仅有少数菌株所产蛋白酶具有半胱氨酸蛋白酶或天冬氨酸蛋白酶活性。【结论】北黄海沉积物中可培养产蛋白酶细菌类群较为丰富,Pseudoalteromonas、Sulfitobacter和Salegentibacter菌株是优势菌群,测定菌株所产胞外蛋白酶主要是丝氨酸蛋白酶和/或金属蛋白酶。     

安徽定远盐矿可培养嗜盐微生物多样性

【背景】嗜盐微生物多生活于高盐环境,具有独特的生理代谢特征,是一类重要的极端环境微生物资源。【目的】为更好地认识我国陆相盐矿的嗜盐微生物多样性组成,更好地开发利用嗜盐微生物资源积累丰富的微生物菌种。【方法】对安徽定远盐矿盐芯样品进行嗜盐微生物的纯培养分离,并对所分离菌株进行基于16SrRNA基因的测序和序列相似性分析,并对所分离菌株进行物种多样性分析。在此基础上,对代表菌株进行菌落形态和耐盐度及酶活测定。【结果】通过纯培养共分离获得了嗜盐微生物264株,其中嗜盐古菌150株,占56.8%;嗜盐细菌114株,占43.2%。嗜盐古菌物种分别来自于Halorubrum、 Halopenitus、 Haloterrigena、 Natrinema、 Natronoarchaeum和Natronomonas等6个属;嗜盐细菌物种分别来自于Pseudomonas、Aliifodinibius、Halobacillus、Halomonas和Halospina等5个属。通过代表菌株的酶活平板检测,发现产胞外蛋白酶菌株1株,酯酶1株,淀粉酶2株;能液化明胶菌株2株。在物种多样性组成方面,发现嗜盐古菌的物种多样性指数高于嗜盐细菌。【结论】本研究对我国安徽定远陆相盐矿的可培养嗜盐微生物多样性进行探究,积累了丰富的嗜盐微生物菌株资源。     

辐射污染区盐爪爪根际可培养细菌群落组成及功能特性

【背景】我国西北某辐射污染区存在着丰富多样的耐辐射微生物资源,部分区域覆盖着耐盐植物盐爪爪,其根际存在明显的"离子岛"效应,开展其根际微生物相关研究对进一步挖掘污染区微生物资源及揭示盐爪爪的盐适应性和"离子岛"的形成具有重要的意义。【目的】分析辐射污染区盐爪爪根际微生物群落组成,挖掘潜在的微生物资源和功能特性。【方法】通过可培养方法,共选择了10种筛选培养基开展盐爪爪根际微生物的分离筛选,并对所获得的细菌进行了16S rRNA基因序列分子鉴定,进而进行相关菌株的抗逆特性、产酶特性和植物促生特性分析。【结果】分离获得的267株细菌归属于放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、变形杆菌门(Proteobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)等3个菌门中的20个属,发现潜在新种8个,其中放线菌门所含种属最丰富,说明盐爪爪根际存在着丰富的微生物多样性。相关抗逆性分析表明,分离得到的菌株70%以上可耐受10%NaCl,40%的菌株可耐受不同浓度的重金属胁迫。同时,研究获得了一批可产蛋白酶、脂肪酶、淀粉酶和纤维素酶的菌株以及植物促生菌株,可为相关酶制剂的筛选和微生物菌肥的研制提供丰富的材料。【结论】辐射污染区盐爪爪根际存在大量潜在的宝贵微生物资源,有待挖掘和开发。     

温州市境内城市河流底泥氨氧化菌富集培养物微生物群落结构分析

【背景】城市河流底泥含有丰富的微生物资源,底泥表面更是硝化作用的主要位点之一,其表面微生物在河流生态系统氮的转化过程中发挥着重要作用。【目的】以温州市境内的城市河流水系温瑞塘河茶山段舜岙河和横江河的4条河道作为采样点,比较分析4种不同环境下城市河流表层底泥氨氧化菌富集培养物的微生物群落结构。【方法】通过野外采样及室内培养对底泥中氨氧化功能菌进行富集培养,采用高通量测序技术分析微生物群落的组成、丰度和多样性。【结果】富集培养后主要优势类群为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)。4个样品共涉及氨氧化细菌3个属,分别为亚硝化单胞菌属(Nitrosomonas)、亚硝化螺菌属(Nitrosospira)、亚硝化球菌属(Nitrosococcus),涉及氨氧化古菌1个属为Nitrososphaera,其中所有样品均以Nitrosomonas为主。不同底泥富集样品氨氧化微生物可操作分类单元(Operational taxonomic unit,OTU)组成存在明显差异,栽种有水生植物的河道底泥样品DA2具有最高的氨氧化细菌OTU数量和相对丰度,而存在生活餐饮污染的河道底泥样品DA4具有最高的氨氧化古菌OTU数量和相对丰度;相较于滞留水体,采自相对流动水体的富集样品DA2、DA4具有更高的氨氧化微生物OTU数量和相对丰度。【结论】阐述了4种不同环境下城市河流底泥氨氧化菌富集培养物微生物群落结构的多样性,确定了富集培养之后的优势类群,为氨氧化微生物培养源的选择提供了参考,也为城市河流底泥中氨氧化菌进一步的筛选分离及其生理生态特征的研究提供了科学依据。     

基于高通量测序的辐射污染区细菌群落特征分析

【目的】为了更加全面地揭示辐射污染区细菌种群多样性,了解辐射污染对辐射区土壤中细菌群落结构的影响。【方法】运用高通量测序方法,分别进行了土样细菌16S r RNA基因的V3可变区测序,进而对无辐射污染对照和不同辐射污染程度的土样中细菌群落组成和多样性进行分析。【结果】研究共获得110 348条有效序列,17 604个OTUs,共涉及细菌域的19个门和6个潜在菌门和其它未分类菌群的726个属。多样性分析表明,辐射污染会引起土壤样品中微生物群落的分布显著差异化,显著提高细菌群落种群多样性和微生物丰度。微生物群落组成分析发现,在辐射污染胁迫下,辐射污染区样品中变形杆菌门分布比例显著下降;随着辐射污染程度的提高,放线菌门所占比例逐步提高,未分类菌门、厚壁菌门和酸杆菌门也有明显的提高。同时,研究发现辐射污染区中存在着大量未分类菌属。【结论】研究揭示了辐射污染区极为丰富的细菌多样性,大量微生物新物种资源有待发掘。     

南大西洋深海热液区可培养硫氧化微生物多样性及其硫氧化特性

【目的】探索南大西洋热液环境中的硫氧化细菌多样性并研究其硫氧化特性。【方法】通过富集培养和分离纯化获得硫氧化细菌,利用变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)分析富集菌群组成结构,采用离子色谱法对获得的硫氧化细菌硫氧化特性进行检测。【结果】从南大西洋深海环境样品中共分离到48株菌,分属于alpha-Proteobacteria(28株,58.3%)、Actinobacteria(11株,22.9%)和gama-Proteobacteria(9株,18.8%)共3个门,其中Thalassospira、Martelella和Microbacterium为优势属。DGGE结果表明深海热液环境样品中微生物多样性丰富且不同站位存在差异。硫氧化特性研究结果表明,约60%的分离菌株具有硫氧化能力,可以氧化S_2O_3~(2–)生成SO_4~(2–)。获得一株硫氧化能力较强的潜在新种L6M1-5,在实验条件下可高效氧化S_2O_3~(2–),最大氧化速率可达0.56 mmol/(L·h)。【结论】南大西洋深海热液环境中可培养硫氧化细菌多样性丰富,为研究热液环境中的硫循环过程提供了实验材料和理论参考;同时高效硫氧化菌的获得,为工业化含硫废水的处理提供了良好的菌种资源。     

西双版纳保护区植物根际细菌的筛选及其促生能力研究

【背景】西双版纳保护区具有丰富的生物多样性,而该区域植物根际细菌特别是放线菌及其促生能力相关报道较少。【目的】从西双版纳保护区根际土壤中筛选出植物根际促生菌,并检测其促生能力。【方法】采用5种不同培养基筛选出植物根际促生菌并通过16S rDNA序列分析进行分类学鉴定,运用Salkowski法测定菌株产IAA的能力,CAS法测定菌株产铁载体能力,钼锑抗显色法测定菌株的解磷能力,CMC-Na法测定菌株产纤维素酶能力和改良的Young法测定产淀粉酶能力,综合评价所得菌株的促生能力。【结果】从土样中分离纯化得到14株典型促生菌,经鉴定分别归属于链霉菌属(Streptomyces)、诺卡菌属(Nocardi)、杆菌属(Bacillus)、中华根瘤菌属(Ensifer)、中慢生根瘤菌属(Mesorhizobium)、固氮螺菌属(Azospirillum)和狭单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas)。其中菌株B433产吲哚乙酸的能力在培养12 d时达到最大值9.23 mg/L;菌株B351、B453、B546这3株菌株产铁载体的能力较强,其Su80%,最高可达86.67%,强度为+++++;菌株B541的解磷能力最强,磷酸根的浓度达到9.79 mg/L;菌株B442综合产纤维素酶能力最强为31.86 U/mL;菌株B412淀粉酶活力为16.07 U/mL。【结论】西双版纳保护区植物根际土壤促生细菌种类丰富,且具有较强的广谱促生能力,有潜在的开发价值,本研究可为此地的微生物资源开发提供可靠的菌株资源依据。     

漂白粉对家蚕中肠产消化酶细菌的影响

【目的】本研究以漂白粉液浸渍消毒(以下简称浸消)桑叶饲喂家蚕为处理组,分析了不同组之间家蚕中肠细菌数量的差异;探讨了各组家蚕中肠产消化酶(蛋白酶、淀粉酶、脂肪酶、纤维素酶)细菌的菌株数量、产酶种类及相对产酶能力的差异。【方法】用16S rDNA测序技术对产酶菌株进行了鉴定,比较各组产酶菌种类的不同。【结果】饲喂不同有效氯浓度漂白粉液浸消叶对家蚕中肠细菌的数量、产酶菌数量均有抑制作用,且随有效氯浓度升高抑制作用增强;各处理组产蛋白酶菌株平均相对产酶能力均低于清水组,且清水组肠液中产淀粉酶菌株数明显多于各处理组;取食漂白粉液浸消桑叶后,家蚕中肠产消化酶细菌类群构成有一定变化,清水组和全程0.3%组产酶菌属相对较丰富,有Staphylococcus sp.、Lelliottiasp.和Buttiauxella sp.,其他处理组的产酶菌属相对单一,只有Staphylococcus sp.。【结论】以上结果说明漂白粉对家蚕中肠内细菌及产酶菌的增殖有抑制作用,中肠内产蛋白酶菌的产酶能力和产淀粉酶菌株的数量也受到抑制,对产酶菌类群构成有一定影响。     

造纸废水活性污泥的微生物群落结构及多样性分析

为探究造纸废水活性污泥中微生物群落结构多样性以及对造纸废水处理效果的影响，利用Illumina MiSeq 高通量测序方法，分析在处理造纸废水过程中，同一运行阶段两个并联氧化沟内活性污泥的微生物群落与多样性组成。结果表明，系统中处理造纸废水的活性污泥在同一废水条件下微生物群落结构总体稳定，优势细菌为绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、拟杆菌门（Bacteroidota）、变形菌门（Proteobacteria）、Myxococcota、放线菌门(Actinobacteria）、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes）等。最重要的优势细菌类群为Chloroflexi，相对丰度占比为47.67%~48.22%，远远高于其他废水中Chloroflexi的占比，其中厌氧绳菌纲（Anaerolineae）是其主要成员，占比84.39%~88.34%，可针对性地去除造纸废水中的污染物。造纸废水活性污泥样品中存在大量特殊功能菌群，其在废水中污染物尤其是木质素的去除中发挥着重要作用。     

Hidden cellulases in termites: revision of an old hypothesis

The intestinal flagellates of termites produce cellulases that contribute to cellulose digestion of their host termites. However, 75% of all termite species do not harbour the cellulolytic flagellates; the endogenous cellulase secreted from the midgut tissue has been considered a sole source of cellulases in these termites. Using the xylophagous flagellate-free termites Nasutitermes takasagoensis and Nasutitermes walkeri, we successfully solubilized cellulases present in the hindgut pellets. Zymograms showed that the hindguts of these termites possessed several cellulases and contained up to 59% cellulase activity against crystalline cellulose when compared with the midgut. Antibiotic treatment administered to N. takasagoensis significantly reduced cellulase activity in the hindgut, suggesting that these cellulases were produced by symbiotic bacteria.     

Stimulatory effect of oxidized cellulose on cellulase formation by Trichoderma reesei

Crystalline cellulase has been electrochemically oxidized to yield preparations containing various different percentages of oxidized end-groups. These celluloses have been used as carbon sources for growth and cellulase production by Trichoderma reesei . A low content of oxidized end groups in the celluloses (0.1–0.65%) stimulated cellulase production but not growth, whereas higher contents (> 1%) where inhibitory to both. The cellulolytic enzyme system secreted under stimulated conditions contained the same proportion of individual cellulase enzymes (cellobiohydrolase I and II, endoglucanase I) as the control, indicating a general stimulatory effect of oxidized cellulose. Activity of cellulases against oxidized celluloses in vitro was not stimulated, and only slightly inhibitory at high degrees of oxidation. The data support a potential role of cellulose oxidation in regulating cellulase formation by T. reesei .     

A novel screening method of cellulase-producing bacteria

Cellulase is the key to utilize the renewable and abundant cellulose resource, cellulase-producing microorganism is an important source of cellulase. The traditional screening method of cellulase-producing microorganism is low efficacy and not macroscopic. The screening method in this study was based on the interactive culture character between cellulase-producing bacteria and Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae on plates, the results indicated that the inhibition zone and cellulase activity of bacterial strains are conformity on the whole, so the screening method is very quickly and apparent.     

A Novel screening method of cellulase-producing bacteria based on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora parasitica</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">nicotianae</Emphasis>

Cellulase is the key to utilize the renewable and abundant cellulose resource, cellulase-producing microorganism is an important source of cellulase. The traditional screening method of cellulase-producing microorganism is low efficacy and not macroscopic. The screening method in this study was based on the interactive culture character between cellulase-producing bacteria and Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae on plates, the results indicated that the inhibition zone and cellulase activity of bacterial strains are conformity on the whole, so the screening method is very quickly and apparent     

西南地区高山湖泊中可培养细菌多样性及其所产胞外活性物质的特性

【目的】研究西南不同地区的高山湖泊中可培养细菌的多样性及其产胞外蛋白酶、纤维素酶和胞外多糖的能力。【方法】以西南4个不同地区的高山湖泊:雷波的马湖(LB)、中缅边境的凯邦亚湖(ZM)、沙德的莲花湖(SD)、腾冲的青海湖(TC)的水样为研究对象,利用稀释涂布平板方法对可培养细菌进行分离筛选,然后通过对可培养细菌的生理生化指标和16S r RNA基因序列进行分析,初步确定细菌属别;对分离得到的菌株进行产胞外蛋白酶和纤维素酶活性测定和产胞外多糖能力检测。【结果】从西南地区4个湖泊中共分离筛选得到41株细菌,其中LB 15株、ZM 13株、SD 7株、TC 6株。根据16S r RNA基因序列的系统进化分析,4个地区可培养细菌的组成和丰度存在明显差异,其中LB和ZM的优势菌属是芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus),其次是气单胞菌属(Aeromonas)和假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas),分离的TC菌株全部属于芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus),分离的SD菌株特异性较强。进一步酶活性和胞外多糖检测表明,分离得到的41株细菌中有28株菌的发酵产物具有蛋白酶活性,6株具有纤维素酶活性,17株可产胞外多糖(Exopolysaccharides,EPS)。其中有2株细菌同时产蛋白酶、纤维素酶和胞外多糖,10株细菌同时产蛋白酶和胞外多糖,2株细菌同时产蛋白酶和纤维素酶,1株细菌同时产纤维素酶和胞外多糖。【结论】西南4个高山湖泊中存在丰富的微生物菌种资源,且4个湖泊中筛选的可培养细菌受所处环境的影响大。其中莲花湖由于高海拔和较偏僻等特点,人为干扰小,分离得到的细菌类群与其他湖泊相比明显不同;而马湖、凯邦亚湖和青海湖3个湖泊的海拔相对较低,受人类活动影响较大,分离得到的细菌均较常见。此外高山湖泊中的可培养细菌具有分泌多种胞外活性物质特性,为工业化应用奠定了资源基础,极具更深入的开发和研究价值。     

Screening and Identification of New Isolate: Thermostable <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> with Novel Thermoalkalotolerant Cellulases

A cellulase-producing bacterium strain was isolated from soil that produced novel thermoalkalotolerant cellulases after growth on CMC-Na agar screening plate at 37°C. It was identified as Escherichia coli using the method of 16S rRNA and intergenic spacer gene analysis combined with morphological, physiological, and biochemical tests. Three major components of the cellulases [carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase), filter paper cellulase, and β-glucosidase] were produced with maximal activities (0.23, 0.08, and 0.15 U/ml) and maximum specific activities 4.13, 0.56, and 0.50 U/mg protein after 72, 96, and 120 h growth, respectively. Maximum CMCase activity was measured at 50°C and pH 6.0, respectively, and it also retained more than 60% of its maximal activity for at least 20 min at 50–70°C and 10 min at 80°C, respectively, and retained approximately 50% of its maximal activity after incubating at 90°C for 10 min. The enzyme could be applied in bioconversion of lignocellulosic agricultural wastes.     

海水混养池塘虾蛤肠道与养殖环境的微生物多样性

【背景】海水混养池塘环境微生物以及动物肠道微生物的群落结构已有研究,但对混养环境中多品种动物肠道与环境微生物群落的关系尚未见报道。【目的】研究海水虾蛤混养环境中微生物多样性以及与养殖动物健康之间的关系。【方法】采用Illumina高通量测序技术测定冬季莆田市北江养殖区2个混养池塘中水体、底泥以及虾蛤肠道的菌群结构。【结果】同一池塘水体与底泥之间、不同池塘水体或底泥之间的微生物结构存在一定的差异;同一养殖区2个混养池塘虾与蛤肠道微生物结构之间具有极高的相似性,与养殖环境存在显著的差异。微生物多样性和丰富度差异很大,表现出底泥水体肠道;虾蛤肠道微生物以厚壁细菌和γ-变形细菌为主;池塘水体以放线菌、α-变形细菌以及拟杆菌为主,底泥以γ-变形细菌和δ-变形细菌为主。养殖动物肠道微生物主要优势种为乳球菌属和假单胞菌属,池塘环境内存在较高丰度的黄杆菌类潜在致病菌,而在虾和蛤的肠道中基本未检出。2个池塘底泥硫还原细菌含量较高,增加了底质产生硫化氢等有害物质的风险。【结论】比较混养池塘中水体、底泥以及虾蛤肠道三者之间微生物群落结构的差异,揭示虾、贝混养模式微生物与养殖环境的关系,为池塘养殖虾、贝疾病防治和混养结构的优化提供参考。     

Use of label-free quantitative proteomics to distinguish the secreted cellulolytic systems of Caldicellulosiruptor bescii and Caldicellulosiruptor obsidiansis

The extremely thermophilic, Gram-positive bacteria Caldicellulosiruptor bescii and Caldicellulosiruptor obsidiansis efficiently degrade both cellulose and hemicellulose, which makes them relevant models for lignocellulosic biomass deconstruction to produce sustainable biofuels. To identify the shared and unique features of secreted cellulolytic apparatuses from C. bescii and C. obsidiansis, label-free quantitative proteomics was used to analyze protein abundance over the course of fermentative growth on crystalline cellulose. Both organisms' secretomes consisted of more than 400 proteins, of which the most abundant were multidomain glycosidases, extracellular solute-binding proteins, flagellin, putative pectate lyases, and uncharacterized proteins with predicted secretion signals. Among the identified proteins, 53 to 57 significantly changed in abundance during cellulose fermentation in favor of glycosidases and extracellular binding proteins. Mass spectrometric characterizations, together with cellulase activity measurements, revealed a substantial abundance increase of a few bifunctional multidomain glycosidases composed of glycosidase (GH) domain family 5, 9, 10, 44, or 48 and family 3 carbohydrate binding (CBM3) modules. In addition to their orthologous cellulases, the organisms expressed unique glycosidases with different domain organizations: C. obsidiansis expressed the COB47_1671 protein with GH10/5 domains, while C. bescii expressed the Athe_1857 (GH10/48) and Athe_1859 (GH5/44) proteins. Glycosidases containing CBM3 domains were selectively enriched via binding to amorphous cellulose. Preparations from both bacteria contained highly thermostable enzymes with optimal cellulase activities at 85°C and pH 5. The C. obsidiansis preparation, however, had higher cellulase specific activity and greater thermostability. The C. bescii culture produced more extracellular protein and additional SDS-PAGE bands that demonstrated glycosidase activity.     

Development of a simple cultivation method for isolating hitherto-uncultured cellulase-producing microbes

Although enrichment culture is typically employed to isolate cellulolytic microbes, this approach tends to favor fast-growing species and discriminates against all others. Therefore, efforts to prevent the overgrowth of fast-growing species are necessary to isolate novel cellulase-producing strains. In this study, we developed a simple culture method for isolating hitherto-uncultured microbes that possess cellulase activity, particularly exocellulase. In this method, the microbial source (a forest soil) was suspended in sterilized water and inoculated onto a mineral salts agar medium, which was then overlaid with filter paper to sandwich the microbial suspension between the agar surface and paper. The filter paper fibers served to immobilize the microbial cells and were the dominant carbon source. Following cultivation at 30°C for 2 weeks, emerging colonies were isolated based on their morphology and were then subjected to phylogenetic and enzyme analyses. Using this method, 2,150 CFUs/g dry soil were obtained, and the ratio of fungal to bacterial isolates was approximately 4:1. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that most fungal and bacterial isolates belong to ten and two genera, respectively. Notably, all isolates possessed exocellulase activity, and several strains showed strong activity that was comparable to Trichoderma cellulase. Many isolates also exhibited cellulase and xylanase activity, and several strains possessed laccase activity. It is expected that the culture method described here will be useful for the isolation of hitherto-uncultured cellulolytic microbes and the identification of novel cellulases.