The spectrum of mutations and methods for their detection in the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in phenylketonuria patients from the novosibirsk region

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a widespread autosome recessive hereditary disease caused by a deficiency of the liver enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase, which results in distortion of metabolism of phenylalanine and accumulation of toxic metabolites. The knowledge of molecular bases of PKU is of a high social importance as it enables phenotypic correction of the disease in the case of its early diagnostics. This disease is known to be associated with mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene, the distribution and mutation spectrum having pronounced ethnic and regional features. We studied the spectrum of mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in a group of patients with PKU from the Novosibirsk region to reveal 10 missense point mutations, 1 mutation in the splice donor site, and 1 microdeletion. For these mutations, most widely distributed in the region, we used straightforward detection methods basing on the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), artificial constructed restriction sites (ACRS) PCR, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).     

Design of bacterial defined mixed cultures for biodegradation of specific crude oil fractions, using population dynamics analysis by DGGE

Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria isolated from oil-polluted soils, were used to design three defined mixed cultures (DMC) for biodegradation of Maya crude oil fractions. The first degrading culture, DMC A was made up with 10 strains. Design of DMC B (six strains) and DMC C (three strains) was based on DGGE profiles obtained throughout biodegradation assays of different petroleum fractions. Biodegradation of the aliphatic fraction (10 000 mg l⁻¹) and an aromatic–polar mixture (5000 mg l⁻¹) was evaluated for the DMC B. Biodegradation of total hydrocarbons (10 000 mg l⁻¹) and its fractions was evaluated for DMC B and DMC C. During biodegradation assays, O₂ consumption and CO₂ production were assessed by respirometry, while population dynamics of predominant strains was based on PCR-DGGE profiles of partial 16S rDNA. Aliphatic fraction was completely biodegraded by DMC B, while degradation of the aromatic–polar mixture was 12.5% and for total hydrocarbons 40.5%. DMC B was able to degrade the aromatic fraction (31%) and even the polar fraction (19.6%) present in total hydrocarbons. DMC C degraded the aromatic and polar fractions (5.6% and 2%, respectively) present in total hydrocarbons. DGGE profiles of the DMCs indicated that Pseudomonas sp., Gordonia rubripertincta and a non-identified strain were predominant and probably responsible of the hydrocarbons biodegradation. The use of DGGE-fingerprinting to track microbial populations, allowed selecting strains to design efficient oil-degrading defined mixed cultures.     

Midgut bacterial communities in the giant Asian honeybee (Apis dorsata) across 4 developmental stages: A comparative study

Bacterial communities are known to play important roles during the developmental stages of insects, but current knowledge of bacteria associated with the midgut of Apis dorsata, the giant Asian honeybee, is limited. Using polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis (PCR‐DGGE) and 16S rRNA sequencing, the aim of this study was to determine the dynamics of bacterial community structure across four A. dorsata life stages in different geographical locations. The results reveal that bacterial diversity increased as the bee progressed through larval stage to newly emerged worker and old worker. However, in the pupal stage, no bands identified as bacteria could be observed. Overall, 2 bacterial phyla (Proteobacteria and Firmicutes) and 4 classes (Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Bacilli) were identified, but the frequency varied among the different stages and locations. The classes of Gammaproteobacteria and Bacilli dominated among larval, newly emerged worker and old worker developmental stages.     

Microbial community diversity in the rhizosphere of wetland plants examined by phospholipid fatty acid and polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

以天津大学校内两个相邻的小型湖泊(青年湖和爱晚湖)为研究区域, 通过采样分析, 利用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)和聚合酶链式反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)分析技术, 研究了湿地植物种类(芦苇(Phragmites australis)和东方香蒲(Typha orientalis))和生长方式(单生和混生)对根际微生物生物量和群落结构的影响。PLFA分析结果表明, 植物根际微生物生物量大于非根际(爱晚湖芦苇除外); 植物种间的差异较大, 东方香蒲根际沉积物中微生物生物量大于芦苇根际; 种内根际微生物受植物的生长状况影响较大, 采样期间两个湖泊中东方香蒲的生长状况(株高)相似, 根际微生物生物量相差不大, 而爱晚湖芦苇由于与东方香蒲共生, 受到东方香蒲的抑制, 使得根际微生物生物量明显低于单独生长的芦苇; 革兰氏阳性细菌数量小于革兰氏阴性细菌的数量, 且根际的革兰氏阳性细菌与革兰氏阴性细菌的比值小于非根际。沉积物中的细菌群落结构主要与植物种类有关, 同一种植物的根际细菌群落结构差异较小(这些根际细菌聚为一类); 不同植物的根际细菌群落结构差异较大。     

Yeasts and yeast-like fungi in tap water and groundwater,and their transmission to household appliances

In the present study we describe the occurrence of fungi in 100 tap water and 16 groundwater samples from Slovenia. We used culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques. 28 fungal species belonging to 16 genera were isolated with selected culturing conditions, targeting human opportunistic yeasts and yeast-like fungi. Of special concern was the detection of Aureobasidium melanogenum, Exophiala dermatitidis, Rhinocladiella similis, Candida parapsilosis and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. The DGGE analysis of ITS1 rDNA revealed from 6 to 16 bands hypothetically corresponding to different taxa, while pyrosequencing showed the presence of Aspergillus and Exophiala. According to the statistic machine learning methodology, the profile of fungi in water is determined by the concentration of calcium and magnesium ions and the presence of nitrate. Exophiala spp., C. parapsilosis and R. mucilaginosa are known as dominant contaminants of household appliances. It appears that they are transferred with water to dishwashers and washing machines, where they subsequently proliferate.     

石油降解菌的分离鉴定及石油污染土壤的细菌多样性

从石油污染的土壤中分离筛选到28株石油降解菌,经鉴定分别为短杆菌属、假单胞菌属、邻单胞菌属和微球菌属;对4个石油不同程度污染的土壤样品中嗜油微生物分布状况进行分析,发现污染严重的土壤样品中嗜油菌的数量相对较多;用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)、变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)和切胶测序相结合的方法对4个土壤样品中的细菌多样性进行分析,结果显示在受污染的土壤中,My cobacterium和B acillus在污染程度较低的样品中分布的较为集中,F lavobacterium和A zosp ira在污染程度较高的样品中丰度较高。属于B eta p roteobacterium类群的细菌在受污染的土壤中占有优势,同时还有一些不可培养的菌群存在。气质联用(GC-M S)分析结果表明石油污染程度及污染物中芳香烃类的含量对细菌多样性有着显著影响。在石油污染程度高,芳香烃类含量高的样品中细菌的多样性相对较低。     

Study of microbial community structures in UASB sludge treating municipal wastewater by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rDNA

The structures of microbial communities in lab-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors for treating municipal wastewater with different ratios of COD soluble/ COD total were studied using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA genes. The microbial structure of the inoculum sludge obtained from a full-scale UASB reactor of treating potato processing wastewater was compared with the structures of sludges collected from three lab-scale UASB reactors after eight months feeding with raw municipal wastewater, with CEPS (chemically enhanced primary sedimentation) pretreated municipal wastewater, and with a synthetic municipal sewage, respectively. Computer-aided numerical analysis of the DGGE fingerprints showed that the bacterial community underwent major changes. The sludges for treating raw and CEPS pretreated wastewater had very similar bacterial and archaeal communities (82% and 96% similarity) but were different from that for treating the synthetic sewage. Hence, despite     

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。     

利用DGGE评价不同培养基回收番茄根际细菌类群的能力

用营养肉汤、YG、根系分泌物、土壤浸渍液4种培养基从番茄根际分离培养细菌,并结合变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)技术,对4种培养基回收番茄根际细菌种群的能力进行了比较研究。结果表明,不同培养基和培养温度,回收到的细菌种群有一定差异;低营养浓度的YG培养基在较低的培养温度20℃下进行较长时间的培养,比高营养浓度营养肉汤培养基产生更多、更具代表性的细菌;以根系分泌物为基础的培养基从番茄根际回收到的优势菌群最多。该研究初步建立了用DGGE技术对不同培养基回收分离细菌种群能力进行评价的方法。