Incidence of actinomycetes infection in women using intrauterine contraceptive devices

Pancervicovaginal smears taken from 350 women using an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) were screened for the presence of actinomycetes organisms. Of the 12 cases in which actinomycetes-like organisms were seen in Papanicolaou-stained smears, the presence of actinomycetes organisms was confirmed by immunofluorescence in 10 cases. The prevalence of actinomycetes infection was thus 2.8% (10 of 350 cases) in the IUD users. Eight (4.3%) of 173 symptomatic subjects had actinomycetes infections. Two of the positive cases were asymptomatic. Eight of the ten patients with confirmed actinomycetes infection were using the Cu T device while two were wearing the Lippes Loop IUD. Seven of the ten patients had been using an IUD for more than two years. The time of insertion of the IUD (postpuerperal, postmenstrual or after medical termination of pregnancy) did not show any correlation with the presence of actinomycetes infection. Actinomyces israelii was responsible for the infection in eight cases while Arachnia propionica was seen in two cases. The organisms could not be grown in culture.     

Curschmann's spirals and actinomycosis in a fine needle aspirate of the parotid

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of bilaterally enlarged submandibular salivary glands yielded both Curschmann's spirals and actinomycetes filaments in the FNA smears. Histologic study of specimens from the bilateral submandibulectomy confirmed the actinomycosis but failed to demonstrate the presence of spirals. The presence of Curschmann's spirals in FNA material is a finding not previously described in the English literature. Actinomycosis, although well documented in exfoliative cytology, has been rarely reported in fine needle aspirates. This unique case afforded the opportunity of illustrating the characteristic features of Curschmann's spirals and actinomycetes colonies, as well as reviewing the etiology and pathogenesis of Curschmann's spirals, in FNA material.     

水稻内生放线菌类群及其对宿主病原菌的抗性研究

采用常规方法对广东省番禺和五山两地种植的水稻内生放线菌进行分离、鉴定和分析 ,结果表明水稻内生放线菌多属于链霉菌属 (Streptomyces) ,其中灰褐类群链霉菌 (S .griseofuscus)的分离频率最高为 36 1%～ 6 9% ,是水稻植株中的优势内生放线菌类群。研究了内生放线菌在水稻植株各器官中的分布 ,结果表明根中内生放线菌的多样性高于茎叶。番禺地区种植的水稻中分离出的内生放线菌种类较多。从感病品种及生长不良水稻植株中分离出的内生放线菌种类比较丰富。通过回接分离试验及利用扫描电镜观察内生菌在植物体内分布发现 ,水稻优势内生放线菌回接无菌组培苗后 ,不仅能够定殖在水稻植株的根表和根内部 ,而且存在于茎杆和叶片中。通过平板颉抗及代谢物的活性测定试验 ,发现所分离的内生放线菌 5 0 %对水稻某些病原菌有颉抗活性 ,其中灰褐类群链霉菌的比例达到 5 5 4 % ,成为所分离的水稻内生放线菌类群中具有颉抗活性的最大群体。     

云南若干地区土壤放线菌区系及资源考察 X.滇东南地区

从云南省文山、红河等地采集不同植被、不同海拔高度的土壤样品,用不同方法分离高温、中温放线菌,按国内外通用的方法进行鉴定。滇东南地区的土壤放线菌种类丰富,分离到了13个菌属,稀有放线菌的数量所占比例较高。原始森林中的放线菌种属最丰富。本文对该地区放线菌的生态分布进行了探讨。     

红树林放线菌研究进展

红树林是生长在热带和亚热带海岸潮间带的一种独特植物群落,构成陆地与海洋间的过渡,具有水分高、盐分高、耐缺氧等特征的特殊生态系统及很高的生物多样性,是筛选和发现放线菌新物种和药用生物活性次级代谢产物的宝贵资源。在物种鉴定方面,放线菌分类学是目前红树林放线菌物种鉴定的重要手段。本文综述了红树林放线菌物种鉴定主要方法、红树林放线菌生态环境和物种分布特征、生物学活性及其次级代谢产物等,并展望了该领域研究与发展的重要问题与趋势。     

白蚁共生放线菌研究进展

白蚁与微生物的共生关系是目前较受关注的研究热点,其肠道及巢内的共生微生物在降解木质纤维素的过程中扮演着重要的角色。放线菌是这些共生微生物中的重要一类,广泛存在于肠道、蚁巢及其周围土壤中,目前已探明共生放线菌在参与白蚁碳氮循环及保护巢群免受外来病菌侵染等方面发挥着极大的作用。近年来,人们利用分子生物学技术鉴定了部分共生放线菌的类群,发现了许多具应用前景的新放线菌及相关酶和代谢产物。因此,研究与白蚁相关的放线菌不仅有助于人们了解白蚁共生菌群落间的互作及其与宿主间的关系,而且对人类开发自然资源也有较大的帮助。本文对白蚁共生放线菌的研究进展作一综述,供同行参考。     

Study on the communities of endophytic fungi and endophytic actinomycetes from rice and their antipathogenic activities in vitro

The populations of endophytic fungi and actinomycetes from four rice cultivars in the Panyu district (Site 1) and Wushan district (Site 2) in Guangdong province, South China, were studied. The preponderant endophytic fungi and actinomycetes isolated belonged to Fusarium and Streptomyces respectively. The incidence of Streptomycetes griseofuscus ranged from 36.1 to 69% out of all the different rice cultivars from the two sites. It is the commonest population of endophytic actinomycetes, and constituted the greatest part of all the antagonistic communities. The distributions of endophytic fungi and actinomycetes in roots and leaves were different, endophytic fungi from leaves were diverse, some were organ-specific. More diverse endophytic actinomycetes were isolated from roots than from leaves. The endophytic fungi isolated from rice in Site 2 were more diverse than that in Site 1. The diversity of the endophytic actinomycetes, however, was less than that in Site 1. Acid soil in Site 2 is ideal for the growth and colonization of fungi while the alkaline soil in Site 1 is better for the growth and colonization of actinomycetes. The results suggested that differences in the chemical composition of soil could influence the endophytic microbial communities of rice plants. The endophytic fungi and actinomycetes isolated from poor-growing seedlings and susceptible rice cultivars were more abundant than that the disease-resistant counterparts. In the dual culture and activity detection of the metabolites, 41.2% of all the isolated endophytic fungi showed antagonism to rice pathogens. Fifty percent of all the isolated endophytic actinomycetes were antagonistic to those pathogens. The percentage of Streptomyces griseofuscus and hygroscopicus reached 55.4 and 21.4% of all the active actinomycetes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

青海沙珠玉人工植被系统土壤放线菌生态分布及拮抗性

为探索人工植被重建对土壤放线菌的影响,采用稀释平板法及琼脂块法对青海沙珠玉地区植被重建后沙土中放线菌的生态分布及拮抗性进行了研究.结果表明：随着高寒干旱沙地植被重建和覆盖度的提高：土壤放线菌数量显著增加,其中退耕还草地土壤中放线菌总数较沙地提高145.4%,小单孢菌数量约为沙地的6倍;拮抗性放线菌平均筛出率大幅度增加,退耕还草地土壤中拮抗性放线菌、天然草地土壤中抗细菌放线菌及林地土壤中抗病原真菌放线菌的平均筛出率约分别为沙地的2、3.2及1.5倍;地表植被盖度与土壤养分对放线菌数量以及拮抗性放线菌数量有很大影响,其中有机质、碱解氮含量以及鲜草产量与放线菌总数的相关性达到极显著水平(P<0.01),有机质含量、鲜草产量与拮抗性放线菌株数的相关性达到极显著水平(P<0.01).此外,植被盖度、土壤全氮、全磷、全钾、全盐以及速效钾含量与放线菌总数、链霉菌数、小单孢菌数的相关性也达到显著水平(P<0.05).     

微波处理对嗜碱和嗜盐海洋放线菌分离效果的影响

【目的】研究微波处理对于分离嗜碱和嗜盐海洋放线菌的效果。【方法】用微波处理7份海泥样品,梯度稀释后涂布于3种分离培养基,分离具有嗜碱和嗜盐特性的海洋放线菌。【结果】微波处理后的7份样品中,4份样品中嗜碱海洋稀有放线菌和3份样品的嗜盐海洋稀有放线菌数量极显著提高;7份样品中的嗜碱、嗜盐海洋小单孢菌属、游动放线菌属、诺卡氏菌属等稀有放线菌数量均有显著增加,不同样品中新分离到链孢菌属、小双孢菌属、链孢囊菌属及其他未鉴定的海洋稀有放线菌,分离到属的数量提高了1-4个。【结论】微波处理不仅显著提高嗜碱和嗜盐海洋放线菌的分离数量,而且明显增加了海洋稀有放线菌的分离种类。     

Ultramicroscopic Structure of Intrasporangium calvum (Actinomycetales)

The electron microscopic observation of vesicles formed by Intrasporangium calvum revealed that they do not contain spores. It thus seems that these vesicles should not be called sporangia. Isolation and study of three other strains of actinomycetes forming similar vesicles indicated that such structures can be formed by actinomycetes with very different properties. The taxonomic value of vesicle formation in actinomycetes is questioned.     

Actinomycetes and Fungi in Surface Waters and in Potable Water

In Finnish lakes and rivers used as water supplies, mesophilic fungi and actinomycetes were common, whereas thermophilic fungi and actinomycetes were present only in low concentrations. Fungi and actinomycetes were more abundant in eutrophic and mesotrophic lakes than in oligotrophic lakes. River water contained more thermophilic actinomycetes and fungi and mesophilic actinomycetes than did lake water. Runoff from soil seemed to be an important factor contributing to the incidence of these microbes in water. Chemical coagulation removed actinomycetes and fungi efficiently, but sand filtration allowed their passage. Disinfection could not prevent actinomycetes and fungi from reaching the distribution system. During infiltration in the production of recharged groundwater, mesophilic actinomycetes could even multiply appreciably.     

Discovery of novel metabolites from marine actinomycetes

Recent findings from culture-dependent and culture-independent methods have demonstrated that indigenous marine actinomycetes exist in the oceans and are widely distributed in different marine ecosystems. There is tremendous diversity and novelty among the marine actinomycetes present in marine environments. Progress has been made to isolate novel actinomycetes from samples collected at different marine environments and habitats. These marine actinomycetes produce different types of new secondary metabolites. Many of these metabolites possess biological activities and have the potential to be developed as therapeutic agents. Marine actinomycetes are a prolific but underexploited source for the discovery of novel secondary metabolites.     

西双版纳、白茫雪山、波罗的海南岸地衣纯培养放线菌多样性

【背景】在地衣共生系统中除了共生真菌、藻类以外,还蕴藏着丰富的放线菌资源。【目的】采集来自云南西双版纳、白茫雪山、德国波罗的海南岸3个地区的地衣,对获得的地衣纯培养放线菌进行多样性分析。【方法】采用3种放线菌选择分离培养基,通过平板稀释涂布法分离放线菌。通过比较16S rRNA基因序列相似性以及构建系统发育树,确定纯培养放线菌的分类地位。【结果】共分离菌株1 123株,鉴定417株。其中从西双版纳17份地衣样品中分离纯化到107株放线菌,分布在7个目14个科33个属,潜在新种18株,其中链霉菌为优势菌属;从白茫雪山7份地衣样品中分离纯化到103株放线菌,分布在4个目5个科9个属,潜在新种16株。其中链霉菌为优势菌属,占比39%;从波罗的海南岸5份地衣样品中分离纯化到65株放线菌,分布在4个目8个科18个属,潜在新种5株,潜在新种菌和链霉菌为优势菌属。【结论】在本研究条件下,西双版纳可培养地衣放线菌多样性较白茫雪山和波罗的海南岸丰富。白茫雪山地衣链霉菌居多,潜在新种占比15.5%。3个地区地衣放线菌的区系组成各不相同,这与3个地区地衣所处地理环境、完全不同的气候密切相关。     

植物内生放线菌研究进展

内生放线菌指存在于健康植物体内,产生系列活性物质并能与宿主植物共同生活的放线菌菌落.就在实际生产中用于生物防治的主要内生放线菌种类,能够防治的主要病害,及其生物防治的机理和生产上已经应用的制剂等多方面进行综述.     

藏东南地区土壤放线菌的生态分布及活性研究

从藏东南原始森林、高山草甸、沼泽、粮田与保护地等不同植被、从2970~4590m不同海拔高度采集土样50份,用多种培养基分离中、低温放线菌,并对放线菌的数量、组成、生理生化特性以及它们的拮抗性等进行了研究。按放线菌的形态学特征进行了鉴定。结果表明:①从藏东南各种土壤中放线菌分离到9个属,其中束丝菌属在国内未见报道。以粮田中放线菌的数量和种类最多。②原始森林中拮抗性放线菌数量最多,提供了从原始森林土壤中可以筛选到更多拮抗性放线菌的重要信息。③抗革兰氏阳性细菌的放线菌菌株数较抗革兰氏阴性细菌的多,拮抗真菌的放线菌菌株数比拮抗细菌的多。④藏东南土壤链霉菌具有许多酶活性。     

台湾海峡沉积物放线菌多样性及抗菌活性研究

探究台湾海峡海洋沉积物中放线菌的多样性并进行抗菌活性筛选,为发现新的药物先导化合物提供新菌源。采用7种选择性培养基分离10份来自台湾海峡沉积物样品中的海洋放线菌,并对分离菌株的16S rRNA基因序列进行系统进化分析。采用滤纸片法对部分代表放线菌菌株发酵液进行生物活性筛选,共分离到532株放线菌,挑选其中170株代表菌株进行鉴定,分属于8个目10个科14个属。有2株菌的16S rRNA基因序列显示属于潜在的新种,170株菌中有68.8%的菌株显示出至少对一种指示菌有抑菌活性。结果表明台湾海峡海洋沉积物中蕴藏着丰富的放线菌资源,是发现新药的有效途径。     

Selective medium with nalidixic acid for isolating antibiotic-producing Actinomyces

The majority of actinomycetes belonging to various genera proved to be resistant to nalidixic acid concentrations having an inhibitory effect on bacteria with trailing growth i.e. B. subtilis and B. mycoides. The bacteria prevented isolation of actinomycetes as pure cultures. The use of a selective medium with nalidixic acid for isolation of soil actinomycetes resulted in 20 per cent increase in the number of the actinomycetes isolated as pure cultures. Preliminary treatment of the soil samples with calcium carbonate under moist conditions followed by the inoculation to the medium with nalidixic acid made it possible to increase isolation of actinomycetes at most 100-fold. With this complex method 495 actinomycete cultures were isolated, their antibiotic properties were studied and their taxonomic position at the genus level was determined. The complex method including the preliminary treatment of soil samples with calcium carbonate followed by inoculation to the selective medium with nalidixic acid is efficient and may be recommended for screening organisms producing new antibiotics.     

植物内生放线菌多样性研究进展

植物内生放线菌作为植物内生菌资源的一大类,具有丰富的多样性,其次级代谢产物也十分丰富,而且还具有各种生物学活性。通过了解植物内生放线菌资源的多样性,可以对其产生的生物活性物质进行筛选和分析,从而筛选出具有良好药理活性的物质应用于临床。从植物内生放线菌宿主植物、组织分布、种类和数量以及活性基因4个方面综述了植物内生放线菌的多样性资源,介绍植物内生放线菌新的微生物物种,总结了植物内生放线菌目前研究中存在的问题及展望。     

Actinobase: Database on molecular diversity, phylogeny and biocatalytic potential of salt tolerant alkaliphilic actinomycetes

Actinobase is a relational database of molecular diversity, phylogeny and biocatalytic potential of haloalkaliphilic actinomycetes. The main objective of this data base is to provide easy access to range of information, data storage, comparison and analysis apart from reduced data redundancy, data entry, storage, retrieval costs and improve data security. Information related to habitat, cell morphology, Gram reaction, biochemical characterization and molecular features would allow researchers in understanding identification and stress adaptation of the existing and new candidates belonging to salt tolerant alkaliphilic actinomycetes. The PHP front end helps to add nucleotides and protein sequence of reported entries which directly help researchers to obtain the required details. Analysis of the genus wise status of the salt tolerant alkaliphilic actinomycetes indicated 6 different genera among the 40 classified entries of the salt tolerant alkaliphilic actinomycetes. The results represented wide spread occurrence of salt tolerant alkaliphilic actinomycetes belonging to diverse taxonomic positions. Entries and information related to actinomycetes in the database are publicly accessible at http://www.actinobase.in. On clustalW/X multiple sequence alignment of the alkaline protease gene sequences, different clusters emerged among the groups. The narrow search and limit options of the constructed database provided comparable information. The user friendly access to PHP front end facilitates would facilitate addition of sequences of reported entries. AVAILABILITY: The database is available for free at http://www.actinobase.in.