Genotyping and Toxigenic Potential of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus Strains Occurring in Industrial and Artisanal Cured Sausages

Artisanal and industrial sausages were analyzed for their aerobic, heat-resistant microflora to assess whether new emerging pathogens could be present among Bacillus strains naturally contaminating cured meat products. Sixty-four isolates were characterized by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR and fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism (fAFLP). The biotypes, identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, belonged to Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens species. Both RAPD-PCR and fAFLP analyses demonstrated that a high genetic heterogeneity is present in the B. subtilis group even in strains harvested from the same source, making it possible to isolate 56 different biotypes. Moreover, fAFLP analysis made it possible to distinguish B. subtilis from B. pumilus strains. The strains were characterized for their toxigenic potential by molecular, physiological, and immunological techniques. Specific PCR analyses revealed the absence of DNA sequences related to HBL, BcET, NHE, and entFM Bacillus cereus enterotoxins and the enzymes sphingomyelinase Sph and phospholipase PI-PLC in all strains; also, the immunological analyses showed that Bacillus strains did not react with NHE- and HBL-specific antibodies. However, some isolates were found to be positive for hemolytic and lecithinase activity. The absence of toxigenic potential in Bacillus strains from the sausages analyzed indicates that these products can be considered safe under the processing conditions they were produced; however, great care should be taken when the ripening time is shortened, particularly in the case of traditional sausages, which could contain high amounts of Bacillus strains and possibly some B. cereus cells.     

Characterization of Bacillus probiotics available for human use

Bacillus species (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus pumilus) carried in five commercial probiotic products consisting of bacterial spores were characterized for potential attributes (colonization, immunostimulation, and antimicrobial activity) that could account for their claimed probiotic properties. Three B. cereus strains were shown to persist in the mouse gastrointestinal tract for up to 18 days postadministration, demonstrating that these organisms have some ability to colonize. Spores of one B. cereus strain were extremely sensitive to simulated gastric conditions and simulated intestinal fluids. Spores of all strains were immunogenic when they were given orally to mice, but the B. pumilus strain was found to generate particularly high anti-spore immunoglobulin G titers. Spores of B. pumilus and of a laboratory strain of B. subtilis were found to induce the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 in a cultured macrophage cell line, and in vivo, spores of B. pumilus and B. subtilis induced the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha and the Th1 cytokine gamma interferon. The B. pumilus strain and one B. cereus strain (B. cereus var. vietnami) were found to produce a bacteriocin-like activity against other Bacillus species. The results that provided evidence of colonization, immunostimulation, and antimicrobial activity support the hypothesis that the organisms have a potential probiotic effect. However, the three B. cereus strains were also found to produce the Hbl and Nhe enterotoxins, which makes them unsafe for human use.     

Identification and characterization of toxigenic Bacillus cereus isolates responsible for two food-poisoning outbreaks

The epidemiology of Bacillus cereus strains responsible for food poisoning is scantly known, mostly because the genotypic and toxigenic properties of the B. cereus strains isolated during food-poisoning outbreaks have been never catalogued. The occurrence of two simultaneous food-poisoning outbreaks gave us the opportunity to wonder whether (i) the identity of individual strains isolated from clinical, environmental, and food samples could be established by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR and multiplex RAPD-PCR, and (ii) the toxigenic potential of the isolates could be determined by testing their ability to secrete hemolysin BL, phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C, and cereulide, as well as by determining the presence of the genes encoding enterotoxins NHE, T, and FM/S, cytotoxin K, sphingomyelinase, and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. This is the first report demonstrating that the combination of several phenotypic and genotypic traits provides a powerful tool for tracing the source of infection of toxigenic B. cereus strains relevant for epidemiological survey.     

Fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis of Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus thuringiensis isolates

DNA from over 300 Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus anthracis isolates was analyzed by fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). B. thuringiensis and B. cereus isolates were from diverse sources and locations, including soil, clinical isolates and food products causing diarrheal and emetic outbreaks, and type strains from the American Type Culture Collection, and over 200 B. thuringiensis isolates representing 36 serovars or subspecies were from the U.S. Department of Agriculture collection. Twenty-four diverse B. anthracis isolates were also included. Phylogenetic analysis of AFLP data revealed extensive diversity within B. thuringiensis and B. cereus compared to the monomorphic nature of B. anthracis. All of the B. anthracis strains were more closely related to each other than to any other Bacillus isolate, while B. cereus and B. thuringiensis strains populated the entire tree. Ten distinct branches were defined, with many branches containing both B. cereus and B. thuringiensis isolates. A single branch contained all the B. anthracis isolates plus an unusual B. thuringiensis isolate that is pathogenic in mice. In contrast, B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (ATCC 33679) and other isolates used to prepare insecticides mapped distal to the B. anthracis isolates. The interspersion of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis isolates within the phylogenetic tree suggests that phenotypic traits used to distinguish between these two species do not reflect the genomic content of the different isolates and that horizontal gene transfer plays an important role in establishing the phenotype of each of these microbes. B. thuringiensis isolates of a particular subspecies tended to cluster together.     

Antimicrobial activity of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus during the fermentation of African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) for Soumbala production

Aims:  To examine predominant isolates of Bacillus subtilis and B. pumilus isolated from Soumbala for their antimicrobial activity against indicator microorganisms as Micrococcus luteus , Staphyloccocus aureus , Bacillus cereus , Enterococus facium , Listeria monocytogenes , Escherichia coli , Salmonella typhimurium , Shigella dysenteriae , Yersinia enterocolitica , Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium roqueforti .
Methods and Results:  Growth inhibition of indicator microorganisms by cells and supernatants of three B. subtilis and two B. pumilus strains was investigated using agar diffusion tests. Inactivation of indicator microorganisms was investigated in laboratory broth and during the fermentation of African locust bean for Soumbala production. The Bacillus isolates showed variable ability of inhibition and inactivation according to the indicator microorganism. The supernatants of pure cultures of B. subtilis inhibited one strain of B. cereus , one of Staph. aureus and E. coli and caused abnormal germination of Aspergillus ochraceus . The supernatant of mixed cultures of B. subtilis and indicators inhibited all the indicators. A treatment with protease eliminated the inhibitions. Isolates of B. subtilis inactivated all the indicators organisms during the fermentation of African locust bean as well as in laboratory broth with about five to eight decimal reduction.
Conclusion:  Bacillus isolates from Soumbala inhibit and inactivate Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as ochratoxin A producing fungi during both laboratory cultivation and natural fermentation.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Selection of starter cultures of Bacillus spp. for controlled production of Soumbala.     

Metabolic capacities and toxigenic potential as key drivers of Bacillus cereus ubiquity and adaptation

Bacillus cereus is ubiquitous and is commonly found in a wide range of environments, including food. In this study, we analyzed 114 foodborne B. cereus strains isolated mainly from starchy and dairy products in order to investigate their phenotypic diversity (API system), antimicrobial resistance and toxigenic profiles (hblA, nheA, hlyII, cereolysin O, cytK2, cytK1 and EM1 genes). All isolates were confirmed as B. cereus using their 16–23S ribosomal DNA intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) signature, and were shown to be Gram-positive, catalase and caseinase positive, hemolytic (97 %), and positive for lecithin hydrolysis and motility (97 and 87 %, respectively). PCR detection of B. cereus-specific toxin genes revealed occurrence rates of 100 % for cereolysin O, 98 % for nheA, 74 % for cytk2, 52 % for hblA, 28 % for hlyII, and the absence of cytK1. Only two strains (2 %), isolated from intestine of boar and pheasant, carried the emetic toxin genetic determinants (ces). The antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates was tested towards 15 different antimicrobial agents. We detected susceptibility of all strains to most antibiotics, intermediate resistance to clindamycin, and resistance to β-lactam antibiotics with 83 % of the resistant isolates producing β-lactamase enzyme. This large phenotypic diversity, combined with the toxigenic traits and antibiotic resistance, emphasize the high potential risk of food poisoning of B. cereus isolates. Additionally, a clear correlation between the metabolic features and the origin of isolation was shown. Most starchy isolates were able to hydrolyze starch while dairy strains were not able to produce amylases. Overall, our results reveal that metabolic flexibility and toxigenic potential represent the main drivers for B. cereus ubiquity and adaptation in a given ecological niche.     

Phylogeny of gamma-polyglutamic acid-producing Bacillus strains isolated from a fermented locust bean product manufactured in West Africa

Twenty-five Bacillus strains capable of producing gamma-polyglutamic acid (PGA) were isolated from fermented locust bean products manufactured in the savanna area of Ghana. To clarify the phylogeny of these PGA-producing strains, phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of 16S rDNA, rpoB (RNA polymerase beta-subunit) and fus (elongation factor G) genes were performed. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rDNA indicated that ten isolates were clustered in the same group of Bacillus subtilis. Another ten isolates were located in the cluster of B. amyloliquefaciens, and the remaining isolates were identified as B. pumilus (three isolates) and B. licheniformis (two isolates), respectively. Phylogenetic trees based on the partial sequences of rpoB and fus genes were similar to the phylogeny based on 16S rDNA sequences. Thirty-four strains in 27 species belonging to the genus Bacillus and its neighbors were also investigated for PGA production. It was found that PGA was produced by B. amyloliquefaciens NBRC 14141 and NBRC 15535(T), B. atrophaeus NBRC 15539(T), B. licheniformis NBRC 12107, B. mojavensis NBRC 15718(T), B. pumilus NBRC 12094, B. subtilis NBRC 16449, and Lysinibacillus sphaericus NBRC 3525. Except for L. sphaericus, the above Bacillus species are very closely related in phylogeny, indicating that PGA-producing Bacillus strains constitute a cluster.     

Detection of toxigenic strains of Bacillus cereus and other Bacillus spp. with an improved cytotoxicity assay

An improved qualitative cell cytotoxicity assay for the detection of Bacillus cereus emetic and enterotoxin is described. The presence of toxin in culture supernatant fluids was detected by measurement with the tetrazolium salt MTT, as it adversely affects the metabolic status of cultured CHO cells. Psychrotrophic B. cereus isolates (65) were assessed for toxin production using the cytotoxicity assay, and 91% of culture supernatant fluids were cytotoxic. Toxin assessment using BCET-RPLA and ELISA immunoassays indicated that 51% and 85% of the cultures, respectively, were toxigenic. There were pronounced strain differences in the amount of toxin produced by the B. cereus isolates. Some isolates of B. circulans, B. laterosporus/cereus, B. lentus, B. licheniformis, B. mycoides, B. subtilis and B. thuringiensis were also toxigenic.     

Degradation of African locust bean oil by Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus isolated from soumbala,a fermented African locust bean condiment

AIMS: To investigate predominant isolates of Bacillus subtilis and B. pumilus in soumbala, a fermented African locust bean condiment, for their ability to degrade African locust bean oil (ALBO). METHODS AND RESULTS: Agar diffusion test in tributyrin and ALBO agar was used for screening of the isolates for esterase and lipase activity, respectively. The quantity and the profile of free fatty acids (FFA) during 72 h of degradation of ALBO by the Bacillus isolates were studied by titration and gas chromatography. The degradation of tributyrin and ALBO was variable among the isolates. Two strains of B. subtilis and two strains of B. pumilus showed significantly higher esterase and lipolytic activities than the others. The degradation ALBO was most pronounced in enriched nutrient agar except for one isolate of B. pumilus degrading ALBO to the same extent regardless of the enrichment. The quantity of FFA released from ALBO by the most lipolytic strains of Bacillus increased mainly between 0 and 24 h and differed among the isolates. The profile of FFA was similar for the Bacillus isolates with oleic acid (C18:2) occurring as the major FFA in all the samples except in samples incubated with B. subtilis B9 where stearic acid (C18) was dominant. CONCLUSION: Bacillus isolates from soumbala showed high strain dependent lipolytic activity against ALBO. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study contributes to the selection of Bacillus strains to be used as starter cultures for controlled production of soumbala.     

A randomly amplified polymorphic DNA marker specific for the Bacillus cereus group is diagnostic for Bacillus anthracis

Aiming to develop a DNA marker specific for Bacillus anthracis and able to discriminate this species from Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Bacillus mycoides, we applied the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting technique to a collection of 101 strains of the genus Bacillus, including 61 strains of the B. cereus group. An 838-bp RAPD marker (SG-850) specific for B. cereus, B. thuringiensis, B. anthracis, and B. mycoides was identified. This fragment included a putative (366-nucleotide) open reading frame highly homologous to the ypuA gene of Bacillus subtilis. The restriction analysis of the SG-850 fragment with AluI distinguished B. anthracis from the other species of the B. cereus group.     

Rope-producing strains of Bacillus spp. from wheat bread and strategy for their control by lactic acid bacteria

Two types of white wheat bread (high- and low-type loaves) were investigated for rope spoilage. Thirty of the 56 breads tested developed rope spoilage within 5 days; the high-type loaves were affected by rope spoilage more than the low-type loaves. Sixty-one Bacillus strains were isolated from ropy breads and were characterized on the basis of their phenotypic and genotypic traits. All of the isolates were identified as Bacillus subtilis by biochemical tests, but molecular assays (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA PCR assay, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis, and sequencing of the V3 region of 16S ribosomal DNA) revealed greater Bacillus species variety in ropy breads. In fact, besides strains of B. subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus cereus, and isolates of Bacillus clausii and Bacillus firmus were also identified. All of the ropy Bacillus isolates exhibited amylase activity, whereas only 32.4% of these isolates were able to produce ropiness in bread slices after treatment at 96 degrees C for 10 min. Strains of lactic acid bacteria previously isolated from sourdough were first selected for antirope activity on bread slices and then used as starters for bread-making experiments. Prevention of growth of approximately 10(4) rope-producing B. subtilis G1 spores per cm(2) on bread slices for more than 15 days was observed when heat-treated cultures of Lactobacillus plantarum E5 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides A27 were added. Growth of B. subtilis G1 occurred after 7 days in breads started with Saccharomyces cerevisiae T22, L. plantarum E5, and L. mesenteroides A27.     

Variability and interactions between endophytic bacteria and fungi isolated from leaf tissues of citrus rootstocks

Fungi and bacteria were isolated from surface disinfected leaf tissues of several citrus rootstocks. The principal bacterial species isolated were Alcaligenes sp., Bacillus spp. (including B. cereus, B. lentus, B. megaterium, B. pumilus, and B. subtilis), Burkholderia cepacia, Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens, Enterobacter cloacae, Methylobacterium extorquens, and Pantoea agglomerans, with P. agglomerans and B. pumilus being the most frequently isolated species. The most abundant fungal species were Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Guignardia citricarpa, and Cladosporium sp. Genetic variability between 36 endophytic bacterial isolates was analysed by the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique, which indicated that B. pumilus isolates were more diverse than P. agglomerans isolates, although genetic diversity was not related to the host plants. In vitro interaction studies between G. citricarpa isolates and the most frequently isolated endophytic bacteria showed that metabolites secreted by G. citricarpa have an inhibitory growth effect on some Bacillus species, and a stimulatory growth effect on P. agglomerans.     

Identification of Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-3275 as a Strain of Bacillus pumilus

The physiological and biochemical properties of a species of Bacillus previously identified as B. subtilis NRRL B-3275 (B-3275) were compared with those of seven strains of B. pumilus and five strains of B. subtilis. The biotin requirement of B-3275, its inability to hydrolyze starch, and its failure to reduce nitrate indicate that the organism is more closely related to the B. pumilus strains than to those of B. subtilis. Hybridization of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from B-3275 with that of the strains of B. pumilus showed a binding efficiency (compared with the homologous reaction) of 58 to 99%, depending on the strain. Hybridization with the DNA from any of the strains of B. subtilis did not exceed 24%. DNA from B-3275 was unable to transform two amino acid auxotrophic markers to prototrophy in a highly competent strain of B. subtilis 168. We conclude that B-3275 is a strain of B. pumilus which we designate as B. pumilus NRRL B-3275.     

Cytotoxic Bacillus spp. belonging to the B. cereus and B. subtilis groups in Norwegian surface waters

AIMS: To investigate the presence and numbers of Bacillus spp. spores in surface waters and examine isolates belonging to the B. cereus and B. subtilis groups for cytotoxicity, and to discuss the presence of cytotoxic Bacillus spp. in surface water as hazard identification in a risk assessment approach in the food industry. METHODS AND RESULTS: Samples from eight different rivers with variable degree of faecal pollution, and two drinking water sources, were heat shocked and examined for the presence of Bacillus spp. spores using membrane filtration followed by cultivation on bovine blood agar plates. Bacillus spp. was present in all samples. The numbers varied from 15 to 1400 CFU 100 ml(-1). Pure cultures of 86 Bacillus spp. isolates representing all sampling sites were characterized using colony morphology, atmospheric requirements, spore and sporangium morphology, and API 50 CHB and API 20E. Bacillus spp. representing the B. cereus and B. subtilis groups were isolated from all samples. Twenty-one isolates belonging to the B. cereus and B. subtilis groups, representing eight samples, were screened for cytotoxicity. Nine strains of B. cereus and five strains belonging to the B. subtilis group were cytotoxic. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of cytotoxic Bacillus spp. in surface water represents a possible source for food contamination. Filtration and chlorination of surface water, the most common drinking water treatment in Norway, do not remove Bacillus spores efficiently. This was confirmed by isolation of spores from tap water samples. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Contamination of food with water containing low numbers of Bacillus spores implies a risk for bacterial growth in foods. Consequently, high numbers of Bacillus spp. may occur after growth in some products. High numbers of cytotoxic Bacillus spp. in foods may represent a risk for food poisoning.     

Occurrence of Bacillus sporothermodurans and other aerobic spore-forming species in feed concentrate for dairy cattle

AIMS: To determine the aerobic spore composition and presence of Bacillus sporothermodurans spores in feed concentrate for dairy cattle. METHODS AND RESULTS: Six feed concentrate samples from five different farms were analysed. High levels of spores (up to 10(6) spores g(-1)) were found. Identification of 100 selected isolates was obtained by a combination of fatty acid methyl esters analysis, amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing. Ninety-seven isolates could be identified to the species level or assigned to a phylogenetic species group. Most of the isolates obtained after a heat treatment of 10 min at 80 degrees C were identified as members of the B. subtilis group (32 isolates), B. pumilus (25 isolates), B. clausii (eight isolates) and B. licheniformis (eight isolates). The isolates with very heat-resistant spores, obtained after a heat treatment of 30 min at 100 degrees C, were identified as members of the B. subtilis group (five isolates), B. sporothermodurans (three isolates), B. amyloliquefaciens (one isolate), B. oleronius (one isolate) and B. pallidus (one isolate). Bacillus cereus was present in each feed concentrate sample and was isolated using a selective mannitol egg yolk polymyxin agar medium. CONCLUSIONS: Feed concentrate for dairy cattle contains known as well as as yet unknown species of Bacillus and related genera with properties relevant to the dairy sector. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results formulate the hypothesis that feed concentrate can be a contamination source of spores, including those of B. sporothermodurans, for raw milk at the farm level.     

多重PCR技术检测微生物肥料中巨大芽孢杆菌和蜡样群芽孢杆菌的研究与应用

巨大芽孢杆菌是微生物肥料生产中的常用菌种, 与之形态上相似的蜡样群芽孢杆菌(蜡样芽孢杆菌、苏云金芽孢杆菌、蕈状芽孢杆菌)则是产品中常见的污染菌, 传统方法区分两者费时费力, 有必要建立检测这两类芽孢杆菌的PCR方法。本文利用已登录的spoOA基因序列分别设计和筛选了上述两个种(群)的特异引物, 并建立了多重PCR检测技术。使用该方法对巨大芽孢杆菌、蜡样群芽孢杆菌和其他芽孢菌共3属13种24株标准菌株的基因组DNA进行扩增, 以检验其特异性。结果显示, 巨大芽孢杆菌、蜡样群芽孢杆菌基因组DNA分别产生大小不同的唯一产物, 其他芽孢杆菌均为阴性。该多重PCR检测方法的灵敏度经测定为105 CFU/mL。同时对10株待测菌株和8个微生物肥料产品进行检测, 其鉴定结果与常规鉴定结果一致。以上结果表明, 本文建立的多重PCR方法具有较高的特异性和灵敏度, 可快速、准确鉴定巨大芽孢杆菌和蜡样群芽孢杆菌, 在微生物肥料检测方面有良好的实用前景。     

植物根际芽胞杆菌菌种资源采集及其具有过水解催化活性水解酶基因的克隆

[背景]芽胞杆菌源枯草杆菌蛋白酶(subtilisin carlsberg)、乙酰基木聚糖酯酶(acetyl xylan esterase)和头孢菌素乙酰水解酶(cephalosporin acetyl hydrolase)具有较高的过水解催化活性,有商业开发价值。[目的]挖掘芽胞杆菌菌株中具有过水解酶催化活性的水解酶蛋白基因,为后续制备过水解酶及酶法合成过氧乙酸奠定基础。[方法]利用定向筛选培养基,从植物根际及纳豆产品中筛选产蛋白酶芽胞杆菌候选菌株,并利用RFLP及16S rRNA基因对其进行鉴定。从蛋白酶高产芽胞杆菌菌株中克隆枯草杆菌蛋白酶、乙酰木聚糖醋酶和头孢菌素乙酰水解酶的全长基因。[结果]从植物根际土壤及纳豆产品中共分离到85个候选菌株,RFLP及16S rRNA基因鉴定结果表明候选菌株均为芽胞杆菌,分别属于Bacillus subtilis、Bacillus cereus、Bacillus pumilus和Bacillus megaterium四个类群。从B.subtilis NSYT-3克隆的枯草杆菌蛋白酶基因编码的多肽链全长381个氨基酸,从B.pumilus OSLJ-3克隆得到的乙酰基木聚糖酯酶基因编码的多肽链全长320个氨基酸,从B.subtilis NSYT-3克隆的头孢菌素乙酰水解酶基因编码的多肽链全长318个氨基酸,3D结构模拟表明这3个酶蛋白均具有α/β水解酶折叠家族蛋白结构特点。[结论]芽胞杆菌源具过水解催化活性水解酶基因的克隆,为后续开发酶法合成过氧乙酸工艺奠定了基础。     

应用多重PCR鉴定微生物肥料常用芽孢杆菌

[目的]枯草群芽孢杆菌中枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)、解淀粉芽孢杆菌(B.amyloliq-wefaciens)、地衣芽孢杆菌(B.licheniformis)和短小芽孢杆菌(B.pumilus)是微生物肥料中常用菌种,用传统方法鉴定费时费力,有必要建立检测和鉴定这些芽孢杆菌的种特异性PCR方法.[方法]利用已登录的gyrA、rpoA和16s rRNA基因序列分别设计和筛选上述菌种的特异引物并建立多重PCR反应体系.[结果]以基因组DNA为模板,扩增芽孢杆菌、类芽孢杆菌和短芽孢杆菌3属15种的标准菌株(共33株),4个目标种分别产生了大小不同的唯一的产物,除个别种与短小芽孢杆菌引物有交叉反应外,其余参考菌株均为阴性.从23株枯草群菌株的基因组DNA扩增发现,PCR鉴定与常规鉴定结果一致.[结论]本文建立的多重PCR方法具有较好的特异性,可快速准确鉴定枯草群的4个种,在微生物肥料检测方面有良好的实用前景.     

Corrected Version Distribution of Heterogeneous and Homologous Plasmids in Bacillus spp

A total of 75 strains (including 5 reference strains) of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, B. cereus, B. circulans, B. licheniformis, B. megaterium, B. pumilus, B. sphaericus, B. subtilis, and B. thuringiensis and 36 species-unidentified Bacillus strains were surveyed for plasmids by cesium chloride-ethidium bromide equilibrium centrifugation of cell lysates in a study of antibiotic resistance in host cells. Of the 111 strains, 13 (including 3 reference strains) were found to harbor plasmids, and 5 of the 13 showed antibiotic resistance. This antibiotic resistance appeared not to be due to the plasmids, however, because the trait was not cured by cultivation of cells in nutrient medium containing ethidium bromide (1 mug/ml), sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.2 mug/ml), or novobiocin (1 mug/ml), except in one strain, in which kanamycin and streptomycin resistances were cured by novobiocin. One strain of B. amyloliquefaciens, S294, was found to harbor a plasmid, pFTB14, which differed from the plasmid species of classes 1 to 6 in B. subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens, as determined by restriction analysis and DNA contour length determination. However, in DNA-DNA hybridization on a filter after Southern blotting from an agarose gel, the pFTB14 DNA hybridized with plasmids of classes 1 to 5. Three strains of B. thuringiensis each carried at least 4 to 11 plasmid species, whereas no plasmids were detected in four strains of B. cereus, which, in relation to B. thuringiensis, is closely related taxonomically and has highly homologous DNA sequences. The plasmid DNAs prepared from species other than B. subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens did not hybridize with that of pFTB14.     

短小芽孢杆菌作为芽孢杆菌属基因工程受体菌的研究

以质粒pUB110 DNA转化B. pumilus 289原生质体,转化频率为10~(-3)—10~(-9)与B.tubtilis 168系统相当;但B.pumilus 289原生质体的再生频率(0.3—12.0％)略低于B.subtilis 168(1.53—24.16％);在无选择压力条件下质粒pUB110在B.pumilus 289中经过45个世代周期,自发丢失率小于3％,同于B.subtilis 168系统。外源基因在B.pumilus 289中经25个世代周期丢失率低于5％,而在B.subtilis 168系统中则高达24％;外源基因的表达水平亦高于B.subtilis 168系统。因此,B.pumilus 289是一个值得进一步开发的基因工程受体系统。