Biofilm formation and partial biodegradation of polystyrene by the actinomycete <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodococcus ruber</Emphasis>

Polystyrene, which is one of the most utilized thermoplastics, is highly durable and is considered to be non-biodegradable. Hence, polystyrene waste accumulates in the environment posing an increasing ecological threat. In a previous study we have isolated a biofilm-producing strain (C208) of the actinomycete Rhodococcus ruber that degraded polyethylene films. Formation of biofilm, by C208, improved the biodegradation of polyethylene. Consequently, the present study aimed at monitoring the kinetics of biofilm formation by C208 on polystyrene, determining the physiological activity of the biofilm and analyzing its capacity to degrade polystyrene. Quantification of the biofilm biomass was performed using a modified crystal violet (CV) staining or by monitoring the protein content in the biofilm. When cultured on polystyrene flakes, most of the bacterial cells adhered to the polystyrene surface within few hours, forming a biofilm. The growth of the on polystyrene showed a pattern similar to that of a planktonic culture. Furthermore, the respiration rate, of the biofilm, exhibited a pattern similar to that of the biofilm growth. In contrast, the respiration activity of the planktonic population showed a constant decline with time. Addition of mineral oil (0.005% w/v), but not non-ionic surfactants, increased the biofilm biomass. Extended incubation of the biofilm for up to 8 weeks resulted in a small reduction in the polystyrene weight (0.8% of gravimetric weight loss). This study demonstrates the high affinity of C208 to polystyrene which lead to biofilm formation and, presumably, induced partial biodegradation.     

Expression of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> FoxE</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> FoxQ</Emphasis> genes in the endostyle of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Ciona intestinalis</Emphasis>

We have analyzed the expression patterns of two Fox genes, FoxE and FoxQ, in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Expression of Ci-FoxE was specific to the endostyle of adults, being prominent in the thyroid-equivalent region of zone 7. Ci-FoxQ was expressed in several endodermal organs of adult ascidians, such as the endostyle, branchial sac and esophagus. In the endostyle, the pattern of Ci-FoxQ expression was similar to that of CiTTF-1, being prominent in the thyroid-equivalent regions of zones 7 and 8. Therefore, these Fox genes may perform thyroid-equivalent functions in the ascidian endostyle.Edited by N. Satoh     

Evaluation of<Emphasis Type="Italic">in Vitro</Emphasis> antifungal activity of<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Benzylsalicylamide derivatives

A series of 65 derivatives of N-benzylsalicylamide was tested against eight potentially human pathogenic fungi by microdilution broth method modified according to M27-A standard. The majority of these compounds showed only weak in vitro antifungal activity. The most significant effect was observed against filamentous fungi Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Absidia corymbifera, and Aspergillus fumigatus while yeasts, in general, were less susceptible. N-(4'-Chlorobenzyl) salicylamides, N-(3',4'-dichlorobenzyl)-salicylamides, and partially N-benzylsalicylamides exhibited relatively high in vitro antifungal activity. The most efficient derivatives had MIC < or = 7.8 mumol/L against T. mentagrophytes. Regression analysis suggested an indirect relationship between MIC values and lipophilicity (log P).     

Existence of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sinorhizobium meliloti</Emphasis> genomic fragment hybridizing with the<Emphasis Type="Italic">nifM</Emphasis> gene of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Klebsiella pneumoniae</Emphasis>

A novel finding that genomic restriction fragments of symbiotic nitrogen fixer S. meliloti hybridized with nifM gene probe of the free-living diazotroph Klebsiella pneumoniae is reported. When SmaI endonuclease was used to digest S. meliloti DNA, a unique hybridizing band was obtained.     

Degradation of 4-chlorobiphenyl and 4-chlorobenzoic acid by the strain <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodococcus ruber</Emphasis> P25

The strain Rhodococcus ruber P25 utilizes 4-chlorobiphenyl (4CB) and 4-chlorobenzoic acid (4CBA) as sole carbon and energy sources. 4CB degradation by washed cells of strain P25 was accompanied by transient formation of 4CBA, followed by its utilization and release of equimolar amounts of chloride ions into the medium. The strain R. ruber P25 possessed active enzyme systems providing 4CBA degradation via the stages of formation of intermediates, para-hydroxybenzoate (PHBA) and protocatechuic acid (PCA), to compounds of the basic metabolism. The involvement of protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase in 4CBA degradation by rhodococci was revealed. It was established that the initial stage of 4CBA degradation (dehalogenation) in the strain R. ruber P25 was controlled by the fcbA and fcbB genes encoding 4-CBA-CoA ligase and 4-CBA-CoA dehalogenase, respectively. The genes encoding 4CBA dehalogenase components have not been previously detected and characterized in bacteria of the genus Rhodococcus.     

Urovirulence of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis>: Planktonic cells<Emphasis Type="Italic">vs.</Emphasis> biofilm cells

Planktonic and biofilm cells of a clinical urinary isolate of P. aeruginosa were compared in vitro for their ability to adhere to uroepithelial cells, interaction with macrophages, and for production of virulence factors like extracellular proteinase, elastase, hemolysin, phospholipase C and pyochelin. Biofilm cells showed increased adherence to UECs, which was coupled with reduced uptake and intracellular killing by macrophages. Overall there was a decrease in production of extracellular products by biofilm cells. Comparing the two cell forms for their ability to establish infection in an ascending model of acute pyelonephritis, significant enhancement of renal bacterial load, as well as more pronounced renal pathology developed with biofilm cells.     

Linearized kinetic model of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Listeria monocytogenes</Emphasis> biofilm growth

In this study the dynamics of biofilm formation on aluminum has been investigated. The process of cell growth has been observed using fluorescence microscopy. It has been confirmed that the process of biofilm formation can be represented as a sum of two separate processes: cell adhesion and colony proliferation. The derived set of equations describes kinetics of surface population growth and characteristic times for adsorption and combined growth processes, including characteristic time for the nutrient supply depletion. All equations contain variables based on the fundamental characteristics of bacterial population and can be easily determined from the experimental data or estimated theoretically. The developed theoretical model allows obtaining realistic values for population growth time and characteristic time for nutrient limitation occurrence during the biofilm development. Resulting equations qualitatively describe the biofilm formation process, and allow predicting microbial kinetics in the batch reactor system and determining critical values of the process parameters.     

Identification and genomic distribution of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> gypsy</Emphasis> like retrotransposons in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Citrus</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Poncirus</Emphasis>

Transposable elements might be importantly involved in citrus genetic instability and genome evolution. The presence of gypsy like retrotransposons, their heterogeneity and genomic distribution in Citrus and Poncirus, have been investigated. Eight clones containing part of the POL coding region of gypsy like retrotransposons have been isolated from a commercial variety of Citrus clementina, one of the few sexual species in Citrus. Four of the eight clones might correspond to active elements given that they present all the conserved motifs described in the literature as essential for activity, no in-frame stop codon and no frame-shift mutation. High homology has been found between some of these citrus elements and retroelements within a resistance-gene cluster from potato, another from Poncirus trifoliata and two putative resistance polyproteins from rice. Nested copies of gypsy like elements are scattered along the Citrus and Poncirus genomes. The results on genomic distribution show that these elements were introduced before the divergence of both genera and evolved separately thereafter. IRAPs based on gypsy and copia types of retrotransposons seem to distribute differently, therefore gypsy based IRAPs prove a new, complementary set of molecular markers in Citrus to study and map genetic variability, especially for disease resistance. Similarly to copia-derived IRAPs, the number of copies and heterozygosity values found for gypsy derived IRAPs are lower in Poncirus than in Citrus aurantium, which is less apomictic and the most usual rootstock for clementines until 1970.Communicated by C. Möllers     

Complementary expression of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> AP-2</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> AP-2rep</Emphasis> in ectodermal derivatives of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Xenopus</Emphasis> embryos

In an attempt to define the pattern of developmental expression of AP-2rep and AP-2 in Xenopus embryos, we cloned a Xenopus AP-2rep cDNA. The AP-2rep message was localized in the organizer region at the gastrula stage whereas AP-2 was expressed ventro-laterally in the animal hemisphere. Later, AP-2rep was expressed in the entire neural tissue at the neurula stage while AP-2 was predominantly expressed in the cranial neural crest areas. The endogenous expression of AP-2 in the neural crest area was diminished by ectopic injection of AP-2rep RNA, suggesting a role for AP-2rep in the differentiation of neural tissues by restricting the expression of AP-2 in the Xenopus embryo.     

The importance of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> porE</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> porF</Emphasis> in the anabolic pyruvate oxidoreductase of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Methanococcus maripaludi</Emphasis>s

The operon of the anabolic pyruvate oxidoreductase (POR) of Methanococcus maripaludis encodes two genes (porEF) whose functions are unknown. Because these genes possess sequence similarity to polyferredoxins, they may be electron carriers to the POR. To elucidate whether the methanococcal POR requires PorEF for activity, a deletion mutant, strain JJ150, lacking porEF was constructed. Compared to the wild-type strain JJ1, the mutant grew more slowly in minimal medium and minimal plus acetate medium, and pyruvate-dependent methanogenesis was inhibited. In contrast, the methyl-viologen-dependent pyruvate-oxidation activity of POR, carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, and hydrogenase activities of the mutant were similar to those of the wild-type. Upon genetic complementation of the mutant with porEF in the methanococcal shuttle vector pMEV2+porEF, growth in minimal medium and pyruvate-dependent methanogenesis were restored to wild-type levels. Complementation with porE alone restored methanogenesis from pyruvate but not growth in minimal medium. Complementation with porF alone partially restored growth but not methanogenesis from pyruvate. Although the specific roles of porE and porF have not been determined, these results suggest that PorEF play important roles in the anabolic POR in vivo even though they are not required for the dye-dependent activity.Abbreviations CODH/ACS Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase/acetyl-CoA synthase - POR Pyruvate oxidoreductase     

Immobilization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodococcus ruber</Emphasis> strain gt1, possessing nitrile hydratase activity,on carbon supports

Rhodococcus ruber strain gt1, possessing nitrile hydratase activity, was immobilized by adsorption on carbon supports differing in structure and porosity. The adsorption capacity of the supports towards cells, the substrate of the nitrile hydratase reaction (acrylonitrile), and the product (acrylamide) was studied. Also, the effect of immobilization on nitrile hydratase activity of bacteria was investigated, and the operational stability of the immobilized biocatalyst was determined. It was shown that crushed and granulated active coals were more appropriate for immobilization than fibrous carbon adsorbents.     

Dihydroxyacetone metabolism in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salinibacter ruber</Emphasis> and in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haloquadratum walsbyi</Emphasis>

The extremely halophilic bacterium Salinibacter ruber inhabits saltern crystallizer ponds worldwide, together with the square archaeon Haloquadratum walsbyi. Cultures of Salinibacter have been shown to convert up to 20% of the glycerol added to a not previously characterized overflow product. We here identify this product of incomplete glycerol oxidation by Salinibacter as dihydroxyacetone. Genomic information suggests that H. walsbyi possesses an efficient uptake system for dihydroxyacetone, and we show here that dihydroxyacetone is indeed metabolized by Haloquadratum cultures, as well as by the heterotrophic prokaryotic community of the saltern crystallizer ponds in Eilat, Israel, dominated by Haloquadratum-like cells. In the absence of glycerol, Salinibacter also takes up dihydroxyacetone. Degradation of glycerol, produced in hypersaline lakes as an osmotic solute by the green alga Dunaliella salina may thus involve dihydroxyacetone as an intermediate, which can then be taken up by different types of heterotrophs present in the environment.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Helminthosporium turcicum</Emphasis>, the maize leaf-blight fungus

Agrobacterium tumefaciens has the ability to transfer its T-DNA to plants, yeast, filamentous fungi, and human cells and integrate it into their genome. Conidia of the maize pathogen Helminthosporium turcicum were transformed to hygromycin B resistance by a Agrobacterium-tumefaciens-mediated transformation system using a binary plasmid vector containing the hygromycin B phosphotransferase (hph) and the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) genes controlled by the gpd promoter from Agaricus bisporus and the CaMV 35S terminator. Agrobacterium-tumefaciens-mediated transformation yielded stable transformants capable of growing on increased concentrations of hygromycin B. The presence of hph in the transformants was confirmed by PCR, and integration of the T-DNA at random sites in the genome was demonstrated by Southern blot analysis. Agrobacterium-tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Helminthosporium turcicum provides an opportunity for advancing studies of the molecular genetics of the fungus and of the molecular basis of its pathogenicity on maize.     

Fermentation performance of an exopolysaccharide-producing strain of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Lactobacillus delbrueckii</Emphasis> subsp.<Emphasis Type="Italic"> bulgaricus</Emphasis>

The formation of exopolysaccharide (EPS) and extracellular metabolites was studied in a strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (NCFB 2483), grown under batch culture conditions in a semi-defined medium incorporating lactose and casein hydrolysate. Performance parameters were derived from the fermentation data, and kinetic models were applied in order to describe the production of EPS, extracellular metabolites, and biomass produced. Lactose was split intracellularly, with the resultant galactose being exported from the cell, and the glucose being metabolised further to EPS and lactic acid. Production of EPS, lactate, and galactose was closely growth-associated and followed a pattern of primary kinetics. A marginally lower galactose level relative to the modelled levels throughout most of the time course of the fermentation suggests that not all galactose is exported from the cell, and that a low level of flux to other metabolites, such as EPS, might exist.     

Extracellular protease in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinomycetes</Emphasis> culture supernatants inhibits and detaches <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">aureus</Emphasis> biofilm formation

Bacterial biofilms are associated with chronic infections due to their resistance to antimicrobial agents. Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile human pathogen and can form biofilms on human tissues and diverse medical devices. To identify novel biofilm inhibitors of S. aureus, the supernatants from a library of 458 Actinomycetes strains were screened. The culture supernatants (1% v/v) of more than 10 Actinomycetes strains inhibited S. aureus biofilm formation by more than 80% without affecting the growth. The culture supernatants of these biofilm-reducing Actinomycetes strains contained a protease (equivalent to 0.1 μg proteinase K ml⁻¹), which both inhibited S. aureus biofilm formation and detached pre-existing S. aureus biofilms. This study suggests that protease treatment could be a feasible tool to reduce and eradicate S. aureus biofilms.     

Inhibition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio</Emphasis> biofilm formation by a marine actinomycete strain A66

China remains by far the largest aquaculture producer in the world. However, biofilms formed by pathogenic Vibrio strains pose serious problems to marine aquaculture. To provide a strategy for biofilm prevention, control, and eradication, extracts from 88 marine actinomycetes were screened. Thirty-five inhibited the biofilm formation of Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio anguillarum at a concentration of 2.5% (v/v). Thirty-three of the actinomycete extracts dispersed the mature biofilm. Six extracts inhibited the quorum-sensing system of V. harveyi by attenuating the signal molecules N-acylated homoserine lactones’ activity. Strain A66, which was identified as Steptomyces albus, both attenuated the biofilms and inhibited their quorum-sensing system. It is suggested that strain A66 is a promising candidate to be used in future marine aquaculture.     

Phenol degradation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodococcus opacus</Emphasis> strain 1G

During cultivation in a liquid medium, the bacterium Rhodococcus opacus 1G was capable of growing on phenol at a concentration of up to 0.75 g/l. Immobilization of Rhodococcus opacus 1G had a positive effect on cell growth in the presence of phenol at high concentrations. The substrate at concentrations of 1.0 and 1.5 g/l was completely utilized over 24 and 48 h, respectively. The key enzymes of phenol degradation (two catechol 1,2-dioxygenases and muconate cycloisomerase) were isolated. One of the dioxygenases was very unstable. By substrate specificity, another enzyme belonged to catechol 1,2-dioxygenases of the classical ortho-pathway. Chlorocatechols and chlorophenols served as competitive inhibitors of catechol 1,2-dioxygenases. The inhibitory effect of other aromatic compounds was less significant. Our results suggest that this strain holds promise for bioremediation of phenol wastewater.     

High efficiency degradation of tetrahydrofuran (THF) using a membrane bioreactor: identification of THF-degrading cultures of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Pseudonocardia</Emphasis> sp. strain M1 and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Rhodococcus ruber</Emphasis> isolate M2

A mixed microbial culture capable of growing aerobically on tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a sole carbon and energy source was used as the inoculum in a 10 l working volume membrane bioreactor. Following start-up, the reactor was operated in batch mode for 24 h and then switched to continuous feed with 100% biomass recycle. On average, greater than 96% of THF fed to the reactor was removed during the 8-month study. THF loading rates ranged from 0.62 to 9.07 g l^–1 day^–1 with a hydraulic retention time of 24 h. THF concentrations as high as 800 mg/l were tolerated by the culture. Biomass production averaged 0.28 kg total suspended solids/kg chemical oxygen demand removed, i.e., comparable to a conventional wastewater treatment process. Periodic batch wasting resulted in a solids retention time of 7–14 days. Reactor biomass typically ranged from 4 to 10 g/l volatile suspended solids and the effluent contained no solids. Pure THF-degrading cultures were isolated from the mixed culture based on morphological characteristics, Gram-staining and THF degradation. Based on 16S rDNA analysis the isolates were identified as Pseudonocardia sp. M1 and Rhodococcus ruber M2.