A halophilic thermotolerant Bacillus isolated from a marine hot spring able to produce a new exopolysaccharide

A halophilic, thermotolerant Bacillus strain (B3-15), isolated from water of a shallow, marine hot spring at Vulcano Island (Eolian Islands, Italy), produced an exocellular polysaccharide at 165 mg l^–1. It grew on kerosene as sole carbon source and was resistant to Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, As²⁺ and Hg²⁺. From 16S rDNA analysis, strain B3-15 was related to B. licheniformis. The exopolysaccharide was a tetrasaccharide repeating unit essentially constituted by sugars having a manno-pyranosidic configuration.     

Purification and characterization of a new glucoamylopullulanase from thermotolerant alkaliphilic Bacillus subtilis DR8806 of a hot mineral spring

We have introduced a novel glucoamylopullulanase from thermostable alkaliphilic Bacillus subtilis DR8806 from a hot mineral spring in Iran. The enzyme was purified by ion-exchange chromatography following to ammonium sulphate precipitation. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 65.5 kDa using denaturing acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme showed high activity over a wide pH range, from pH 5.0 to pH 11.0 with the optimum pH 9.5. Our results also indicated an optimum temperature of the enzyme activity at 70 °C. These features justify the characteristics of the alkaliphilic and thermostable bacterial proteins and enzymes. The enzyme did not require calcium and showed extreme stability with regard to surfactants, including SDS and Triton X-100, and oxidizing agents such as H₂O_2. These features of the enzyme suggest a promising potential for application in laundry industry. Furthermore, the enzyme was active on pulullan by 68% relative to normal activity on starch. Such characteristics have not already been reported for this type of enzyme, hence we propose that this is a new alkalophilic and thermostable enzyme.     

Characterization of a new strain of a purple nonsulfur bacterium from a thermal spring

A new budding purple nonsulfur bacterium of the genus Rhodobacter (strain Ku-2) was isolated from a mat of a moderately thermal spring (Baikal rift zone, Buryatia, Russia). The bacterium had lamellar photosynthetic membranes, which are typical of only one Rhodobacter species, Rba. blasticus. The cells contained spheroidene carotenoids and bacteriochlorophyll a (Bchl a). In vivo absorption spectrum of the cells, with the major maximum at 863 nm and an additional peak at 887 nm, is characteristic of the pigment-protein complexes of Bchl a-containing membranes. The previously described Rba. blasticus strains do not exhibit the 887-nm maximum. The new isolate was photoheterotrophic, with optimal growth occurring at 35°C, 3 g/L NaCl, and pH 7–8. The DNA G+C content was 64.4 mol %. The similarity between the 16S rRNA gene sequences of strain Ku-2 and the Rba. blasticus type strain was 98.7%. The PufM amino acid sequences of strain Ku-2 and the earlier studied Rba. blasticus type strain were 89.5 % identical. Thus, strain Ku-2 belongs to the genus Rhodobacter and is phylogenetically close to Rba. blasticus.     

Thielavia gigaspora, a new thermotolerant ascomycete from Egypt

Thielavia gigaspora sp. nov. from herbivore dung is described and illustrated. The new taxon by comparison with previously known species is distinguished by relatively large ascospores (25-38x15-21mum), each showing an apical, protuberant germ pore and a longitudinal dark band. A brief comparison with morphologically related species is given.     

一个耐热的戴氏霉新种(英文)

从海南三亚的河泥中分离获得戴氏霉属一新种,即小孢戴氏霉Taifanglania parvispora。它与相近种的主要区别是菌丝段有时稍膨大,瓶梗短和分生孢子小且呈梨形至倒卵形。基于戴氏霉属、腐质霉属、单瓶霉属和瓶霉属中一些种的ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 r DNA序列构建了系统发育树,结果表明新种与戴氏霉属亲缘关系较近,聚在一个分支中,并在该分支中独立为一亚分支。形态和分子特征分析表明小孢戴氏霉可以作为戴氏霉属中的一个新分类单元。     

Novel halophilic aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs from a Canadian hypersaline spring system

The first enumeration of cultivable obligately aerobic phototrophic bacteria from a terrestrial saline spring was accomplished in the East German Creek system (salinity approximately 6%), near Lake Winnipegosis, Manitoba, Canada. Occurring at densities up to 3.3 x 10(7) CFU/ml of sample, aerobic phototrophs comprised 15-36% of the total cultivable bacterial population in the diatom- and chlorophyte-dominated aerobic microbial mats. Many of the representative strains isolated for phenotypic characterization and phylogenetic analysis possessed <96% 16S rDNA sequence overlap with published species, including an obligately aerobic phototrophic gammaproteobacterium displaying only 92.9% 16S rDNA sequence similarity to Congregibacter litoralis. The springs yielded the most highly halotolerant aerobic anoxygenic phototroph yet recorded, strain EG11, which grew with 26% NaCl.     

耐热真菌五个中国新记录种

通过形态特征观察、rDNA-ITS序列测定及分析,报道5个耐热真菌中国新记录种,即加纳木霉Trichoderma ghanense,芬尼新萨托菌Neosartorya fennelliae,草莓状炭团菌Hypoxylon fragiforme,焦特普尔毛壳Chaetomium jodhpurense,黄色毛壳Chaetomium luteum。根据所采集的标本和菌种对这些种进行了描述和讨论。研究标本保存在山东农业大学植物病理学标本室(HSAUP)。     

中国耐热真菌三个新记录种

报道3个耐热真菌中国新记录种,瘤突毛壳Chaetomium strumarium,耐热梭孢壳Thielavia subthermophila,榛色钩囊菌Hamigera avellanea。根据所采集的标本和菌种对这些种进行了描述和讨论。研究标本保存在山东农业大学植物病理学标本室（HSAUP）。     

Nitrogen metabolism in a new obligate methanotroph, 'Methylosinus' strain 6

A new obligate methanotroph was isolated and characterized. It was classified as a 'Methylosinus' species and named 'Methylosinus' sp. strain 6. Nitrogen metabolism in 'Methylosinus' 6 was found to be similar to other Type II methanotrophs, including the assimilation of nitrogen exclusively by the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase system. However, unlike other Type II methanotrophs, it appeared that glutamine synthetase activity was regulated by adenylylation in this organism. 'Methylosinus' 6 was grown in continuous culture with either dinitrogen or nitrate as sole nitrogen source under various dissolved oxygen tensions. Higher rates of methane oxidation and a more developed intracytoplasmic membrane system were found at lower oxygen tensions with nitrate as the nitrogen source but at higher oxygen tensions with dinitrogen as the nitrogen source. This suggested that carbon metabolism was influenced by nitrogen metabolism in this organism.     

Marinobacter lutaoensis sp. nov., a thermotolerant marine bacterium isolated from a coastal hot spring in Lutao,Taiwan

A heterotrophic and thermotolerant marine bacterium, designated strain T5054, was isolated from a hot spring on the coast of Lutao, Taiwan. It was a strictly aerobic, Gram-negative rod. Cells grown in broth cultures were non-spore-forming and motile by means of one to several polar flagella. It seems that pilus-like structures were produced from both poles of the cells. Strain T5054 required Na+ for growth and exhibited optimal growth at about 45 degrees C, pH 7, and 3-5% NaCl. It contained iso-C15:0 as the most abundant fatty acid and ubiquinone-8 as the only isoprenoid quinone. Its genomic DNA G+C content was 63.5 mol%. The strain did not require vitamins or other organic growth factors, and it grew on glucose, mannitol, and a variety of organic acids and amino acids as sole carbon sources. Characterization data, together with the results of a 16S rDNA-based phylogenetic analysis, indicated that strain T5054 could be classified as a new species in the genus Marinobacter. The name Marinobacter lutaoensis sp. nov. is proposed for this new bacterium. The type strain is T5054 (CCRC 17087; JCM 11179).     

A new aerobic chemolithoautotrophic arsenic oxidizing microorganism isolated from a high Andean watershed

Biological arsenic oxidation has been suggested as a key biogeochemical process that controls the mobilization and fate of this metalloid in aqueous environments. To the best of our knowledge, only four aerobic chemolithoautotrophic arsenite-oxidizing (CAO) bacteria have been shown to grow via direct arsenic oxidation and to have the essential genes for chemolithoautotrophic arsenite oxidation. In this study, a new CAO bacterium was isolated from a high Andean watershed evidencing natural dissolved arsenic attenuation. The bacterial isolate, designated TS-1, is closely related to the Ancylobacter genus, in the Alphaproteobacteria class. Results showed that TS-1 has genes for arsenite oxidation and carbon fixation. The dependence of bacterial growth from arsenite oxidation was demonstrated. In addition, a mathematical model was suggested and the kinetic parameters were obtained by simultaneously fitting the biomass growth, arsenite depletion curves, and arsenate production. This research increases the knowledge of chemolithoautotrophic arsenic oxidizing microorganisms and its potential role as a driver for natural arsenic attenuation.     

A new isolate of Hydrogenobacter,an obligately chemolithoautotrophic,thermophilic, halophilic and aerobic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium from seaside saline hot spring

An obligately chemolithoautotrophic and aerobic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium was isolated from a seaside saline hot spring in Izu Peninsula, Japan. The isolate was a Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming rod cell measuring 0.3 to 0.5 by 1.0 to 2.5 m. The optimal temperature for growth was around 70°C, and no growth was observed at 40°C or 80°C. Elemental sulfur or thiosulfate could be an alternative to molecular hydrogen as the sole energy source. The DNA base composition of the isolate was 46.0 mol% G+C. 2-Methylthio-3-VI,VII-tetrahydromultiprenyl⁷-1,4-naphthoquinone (methionaquinone) was the major component of the quinone system. C_18:0, C_18:1 and C_20:1 were the major components of the cellular fatty acids. These properties clearly indicate that the isolate belongs to genus Hydrogenobacter, but differed from H. thermophilus in some respects. Specifically, the isolate was a halophile which grew optimally at around 0.3–0.5 M NaCl, while H. thermophilus could not grow at such NaCl concentration levels. A new species name H. halophilus is proposed for this new halophilic isolate.     

Genetic polymorphism by RAPD-PCR and phenotypic characteristics of isolated thermotolerant Bacillus strains from hot spring sources

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay, morphological, physiological, biochemical and antimicrobial susceptibility test methods have been evaluated for use in the taxonomy of isolated thermotolerant Bacillus from Jordanian hot springs, with specific reference to strains Geobacillus stearothermophilus (ATCC 12980), Bacillus circulans (ATCC 4513) and Bacillus sphaericus (ATCC 14577). A RAPD assay has been optimized and is able to discriminate between numerous thermotolerant Bacillus strains. RAPD-PCR was found to give reproducible thermotolerant Bacillus strains classification of DNA fingerprints for 14 strains including 3 reference strains. A study of 14 isolates and 3 reference strains, analyzing 53 phenotypic characters, resulted in their allocation to five major clusters at 60% similarity. Whereas at 80% similarity, twelve taxonomically distinct groups were evident.     

Cultivation of aerobic chemoorganotrophic proteobacteria and gram-positive bacteria from a hot spring microbial mat.

The diversity of aerobic chemoorganotrophic bacteria inhabiting the Octopus Spring cyanobacterial mat community (Yellowstone National Park) was examined by using serial-dilution enrichment culture and a variety of enrichment conditions to cultivate the numerically significant microbial populations. The most abundant bacterial populations cultivated from dilutions to extinction were obtained from enrichment flasks which contained 9.0 x 10(2) primary producer (Synechococcus spp.) cells in the inoculum. Two isolates exhibited 16S rRNA nucleotide sequences typical of beta-proteobacteria. One of these isolates contained a 16S rRNA sequence identical to a sequence type previously observed in the mat by molecular retrieval techniques. Both are distantly related to a new sequence directly retrieved from the mat and contributed by a beta-proteobacterial community member. Phenotypically diverse gram-positive isolates genetically similar to Bacillus flavothermus were obtained from a variety of dilutions and enrichment types. These isolates exhibited identical 16S rRNA nucleotide sequences through a variable region of the molecule. Of the three unique sequences observed, only one had been previously retrieved from the mat, illustrating both the inability of the cultivation methods to describe the composition of a microbial community and the limitations of the ability of molecular retrieval techniques to describe populations which may be less abundant in microbial communities.     

Microbial diversity in sediments associated with a shallow methane seep in the tropical Timor Sea of Australia reveals a novel aerobic methanotroph diversity

This study examined the diversity of Bacteria, Archaea and in particular aerobic methanotrophs associated with a shallow (84 m) methane seep in the tropical Timor Sea, Australia. Seepage of thermogenic methane was associated with a large carbonate hardground covered in coarse carbonate-rich sediments and various benthic organisms such as solitary corals. The diversity of Bacteria and Archaea was studied by analysis of cloned 16S rRNA genes, while aerobic methanotrophic bacteria were quantified using real-time PCR targeting the α-subunit of particulate methane monooxygenase ( pmoA ) genes and diversity was studied by analysis of cloned pmoA genes. Phylogenetic analysis of bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes revealed diverse and mostly novel phylotypes related to sequences previously recovered from marine sediments. A small number of bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences were related to aerobic methanotrophs distantly related to the genera Methylococcus and Methylocaldum . Real-time PCR targeting pmoA genes showed that the highest numbers of methanotrophs were present in surface sediments associated with the seep area. Phylogenetic analysis of pmoA sequences revealed that all phylotypes were novel and fell into two large clusters comprised of only marine sequences distantly related to the genera Methylococcus and Methylocaldum that were clearly divergent from terrestrial phylotypes. This study provides evidence for the existence of a novel microbial diversity and diverse aerobic methanotrophs that appear to constitute marine specialized lineages.     

A new acidophilic fungus Teratosphaeria acidotherma (Capnodiales, Ascomycota) from a hot spring

A novel acidophilic fungus was isolated by an acidic enrichment culture of microbial mats and biofilms collected at an extremely acidic and high temperature hot spring. In culture studies, this fungus was revealed to produce ascomycetous teleomorph structures. Molecular phylogenetic study and morphological observation showed this fungus is a new species of the genus Teratosphaeria (Capnodiales, Dothideomycetes) and is phylogenetically close to Acidomyces acidophilus and Bispora sp., which were previously reported as acidophilic anamorphic fungi. This new fungus is described here as a new species of Teratosphaeria, and its physiological properties adapting to its habitat are demonstrated. This is the first report of a teleomorphic fungus having highly acidophilic and thermophilic properties.     

A hydrocarbon-oxidizing acidophilic thermotolerant bacterial association from sulfur blocks

A stable bacterial association isolated from a sulfur block sample of the Astrakhan gas processing complex was able to utilize n-alkanes as the sole carbon and energy source at low pH. Hydrocarbon-dependent growth occurred at pH 1.6–5.5 (optimum at pH 2.5) and 20–50°C (optimum at 30–35°C). Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene fragments isolated from the total DNA of the enrichment by PCR-DGGE revealed the nucleotide sequences most closely related to extreme acidophilic chemolithotrophs Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Sulfobacillus sp. (98–99% similarity) and the sequences exhibiting high similarity to those of slowly growing actinobacteria Mycobacterium europaeum and M. parascrofulaceum (98%). Capacity of any of these organisms for hydrocarbon oxidation has not been reported previously. The taxonomic position of the 16S rRNA gene fragments from the enrichment culture suggests that this bacterial association is a unique microbial community, in which development of acidophilic hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria is mediated by a localized pH decrease in the sulfur blocks resulting from elemental sulfur oxidation due to massive development of chemolithotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.