Supplemental Substrate Enhancement of 2,4-Dinitrophenol Mineralization by a Bacterial Consortium

A Janthinobacterium sp. and an actinomycete, both capable of mineralizing 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), were used to construct a consortium to mineralize DNP in nonaxenic bench-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Average K_m values for DNP mineralization by pure cultures of the Janthinobacterium sp. and the actinomycete were 0.01 and 0.13 μg/ml, respectively, and the average maximum specific growth rate (μ_max) values for them were 0.06 and 0.23/h, respectively. In the presence of NH₄Cl, nitrite accumulation in pure culture experiments and in the SBRs was stoichiometric to initial DNP concentration and the addition of nitrogen enhanced DNP mineralization in the SBRs. Mineralization of 10 μg of DNP per ml was further enhanced in SBRs by the addition of glucose at concentrations of 100 and 500 μg/ml but not at 10 μg/ml. Possible mechanisms for this enhanced DNP mineralization in SBRs were suggested by kinetic analyses and biomass measurements. Average μ_max values for DNP mineralization in the presence of 0, 10, 100, and 500 μg of glucose per ml were 0.33, 0.13, 0.42, and 0.59/h, respectively. In addition, there was greater standing biomass in reactors amended with glucose. At steady-state operation, all SBRs contained heterogeneous microbial communities but only one organism, an actinomycete, that was capable of mineralizing DNP. This research demonstrates the usefulness of supplemental substrates for enhancing the degradation of toxic chemicals in bioreactors that contain heterogeneous microbial communities.     

Active Bacterial Populations and Grazing Impact Revealed by an In Situ Experiment in a Shallow Aquifer

To elucidate bacterial population dynamics in an aquifer, we attempted to reveal the impact of protozoan grazing on bacterial productivity and community structure by an in situ incubation experiment using a diffusion chamber. The abundance and vertical distribution of bacteria and protozoa in the aquifer were revealed using wells that were drilled in a sedimentary rock system in Itako, Ibaraki, Japan. The water column in the wells possessed aerobic and anaerobic layers. Active bacterial populations under the grazing pressure of protozoa were revealed through in situ incubation with grazer eliminating experiment by the filtration. On August 19, 2003, the total number of bacteria (TDC) decreased from 1.5 × 10⁶ cells ml^{? 1} at 2.2 m depth to 3.0 × 10⁵ cells ml^{? 1} at 10 m depth. The relative contribution of the domain Bacteria to TDC ranged between 63% and 84%. Protozoa existed at a density of 4.2 × 10⁴ to 1.9 × 10⁵ cells ml^{? 1} in both aerobic and microaerobic conditions. A grazing elimination experiment in situ for 6 days brought about clearly different bacterial community profiles between the 2.2 m and 10 m samples. The bacterial composition of the initial community was predominantly β- and γ -proteobacteria at 2.2 m, while at 10 m β-, α - and γ -proteobacteria represented 56%, 26% and 13% of the community, respectively. The distribution of bacterial abundance, community composition and growth rates in the subsurface were influenced by grazing as well as by geochemical factors (dissolved oxygen and concentrations of organic carbon, methane and sulfate). Results of the in situ incubation experiment suggested that protozoan grazing contributes significantly to bacterial population dynamics.     

Microbial fouling community analysis of the cooling water system of a nuclear test reactor with emphasis on sulphate reducing bacteria

Culture and molecular-based techniques were used to characterize bacterial diversity in the cooling water system of a fast breeder test reactor (FBTR). Techniques were selected for special emphasis on sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Water samples from different locations of the FBTR cooling water system, in addition to biofilm scrapings from carbon steel coupons and a control SRB sample were characterized. Whole genome extraction of the water samples and SRB diversity by group specific primers were analysed using nested PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The results of the bacterial assay in the cooling water showed that the total culturable bacteria (TCB) ranged from 10³ to 10⁵ cfu ml^?1; iron-reducing bacteria, 10³ to 10⁵ cfu ml^?1; iron oxidizing bacteria, 10² to 10³ cfu ml^?1 and SRB, 2–29 cfu ml^?1. However, the counts of the various bacterial types in the biofilm sample were 2–3 orders of magnitude higher. SRB diversity by the nested PCR-DGGE approach showed the presence of groups 1, 5 and 6 in the FBTR cooling water system; however, groups 2, 3 and 4 were not detected. The study demonstrated that the PCR protocol influenced the results of the diversity analysis. The paper further discusses the microbiota of the cooling water system and its relevance in biofouling.     

Bioaugmentation treatment for coking wastewater containing pyridine and quinoline in a sequencing batch reactor

Two pyridine-degrading bacteria and two quinoline-degrading bacteria were introduced for bioaugmentation to treat the coking wastewater. Sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were used for a comparative study on the treatment efficiency of pyridine, quinoline, and chemical oxygen demand. Results showed that the treatment efficiency with coking-activated sludge plus a mixture of the four degrading bacteria was much better than that ones with coking-activated sludge only or mixed degrading bacteria only. Moreover, a 52-day continuous operation of the bioaugmented and general SBRs was investigated. The bioaugmented SBR showed better treatment efficiency and stronger capacity to treat high pyridine and quinoline shock loading. The general SBR failed to cope with the shock loading, and the biomass of the activated sludge decreased significantly. In order to monitor the microbial ecological variation during the long-term treatment, the bacterial community in both reactors was monitored by the amplicon length heterogeneity polymerase chain reaction technique. The diversity of the bacterial community decreased in both reactors, but the introduced highly efficient bacteria were dominant in the bioaugmented SBR. Our experiment showed clearly that the use of highly efficient bacteria in SBR process could be a feasible method to treat wastewater containing pyridine or/and quinoline.     

Optimization of indole acetic acid production by isolated bacteria from Stevia rebaudiana rhizosphere and its effects on plant growth

The ability to synthesize Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is widely associated with the plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). The present work deals with isolation and characterization of such bacteria from the rhizosphere of medicinal plant Stevia rebaudiana and optimization of IAA production from its isolates. The optimization of IAA production was carried out at different pH and temperature with varied carbon and nitrogen sources of culture media. Out of different isolates obtained, three of them were screened as efficient PGPRs on the basis of different plant growth promoting attributes. Isolates CA1001 and CA2004 showed better production of IAA at pH 9 (91.7?µg?ml^?1) and at temperature 37?°C (81.7?µg?ml^?1). Dextrose (1%) was found to be the best carbon source for isolate CA1001 with 104?µg?ml^?1 IAA production. Isolate CA 2004 showed best production of IAA 36?µg?ml^?1 and 34?µg?ml^?1 at 1.5% and 1% Beef extract as nitrogen source respectively. Isolate CA 1001 showed 32?µg?ml^?1 IAA production at 0.5% nicotinic acid concentration. From the current study, CA1001 and CA2004 emerged as noble alternatives for IAA production further which also resulted in root and shoot biomass generation in crop plants, hence can be further used as bio-inoculants for plant growth promotion.     

Control of the rootknot nematode meloidogyne javanica by Bacillus cereus

Exposure of Meloidogyne javanica second‐stage juveniles to the bacterium Bacillus cereus in soil inhibited the penetration of the juvenile nematodes into tomato roots. Culture filtrate of the bacterium grown on nutrient broth and tryptic soy broth revealed nematocidal activity on M. javanica juveniles and eggs. Loss of the nematocidal activity of the media by lowering pH, boiling or dialysis raised the possibility that the active ingredient in the culture filtrate was ammonia, released during the breakdown process of peptides in the media by bacterial activity. Free ammonia (NH₃) concentrations in the nutrient broth and tryptic soy broth culture filtrates measured after 48 h were 140 and 190 µg ml^?1 respectively. Exposure of second‐stage juveniles to 9.3 µg ml^?1 ammonia for 40 h in vitro was lethal to 95% of the nematode population. In a nitrate medium, nitrite accumulated up to 250 µg ml^?1 during the growth of the bacterium, and its culture filtrate revealed nematocidal activity. The nematocidal activity of the bacterium increased when the bacterium was applied with various proteinaceous supplements to soil. Soil treated with the bacteria and peptone showed an earlier nematocidal activity than either the bacteria or peptone applied alone, and also had a higher level of ammonia than the individual treatments. However, the level of ammonia was lower than the lethal level for second‐stage juveniles recorded in vitro. The nematocidal activity exhibited by the bacterium‐proteinaceous amendment combination is not fully understood; the ammonia released during protein degradation by the bacterium may contribute significantly to the recorded nematocidal activity.     

The role of nisin in fuel ethanol production with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Aims: To investigate the effects of nisin on lactobacilli contamination of yeast during ethanol fermentation and to determine the appropriate concentration required to control the growth of selected lactobacilli in a YP/glucose media fermentation model. Methods and Results: The lowest concentration of nisin tested (5 IU ml^?1) effectively controlled the contamination of YP/glucose media with 10⁶ CFU ml^?1 lactobacilli. Lactic acid yield decreased from 5·0 to 2·0 g l^?1 and potential ethanol yield losses owing to the growth and metabolism of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus brevis were reduced by 11 and 7·8%, respectively. Approximately, equal concentrations of lactic acid were produced by Lact. plantarum and Lact. brevis in the presence of 5 and 2 IU ml^?1 nisin, respectively, thus demonstrating the relatively higher nisin sensitivity of Lact. brevis for the strains in this study. No differences were observed in the final ethanol concentrations produced by yeast in the absence of bacteria at any of the nisin concentrations tested. Conclusions: Metabolism of contaminating bacteria was reduced in the presence of 5 IU ml^?1 nisin, resulting in reduced lactic acid production and increased ethanol production by the yeast. Significance and Impact of the Study: Bacteriocins represent an alternative to the use of antibiotics for the control of bacterial contamination in fuel ethanol plants and may be important in preventing the emergence of antibiotic‐resistant contaminating strains.     

Essential roles of eDNA and AI-2 in aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactors operated at different settling times

Settling time has been considered as one of the most effective selection pressures for aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), i.e., poorly settleable bioparticles would be washed out from SBRs, and the heavy and good settling ones would be retained at a shorter setting time. However, its biological implication remains unclear. This study investigated the microbiological mechanisms of aerobic granulation at different settling times. It provided experimental evidence for the first time showing that a shorter settling time could enhance release of extracellular DNA through cell lysis, which in turn initiated microbial aggregation leading to increased biomass size and density, while AI-2-mediated quorum sensing was found not to be involved in initial aggregation. It was further shown that the AI-2-mediated quorum sensing system was activated to regulate the growth and maturation of aerobic granules when the biomass density reached a threshold of 1.025 g ml⁻¹. It appears from this study that a short settling time of SBR would induce microbiological and physiological responses of bacteria which are required at different stages of aerobic granulation and provide new insights into biological mechanisms of settling time-triggered aerobic granulation.     

Bioaugmentation accelerates the shift of bacterial community structure against shock load: a case study of coking wastewater treatment by zeolite-sequencing batch reactor

Bioaugmentation with degrading bacteria is an effective method to improve the treatment of refractory industrial wastewater; nevertheless there were controversial opinions about the fate of inoculated bacteria and microbial community dynamics. In this study, two lab-scale sequencing batch reactors filled with modified zeolite were used to treat a coking wastewater with pyridine and quinoline shock load, and a bacterial consortium containing three degrading strains was added in one reactor for bioaugmentation. During 120-day operation, the bioaugmented reactor removed over 99 % pyridine, 99 % quinoline, 85 % TOC, 65 % COD, and 95 % NO₃ ^?-N with higher resistance to the shock load than the non-bioaugmented reactor. Based on the terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism of 16S rDNA, bacterial community diversity increased in the bioaugmented reactor. Principal component analysis revealed that, to cope with the shock load, the indigenous bacterial community recovered to the initial structure by acclimatizing itself constantly to the inhospitable environment; but bioaugmentation accelerated the shift of whole bacterial community, resulting in a far different structure from the initial one. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that the environmental parameters of pyridine, quinoline, TOC, and NO₃ ^?-N had close negative correlations with bioaugmentation; and NH₃-N and COD were the main parameters to impact on the bacterial community changes and treatment efficiency.     

Delineating Kocuria turfanensis 2M4 as a credible PGPR: a novel IAA-producing bacteria isolated from saline desert

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-producing bacteria Kocuria turfanensis strain 2M4 was isolated from the rhizospheric soil of halotolerant plant Suaeda fruticosa from a unique saline desert of Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India. Rhizobacteria was bright orange pigmented, gram-positive, coccoid, non-endospore forming, and aerobic in nature. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that 2M4 isolate matched best with type strain of K. turfanensis HO-9042^T. Isolate optimally produced 38 µg ml^?1 IAA when growth medium was supplemented with 600 µg ml^?1 of L-tryptophan. Thin layer chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis were performed to corroborate IAA production. To characterize rhizobacterial isolate as a plant growth-promoting bacteria, it was tested for phosphate solubilization where it solubilized maximum 12 µg ml^?1 phosphate in presence of fructose, produced 53% siderophore units under iron-free minimal MM9 medium and produced 1.8 µmol ml^?1 ammonia in peptone water broth. Plant growth promotion by test isolate was studied on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under non-saline and saline soil. There was increase by 18% in total plant length and 30% in fresh biomass observed under non-saline control soil. Under saline soil, test isolate showed 17% increase in total length of the plant and 13% increase in fresh biomass.     

Synthesis,characterization and evaluation of antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of biogenic silver nanoparticles synthesized from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces xinghaiensis</Emphasis> OF1 strain

We report synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Streptomyces xinghaiensis OF1 strain, which were characterised by UV–Vis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Zeta sizer, Nano tracking analyser, and Transmission electron microscopy. The antimicrobial activity of AgNPs alone, and in combination with antibiotics was evaluated against bacteria, namely Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, and yeasts viz., Candida albicans and Malassezia furfur by using micro-dilution method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum biocidal concentration of AgNPs against bacterial and yeast strains were determined. Synergistic effect of AgNPs in combination with antibacterial and antifungal antibiotics was determined by FIC index. In addition, MTT assay was performed to study cytotoxicity of AgNPs alone and in combination with antibiotics against mouse fibroblasts and HeLa cell line. Biogenic AgNPs were stable, spherical, small, polydispersed and capped with organic compounds. The variable antimicrobial activity of AgNPs was observed against tested bacteria and yeasts. The lowest MIC (16 µg ml^?1) of AgNPs was found against P. aeruginosa, followed by C. albicans and M. furfur (both 32 µg ml^?1), B. subtilis and E. coli (both 64 µg ml^?1), and then S. aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae (256 µg ml^?1). The high synergistic effect of antibiotics in combination with AgNPs against tested strains was found. The in vitro cytotoxicity of AgNPs against mouse fibroblasts and cancer HeLa cell lines revealed a dose dependent potential. The IC₅₀ value of AgNPs was found in concentrations of 4 and 3.8 µg ml^?1, respectively. Combination of AgNPs and antibiotics significantly decreased concentrations of both antimicrobials used and retained their high antibacterial and antifungal activity. The synthesis of AgNPs using S. xinghaiensis OF1 strain is an eco-friendly, cheap and nontoxic method. The antimicrobial activity of AgNPs could result from their small size. Remarkable synergistic effect of antibiotics and AgNPs offer their valuable potential in nanomedicine for clinical application as a combined therapy in the future.     

Nanoparticles combined with cefixime as an effective synergistic strategy against Salmonella enterica typhi

Enteric fever caused by Salmonella typhi has been the most crucial health issue in rural people, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa. Another disease, Salmonellosis, caused by a large group of bacteria of the genus Salmonella, cause substantial economic loss resulting from mortality and morbidity. Higher concentration and repeated use of antibiotics to treat these diseases will likely develop antibiotic resistance among the microbes. The nanoparticle has good penetration power and can kill microbes. Combining two strategies by using nanoparticles with antibiotics kills microbes and reduces the chances of the development of antibiotics resistance. Silver, Nickel, Copper, and Zinc oxide Nanoparticles were chemically synthesized and characterized in this study. Silver nanoparticles at a concentration of 10 µg/ml inhibit all the strains under study.In comparison, silver nanoparticles (16.90 µg/ml), Nickel nanoparticles (83 µg ml^?1), Copper nanoparticles (249 µg ml^?1), and Zinc oxide (1614 µg ml^?1) along with 50 µg/ml cefixime gave maximum zone of inhibition of 35 mm, 19 mm, 31 mm and 23 mm respectively. The antimicrobial assay showed that silver nanoparticles presented good antibacterial performance against all multi-drug-resistant pathogenic Salmonella sp alone as well as in combinations. The present study proved that silver nanoparticles at the lowest concentration along with cefixime could be a possible alternative to control the multi-drug-resistant pathogens.     

Biological control of streptococcal infection in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) using filter‐feeding bivalve mussel Pilsbryoconcha exilis (Lea, 1838)

Since bivalve mussels are able to graze heavily on bacteria, in this paper it is hypothesized that when mussels are cultured with fish, the filtering efficiency of the mussels will keep the bacterial population below a certain threshold and thus assist in reducing the risk of bacterial disease outbreaks. The ability of the filter‐feeding bivalve mussel Pilsbryoconcha exilis to control Streptococcus agalactiae was tested in a laboratory‐scale tilapia culture system. Juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), the bivalve mussel as well as the bacteria were cultured at different combinations using four treatments: treatment‐1: mussel and bacteria but no fish, treatment‐2: tilapia and mussel but no bacteria, treatment‐3: tilapia and bacteria but no mussel, and treatment‐4: tilapia, mussels, and bacteria. All treatments were run in three replicates; stocking rates were 10 tilapia juveniles; five mussels; and about 3.5 × 10⁵ colony forming units (CFU) ml^?1 of bacteria in 50‐L aquaria with 40‐L volume. The mussel reduced the bacterial population by 83.6–87.1% in a 3‐week period whereas in the absence of the mussel, the bacterial counts increased by 31.5%. Oresence of the mussel also resulted in significantly higher growth and lower mortality of tilapia juveniles than when the mussel was absent. The results of this experiment suggest that the freshwater mussel P. exilis could control the population of S. agalactiae in a laboratory‐scale tilapia culture system. Future studies should focus on the dynamic interactions among fish, mussels, and bacteria as well as on how input such as feed and other organic materials affect these interactions.     

Enhancement of production and activity of alkaline zinc metalloprotease from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salinivibrio proteolyticus</Emphasis> using low intensity direct electric current and zinc nanoparticles

Objectives

To improve the production and activity of an alkaline zinc metalloprotease from Salinivibrio proteolyticus in response to ZnSO₄ (ionic and nanoparticle forms) and low intensity direct electric current (LIDC).

Results

A DC of 50 µA for 10 min increased enzyme production from 35 to 53 U ml^?1 when applied to the stationary phase bacterial cells. Zn²⁺ improved enzyme production better than zinc nanoparticles (52 vs. 43.5 U ml^?1). Zinc nanoparticles (0.5 mM) added to an enzyme reaction mixture containing casein (0.65 %) and 20 mM Tris/HCl buffer (pH 8) improved enzyme activity more than Zn²⁺ (42 vs. 36 U ml^?1).

Conclusion

LIDC exposure (50 µA, 10 min) to the stationary phase bacterial cells increases metalloprotease production in Salinivibrio. A low concentration of zinc nanoparticles (0.5 mM) increases maximum enzyme activity.

     

Antimicrobial mechanism and the effect of atmospheric pressure N2 plasma jet on the regeneration capacity of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm

Abstract

This study systematically assessed the inactivation mechanism on Staphylococcus aureus biofilms by a N₂ atmospheric-pressure plasma jet and the effect on the biofilm regeneration capacity from the bacteria which survived, and their progenies. The total bacterial populations were 7.18?±?0.34 log10 CFU ml^?1 in biofilms and these were effectively inactivated (>5.5-log10 CFU ml^?1) within 30?min of exposure. Meanwhile, >80% of the S. aureus biofilm cells lost their metabolic capacity. In comparison, ～20% of the plasma-treated bacteria entered a viable but non-culturable state. Moreover, the percentage of membrane-intact bacteria declined to ～30%. Scanning electron microscope images demonstrated cell shrinkage and deformation post-treatment. The total amount of intracellular reactive oxygen species was observed to have significantly increased in membrane-intact bacterial cells with increasing plasma dose. Notably, the N₂ plasma treatment could effectively inhibit the biofilm regeneration ability of the bacteria which survived, leading to a long-term phenotypic response and dose-dependent inactivation effect on S. aureus biofilms, in addition to the direct rapid bactericidal effect.     

Regulation of Bacterial Growth Rates by Dissolved Organic Carbon and Temperature in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean

Abstract The effect of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and temperature on bacterial production was examined in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Addition of glucose, glucose plus ammonium, or free amino acids stimulated bacterial production ([³H]thymidine incorporation), whereas changes in bacterial abundance were either negligible or much less than changes in bacterial production. The average bacterial growth rate also greatly increased following DOM additions, whereas in contrast, addition of ammonium alone never affected production, bacterial abundance, or growth rates. Since the large glucose effect was not observed in previous studies of cold oceanic waters, several experiments were conducted to examine DOM-temperature interactions. These experiments suggest that bacteria respond more quickly and to a greater extent to DOM additions at higher temperatures, which may explain apparently conflicting results from previous studies. We also examined how temperate affects the kinetic parameters of sugar uptake. Maximum uptake rates (V_max) of glucose and mannose increased with temperature (Q₁₀= 2.4), although the half-saturation constant (K_m) was unaffected; K_m+ S was roughly equal to glucose concentrations (S) measured by a high pressure liquid chromographic technique. Bacterial production and growth rates appear to be limited by DOM in the equatorial Pacific, and thus bacterial production follows primary production over large spatial and temporal scales in this oceanic regime, as has been observed in other aquatic systems. Although temperature may not limit bacterial growth rates in the equatorial Pacific and similar warm waters, it could still affect how bacteria respond to changes in DOM supply and help set steady-state DOM concentrations. Received: 26 July 1995; Revised: 19 January 1996     

Synergistic Impact of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria and Phosphorus Rates on Growth,Antioxidative Defense System,and Yield Characteristics of Upland Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

In the present study, we examined the synergistic effect of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and the chemical phosphate on the growth, photosynthetic efficiency, phosphorus (P) uptake, antioxidant activity, and yield of upland rice. Three effective bacterial strains with potent P solubilizing activity viz., Bacillus licheniformis (688.18 µg ml^?1), Pantoea dispersa (570.90 µg ml^?1), and Staphylococcus sp. (551.81 µg ml^?1), were isolated from rice rhizosphere to study their impact on upland rice growth and yield under field conditions for two consecutive years. The experiment data revealed significant increments in shoot height, shoot dry weight, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, chlorophyll fluorescence (fv/fm), P uptake, antioxidant activity, and yield characteristics in upland rice treated with individual PSB or their consortia alone, compared to uninoculated control. However, the integrated use of PSB with 50% recommended P dose showed maximum increment in growth indices (21.25%, 21.86% increase in shoot length and 87.18%, 97.06% increase in shoot dry weight), P uptake (110.37%, 122.78% increase), and yield (50.58%, 35.64% increase) compared to uninoculated control for 2018 and 2019, respectively, indicating a reduction in the dependence of chemical P fertilizer by 50%. Therefore, it can be concluded that combined application of PSB and 50% recommended dose of chemical P can be implied for the sustainable cultivation of upland rice systems to give maximum benefits to the farmers and the environment.

     

Bacterial community composition in an Arctic phytoplankton mesocosm bloom: the impact of silicate and glucose

In order to study interactions between microorganisms at different nutrient conditions in an arctic environment, a mesocosm experiment was performed in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard (79°N). A phytoplankton bloom was initiated by daily additions of mineral nutrients (ammonium and phosphate) to all mesocosm units. The addition of silicate and glucose, forming a factorial design (+Si/+C, +Si/−C, −Si/+C, −Si/−C), was intended to produce different types of growth rate limitation for the bacterial community. We here focus on the response in bacterial community composition to different nutrient situations. Phytoplankton, bacteria and viruses were enumerated by flow cytometry, while denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to track changes in the bacterial community composition. Our results showed that both glucose and silicate addition affected the bacterial community composition, with the largest effect from glucose. The initial increase in bacterial abundance was most pronounced in the glucose units. After silicate addition, highest bacterial abundance was observed in the silicate treatments where mineral nutrient competition by diatoms was expected to be highest. The major effect of glucose was expressed by the significant separation of the +C and the −C samples at the end of the experiment, while silicate addition resulted in a more stable bacterial community structure. In the unit, given both silicate and glucose, the diatoms were totally outcompeted by the bacterial community. The competitive success of the heterotrophic bacteria in C-replete situations allows the conclusion that the bacteria were not more negatively affected by low temperatures than phytoplankton.     

Degradation and Detoxification of Nicosulfuron by a Pseudomonas Strain Isolated from a Contaminated Cornfield Soil

ABSTRACT

The dissipation and detoxification of nicosulfuron (NS) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa B9 isolated from a cornfield soil was investigated. The fastest decline of NS occurred at 40 µg ml^?1 in liquid media with 0.25% glucose plus 0.05% yeast extract (DT₅₀ = 4 days) with a notable pH reduction (pH ? 5). Bioassay tests showed considerable phytotoxicity of NS for Cress (Lepidium sativum L.) with 50% shoot growth inhibition (SGI) at 40 µg ml^?1. The dissipation of NS (40 µg ml^?1) by the B9 isolate reduced the SGI significantly (SGI: up to 45 ± 3%) compared to the non-inoculated media (SGI: up to 58 ± 4%). In soils with the B9 isolate, NS dissipation, especially at 0.3 µg g^?1, was faster with a more significant SGI reduction (k = 0.08 ± 0.00 day^?1; SGI = 2 ± 1%) compared to non-inoculated samples (k = 0.03 ± 0.00 day^?1; SGI = 8 ± 1%). NS initially inhibited soil respiration, microbial biomass carbon, and dehydrogenase activity. The effect was however transient, and these parameters recovered within 10 days, especially in the presence of the isolate. Overall, this study proves Pseudomonas aeruginosa B9 as a suitable candidate for bioremediation of NS in contaminated sites.     

Bacterial dynamics in two high-arctic lakes

The heterotrophic planktonic bacteria in two high-arctic lakes were studied by direct microscope count and the enzymatic uptake of ¹⁴C labelled glucose which generally conformed to Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Bacterial numbers and activity in oligo-trophic Char Lake ranged from 0.1 to 2.0×10^?3 bacteria/l and a maximum uptake velocity (V_max) of 1.8 × 10^?3μg glucose l^? h^?1. Nearby Meretta Lake received waste water from the Department of Transport Base at Resolute and this eutrophication was reflected in higher bacterial numbers of 2-80 × 10⁸/1 and Kmax of 0.1 × 10^?1-7.5 × 10^?1 fig glucose l^?1 h^?1 The Kmax per cell in Char Lake was 3 × 10^?11μg glucose l^?1 h^?1 and changed little between the period of solid ice cover in May and ice-free conditions in August. Bacterial cycles could not be related to phytoplankton cycles in either lake. Comparison of kinetic data from several lakes suggests a relationship between the bacterial uptake rate of glucose and phytoplankton production. Both bacterial numbers and activity in Char Lake may be very close to the minima to be expected in undisturbed freshwater environments.