Molecular genetic identification of Saccharomyces sensu stricto strains from African sorghum beer

Genetic relationships of 24 phenotypically different strains isolated from sorghum beer in West Africa and the type cultures of the Saccharomyces sensu stricto species were investigated by universally primed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, microsatellite fingerprinting and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers. The results demonstrate that internal transcribed spacer (ITS) PCR-RFLP analysis with the endonucleases HaeIII, HpaII, ScrFI and TaqI is useful for discriminating S. cerevisiae, S. kudriavzevii, S. mikatae from one another and from the S. bayanus/S. pastorianus and S. cariocanus/S. paradoxus pairs. The sorghum beer strains exhibited the same restriction patterns as the type culture of S. cerevisiae CBS 1171. PCR profiles generated with the microsatellite primer (GTG)(5) and the universal primer N21 were almost identical for all isolates and strain CBS 1171. Despite phenotypic peculiarities, the strains involved in sorghum beer production in Ghana and Burkina Faso belong to S. cerevisiae. However, based on sequencing of the rDNA ITS1 region and Southern hybridisation analysis, these strains represent a divergent population of S. cerevisiae.     

Evaluation of molecular typing techniques to assign genetic diversity among Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.

Discrimination of strains within the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae was demonstrated by the use of four different techniques to type 15 strains isolated from spoiled wine and beer. Random amplified polymorphic DNA with specific oligonucleotides and PCR fingerprinting with the microsatellite oligonucleotide primers (GAC)5 and (GTG)5 enabled discrimination between the strains tested. Additionally, restriction enzyme analysis, with TaqI and MseI, of PCR-amplified fragments from the complete internal transcribed spacer and nontranscribed spacer, both present in the rRNA-encoding gene cluster, proved to be suitable for generating intraspecies-specific patterns. Random amplified polymorphic DNA with primers 24 and OPA-11 and PCR fingerprinting with primer (GTG)5 appeared to generate the highest degree of diversity. However, the results indicated that there was no single PCR-mediated typing technique enabling discrimination on the strain level. Discrimination of each individual strain was nevertheless possible by combining the results obtained with all typing techniques.     

Evaluation of (GTG)<Subscript>5</Subscript>-PCR for rapid identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus mutans</Emphasis>

Repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fingerprinting using the (GTG)(5) primer was applied for fast screening of bacterial strains isolated from dental plaque of early childhood caries (ECC)-affected children. A group of 29 Gram-positive bacteria was separated into a homogeneous cluster together with Streptococcus mutans reference strains and constituted an aberrant branch after the numerical analysis of (GTG)(5)-PCR fingerprints. Automated ribotyping with EcoRI restriction enzyme (RiboPrinter microbial characterization system) revealed high genetic heterogeneity among the tested group and proved to be a good tool for strain-typing purposes. Further characterization of the studied strains was achieved by extensive phenotyping and whole-cell protein fingerprinting and confirmed all the strains as S. mutans representatives. Obtained results showed rep-PCR fingerprinting with the (GTG)(5) primer to be a fast and reliable method for identification of S. mutans.     

The molecular genetic differentiation of cultured Saccharomyces strains

A comparative molecular genetic study of cultured Saccharomyces strains isolated from the surface of berries and various fermentation processes showed that baker's yeast and black-currant isolates contain not only Saccharomyces cerevisiae but also S. cerevisiae and S. bayanus var. uvarum hybrids. The molecular karyotyping of baker's, brewer's, and wine yeasts showed their polyploidy. The restriction enzyme analysis of noncoding rDNA regions (5.8S-ITS and IGS2) makes it possible to differentiate species of the genus Saccharomyces and to identify interspecies hybrids. The microsatellite primer (GTG)5 can be used to study the populations of cultured S. cerevisiae strains.     

Rapid differentiation of the closely related Kluyveromyces lactis var. lactis and K. marxianus strains isolated from dairy products using selective media and PCR/RFLP of the rDNA non transcribed spacer 2

PCR/RFLP of the NTS2 (IGS2) of rDNA was applied to differentiate two closely related yeast species, Kluyveromyces lactis var. lactis (referred to as K. lactis) and K. marxianus. Using specific primers, the NTS2 region was amplified from DNA of both K. lactis and K. marxianus type and collection strains. AluI restriction of amplified fragments generated patterns characteristic for each species. The NTS2 region from K. lactis var. drosophilarum and related species K. aestuarii, K. africanus, K. dobzhanskii, and K. wickerhamii could also be amplified with the same primers, but AluI patterns generated were clearly different. PCR/RFLP of the NTS2 appears thus to be a convenient method for rapid identification of K. lactis and K. marxianus, frequently found in dairy products. This test was validated therefore on K. lactis and K. marxianus from natural habitats. We showed that all yeast strains collected from whey samples and scoring blue on X-gal glucose plates were either K. lactis or K. marxianus. For application purposes, we propose here an approach for quickly screening for K. lactis/marxianus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in dairy products using X-gal coloured and lysine growth media.     

Molecular typing demonstrates homogeneity of Saccharomyces uvarum strains and reveals the existence of hybrids between S. uvarum and S. cerevisiae, including the S. bayanus type strain CBS 380

PCR/RFLP of the NTS2 sequence of rDNA was shown to be suitable for differentiating Saccharomyces sensu stricto species. We previously showed that, within the presently accepted S. bayanus taxon, strains formerly classified as S. uvarum represented a distinct subgroup (Nguyen and Gaillardin, 1997). In this study, we reidentified 43 more strains isolated recently from wine, cider and various fermentation habitats, and confirmed by karyotyping, hybridization and mtDNA analysis the homogeneity of strains from the S. uvarum subspecies. Molecular typing of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of strains preserved in collections, and often originating from beer like S. pastorianusNT, revealed the existence of hybrids between S. uvarum and S. cerevisiae. Surprisingly, S. bayanusT CBS380 appeared itself to be a hybrid between S. uvarum and S. cerevisiae. This strain has a mitochondrial genome identical to that of S. uvarum, and a very similar karyotype with 13 isomorphic chromosomes, six of which at least hybridize strongly with S. uvarum chromosomes or with a S. uvarum specific sequence. However, four of the chromosome bands of S. bayanusT bear Y' sequences indistinguishable from those of S. cerevisiae, a feature that is not observed among presently isolated S. uvarum strains. Because of the hybrid nature of S. bayanus(T) and of the scarcity of similar hybrids among present days isolates, we propose to reinstate S. uvarum as a proper species among the Saccharomyces sensu stricto complex.     

Characterization of kinetic parameters and the formation of volatile compounds during the tequila fermentation by wild yeasts isolated from agave juice

The production of aroma compounds during tequila fermentation using four native yeast strains isolated from agave juice was quantified at controlled (35 degrees C) and uncontrolled temperatures (room temperature) by gas chromatography (FID). Three of the four strains were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MTLI 1, MALI 1 and MGLI 1) and one as Kloeckera apiculata (MALI 2). Among the aroma compounds produced, acetaldehyde has the highest accumulation at the controlled temperature and before 50% of sugar was consumed. The S. cerevisiae strains produced ethyl acetate in almost the same quantity at a concentration of 5 mg/L and the K. apiculata produced six-times more (30 mg/L) than the S. cerevisiae strains, independent of the fermentation temperature. The rate and amount of 1-propanol, amyl alcohols and isobutanol production were affected by the type of yeast used. The K. apiculate strain produced 50% less of the higher alcohols than the Saccharomyces strains. The results obtained showed that indigenous isolated yeasts play an important role in the tequila flavor and suggest that mixtures of these yeasts may be used to produce tequila with a unique and desirable aroma.     

Identification of Bifidobacterium species using rep-PCR fingerprinting

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of repetitive DNA element PCR fingerprinting (rep-PCR) for the taxonomic discrimination among the currently described species within the genus Bifidobacterium. After evaluating several primer sets targeting the repetitive DNA elements BOX, ERIC, (GTG)s and REP, the BOXA1R primer was found to be the most optimal choice for the establishment of a taxonomical framework of 80 Bifidobacterium type and reference strains. Subsequently, the BOX-PCR protocol was tested for the identification of 48 unknown bifidobacterial isolates originating from human faecal samples and probiotic products. In conclusion, rep-PCR fingerprinting using the BOXA1R primer can be considered as a promising genotypic tool for the identification of a wide range of bifidobacteria at the species, subspecies and potentially up to the strain level.     

Identification of Staphylococcus spp. using (GTG)₅-PCR fingerprinting

A group of 212 type and reference strains deposited in the Czech Collection of Microorganisms (Brno, Czech Republic) and covering 41 Staphylococcus species comprising 21 subspecies was characterised using rep-PCR fingerprinting with the (GTG)₅ primer in order to evaluate this method for identification of staphylococci. All strains were typeable using the (GTG)₅ primer and generated PCR products ranging from 200 to 4500 bp. Numerical analysis of the obtained fingerprints revealed (sub)species-specific clustering corresponding with the taxonomic position of analysed strains. Taxonomic position of selected strains representing the (sub)species that were distributed over multiple rep-PCR clusters was verified and confirmed by the partial rpoB gene sequencing. Staphylococcus caprae, Staphylococcus equorum, Staphylococcus sciuri, Staphylococcus piscifermentans, Staphylococcus xylosus, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus revealed heterogeneous fingerprints and each (sub)species was distributed over several clusters. However, representatives of the remaining Staphylococcus spp. were clearly separated in single (sub)species-specific clusters. These results showed rep-PCR with the (GTG)₅ primer as a fast and reliable method applicable for differentiation and straightforward identification of majority of Staphylococcus spp.     

Characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from must of grape grown in experimental vineyard

AIMS: Isolation and characterization of indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains from 12 grape varieties grown in an experimental vineyard of Apulia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty to 40 colonies from each of the 12 fermentations were obtained at the end stage of spontaneous fermentation. By using morphological and physiological methods and by the PCR analysis of internal transcribed ITS1-5,8S-ITS2, the isolates belonging to Saccharomyces genus were identified. These isolates were further characterized by amplification with S. cerevisiae species- and delta element-specific primers, thus allowing the identification of S. cerevisiae strains selected from each of the 12 fermentations. By means of RFLP analysis of mtDNA, each S. cerevisiae population isolated from a single fermentation appeared to constitute a genetically homogenous group. The comparison of the 12 cultivar-specific mtDNA RFLP patterns, allowed classifying the 12 S. cerevisiae populations into three genetically homogenous groups. The isolated strains fermented vigorously in synthetic and grape juice medium and showed high alcohol and sulphur dioxide (SO(2)) resistance and low hydrogen sulphite (H(2)S) production. CONCLUSIONS: The molecular analysis, in conjunction with the traditional morphological and physiological methods, was useful in discriminating at strain level the indigenous population of S. cerevisiae present in a vineyard of Apulia. The dominant S. cerevisiae strains identified in the 12 fermented musts showed potentially important oenological characteristics. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The characterization of natural S. cerevisiae strains from several typical Italian grapes grown in a restricted experimental vineyard is an important step towards the preservation and exploitation of yeast biodiversity of Apulia, a relevant wine-producing region. The close relationship between the S. cerevisiae strains from different grapes grown in the same vineyard indicated that the occurrence of native strains is representative of the area rather than of the variety of grapes.     

Intergenic spacer (IGS) polymorphism: a new genetic marker for differentiation of Toxoplasma gondii strains and Neospora caninum

The region between the 28S and 18S rRNA genes, including the intergenic spacer (IGS) region and the 5S rRNA gene, from 32 strains of Toxoplasma gondii and the NC1 strain of Neospora caninum was amplified and used for DNA sequencing and/or restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The 5S rDNA sequences from 20 strains of T. gondii were identical. The IGS region between the 5S and 18S rRNA genes (nontranscribed spacer 2 or NTS 2) showed 10 nucleotide variations. Six of the 10 variant positions correlated with the murine virulence of the strains. Intraspecific polymorphisms distinguished the virulent strains of zymodemes 5, 6, and 8 from other virulent strains (in zymodeme 1). RFLP methods (IGS-RFLP) were developed and used to characterize the virulent and avirulent patterns among 29 T. gondii strains. Sequence diversity of 19.8% was found between T. gondii and N. caninum when comparing a region of 919 bp at the 3' end of NTS 2. The sequence variation in ribosomal IGS could therefore be a useful marker for Toxoplasma strain identification and for distinguishing N. caninum from T. gondii.     

Characterization of Rhizobium 'hedysari' by RFLP analysis of PCR amplified rDNA and by genomic PCR fingerprinting

The taxonomic and discriminatory power of RFLP analysis of PCR amplified parts of rhizobial rrn operons was compared to those of genomic PCR fingerprinting with arbitrary and repetitive primers. For this purpose, the two methods were applied for characterization of a group of bacterial isolates referred to as Rhizobium 'hedysari'. As outgroups, representatives of the family Rhizobiaceae, belonging to the Rhizobium galegae, Rhizobium meliloti, Rhizobium leguminosarum and Agrobacterium tumefaciens species were used. By the RFLP analysis of the PCR products corresponding to the variable 5'-half of the 23S rRNA gene and of the amplified spacer region between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes all Rh. 'hedysari' strains studied were tightly clustered together while the outgroups were placed in an outer position. The PCR products of the 3' end parts of the 23S rDNA did not show significant RFL polymorphism and no species differentiation on their basis was possible. In parallel, analysis of the same strains was performed by PCR amplification of their total DNA with 19, 18 and 10 bp long arbitrary primers (AP-PCR) as well as with single primers corresponding to several bacterial repetitive sequences (rep-PCR). By both AP and rep-PCR an identification of every particular strain was achieved. In general, all primers provided taxonomic results that are in agreement with the species and group assignments based on the RFLP analysis of the rrn operons. On the basis of the results presented here it can be concluded that AP and rcp-PCR are more informative and discriminative than rDNA and RFLP analysis of the rhizobial strains studied.     

链霉菌的rep-PCR基因指纹分析

对重复片段PCR(repPCR)基因指纹分析应用于链霉菌分子分型进行研究,结果表明repPCR基因指纹分析具有分辨率高、稳定、重现性好、简便易行等特点,在一定程度上与16S rDNA 序列比较结果相一致,是一种快速而有效的DNA指纹技术,能反映出链霉菌种和菌株水平的基因型、系统发育和分类学关系,可应用于种及以下水平的分类和快速鉴定,尤其适用于分析大量的菌株或分离株。     

The use of (GTG)5 oligonucleotide as an RAPD primer to type Campylobacter concisus

AIM: DNA fingerprinting using (GTG)(5) oligonucleotide as a primer in a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay was assessed by typing isolates of Campylobacter concisus strains, collected over a period of 8 years. METHODS AND RESULTS: RAPD analysis using the (GTG)(5) oligonucleotide as a primer was used to type 100 isolates of C. concisus comprising mostly isolates from children with diarrhoea. Using this method, 86% of the isolates were found to be genotypically diverse. Of these heterogeneous isolates, 25 of the strains were also shown to be genetically distinct in a previous study using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. The remaining isolates (14) could be classified into five profile groups based on the DNA fingerprinting patterns. The assay successfully identified epidemiologically linked strains from the unrelated genetically diverse pool of strains. CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory RADP typing using the (GTG)(5) primer proved to be useful in distinguishing related strains of C. concisus from a large pool of unrelated strains of this organism. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: RAPD typing using (GTG)(5) is a simple method that could be used to investigate the epidemiology of C. concisus. The results suggest that homologous lineages of C. concisus may exist within an otherwise heterogeneous species complex. However, these data need to be confirmed using a more robust typing method.     

Different strategies for molecular differentiation of Mycobacterium bovis strains isolated in Sardinia, Italy

Different genetic markers were used to analyze 22 Mycobacterium bovis strains isolated from cattle in Sardinia and one human isolate. IS6110 DNA fingerprinting differentiated the strains into six patterns, whereas with enterobacterial repetitive consensus sequence primers produced seven clusters. PCR ribotyping followed by digestion with HaeIII and PvuII produced five and seven patterns, respectively. PCR with the (GTG)5 oligonucleotide primer showed the best discriminatory power, generating eight clusters among the strains analyzed.     

Differentiation of bacterial strains by thermal gradient gel electrophoresis using non-GC-clamped PCR primers for the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region

The method for DNA fingerprinting of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region was modified to increase resolution of bacterial strains by thermal gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) analysis. By utilizing the high melting temperature region of the tRNA gene located in the middle of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region as an internal clamp for TGGE, multiple melting domain problems were solved. PCR primers lacking a stretch of GC-rich sequences (GC-clamp) amplified the intergenic spacer region more efficiently than GC-clamped primers. Therefore, PCR artifacts were avoided by using low, 17-cycle, PCR. The method was successfully applied to diverse bacterial species for strain differentiation by TGGE without requiring a special PCR primer set.     

Kinetics of citrate uptake in growing cells of Leuconostoc spp.

Abstract Several yeast strains of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae, S. bayanus and S. paradoxus , first identified by hybridization experiments and measurements of DNA/DNA homology, were characterized using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP) analysis of the MET2 gene. There was no exception to the agreement between this method and classical genetic analyses for any of the strains examined, so PCR/RFLP of the MET2 gene is a reliable and fast technique for delimiting S. cerevisiae and S. bayanus . Enological strains classified as S., bayanus , S. chevalieri , and S. capensis gave S. cerevisiae restriction patterns, whereas most S. uvarum strains belong to S. bayanus . Enologists should no longer use the name of S. bayanus for S. cerevisiae Gal strains, and should consider S. bayanus as a distinct species.     

The effects of temperature and pH on the growth of yeast species during the fermentation of grape juice

The effects of temperature and pH on the survival and growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kloeckera apiculata, Candida stellata, Candida krusei, Candida pulcherrima and Hansenula anomala were examined during mixed culture in grape juice. At 25°C, pH 3.0 and pH 3.5, S. cerevisiae dominated the fermentation and the other species died off before fermentation was completed. Saccharomyces cerevisiae also dominated the fermentation at 20°C but there was increased growth and survival of the other species. At 10°C the fermentation was dominated by the growth of both S. cerevisiae and K. apiculata and there was extended growth and survival of C. stellata and C. krusei. Juices fermented at 10°C exhibited ethanol concentrations between 7.4 and 13.4% and populations of K. apiculata, C. stellata and C. krusei in the range 10⁶-10⁸ cells/ml. However, these species produced maximum ethanol concentrations in the range 2.7–6.6% when grown as single cultures in grape juice.     

采用PCR-RFLP技术在不同水平上鉴定大豆根瘤菌

采用16S rRNA基因PCR扩增与限制性酶切片段多态性分析(RFLP)技术对选自弗氏中华根瘤菌(S.fredii)、大豆慢生根瘤菌(B.japonicum)和埃氏慢生根瘤菌(B.elkanii)的19株代表菌进行了比较分析,根据用3种限制性内切酶的RFLP分析结果,可将供试菌株分为S.fredii,B.japonicum, B.elkanii Ⅱ和B.elkanii Ⅱa等4种基因型。各类菌株之间没有交叉,因此本研究采用的PCR-RFLP技术不失为一种快速鉴别大豆根瘤菌的新方法。采用本技术已将分离自中国的22株快生菌和19株慢生菌分别鉴定为S.fredii和B.japonicum。对供试参比菌株和野生型菌株进行的16S～23S基因间隔DNA(IGS)的PCR-RFLP分析结果表明：S.fredii和B.japonicum菌株的IGS长度不同,所有供试S.fredii菌株的IGS为2.1 kb,而供试B.japonicum菌株则为2.0 kb。依据RFLP的差异,可将来自中国两个不同地区的S.fredii株区分为2个基因型,而来自中国东北黑龙江地区的19株B.japonicum菌株则可分为11个基因型。对上述野生型菌株还进行了REP-PCR和ERIC-PCR分析并确定其具有菌株水平的特异性。     

Identification and characterization of thermophilic bacteria isolated from hot springs in Turkey

The present study was conducted to identify and characterize the thermophilic bacteria isolated from various hot springs in Turkey by using phenotypic and genotypic methods including fatty acid methyl ester and rep-PCR profilings, and 16S rRNA sequencing. The data of fatty acid analysis showed the presence of 17 different fatty acids in 15 bacterial strains examined in this study. Six fatty acids, 15:0 iso, 15:0 anteiso, 16:0, 16:0 iso, 17:0 iso, and 17:0 anteiso, were present in all strains. The bacterial strains were classified into three phenotypic groups based on fatty acid profiles which were confirmed by genotypic methods such as 16S rRNA sequence analysis and rep-PCR genomic fingerprint profiles. After evaluating several primer sets targeting the repetitive DNA elements of REP, ERIC, BOX and (GTG)₅, the (GTG)₅ and BOXA1R primers were found to be the most reliable technique for identification and taxonomic characterization of thermophilic bacteria in the genera of Geobacillus, Anoxybacillus and Bacillus spp. Therefore, rep-PCR fingerprinting using the (GTG)₅ and BOXA1R primers can be considered as a promising genotypic tool for the identification and characterization of thermophilic bacteria from species to strain level.