Microorganisms of low-temperature heavy oil reservoirs (Russia) and their possible application for enhanced oil recovery

Physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of formation waters low-temperature heavy oil reservoirs (Russia) were investigated. The Chernoozerskoe, Yuzhno-Suncheleevskoe, and Severo-Bogemskoe oilfields, which were exploited without water-flooding, were shown to harbor scant microbial communities, while microbial numbers in the water-flooded strata of the Vostochno-Anzirskoe and Cheremukhovskoe oilfields was as high as 10⁶ cells/mL. The rates of sulfate reduction and methanogenesis were low, not exceeding 1982 ng S^2–/(L day) and 9045 nL СН₄/(L day), respectively, in the samples from water-flooded strata. High-throughput sequencing of microbial 16S rRNA gene fragments in the community of injection water revealed the sequences of the Proteobacteria (74.7%), including Betaproteobacteria (40.2%), Alphaproteobacteria (20.7%), Gammaproteobacteria (10.1%), Deltaproteobacteria (2.0%), and Epsilonproteobacteria (1.6%), as well as Firmicutes (7.9%), Bacteroidetes (4.1%), and Archaea (0.2%). DGGE analysis of microbial mcrA genes in the community of injection water revealed methanogens of the genera Methanothrix, Methanospirillum, Methanobacterium, Methanoregula, Methanosarcina, and Methanoculleus, as well as unidentified Thermoplasmata. Pure cultures of bacteria of the genera Rhodococcus, Pseudomonas, Gordonia, Cellulomonas, etc., capable of biosurfactant production when grown on heavy oil, were isolated. Enrichment cultures of fermentative bacteria producing significant amounts of volatile organic acids (acetic, propionic, and butyric) from sacchariferous substrates were obtained. These acids dissolve the carbonates of oil-bearing rock efficiently. Selection of the efficient microbial technology for enhanced recovery of heavy oil from terrigenous and carbonate strata requires model experiments with microbial isolates and the cores of oil-bearing rocks.     

Dynamics and diversity of a microbial community during the fermentation of industrialized <Emphasis Type="Italic">Qingcai</Emphasis> paocai,a traditional Chinese fermented vegetable food,as assessed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing,DGGE and qPCR assay

Paocai is a traditional Chinese fermented food and typically produced via spontaneous fermentation. We have investigated the microbial community utilized for the fermentation of industrialized Qingcai paocai using the combination of Illumina MiSeq sequencing, PCR-mediated denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay. Three main phyla, namely Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, were identified by both MiSeq sequencing and PCR-DGGE. The dominant genera observed in the fermentation were Lactobacillus, Pseudomonas, Vibrio and Halomonas. Most genera affiliated with Proteobacteria or Bacteroidetes were detected more often during the earlier part of the fermentation, while Lactobacillus (affiliated with Firmicutes) was dominant during the later fermentation stages. Fungal community analysis revealed that Debaryomyces, Pichia and Kazachstania were the main fungal genera present in industrialized Qingcai paocai, with Debaryomyces being the most dominant during the fermentation process. The quantities of dominant genera Lactobacillus and Debaryomyces were monitored using qPCR and shown to be 10⁹–10¹² and 10⁶–10¹⁰ copies/mL, respectively. During the later fermentation process of industrialized Qingcai paocai, Lactobacillus and Debaryomyces were present at 10¹¹ and 10⁸ copies/mL, respectively. These results facilitate further understanding of the unique microbial ecosystem during the fermentation of industrialized Qingcai paocai and guide future improvement of the fermentation process.     

Diversity of fungi associated with roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calanthe</Emphasis> orchid species in Korea

While symbiotic fungi play a key role in the growth of endangered Calanthe orchid species, the relationship between fungal diversity and Calanthe species remains unclear. Here, we surveyed root associated fungal diversity of six Calanthe orchid species by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region using 454 pyrosequencing. Our results revealed that Paraboeremia and Coprinopsis are dominant fungal genera among Calanthe species. In terms of overall relative abundance, Paraboeremia was the most common fungal genus associated with Calanthe roots, followed by Coprinopsis. Overall fungal diversity showed a significant degree of variation depending on both location and Calanthe species. In terms of number of different fungal genera detected within Calanthe species, C. discolor had the most diverse fungal community, with 10 fungal genera detected. This study will contribute toward a better understanding of those fungi that are required for successful cultivation and conservation of Korean Calanthe species.     

Using Illumina-Based Sequence Analysis to Guide Probiotic Candidate Selection and Isolation

Selection for probiotic candidates by in vivo experimental trials is time and labor consuming; more informed strategy is needed to select successful probiotic candidates. The aim of the study was to elucidate the microbial taxa transmitted from maize seeds to seedlings during the germination process of maize and their probiotic effects. The bacterial and fungal taxa in kernel germs and sprouts were analyzed by Illumina-based sequencing. The sprouts contained more diverse fungi than those in germs. The bacterial species (OTUs) declined with the germination from germs to the sprouts. However, the endophytic fungal diversity increased during the germination process. Seed-borne dominant bacterial genera Bacillus, Halomonas, and Shewanella and dominant fungal genera Aspergillus were also detected in sprouts. The spore-forming bacteria BS3 isolated directly from sprouts could promote growth of maize seedling and resistance to F. verticillioides under F. verticillioides-infested soils. The results suggested that maize contained core bacterial and fungal taxa during the development from seeds to sprouts, and the core endophytes showed more intimate correlation with host plants than did other microbial taxa. Illumina-based sequence analysis is feasible to guide probiotic candidate selection and isolation.     

Microbial community of freshwater sponges in Lake Baikal

The microbial community of Baikal sponges has been studied in five species belonging to the genera Swartschewskia, Baicalospongia, and Lubomirskia of the endemic family Lubomirskiidae. The results show that the total numbers of bacteria and bacterioplankton production have an effect on the growth of L. baicalensis body. Bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Micrococcus, Sarcina, Flavobacterium, Arthrobacter, and Acinetobacter living in the sponges are representatives of the Baikal bacterioplankton. Actinomycetes of the genera Streptomyces and Micromonospora are a permanent component of the cultivable sponge microbial community. The numbers and enzyme activities of heterotrophic, oligotrophic, and psychrophilic bacteria isolated from different sponge species and from the ambient water in autumn and in winter have been estimated.     

Seasonal and altitudinal changes of culturable bacterial and yeast diversity in Alpine forest soils

The effect of altitude and season on abundance and diversity of the culturable heterotrophic bacterial and yeast community was examined at four forest sites in the Italian Alps along an altitude gradient (545–2000 m). Independently of altitude, bacteria isolated at 0 °C (psychrophiles) were less numerous than those recovered at 20 °C. In autumn, psychrophilic bacterial population increased with altitude. The 1194 bacterial strains were primarily affiliated with the classes Alpha-, Beta-, Gammaproteobacteria, Spingobacteriia and Flavobacteriia. Fifty-seven of 112 operational taxonomic units represented potential novel species. Strains isolated at 20 °C had a higher diversity and showed similarities in taxa composition and abundance, regardless of altitude or season, while strains isolated at 0 °C showed differences in community composition at lower and higher altitudes. In contrast to bacteria, yeast diversity was season-dependent: site- and altitude-specific effects on yeast diversity were only detected in spring. Isolation temperature affected the relative proportions of yeast genera. Isolations recovered 719 strains, belonging to the classes Dothideomycetes, Saccharomycetes, Tremellomycetes and Mycrobotryomycetes. The presence of few dominant bacterial OTUs and yeast species indicated a resilient microbial population that is not affected by season or altitude. Soil nutrient contents influenced significantly abundance and diversity of culturable bacteria, but not of culturable yeasts.     

Differences in gut microbiota composition in finishing Landrace pigs with low and high feed conversion ratios

The goal of this study was to evaluate the microbial communities in the gut and feces from female finishing Landrace pigs with high and low feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Many potential biomarkers can distinguish between high and low FCR groups in the duodenum, ileum, cecum, colon, and rectum, according to linear discriminant analysis effect sizes. The relative abundance of microbes were tested by Mann–Whitney test between the high and low FCR groups in different organs: Campylobacter, Prevotella and Sphaerochaeta were different in the duodenum (P < 0.05); Sanguibacter, Kingella and Anaeroplasma in jejunum; Anaeroplasma, Arthrobacter, Kingella, Megasphaera and SMB53 in the ileum; Butyricicoccus, Campylobacter, Mitsuokella, and Coprobacillus in the cecum; Lactococcus and Peptococcus in the colon; Staphylococcus in the rectum; and Rothia in feces. The prevalence of microbial genera in certain locations could potentially be used as biomarkers to distinguish between high and low FCR. Functional prediction clustering analysis suggested that bacteria in the hindgut mainly participated in carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism, and different in the relative abundance of metabolic pathways, as predicted from the microbial taxa present, were identified by comparing the high and low groups of each location. The results may provide insights for the alteration of the intestinal microbial communities to improve the growth rate of pigs.     

Changes in the microbial community during repeated anaerobic microbial dechlorination of pentachlorophenol

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) has been widely used as a pesticide in paddy fields and has imposed negative ecological effect on agricultural soil systems, which are in typically anaerobic conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of repeated additions of PCP to paddy soil on the microbial communities under anoxic conditions. Acetate was added as the carbon source to induce and accelerate cycles of the PCP degradation. A maximum degradation rate occurred at the 11th cycle, which completely transformed 32.3 μM (8.6 mg L^?1) PCP in 5 days. Illumina high throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene was used to profile the diversity and abundance of microbial communities at each interval and the results showed that the phyla of Bacteroidates, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Euryarchaeota had a dominant presence in the PCP-dechlorinating cultures. Methanosarcina, Syntrophobotulus, Anaeromusa, Zoogloea, Treponema, W22 (family of Cloacamonaceae), and unclassified Cloacamonales were found to be the dominant genera during PCP dechlorination with acetate. The microbial community structure became relatively stable as cycles increased. Treponema, W22, and unclassified Cloacamonales were firstly observed to be associated with PCP dechlorination in the present study. Methanosarcina that have been isolated or identified in PCP dechlorination cultures previously was apparently enriched in the PCP dechlorination cultures. Additionally, the iron-cycling bacteria Syntrophobotulus, Anaeromusa, and Zoogloea were enriched in the PCP dechlorination cultures indicated they were likely to play an important role in PCP dechlorination. These findings increase our understanding for the microbial and geochemical interactions inherent in the transformation of organic contaminants from iron rich soil, and further extend our knowledge of the PCP-transforming microbial communities in anaerobic soil conditions.     

Phylogenetic and functional prokaryotic diversity in the Hoito-Gol mesothermal mineral spring (Eastern Sayan Mountains,Buryat Republic)

High-throughput sequencing was used for comparative analysis of microbial communities of the water and mat from the Hoito-Gol mesothermal mineral sulfide spring (Eastern Sayan Mountains, Buryat Republic). Activity of microbial communities was determined. While both spring biotopes were dominated by members of three bacterial phyla—Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes—they differed drastically in the composition of predominant phylotypes (at the genus level). In the water, the organisms widespread in aquatic environments were predominant, mostly aerobic chemoorganotrophs of the genera Acinetobacter, Pedobacter, and Flavobacterium. In the microbial mat, the organisms actively involved in the sulfur cycle predominated, including sulfur-reducing bacteria Sulfurospirillum, sulfate-reducing deltaproteobacteria, sulfuroxidizing chemoautotrophic bacteria, anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria of the phyla Chloroflexi and Chlorobi, as well as purple bacteria belonging to the α-, ß-, and γ-Proteobacteria. Microbial mats of the spring exhibited higher phylogenetic diversity compared to high-temperature mats containing photosynthetic microorganisms.     

A method of acoustic analysis for detection of bacteriophage-infected microbial cells

The dependence of the changes of physical parameters of the suspension of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 cells infected by FAb-Sp7 bacteriophage on their number and exposure time was studied using a biological sensor based on a piezoelectric resonator with a lateral electric field. The change in the value of the analytical signal was recorded at 1 minute from the beginning of the infection of the cells by bacteriophage. The selectivity of the action of the FAb-Sp7 bacteriophage was studied for Azospirillum brasilense (strains Cd, Sp107, Sp245, Jm6B2, Br14, KR77, S17, S27, SR55, and SR75), A. lipoferum (strains Sp59b, SR65, and RG20a), A. halopraeferans Au4, Nitrospirillum amazonense Am14, Niveispirillum irakense (strains KBC1 and KA3) bacteria, as well as for heterologous bacteria of the genera Escherichia coli (strains XL-1 and B-878), Pseudomonas putida (strains C-11 and BA-11), and Acinetobacter calcoaceticum A-122. The limit of the reliable determination of the concentration of microbial cells during bacteriophage infection process was found: ~10⁴ cells/mL. At the same time, the presence of heterologous cell cultures (E. coli XL-1 cells) did not complicate the detection. It was shown that the method of electroacoustical analysis of cell suspensions can be used for the detection of microbial cells of Azospirillum infected by the FAb-Sp7 bacteriophage. The results are promising for the development of methods for determining and controlling the number of soil microorganisms.     

First aeromycological study in an avocado agroecosystem in Mexico

Avocados (Persea americana Mill.) are economically and nutritionally valuable despite their susceptibility to several fungal diseases. This study was conducted in an agroecosystem of avocado trees in México. The air samples were collected every week by gravimetric methods at a height of 2 m from the ground level. Fungal colonies were isolated and transferred onto PDA and identified using morphological methods. During air sampling, different meteorological variables were measured. The symptoms of avocado diseases were determined by visual observations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on aeromycological characterization in an avocado agroecosystem. Thirty-two airborne fungal genera were identified; Fusarium (97.2 %) and Colletotrichum (94.4 %) were the most common fungal pathogens present in the atmosphere of avocado. In addition, seven genera of important phytopathogenic fungi of other crops (Alternaria, Capnodium, Pestalotia, Stemphylium, Rhizopus, Curvularia, and Phyllachora) were isolated. The maximum concentration of total fungi was observed in June (358 CFU m^?3) and the minimum in September (83 CFU m^?3). The total fungal concentrations were significantly negatively correlated with the temperature. The symptoms of five diseases of avocado, viz. anthracnose, scab, spot, canker trunk, and vascular wilt, were identified in the area study. It was observed that the symptoms of all the above-mentioned diseases were present in June; and in the same month, the fungal concentrations were highest.     

A first insight into the intestinal microbiota of snow trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Schizothorax zarudnyi</Emphasis>)

This study addresses the biodiversity profile of bacterial community in the intestinal lumen and mucosa of snow trout fish by applying 16S rRNA gene 454-pyrosequencing. A total of 209,106 sequences with average length 689 (±53) were filtered, denoised, trimmed, and then sorted into OTUs based on 97 % sequence similarity using the USEARCH software pipeline. Bacteria representing 10 phyla were found in the samples investigated. Fimicutes ribotypes were present in intestinal-mucosa and lumen in all fish and often dominated the libraries (average 43 and 38 %, respectively). Proteobacteria were also prevalent, but at a lower relative abundance, at 22 and 29 % in mucosa and lumen, respectively. The autochthonous microbiota was dominated by sequences belonging to the Bacilli (mean sequence abundance 24 %), in particular the Lactobacillaceae, with Lactobacillus and Pediococcous being the most abundant genera. Fewer Bacilli (mean sequence abundance 22 %) and Actinobacteria (2 %) were present in the lumen, and allochthonous communities consisted of a more even split among the bacterial classes, with increases in sequences assigned to members of the γ-Proteobacteria (16 %) and Fusobacteriia (8 %). The principal bacterial genera recorded in the lumen belonged to the lactic acid bacteria group, Cetobacterium, Clostridium and Synechococcus. Results obtained suggest that the lumen and mucosal layer of the snow trout intestine may host different microbial communities. Moreover, both regions harbour a diverse microbiome with a greater microbial diversity in the intestinal mucus compared with the luminal communities of the fish. Many of these microbes might be of high physiological relevance for the fish and may play key roles in the functioning of its gut.     

Diversity of culturable bacterial communities in the intestinal tracts of goldfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carassius auratus</Emphasis>) and their ability to produce <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acyl homoserine lactone

Intestinal bacteria isolated from goldfish (Carassius auratus) were identified based on 16 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences and screened for their ability to produce N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL), an autoinducer of the quorum sensing (QS) system. The 230 aerobes/facultative anaerobes that were isolated comprised members of the genera Aeromonas (184 isolates), Citrobacter (11), Enterobacter (2), Shewanella (28), Vagococcus (1), and Vibrio (4). Among these genera, the two most abundant species were Aeromonas veronii (163 isolates) and Shewanella xiamenensis (27). In addition, 142 obligate anaerobes consisting of Cetobacterium somerae (139 isolates), Clostridium frigidicarnis (2), and Cetobacterium sp. (1) were also isolated. One hundred seventy isolates (74.2%) belonging to the genera Aeromonas, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Shewanella, and Vibrio produced AHL, while 155 (67.7%) and 91 (39.7%) isolates possessed the luxR and luxI gene homologs, respectively. None of the obligate anaerobes produced AHL or possessed luxRI homologs. Total viable counts ranged from 1.2 × 10⁷ to 2.2 × 10⁹ CFU/g, which were accounted for 0.8 to 15.2% of direct counts. Aeromonas veronii, S. xiamenensis, and C. somerae were detected from five goldfish at densities ranging from 4.0 × 10⁶ to 1.7 × 10⁹ CFU/g, indicating that these bacteria are dominant components of the culturable gut flora in goldfish. In addition, members of the genera Aeromonas and Shewanella appeared to communicate with each other by using the QS system to some extent when the concentration of AHL reaches a certain threshold. It is therefore suggested that bacteria with the ability to disrupt AHL secretion in intestinal environments are potential candidates for probionts for preventing opportunistic infections in freshwater fish such as goldfish.     

Phylogenetic Diversity of Microorganisms from the Sludge of a Biogas Reactor Processing Oil-Containing and Municipal Waste

High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene fragments was used to determine the phylogenetic diversity of prokaryotes, including human pathogens, in the liquid phase of the sludge of a biogas reactor processing oil-containing and municipal waste. A unique microbial community was found to develop in the sludge, which comprised the microorganisms of municipal wastewater (bacteria of human feces) and specific groups of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms, which possibly arrived with oil-containing water. In the 16S rRNA gene library, the sequences of representatives of Firmicutes prevailed (54.9%), which belonged to anaerobic bacteria of the genera Gelria (26.6%), Syntrophomonas (6.0%), Lutispora (2.0%), and uncultured Clostridia (group MBA03, 11.1%). The Proteobacteria sequences (20.7%) belonged mostly to the metabolically diverse members of the genus Pseudomonas (13.8%). The phylum Bacteroidetes (7%) was represented by uncultured bacteria (VadinBC27 wastewater-sludge group), while members of the phylum Cloacimonetes were mainly syntrophic bacteria Candidatus Cloacamonas (7.5%). The sequences of bacteria commonly occurring in oilfields (Clostridia, Anaerolinea, Bacteroidetes, sulfate-reducing Deltaproteobacteria, members of the family Syntrophaceae, and of the genera Thauera, Pseudomonas, Dechloromonas, and Petrimonas) were revealed. No sequences of bacteria known to be pathogenic to humans were found. The cultured microorganisms were aerobic organotrophic and anaerobic fermenting, denitrifying, and methanogenic prokaryotes. Fermenting and methanogenic enrichments grew on a broad range of organic substrates (sucrose, glycerol, starch), producing volatile fatty acids (acetate, n-butyrate, and propionate), gases (Н₂, СО₂, and CH₄), and decreasing pH of the medium from 7.0 to 4.5–5.0. The possible application of the biogas reactor sludge as a source of fermenting and methanogenic anaerobic prokaryotes, as well as of aerobic hydrocarbonoxidizing bacteria for oilfield introduction and for production of new preparations for enhanced oil recovery and for bioremediation of oil contamination is discussed.     

Fungal load in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bradysia agrestis</Emphasis>, a phytopathogen-transmitting insect vector

Larvae of Bradysia agrestis, a phytopathogen-transmitting insect vector in East Asia, were sampled from geographically (ecologically) segregated regions to identify their intestinal fungal flora. A total of 24 fungal strains were isolated from the insect vectors and selected based on morphological differences. In addition, 38 fungal strains were isolated from the ulcerated parts of invaded host plants by the same method, revealing the impact of vector fungal flora on their host plants. For molecular identification of the fungi, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were amplified and sequenced. Their sequences were compared with sequences of other fungal strains obtained from NCBI GenBank, and their phylogeny was determined. The dominant fungal genera in the insect vector were Penicillium (25%), Aspergillus (21%), and Cladosporium (13%). In plant scar lesions, most fungal isolates belonged to the genera Fusarium (31.6%), Phoma (7.8%), Didymella (7.8%), and Epicoccum (7.8%). Fungal genera in vectors or host plant lesions differed by study site. Furthermore, diversity indices by study site showed clear differences based on Margalef’s richness (2.06, 2.40, 3.04), and Menhinick’s (1.89, 2.12, 2.53), and Simpson’s indices (0.14, 0.07, 0.07). In addition, common fungal strains in insect vectors were found to be closely related to members of the genera Cladosporium, Penicillium, or Aspergillus. Among these strains, those showing the highest homology with Aspergillus terreus, which regarded as beneficial fungal genera could be considered ideal paratransgenesis candidates. Some other fungal strains from vectors or ulcerated plant parts from each study site after B. agrestis invasion may be harmful in terms of plant disease or agrifood safety. This study provides information on the fungal microbiota of B. agrestis, an emerging problem in East Asia, and proposes paratransgenesis candidates to control this insect vector. Furthermore, potential transferable pathogens or commensal fungi were revealed by comparing the fungal biota between the insect gut and the ulcerated parts of the invaded host plants.     

The metagenomic approach to characterization of the microbial community shift during the long-term cultivation of anammox-enriched granular sludge

A metagenomic approach was used to investigate how the microbial community composition changes when an anammox-based granular sludge reactor is seeded with nitritation-anammox biomass from a wastewater treatment plant. In the seed sample, the abundance of Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis was similar to Candidatus Jettenia caeni (12.63 vs. 11.68%). This biomass was typical in terms of microbial nitrogen conversion; both ammonia (Nitrosomonas sp.) and nitrite (Nitrospira sp.) oxidizing bacteria were detected. In the lab-scale reactor, Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis and Candidatus Jettenia caeni bacteria were also present in equal proportions (18.57 vs. 20.89%). On the contrary, Candidatus Nitrospira defluvii bacteria were highly abundant in this reactor, but no known ammonia-oxidizing bacteria were detected. In light of recent studies showing that Nitrospira sp. are capable of complete nitrification, the results presented here may well indicate that both stages of nitrification in the anammox-based granular sludge reactor were performed by this bacteria.     

Identification and Pathogenicity of Fungal Pathogens Causing Black Point in Wheat on the North China Plain

Fungi associated with black point were isolated from three highly susceptible wheat genotypes in the North China Plain. The 21 isolates represented 11 fungal genera. The most prevalent genera were Alternaria (isolation frequency of 56.7%), Bipolaris (16.1%), and Fusarium (6.0%). The other eight genera were Curvularia, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Exserohilum, Epicoccum, Nigrospora, Penicillium, and Ulocladium; their isolation frequencies ranged from 0.8 to 4.8%. The pathogenicity of the isolates was individually assessed in the greenhouse by inoculating wheat plants with spore suspensions. Ten of the 21 isolates caused significantly higher incidences of black point than that the controls. These isolates belonged to eight fungal species (A. alternata, B. sorokiniana, B. crotonis, B. cynodontis, C. spicifera, F. equiseti, E. rostratum, and E. sorghinum) based on morphological traits and phylogenetic analysis. The average incidences of black point in the eight fungal species were 32.4, 54.3, 43.0, 41.9, 37.2, 38.8, 50.1, and 34.1%, respectively. B. sorokiniana and A. alternata were determined to be the most important pathogens in the North China Plain based on fungal prevalence and symptom severity. This study is the first to identify E. rostratum as a major pathogen causing black point in wheat.     

A survey of the aeromycota of Sydney and its correspondence with environmental conditions: grass as a component of urban forestry could be a major determinant

A comprehensive survey of airborne fungi has been lacking for the Sydney region. This study determined the diversity and abundance of outdoor airborne fungal concentrations in urban Sydney. Monthly air samples were taken from 11 sites in central Sydney, and culturable fungi identified and quantified. The genus Cladosporium was the most frequently isolated fungal genus, with a frequency of 78 % and a mean density of 335 CFU m^?3. The next most frequently encountered genus was Alternaria, occurring in 53 % of samples with a mean of 124 CFU m^?3. Other frequently identified fungi, in decreasing occurrence, were as follows: Penicillium, Fusarium, Epicoccum, Phoma, Acremonium and Aureobasidium. Additionally, seasonal and spatial trends of airborne fungi were assessed, with increases in total culturable fungal concentrations experienced in the summer months. The correspondence between a range of key environmental variables and the phenology of airborne fungal propagules was also examined, with temperature, wind speed and proximal greenspace having the largest influence on fungal propagule density. If the greenspace was comprised of grass, stronger associations with fungal behaviour were observed.     

Agar-degrading bacteria isolated from Antarctic macroalgae

This study describes the taxonomic diversity of pigmented, agar-degrading bacteria isolated from the surface of macroalgae collected in King George Island, Antarctica. A total of 30 pigmented, agarolytic bacteria were isolated from the surface of the Antarctic macroalgae Adenocystis utricularis, Monostroma hariotii, Iridaea cordata, and Pantoneura plocamioides. Based on the 16S rRNA data, the agarolytic isolates were affiliated to the genera Algibacter, Arthrobacter, Brachybacterium, Cellulophaga, Citricoccus, Labedella, Microbacterium, Micrococcus, Salinibacterium, Sanguibacter, and Zobellia. Isolates phylogenetically related to Cellulophaga algicola showed the highest agarase activity in culture supernatants when tested at 4 and 37 °C. This is the first investigation of pigmented agar-degrading bacteria, members of microbial communities associated with Antarctic macroalgae, and the results suggest that they represent a potential source of cold-adapted agarases of possible biotechnological interest.     

Core gut microbiota in Jinhua pigs and its correlation with strain,farm and weaning age

Gut microbial diversity and the core microbiota of the Jinhua pig, which is a traditional, slow-growing Chinese breed with a high body-fat content, were examined from a total of 105 fecal samples collected from 6 groups of pigs at 3 weaning ages that originated from 2 strains and were raised on 3 different pig farms. The bacterial community was analyzed following high-throughput pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes, and the fecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured by gas chromatograph. Our results showed that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla, and Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Clostridium, SMB53, and Bifidobacterium were the most abundant genera. Fifteen predominant genera present in every Jinhua pig sample constituted a phylogenetic core microbiota and included the probiotics Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and the SCFA-producing bacteria Clostridium, Prevotella, Bacteroides, Coprococcus, Roseburia, Ruminococcus, Blautia, and Butyricicoccus. Comparisons of the microbiota compositions and SCFA concentrations across the 6 groups of pigs demonstrated that genetic background and weaning age affected the structure of the gut microbiota more significantly than the farm. The relative abundance of the core genera in the pigs, including Lactobacillus, Clostridium, Prevotella, Bacteroides, Roseburia, Ruminococcus, Blautia, and Butyricicoccus varied dramatically in pigs among the 2 origins and 3 weaning ages, while Oscillospira, Megasphaera, Parabacteroides, and Corynebacterium differed among pigs from different farms. Interestingly, there was a more significant influence of strain and weaning age than of rearing farm on the SCFA concentrations. Therefore, strain and weaning age appear to be the more important factors shaping the intestinal microbiome of pigs.