以转座子Tn5作弗氏中华根瘤菌的可识别生态学标记的研究──Tn5的水平转移及其对R．fredii Tn5突变株运动的影响

将一株弗氏中华根瘤菌（Ｒ．ｆｒｅｄｉｉ）ＱＢ１１３０的Ｔｎ５插入突变株ＯＮ－２用于生态学研究,以评估Ｔｎ５在自然环境中的水平转移以及各种水势下Ｔｎ５对突变株ＯＮ－２在土壤中运动的影响．试验表明,在自然潮湿的土壤中,Ｔｎ５本身的水平转移频率很低,且与Ｔｎ５插入相关的突变株卡那霉素抗性表型标记在非选择性平板上连续传４０代后仍然稳定．突变株ＯＮ－２与相对应的野生型菌株ＱＢ１１３０在各种相同水势的土壤中的运动无明显差异（Ｐ＝０．０１）,表明Ｔｎ５的插入不影响突变株的运动．因此,Ｔｎ５可作为研究Ｒ．ｆｒｅｄｉｉ基因工程菌大回应用的一个稳定有效的生态学标记．     

Transposon Mutagenesis of Azospirillum brasilense and Azospirillum lipoferum: Physical Analysis of Tn5 and Tn5-Mob Insertion Mutants

Tn5-induced insertion mutants were generated in Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 and A. lipoferum SpBr17 by mating with Escherichia coli strains carrying suicide plasmid vectors. The sources of Tn5 were the suicide plasmids pGS9 and pSUP2021. Kanamycin-resistant Azospirillum colonies appeared from crosses with E. coli at maximum frequencies of 10⁻⁷ per recipient cell. Transposon Tn5 also conferred streptomycin resistance on Azospirillum colonies as was observed earlier for Rhizobium sp. Eight Tn5-induced Km^r Sm^rA. brasilense Sp7 mutants with reduced nitrogen-fixing capacity were isolated. The potential use of Tn5-Mob for labeling and mobilization of Azospirillum-indigenous plasmids was demonstrated by isolating Tn5-Mob insertions in the megaplasmids of A. brasilense Sp7.     

Use of transposon Tn916 as a genetic marker in the rumen

Streptococcus bovis strain SB3 was genetically marked by conjugal transfer of the tetracycline-resistant transposon, Tn916, from Enterococcus faecalis to Strep. bovis. The transposon was stable in the Strep. bovis chromosome in the presence or absence of tetracycline. Streptococcus bovis : Tn916 was introduced into the rumen of experimental sheep and was maintained for at least 76 d. The population was stable in the presence of a grain-based ration but rapidly declined when sheep were transferred to pasture. On return to the grain-based diet, the Strep. bovis : Tn916 population reappeared. These data demonstrate the potential of this technique in studies of microbial interactions in the rumen.     

Transposon mutagenesis in halophilic eubacteria: conjugal transfer and insertion of transposon Tn5 and Tn1732 in Halomonas elongata

Abstract Molecular genetic studies of halophilic eubacteria have been limited by the lack of a suitable method for mutagenesis. To overcome this, we established a transposon mutagenesis procedure for the ectoine-producing, halophilic bacterium Halomonas elongata . We used suicide plasmids pSUP101 and pSUP102-Gm to introduce the transposons Tn5 and Tn7732 respectively into H. elongata via Escherichia coli SM10 mediated conjugation. Our finding that H. elongata is sensitive to aminoglycoside antibiotics at low salinity enabled us to apply transposons that mediate kanamycin resistance. The insertions of transposon In 1732 occurred at different sites in the chromosome of H. elongata , as proved by Southern hybridization analysis. Phenotypic analysis revealed that different auxotrophic and salt sensitive mutants were generated by mutagenesis with transposon Tn 1732 . To our knowledge this is the first report of a successful application of a transposon for direct generalized mutagenesis in a halophilic eubacterium.     

Role of alanine-valine transaminase in Salmonella typhimurium and analysis of an avtA::Tn5 mutant

In Salmonella typhimurium, as in Escherichia coli, mutations in avtA, the gene encoding the alanine-valine transaminase (transaminase C), are silent unless they are combined with mutations involved in isoleucine-valine biosynthesis. avtA is repressed by leucine or alanine but not by valine. Transaminase C is found at reduced levels upon starvation for any one of several amino acids. We hypothesize that this is due to repression of avtA by the elevated alanine and leucine pools found in amino acid-starved cells.     

Transposon Tn5supF-based reverse genetic method for mutational analysis of Escherichia coli with DNAs cloned in lambda phage.

An efficient method for systematic mutational analysis of the Escherichia coli genome was developed. It entails Tn5supF transposition to lambda-E. coli hybrid phage clones (Kohara library) and then transduction of recipient cells to Sup+. Essential and nonessential genes are distinguished by the ability of insertion mutant phage to form haploid versus only heterozygous partial diploid bacterial recombinants.     

Survival capacity in water of Arcobacter species under different temperature conditions

Aims:  To assess the survival capacity in vitro of arcobacters in water at temperatures applied in the food industry.
Methods and Results:  Four strains of each Arcobacter species were inoculated in potable water and water with 1% organic material and stored at 4, 7, 20, 52, 56 and 60°C. Samples were taken at known time points and the numbers of bacteria were determined on Arcobacter -selective medium. All Arcobacter species remained viable for a temperature-dependent period of time, although Arcobacter butzleri displayed a significant longer survival and heat resistance . No significant intraspecies differences were detected, resulting in no definite identification of origin or strain dependency. The survival period for all species was prolonged in the presence of the organic material only for the low temperatures.
Conclusions:  The present study demonstrates that water can act as a reservoir and as a potential source of Arcobacter contamination to humans and animals.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study assessed for the first time the survival of all human-related Arcobacter species in water. Particularly A. butzleri showed to be the most robust species with regard to temperature which is interesting as that species is often found in human clinical specimens.     

Tn5转座突变技术在革兰氏阴性细菌分子遗传研究中的应用

随着广宿主载体系统的发展,Tn5及其衍生载体已经广泛应用于革兰氏阴性细菌的分子遗传学研究。主要综述了Tn5转座突变技术在生防细菌生防机理研究、细菌必需基因的鉴定、病原细菌毒力相关基因研究、代谢调控基因研究和菌株的遗传改良方面的应用研究进展。     

Survival in foods of Staphylococcus aureus grown under optimal and stressed conditions and the effect of some food preservatives

Staphylococcus aureus was grown in a rich peptone medium which became alkaline with continued incubation. Cells were grown at 37 degrees C and in the same medium containing 1 M NaCl at 46 degrees C, a temperature at which this organism can grow only when protected by NaCl. Cells of these cultures are hereafter called 37 degrees C-cells and 46 degrees C-cells, respectively. The 37 degrees C-cells harvested when the pH was 7.1 to 7.7 had decimal reduction times (D60-value) of 1.8 to 3.1 min in 50 mM pH 7.2 Tris buffer. The D60 value of 46 degrees C-cells tested in the same way, harvested from cultures at pH 6.6 to 7.6, ranged from 5.3 to a maximum of 12.8 min. In milk, green beans, peas, or beef slurry, the D60-value of 46 degrees C-cells was about four times higher than that of 37 degrees C-cells. Length of survival after freeze-drying in skim-milk powder exposed to air was longest for the cells with the highest D-value. In freeze-dried peas and media acidified with acetic and lactic acids, 46 degrees C-cells survived longer than 37 degrees C-cells. However, the sensitivity of the two kinds of cells to potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, and sodium propionate was essentially the same, but the 46 degrees C-cells were more resistant to butylated hydroxyanisole and sodium nitrite.     

Excision and Transposition of Tn5 as an Sos Activity in Escherichia Coli

Excision and transposition of the Tn5 element in Escherichia coli ordinarily appear to occur by recA-independent mechanisms. However, recA(Prtc) genes, which encode RecA proteins that are constitutively activated to the protease state, greatly enhanced excision and transposition; both events appeared to occur concomitantly and without destruction of the donor DNA. The recombinase function of the RecA protein was not required. Transposition was accompanied by partial, and occasionally full, restoration of the functional integrity of the gene vacated by the excised Tn5. The stimulation of transposition was inhibited by an uncleavable LexA protein and was strongly enhanced by an additional role of the RecA(Prtc) protein besides its mediation of LexA cleavage. To account for the enhanced transposition, we suggest that (i) there may be a LexA binding site within the promoter for the IS50 transposase, (ii) activated RecA may cleave the IS50 transposition inhibitor, and (iii) the transposase may be formed by RecA cleavage of a precursor molecule.     

Tn5-induced mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii affected in nitrogen fixation under Mo-deficient and Mo-sufficient conditions

Mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii affected in N2 fixation in the presence of 1 microM Na2MoO4 (conventional system), 50 nM V2O5, or under Mo deficiency (alternative system) have been isolated after Tn5 mutagenesis with the suicide plasmid pSUP1011. These mutants can be grouped into at least four broad phenotypic classes. Mutants in the first class are Nif- under Mo sufficiency but Nif+ under Mo deficiency or in the presence of V2O5. A nifk mutant and a mutant apparently affected in regulation of the conventional system belong to this class. Mutants in the second class are Nif- under all conditions. An FeMo-cofactor-negative mutant (NifB-) belongs to this class, implying an involvement of nifB in both the conventional and the alternative N2 fixation systems. The third mutant class consists of mutants incapable of N2-dependent growth under Mo deficiency. Most of the mutants in this class are also affected in N2 fixation in the presence of 1 microM Na2MoO4, with acetylene reduction rates ranging from 28 to 51% of the rates of the wild type. Strains constructed by genetic transfer of the Kanr marker of mutants from this class into nifHDK or nifK deletion mutants showed N2-dependent growth only in the presence of V2O5, suggesting that growth in the presence of V2O5 and growth under Mo deficiency are independent phenomena. The only mutant in the fourth class shows wild-type nitrogenase activity under Mo sufficiency, but only 10% of the acetylene reduction activity of the wild type in the presence of 50 nM V2O5. The acetylene reduction rates of whole cells of this mutant are identical in Mo-deficient medium and in medium containing V2O5. The conventional nitrogenase subunits are expressed in this mutant even under Mo deficiency or in the presence of V2O5; however, the NH4+- and Mo-repressible proteins normally seen under these conditions could not be detected on two-dimensional gels. The Tn5 insertion carried by this mutant makes N2 fixation dependent solely on the conventional system and consequently abolishes the vanadium effect.     

Survival and dispersion of genetically modified rhizobia in the field and genetic interactions with native strains

Abstract A genetically modified strain of the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae was used to inoculate a typical host, pea, and a control non-host cereal crop in the field. The inoculant was monitored for survival and spread from the site of application, and for genetic interactions with the native population. It could be identified by chromosomally located antibiotic resistance markers and additional markers conferred by the transposon Tn 5 inserted on its conjugative symbiotic plasmid. These markers facilitated enumeration of the strain on selective agar, enabling survival and spread to be monitored over a six year period. Although culturable cell numbers dropped two to three orders of magnitude after the first year, subsequently they remained around 10² viable cells per g soil, even in subplots where only the non-host cereals had been grown. However, peas did give the inoculant a small survival advantage compared with non-hosts. Soil cultivation appeared to play a major role in inoculant dissemination from the site of application. Transfer of the Tn 5 marker to other rhizobia could be monitored by screening for isolates with Tn 5 -encoded antibiotic resistance in the absence of the inoculant chromosomal markers. Over three years, more than 4000 pea root nodules were screened for indigenous rhizobia that had acquired the Tn 5 -marked symbiotic plasmid from the inoculant. None were detected, although overall about 2% of nodules contained the inoculant strain, and transfer of the Tn 5 -marked symbiotic plasmid to three out of four R. leguminosarum biovar viciae isolates from the field site could be demonstrated under laboratory conditions.     

Phylogeny and genetic diversity of native rhizobia nodulating common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Ethiopia

The diversity and phylogeny of 32 rhizobial strains isolated from nodules of common bean plants grown on 30 sites in Ethiopia were examined using AFLP fingerprinting and MLSA. Based on cluster analysis of AFLP fingerprints, test strains were grouped into six genomic clusters and six single positions. In a tree built from concatenated sequences of recA, glnII, rpoB and partial 16S rRNA genes, the strains were distributed into seven monophyletic groups. The strains in the groups B, D, E, G1 and G2 could be classified as Rhizobium phaseoli, R. etli, R. giardinii, Agrobacterium tumefaciens complex and A. radiobacter, respectively, whereas the strains in group C appeared to represent a novel species. R. phaseoli, R. etli, and the novel group were the major bean nodulating rhizobia in Ethiopia. The strains in group A were linked to R. leguminosarum species lineages but not resolved. Based on recA, rpoB and 16S rRNA genes sequences analysis, a single test strain was assigned as R. leucaenae. In the nodC tree the strains belonging to the major nodulating groups were clustered into two closely linked clades. They also had almost identical nifH gene sequences. The phylogenies of nodC and nifH genes of the strains belonging to R. leguminosarum, R. phaseoli, R. etli and the putative new species (collectively called R. leguminosarum species complex) were not consistent with the housekeeping genes, suggesting symbiotic genes have a common origin which is different from the core genome of the species and indicative of horizontal gene transfer among these rhizobia.     

Effect of rhizobia inoculation,N and P supply on Orobanche foetida parasitising faba bean (Vicia faba minor) under field conditions

Orobanche foetida is a chlorophyll-lacking holoparasite that subsists on the roots of plants and causes significant damage to the culture of some leguminous plants particularly faba bean. To evaluate the effect of rhizobia as a biological agent and the effect of nitrogen (N) and/or phosphorus (P) to control O. foetida parasitism in faba bean (Vicia faba minor), a trial was conducted in infested and non-infested fields with O. foetida in the Oued Beja Agricultural Experimental Unit, Tunisia. This field trial was performed during two consecutive cropping seasons using the susceptible cv. Badï, two selected rhizobia strains (Bj1 and Mat) and N combined or not with P. Mat strain showed an antagonistic effect which displayed a parasitism index two-fold lower than the control and carried two times less of emerged parasite spikes at crop maturity. Seed-yield losses caused by O. foetida infestation were very high and reached 95% for the control. Despite this high reduction, faba bean inoculated with Mat strain showed an average yield three-fold higher than the control. Broomrape parasitism did not significantly affect the protein/starch ratio of seeds for all treatments. The Mat strain is a potential candidate for developing an integrate method to control O. foetida parasitism on faba bean.     

Developmental significance of cyanide-resistant respiration under stressed conditions: experiments in Dictyostelium cells

We have previously reported that benzohydroxamic acid (BHAM), a potent inhibitor of cyanide (CN)-resistant respiration mediated by alternative oxidase (AOX), induces formation of unique cell masses (i.e., stalk-like cells with a large vacuole and thick cell wall) in starved Dictyostelium cells. Unexpectedly, however, aox-null cells prepared by homologous recombination exhibited normal development under normal culture conditions on agar, indicating that BHAM-induced stalk formation is not solely attributable to inhibition of CN-resistant respiration. This also suggests that a series of pharmacological approaches in the field of life science has serious limitations. Under stress (e.g., in submerged culture), starved aox-null cells exhibited slightly delayed aggregation compared with parental Ax-2 cells; most cells remained as loose aggregates even after prolonged incubation. Also, the developmental defects of aox-null cells became more marked upon incubation for 30 min just after starvation in the presence of ≥ 1.75 mmol/L H(2)O(2). This seems to indicate that CN-resistant respiration could mitigate cellular damage through reactive oxygen species (ROS), because AOX has a potential role in reduction of ROS production. Starved aox-null cells did not develop in the presence of 5 mmol/L KCN (which completely inhibited the conventional cytochrome-mediated respiration) and remained as non-aggregated single cells on agar even after prolonged incubation. Somewhat surprisingly, however, parental Ax-2 cells were found to develop normally, forming fruiting bodies even in the presence of 10 mmol/L KCN. Taken together, these results suggest that CN-resistant respiration might compensate for the production of adenosine tri-phosphate via oxidative phosphorylation.     

高温胁迫对根瘤菌Tn5在土壤中的存活及其表型表达的影响

研究了３株弗氏中华根瘤菌（Ｒｈｉｚｏｂｉｕｍｆｒｅｄｉｉ）Ｔｎｓ突变株于适宜温度和高温胁迫两种条件下在土壤中的存活和Ｔｎｓ表型的表达．在适宜温度（２８℃）条件下的灭菌和未灭菌土壤中的存活研究表明生物因素抑制了突变株和野生型的生长．但野生型和突变株的存活种群密度之间无显著差异（Ｐ＝０．０１）．在高温胁迫（４０℃）条件下,土壤中野生型和突变株的种群密度迅速下降,其中部分ＯＮ－２和ＯＮ－３细胞丢失了Ｔｎｓ表型,说明部分细菌的Ｔｎ５表型在高温胁迫条件下不能表达．     

Consortia of cyanobacteria/microalgae and bacteria in desert soils: an underexplored microbiota

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Desert ecosystem is generally considered as a lifeless habitat with extreme environmental conditions although it is colonized by extremophilic...     

Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of rhizobia that nodulate snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Egyptian soils

Snap bean fields in 12 of the 25 governorates of Egypt were surveyed to determine the distribution and taxonomy of snap bean-nodulating rhizobia. Nodulation rates in the field were very low, indicating that Egyptian soils do not have sufficient numbers of snap bean-compatible Rhizobium spp. A total of 87 rhizobial isolates were assayed on the most commonly grown cultivars in order to identify the most effective strains. The five most effective isolates (R11, R13, R28, R49 and R52) were fast-growing and utilized a wide range of carbon and nitrogen sources. A phylogenetic assignment of these strains by analysis of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene suggested that all fell within the Rhizobium etli–Rhizobium leguminosarum group. Strains R11, R49 and R52 all clustered with other identified R. etli strains, while strains R13 and R28 were more distinct. The distinctness of R13 and R28 was supported by physiological characteristics, such as their ability to utilize citrate, erythritol, dulcitol and lactate. Strains R13 and R28 also yielded the highest plant nitrogen content of all isolates.The highly effective strains isolated in this study, in particular strains R13 and R28, are promising candidates for improving crop yields. The data also suggested that these two strains represented a novel sub-group within the R. etli–R. leguminosarum group. As snap bean is a crop of great economic value to Egypt, the identification of highly effective rhizobial strains adapted to Egyptian soils, such as strains R13 and R28, is of great interest.