PCR-based DGGE fingerprinting and identification of methanogens detected in three different types of UASB granules

Methane is produced by various methanogenic bacteria present in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) bioreactors. Methane can be used to predict and improve UASB bioreactor efficiency. The methanogen population in the granules can be influenced by the composition of the substrate. The aim of this study was to fingerprint and identify the methanogens present in three different types of UASB granules that had been used to treat winery, brewery and peach-lye canning effluents. This was done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and DNA sequence analysis. The DGGE fingerprints obtained from the methanogen reference cultures of Methanosaeta concilii, Methanosaeta thermophila, Methanosarcina barkeri, Methanosarcina mazeii and Methanobacterium formicicum were compared to the DGGE profiles of the Archaea in the different granules. The positions of the DGGE bands that did not correspond well to the bands of the known species were sequenced and compared to sequences available on GenBank using the Blastn search option. The aligned DNA sequences were used to construct a phylogenetic tree. Based on the data obtained, a DGGE marker was constructed which was used to provide a quick method to identify the Archaeal members of the microbial consortium in UASB granules.     

Rapid lactic acid bacteria identification in dairy products by high-resolution melt analysis of DGGE bands

Aim: To investigate the application of high‐resolution melt (HRM) analysis for rapid species‐level identification of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) communities in dairy products, as well as for bacterial community profiling and monitoring. Methods and Results: First, comparisons of HRM profiles of known reference strains of LAB and their denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) bands showed very good agreement, allowing species recognition and identification from DGGE bands by HRM. Second, samples of cheese, kefir grains and kefir were characterized by PCR‐DGGE, and melting profiles of DGGE bands were compared with known reference strains. Of the 13 DGGE bands, ten were identified by HRM by comparison with the reference strains and only three required sequencing for identification. Use of HRM profiling for comparison and monitoring of total LAB communities from dairy products or starter cultures was also evaluated, and good agreement was found when comparing clustering of DGGE band profiles with clustering of HRM melting profiles. Conclusion: Identification of DGGE bands is possible by comparison of HRM melting profiles with known reference strains. Significance and Impact of the Study: HRM profiling is suggested as an additional approach for identification of DGGE bands.     

Primers containing universal bases reduce multiple amoA gene specific DGGE band patterns when analysing the diversity of beta-ammonia oxidizers in the environment

The gene encoding the active site of the ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) has been exploited as molecular marker for studying ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) diversity in the environment. Primers amplifying functional genes are often degenerated and therefore produce multiple band patterns, when analysed with the Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) approach. To improve the DGGE band patterns we have designed new primer sets which contain inosine residues and are specific for the amoA gene. Primers were evaluated analysing pure AOB cultures and two habitats (wastewater treatment plant, soda pools). We found that the application of inosine primers helped to reduce the apparent complexity of the DGGE band pattern. Comparison of sequences from environmental samples using either degenerated or inosine containing amoA primers retrieved both identical and additional sequences. Both primer sets seem to be limited in their ability to detect the presence of all AOB by DGGE analyses.     

DGGE/TGGE a method for identifying genes from natural ecosystems.

Five years after the introduction of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(DGGE) and temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) in environmental microbiology these techniques are now routinely used in many microbiological laboratories worldwide as molecular tools to compare the diversity of microbial communities and to monitor population dynamics. Recent advances in these techniques have demonstrated their importance in microbial ecology.     

Discrimination of Chinese Beauveria strains by DGGE genotyping and taxonomic identification by sequence analysis of the Bloc nuclear intergenic region

Anamorphic Beauveria are cosmopolitan entomopathogenic fungi that parasitize a broad range of insect species in virtually all terrestrial habitats. A diversity survey of 189 exemplar strains of Beauveria from the RCEF culture collection, representative of its taxonomic diversity, geographic distribution and insect host range in China, was conducted based on a combination of DGGE genotyping and nucleotide sequence analysis of the Bloc nuclear intergenic region. The DGGE assays detected 42 electrophoretically distinct haplotypes, with each haplogroup including 1–13 individuals. Nucleotide sequence analysis established that all haplogroups were uniquely distinguished by one or more nucleotide differences and that isolates from the same DGGE haplogroup share sequence identity. A phylogenetic analysis inclusive of this Bloc haplotype diversity assigned the Chinese Beauveria strains to six species lineages corresponding to B. bassiana sensu lato. (Bals.) Vuill, B. brongniartii (Sacc.) Petch, B. australis S.A. Rehner & Humber, B. asiatica S.A. Rehner & Humber, B. pseudobassiana S.A. Rehner & Humber and B. caledonica Bissett & Widden. B. australis is reported for the first time in China. This study represents the first phylogenetic survey of Beauveria species diversity in China, and demonstrates a simple and effective screening strategy to facilitate the identification of Beauveria genotypes.     

A method to synchronise video cameras using the audio band

This paper proposes and evaluates a novel method for synchronisation of video cameras using the audio band. The method consists in generating and transmitting an audio signal through radio frequency for receivers connected to the microphone input of the cameras and inserting the signal in the audio band. In a software environment, the phase differences among the video signals are calculated and used to interpolate the synchronous 2D projections of the trajectories. The validation of the method was based on: (1) Analysis of the phase difference changes as a function of time of two video signals. (2) Comparison between the values measured with an oscilloscope and by the proposed method. (3) Estimation of the improvement in the accuracy in the measurements of the distance between two markers mounted on a rigid body during movement applying the method. The results showed that the phase difference changes in time slowly (0.150 ms/min) and linearly, even when the same model of cameras are used. The values measured by the proposed method and by oscilloscope showed equivalence (R2=0.998), the root mean square of the difference between the measurements was 0.10 ms and the maximum difference found was 0.31 ms. Applying the new method, the accuracy of the 3D reconstruction had a statistically significant improvement. The accuracy, simplicity and wide applicability of the proposed method constitute the main contributions of this work.     

DGGE method for analyzing 16S rDNA of methanogenic archaeal community in paddy field soil

A denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method for analyzing 16S rDNA of methanogenic archaeal community in paddy field soil is presented. Five specific primers for 16S rDNA of methanogenic archaea, which were modified from the primers for archaea, were first evaluated by polymerase chain reaction and DGGE using genomic DNAs of 13 pure culture strains of methanogenic archaea. The DGGE analysis was possible with two primer pairs (0348aF-GC and 0691R; 0357F-GC and 0691R) of the five pairs tested although 16S rDNA of some non-methanogenic archaea was amplified with 0348aF-GC and 0691R. These two primer pairs were further evaluated for use in analysis of methanogenic archaeal community in Japanese paddy field soil. Good separation and quality of patterns were obtained in DGGE analysis with both primer pairs. A total of 41 DNA fragments were excised from the DGGE gels and their sequences were determined. All fragments belonged to methanogenic archaea. These results indicate that the procedure of DGGE analysis with the primer pair 0357F-GC and 0691R is suitable for investigating methanogenic archaeal community in paddy field soil.     

Assessment of ciliates in the sheep rumen by DGGE

AIMS: This work was carried out to develop a rapid molecular profiling technique to screen ciliate populations in the rumen of sheep. METHODS AND RESULTS: DGGE was used to study the ciliate diversity in the rumen of sheep. There was considerable variation between sheep which were co-housed, and fed the same diet. However, no difference in the major banding patterns was detected, when samples were collected from a single sheep sampled at different points. Following dietary changes, use of a pair-wise comparison of lanes, demonstrated that although there was still diversity between the ciliate population of sheep, the effects as a result of dietary changes were greater. CONCLUSIONS: The technique generated molecular profiles which are sufficiently different to allow comparison between samples, and to permit molecular ecological studies on the rumen ciliate population. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The outcome of this study means that ciliate diversity in the rumen may now be studied by those unfamiliar with morphological identification of these organisms.     

益生菌DGGE Marker的制备及验证

目的 制备指示益生菌标准菌株的DGGE marker并对其可靠性进行验证.方法 分别利用乳杆菌、双歧杆菌特异性引物和细菌V3区通用引物对选取的乳杆菌、双歧杆菌标准菌株DNA进行扩增,利用DGGE检测每个标准菌株条带位置是否与利用这些标准菌株制备的DGGE marker条带相对应.结果 DGGE图谱显示,乳杆菌和双歧杆菌特异性引物或V3区通用引物扩增后的每个标准菌株优势条带,与乳杆菌、双歧杆菌DGGE marker均有对应关系.结论 常见益生菌菌株的DGGE marker可以指示相应菌株的存在;其研制成功,可为微生物生态学中应用DGGE技术检测特定微生物种类的动态变化,提供新的思路.     

PCR DGGE and RT-PCR DGGE show diversity and short-term temporal stability in the Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale group in the human intestinal microbiota

As the Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale (Erec; clostridial phylogenetic cluster XIVa) group is one of the major groups of the human intestinal microbiota, DNA- and RNA-based population analysis techniques (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis; DGGE) were developed and applied to assess the diversity and temporal stability (6 months-2 years) of this faecal clostridial microbiota in 12 healthy adults. The stability of the Erec group was compared with the stability of the predominant bacterial microbiota, which was also assessed with PCR-DGGE. In addition, the Erec group was quantified with a hybridization-based method. According to our results, the Erec group was diverse in each subject, but interindividual uniqueness was not as clear as that of the predominant bacteria. The Erec group was found to be temporally as stable as the predominant bacteria. Over 200 clones obtained from two samples proved the developed method to be specific. However, the amount of bacteria belonging to the Erec group was not related to the diversity of that same bacterial group. In conclusion, the newly developed DGGE method proved to be a valuable and specific tool for the direct assessment of the stability of the Erec group, demonstrating diversity in addition to short-term stability in most of the subjects studied.     

DGGE技术在森林土壤微生物多样性研究中的应用

微生物在森林土壤物质转化中扮演着重要角色,与森林的林型、土壤理化性质存在着密切关系.森林土壤微生物多样性及其变化在一定程度上反映了土壤环境的生产力和稳定性,对表征森林演替,土壤生态修复等有重要意义.变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)技术测定微生物多样性具有快捷、高效和可重复性高等优点.简要介绍DGGE技术的原理,分析这一技术的局限性和优化方法.重点以实例说明该技术在森林土壤微生物多样性研究中的应用现状,展望该技术的发展前景,以期能为今后这一领域的研究提供科学依据.     

PCR-DGGE技术在微生物生态学中的应用

PCR-DGGE技术是随着现代分子生物学发展起来的一种很重要的分析手段,与传统的种群鉴定方法相比,PCR-DGGE技术具有快速和操作简便等优点,对于不可培养的微生物也能达到分离的效果,因而在微生物生态学中受到普遍关注与重视。介绍了该技术的基本原理、主要影响因素等研究动态以及在微生物生态学中的应用现状,并对其应用前景作了综述。     

Universal method for SNP identification

A new approach to the identification of point mutations by allele-specific PCR was proposed. The mutation R408W of the human phenylalanine hydroxylase gene was used as a model. A high specificity of the approach was achieved by the use of primers partially complementary to the genomic DNA. Polyethylene glycol covalently attached to one of the allele-specific primers provides for the differential identification of the PCR products due to a change in electrophoretic mobility.__________Translated from Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 2, 2005, pp. 213–215.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Brenner, Ivanova, Pyshnyi, Morozov.     

A new method for the identification of dinoflagellate cysts

When examined under crossed nichols on a polarizing microscopedinoflagellate cysts exhibit a characteristic cross-like interferencefigure which highlights cysts from background particulates.Thisdinoflagellate ‘fingerprint’ provides an importantnew tool for the analysis of the occurrence of cysts in detritusand sediment.     

Improved method for the identification of the fluoride-resistant plasmacholinesterase genotypes

This investigation was prompted by the findings that (1) dibucaine-resistant homozygotes and heterozygotes for plasmacholinesterase also exhibit resistance to fluoride inhibition, (2) the differentiation of dibucaine-resistant from the fluoride-resistant genotypes is ambiguous with the method of Harris and Whittaker, (3) the plasmacholinesterase inhibition by Na fluoride (FN) is markedly influenced by the temperature. Therefore, we modified their method by increasing (1) the temperature of the reaction from 25C to 37C and (2) the concentration of Na fluoride from 5.0×10^?5 m to 2.5×10^?4 m. With this method, genetically normal individuals have a mean FN±sd=77.0±3.22 while atypical dibucaine-resistant homozygotes have a mean FN±sd=43.0±10.0 and atypical dibucaine-resistant heterozygotes 67.0±5.37. Since a linear correlation was observed between DN and FN by our new method, a fluoride number 2 sd lower than the predicted FN from the DN can distinctly identify the fluoride-resistant plasmacholinesterase genotype E ₁ ^f .