Discrimination of Rhizobium japonicum,Rhizobium lupini,Rhizobium trifolii,Rhizobium leguminosarum and of bacteriods by uptake of 2-ketoglutaric acid,glutamic acid and phosphate

Rhizobium strains (one each of Rh.japonicum, Rh. lupini, Rh. leguminosarum) take up 2-ketoglutaric acid in general much faster and from lower concentrations in the medium than strains of Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Chromobacterium violaceum. A strain of Enterobacter aerogenes, however, is more similar to some Rhizobium strains. The same strains of Rhizobium take up also phosphate much faster and from lower concentrations than the other bacteria tested. 4 strains of Rh. lupini proved to be significantly different from 4 strains of Rh. trifolii in taking up l-glutamic acid from three to ten times lower concentration within 5 h. A similar difference was noticed between 5 strains of Rh. leguminosarum and 2 strains of Rh. japonicum for the uptake of 2-ketoglutaric acid and of l-glutamic acid. Isolated bacteriods from nodules of Glycine max var. Chippeway have a reduced uptake capacity for glutamic acid and for 2-ketoglutaric acid during the first 10–12 h, but reach the same value after 24 h as free living Rh. japonicum cells. The differences in the uptake kinetics are independent of cell concentration. The group II Rhizobium strains (Rh. japonicum and Rh. lupini, slow growing Rhizobium) are characterized by a rapid uptake of glutamic acid to a lowremaining concentration of 1–3×10^-7 M and an uptake of 2-ketoglutaric acid to a remaining concentration of 2–5×10^-7 M. The group I Rhizobium strains (Rh. trifolii and Rh. leguminosarum, fast growing Rhizobium), can be characterized by a much slower uptake of both substances with a more than ten times higher concentration of both metabolites remaining in the medium after the same time.     

Root Surface Association in Relation to Nodulation of Medicago sativa

Nine strains of Rhizobium meliloti, ranging in competitive ability on Medicago sativa from excellent to poor in autoclaved soils, were paired in 29 combinations and used to inoculate M. sativa in a liquid rooting medium. A positive correlation (r = 0.545) between strain ratios in nodules after 28 days and root surface cell ratios after 7 days was determined. Two cell fractions from the root surface, representing loosely and firmly adhering cells, were investigated. Infectivity was linked to the more firmly adhering cells. A significant relationship was established between the cell ratios of competing strains in the two fractions. In another experiment, adherence of cells of both infective and noninfective Rhizobium strains to roots of M. sativa and Trifolium repens was demonstrated; the ratios of loosely to firmly adhering cells on the root surface were significantly narrower with the infective combinations than with noninfective strain-legume associations.     

Review of the western palaearctic Ichneumon-flies of the genus Rhorus Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae: Ctenopelmatinae). II. The species of the punctus,longicornis, chrysopygus,and substitutor groups,the species with the black metasoma and some others

The Western Palaearctic species of Rhorus with the black metasoma and all the species of 4 speciesgroups (the punctus, longicornis, chrysopygus, and substitutor) are revised. Fourteen new species from the Western Palaearctic Region (mainly from Europe) are described: Rh. arkhyz sp. n., Rh. avacha sp. n., Rh. boreator sp. n., Rh. brevigena sp. n., Rh. gauldi sp. n., Rh. humalai sp. n., Rh. jussilai sp. n., Rh. laricis sp. n., Rh. olenek sp. n., Rh. pristiphorae sp. n., Rh. romani sp. n., Rh. suecicus sp. n., Rh. ucrainicus sp. n., and Rh. xanthopygus sp. n. A key to 40 species is given.     

Antigenic affinities of the root-nodule bacteria of legumes

Antisera prepared against 58 strains of root-nodule bacteria and against 16 strains belonging to the genusAgrobacterium were tested against 113 strains ofRhizobium, 20 strains ofAgrobacterium and 20 strains of other, possibly related, bacteria.Three serologically distinct groups of root-nodule bacteria were noted: (1)Rh. trifolii, Rh. leguminosarum andRh. phaseoli; (2)Rh. lupini, Rh. japonicum andRhizobium spp.; (3)Rh. meliloti. Strains ofRh. meliloti showed serological affinities withA. radiobacter andA. tumefaciens. All groups showed wider flagellar than somatic agglutination, and many different serotypes were apparent.The groupings obtained from this investigation are compared with those derived from other taxonomic studies, and the use of serological methods in rhizobial classification is discussed.     

The blood incubation infectivity test as a means of distinguishing between Trypanosoma brucei brucei and T. brucei rhodesiense

Targett G. A. T. and Wilson V. C. L. C. 1973. The blood incubation infectivity test as a means of distinguishing between Trypanosoma brucei brucei and T. brucei rhodesiense. International Journal for Parasitology, 3: 5–11. A simple test for distinguishing between the morphologically identical subspecies Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, which is infective to man, and T. brucei brucei, which by definition is not, has been described. This test, the blood incubation infectivity test (BIIT), is based on absolute differences in the infectivity to rats of the subspecies after exposure to human blood, and was applied to strains which are preserved in the laboratory as stabilates. Five T. brucei brucei strains were BIIT negative since their infectivity was destroyed by incubation in normal human blood but only five of the nine T. brucei rhodesiense strains tested were consistently BIIT positive. The other four gave equivocal results, indicating that the resistance of T. brucei rhodesiense strains to the trypanocidal effect of human blood can change, probably as a result of maintenance in the laboratory.     

Seed surface morphology in some representatives of the Genus Rhodiola sect. Rhodiola (Crassulaceae) in the Russian Far East

The seed coat morphology and anatomy of Rhodiola angusta, Rh. alsia, Rh. integrifolia, Rh. ishidae, R. rosea subsp. arctica, Rh. rosea subsp. rosea and Rh. rosea subsp. sachalinensis were examined comparatively using scanning and light microscopy methods in order to evaluate their characteristics for use in systematic studies. Based on the features of the arrangement of cells and cell outline, three morphological types of seed coats were identified – laticostate (Rh. rosea subsp. rosea), tenuicostate (Rh. integrifolia, Rh. rosea subsp. rosea R. rosea subsp. arctica and Rh. rosea subsp. sachalinensis) and colliculate (Rh. alsia, Rh. angusta, Rh. ishidae). Exotesta sculpture features are stable across a range of habitats in all taxa except Rh. rosea subsp. rosea. Considerable variability of seed coat morphology is reported in the latter species and its possible implication for species taxonomy is discussed.     

Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Chili Bo, a Malaysian Food Ingredient

Ninety-two strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from a Malaysian food ingredient, chili bo, stored for up to 25 days at 28°C with no benzoic acid (product A) or with 7,000 mg of benzoic acid kg⁻¹ (product B). The strains were divided into eight groups by traditional phenotypic tests. A total of 43 strains were selected for comparison of their sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) whole-cell protein patterns with a SDS-PAGE database of LAB. Isolates from product A were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus farciminis, Pediococcus acidilactici, Enterococcus faecalis, and Weissella confusa. Five strains belonging to clusters which could not be allocated to existing species by SDS-PAGE were further identified by 16S rRNA sequence comparison. One strain was distantly related to the Lactobacillus casei/Pediococcus group. Two strains were related to Weissella at the genus or species level. Two other strains did not belong to any previously described 16S rRNA group of LAB and occupied an intermediate position between the L. casei/Pediococcus group and the Weissella group and species of Carnobacterium. The latter two strains belong to the cluster of LAB that predominated in product B. The incidence of new species and subspecies of LAB in chili bo indicate the high probability of isolation of new LAB from certain Southeast Asian foods. None of the isolates exhibited bacteriocin activity against L. plantarum ATCC 14917 and LMG 17682.     

Sequence Analysis of Amplified DNA Fragments Containing the Region Encoding the Putative Lipase Substrate-Binding Domain and Genotyping of Aeromonas hydrophila

DNA fragments were amplified by PCR from all tested strains of Aeromonas hydrophila, A. caviae, and A. sobria with primers designed based on sequence alignment of all lipase, phospholipase C, and phospholipase A1 genes and the cytotonic enterotoxin gene, all of which have been reported to have the consensus region of the putative lipase substrate-binding domain. All strains showed lipase activity, and all amplified DNA fragments contained a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the substrate-binding domain. Thirty-five distinct nucleotide sequence patterns and 15 distinct deduced amino acid sequence patterns were found in the amplified DNA fragments from 59 A. hydrophila strains. The deduced amino acid sequences of the amplified DNA fragments from A. caviae and A. sobria strains had distinctive amino acids, suggesting a species-specific sequence in each organism. Furthermore, the amino acid sequence patterns appear to differ between clinical and environmental isolates among A. hydrophila strains. Some strains whose nucleotide sequences were identical to one another in the amplified region showed an identical DNA fingerprinting pattern by repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence-PCR genotyping. These results suggest that A. hydrophila, and also A. caviae and A. sobria strains, have a gene encoding a protein with lipase activity. Homologs of the gene appear to be widely distributed in Aeromonas strains, probably associating with the evolutionary genetic difference between clinical and environmental isolates of A. hydrophila. Additionally, the distinctive nucleotide sequences of the genes could be attributed to the genotype of each strain, suggesting that their analysis may be helpful in elucidating the genetic heterogeneity of Aeromonas.     

Antigenic Differences Between Infective and Noninfective Strains of Rhizobium trifolii

Immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis techniques have revealed the presence of soluble antigens in sonicated preparations of four infective strains of Rhizobium trifolii which were absent in similar preparations of related noninfective mutants derived from the infective strains. The soluble antigens unique to the infective strains were cross-reactive with one another.     

Phylogenetic Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Strains Applicable to Natto (Fermented Soybean) Production

Spore-forming Bacillus strains that produce extracellular poly-γ-glutamic acid were screened for their application to natto (fermented soybean food) fermentation. Among the 424 strains, including Bacillus subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens, which we isolated from rice straw, 59 were capable of fermenting natto. Biotin auxotrophism was tightly linked to natto fermentation. A multilocus nucleotide sequence of six genes (rpoB, purH, gyrA, groEL, polC, and 16S rRNA) was used for phylogenetic analysis, and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was also conducted on the natto-fermenting strains. The ability to ferment natto was inferred from the two principal components of the AFLP banding pattern, and natto-fermenting strains formed a tight cluster within the B. subtilis subsp. subtilis group.     

Synthesis of α-cyclopiazonic acid by fungi of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus</Emphasis>

The presence of α-cyclopiazonic acid has been studied among metabolites of Aspergillus fungi. The study was performed with 138 cultures of 13 species obtained from the All-Russia Collection of Microorganisms and the collection of our institute. α-Cyclopiazonic acid was most frequently encountered among the metabolites of the section Flavi (the ability to synthesize α-cyclopiazonic acid was expressed in 61% of the strains of A. flavus, 83% of the strains of A. oryzae, and all strains of A. tamarii). This expression index for A. versicolor was less than 5%. We showed for the first time that α-cyclopiazonic acid is produced by A. fumigatus and A. phoenicis (expression in 30% of the strains of either species).     

Oxidative addition of the C-O bond of amino acid esters to Rh(I) forming chelating acyl complexes

Esters of N-acylated amino acids and the sterically demanding phosphine 2-(di-ortho-tolylphosphino)phenol react within 1 h at room temperature with the Rh(I) centers of [Cl(μ-Cl)Rh(cyclooctene)₂]₂ to give products of oxidative addition of the ester carbonyl-O bond. The N-acyl carbonyl oxygen is bound to the Rh in these initial adducts, but is displaced upon addition of PMe₃, PhPMe₂, NH₂NMe₂, or the thioether function of a methionine derivative. Remarkably, both initial products from achiral amino acids and their ligand adducts are formed as single five-coordinate diastereomers in essentially quantitative yields. However, asymmetric induction by chiral amino acid derivatives of proline and phenylalanine on the stereochemistry at Rh was modest. Finally, the identities of infrared absorptions of acyl and amide groups in the complexes were established unequivocally by synthesis and spectroscopy of N-acetylglycine esters with a ¹³C label at either the ester or amide carbonyl group.     

AFLP analysis of the genetic diversity of closely related rhododendron species of the section rhodorastra (Ericaceae) from Siberia and the Far East of Russia

Using AFLP analysis, the genetic variation in four population samples of Rhododendron ledebourii, three such samples of Rh. dauricum, two samples of Rh. sichotense, and one sample of Rh. mucronulatum was examined. Application of three selective primer pairs provided genotyping of 87 accessions from the four species at 213 loci. An analysis of molecular variance revealed a high level of differences between all four species (F _ST = 0.172). Populations within the species were also differentiated: for Rh. dauricum F _ST = 0.245; Rh. ledebourii F _ST = 0.264; Rh. sichotense F _ST = 0.034. The highest Nei distance was observed for Rh. mucronulatum with Rh. dauricum and Rh. ledebourii (D = 0.057 and 0.069, respectively). Similarity was observed between the species pairs of Rh. ledebourii-Rh. dauricum (0.032) and Rh. sichotense-Rh. mucronulatum (0.034). The Far Eastern species Rh. sichotense and Rh. mucronulatum were characterized by an elevated level of intrapopulation variation. The data from the AFLP-based analysis of differentiation and variation that were thus obtained were compared with the literature data on the morphological criteria that differentiate the species of interest and those regarding the history of the formation of their ranges. The independence of all the species we examined was confirmed.     

Production of Hydrocinnamic Acid by Clostridia

Hydrocinnamic acid was found in acid extracts of spent growth medium from cultures of Clostridium sporogenes. The acid was identified by mass spectrometry and its identity was confirmed by gas chromatography. The acid was produced in relatively large amounts (2 to 3 μmoles/ml of medium) by C. sporogenes, toxigenic types A, B, D, and F of C. botulinum, and some strains of C. bifermentans. Other strains of C. bifermentans and strains of C. sordellii and C. caproicum produced only small amounts (0.1 to 0.4 μmoles/ml) of the acid. The acid was not detected in spent medium from toxigenic types C and E of C. botulinum or from 25 other strains representing eight Clostridium species. Resting cell suspensions exposed to l-phenylalanine produced hydrocinnamic and cinnamic acid; the latter compound probably functions as an intermediate in the metabolism of l-phenylalanine.     

Isolation of Oxalic acid tolerating fungi and decipherization of its potential to control Sclerotinia sclerotiorum through oxalate oxidase like protein

Oxalic acid plays major role in the pathogenesis by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; it lowers the pH of nearby environment and creates the favorable condition for the infection. In this study we examined the degradation of oxalic acid through oxalate oxidase and biocontrol of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. A survey was conducted to collect the rhizospheric soil samples from Indo-Gangetic Plains of India to isolate the efficient fungal strains able to tolerate oxalic acid. A total of 120 fungal strains were isolated from root adhering soils of different vegetable crops. Out of 120 strains a total of 80 isolates were able to grow at 10?mM of oxalic acid whereas only 15 isolates were grow at 50?mM of oxalic acid concentration. Then we examined the antagonistic activity of the 15 isolates against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. These strains potentially inhibit the growth of the test pathogen. A total of three potential strains and two standard cultures of fungi were tested for the oxalate oxidase activity. Strains S7 showed the maximum degradation of oxalic acid (23?%) after 60?min of incubation with fungal extract having oxalate oxidase activity. Microscopic observation and ITS (internally transcribed spacers) sequencing categorized the potential fungal strains into the Aspergillus, Fusarium and Trichoderma. Trichoderma sp. are well studied biocontrol agent and interestingly we also found the oxalate oxidase type activity in these strains which further strengthens the potentiality of these biocontrol agents.     

Vertebrate faeces as sources of nodulating Frankia in Patagonia

Frankia strains nodulate the native actinorhizal plant Ochetophila trinervis (sin. Discaria trinervis), which grows in stream margins and nearby areas in northwest Patagonia (Argentina). Infective Frankia are found in soils with presence of host plants but also may be found in areas lacking them. This may be partly explained by water transport of Frankia propagules but there are other possible sources. The aim of this study was to discover whether the faeces of introduced mammalian herbivores, including cows (Bos taurus, adult and calf), horses (Equus caballus), sheep (Ovis aries), red and/or fallow deer (Cervus elaphus and Dama dama, respectively), wild boar (Sus scrofa), European hare (Lepus capensis), or the native upland goose (Chloephaga picta), could be a source of infective Frankia, and enhance its dispersal. Faecal material and soil samples were aseptically sampled in different plant communities, and tested via plant bioassays using O. trinervis. The faeces of all animals contained infective Frankia and led to an effective symbiosis with this plant. Faeces of large introduced herbivores gave rise to higher nodulation (number of nodulated plants with respect to the total number of inoculated plants) than faeces of hare and upland goose. Soils from the sites where the cow (two sites), sheep, wild boar and deer faeces were collected did not contain infective Frankia. This suggests that the animals may have ingested Frankia from plant material and that the Frankia propagules passed through the digestive tracts of the animals without losing its infectivity. We conclude that the faeces of large introduced herbivores contribute to the dispersal of infective Frankia in Northwest Patagonia.     

Lytic and Lysogenic Infection of Diverse Escherichia coli and Shigella Strains with a Verocytotoxigenic Bacteriophage

A verocytotoxigenic bacteriophage isolated from a strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157, into which a kanamycin resistance gene (aph3) had been inserted to inactivate the verocytotoxin gene (vt₂), was used to infect Enterobacteriaceae strains. A number of Shigella and E. coli strains were susceptible to lysogenic infection, and a smooth E. coli isolate (O107) was also susceptible to lytic infection. The lysogenized strains included different smooth E. coli serotypes of both human and animal origin, indicating that this bacteriophage has a substantial capacity to disseminate verocytotoxin genes. A novel indirect plaque assay utilizing an E. coli recA441 mutant in which phage-infected cells can enter only the lytic cycle, enabling detection of all infective phage, was developed.     

Diversity of culturable yeasts in phylloplane of sugarcane in Thailand and their capability to produce indole-3-acetic acid

Yeasts were isolated by the enrichment technique from the phylloplane of 94 samples of sugarcane leaf collected from seven provinces in Thailand. All sugarcane leaf samples contained yeasts and 158 yeast strains were obtained. On the basis of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit rRNA gene sequence analysis, 144 strains were identified to 24 known species in 14 genera belonging to the Ascomycota viz. Candida akabanensis, Candida dendronema, Candida mesorugosa, Candida michaelii, Candida nivariensis, Candida rugosa, Candida orthopsilosis, Candida quercitrusa, Candida tropicalis, Candida xylopsoci, Cyberlindnera fabianii, Cyberlindnera rhodanensis, Debaryomyces nepalensis, Hannaella aff. coprosmaensis, Hanseniaspora guilliermondii, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Lachancea thermotolerans, Lodderomyces elongisporus, Metschnikowia koreensis, Meyerozyma caribbica, Millerozyma koratensis, Pichia kudriavzevii, Torulaspora delbrueckii and Wickerhamomyces edaphicus, and 12 species in six genera of the Basidiomycota viz . Cryptococcus flavescens, Cryptococcus laurentii, Cryptococcus rajasthanensis, Kwoniella heveanensis, Rhodosporidium fluviale, Rhodosporidium paludigenum, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Rhodotorula sesimbrana, Rhodotorula taiwanensis, Sporidiobolus ruineniae, Sporobolomyces carnicolor and Sporobolomyces nylandii. Seven strains were identical or similar to four undescribed species. Another seven strains represented four novels species in the genus Metschnikowia, Nakazawaea, Wickerhamomyces and Yamadazyma. The results revealed 69 % of the isolated strains were ascomycete yeasts and 31 % were basidiomycete yeast. The most prevalent species was M. caribbica with a 23 % frequency of occurrence followed by Rh. taiwanensis (11 %) and C. tropicalis (10 %). All strains were assessed for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) producing capability showing that 69 strains had the capability of producing IAA when cultivated in yeast extract peptone dextrose broth supplemented with 1 g/L l-tryptophan. The highest IAA concentration of 565.1 mg/L was produced by R. fluviale DMKU-RK253.