Efficacy of artificial humic acid as a selective nutrient in HV agar used for the isolation of soil actinomycetes

The efficacies of various kinds of humic acid, as the source of carbon and nitrogen in HV agar reported in the previous paper, were compared to the selective isolation of soil actinomycetes. The 4 types of natural humic acid, A, B, P and Rp were prepared from different soils, and 3 kinds of artificial humic acid were made from carbohydrates and urea in our laboratory.Among the natural humic acids, type Rp, which has been reported to be associated with an initial state of humification in natural conditions, showed the greatest efficacy.However, one of the artificial humic acids, which was prepared from glucose and urea, was considered to be superior to the Rp natural humic acid: 1) The HV agar containing this artificial humic acid (HV-glucose HA agar) produced the same large number of actinomycete colonies on the plate as that of the HV agar with type Rp soil humic acid (HV-Rp agar). 2) The HV-glucose HA agar restricted the number of bacterial colonies on the plates to one-half of that on HV-Rp agar plates. 3) The quality of natural himic acids varies, whereas artificial ones are more constant and can be made in any laboratory.     

Distribution of rare actinomycetes in Japanese soils

The distribution of rare actinomycetes in 237 soil samples from various locations throughout Japan was investigated using a special isolation medium, HV agar.The populations (colony forming units) of these actinomycetes per gram of dried soil were Microtetraspora 6 × 10³, Saccharomonospora 1.7 × 10⁴, Dactylosporangium 5.4 × 10⁴, Streptosporangium 1.2 × 10⁵, Microbispora 1.4 × 10⁵, Nocardioforms 1.9 × 10⁵, and Micromonospora 6.8 × 10⁵. Streptomycetes 2.2 × 10⁶, and Unidentified actinomycetes 0.9 × 10⁶ were also observed.Their distributions seemed to be associated with environmental factors such as soil type (Land Use Classification), soil pH, humus content, and the characteristics of the humic acid. In general, the largest populations were found in soils of cultivated fields, which were rich in humus and had pH values between 6.5–7.0.However, the distribution of some genera in cultivated field soils (154 samples) was remarkable. The numbers of Microbispora and Streptosporangium were the largest in humus-rich acidic (pH 5.0–6.05) soils with low humic acid Δ log K values (black colored humic acid). Saccharomonospora was found most frequently in relatively humus-poor alkaline (pH 7.0–7.5) soils having higher Δ log K values (brown humic acid).Dactylosporangium and Microtetraspora, Saccharomonospora, and Micromonospora were most frequently isolated from mountainous forest soils, level-land forest or cultivated field soils, and pasture soils, respectively.     

Isolation of Actinomycetes from Soil Using Extremely High Frequency Radiation

A new method employing extremely high frequencies (EHFs) is proposed for the selective isolation of actinomycetes from soil. The pretreatment of soil suspensions with EHF wavelengths of 5.6 and 7.1 mm led to a nonselective isolation of actinomycetes. At the same time, the irradiation of soil suspensions within wavelength bands of 3.8–5.8 and 8–11.5 mm considerably augmented the total number of isolated actinomycetes and increased the fraction of the isolated rare genera by 2 and 7 times, respectively. The rare actinomycete genera were represented by Actinomadura, Microtetraspora, Nonomuraea, Micromonospora, Amycolatopsis, Pseudonocardia, Saccharotrix, and Streptosporangium.     

The Application of Succession Analysis in Combination with EHF Irradiation to the Selective Isolation of Actinomycetes from Soil

A new method employing succession analysis and extremely high frequency (EHF) irradiation is proposed for the selective isolation of actinomycetes from soil. Total actinomycetes were efficiently isolated from soil suspensions irradiated in the wavelength band 4.6–5.8 mm on the 14th and 45th days of succession initiated by soil wetting and from soil suspensions irradiated in the wavelength band 8–11.5 mm on the 7th day of succession. The rare actinomycete genera Actinomadura, Micromonospora, Nonomuraea, Microbispora, Amycolatopsis, Pseudonocardia, Saccharothrix, Streptosporangium, Actinosynnema, Nocardioides, and Saccharopolyspora were isolated by either of the two approaches (succession analysis and EHF irradiation); however, the range of isolated rare actinomycetes was considerably wider when a combination of the two approaches was used. For instance, actinomycetes of the rare genera Actinocorallia, Promicromonospora, Actinoplanes, and Kibdelosporangium were isolated only when EHF irradiation was employed at the early stages of succession.     

Comparative evaluation of various bacterial growth inhibitors as selective agents for isolation of soil Actinomyces]

Tobramycin and dioxidine sensitivity of 57 strains belonging to 14 actinomycetes genera was studied. The cultures of Streptomyces were much more sensitive to tobramycin than the cultures of rare genera. The majority of the Streptomyces cultures showed a high resistance to dioxidine (MIC greater than or equal to 50 micrograms/ml). At the same time the majority of the cultures of rare genera were inhibited by low concentrations of dioxidine (no more than 50 micrograms/ml). For isolation of actinomycetes from soil samples, tobramycin, dioxidine, ceftriaxone and novobiocin were used. Tobramycin added in a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml to the Gauze agar organic medium No. 2 promoted a 2-fold increase in detection of actinomycetes of the rare genera as compared to the control. It was especially favourable for detection of cultures belonging to Micromonospora, Amycolatopsis, Streptosporangium and Nocardiopsis. Dioxidine in concentrations of 10 and 50 micrograms/ml inhibited the growth of the cultures belonging to rare genera. Ceftriaxone in the same concentrations inhibited the growth of the cultures of both Streptomyces and the rare genera. Novobiocin favoured detection of the cultures belonging to Amicolatopsis and Micromonospora. Therefore, among the tested compounds tobramycin and novobiocin appeared to be the most useful selective agents for isolation of actinomycetes of rare genera.     

The occurrence and distribution of actinomycetes in lakes of the English Lake District

Investigation of the occurrence of mesophilic actinomycetes in the lakes of the English Lake District revealed their widespread distribution in the lacustrine environment. Although only low numbers of actinomycetes occurred in the water, high numbers were recovered from all the lake muds. Total numbers of actinomycetes in the muds correlated quite well with the lakes’ productivity status. High numbers of Micro-monospora, Streptomyces and nocardioform actinomycetes were isolated from all the lakes sampled. Low numbers of Streptosporangium were isolated from all the muds but strains of Actinomadura, Actinoplanes, Dactylosporangium, Microbispora and Thermomonospora were only encountered occasionally. Micromonospora was the numerically dominant genus isolated from all the lakes sampled. This dominance was even more striking in deeper layers of mud and this was thought to reflect a more resistant spore stage in Micromonospora than in either of the other two main genera.     

Colonization of plant rhizosphere by actinomycetes of different genera

The survival of environmental isolates of actinomycetes introduced with the seeds of agricultural plants in the root-free soil and in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane was studied. Different strategies of colonization of the rhizosphere were revealed for the representatives of the genera Streptomyces, Micromonospora, and Streptosporangium, the organisms typical for the moderate climate rhizosphere. The plants of winter rye (Secale cereale L.) inoculated with actinomycetes were shown to have growth advantages, while the cow clover plants (Trifolium pratense L.) had no growth advantages compared to uninoculated plants. The role of the plant component in the interaction with mycelial prokaryotes is discussed.     

Actinomycete growth in conditions of low moisture

Actinomycete communities demonstrated a replacement of the generic composition in time as a function of soil moisture. Representatives of the genera Streptomyces, Micromonospora, Actinomadura, Saccharopolyspora, and Microbispora were repeatedly isolated from soil under different moisture conditions (field capacity, maximum molecular capacity, and maximum adsorption capacity). Representatives of some rare genera (Thermomonospora and Kibdelosporangium) were isolated from soil with low moisture levels inhibiting growth of more hydrophilic actinomycetes and bacteria. Spores of some actinomycetes could grow at low relative air humidity (RH) (50 and 67%). The complete growth cycle of all actinomycetes starting from spore germination to sporulation was observed only at RH of 98%.     

Isolation and characterization of potent antifungal strains of the Streptomyces violaceusniger clade active against Candida albicans

Streptomyces strains were isolated from a sagebrush rhizosphere soil sample on humic acid vitamin (HV) agar and water yeast extract (WYE) agar supplemented with 1.5% (w/w) phenol as a selective medium. Acidic, neutral and alkaline pH conditions were also used in the isolation procedures. The phenol treatment reduced the numbers of both actinomycetes and non-actinomycetes on plates under all three pH conditions. From phenol-amended HV and WYE agar, 16 strains were isolated in pure culture; 14 from the HV agar and two from the WYE agar. All the isolates were tested for their antifungal activities against Pythium ultimum P8 and five yeast strains, including two antifungal drug-resistant Candida albicans strains. HV isolates that showed broad-spectrum antifungal antibiotic activities were all found to be members of the Streptomyces violaceusniger clade, while those that did not were non-clade members. The phenol treatment was not selective for S. violaceusniger clade members. Therefore, we tested the spores of both S. violaceusniger clade and non-clade members using two biocides, phenol and hydrogen peroxide, as selection agents. Spores of non-clade members, such as S. coelicolor M145 and S. lividans TK 21, survived these two biocides just as well as S. violaceusniger clade members. Thus, in our hands, biocide resistance was not S. violaceusniger clade specific as previously reported. However, isolates showing broad-spectrum antifungal and antiyeast activity were all members of the clade. We conclude that screening of isolates for broad-spectrum antifungal/antiyeast activity is the preferred method of isolating S. violaceusniger clade strains rather than biocide-based selection. Phylogenetic analysis of the phenol-resistant isolates revealed that the HV isolates that exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal antibiotic activity were all clustered and closely related to the S. violaceusniger clade, while the isolates that did not exhibit antifungal antibiotic activity were all non-clade members.     

Application of a method incorporating differential centrifugation for selective isolation of motile actinomycetes in soil and plant litter

The present paper describes a simple enrichment technique which enables rapid and selective isolation of diverse zoosporic actinomycete genera directly from soil and plant litter. This technique, designated the rehydration and centrifugation (RC) method, consists of immersing the air-dried source material in 10 mM phosphate buffer containing 10% soil extract, letting the preparation stand at 30 °C for 90 min, followed by centrifugation of the fluid at 1,500×g for 20 min. Portions of the supernatant containing actinomycete zoospores are plated on the humic acid-vitamin agar which is supplemented with nalidixic acid and trimethoprim as the selective inhibitors for Gram-negative bacteria and bacilli. The phosphate buffer-soil extract solution significantly promoted liberation of motile zoospores from the source material. The centrifugation stage greatly eliminated streptomycetes and other non-motile actinomycetes from the liquid phase, thereby facilitating selective growth of rare, motile actinomycetes on the isolation plates subsequent to inoculation. Ten different soil and leaf-litter samples, taken from fields, forests, and stream banks, were examined. The RC method consistently achieved preferential isolation of motile actinomycetes in all samples, which accounted for 37–86% of the total microbial population recovered. The most frequently isolated motile actinomycetes were Actinoplanes and Dactylosporangium. Strains of Actinokineospora, Catenuloplanes and Kineosporia were also recovered, depending on the nature of the samples examined. Other motile actinomycetes that were occasionally isolated in small numbers included Actinosynnema, Geodermatophilus and Sporichthya.     

青海沙珠玉人工植被系统土壤放线菌生态分布及拮抗性

为探索人工植被重建对土壤放线菌的影响,采用稀释平板法及琼脂块法对青海沙珠玉地区植被重建后沙土中放线菌的生态分布及拮抗性进行了研究.结果表明：随着高寒干旱沙地植被重建和覆盖度的提高：土壤放线菌数量显著增加,其中退耕还草地土壤中放线菌总数较沙地提高145.4%,小单孢菌数量约为沙地的6倍;拮抗性放线菌平均筛出率大幅度增加,退耕还草地土壤中拮抗性放线菌、天然草地土壤中抗细菌放线菌及林地土壤中抗病原真菌放线菌的平均筛出率约分别为沙地的2、3.2及1.5倍;地表植被盖度与土壤养分对放线菌数量以及拮抗性放线菌数量有很大影响,其中有机质、碱解氮含量以及鲜草产量与放线菌总数的相关性达到极显著水平(P<0.01),有机质含量、鲜草产量与拮抗性放线菌株数的相关性达到极显著水平(P<0.01).此外,植被盖度、土壤全氮、全磷、全钾、全盐以及速效钾含量与放线菌总数、链霉菌数、小单孢菌数的相关性也达到显著水平(P<0.05).     

Isolation of actinomycetes from soil using extremely high frequency radiation

A new method employing extremely high frequencies (EHFs) is proposed for the selective isolation of actinomycetes from soil. The pretreatment of soil suspensions with EHF wavelengths of 5.6 and 7.1 mm led to a nonselective isolation of actinomycetes. At the same time, the irradiation of soil suspensions within wavelength bands of 3.8-5.8 and 8-11.5 mm considerably augmented the total number of isolated actinomycetes and increased the fraction of the isolated rare genera by 2 and 7 times, respectively. The rare actinomycete genera were represented by Actinomadura, Microtetraspora, Nonomuraea, Micromonospora, Amycolatopsis, Pseudonocardia, Saccharotrix, and Streptosporangium.     

大连海域沉积物中可培养海洋链霉菌活性及其多样性

以大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和尖孢镰刀枯萎病菌作为测试靶目标,采用9种分离培养基从大连海域13个不同采样点的海洋沉积物样品中分离到165株海洋链霉菌。从165株海洋放线菌中筛选到对金黄色葡萄球菌具有抑制活性的菌株85株,占总菌株数的51.5%;对大肠杆菌具有抑制活性的菌株27株,占总菌株数的16.4%;对尖孢镰刀枯萎病菌具有抑制活性的菌株仅有6株,占总菌株数的3.6%。因此,海洋链霉菌的活性更多地表现为对细菌的抗性,尤其对革兰氏阳性细菌具有更高的抑制活性。对其中具有抑制活性或形态独特的菌株进行了16S r DNA序列分析,并构建系统发育树,显示活性海洋链霉菌具有丰富的种类多样性和广谱抗菌活性。同种海洋链霉菌与土壤链霉菌活性比较结果也表明,海洋链霉菌多表现抗革兰氏阳性细菌活性。     

The application of succession analysis in combination with extremely high-frequency irradiation to the selective isolation of actinomycetes from soil

A new method employing succession analysis and extremely high-frequency (EHF) irradiation is proposed for the selective isolation of actinomycetes from soil. Total actinomycetes were efficiently isolated from soil suspensions irradiated in the wavelength band 4.6-5.8 mm on the 14th and 45th days of succession initiated by soil wetting and from soil suspensions irradiated in the wavelength band 8-11.5 mm on the 7th day of succession. The rare actinomycete genera Actinomadura, Micromonospora, Nonomuraea, Microbispora, Amycolatopsis, Pseudonocardia, Saccharothrix, Streptosporangium, Actinosynnema, Nocardioides, and Saccharopolyspora were isolated by either of the two approaches (succession analysis and EHF irradiation); however, the range of isolated rare actinomycetes was considerably wider when the combination of the two approaches was used. For instance, actinomycetes of the rare genera Actinocorallia, Promicromonospora, Actinoplanes, and Kibdelosporangium were isolated only when EHF irradiation was employed at the early stages of succession.     

Actinomycetes from solitary wasp mud nest and swallow bird mud nest: isolation and screening for their antibacterial activity

The aim of this study was to isolate and screen actinomycetes from solitary wasp and swallow bird mud nests for antimicrobial activity. The actinomycetes were isolated from soil of nests of solitary wasp and swallow bird, and identified on the basis of morphological characteristics and molecular biological methods. A total of 109 actinomycetal isolates were obtained from 12 soil samples (6 from each habitat) using two media. The highest number of actinomycetes were recovered on Humic acid vitamin agar media (65.13%, n = 71) as compared to actinomycetes isolation agar media (34.86%, n = 38). The antimicrobial activity of actinomycetes isolates was determined using the agar plug method. Among 109 isolates, 51 isolates (46.78%) showed antibacterial activity by agar plug assay. The morphological and molecular characteristics confirmed that the most of active isolates in both sample belonged to the genus Streptomyces, the other potential genera like Streptosporangium, Actinomadura, Saccharopolyspora, Thermoactinomycetes and Nocardia were also recovered, but in a low frequency. The isolates designated as 8(1)*, BN-6, MN 2(6), MN 2(7) and MN 9(V) showed most promising activity against various drug resistant bacterial pathogens. It seems that the promising isolates from these unusual/unexplored habitats may prove to be an important step in development of drug for treating multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogens.     

Succession of Indigenous Pseudomonas spp. and Actinomycetes on Barley Roots Affected by the Antagonistic Strain Pseudomonas fluorescens DR54 and the Fungicide Imazalil

In recent years, the interest in the use of bacteria for biological control of plant-pathogenic fungi has increased. We studied the possible side effects of coating barley seeds with the antagonistic strain Pseudomonas fluorescens DR54 or a commercial fungicide, imazalil. This was done by monitoring the number of indigenous Pseudomonas organisms and actinomycetes on barley roots during growth in soil, harvest after 50 days, and subsequent decomposition. Bacteria were enumerated by traditional plate spreading on Gould's S1 agar (Pseudomonas) and as filamentous colonies on Winogradsky agar (actinomycetes) and by two quantitative competitive PCR assays. For this we developed an assay targeting Streptomyces and closely related genera. DR54 constituted more than 75% of the Pseudomonas population at the root base during the first 21 days but decreased to less than 10% at day 50. DR54 was not successful in colonizing root tips. Initially, DR54 affected the number of indigenous Pseudomonas organisms negatively, whereas imazalil affected Pseudomonas numbers positively, but the effects were transient. Although plate counts were considerably lower than the number of DNA copies, the two methods correlated well for Pseudomonas during plant growth, but after plant harvest Pseudomonas-specific DNA copy numbers decreased while plate counts were in the same magnitude as before. Hence, Pseudomonas was 10-fold more culturable in a decomposition environment than in the rhizosphere. The abundance of actinomycetes was unaffected by DR54 or imazalil amendments, and CFU and quantitative PCR results correlated throughout the experiment. The abundance of actinomycetes increased gradually, mostly in numbers of DNA copies, confirming their role in colonizing old roots.     

Haloalkaliphilic actinomycetes in soils of Mongolian desert steppes

The abundance of actinomycetes isolated from the soils of Mongolian desert steppes varies from several thousand to hundreds of thousands of CFU/g soil, depending on soil type and isolation medium. Eight actinomycete genera have been found in these soils: Streptomyces, Micromonospora, Saccharopolyspora, Actinomadura, Microtetraspora, Thermomonospora, Nocardia, and Dactylosporangium. The streptomycete complexes of brown desert-steppe and gray-brown desert alkaline soils include halophilic, alkaliphilic, and haloalkaliphilic species that grow most successfully on the media with a salt concentration of 5% and pH 8–9.     

武陵山放线菌多样性

[目的]为了探究武陵山放线菌多样性,以便从新放线菌菌株中发现新的潜在药物先导化合物.[方法]从武陵山采集280份土样,采用纯培养的方法,用4种培养基分离到1134株放线菌.选择其中30株代表菌进行了初步分类鉴定;以3株细菌和7株农作物致病真菌作为指示菌,检测其抑菌活性;利用特异性引物扩增的方法,检测是否具有聚酮合酶(PKS Ⅰ、PKSⅡ)基因、非核糖体多肽合成酶(NRPS)基因和多烯类化合物合成酶(CYP)基因.[结果]分离到的武陵山放线菌中,链霉菌占70%以上,还有小单孢菌等8个科13个属,其中有5个菌株是潜在的新种.选取的30株实验菌对细菌、真菌有不同程度的抗菌活性;其中含有4类化合物合成基因的菌株占23%～60%.[结论]武陵山原始森林土壤中,放线菌多样性很丰富,且存在很多未开发的稀有类群.有抑菌活性的菌株,可用于进一步的药物开发利用.     

Isolation of endophytic actinomycetes from selected plants and their antifungal activity

The isolation of endophytic actinomycetes from surface-sterilized tissues of 36 plant species was made using humic acid–vitamin (HV) agar as a selection medium. Of the 330 isolates recovered, 212 were from roots, 97 from leaves and 21 isolates from stems with a prevalence of 3.9, 1.7 and 0.3%, respectively. Identification of endophytic actinomycetes was based on their morphology and the amino acid composition of the whole-cell extract. Most isolates were classified as Streptomyces sp. (n = 277); with the remainder belonging to Microbispora sp. (n = 14), Nocardia sp. (n = 8) and Micromonospora sp. (n = 4). Four isolates were unclassified and 23 were lost during subculture. The most prevalent group of isolates were the Streptomyces sp. occurring in 6.4% of the tissue samples of Zingiber officinale. Scanning electron microscopy investigation of this plant revealed that 7.5% of the root and 5% of the leaf samples contained endophytes. Three of the Streptomyces sp. isolates strongly inhibited Colletotrichum musae, five were very active against Fusarium oxysporum and two strongly inhibited growth of both test fungi.     

Diversity of antifungal actinomycetes in various vegetative soils of Korea

Diversity of actinomycetes and their antifungal activities against some plant pathogenic fungi were examined in various vegetative soils from 14 different sites in the western part of Korea. Actinomycete counts ranged from 1.17 x 10(6) to 4.20 x 10(6) cfu x g(-1) dried soil. A total of 1510 actinomycetes were isolated from the soil samples. Streptomyces was predominant in soils with a pH range of 5.1-6.5, 9.1-13.0% moisture, and 9.1-11.0% organic matter. Most Micromonospora, Dactylosporangium, and Streptosporangium were distributed in soils with pH 4.0-5.0, 2.0-9.0% moisture, and 4.0-7.0% organic matter. Actinomadura and nocardioform actinomycetes were abundant in soils with pH 4.0-5.0 and 13.1-20.0% moisture and with 9.1-11.0 and 4.0-7.0% organic matter, respectively. Populations of Streptomyces were predominant in all the soils, but were highest in grassland and lowest in mountain-forest soils. Micromonospora was most abundant in pepper-field soil and nocardioform actinomycetes were highest in rice paddy field soil. Dactylosporangium was predominant in lake-mud sediments and pepper-field soil, Streptosporangium in lake-mud sediments, and Actinomadura in mountain-forest soil. Antifungal actinomycetes were abundant in orchard soil and lake mud. More than 50% of antifungal isolates from most soils were classified as genus Streptomyces. Actinomycete isolates that showed strong antifungal activity against Alternaria mali, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum, and Rhizoctonia solani were predominant in pepper-field soils, whereas those against Magnaporthe grisea and Phytophthora capsici were abundant in radish-field soils.