Diversity,abundance and characterization of ruminal cysteine phytases suggest their important role in phytate degradation

A novel class of cysteine phytase showing ability to degrade phytate has recently been isolated from rumen bacteria. To expand our knowledge of this enzyme class, a total of 101 distinct cysteine phytase gene fragments were identified from the ruminal genomic DNA of Bore goats and Holstein cows, and most of them shared low identities (< 50%) with known sequences. By phylogenetic analysis, these sequences were separated into three clusters that showed substantial diversity. The two most abundant cysteine phytase genes of goat rumens were cloned and their protein products were characterized. Four findings were revealed based on our results. (i) Compared with soil and water environment, where β‐propeller phytase is the most important phytate‐degrading enzyme, cysteine phytase is the major phytate‐degrading enzyme in the anaerobic ruminal environment. (ii) Cysteine phytase fragments in the rumen contents of goat and cow have the same diversity profile, although most of the sequences and their abundance differ in the two species. (iii) Each species has their respective high‐abundance genes, which may play major roles for phytate degradation. (iv) Compared with previously reported cysteine phytases that have pH optimum at 4.5, the pH optima of the two most abundant secreted goat cysteine phytases are 6.5 and 6.0, which are within the pH range found in the rumens. This study provides valuable information about the diversity, abundance and enzymatic properties of the ruminal cysteine phytases and emphasizes the important role(s) of these cysteine phytases probably in the terrestrial cycle of phosphorus.     

A proposed taxonomy of anaerobic fungi (class neocallimastigomycetes) suitable for large-scale sequence-based community structure analysis

Anaerobic fungi are key players in the breakdown of fibrous plant material in the rumen, but not much is known about the composition and stability of fungal communities in ruminants. We analyzed anaerobic fungi in 53 rumen samples from farmed sheep (4 different flocks), cattle, and deer feeding on a variety of diets. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region of the rrn operon revealed a high diversity of anaerobic fungal phylotypes across all samples. Clone libraries of the ITS1 region were constructed from DNA from 11 rumen samples that had distinctly different fungal communities. A total of 417 new sequences were generated to expand the number and diversity of ITS1 sequences available. Major phylogenetic groups of anaerobic fungi in New Zealand ruminants belonged to the genera Piromyces, Neocallimastix, Caecomyces and Orpinomyces. In addition, sequences forming four novel clades were obtained, which may represent so far undetected genera or species of anaerobic fungi. We propose a revised phylogeny and pragmatic taxonomy for anaerobic fungi, which was tested and proved suitable for analysis of datasets stemming from high-throughput next-generation sequencing methods. Comparing our revised taxonomy to the taxonomic assignment of sequences deposited in the GenBank database, we believe that >29% of ITS1 sequences derived from anaerobic fungal isolates or clones are misnamed at the genus level.     

木霉植酸酶编码基因多样性及作为系统发育标记潜力研究

对现有的148株木霉菌株在含植酸钙的琼脂培养基上进行了产植酸酶能力鉴定,结果表明所有菌株均产生了水解透明图,说明所有测试的木霉菌株都具有植酸酶活性,植酸酶编码基因在木霉群体中具有广泛性.选取14个种类的21株木霉,采用植酸酶保守序列设计简并引物P8205、P500-2扩增获得其中11种17株木霉植酸酶基因片段,进行了序列测定;利用ITS4、ITS5引物扩增17个木霉菌株的ITS序列并测序.分别基于植酸酶基因片段序列以及ITS序列信息,通过邻接法(N-J法)构建系统发育树,结果表明植酸酶基因序列具有多样性的特点,而基于植酸酶基因序列与基于ITS序列的分类结果基本相同,不同的是长枝木霉(Trichoderma longibrachiatum)植酸酶基因序列与哈茨木霉(Trichoderma harzianum)被分到同一分支当中,与ITS序列的进化关系相差较大,表明有可以作为木霉分类的一种新的标记的潜力,并携带部分与ITS序列不同的系统发育相关信息.     

采用未培养技术对荷斯坦奶牛瘤胃细菌多样性进行初步分析

采用未培养(Culture independent)技术直接从荷斯坦奶牛瘤胃液中提取瘤胃细菌微生物混合DNA(也叫元基因组DNA),利用细菌16SrDNA通用引物27F与1492R,扩增瘤胃混合微生物的16SrDNA,根据16SrDNA序列对瘤胃细菌多样性进行初步分析。通过16SrDNA序列同源性分析,发现有多于一半以上的序列与可培养的菌株的同源性小于90%,属于不可培养的菌株。选用45条测得序列与已知序列构建系统发育树,分析结果表明,它们分属于两大类LGCGPB(the lowG CGram positivebac teria)和CFB(Cytophaga_Flexibacter $CBacteroides group),剩下的克隆尚难确定其分类地位,可能是代表新属和种的序列,这些序列已向GenBank提交并得到序列号(AY986777_AY986791)。     

A novel phytase with preferable characteristics from Yersinia intermedia

A Yersinia intermedia strain producing phytase was isolated from glacier soil. The phytase gene, appA, was isolated by degenerate PCR and TAIL-PCR. The full-length fragment contained 2354bp with a 1326-bp open reading frame encoding 441 amino acids. APPA contained the active site RHGXRXP and HD sequence motifs that are typical of histidine acid phosphatases. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the detection of phytase activity and cloning of the relevant gene from Y. intermedia. The gene was overexpressed in Pichia pastoris, and the purified recombinant APPA had a specific activity for sodium phytate of 3960U/mg, which is higher than that of the Citrobacter braakii phytase (previously the highest specific activity known). Recombinant APPA had high activity from pH 2 to 6 (optimum 4.5) and optimal temperature of 55 degrees C; the enzyme was resistant to pepsin and trypsin. These characteristics suggest that APPA may be highly suitable for use in the feed industry.     

Detection of novel Fibrobacter populations in landfill sites and determination of their relative abundance via quantitative PCR

Members of the bacterial genus Fibrobacter have long been considered important components of the anaerobic cellulolytic community in the herbivore gut, but their presence and activity in other environments is largely unknown. In this study, a specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer set, targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Fibrobacter spp., was applied to community DNA from five landfill sites followed by temporal thermal gel electrophoresis (TTGE) analysis of cloned amplification products. Phylogenetic analysis of clone sequences indicated the presence of novel clusters closely related to the genus Fibrobacter . There are two named species, Fibrobacter succinogenes and F. intestinalis , and only two of the 58 sequenced clones were identified with them, and both were F. succin ogenes. The clone sequences from landfill were recovered in five distinct clusters within the Fibrobacter lineage, and four of these were novel. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays of reverse-transcribed community RNA from landfill leachates and rumen fluid samples indicated that the abundance of Fibrobacter spp. relative to total bacteria varied from 0.2% to 40% in landfill, and 21% to 32% in the rumen, and these data demonstrate that fibrobacters can be a significant component of the microbial community in landfill ecosystems. This is the first evidence for Fibrobacter spp. outside the gut ecosystem, and as the only cultivated representatives of this group are actively cellulolytic, their diversity and abundance points to a possible role in cellulose hydrolysis in landfill, and perhaps other anaerobic environments also.     

16S rDNA diversity of cultured and uncultured prokaryotes of a mat sample from Lake Fryxell, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

The prokaryotic diversity of aerobic and anaerobic bacterial isolates and of bacterial and archaeal 16S rDNA clones was determined for a microbial mat sample from the moated region of Lake Fryxell, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Among the anaerobic bacteria, members of Clostridium estertheticum and some other psychrotolerant strains dominated whereas methanogens and other Archaea were lacking. Isolates highly related to Flavobacterium hibernum, Janthiniobacterium lividum, and Arthrobacter flavus were among the aerobic bacteria most frequently isolated. Assessment of more than 350 partial 16S rDNA clone sequences of libraries generated by Bacteria- and Archaea-specific PCR primers revealed a rich spectrum of bacterial diversity but only two different archaeal clone sequences. Among the Bacteria, representative sequences belonged to the class Proteobacteria, order Verrucomicrobiales, class Actinobacteria, Clostridium/Bacillus subphylum of Gram-positives, and the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides phylum. The clones formed about 70 higher taxonomy groups (<98% sequence similarity) and 133 potential species, i.e., groups of clones sharing greater than 98% similarity. Only rarely were clone sequences found to be highly related to Lake Fryxell isolates and to strains of described species. Subsequent analysis of ten sequencing batches of 36 individual clones indicated that the diversity might be still higher than had been assessed.     

The flagellin gene and protein from the brewing spoilage bacteria Pectinatus cerevisiiphilus and Pectinatus frisingensis

Flagellin genes from the anaerobic Gram-negative beer-spoilage bacteria Pectinatus cerevisiiphilus and Pectinatus frisingensis were sequenced and the flagellin proteins initially characterized. Protein microsequencing led to the design of two degenerate PCR primers that allowed the P. cerevisiiphilus flagellin gene to be partially sequenced. A combination of PCR and Bubble PCR was then used to sequence the flagellin genes of three isolates from each species. Cloning and gene expression, followed by immunoblotting, confirmed the gene identities as flagellin. Analysis of the gene sequences revealed proteins similar to other bacterial flagellins, including lengths of 446 or 448 amino acids, putative sigma 28 promoters, and a termination loop. Antibody binding studies with isolated flagella correlated with gene sequence comparisons, with both indicating that the P. cerevisiiphilus isolates studied are very similar but that the P. frisingensis isolates show greater variation. Purified flagellins were found to be glycosylated, probably through an O linkage. Phylogenetic analysis revealed greater diversity within the flagellin sequences than within the 16S rRNA genes. Despite the Gram-negative morphology of Pectinatus, this genus proved most closely related to Gram-positive Firmicutes.     

Cloning, expression, and characterization of a new phytase from the phytopathogenic bacterium Pectobacterium wasabiae DSMZ 18074

The soft rot bacterium Pectobacterium wasabiae is an economically important pathogen of many crops. A new phytase gene, appA, was cloned from P. wasabiae by degenerate PCR and TAIL-PCR. The open reading frame of appA consisted of 1,302 bp encoding 433 amino acid residues, including 27 residues of a putative signal peptide. The mature protein had a molecular mass of 45 kDa and a theoretical pI of 5.5. The amino acid sequence contained the conserved active site residues RHGXRXP and HDTN of typical histidine acid phosphatases, and showed the highest identity of 48.5% to PhyM from Pseudomonas syringae. The gene fragment encoding the mature phytase was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), and the purified recombinant phytase had a specific activity of 1,072+/-47 U/mg for phytate substrate. The optimum pH and temperature for the purified phytase were pH 5.0 and 50 degrees , respectively. The Km value was 0.17 mM, with a Vmax of 1,714 mmol/min/mg. This is the first report of the identification and isolation of phytase from Pectobacterium.     

Diversity of Ascomycete Laccase Gene Sequences in a Southeastern US Salt Marsh

The diversity of ascomycete laccase sequences was surveyed in a southeastern US salt marsh using a degenerate primer set designed around copper binding sites conserved in fungal laccases. This gene was targeted for diversity analysis because of its potential function in lignin degradation in the salt marsh ecosystem and because few studies have assessed functional gene diversity in natural fungal communities. Laccase sequences were amplified from genomic DNA extracted from 24 isolates (representing 10 ascomycete species) cultured from decaying blades of Spartina alterniflora, and from DNA extracted directly from the decaying blades. Among the ascomycete isolates, 21 yielded a PCR product of expected size (˜900 bp) that was tentatively identified as laccase based on sequence similarities to previously published laccase sequences from related organisms. Overall, 13 distinct sequence types, containing 39 distinct sequences, were identified among the isolates, with several species yielding multiple distinct laccase types. PCR amplifications from early and late decay blades of S. alterniflora yielded seven laccase types. Of these, five were composed of sequences >96% similar at the amino acid level to sequences from three cultured ascomycetes previously found to be dominant members of the fungal communities on decaying S. alterniflora blades. Two of the laccase types from the natural-decay clone library were novel and did not match any of the sequences obtained from the cultured ascomycetes. The 39 distinct sequences and 15 distinct laccase sequence types retrieved from the S. alterniflora decay system demonstrate high sequence diversity of this functional gene in a natural fungal community.     

广西水牛瘤胃中的细菌多样性

[目的]了解广西水牛瘤胃中细菌的组成及其可能的降解纤维素细菌的主要类群。[方法]提取水牛瘤胃内容物和高效降解滤纸的水牛瘤胃内容物的富集培养物的宏基因组DNA,以宏基因组DNA为模板,扩增16S rRNA基因序列,构建该两种样品的细菌的16S rRNA基因文库。通过对16S rRNA基因序列的分析,了解这两种样品的细菌群体种类及数量。 [结果] 水牛瘤胃内容物与其富集培养物中均主要含有LGCGPB (low G+C Gram-Positive Bacteria)、CFB (Cytophaga-Flexibacter-Bacteroides)两大类菌群和少数的螺旋体菌（Spirochaetes）,且LGCGPB所占的比例都是最高的,LGCGPB在水牛瘤胃内容物细菌中的比例为56.66%,而在富集培养物细菌中的比例升高为73.33%。在水牛瘤胃内容物中,丝状杆菌（Fibrobacteres）占3.33%,但在富集培养物中未被检测到。而在富集培养物中占13.33%的变形杆菌（Proteobacteria）,在水牛瘤胃内容物中未被检测到。本研究还发现了分类地位尚未明确的一菌群（R46）。[结论]细菌类群LGCGPB、Proteobacteria可能在水牛瘤胃中的纤维素降解过程中起重要作用。此外,水牛瘤胃中的细菌组成和牦牛、牛、羊瘤胃中的细菌组成较相似但比例有所不同。     

共存于厌氧真菌分离培养液中瘤胃甲烷菌的检测及其多样性分析

对分离自山羊瘤胃的真菌分离培养液中甲烷菌进行16SrDNA扩增、DGGE分析、RFLP及测序分析,研究共存于真菌分离培养液中甲烷菌的种类及其多样性。DGGE结果显示:从厌氧真菌分离至第45代,甲烷菌多样性指数由1·32降至0·99,相似性最低为34·7%;第45代至62代,多样性指数由0·99升至1·15,相似性最低为89·2%。RFLP多态性分析69个克隆共得到5个操作分类单元,选择其中6个具有代表性的序列进行测序。序列及系统进化分析表明,属于其中3个操作分类单元的克隆最相似菌都是UnculturedarchaealsymbiontPA202,相似性均为95%,没有与这些克隆相似性较高的已培养甲烷菌;属于另外2个操作分类单元的克隆最相似菌都是Unculturedrumenmethanogen956,相似性均为97%,最相似已知菌为Methanobrevibactersp.NT7,相似性为97%。结果表明,真菌培养液中存在目前尚未分离培养的瘤胃甲烷菌。     

A re-appraisal of the diversity of the methanogens associated with the rumen ciliates

The diversity of methanogenic archaea associated with different species of ciliated protozoa in the rumen was analysed. Partial fragments of archaeal SSU rRNA genes were amplified from DNA isolated from single cells from the rumen protozoal species Metadinium medium, Entodinium furca, Ophryoscolex caudatus and Diplodinium dentatum. Sequence analysis of these fragments indicated that although all of the new isolates clustered with sequences previously described for methanogens, there was a difference in the relative distribution of sequences detected here as compared to that of previous work. In addition, many of the novel sequences, although clearly of archaeal origin have relatively low identity to the sequences in database which are most closely related to them.     

Utilisation of phytate phosphorus by rumen bacteria in a semi-continuous culture system (Rusitec) in lactating goats fed on different forage to concentrate ratios

Experimental data on phytate phosphorus utilisation by ruminants are scarce. The aim of this study was to estimate the phytase activity of rumen micro-organisms when phytate phosphorus supply is high. A semi-continuous culture system fermentor (RUSITEC) was used. The inoculum was obtained from eight goats fed on either high or low forage level diets. Experimental buffers only differed by the nature of phosphorus monosodium phosphate vs. corn sodium phytate. The nylon bags containing 15 g DM of substrate were removed after a 48-hour incubation period. The system was maintained for 15 days: 5 days for adaptation, in order to obtain a steady state, and 10 days for sampling and recording. No significant differences were observed for DM digestibility, gas production, pH, N-NH3, and SCFA for the different treatments. Bacterial efficiency of phytate phosphorus utilisation was significantly higher (p < 0.001) with organic P, but remained lower than the data usually reported in the literature. These results may be explained by the relative saturation of bacterial phytase activity when the buffer contains a high level of phytate phosphorus.     

Determining the culturability of the rumen bacterial microbiome

The goal of the Hungate1000 project is to generate a reference set of rumen microbial genome sequences. Toward this goal we have carried out a meta-analysis using information from culture collections, scientific literature, and the NCBI and RDP databases and linked this with a comparative study of several rumen 16S rRNA gene-based surveys. In this way we have attempted to capture a snapshot of rumen bacterial diversity to examine the culturable fraction of the rumen bacterial microbiome. Our analyses have revealed that for cultured rumen bacteria, there are many genera without a reference genome sequence. Our examination of culture-independent studies highlights that there are few novel but many uncultured taxa within the rumen bacterial microbiome. Taken together these results have allowed us to compile a list of cultured rumen isolates that are representative of abundant, novel and core bacterial species in the rumen. In addition, we have identified taxa, particularly within the phylum Bacteroidetes, where further cultivation efforts are clearly required.This information is being used to guide the isolation efforts and selection of bacteria from the rumen microbiota for sequencing through the Hungate1000.     

Identification and enumeration of oleic acid and linoleic acid hydrating bacteria in the rumen of sheep and cows

The diversity and population densities of facultative anaerobic bacteria with the capacity to hydrate oleic acid and linoleic acid in the rumen of sheep and dairy cows were determined. The screening of representative colonies, from rumen fluid plated aerobically on a range of agar media, revealed that sheep rumen fluid contained hydration-positive strains of Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus and Pediococcus, whereas cow rumen fluid contained hydration-positive strains of Streptococcus, Lactobacillus and Staphylococcus. Mean counts of facultative anaerobic bacteria in sheep and cattle rumen were log10 7.29 and log10 6.40, respectively, and were independent of diet. Approximately 56% of facultative anaerobic bacteria were able to hydrate oleic and/or linoleic acid in anaerobic broth culture. For both sheep and cows, the most numerous hydration-positive isolates were strains of Strep. bovis. The results, which are the first to show that pediococci have the capacity to hydrate unsaturated fatty acids, suggest that lactic acid bacteria are the major unsaturated fatty acid hydrating bacteria in the rumen.     

Molecular identification of methanogenic archaea from sheep in Queensland, Australia reveal more uncultured novel archaea

Molecular diversity of rumen methanogens in sheep in Queensland, Australia was investigated using 16S rRNA gene libraries prepared from pooled rumen contents from nine merino sheep. A total of 78 clones were identified revealing 26 different sequences. Of these 26 sequences, eight sequences (15 clones) were 95-100% similar to cultivated methanogens belonging to the orders Methanobacteriales and Methanomicrobiales, and the remaining 18 phylotypes (63 clones) were 72-75% similar to Thermoplasma acidophilum and Thermoplasma volcanium. These unique sequences clustered within a distinct and strongly supported (100% bootstrap support) phylogenetic group, exclusively composed of sequences from uncharacterized archaea from very diverse anaerobic environments. Members of this unique group that were previously considered atypical for the rumen environment were the predominant clones.     

Phylogenetic analysis of rumen bacteria by comparative sequence analysis of cloned 16S rRNA genes

Comparative DNA sequence analysis of 16S rRNA genes (rDNA) was undertaken to further our understanding of the make-up of bacterial communities in the rumen fluid of dairy cattle. Total DNA was extracted from the rumen fluid of 10 cattle fed haylage/corn silage/concentrate rations at two different times. Rumen samples were collected on two separate occasions from five cows each. In experiment 1, 31 cloned rDNA sequences were analysed. In experiment 2, DNA extractions were amplified using either 12 or 30 cycles of PCR in order to examine biases introduced during the reactions. A set of 53 sequences were analysed in experiment 2 from DNA amplified using 12 cycles and 49 sequences from PCR using 30 cycles. Sequences from the 5' end of 16S rRNA gene were compared with existing sequences in the Ribosomal Database Project. Clones from experiment 1 produced a data set in which 55% of the sequences were similar to low G+C Gram-positive bacteria related to the genus Clostridia, the majority of which were closely related to bacteria in Cluster XIV. Approximately 30% of the cloned sequences were related to bacteria in the Prevotella-Bacteroides group. Clones from experiment 2 produced a data set in which the majority of sequences were related to the Prevotella-Bacteroides group, regardless of the number of cycles of PCR. The remaining sequences clustered with members of the genus Clostridia. The majority of rDNA sequences analysed in this study represent novel rumen bacteria which have not yet been isolated.     

Phylogenetic and physiological diversity of microorganisms isolated from a deep greenland glacier ice core

We studied a sample from the GISP 2 (Greenland Ice Sheet Project) ice core to determine the diversity and survival of microorganisms trapped in the ice at least 120,000 years ago. Previously, we examined the phylogenetic relationships among 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences in a clone library obtained by PCR amplification from genomic DNA extracted from anaerobic enrichments. Here we report the isolation of nearly 800 aerobic organisms that were grouped by morphology and amplified rDNA restriction analysis patterns to select isolates for further study. The phylogenetic analyses of 56 representative rDNA sequences showed that the isolates belonged to four major phylogenetic groups: the high-G+C gram-positives, low-G+C gram-positives, Proteobacteria, and the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides group. The most abundant and diverse isolates were within the high-G+C gram-positive cluster that had not been represented in the clone library. The Jukes-Cantor evolutionary distance matrix results suggested that at least 7 isolates represent new species within characterized genera and that 49 are different strains of known species. The isolates were further categorized based on the isolation conditions, temperature range for growth, enzyme activity, antibiotic resistance, presence of plasmids, and strain-specific genomic variations. A significant observation with implications for the development of novel and more effective cultivation methods was that preliminary incubation in anaerobic and aerobic liquid prior to plating on agar media greatly increased the recovery of CFU from the ice core sample.     

Bacteria and Archaea community structure in the rumen microbiome of goats (Capra hircus) from the semiarid region of Brazil

Most studies present in the literature about the rumen microbiome have focused on cattle and sheep. This is the first report of the characterization of the bacterial and archaeal communities present in the liquid and solid-associated fractions of the rumen from free ranging Moxotó breed goats using 16S rRNA gene libraries. PCR was used to amplify the 16S rRNA gene with bacterial and archaeal universal primers and sequences from each library constructed were obtained. Sequences of Bacteria from the phyla Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were predominant. The overall dominant classes in the rumen were Clostridia and Bacteroidia, which are known to play a role in plant fiber degradation in other ruminants. Unclassified Bacteria accounted for 4.7% of the liquid fraction sequences and 16.4% of the solid fraction sequences. From the archaeal libraries only sequences from the phylum Euryarcheota were identified and were assigned to the class Methanobacteria of the genera Methanobrevibacter and Methanosphaera. A group of Archaea not previously known to be associated with the rumen was identified: uncultured methanogens belonging to the "uncultured marine bacteria" groups II and III. The local water contained high salt concentrations and this may explain the presence of these groups in the Moxotó goat rumen.