Description of a new species, Bifidobacterium crudilactis sp. nov., isolated from raw milk and raw milk cheeses

A new Bifidobacterium species is described based on the study of ten Gram-positive strains with fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase activity. They are part of a phenotypic group comprising 141 strains isolated from raw milk and raw milk cheeses in French raw milk cheese factories. This group was separated by a numerical analysis based on API 50CH, API 32A tests and growth at 46 degrees C. A strong similarity of 16S rRNA sequences (99.8%) was shown between strain FR62/b/3(T) and Bifidobacterium psychraerophilum LMG 21775(T). However, low DNA-DNA relatedness was observed between their DNAs (31%). The new isolates are able to grow at low temperatures (all ten strains up to 5 degrees C) and strain FR62/b/3(T) grows under aerobic conditions, as does B. psychraerophilum. However, contrary to B. psychraerophilum, they do not ferment L-arabinose, D-xylose, arbutin or melezitose, but they do acidify lactose. The DNA G+C content of FR62/b/3(T) is 56.4mol%. Therefore, the name Bifidobacterium crudilactis sp. nov. is proposed, with its type strain being FR62/b/3(T) (=LMG 23609(T)=CNCM I-3342(T)).     

Physiological versatility of the genus Rhodocista

A new purple bacterium (strain T4), capable of heterotrophic aerobic and phototrophic anaerobic growth, was isolated from waste water of a noodle factory near Hanoi, Vietnam. A comparison of 16S rDNA sequences revealed its association with the genus Rhodocista. The isolate, tentatively named "Rhodocista hanoiensis", forms cysts after growth on butyrate-containing plates at 42 degrees C. The vegetative cells form short (under aerobic conditions) or long curve-shaped rods. In contrast to other species of this genus T4 does not need any supplines (growth factors, not synthesized by the organisms). Comparative studies of T4 with Rhodocista centenaria (Rhodospirillum centenum) and Rhodocista pekingensis revealed a remarkable physiological versatility regarding nutrient spectra and survival properties of this genus.     

海冰微生物Pseudoalteromonas sp. ANT319耐盐性初步研究

南极海冰微生物在适应极端环境的长期进化过程中,获得了特殊的生理生化特性和基因表达调控机制。为了更多的了解南极微生物的逆境适应机制,以隶属南极海冰微生物典型菌属Pseudoalteromonas的ANT319为研究对象,探讨了该菌株在3%~12%的盐度梯度下的抗盐生长情况、蛋白质含量变化、细胞膜透性、丙二醛含量变化和不同盐度对菌株细胞内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)3种抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果表明,此菌株的最适生长盐度为9%,随着盐度的升高,细胞内蛋白质含量升高,膜透性逐渐增加,SOD和POD的酶活性呈现先升高后降低的变化趋势,在9%盐度下达到最高,CAT活性和MDA则基本上保持不变。可见,随着盐度的增加,细胞膜逐渐受到破坏,同时生物体对盐迫作出应激反应,产生较多蛋白来清除不良因素下产生的有害活性氧,包括生物体内抗氧化酶在内的蛋白含量及其活性的增加,研究结果初步揭示了海冰细菌的耐盐机制。     

Rhodobaca barguzinensis sp. nov., a new alkaliphilic purple nonsulfur bacterium isolated from a soda lake of the Barguzin Valley (Buryat Republic, eastern Siberia)

A novel strain, alga-05, of alkaliphilic purple nonsulfur bacteria was isolated from sediments of a small saline (60 g/l) soda lake near Lake Algin (Barguzin Valley, Buryat Republic, Russia). These bacteria contain bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids of the alternative spirilloxanthin group with predominating demethylspheroidenone. They are facultative anaerobes; their photosynthetic structures are of the vesicular type and arranged along the cell periphery. Growth of this strain is possible in a salinity range of 5-80 g/l NaCl, with an optimum at 20 g/l NaCl. Best growth occurred at 20-35 degrees C. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that the studied isolate is closely related to the alkaliphilic purple nonsulfur bacterium Rhodobaca bogoriensis (99% similarity) isolated from soda lakes of the African Rift Zone. According to the results of DNA-DNA hybridization, strain alga-05 has a 52% similarity with the type species of the genus Rhodobaca. On the basis of the obtained genotypic data and some phenotypic properties (dwelling in a hypersaline soda lake of Siberia, moderate halophily, ability to grow at relatively low temperatures, etc.), the isolated strain of purple bacteria was described as a new species of the genus Rhodobaca, Rca. barguzinensis sp. nov.     

A gas vesiculate planktonic strain of the purple non-sulfur bacterium Rhodoferax antarcticus isolated from Lake Fryxell, Dry Valleys, Antarctica

A moderately psychrophilic purple non-sulfur bacterium, Rhodoferax antarcticus strain Fryx1, is described. Strain Fryx1 was isolated from the water column under the ice of the permanently frozen Lake Fryxell, Antarctica. Cells of Fryx1 are long thin rods and contain gas vesicles, the first report of such structures in purple non-sulfur bacteria. Gas vesicles are clustered at 2–4 sites per cell. Surprisingly, the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain Fryx1 is nearly identical to that of Rfx. antarcticus strain AB, a short, vibrio-shaped phototroph isolated from an Antarctic microbial mat. Although showing physiological parallels, strains AB and Fryx1 differ distinctly in their morphology and absorption spectra. DNA–DNA hybridization shows that the genomes of strains AB and Fryx1 are highly related, yet distinct. We conclude that although strains AB and Fryx1 may indeed be the same species, their ecologies are quite different. Unlike strain AB, strain Fryx1 has adapted to a planktonic existence in the nearly freezing water column of Lake Fryxell.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Hans Günter Schlegel on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

Genotypic and phenotypic diversity within species of purple nonsulfur bacteria isolated from aquatic sediments

To assess the extent of genotypic and phenotypic diversity within species of purple nonsulfur bacteria found in aquatic sediments, a total of 128 strains were directly isolated from agar plates that had been inoculated with sediment samples from Haren and De Biesbosch in The Netherlands. All isolates were initially characterized by BOX-PCR genomic DNA fingerprinting, and 60 distinct genotypes were identified. Analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences of representatives of each genotype showed that five and eight different phylotypes of purple nonsulfur bacteria were obtained from the Haren and De Biesbosch sites, respectively. At the Haren site, 80.5% of the clones were Rhodopseudomonas palustris, whereas Rhodoferax fermentans and Rhodopseudomonas palustris were numerically dominant at the De Biesbosch site and constituted 45.9 and 34.4% of the isolates obtained, respectively. BOX-PCR genomic fingerprints showed that there was a high level of genotypic diversity within each of these species. The genomic fingerprints of Rhodopseudomonas palustris isolates were significantly different for isolates from the two sampling sites, suggesting that certain strains may be endemic to each sampling site. Not all Rhodopseudomonas palustris isolates could degrade benzoate, a feature that has previously been thought to be characteristic of the species. There were differences in the BOX-PCR genomic fingerprints and restriction fragment length polymorphisms of benzoate-coenzyme A ligase genes and form I and form II ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) genes between benzoate-degrading and non-benzoate-degrading genotypes. The ability to distinguish these two Rhodopseudomonas palustris groups based on multiple genetic differences may reflect an incipient speciation event resulting from adaptive evolution to local environmental conditions.     

Desulfobacter psychrotolerans sp. nov., a new psychrotolerant sulfate-reducing bacterium and descriptions of its physiological response to temperature changes

A psychrotrolerant acetate-oxidizing sulfate-reducing bacterium (strain akvb(T)) was isolated from sediment from the northern part of The North Sea with annual temperature fluctuations between 8 and 14 degrees C. Of the various substrates tested, strain akvb(T) grew exclusively by the oxidation of acetate coupled to the reduction of sulfate. The cells were motile, thick rods with round ends and grew in dense aggregates. Strain akvb(T) grew at temperatures ranging from -3.6 to 26.3 degrees C. Optimal growth was observed at 20 degrees C. The highest cell specific sulfate reduction rate of 6.2 fmol cell(-1) d(-1) determined by the (35)SO(2-)(40) method was measured at 26 degrees C. The temperature range of short-term sulfate reduction rates exceeded the temperature range of growth by 5 degrees C. The Arrhenius relationship for the temperature dependence of growth and sulfate reduction was linear, with two distinct slopes below the optimum temperatures of both processes. The critical temperature was 6.4 degrees C. The highest growth yield (4.3-4.5 g dry weight mol(-1) acetate) was determined at temperatures between 5 and 15 degrees C. The cellular fatty acid composition was determined with cultures grown at 4 and 20 degrees C, respectively. The relative proportion of cellular unsaturated fatty acids (e.g. 16:1omega7c) was higher in cells grown at 4 degrees C than in cells grown at 20 degrees C. The physiological responses to temperature changes showed that strain akvb(T) was well adapted to the temperature regime of the environment from which it was isolated. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain akvb(T) is closest related to Desulfobacter hydrogenophilus, with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.6%. DNA-DNA-hybridization showed a similarity of 32% between D. hydrogenophilus and strain akvb(T). Based on phenotypic and DNA-based characteristics we propose that strain akvb(T) is a member of a new species, Desulfobacter psychrotolerans sp. nov.     

Heliobacterium sulfidophilum sp. Nov. and Heliobacterium undosum sp. Nov.: sulfide-oxidizing Heliobacteria from thermal sulfidic springs

Two new species of heliobacteria isolated from cyanobacterial mats of two alkaline sulfidic hot springs are formally described. Strains BR4 and BG29 are assigned to anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria of the family Heliobacteriaceae, since they possess the unique properties of this taxon: strict anaerobiosis, formation of bacteriochlorophyll g, the lack of extensive intracytoplasmic membranes and chlorosomes, an unusual cell wall structure, and phylogenetic relatedness to the low G + C gram-positive eubacteria. Based on the 16S rDNA sequence similarity, strains BR4 and BG29 are assigned to the genus Heliobacterium and described as two new species of this genus: Heliobacterium sulfidophilum sp. nov. and Heliobacterium undosum sp. nov. The G + C content of the DNA is 51.3 mol % in Hbt. sulfidophilum and 57.2-57.7 mol % in Hbt. undosum. The cells of Hbt. sulfidophilum are rods, and the cells of Hbt. undosum are slightly twisted spirilla or short rods. Both new bacteria are motile by peritrichous flagella. Hbt. sulfidophilum produces endospores. The new bacteria are strict anaerobes growing photoheterotrophically on a limited range of organic compounds. In the dark, they can switch from photosynthesis to the slow fermentation of pyruvate. Biotin is required as a growth factor. Both species are highly tolerant to sulfide (up to 2 mM at pH 7.5) and oxidize it photoheterotrophically to elemental sulfur; photoautotrophic growth was not observed. The temperature optimal for growth of Hbt. sulfidophilum and Hbt. undosum is 30-35 degrees C, and the optimal pH is 7-8.     

Role of HiPIP as electron donor to the RC-bound cytochrome in photosynthetic purple bacteria

High-Potential Iron-Sulfur Proteins (HiPIP) are small electron carriers, present only in species of photosynthetic purple bacteria having a RC-bound cytochrome. Their participation in the photo-induced cyclic electron transfer was recently established for Rubrivivax gelatinosus, Rhodocyclus tenuis and Rhodoferax fermentans (Schoepp et al. 1995; Hochkoeppler et al. 1996a, Menin et al. 1997b). To better understand the physiological role of HiPIP, we extended our study to other selected photosynthetic bacteria. The nature of the electron carrier in the photosynthetic pathway was investigated by recording light-induced absorption changes in intact cells. In addition, EPR measurements were made in whole cells and in membrane fragments in solution or dried immobilized, then illuminated at room temperature. Our results show that HiPIP plays an important role in the reduction of the photo-oxidized RC-bound cytochrome in the following species: Ectothiorhodospira vacuolata, Chromatium vinosum, Chromatium purpuratum and Rhodopila globiformis. In Rhodopseudomonas marina, the HiPIP is not photo-oxidizible in whole cells and in dried membranes, suggesting that this electron carrier is not involved in the photosynthetic pathway. In Ectothiorhodospira halophila, the photo-oxidized RC-bound cytochrome is reduced by a high midpoint potential cytochrome c, in agreement with midpoint potential values of the two iso-HiPIPs (+ 50 mV and + 120 mV) which are too low to be consistent with their participation in the photosynthetic cyclic electron transfer.     

Screening of lactic-acid bacteria from South African barley beer for the production of bacteriocin-like compounds

Strains of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei (strain ST11BR), L. pentosus (strain ST151BR), L. plantarum (strain ST13BR), and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (strain ST34BR) producing bacteriocin-like peptides were isolated from barley beer produced in the Western, Northern and Eastern provinces of South Africa. The peptides (bacST11BR, bacST151BR, bacST13BR and bacST34BR) lost their activity after treatment with proteinase K, a proteinase, papain, chymotrypsin, trypsin, pepsin and pronase, but not when they were treated with alpha-amylase, suggesting that the peptides are not glycosylated. The peptides inhibited the growth of Lactobacillus casei, L. sakei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, but not Enterobacter cloacae, Lactobacillus bulgaricus subsp. delbrueckii, L. plantarum, L. salivarius, Listeria innocua, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, S. agalactiae, S. caprinus and S. pneumoniae. Peptides bacST11BR and bacST13BR differed from the other 2 peptides by failing to kill Klebsiella pneumoniae and one of the E. coli strains. Peptides were stable after 2 h of incubation at pH 2.0-12.0, and after 90 min at 100 degrees C. When autoclaved (121 degrees C, 20 min), only bacST13BR lost its activity. The bacteriocin-like peptides were produced at a growth temperature of 30 degrees C, but not at 37 degrees C.     

Rhodobaca bogoriensis gen. nov. and sp. nov., an alkaliphilic purple nonsulfur bacterium from African Rift Valley soda lakes

From enrichment cultures established for purple nonsulfur bacteria using water and sediment samples from Lake Bogoria and Crater Lake, two soda lakes in the African Rift Valley, three strains of purple nonsulfur bacteria were isolated; strain LBB1 was studied in detail. Cells of strain LBB1 were motile and spherical to rod-shaped, suggesting a relationship to Rhodobacter or Rhodovulum species, and the organism was capable of both phototrophic and chemotrophic growth on a wide variety of organic compounds. Phototrophically grown cultures were yellow to yellow-brown in color and grew optimally at pH 9 (pH range 7.5-10) and 1% NaCl (range 0-10%). In physiological studies of strain LBB1, neither photoautotrophy (H2- or sulfide-dependent) nor nitrogen fixation was observed. Absorption spectra revealed that all three strains contained bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids of the spheroidene pathway and synthesized only a light-harvesting (LH) I-type photosynthetic antenna complex. Electron microscopy of cells of strain LBB1 revealed a vesicular intracytoplasmic membrane system, although only a few vesicles were observed per cell. The G+C content of strain LBB1 DNA was 59 mol%, significantly lower than that of known Rhodobacter and Rhodovulum species, and its phylogeny as determined by ribosomal RNA gene sequencing placed it within the Rhodobacter/Rhodovulum clade yet distinct from all described species of either of these genera. The unique assemblage of properties observed in strain LBB1 warrants its inclusion in a new genus of purple nonsulfur bacteria and the name Rhodobaca bogoriensis is proposed herein, the genus name reflecting morphological characteristics and the species epithet referring to the habitat.     

Influence of temperature on growth rate and competition between two psychrotolerant Antarctic bacteria: low temperature diminishes affinity for substrate uptake.

The growth kinetics of two psychrotolerant Antarctic bacteria, Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava CR3/2/10 (2/10) and Brevibacterium sp. strain CR3/1/15 (1/15), were examined over a range of temperatures in both batch culture and glycerol-limited chemostat cultures. The maximum specific growth rate (mu max) and Ks values for both bacteria were functions of temperature, although the cell yields were relatively constant with respect to temperature. The mu max values of both strains increased up to an optimum temperature, 24 degrees C for 2/10 and 20 degrees C for 1/15. Strain 1/15 might therefore be considered to be more psychrophilic than strain 2/10. For both bacteria, the specific affinity (mu max/Ks) for glycerol uptake was lower at 2 than at 16 degrees C, indicating a greater tendency to substrate limitation at low temperature. As the temperature increased from 2 to 16 degrees C, the specific affinity of 1/15 for glycerol increased more rapidly than it did for 2/10. Thus 1/15, on the basis of this criterion, was less psychrophilic than was 2/10. The steady-state growth kinetics of the two strains at 2 and 16 degrees C imply that 1/15 would be able to outgrow 2/10 only at relatively low substrate concentrations (< 0.32 g of glycerol.liter-1) and high temperatures (> 12 degrees C), which suggests that 1/15 has a less psychrotolerant survival strategy than does 2/10. Our data were compared with other data in the literature for bacteria growing at low temperatures. They also showed an increase of substrate-specific affinity with increasing temperature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Geobacillus uralicus,a new species of thermophilic bacteria

The K2T strain of thermophilic spore-forming bacteria was isolated from a biofilm on the surface of a corroded pipeline in an extremely deep well (4680 m, 40-72 degrees C) in the Ural. The cells are rod-shaped, motile, gram-variable. They grow on a complex medium with tryptone and yeast extract and on a synthetic medium with glucose and mineral salts without additional growth factors. The cells use a wide range of organic substances as carbon and energy sources. They exhibit a respiratory metabolism but are also capable of anaerobic growth on a nitrate-containing medium and of fermentation. Growth occurs within the 40-75 degrees C temperature range (with an optimum of 65 degrees C) and at pH 5-9. The minimum generation time (15 min) was observed at pH 7.5. Ammonium salts and nitrates are used as nitrogen sources. The G + C content of the DNA is 54.5 mol%. From the morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties and the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene, it was concluded that the isolate K2T represents a new species of the genus Geobacillus, Geobacillus uralicus.     

On the role of cytochrome c8 in photosynthetic electron transfer of the purple non-sulfur bacterium Rhodoferax fermentans

We report on the isolation, purification and functional characterization of a soluble c-type cytochrome from light-grown cells of the purple phototroph Rhodoferax fermentans. This cytochrome is basic (pI = 8), has a molecular mass of 12 kDa, and is characterized by a midpoint reduction potential of +285 mV. Partial analysis of the N-terminus amino-acid sequence shows a high similarity with cytochromes of c₈ type (formerly called Pseudomonas cytochrome c-551 type). Time-resolved spectrophotometric studies show that this cytochrome c₈ reduces the tetraheme subunit of the photosynthetic reaction center, in a fast (sub-ms) and a slow (ms) phase. Competition experiments in the presence of both cytochrome c₈ and high potential iron-sulfur protein (HiPIP), isolated from the same microorganism, show that cytochrome c₈ oxidation is decreased upon addition of HiPIP. These observations suggest that cytochrome c₈ and HiPIP might play alternative roles in the photosynthetic electron flow of Rhodoferax fermentans.     

Complex II from phototrophic purple bacterium Rhodoferax fermentans displays rhodoquinol-fumarate reductase activity.

It has long been accepted that bacterial quinol-fumarate reductase (QFR) generally uses a low-redox-potential naphthoquinone, menaquinone (MK), as the electron donor, whereas mitochondrial QFR from facultative and anaerobic eukaryotes uses a low-redox-potential benzoquinone, rhodoquinone (RQ), as the substrate. In the present study, we purified novel complex II from the RQ-containing phototrophic purple bacterium, Rhodoferax fermentans that exhibited high rhodoquinol-fumarate reductase activity in addition to succinate-ubiquinone reductase activity. SDS/PAGE indicated that the purified R. fermentans complex II comprises four subunits of 64.0, 28.6, 18.7 and 17.5 kDa and contains 1.3 nmol heme per mg protein. Phylogenetic analysis and comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of R. fermentans complex II with pro/eukaryotic complex II indicate that the structure and the evolutional origins of R. fermentans complex II are closer to bacterial SQR than to mitochondrial rhodoquinol-fumarate reductase. The results strongly indicate that R. fermentans complex II and mitochondrial QFR might have evolved independently, although they both utilize RQ for fumarate reduction.     

Low temperature bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil using biostimulation and bioaugmentation with a Pseudomonas sp. from maritime Antarctica

AIMS: To identify native Antarctic bacteria capable of oil degradation at low temperatures. METHODS AND RESULTS: Oil contaminated and pristine soils from Signy Island (South Orkney Islands, Antarctica) were examined for bacteria capable of oil degradation at low temperatures. Of the 300 isolates cultured, Pseudomonas strain ST41 grew on the widest range of hydrocarbons at 4 degrees C. ST41 was used in microcosm studies of low temperature bioremediation of oil-contaminated soils. Microcosm experiments showed that at 4 degrees C the levels of oil degradation increased, relative to the controls, with (i) the addition of ST41 to the existing soil microbial population (bioaugmentation), (ii) the addition of nutrients (biostimulation) and to the greatest extent with (iii) a combination of both treatments (bioaugmentation and biostimulation). Addition of water to oil contaminated soil (hydration) also enhanced oil degradation, although less than the other treatments. Analysis of the dominant species in the microcosms after 12 weeks, using temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis, showed Pseudomonas species to be the dominant soil bacteria in both bioaugmented and biostimulated microcosms. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of water and nutrients may enhance oil degradation through the biostimulation of indigenous oil-degrading microbial populations within the soil. However, bioaugmentation with Antarctic bacteria capable of efficient low temperature hydrocarbon degradation may enhance the rate of bioremediation if applied soon after the spill. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In the future, native soil bacteria could be of use in bioremediation technologies in Antarctica.     

RecD plays an essential function during growth at low temperature in the antarctic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae Lz4W

The Antarctic psychrotrophic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae Lz4W has been used as a model system to identify genes that are required for growth at low temperature. Transposon mutagenesis was carried out to isolate mutant(s) of the bacterium that are defective for growth at 4 degrees but normal at 22 degrees . In one such cold-sensitive mutant (CS1), the transposon-disrupted gene was identified to be a homolog of the recD gene of several bacteria. Trans-complementation and freshly targeted gene disruption studies reconfirmed that the inactivation of the recD gene leads to a cold-sensitive phenotype. We cloned, sequenced, and analyzed approximately 11.2 kbp of DNA from recD and its flanking region from the bacterium. recD was the last gene of a putative recCBD operon. The RecD ORF was 694 amino acids long and 40% identical (52% similar) to the Escherichia coli protein, and it could complement the E. coli recD mutation. The recD gene of E. coli, however, could not complement the cold-sensitive phenotype of the CS1 mutant. Interestingly, the CS1 strain showed greater sensitivity toward the DNA-damaging agents, mitomycin C and UV. The inactivation of recD in P. syringae also led to cell death and accumulation of DNA fragments of approximately 25-30 kbp in size at low temperature (4 degrees ). We propose that during growth at a very low temperature the Antarctic P. syringae is subjected to DNA damage, which requires direct participation of a unique RecD function. Additional results suggest that a truncated recD encoding the N-terminal segment of (1-576) amino acids is sufficient to support growth of P. syringae at low temperature.     

Evidence for limited species diversity of bacteriochlorophyll b-containing purple nonsulfur anoxygenic phototrophs in freshwater habitats

Thirteen new isolates of bacteriochlorophyll b-containing purple nonsulfur bacteria were isolated from four freshwater habitats using specific enrichment methods including the use of long wavelength filters and extincting dilution of the inoculum. The new isolates were compared with the type strain of Blastochloris viridis, strain DSM 133(T), as regards pigments, morphology, carbon nutrition, and phylogeny. All new isolates were budding bacteria, and phototrophic mass cultures were green, brown, or brown-green in color. The pattern of carbon sources photocatabolized were similar in all strains; however, sugars, both mono- and disaccharides, were widely used by the new isolates while they did not support growth of strain DSM 133(T). Phylogenetic analysis showed all new strains to cluster tightly with the type strain with the exception of one brown-colored strain and a mildly thermophilic strain. The results suggest that in contrast to purple nonsulfur bacteria containing bacteriochlorophyll a, those containing bacteriochlorophyll b may not be morphologically or phylogenetically diverse, and group into a tight phylogenetic clade distinct from all other anoxygenic phototrophs.     

含奥氏酮嗜盐紫色硫细菌的分离鉴定及系统发育分析

[目的]为挖掘我国紫色硫细菌物种和光合蛋白基因资源.[方法]采用Pfennig紫色硫细菌无机选择性培养基和琼脂稀释法.[结果]从青岛东风盐场分离获得一株含奥氏酮、耐高浓度硫化物、嗜盐耐碱紫色硫细菌菌株283-1.该菌株能氧化硫化物产生硫粒储存在细胞内、嗜盐、细胞含有奥氏酮类胡萝卜素、细菌叶绿素a强吸收峰位于830 nm处、运动、不产生气囊,表明属于Marichromatium属.16S rDNA序列同源性比较和系统发育分析也表明这一点.但该菌株能在1%～15%NaCl、7.5 mmol/L 高浓度硫化物、45℃、5000lux、pH9.0条件下生长良好,能很好的光同化C3和C4有机酸和葡萄糖酸钠等特性,与Marichromatium属4个种有明显不同.[结论]菌株283-1是Marichromatium属一个新分离物,编号 Marichromatium sp.283-1.     

Anoxybacillus mongoliensis sp. nov., a novel thermophilic proteinase producing bacterium isolated from alkaline hot spring, central Mongolia

A Gram reaction positive, spore-forming, facultative anaerobic bacterium belonging to the Phylum Firmicutes, was isolated from alkaline hot (80 degrees C, pH 9.8 spring Tsenher, central Mongolia. The cells were rod shaped, feebly motile, peritrichously flagellated. Strain T4 was moderately thermophilic with optimum growth at 60 degrees C. Maximum temperature for growth was between 70 and 75 degrees C; minimum temperature for growth was between 35 and 30 degrees C. Alkalitolerant, optimum pH for growth was 8.0; minimum pH for growth was between 5.0 and 5.5 and maximum was between 10.5 and 10.8. The growth was observed at NaCl concentrations of 0-5% (w/v) with the optimum at 0.2-0.5%. No growth was observed at 6% NaCl (w/v). Aerobically, the strain utilized proteinaceous substrates, organic acids and a range of carbohydrates including glucose, ribose, sucrose and xylose as well. Anaerobically, only glucose and sucrose were utilized. Strain T4T produced thermostable alkaline subtilisin-like serine proteinase. The G + C content was 44.2 mol. % (td). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity strain T4(T) was shown to be closely related to the members of the genus Anoxybacillus (family Bacillaceae, class "Bacilli"). DNA-DNA hybridization data revealed that strain T4T had only 38% relatedness to A. flavithermus and 28% relatedness to A. pushchinoensis. Based on its morphology, physiology, phylogenetic relationship and its low DNA-DNA relatedness values with validly published species of Anoxybacillus, it is proposed that strain T4T represents a novel species Anoxybacillus mongoliensis sp. nov., with the type strain T4(T) (=DSM 19169 = VKM 2407).