Isolation and Characterization of a Mo6+ -Reducing Bacterium

A Mo⁶⁺ -reducing bacterium (strain 48), which grew on medium supplemented with 200 mM Mo⁶⁺, was isolated from stream water obtained from Chengkau, Malaysia. The chemical properties of strain 48 conform to the characteristics of Enterobacter cloacae. Under anaerobic conditions in the glucose-yeast extract medium containing phosphate ion (2.9 mM) and Mo⁶⁺ (10 mM), the bacterium reduced Mo⁶⁺ to form molybdenum blue. Approximately 27% of Mo⁶⁺ added to the medium was reduced after 28 h of cultivation. The reduction of Mo⁶⁺ with glucose as an electron donor was strongly inhibited by iodoacetic acid, sodium fluoride, and sodium cyanide, suggesting an involvement of the glycolytic pathway and electron transport in Mo⁶⁺ reduction. NADH and N,N,N′,N′ -tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine served as electron donors for Mo⁶⁺ reduction. When NADH was used as an electron donor, at first cytochrome b in the cell extract was reduced, and then molybdenum blue was formed. Sodium cyanide strongly inhibited Mo⁶⁺ reduction by NADH (5 mM) but not the reduction of cytochrome b in the cell extract, suggesting that the reduced component of the electron transport system after cytochrome b serves as an electron donor for Mo⁶⁺ reduction. Both ferric and stannous ions strongly enhanced the activity of Mo⁶⁺ reduction by NADH.     

Isolation and Characterization of High-Strength Phenol-Degrading Novel Bacterium of the Pantoea Genus

A new indigenous soil bacterium Pantoea strain NII-153 utilizing phenol as a sole carbon source was isolated and characterized. Phylogenetic analysis suggested its classification to the Enterobacteriaceae family, with 95.0% gene sequence similarity to Pantoea ananatis ATCC 33244. Biodegradation rates of phenol by NII-153 were found to be more effective at 64 h with initial concentration of 600 mg L^{? 1} of phenol and this is the first report of such activity in Pantoea species. Strain NII-153 has showed high tolerance to phenol concentration (900 mg L^{? 1}). Therefore, strain NII-153 could be used for biotreatment of high-strength phenol-containing industrial effluents and for bioremediation of phenol-contaminated soils.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel As(V)-reducing bacterium: implications for arsenic mobilization and the genus Desulfitobacterium.

Dissimilatory arsenate-reducing bacteria have been implicated in the mobilization of arsenic from arsenic-enriched sediments. An As(V)-reducing bacterium, designated strain GBFH, was isolated from arsenic-contaminated sediments of Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Strain GBFH couples the oxidation of formate to the reduction of As(V) when formate is supplied as the sole carbon source and electron donor. Additionally, strain GBFH is capable of reducing As(V), Fe(III), Se(VI), Mn(IV) and a variety of oxidized sulfur species. 16S ribosomal DNA sequence comparisons reveal that strain GBFH is closely related to Desulfitobacterium hafniense DCB-2(T) and Desulfitobacterium frappieri PCP-1(T). Comparative physiology demonstrates that D. hafniense and D. frappieri, known for reductively dechlorinating chlorophenols, are also capable of toxic metal or metalloid respiration. DNA-DNA hybridization and comparative physiological studies suggest that D. hafniense, D. frappieri, and strain GBFH should be united into one species. The isolation of an Fe(III)- and As(V)-reducing bacterium from Lake Coeur d'Alene suggests a mechanism for arsenic mobilization in these contaminated sediments while the discovery of metal or metalloid respiration in the genus Desulfitobacterium has implications for environments cocontaminated with arsenious and chlorophenolic compounds.     

一种短杆状耐辐射菌的分离与鉴定

从北京地区公园湖岸土壤中分离到一株橙红色杆状耐辐射菌,细胞壁革兰氏染色为阴性,电镜显示菌体大小为06μm～16μm,略大于日本学者报道的Deinobacter grandis菌,过氧化氢酶的含量和分子量不同于D.radiodurans R1菌,分离菌的(G+C)mol%含量为707%, 16S rDNA序列分析表明,分离到的杆状耐辐射菌(RR5332)16S rRNA基因序列与Deinobacter grandis菌高度同源,提示RR5332归于Deinobacter菌属,并可能是该菌属中的一个新种。     

Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Equol-Producing Bacterium from Human Feces

An equol-producing bacterium was newly isolated from the feces of healthy humans and its morphological and biochemical properties were characterized. The cells were obligate anaerobes. They were non-sporulating, non-motile, gram-positive bacilliform bacteria with a pleomorphic morphology. The strain was catalase-positive, and oxidase-, urease-, and indole-negative. The only other sugar utilized by the strain was glycerin. The strain also degraded gelatin, but not esculin. It was most closely related to Eggerthella hongkongensis HKU10, with 93.3% 16S rDNA nucleotide sequence homology. Based on these features, the isolate was identified as a novel species of the genus Eggerthella. It was named Eggerthella sp. YY7918. Strain YY7918 converted substrates daidzein and dihydrodaidzein into S-equol, but did not convert daidzin, glysitein, genistein, or formononetin into it. An antimicrobial susceptibility assay indicated that strain YY7918 was susceptible to aminoglycoside-, tetracycline-, and new quinolone-antibiotics.     

Isolation and Characterization of Chromium(VI)-Reducing Bacteria from Tannery Effluents

Two chromium-resistant bacteria (IFR-2 and IFR-3) capable of reducing/transforming Cr(VI) to Cr(III) were isolated from tannery effluents. Isolates IFR-2 and IFR-3 were identified as Staphylococcus aureus and Pediococcus pentosaceus respectively by 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. Both isolates can grow well on 2,000 mg/l Cr(VI) (as K₂Cr₂O₇) in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium. Reduction of Cr(VI) was found to be growth-associated in both isolates and IFR-2 and IFR-3 reduced 20 mg/l Cr(VI) completely in 6 and 24 h respectively. The Cr(VI) reduction due to chromate reductase activity was detected in the culture supernatant and cell lysate but not at all in the cell extract supernatant of both isolates. Whole cells of IFR-2 and IFR-3 converted 24 and 30% of the initial Cr(VI) concentration (1 mg/l) in 45 min respectively at 37°C. NiCl₂ stimulated the growth of IFR-2 whereas HgCl₂ and CdCl₂ significantly inhibited the growth of both isolates. Optimum temperature and pH for growth of and Cr(VI) reduction by both isolates were found to be between 35 and 40°C and pH 7.0 to 8.0. The two bacterial isolates can be good candidates for detoxification of Cr(VI) in industrial effluents.     

Alkaline Anaerobic Respiration: Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Alkaliphilic and Metal-Reducing Bacterium

Iron-reducing enrichments were obtained from leachate ponds at the U.S. Borax Company in Boron, Calif. Based on partial small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequences (approximately 500 nucleotides), six isolates shared 98.9% nucleotide identity. As a representative, the isolate QYMF was selected for further analysis. QYMF could be grown with Fe(III)-citrate, Fe(III)-EDTA, Co(III)-EDTA, or Cr(VI) as electron acceptors, and yeast extract and lactate could serve as electron donors. Growth during iron reduction occurred over the pH range of 7.5 to 11.0 (optimum, pH 9.5), a sodium chloride range of 0 to 80 g/liter (optimum, 20 g/liter), and a temperature range of 4 to 45°C (optimum, approximately 35°C), and iron precipitates were formed. QYMF was a strict anaerobe that could be grown in the presence of borax, and the cells were straight rods that produced endospores. Sodium chloride and yeast extract stimulated growth. Phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rRNA gene indicated that the bacterium was a low-G+C gram-positive microorganism and had 96 and 92% nucleotide identity with Alkaliphilus transvaalensis and Alkaliphilus crotonatoxidans, respectively. The major phospholipid fatty acids were 14:1, 16:1ω7c, and 16:0, which were different from those of other alkaliphiles but similar to those of reported iron-reducing bacteria. The results demonstrated that the isolate might represent a novel metal-reducing alkaliphilic species. The name Alkaliphilus metalliredigens sp. nov. is proposed. The isolation and activity of metal-reducing bacteria from borax-contaminated leachate ponds suggest that bioremediation of metal-contaminated alkaline environments may be feasible and have implications for alkaline anaerobic respiration.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Chlorinated-Pyridinol-Degrading Bacterium

The isolation of a pure culture of bacteria able to use 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) as a sole source of carbon and energy under aerobic conditions was achieved for the first time. The bacterium was identified as a Pseudomonas sp. and designated ATCC 700113. [2,6-(sup14)C]TCP degradation yielded (sup14)CO(inf2), chloride, and unidentified polar metabolites.     

一株生物表面活性剂产生菌的分离及其特性研究

模炼油厂污泥中分离得到1株生物表面活性剂产生菌C-3, 根据其生理生化特性和16S rDNA序列相似性分析, 将其鉴定为铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa)。初步研究了其产生物表面活性剂的最适条件, 在以植物油为碳源、30°C、初始pH 8、Ca2+浓度20 mg/L、250 mL三角瓶中装75 mL发酵液的条件下, 最利于菌株的生长和生物表面活性剂产生。它的成分为糖脂类物质, 临界胶束浓度(CMC)为50 mg/L, 具有很好的增溶效果。     

Isolation and Characterization of a Cellulose-utilizing Bacterium

A cellulose-decomposing aerobic and mesophilic bacterium has been isolated from soils of sugar cane fields. The terminal dilution method was adapted to isolate a single clone of cellulolytic organism from closely related contaminants. The cultural and physiological characteristics of the isolate were studied, and the organism was identified as a member of the genus Cellulomonas. The isolate excreted cellulase into the menstruum, and it hydrolyzed various cellulosic materials producing cellobiose as the final breakdown product in the menstruum. When sugar cane bagasse was properly treated with alkali and heat, the organism could decompose up to 90% of the initial substrate within 5 days. Amino acid analysis of the cell crop revealed a high content of lysine, and the essential amino acid pattern compared favorably with that of Food and Agricultural Organization reference protein.     

Isolation and Characterization of Strain MMB-1 (CECT 4803), a Novel Melanogenic Marine Bacterium

A novel marine melanogenic bacterium, strain MMB-1, was isolated from the Mediterranean Sea. The taxonomic characterization of this strain indicated that it belongs to the genus Alteromonas. Under in vivo conditions, L-tyrosine was the specific monophenolic precursor for melanin synthesis. This bacterium contained all types of activities associated with polyphenol oxidases (PPOs), cresolase (EC 1.18.14.1), catecholase (EC 1.10.3.1), and laccase (EC 1.10.3.2). These activities were due to the presence of two different PPOs. The first one showed all the enzymatic activities, but it was not involved in melanogenesis in vivo, since amelanogenic mutant strains obtained by nitrosoguanidine treatment contained levels of this PPO similar to that of the wild-type MMB-1 strain. The second PPO showed cresolase and catecholase activities but no laccase, and it was involved in melanogenesis, since this enzyme was lost in amelanogenic mutant strains. This PPO was strongly activated by sodium dodecyl sulfate below the critical micelle concentration, and it is a tyrosinase-like enzyme showing a lag period in its tyrosine hydroxylase activity that could be avoided by small amounts of L-dopa. This is the first report of a bacterium that contains two PPOs and also the first report of a pluripotent PPO showing all types of oxidase activities. The bacterium and the pluripotent PPO may be useful models for exploring the roles of PPOs in cellular physiology, aside from melanin formation. On the other hand, the high oxidizing capacity of the PPO for a wide range of substrates could make possible its application in phenolic biotransformations, food processing, or the cosmetic industry, where fungal and plant PPOs are being used.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Fucoidan-Degrading Marine Bacterium

Fucoidan, a mixture of sulfated fucose-containing polysaccharides, was prepared from the algal bodies of Cladosiphon okamuranus (class Phaeophyceae, order Chordariales, family Chordariaceae) with a yield of 2.0% of the wet weight of the alga. To obtain enzymes that digest the fucoidan, we screened bacteria in the gut contents of the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus for their ability to decrease the fucoidan in their culture media, and successfully isolated one bacterial strain that could decrease it. The bacterial strain was gram-negative and possessed menaquinone 7 as the predominant respiratory quinone, and the GC content of its genomic DNA was 52%. The results of the phylogenetic analysis of its 16S ribosomal DNA sequence indicated that the bacterial strain was a member of the division Verrucomicrobia. However, as the bacterial strain is phylogenetically and phenotypically distinct from verrucomicrobial species described previously, the strain was assumed to be a new member of the division Verrucomicrobia. When the bacterial strain was cultivated in an algal fucoidan-containing medium, the strain decreased fucoidan from C. okamuranus (44%), Nemacystus decipiens (19%), Laminaria japonica (31%), Kjellmaniella crassifolia (23%), sporophyl of Undaria pinnatifida (22%), Fucus vesiculosus (42%), and Ascophyllum nodosum (61%).     

1株产琼脂酶细菌的分离鉴定及其胞外酶活性测定

从四川省成都市青城山采集土壤,以琼脂作为唯一碳源,筛选到产琼脂酶细菌CMCK136;通过形态观察、生化鉴定、16S r DNA测序及序列分析鉴定其种属;随后测定了菌株CMCK136的胞外酶活性。菌株CMCK136被鉴定为芽胞杆菌属细菌,命名为Bacillus sp.CMCK136。菌株CMCK136的胞外琼脂酶的最适酸碱度为p H 7.0,最适温度为35℃。菌株CMCK136是产琼脂酶细菌家族的新成员,该菌株的发现进一步提示芽胞杆菌属很可能蕴含有尚待开发的琼脂酶资源。     

一株异养型亚硝酸盐氧化细菌的分离及其降解特性的研究

以亚硝酸盐和琥珀酸钠作为惟一氮、碳源从活性污泥中筛选分离一株能够高效氧化亚硝酸盐的硝化菌株,并对其形态学、生理生化及16S rDNA同源性进行分析,在此基础上研究pH、温度、转速、初始亚硝基氮的浓度以及盐浓度对其氧化亚硝酸盐的影响。结果显示,在好氧条件下,该菌株能在12 h内将356.004 mg/L亚硝酸盐降解99.53%。根据形态学特征、生理生化特性以及16S rRNA同源性分析,初步将该菌株鉴定为施氏假单胞菌(Pseudomonas stutzeri),并将其命名为LYS-86。该菌株氧化亚硝酸盐的最适pH8.0-10.0,温度30℃,转速180 r/min,盐浓度1 g/L。当培养基中初始亚硝酸盐浓度为0.5 g/L时,菌株LYS-86的硝化活性最高,随着培养基中初始亚硝基氮浓度的不断提高,菌株LYS-86的硝化活性会不断下降。本研究利用硝化细菌选择性培养基从活性污泥中筛选到了一株异养型亚硝酸氧化菌菌株,该菌株具有高效的硝化活性,为今后该菌株的实际应用及理论研究奠定了基础。     

Deflocculation of Activated Sludge by the Dissimilatory Fe(III)-Reducing Bacterium Shewanella alga BrY

The influence of microbial Fe(III) reduction on the deflocculation of autoclaved activated sludge was investigated. Fe(III) flocculated activated sludge better than Fe(II). Decreasing concentrations of Fe(III) caused an increase in sludge bulk water turbidity, while bulk water turbidity remained relatively constant over a range of Fe(II) concentrations. Cells of the dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium Shewanella alga BrY coupled the oxidation of H(inf2) to the reduction of Fe(III) bound in sludge flocs. Cell adhesion to the Fe(III)-sludge flocs was a prerequisite for Fe(III) reduction. The reduction of Fe(III) in sludge flocs by strain BrY caused an increase in bulk water turbidity, suggesting that the sludge was deflocculated. The results of this study support previous research suggesting that microbial Fe(III) respiration may have an impact on the floc structure and colloidal chemistry of activated sludge.     

Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of a Feather-Degrading Bacterium

A feather-degrading culture was enriched with isolates from a poultry waste digestor and adapted to grow with feathers as its primary source of carbon, sulfur, and energy. Subsequently, a feather-hydrolytic, endospore-forming, motile, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from the feather-degrading culture. The organism was Gram stain variable and catalase positive and demonstrated facultative growth at thermophilic temperatures. The optimum rate of growth in nutrient broth occurred at 45 to 50°C and at pH 7.5. Electron microscopy of the isolate showed internal crystals. The microorganism was identified as Bacillus licheniformis PWD-1. Growth on hammer-milled-feather medium of various substrate concentrations was determined by plate colony count. Maximum growth (approximately 10⁹ cells per ml) at 50°C occurred 5 days postinoculation on 1% feather substrate. Feather hydrolysis was evidenced as free amino acids produced in the medium. The most efficient conditions for feather fermentation occurred during the incubation of 1 part feathers to 2 parts B. licheniformis PWD-1 culture (10⁷ cells per ml) for 6 days at 50°C. These data indicate a potential biotechnique for degradation and utilization of feather keratin.     

一株高产酯酶中度嗜盐菌的分离、鉴定及酯酶部分酶学性质的研究

利用平板筛选法从盐场卤水池中筛选到一株高效降解Tween 20的中度嗜盐菌DF-B6菌株。通过形态学、生理生化及16S rDNA序列分析确定该菌株为Idiomarina属的成员。底物特异性实验确定DF-B6菌株分泌的脂裂解酶为酯酶, 而非脂肪酶。在含8% NaCl的0.05 mol/L Tris-HCl (pH 8.0)缓冲液中, 50°C条件下作用, 酶活性最高。当反应液中金属离子浓度为10 mmol/L时, Mg2+、Ca2+和Mn2+对酶活有激活作用, 而Zn2+、Fe3+和Cu2+则对酶反应有抑制作用。     

Genetic Transformation System for a Psychrotrophic Deep-sea Bacterium: Isolation and Characterization of a Psychrotrophic Plasmid

A versatile system that permits genetic manipulation of a psychrotrophic deep-sea bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas sp. PS1M3, has been developed. A cryptic indigenous plasmid, pPS1M3, of 3.1 kb from the above strain was isolated and characterized. The nucleotide sequence analysis of plasmid pPS1M3 revealed the presence of one open reading frame, and its deduced amino acid sequence was identified as the essential protein for plasmid maintenance. Transformation with the pPS1M3 harboring antibiotic resistance genes by electroporation was fully successful using the pPS1M3-cured strain as a host. This plasmid was quite stable under nonselective culture conditions for about 100 generations at 4°C. The copy number of this plasmid in the cell was about 5 copies per chromosome. Received May 30, 2000; accepted October 11, 2000.     

Arsenic accumulation and thiol status in lichens exposed to As(V) in controlled conditions

Thalli of epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. and terricolous Cladonia furcata (Huds.) Schrad., collected from an area with background arsenic concentrations, were exposed to 0, 0.1, 1 and 10 μg mL⁻¹ arsenate (As(V)) solutions for 24 h. After exposure they were kept in the metabolically active state for 0, 24 and 48 h in a growth chamber. In the freeze dried samples glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulphide (GSSG), cysteine (Cys) and cystine were analysed and induction of phytochelatin (PC) synthesis measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography in combination with fluorescence detection or UV spectrometry. Total arsenic content in thalli was measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). In H. physodes, which contained higher amounts of arsenic compared to C. furcata, total glutathione content significantly decreased in samples exposed to 10 μg mL⁻¹ As(V), whereas in C. furcata a significant increase was observed. In both species PC synthesis was induced in thalli exposed to 10 μg mL⁻¹.