Hydrogen and polyhydroxybutyrate producing abilities of microbes from diverse habitats by dark fermentative process

Thirty five bacterial isolates from diverse environmental sources such as contaminated food, nitrogen rich soil, activated sludges from pesticide and oil refineries effluent treatment plants were found to belong to Bacillus, Bordetella, Enterobacter, Proteus, and Pseudomonas sp. on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Under dark fermentative conditions, maximum hydrogen (H₂) yields (mol/mol of glucose added) were recorded to be 0.68 with Enterobacter aerogenes EGU16 followed by 0.63 with Bacillus cereus EGU43 and Bacillus thuringiensis EGU45. H₂ constituted 63–69% of the total biogas evolved. Out of these 35 microbes, 18 isolates had the ability to produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), which varied up to 500 mg/l of medium, equivalent to a yield of 66.6%. The highest PHB yield was recorded with B. cereus strain EGU3. Nine strains had high hydrolytic activities (zone of hydrolysis): lipase (34–38 mm) – Bacillus sphaericus strains EGU385, EGU399 and EGU542; protease (56–62 mm) – Bacillus sp. strains EGU444, EGU447 and EGU445; amylase (23 mm) – B. thuringiensis EGU378, marine bacterium strain EGU409 and Pseudomonas sp. strain EGU448. These strains with high hydrolytic activities had relatively low H₂ producing abilities in the range of 0.26–0.42 mol/mol of glucose added and only B. thuringiensis strain EGU378 had the ability to produce PHB. This is the first report among the non-photosynthetic microbes, where the same organism(s) – B. cereus strain EGU43 and B. thuringiensis strain EGU45, have been shown to produce H₂ – 0.63 mol/mol of glucose added and PHB – 420–435 mg/l medium.     

武夷山自然保护区土壤可培养芽胞杆菌 的物种多样性及分布

为了解武夷山自然保护区土壤中可培养芽胞杆菌的分布状况, 2012年6月从该保护区的黄岗山顶部、中部、底部和桐木关、挂墩、大竹岚等6个地点采集土样75份。用80℃水浴加热、稀释平板法进行芽胞杆菌的分离, 并根据16S rRNA基因序列分析对菌株进行初步鉴定。从土样中分离出芽胞杆菌418株, 鉴定为8个属42个种, 其中Bacillus属的种数最多, 有20种, Paenibacillus属和Lysinibacillus属分别有8种和7种。不同地点分离到的芽胞杆菌在种类、数量上存在差异: 从大竹岚土壤中分离到的芽胞杆菌种类最多, 从黄岗山中部和底部分离到的种类数则较少; 挂墩、大竹岚土壤中芽胞杆菌的数量较大, 达3.6×10⁶ cfu/g以上, 而黄岗山顶部和中部土壤中的数量则少于4.9×10⁵ cfu/g。Bacillus cereus、B. mycoides、B. thuringiensis和Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus等4个种在6个地点的土样中均有分离到, 其中B. thuringiensis、L. xylanilyticus是该保护区土壤中的优势种。桐木关土壤中芽胞杆菌的种类多样性和均匀度指数都比其他5个地点的高, 而挂墩土壤中芽胞杆菌的Shannon-Wiener多样性、均匀度和优势度指数都最低。B. mycoides和B. thuringiensis的数量与海拔显著相关, 相关系数分别为0.852和-0.834, B. cereus、B. mycoides、B. thuringiensis的分离频度与海拔的相关性极显著, 相关系数分别为0.960、0.952和-0.931。研究结果表明, 武夷山自然保护区土壤中可培养芽胞杆菌的种类丰富、数量较大, 具有较高的多样性。     

Overexpression of serine alkaline protease encoding gene in Bacillus species: performance analyses

Bacillus species carrying subC gene encoding serine alkaline protease (SAP) enzyme were developed in order to increase the yield and selectivity in the bioprocess for SAP production. For this aim, subC gene was cloned into pHV1431 Escherichia coli–Bacillus shuttle vector, and transferred into nine host Bacillus species, i.e. B. alvei, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. badius, B. cereus, B. coagulans, B. firmus, B. licheniformis, B. sphaericus and B. subtilis. The influence of the host Bacillus species on SAP production on a defined medium with glucose was investigated in bioreactor systems. For each of the recombinant (r-) Bacillus species, effects of initial glucose concentration on cell growth and SAP production were investigated; and, physiological differences and similarities between the wild-type and r-Bacillus species are discussed. The highest biomass concentration was obtained with r-B. coagulans as 3.8 kg m⁻³ at the initial glucose concentration of C_Go=20 kg m⁻³ and the highest volumetric SAP activity was obtained with r-B. amyloliquefaciens as 1650 U cm⁻³ at C_Go=20 kg m⁻³. Overall SAP activity per amount of substrate consumed was the highest for r-B. sphaericus (137 U g⁻¹ cm⁻³) and r-B. licheniformis (130 U g⁻¹ cm⁻³). Among the r-Bacillus species the highest activity increase compared to the wild types was obtained with r-B. sphaericus while the lowest increase was obtained with r-B. amyloliquefaciens and r-B. licheniformis due to high SAP production potential of the wild-type strains. During storage of the host microorganisms, r-B. alvei and r-B. amyloliquefaciens were not able to bear the recombinant plasmid, probably, due to the restriction enzymes synthesized. Due to the highest stable volumetric activities r-B. licheniformis (950 U cm⁻³) and r-B. sphaericus (820 U cm⁻³) appear to be the favorable hosts for the production of SAP. All the r-Bacillus species excreted organic acids oxaloacetic and succinic acids, but, none excreted the amino acid valine. The variations in by-product distributions with each recombinant organism were also discussed.     

台湾地区芽胞杆菌物种多样性

了解芽胞杆菌资源多样性, 可为芽胞杆菌功能资源挖掘和菌剂开发提供基础。从台湾地区8个市(县)采集土壤样本, 从20份土壤样品中分离获得了136株芽胞杆菌, 采用16S rRNA基因同源性将其鉴定为芽胞杆菌科的2个属、20个种。分别属于芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)的16个种和赖氨酸芽胞杆菌属(Lysinibacillus)的4个种。根据分离频度分析得知, 台湾地区土壤中的芽胞杆菌优势菌群为阿氏芽胞杆菌(Bacillus aryabhattai)、苏云金芽胞杆菌(B. thuringiensis)和蜡样芽胞杆菌(B. cereus), 其他种类分布极其不均匀。芽胞杆菌Shannon多样性指数为1.2925-2.5850, 最高的为台中市和嘉义市(2.5850), 最低的为桃园县(1.2925)。根据分离频度对芽胞杆菌种类的聚类分析显示, 当欧式距离λ = 20时, 芽胞杆菌种类可分为高频度分布类型如阿氏芽胞杆菌(B. aryabhattai), 低频度分布类型如简单芽胞杆菌(B. simplex)。依据分离频度对8个采样点间的聚类分析未发现采样点间的芽胞杆菌种类分布的相关性。本研究认为台湾地区土壤中蕴藏着丰富芽胞杆菌种类多样性高, 具有很大的开发潜力。     

Re-identification of the halotolerant, biosurfactant-producing Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 as Bacillus mojavensis strain JF-2

Bacillus strain JF-2 (ATCC 39307) is a halotolerant, biosurfactant-producing bacterium that was initially described as a member of the species Bacillus licheniformis based on a limited set of phenotypic characteristics. Here, genetic and phenotypic analyses were employed to determine the relationship of Bacillus strain JF-2 to other Bacillus strains. The restriction patterns with AluI and analysis of gyrA and 16S rRNA gene sequences grouped Bacillus strain JF-2 with B. mojavensis^T and not with B. licheniformis^T. DNA–DNA similarity showed JF-2 was 75% similar to B. mojavensis^T and only 11% similar to B. licheniformis^T. Both strain JF-2 and B. mojavensis^T required DNA for anaerobic growth, but B. licheniformis^T did not. B. mojavensis^T and strain JF-2 did not grow anaerobically in thioglycollate medium or aerobically with propionate while B. licheniformis^T grew under these conditions. DNA–DNA similarity, gene sequence data and phenotypic characteristics all support the assignment of JF-2 as a member of the species B. mojavensis.     

Natural occurrence of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus in eukaryotic organisms: a case for symbiosis

Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus, two members of the Bacillus cereus sensu lato group, are most noted for their virulence in, respectively, arthropods and mammals including humans. Because of their pathogenicity to insects in particular, and their narrow host range, strains of B. thuringiensis have been utilised successfully as biocontrol agents of insect pests. Whereas B. cereus is not an established entomopathogen, certain strains of this species are well known to be etiological agents of gastrointestinal and emetic syndromes in humans. While much is known about the taxonomic properties and molecular basis for virulence of B. thuringiensis and B. cereus, comparatively less is known about their ecology in natural environments. Thus, there are limited data regarding their resilience, i.e. recycling of vegetative and sporulated phases of growth in soil, ecolgical niches including symbiotic interactions with other organisms, and the impact on ecosystems in which they proliferate. Nevertheless, based on recent data, a picture is beginning to emerge that B. thuringiensis and B. cereus are capable of establishing mutual and commensal relationships with both animals and plants. In this regard, these bacilli can proliferate in the digestive tracts of animals, where upon defecation they form dormant spores in the soil, and to a lesser extent on the phylloplane and rhizospheres of plants. Altogether, current evidence strongly suggests that B. thuringiensis and B. cereus are capable of completing their life cycles and recycling through various reservoirs, including animals, plants, and soil. This review focuses on the current knowledge pertaining to the ecologic interactions between B. thuringiensis and B. cereus and eukaryotic hosts, with special emphasis on symbiosis.     

Development of a rapid and sensitive immunoassay for detection and subsequent recovery of Bacillus anthracis spores in environmental samples

Bacillus anthracis is considered a major threat as an agent of bioterrorism. B. anthracis spores are readily dispersed as aerosols, are very persistent, and are resistant to normal disinfection treatments. Immunoassays have been developed to rapidly detect B. anthracis spores at high concentrations. However, detection of B. anthracis spores at lower concentrations is problematic due to the fact that closely related Bacillus species (e.g., B. thuringiensis) can cross-react with anti-B. anthracis antibodies, resulting in false positive detections. Subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis is required to differentiate virulent strains. We report here on a protocol for the rapid, sensitive detection of B. anthracis spore using the Integrating Waveguide Biosensor followed by a method for the rapid release and germination of immunocaptured spores. A detection limit of ca. 10³ spores was achieved by incubating spores simultaneously with capture and detection antibodies (“liquid-phase” assay) prior to capture on capillary tubes/waveguides. Subsequent incubation with BHI broth directly in capillary tubes allowed for rapid germination, outgrowth, and release of spores, resulting in vegetative cells for PCR analysis.     

A novel metalloprotease from Bacillus cereus for protein fibre processing

A novel protease produced by Bacillus cereus grown on wool as carbon and nitrogen source was purified. B. cereus protease is a neutral metalloprotease with a molecular mass of 45.6 kDa. The optimum activity was at 45 °C and pH 7.0. The substrate specificity was assessed using oxidized insulin B-chain and synthetic peptide substrates. The cleavage of the insulin B-chain was determined to be Asn³, Leu⁶, His¹⁰-Leu¹¹, Ala¹⁴, Glu²¹, after 12 h incubation. Among the peptide substrates, the enzyme did not exhibit activity towards ester substrates; with p-nitroanilide, the kinetic data indicate that aliphatic and aromatic amino acids were the preferred residues at the P₁ position. For furylacryloyl peptides substrates, which are typical substrates for thermolysin, the enzyme exhibited high hydrolytic activity with a K_m values of 0.858 and 2.363 mM for N-(3-[2-Furyl]acryloyl)-Ala-Phe amide and N-(3-[2-Furyl]acryloyl)-Gly-Leu amide, respectively. The purified protease hydrolysed proteins substrates such as azocasein, azocoll, keratin azure and wool.     

Rapid isolation of host-independent Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus

A new method of isolating host-independent Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus has been developed. Filtered suspensions of host-dependent cells are dropped in small volumes onto 0.2 μm membranes laid on rich media agar. Significant growth is observed within 1–2 days; these cells were confirmed to be B. bacteriovorus using microscopic observations and PCR.     

大小兴安岭可培养细菌的资源多样性

细菌作为微生物中的重要组成部分, 在有机质的形成与分解、维持生态系统平衡、促进动植物发育等多方面都有着重要作用。2014-2017年, 我们采用常见培养基分离纯培养法及16S rRNA基因序列分析方法对大小兴安岭地区土壤可培养细菌的群落结构和多样性进行了调查研究。结果表明: 从大小兴安岭地区的17个自然保护区内不同生境的土壤中分离获得3,180个菌株, 隶属于24属120种。其中, 芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)的种数和株数最多, 分别为38种和2,419株, 是大小兴安岭地区可培养细菌的绝对优势类群(占总株数的76.1%); 其次是短杆菌属(Brevibacterium)(13.0%)。大兴安岭地区的物种数、Simpson多样性指数和Shannon-Wiener指数高于小兴安岭地区。优势类群芽孢杆菌属的枯草芽孢杆菌(B. subtilis)、苏云金芽孢杆菌(B. thuringiensis)、巨大芽孢杆菌(B. megaterium)等有重要的生产及科学研究价值。     

A fast and gentle method for the isolation of myrosinase complexes from Brassicaceous seeds

Myrosinase is a β-thioglucosidase glucohydrolase that catalyses the hydrolysis of the thioglucoside bond in glucosinolates, allelochemicals present in Brassicaceous plants. These isoenzymes have been found to form complexes with other proteins; however, traditional isolation procedures involving ammonium sulphate precipitation and/or ion exchange chromatography do not allow for the isolation of these complexes. The present paper reports a fast and gentle procedure for the isolation of myrosinases in the complex form. Partial purification by Con A affinity chromatography followed by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration allowed for the isolation of myrosinase complexes from seeds of Brassica carinata, B. oleracea var. capitata, B. napus and Sinapis alba. Myrosinases in the Brassicas formed complexes of different molecular weight (500–600 kDa, 270–350 kDa and 140–200 kDa) whereas in seeds of S. alba it was only possible to isolate and detect 140–200 kDa complexes. In all species the complexes were formed by isoenzymes with isoelectric points between 4.8 and 5.6 and in some cases up to 6.8. SDS-PAGE confirmed that the myrosinase isoenzymes were composed by several protein subunits of molecular weights ranging between 10 and 110 kDa. The relative amount and enzymatic activity of the myrosinase complexes varied amongst the species studied. The isolation of myrosinase complexes in their native form is of great importance for the study of the hydrolysis of glucosinolates under autolysis conditions.     

Multi-Oscillatory Control of Eclosion and Oviposition Rhythms in Drosophila melanogaster: Evidence from Limits of Entrainment Studies

The eclosion and oviposition rhythms of flies from a population of Drosophila melanogaster maintained under constant conditions of the laboratory were assayed under constant light (LL), constant darkness (DD), and light/dark (LD) cycles of 10:10 h (T20), 12:12 h (T24), and 14:14 h (T28). The mean (±95% confidence interval; CI) free-running period (τ) of the oviposition rhythm was 26.34 ± 1.04 h and 24.50 ± 1.77 h in DD and LL, respectively. The eclosion rhythm showed a τ of 23.33 ± 0.63 h (mean ± 95% CI) in DD, and eclosion was not rhythmic in LL. The τ of the oviposition rhythm in DD was significantly greater than that of the eclosion rhythm. The eclosion rhythm of all 10 replicate vials entrained to the three periodic light regimes, T20, T24, and T28, whereas the oviposition rhythm of only about 24 and 41% of the individuals entrained to T20 and T24 regimes, respectively, while about 74% of the individuals assayed in T28 regimes showed entrainment. Our results thus clearly indicate that the τ and the limits of entrainment of eclosion rhythm are different from those of the oviposition rhythm, and hence this reinforces the view that separate oscillators may regulate these two rhythms in D. melanogaster.     

A genetic diversity study of silkworm using cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers

The silkworm, Bombyx mori is a beneficial insect of great economic importance in China for its silk production. In this study, we obtained 11 cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers and one PCR polymorphism marker from the genes of the silkworm, B. mori. A backcross progeny analysis showed that all these molecular markers were segregated in a Mendelian fashion and that polymorphisms were co-dominant. These markers were used to investigate the genetic diversity among 29 strains of B. mori from China, Japan and Europe. Cluster analysis, based on the genetic similarities calculated from CAPS data, grouped these strains roughly according to their geographical origin. One group contained silkworm strains from Europe and some of the Japanese strains were interspersed into the Chinese groups, whereas other Japanese strains clustered together.     

Species- and clone-specific responses to environmental stimuli in the cladocerans Bosmina cornuta and B. pellucida - a comparison with Daphnia

We studied the variation of small-scale swimming behaviour in eight Bosmina cornuta and ten B. pellucida clones in response to key environmental factors to test whether swimming behaviour and genotypes are linked in non-Daphnia cladocerans. We quantified (1) the short-term responses to changes in temperature, light intensity and pH, (2) the response to long-term temperature acclimation, and (3) the pH-related survival rates. Vertical swimming activity S was quantified in cuvette experiments as crossings of a line at 2 cm height per individual an hour. S differed significantly among species and conspecific clones. At any temperature, light intensity and pH tested, B. cornuta (clone variation: 40-58 crossings/ind.× h) showed a higher vertical swimming activity than B. pellucida (clone variation: 25-48 crossings/ind.× h). A short-term change of water temperature (range tested: 10-25°C) only affected S of B. cornuta, whereas that of B. pellucida remained unaltered. In contrast, S increased with rising temperature following long-term temperature acclimation (range tested: 10-20°C) in both species. Swimming activity was inversely related to the light intensity (range tested: 60-60,000 lux), but decrease of activity was stronger in B. pellucida (44 → 12 crossings/ind × h) than in B. cornuta (50 → 40 crossings/ind.× h). Short-term changes of pH (range tested: 4-6) did not influence swimming activity in any species, although a prolonged exposure (24 h) to pH 4 was lethal. Thus, Bosmina showed behavioural responses which permit to distinguish between the species and which are related to their seasonal succession and distribution pattern.     

Latitudinal variation in oviposition rhythm of Drosophila ananassae strains originating from the equator to subtropics

Parameters of oviposition rhythm of Drosophila ananassae strains originating from the equator, 0°N to 22.29°N were variable and latitude dependent. Phase angle difference (Ψ), amplitude of rhythm (R) and the percent oviposition in photophase (POP) were determined in LD 12:12 cycles. Although the R did not vary, the Ψ and POP varied by ∼5 h and 60, respectively. Ψ was positively correlated while the POP was negatively correlated with latitude. Transfers from LD 12:12 cycles to constant darkness initiated free-running rhythms in all strains. Although the R did not vary, the τ varied by ∼3.5 h which was positively correlated with latitude.     

Colorimetric microbial viability assay based on reduction of water-soluble tetrazolium salts for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and screening of antimicrobial substances

The applicability of a colorimetric microbial viability assay based on reduction of a tetrazolium salt {2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, monosodium salt [WST-8]} via 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (2-methyl-1,4-NQ) as an electron mediator for determining the susceptibility of various bacteria to antibiotics and screening antimicrobial substances was investigated. The measurement conditions, which include the effects of the concentration of 2-methyl-1,4-NQ, were optimized for proliferation assays of gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, and pathogenic yeast. In antimicrobial susceptibility testing, there was excellent agreement between the minimum inhibitory concentrations determined after 8 h using the WST-8 colorimetric method and those obtained after 22 h using conventional methods. The results suggest that the WST-8 colorimetric assay is a useful method for rapid determination of the susceptibility of various bacteria to antibiotics. In addition, the current method was applied to the screening of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria and its efficiency was demonstrated.     

A quantitative microwell assay for chondrocyte cell adhesion

An assay for measuring the quantity of live articular chondrocytes attached to a substratum in microwell plates was established by measuring the absorbance of the blue formazan product generated from the dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-dypenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT). Blue formazan production was optimal at an MTT concentration of 1 mg/ml (100 microliters per microwell) and an incubation period of 3 h. The absorbance of the dye was linearly related to the quantity of cells added per microwell. The number of live chondrocytes attached to adhesive proteins can be quantitated using this technique.     

Effects of photophase and altitude on oviposition rhythm of the himalayan strains of Drosophila ananassae

The effects of varying photophase and altitude of origin on the phase angle difference (Ψ) of the circadian rhythm of oviposition during entrainment to light-dark (LD) cycles and the aftereffects of such photophases on the period of the free-running rhythm (τ) in constant darkness (DD) were evaluated in two Himalayan strains of Drosophila ananassae, the high-altitude (HA) strain from Badrinath (5,123 m above sea level=ASL) and the low-altitude (LA) strain from Firozpur (179 m ASL). The Ψ (i.e., the hours from lights-on of the LD cycle to oviposition median) of both strains was determined in LD cycles in which the photophase at 100 lux varied from 6 to 18 h/24 h. The HA strain was entrained by all LD cycles except the one with 6 h photophase in which it was weakly rhythmic, but the LA strain was entrained by only three LD cycles with photophases of 10, 12, and 14 h, but photophases of 6, 8, 16, and 18 h rendered it arrhythmic. Lights-off transition of LD cycles was the phase-determining signal for both strains as oviposition medians of the HA strain occurred∼6 h prior to lights-off, while those of the LA strain occurred∼1 h after lights-off. The Ψ of the HA strain increased from∼2 h in 8 h photophase to∼11 h in 18 h photophase, while that of the LA strain increased from∼11 h in 10 h photophase to∼15 h in 14 h photophase. The aftereffects of photophase of the prior entraining LD cycles on τ in DD were determined by transferring flies from LD cycles to DD. The τ of the HA strain increased from∼19 to∼25 h when transferred to DD from LD 8:16 and LD 18:6 cycles, respectively, whereas the τ of the LA strain increased from∼26 to∼28 h when transferred to DD from LD 10:14 and LD 14:10 cycles, respectively. Thus, these results demonstrate that the photophases of entraining LD cycles and the altitude of origin affected several parameters of entrainment and the period of the free-running rhythm of these strains.