Selective plasmid transduction in Bacillus pumilus.

The inducible temperate bacteriophage phi75 and a clear-plaque-forming variant, phi75C1, mediated transduction of a 4.4 X 10(6)-dalton multicopy Bacillus pumilus plasmid, pPL10, at frequencies of 10(-5) to 10(-6) transductants per plaque-forming unit. phi75- and phi75C1-mediated transduction of several chromosome markers tested did not occur at a detectable frequency. phi75-mediated plasmid transducing activity resides in particles that are similar to infectious particles in sedimentation velocity and buoyant density.     

The site-specific deoxyribonuclease from Bacillus pumilus (endonuclease R.Bpu1387).

A new site-specific endonuclease (DNase) was isolated from the cells of Bacillus pumilus AHU 1387 strain. This enzyme (endonuclease R.Bpu 1387) introduced double-stranded scissions at unique sites on DNA's of coli phage lambda, lambdadvl, coli phage T7, Bacillus phage phi105C, Bacillus phage SP10, and Simian Virus 40, in the presence of magnesium ion. The activity was stimulated by the presence of NaCl.     

Insertion of Tn916 into Bacillus pumilus plasmid pMGD302 and evidence for plasmid transfer by conjugation.

As part of an effort to develop systems for genetic analysis of strains of Bacillus pumilus which are being used as a microbial hay preservative, we introduced the conjugative Enterococcus faecalis transposon Tn916 into B. pumilus ATCC 1 and two naturally occurring hay isolates of B. pumilus. B. pumilus transconjugants resistant to tetracycline were detected at a frequency of approximately 6.5 x 10(-7) per recipient after filter mating with E. faecalis CG110. Southern hybridization confirmed the insertion of Tn916 into several different sites in the B. pumilus chromosome. Transfer of Tn916 also was observed between strains of B. pumilus in filter matings, and one donor strain transferred tetracycline resistance to recipients in broth matings at high frequency (up to 3.4 x 10(-5) per recipient). Transfer from this donor strain in broth matings was DNase-resistant and was not mediated by culture filtrates. Transconjugants from these broth matings contained derivatives of a cryptic plasmid (pMGD302, approx 60 kb) from the donor strain with Tn916 inserted at various sites. The plasmids containing Tn916 insertions transferred to a B. pumilus recipient strain at frequencies of approx 5 x 10(-6) per recipient. This evidence suggests that pMGD302 can transfer by a process resembling conjugation between strains of B. pumilus.     

Morphological and genetic characterization of a bacteriophage-resistant Bacillus subtilis macrofiber-producing strain.

Bacillus subtilis C6 phi R4 is an SPO1-resistant derivative of strain C6D, a left-hand macrofiber-producing strain described previously (N. H. Mendelson, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75:2478-2482, 1978). In addition to the phage resistance property, strain C6 phi R4 differs from its parent in macrofiber organization and formation of aggregates in liquid shake cultures. The phage resistance mutation was located in the gtaC gene. The macrofiber organization and aggregation phenotypes also appear to be controlled by the gtaC locus. Strains constructed by introduction of the gtaC mutation into C6D appear to be identical to the original C6 phi R4 strain in all phenotypic properties. In contrast, other constructs carrying either gtaA or gtaB that are resistant to SPO1 do not display the characteristic C6 phi R4 morphological phenotypes.     

Identification of Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-3275 as a Strain of Bacillus pumilus

The physiological and biochemical properties of a species of Bacillus previously identified as B. subtilis NRRL B-3275 (B-3275) were compared with those of seven strains of B. pumilus and five strains of B. subtilis. The biotin requirement of B-3275, its inability to hydrolyze starch, and its failure to reduce nitrate indicate that the organism is more closely related to the B. pumilus strains than to those of B. subtilis. Hybridization of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from B-3275 with that of the strains of B. pumilus showed a binding efficiency (compared with the homologous reaction) of 58 to 99%, depending on the strain. Hybridization with the DNA from any of the strains of B. subtilis did not exceed 24%. DNA from B-3275 was unable to transform two amino acid auxotrophic markers to prototrophy in a highly competent strain of B. subtilis 168. We conclude that B-3275 is a strain of B. pumilus which we designate as B. pumilus NRRL B-3275.     

Genome sequence of Bacillus pumilus S-1, an efficient isoeugenol-utilizing producer for natural vanillin

Bacillus pumilus S-1 is an efficient isoeugenol-utilizing producer of natural vanillin. The genome of B. pumilus S-1 contains the epoxide hydrolase and six candidate monooxygenases that make it possible to explore the mechanism involved in conversion of isoenguenol to vanillin in the B. pumilus strain.     

Characterization of Bacillus probiotics available for human use

Bacillus species (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus pumilus) carried in five commercial probiotic products consisting of bacterial spores were characterized for potential attributes (colonization, immunostimulation, and antimicrobial activity) that could account for their claimed probiotic properties. Three B. cereus strains were shown to persist in the mouse gastrointestinal tract for up to 18 days postadministration, demonstrating that these organisms have some ability to colonize. Spores of one B. cereus strain were extremely sensitive to simulated gastric conditions and simulated intestinal fluids. Spores of all strains were immunogenic when they were given orally to mice, but the B. pumilus strain was found to generate particularly high anti-spore immunoglobulin G titers. Spores of B. pumilus and of a laboratory strain of B. subtilis were found to induce the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 in a cultured macrophage cell line, and in vivo, spores of B. pumilus and B. subtilis induced the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha and the Th1 cytokine gamma interferon. The B. pumilus strain and one B. cereus strain (B. cereus var. vietnami) were found to produce a bacteriocin-like activity against other Bacillus species. The results that provided evidence of colonization, immunostimulation, and antimicrobial activity support the hypothesis that the organisms have a potential probiotic effect. However, the three B. cereus strains were also found to produce the Hbl and Nhe enterotoxins, which makes them unsafe for human use.     

新的产弹性蛋白酶菌株的筛选与鉴定

本研究从秸秆中分离得到一株弹性蛋白酶高产菌, 并对该菌株进行鉴定, 以期为实现其工业化生产提供理论依据。采用酪蛋白(脱脂奶粉)进行初筛后, 以弹性蛋白(牛筋)进行复筛, 并对筛选结果进行检验, 然后对所得菌株结合形态、生理生化特性和16S rRNA基因序列进行分类鉴定, 得到一株弹性蛋白酶高产菌株LSF-97。结果显示, 菌株LSF-97与短小芽孢杆菌同源率达到100%, 形态及生理生化特征与模式菌也显示高度一致性, 故将其确定为短小芽孢杆菌。     

Isolation and characterization of two types of actinophages infecting Streptomyces scabies MR13

Two types of actinophages, phi S and phi L, were isolated from soil samples by using Streptomyces scabies MR13, a potato scab pathogen, as an indicator strain. The phages were partially characterized according to their physicochemical properties, plaques and particles morphology and their host-range. The host-range of these phages was narrow for phi S and wide for phi L. The adsorption rate constants of the phi S and phi L were 3.44 x 10(-9) and 3.18 x 10(-9) ml/min, and their burst sizes were 1.61 and 3.75 virions, respectively. One-step growth indicated that phi S and phi L have a latent period of 30 min followed by a rise period of 30 min. The temperate character of these phages was tested in other isolates of Streptomyces. Four of the phages (phi SS3, phi SS12, phi SS13 and phi SS17) were identified as temperate phages, since they were able to lysogenize SS3, SS12, SS13 and SS17. phi SS3, phi SS12 and phi SS13 were homoimmune, and they were heteroimmune with respect to phi SS17. The restriction barriers of lysogenic isolates (SS12, SS13 and SS17) interfered with the blockage of plaques formation by phages (phi SS12, phi SS13 or phi SS17) propagated on them, about 75% of lysogenic isolates had restriction systems. The exposure of the lysogenic isolates (SS12, SS13 and SS17) to UV-irradiation prevented the possible restriction barriers of these isolates, and these barriers could be overcome.     

耐碱性木聚糖酶基因在短小芽孢杆菌中高效分泌表达的研究

从木聚糖酶高产短小芽孢杆菌 (Bacilluspumilus)BP5 1中克隆得到木聚糖酶基因xynA ,将其构建在芽孢杆菌表达载体pWH1 5 2 0中得到重组质粒pWSX1 1。xynA由木糖诱导xylA启动子调控xynA表达。采用同源高效表达策略 ,以原生质体转化方法将pWSX1 1转回原始菌株BP5 1中 ,获得重组菌株BPX1 1。通过木糖诱导重组菌株中的xy nA基因高效分泌表达 ,使木聚糖酶产酶活力比原菌株BP5 1提高了 87% ,同时对重组表达的木聚糖酶的酶学性质进行了初步研究     

Cross-Species Induction of Antimicrobial Compounds, Biosurfactants and Quorum-Sensing Inhibitors in Tropical Marine Epibiotic Bacteria by Pathogens and Biofouling Microorganisms

Enhancement or induction of antimicrobial, biosurfactant, and quorum-sensing inhibition property in marine bacteria due to cross-species and cross-genera interactions was investigated. Four marine epibiotic bacteria (Bacillus sp. S3, B. pumilus S8, B. licheniformis D1, and Serratia marcescens V1) displaying antimicrobial activity against pathogenic or biofouling fungi (Candida albicans CA and Yarrowia lipolytica YL), and bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA and Bacillus pumilus BP) were chosen for this study. The marine epibiotic bacteria when co-cultivated with the aforementioned fungi or bacteria showed induction or enhancement in antimicrobial activity, biosurfactant production, and quorum-sensing inhibition. Antifungal activity against Y. lipolytica YL was induced by co-cultivation of the pathogens or biofouling strains with the marine Bacillus sp. S3, B. pumilus S8, or B. licheniformis D1. Antibacterial activity against Ps. aeruginosa PA or B. pumilus BP was enhanced in most of the marine isolates after co-cultivation. Biosurfactant activity was significantly increased when cells of B. pumilus BP were co-cultivated with S. marcescens V1, B. pumilus S8, or B. licheniformis D1. Pigment reduction in the quorum-sensing inhibition indicator strain Chromobacterium violaceum 12472 was evident when the marine strain of Bacillus sp. S3 was grown in the presence of the inducer strain Ps. aeruginosa PA, suggesting quorum-sensing inhibition. The study has important ecological and biotechnological implications in terms of microbial competition in natural environments and enhancement of secondary metabolite production.     

Screening and mutagenesis of a novel Bacillus pumilus strain producing alkaline protease for dehairing

AIMS: To characterize and optimize a novel Bacillus pumilus strain isolated from biological waste which produces protease with excellent dehairing effect. This newly isolated strain could be utilized in the industrial leather dehairing process. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacterial strains secreting proteases were screened from biological wastes. Positive clones were further characterized by analysing their efficacy in dehairing and effects on collagen integrity. Among 171 colonies tested, a strain BA06, identified as B. pumilus, was picked owing to its efficient dehairing capabilities with minimal impact on collagen. By combined mutagenesis using UV, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosdguanidine and Co(60)-gamma-rays, this strain was further improved with regard to its alkaline protease production. The alkaline protease activity of the mutant strain SCU11was greatly improved up to 6000 U ml(-1), in comparison with its parent strain BA06 of 1200 U ml(-1). CONCLUSIONS: By using screening and mutagenesis methods, we have successfully created a B. pumilus strain that can produce high levels of alkaline proteases that are able to efficiently remove hair from skin with minimal damage on the collagen. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This strain could be used in commercial alkaline protease production for leather dehairing.     

短小芽孢杆菌作为芽孢杆菌属基因工程受体菌的研究

以质粒pUB110 DNA转化B. pumilus 289原生质体,转化频率为10~(-3)—10~(-9)与B.tubtilis 168系统相当;但B.pumilus 289原生质体的再生频率(0.3—12.0％)略低于B.subtilis 168(1.53—24.16％);在无选择压力条件下质粒pUB110在B.pumilus 289中经过45个世代周期,自发丢失率小于3％,同于B.subtilis 168系统。外源基因在B.pumilus 289中经25个世代周期丢失率低于5％,而在B.subtilis 168系统中则高达24％;外源基因的表达水平亦高于B.subtilis 168系统。因此,B.pumilus 289是一个值得进一步开发的基因工程受体系统。     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular alkaline serine protease with dehairing function from Bacillus pumilus

An extracellular alkaline serine protease (called DHAP), produced by a Bacillus pumilus strain, demonstrates significant dehairing function. This protease is purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, ion exchange, and gel filtration. DHAP had a pI of 9.0 and a molecular weight of approximately 32,000 Dalton. It shows maximal activity at pH 10 and with a temperature of 55 degrees C; the enzyme activity can be completely inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and diisopropyl fluorophosphates (DFP). The first 20 amino acid residues of the purified DHAP have been determined with a sequence of AQTVPYGIPQIKAPAVHAQG. Alignment of this sequence with other alkaline protease demonstrates its high homology with protease from another B. pumilus strain.     

Bacillus pumilus SG2 isolated from saline conditions produces and secretes two chitinases

AIMS: Isolation and characterization of chitinases from a halotolerant Bacillus pumilus. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacillus pumilus strain SG2 was isolated from saline conditions. It is able to produce chitinase activity at high salt concentration. SDS-PAGE analysis of the B. pumilus SG2 culture supernatant showed two major bands that were induced by chitin. The amino acid sequence of the two proteins, designated ChiS and ChiL, showed a high homology with the chitinase of B. subtilis CHU26, and chitinase A of B. licheniformis, respectively. N-terminal signal peptide of both proteins was also determined. The molecular weight and isoelectric point of the chitinases were determined to be 63 and 74 kDa, and 4.5 and 5.1, for ChiS and ChiL respectively. The genes encoding for both chitinases were isolated and their sequence determined. The regulation of the chitinase genes is under the control of the catabolite repression system. CONCLUSIONS: Secreted chitinase genes and their flanking region on the genome of B. pumilus SG2 have been identified and sequenced. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first report of a multiple chitinases-producing B. pumilus halotolerant strain. We have identified two chitinases by using a reverse genetics approach. The chitinases show resistance to salt.     

一株高效羽毛降解菌株的分离与鉴定

采用以羽毛粉为唯一碳源和氮源的培养基,从自然界中分离到一株能够高效降解羽毛角蛋白的细菌,经形态学观察,生理生化实验和16SrRNA基因鉴定,初步确定该菌株为短小芽孢杆菌(Bacillus pumilus),且命名为短小芽孢杆菌WHK4。发酵48 h时,羽毛粉降解率达到85.76%。本研究为微生物降解羽毛角蛋白提供了优良的菌株,在蛋白饲料生产中具有潜在的广泛的应用前景。     

Bacillus pumilus XJU-13的分离鉴定及其碱性脂肪酶酶学特性分析

目的:对从新疆精河地区一处工业污水中分离得到的一株产碱性脂肪酶细菌进行研究.方法:通过生理生化检测,16SrDNA序列同源性分析和G+Cmol%含量的测定对命名为XJU-13的这株菌进行鉴定.结果:该菌株可在pH 3.0～12.5的广泛酸碱泛围的营养肉汤培养基中生长.最适生长温度为37℃.基于16S rDNA序列同源性构建系统进化树分析表明与Bacillus pumilus clone B257聚在同一亚分枝,序列相似性达100%.数据证明XJU-13属于Bacillus pumilus.由于在氧化酶反应及淀粉水解实验与伯杰氏鉴定手册有差异,具不可比拟的pH耐受性,且脂肪酸含量与参考菌株差异较大,认为这是Bacillus pumilus中的一个新品系.该菌株产生的脂肪酶最适pH为10,最适温度为35℃,且在广泛pH(pH4-10)范围具稳定性.酶活可被Mg2+、K+、Ba2+、Pb+盐强烈抑制,被Ca2+、Cu2+、Al+及Fe2+盐激活.Zn2+对酶活无影响.结论:实验表明,XJU-13应属于B.pumilus.B.pumilus XJu-13中分离到的碱性脂肪酶有很好的特性及潜能,以期为工业应用提供数据.     

短小芽胞杆菌Bacillus pumilus HR10增殖扩繁培养基组分优化

短小芽胞杆菌Bacillus pumilus HR10是1株优良的菌根辅助细菌(Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria,MHB),无论单独接种或与外生菌根真菌(Ectomycorrhizal Fungi,EMF)黄色须腹菌(Rhizopogen luteous)互作,都能显著促进马尾松(Pinus massoniana)的生长。应规模应用需要,从10种碳源、8种氮源及8种无机盐中以单因素试验初步筛选出主要组分,在此基础上采用正交试验及响应面分析法优化短小芽胞杆菌HR10增殖扩繁的培养基成分。结果表明,该菌株增殖扩繁培养基最佳组分配比为黄豆粉10.332 g/L,玉米粉7.296 g/L,蛋白胨10.718 g/L,KCl 2.5 g/L,KH2PO42.5 g/L。研究结果为菌根辅助细菌短小芽胞杆菌B.pumilus HR10菌剂开发应用提供了参考依据。     

Cloning of the Bacillus subtilis recE+ gene and functional expression of recE+ in B. subtilis.

By use of the Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage cloning vehicle phi 105J23, B. subtilis chromosomal MboI fragments have been cloned that alleviate the pleiotropic effects of the recE4 mutation. The recombinant bacteriophages phi 105Rec phi 1 (3.85-kilobase insert) and phi 105Rec phi 4 (3.3-kilobase insert) both conferred on the recE4 strain YB1015 resistance to ethylmethane sulfonate, methylmethane sulfonate, mitomycin C, and UV irradiation comparable with the resistance observed in recE+ strains. While strain YB1015 (recE4) and its derivatives lysogenized with bacteriophage phi 105J23 were not transformed to prototrophy by B. subtilis chromosomal DNA, strain YB1015 lysogenized with either phi 105Rec phi 1 or phi 105Rec phi 4 was susceptible to transformation with homologous B. subtilis chromosomal DNA. The heteroimmune prophages phi 105 and SPO2 were essentially uninducible in strain YB1015. Significantly, both recombinant prophages phi 105Rec phi 1 and phi 105Rec phi 4 were fully inducible and allowed the spontaneous and mitomycin C-dependent induction of a coresident SPO2 prophage in a recE4 host. The presence of the recombinant prophages also restored the ability of din genes to be induced in strains carrying the recE4 mutation. Finally, both recombinant bacteriophages elaborated a mitomycin C-inducible, 45-kilodalton protein that was immunoreactive with Escherichia coli recA+ gene product antibodies. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the recE+ gene has been cloned and that this gene elaborates the 45-kilodalton protein that is involved in SOB induction and homologous recombination.