高效降解纤维素产甲烷菌群的富集及其性质研究

以获得1组高效降解纤维素的产甲烷菌群为目的,以蔬菜厌氧消化液、糖蜜厌氧消化液和池塘沉积物底泥为菌株来源,55℃条件下,以滤纸为碳源进行继代培养,检测其甲烷含量,最终获得1组有效分解纤维素的产甲烷菌群。该菌群能够有效分解滤纸,相对分解率可达67.3%,培养7 d甲烷累积产量可达46.5%(体积分数),培养第3天羧甲基纤维素酶(CMC)活性最高值为26.3 U/mL。有机酸中乙酸产量最高,7 d累积量为2.7 g/L。基于16S rRNA基因扩增子高通量测序分析结果表明,细菌的多样性高于古菌。细菌菌群主要由Lutispora、好氧芽胞杆菌属(Aeribacillus)、解硫胺素杆菌属(Aneurinibacillus)、共生小杆菌属(Symbiobacterium)、梭菌属(Clostridium)等组成,其中Lutispora为优势菌群,占细菌总丰度的11.04%。古菌菌群主要包括甲烷嗜热杆菌属(Methanothermobacter)、甲烷丝状菌属(Methanothrix)、甲烷杆菌属(Methanobacterium)、甲烷螺菌(Methanospirillum)等,其中甲烷嗜热杆菌属为优势古菌菌群,占古菌总丰度的99.82%。这组高效降解纤维素的产甲烷菌群可通过多种微生物协同作用实现纤维素的降解和甲烷的产生。     

草地贪夜蛾幼虫肠道细菌的分离鉴定及纤维素降解细菌的筛选

【目的】本研究旨在明确草地贪夜蛾Spodopterafrugiperda幼虫肠道可培养细菌组成,筛选纤维素降解细菌。【方法】采用传统细菌培养及16S rDNA分子标记相结合的方法分离鉴定草地贪夜蛾幼虫肠道可培养细菌;采用刚果红染色法筛选纤维素降解细菌,并通过3,5-二硝基水杨酸(DNS)法测定不同pH(5.0-9.0)条件下的纤维素酶活力。【结果】从草地贪夜蛾幼虫中筛选分离出14种肠道细菌菌株,分别隶属放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)等3门11属,即谷氨酸棒杆菌属(Glutamicibacter)、肠球菌属(Enterococcus)、芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)、葡萄球菌属(Staphylococcus)、摩根菌属(Morganella)、肠杆菌属(Enterobacter)、志贺氏菌属(Shigella)、克洛诺杆菌属(Cronobacter)、克雷伯氏菌属(Klebsiella)、沙雷氏菌属(Serratia)、苍白杆菌属(Ochrobactrum)。2株产纤维素酶细菌隶属厚壁菌门芽胞杆菌属。酶活力测定结果显示:2株纤维素降解细菌的纤维素酶在pH 6.0-8.0均有相对较高的活性,在pH 8.0时,纤维素酶活最高。【结论】草地贪夜蛾幼虫肠道中细菌种类多样,其肠道内存在纤维素降解细菌。在偏碱性条件下,纤维素降解细菌的纤维素酶活力显著高于酸性条件。研究结果丰富了纤维素降解细菌资源,在饲料生产、食品加工、化学能源等方面具有应用前景。此外,草地贪夜蛾作为重大农业害虫,其肠道有益菌群,有望成为新的防治靶标。     

利用高通量测序技术对水稻秸秆中、低温降解菌系的比较分析

采用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序技术,对中、低温（中温25 ℃、低温10 ℃）富集驯化所得水稻秸秆降解菌系进行测序;采用生物信息学方法对中、低温秸秆降解菌系群落生物多样性进行分析。结果表明,测序质控后获得601 489条16S rDNA序列,平均长度273 bp,经Silval 132数据库比对,中温降解菌系包括18个门,172个属,302个OTU,其中优势菌属为弓形杆菌属（Arcobacter）、拟杆菌属（Bacteroides）、屠场杆菌属（Macellibacteroides）、假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas）和梭形杆菌属（Lysinibacillus）;低温降解菌系包括16个门,169个属,280个OTU,其中优势菌属为弓形杆菌属、屠场杆菌属、拟杆菌属、丛毛单胞属（Comamonas）和假单胞菌属。温度对降解菌系中优势菌门的相对丰度无显著影响,中、低温秸秆降解菌系主要菌属相对丰度差异显著。     

石油污染土壤强化修复前后细菌多样性变化研究

采用高通量测序技术,对石油污染土壤及石油降解菌强化修复土壤的细菌群落多样性进行了分析。发现污染前后各组间在门水平和属水平上变化显著,污染前细菌多样性丰富,包括34门675属,主要优势菌群依次为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)等。优势菌属依次为芽单胞菌属(Gemmatimonas)、鞘氨醇单胞菌属(Sphingomonas)、节杆菌属(Arthrobacter)等。石油污染110 d后土壤细菌类群多样性降低,分布在29门507属,细菌优势门变化不显著等,优势菌属依次为鞘氨醇单胞菌属、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、GP6、芽单胞菌属、GP4、微小杆菌属(Exiguobacterium)、寡养单胞菌(Stenotrophomonas)和类诺卡氏菌属(Nocardioides)。添加铜绿假单胞菌1217、红平红球菌KB1和混合菌剂的三个强化修复组细菌分别分布在31门471属、32门474属和29门473属,在细菌组成上差异不显著,在丰度上差异显著。鞘氨醇单胞菌属、假单胞菌属、芽单胞菌属和类诺卡氏菌属细菌是主要的石油污染物降解菌。     

芽胞杆菌浸种对水稻内生细菌群落结构的影响

水稻内生细菌群落是反映植株内环境是否健康稳定的重要生物学指标,芽胞杆菌是防治水稻病害的重要生防微生物。为揭示芽胞杆菌浸种处理对水稻内生细菌群落结构的影响,采用Illumina MiSeq测序的方法对水稻内生细菌的16S rRNA基因进行测序,剖析了芽胞杆菌浸种处理对不同水稻组织内生细菌的微生态调控作用。结果表明,3种芽胞杆菌浸种处理可以提高水稻根和茎部内生细菌群落的丰富度和均匀度,降低叶部内生细菌群落的丰富度和均匀度,显著增加根部内生细菌群落多样性。变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)是水稻根部和茎部共有优势菌门,厚壁菌门和芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)是叶部共有优势菌门和属。芽胞杆菌浸种处理显著提高了叶部内生厚壁菌门和芽胞杆菌属的相对丰度,增加了根系和茎部组织内生细菌的分类单元OTU(Operational Taxonomic Units)数量,对叶部组织影响不明显;降低了茎部和叶部中参与各种代谢通路的内生细菌丰度,显著增加了根部参与代谢通路的内生细菌丰度。因此,3种芽胞杆菌浸种处理可以显著改变水稻根部、茎部和叶部内生细菌群落结构,改善水稻生长的微生态环境。     

新疆乌尔禾地区盐渍土壤耐盐细菌多样性与群落结构研究

研究新疆北部乌尔禾地区盐渍土壤中微生物群落结构及多样性,以期发现新的高盐环境耐盐性微生物资源菌株。采用传统分离培养法获得可培养耐盐菌株并对菌株形态学、16S rRNA基因测序、耐盐特性进行研究,同时结合高通量测序技术分析新疆乌尔禾地区盐渍土壤耐盐细菌的多样性与群落结构。共分离得到耐盐细菌11株,分属6个属,均为中度耐盐菌,以芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)为优势菌。对盐渍土壤微生物16S rRNA(V3～V4)基因测序,共获得细菌序列290 952条,分属24个门410个属,变形菌门(Proteobacteria, 60.31%)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes, 21.52%)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes, 6.9%)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria, 6%)相对丰度较高。优势属为克吕沃尔菌属(Kluyvera,21%)、Hafnia-Obesumbacterium(19.6%)和假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas,7.5%)。结果表明,新疆乌尔禾地区盐渍土壤耐盐细菌优势菌群以芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)居多,细菌群落结构较复杂,潜在可利用微生物资源较为丰富,对高盐极端环境耐盐微生物新资源有进一步研究的意义。     

老年类风湿关节炎患者血清25-羟维生素D_3水平与肠道微生态的关系探讨

目的探讨老年类风湿关节炎(RA)患者血清25-羟维生素D_3[25(OH)D_3]水平与肠道微生态的关系。方法回顾性分析2018年8月至2020年4月甘肃中医药大学附属医院风湿骨病科住院收治的83例老年RA患者的临床资料,并选择同期进行体检的80例健康者的体检资料,分别记为A组、B组。对比2组研究对象血清25(OH)D_3水平以及肠道微生物菌群组成;采用Pearson相关性分析,分析老年RA患者血清25(OH)D_3水平与肠道微生物菌群丰富度的相关性。结果 A组患者血清25(OH)D_3水平明显低于B组(t=23.297,P0.05);A组患者肠道微生物菌群Chaol指数、Observed species指数和Shannon指数均低于B组(t=11.258、14.681、22.157,均P0.05);A组患者肠道微生物菌群拟杆菌门、放线菌门、变形菌门、普雷沃菌属、梭状芽胞杆菌属、戈登菌属的相对丰度均高于B组(t=19.472、12.011、27.354、20.304、15.637、24.414,均P0.05),厚壁菌门、乳杆菌属、类杆菌属、嗜血杆菌属、韦荣球菌属、真杆菌属的相对丰度均低于B组(t=10.095、3.663、6.787、12.848、7.786、9.122,均P0.05);RA患者25(OH)D_3水平与厚壁菌门、乳杆菌属、类杆菌属、嗜血杆菌属、韦荣球菌属、真杆菌属的相对丰度呈正相关(r=8.126、8.031、8.415、8.057、8.236、8.467,均P0.05),与拟杆菌门、放线菌门、变形菌门、普雷沃菌属、梭状芽胞杆菌属、戈登菌属呈负相关(r=-7.639、-7.856、-8.135、-8.127、-7.536、-7.865,均P0.05)。结论 RA患者血清25(OH)D_3水平降低,肠道微生物菌群拟杆菌门、放线菌门、变形菌门、普雷沃菌属、梭状芽胞杆菌属、戈登菌属的相对丰度增加,厚壁菌门、乳杆菌属、类杆菌属、嗜血杆菌属、韦荣球菌属、真杆菌属的相对丰度减少,老年RA患者血清25(OH)D_3水平与肠道微生物菌群分布相关。     

阿南原等跳肠道细菌的分离鉴定及降解纤维素细菌的筛选

【目的】本研究旨在确定阿南原等跳Proisotoma ananevae成虫肠道细菌的组成,并筛选降解纤维素细菌。【方法】运用传统培养与16S rDNA测序相结合方法,分离鉴定阿南原等跳成虫肠道内可培养细菌;通过羧甲基纤维素钠筛选培养基(CMC)筛选能够降解纤维素的细菌,并采用3,5-二硝基水杨酸(DNS)法测定不同pH(5.0~9.0)下的纤维素酶活力。【结果】从阿南原等跳成虫肠道共分离到20种不同的菌株,隶属于厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)和放线菌门(Acinobacteria)3门的10属,即葡萄球菌属Staphylococcus,芽孢杆菌属Bacillus,Terribacillus,Advenella,赖氨酸芽孢杆菌属Lysinibacillus,节杆菌属Arthrobacter,肠杆菌属Enterobacter,Glutamicibacter,无色杆菌属Leucobacter和不动杆菌属Acinetobacte;另有1株未鉴别细菌。10株纤维素降解细菌分别隶属于厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和放线菌门(Acinobacteria)2门的6属,即无色杆菌属Leucobacter,芽孢杆菌属Bacillus,Terribacillus,赖氨酸芽孢杆菌属Lysinibacillus,节杆菌属Arthrobacter和Glutamicibacter。酶活力测定结果显示所有纤维降解素菌株在pH 7.0~9.0之间纤维素酶活性均相对较高,且pH 8.0时酶活力最高。【结论】结果说明,阿南原等跳成虫肠道内存在复杂的细菌结构,在偏碱性条件下降解纤维素的细菌酶活力要高于酸性条件下的酶活力;跳虫作为生态系统中的分解者,其肠道内大量降解纤维素细菌的存在不仅有助于跳虫利用环境中的大分子有机物满足自身的营养等需要,同时对于饲料及工业生产也具有一定的应用价值。     

丹参内生拮抗细菌DS-R5对丹参根际和根表土壤细菌群落结构的影响CSCD

目的 探究生防细菌DS-R5施入丹参植株后根际和根表土壤细菌群落组成及多样性变化。方法 向丹参植株根部施入生防细菌DS-R5,以未施用细菌为对照组,分别采集根际和根表土壤样品提取总DNA,扩增样品总DNA的V3-V4区,采用Illumina MiSeq测序平台对PCR扩增产物进行双端测序分析,利用生物信息学分析解析丹参植株根际土壤和根表土壤细菌群落结构组成及多样性。结果 菌株DS-R5处理后增加了根际土壤细菌群落的多样性和丰度,降低了根表土壤细菌群落的多样性和丰度;高通量测序得到的根际和根表土壤的有效序列数量和OTU数量相比对照组均有所下降,根际土壤处理样品中微生物种类最丰富,根表土壤处理样品中微生物种类最少,根际土壤处理样品与根际土壤对照物种种类更接近;在门水平上,根际土壤处理样品相比对照变形菌门丰度下降,酸杆菌门丰度升高,根表土壤处理样品相比对照变形菌门和酸杆菌门丰度均升高,放线菌门丰度降低;在属水平上,根际土壤处理样品中鞘氨醇单胞菌属、芽胞杆菌属、慢生根瘤菌属相比根际土壤对照占比均有升高,根表土壤处理样品相比对照黄杆菌属和伯克菌属丰度下降,而土壤中的优势菌属根瘤菌属和芽胞杆菌属丰度升高。结论 丹参植株施用生防细菌DS-R5后,改变了根际土壤和根表土壤中微生物群落结构和多样性。     

老年阿尔茨海默病患者肠道微生态改变及其与认知功能的关系探讨

目的探讨老年阿尔茨海默症患者肠道微生态结构与认知功能的关系。方法将2016年7月-2019年5月医院收治的86例老年阿尔茨海默病患者和73例健康志愿者,分别记为研究组和对照组。采用简易精神状态评价量表(MMSE)进行评分评价两组认知功能,采用高通量测序检测两组肠道微生物多样性。比较两组肠道微生物多样性与MMSE评分,并比较研究组中认知功能正常者与障碍者肠道微生物结构;采用Pearson相关性分析法探讨肠道微生物结构与认知功能障碍者的相关性。结果研究组肠道菌群Chao1指数、Shannon指数、放线菌门、拟杆菌门、放线菌科、乳杆菌科、拟杆菌科、双歧杆菌属、乳杆菌属、拟杆菌属、MMSE评分均低于对照组(均P0.05);研究组厚壁菌门、变形菌门、子囊菌门、梭菌科、假单胞菌科、葡萄球菌科、肠杆菌科、隐球酵母科、梭状芽孢杆菌属、假单胞菌属、葡萄球菌属、变形杆菌属、假丝酵母菌属相对丰度均高于对照组(均P0.05);研究组中认知功能障碍发生率为70.93%,且认知功能障碍者肠道菌群Chao1指数、Shannon指数,门、科、属水平相对丰度与认知功能正常者对比和上述结果一致;研究组与对照组肠道拟杆菌门、子囊菌门、拟杆菌科、梭状芽胞杆菌属、假丝酵母菌属、放线菌门、乳杆菌属、拟杆菌属相对丰度差异具有统计学意义(均P0.05);研究组认知功能障碍与认知功能正常者肠道未分类拟杆菌门、子囊菌门、假单胞菌属、拟杆菌属、变形杆菌属、梭状芽孢杆菌属、拟杆菌门、拟杆菌科、假丝酵母菌属相对丰度差异具有统计学意义(均P0.05);研究组中肠道菌群Chao1指数、Shannon指数,放线菌门、拟杆菌门、放线菌科、乳杆菌科、拟杆菌科、双歧杆菌属、乳杆菌属、拟杆菌属相对丰度与MMSE评分均呈正相关,厚壁菌门、变形菌门、子囊菌门、梭菌科、假单胞菌科、葡萄球菌科、肠杆菌科、隐球酵母科、梭状芽孢杆菌属、假单胞菌属、葡萄球菌属、变形杆菌属、假丝酵母菌属相对丰度与MMSE评分均呈负相关。结论老年阿尔茨海默病患者肠道微生物结构存在异常,且认知功能障碍者更加严重,认知功能与肠道微生物相关。     

象白蚁肠道中一个纤维素降解菌群的分离和特性研究

利用滤纸培养基从象白蚁(Nasutitermes sp.)肠道中分离出一个具有纤维素降解能力,能够降解滤纸的混合菌群。在起始pH 6.5,37℃培养条件下培养6d可得到最高的纤维素酶(CMCase和FPase)活性。在优化条件下,混合菌群的滤纸降解率在第15d达到最大值66.3%,显示出较高的滤纸降解效率。酶谱活性染色分析显示,混合菌群在以滤纸为唯一碳源的生长过程中至少表达了8种内切葡聚糖酶和4种木聚糖酶。扫描电镜观察到该混合菌群包含短杆状和球形两种形态的细菌。基于16SrRNA基因的系统发育分析表明,该混合菌群中至少存在两种细菌,分别属于沙雷氏菌属(Serratia)和类芽胞杆菌属(Paenibacillus)。这两种细菌协同降解纤维素的机制值得进一步深入研究。     

降解水稻秸秆的复合菌系及其微生物群落结构演替北大核心CSCD

【目的】比较和分析从堆肥中富集的水稻秸秆降解菌系F1和F2的纤维素分解能力、微生物群落结构及其在秸秆降解过程中的演替,从而探究微生物群落结构与秸秆降解效率的相关性。【方法】采用DNS(3,5-二硝基水杨酸,3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid)定糖法测定发酵液中的外切纤维素酶活;采用范氏(Van Soest)洗涤纤维分析法测定发酵前与发酵后的秸秆纤维素、半纤维素、木质素的含量,并计算降解率;采用16S r RNA基因序列分析和实时荧光定量PCR(Quantitative real-time PCR,Q-PCR)对秸秆降解过程中的微生物物种组成及特定的功能微生物进行定性和定量分析。【结果】复合菌系F1的水稻秸秆总降解率、纤维素降解率、半纤维素降解率显著高于复合菌系F2;2种复合菌系的外切纤维素酶活性与cel48基因的拷贝数变化趋势一致;复合菌系F1的物种较丰富,优势物种是好氧细菌,复合菌系F2的物种组成较单一,培养后期具有较高比例的厌氧纤维素分解菌;培养前4天,复合菌系F1和F2的优势物种均为Unclassified Bacillales和Bacillus;第4天之后,不同复合菌系的优势物种及丰度出现差异,F1的优势物种主要属于Bacteroidetes,F2的优势物种主要属于Firmicutes;虽然Petrimonas和Pusillimonas是培养后期的共有优势物种,但是Petrimonas在复合菌系F2中的相对丰度(38.30%)显著高于F1(9.47%),且培养第8天的F2中的Clostridiales OPB54增加至14.85%。【结论】cel48基因拷贝数变化与秸秆纤维素的降解效率、外切纤维素酶活性变化具有一定的相关性,cel48基因可作为潜在的生物分子标记监测秸秆纤维素的降解过程;微生物群落结构对秸秆纤维素的降解效率具有显著影响,Unclassified Bacillales,Bacillus,Petrimonas,Pusillimonas是复合菌系F1和F2降解秸秆纤维素过程中的重要物种。     

Development of a microbial consortium for dairy wastewater treatment

The wastewater from the dairy industries usually contains high concentrations of contaminants and, since the volume generated is also high, the total contaminant load is very significant. Among the available options for treatment, biological degradation looks like the most promising one. Furthermore, the supplementation of the native microbial populations with external microorganisms with high specific degradation rates (bio-augmentation) has demonstrated to improve the performance of treatment. The main objective of this research was to select a combination of bacteria to improve the aerobic treatment of dairy processing wastewater. For this purpose, eleven fat/protein-degrading microorganisms belonging to the genera Bacillus, Serratia, Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Stenotrophomonas, Klebsiella and Escherichia, were evaluated as potential degrading bacteria using a Plackett-Burman design. Assays were carried out to select the strains that most significantly influenced the degradation of wastewater and biomass yield, in terms of COD removal. A simulated dairy industry effluent was used as culture medium. Four strains were selected as potential members of the microbial consortium: Lactococcus garvieae, Bacillus thuringiensis, Escherichia coli and Stenotrophomonas sp. The optimal operation temperature and pH range of the selected consortium were 32°C and 6 ～ 8, respectively. The degradation percentages reached with the selected consortium were 80.67 and 83.44% at 24 and 48 h, respectively. The selected consortium significantly improved the degradation of the dairy wastewater, and the degradation degree achieved by this consortium was higher than by using the strains individually.     

Degradation of raw corn stover powder (RCSP) by an enriched microbial consortium and its community structure

A microbial consortium with a high cellulolytic activity was enriched to degrade raw corn stover powder (RCSP). This consortium degraded more than 51% of non-sterilized RCSP or 81% of non-sterilized filter paper within 8 days at 40 °C under facultative anoxic conditions. Cellulosome-like structures were observed in scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of RCSP degradation residue. The high cellulolytic activity was maintained during 40 subcultures in a medium containing cellulosic substrate. Small ribosomal gene sequence analyses showed the consortium contains uncultured and cultured bacteria with or without cellulolytic activities. Among these bacteria, some are anaerobic others aerobic. Analyses of the culture filtrate showed a typical anoxic polysaccharide fermentation during the culturing process. Reducing sugar concentration increased at early stage followed by various fermentation products that were consumed at the late stage.     

Organic matter fractions by SP-MAS C NMR and microbial communities involved in the suppression of Fusarium wilt in organic growth media

Fusarium wilt is an economically important disease in carnation and tomato plants. The use of suppressive plant growth media has become an alternative method for plant disease control due to the lack of effective chemical control measures. Plant disease suppressiveness is sustained only in plant growth media with an adequate organic matter (OM) composition. Carbohydrate polymers are the most important sources of carbon nutrient for microbial community in these media, mainly consisting of cellulose and hemicellulose. This determines microbial activity, biomass and selects microbial communities in plant growth media, which are reported factors associated with Fusarium wilt suppressiveness.This work determined OM carbon functional groups using Single Pulse Magic Angle Spinning ¹³C-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (SP-MAS ¹³C-NMR) in three plant growth media with different suppressiveness levels to Fusarium wilt in two crops, carnation and tomato. We propose that the critical role of OM to sustain naturally occurring suppressiveness in those media is not related with cellulose reserve. This could be explained because cellulose protected by lignin encrustation is not available to microbial degradation, meaning that cellulose availability is critical to sustenance of microorganism-mediated biological control. However, the hemicellulose relative abundance (peak 175 ppm) was associated to Fusarium wilt suppression level in plant growth media studied.Carbon source availability in OM was related to microbial biomass and econutritional group population densities involved in biocontrol. For these composts, Bacillus spp., oligotrophic and cellulolytic actinomycetes, and oligotrophic actinomycetes/oligotrophic bacteria and cellulolytic actinomycetes/cellulolytic bacteria ratios were indicated as microbial populations potentially involved in suppression.     

Anaerobic and aerobic degradation of cyanophycin by the denitrifying bacterium Pseudomonas alcaligenes strain DIP1 and role of three other coisolates in a mixed bacterial consortium

Four bacterial strains were isolated from a cyanophycin granule polypeptide (CGP)-degrading anaerobic consortium, identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and assigned to species of the genera Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, Clostridium, and Paenibacillus. The consortium member responsible for CGP degradation was assigned as Pseudomonas alcaligenes strain DIP1. The growth of and CGP degradation by strain DIP1 under anaerobic conditions were enhanced but not dependent on the presence of nitrate as an electron acceptor. CGP was hydrolyzed to its constituting beta-Asp-Arg dipeptides, which were then completely utilized within 25 and 4 days under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, respectively. The end products of CGP degradation by strain DIP1 were alanine, succinate, and ornithine as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The facultative anaerobic Enterococcus casseliflavus strain ELS3 and the strictly anaerobic Clostridium sulfidogenes strain SGB2 were coisolates and utilized the beta-linked isodipeptides from the common pool available to the mixed consortium, while the fourth isolate, Paenibacillus odorifer strain PNF4, did not play a direct role in the biodegradation of CGP. Several syntrophic interactions affecting CGP degradation, such as substrate utilization, the reduction of electron acceptors, and aeration, were elucidated. This study demonstrates the first investigation of CGP degradation under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions by one bacterial strain, with regard to the physiological role of other bacteria in a mixed consortium.     

Characterization of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether-Degrading Bacteria from a Gasoline-Contaminated Aquifer

Molecular microbial community analysis was combined with traditional cultivation strategies to investigate the presence of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)-degrading bacteria in a gasoline-contaminated aquifer (Ronan, MT). A bacterial consortium, RS24, which is capable of complete mineralization of MTBE as a sole carbon and energy source was enriched from soil and aquifer materials taken from the contaminated site. The consortium was capable of degrading MTBE at rates up to 0.66 mg d^-1, with corresponding gross biomass yields of 0.25±0.02 mg dry biomass (mg MTBE)^-1. Two MTBE-degrading isolates identified as Pseudomonas Ant9 and Rhodococcus koreensis were obtained from the consortium. However, both isolates required the presence of 2-propanol as a cosubstrate for MTBE degradation. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of Poly-merase Chain Reaction (PCR)-amplified 16S rDNA confirmed the presence of both isolates in the initial consortium and indicated their disappearance with transfer and subculturing. MTBE degradation and cell growth by the consortium was stimulated by the presence of spent culture medium, suggesting the production of a growth factor during MTBE degradation. These results indicate the presence of naturally occurring MTBE-degrading bacteria in a contaminated aquifer and suggest the potential for natural attenuation or enhanced aerobic oxidation.     

Hemicellulose-degrading bacteria and yeasts from the termite gut

Termites play a major role in the recycling of photosynthetically fixed carbon. With the aid of their symbiotic intestinal flora, they are able to degrade extensively wood constituents such as cellulose and hemicellulose. Nevertheless, the microbial species involved in the degradation of hemicelluloses are poorly defined. The purpose of this paper was to examine the microflora involved in hemicellulose degradation. Different aerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria and yeasts were isolated using xylan, arabinogalactan and carboxymethylcellulose as substrates. Gram-positive isolates belonged to the genera Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Streptomyces or the actinobacteria group, while the Gramnegative strains were assigned to the genera Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Ochrobactrum , and to genera belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae. The spectrum and activity of xylan- and arabinogalactan-hydrolysing glycosidases of these new isolates, together with additional bacterial strains originally obtained from enrichments with aromatic compounds were determined.     

Degradation of paracetamol by pure bacterial cultures and their microbial consortium

Three bacterial strains utilizing paracetamol as the sole carbon, nitrogen, and energy source were isolated from a paracetamol-degrading aerobic aggregate, and assigned to species of the genera Stenotrophomonas and Pseudomonas. The Stenotrophomonas species have not included any known paracetamol degraders until now. In batch cultures, the organisms f1, f2, and fg-2 could perform complete degradation of paracetamol at concentrations of 400, 2,500, and 2,000 mg/L or below, respectively. A combination of three microbial strains resulted in significantly improved degradation and mineralization of paracetamol. The co-culture was able to use paracetamol up to concentrations of 4,000 mg/L, and mineralized 87.1 % of the added paracetamol at the initial of 2,000 mg/L. Two key metabolites of the biodegradation pathway of paracetamol, 4-aminophenol, and hydroquinone were detected. Paracetamol was degraded predominantly via 4-aminophenol to hydroquinone with subsequent ring fission, suggesting new pathways for paracetamol-degrading bacteria. The degradation of paracetamol could thus be performed by the single isolates, but is stimulated by a synergistic interaction of the three-member consortium, suggesting a possible complementary interaction among the various isolates. The exact roles of each of the strains in the consortium need to be further elucidated.     

Bacterial populations and environmental factors controlling cellulose degradation in an acidic Sphagnum peat

Northern peatlands represent a major global carbon store harbouring approximately one-third of the global reserves of soil organic carbon. A large proportion of these peatlands consists of acidic Sphagnum-dominated ombrotrophic bogs, which are characterized by extremely low rates of plant debris decomposition. The degradation of cellulose, the major component of Sphagnum-derived litter, was monitored in long-term incubation experiments with acidic (pH 4.0) peat extracts. This process was almost undetectable at 10°C and occurred at low rates at 20°C, while it was significantly accelerated at both temperature regimes by the addition of available nitrogen. Cellulose breakdown was only partially inhibited in the presence of cycloheximide, suggesting that bacteria participated in this process. We aimed to identify these bacteria by a combination of molecular and cultivation approaches and to determine the factors that limit their activity in situ. The indigenous bacterial community in peat was dominated by Alphaproteobacteria and Acidobacteria. The addition of cellulose induced a clear shift in the community structure towards an increase in the relative abundance of the Bacteroidetes. Increasing temperature and nitrogen availability resulted in a selective development of bacteria phylogenetically related to Cytophaga hutchinsonii (94-95% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), which densely colonized microfibrils of cellulose. Among isolates obtained from this community only some subdivision 1 Acidobacteria were capable of degrading cellulose, albeit at a very slow rate. These Acidobacteria represent indigenous cellulolytic members of the microbial community in acidic peat and are easily out-competed by Cytophaga-like bacteria under conditions of increased nitrogen availability. Members of the phylum Firmicutes, known to be key players in cellulose degradation in neutral habitats, were not detected in the cellulolytic community enriched at low pH.