Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of bacterial community structure in the food,intestines, and feces of earthworms

The bacterial communities in the food, intestines, and feces of earthworms were investigated by PCR-denaturing Gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). In this study, PCR-DGGE was optimized by testing 6 universal primer sets for microbial 16S rRNA in 6 pure culture strains of intestinal microbes in earthworms. One primer set effectively amplified 16S rRNA from bacterial populations that were found in the food, intestines, and feces of earthworms. Compared with the reference markers from the pure culture strains, the resulting DGGE profiles contained 28 unique DNA fragments. The dominant microorganisms in the food, intestines, and feces of earthworms included Rhodobacterales bacterium, Fusobacteria, Ferrimonas marina, Aeromonas popoffii, and soil bacteria. Other straisn, such as Acinetobacter, Clostridium, and Veillonella, as well as rumen bacteria and uncultured bacteria also were present. These results demonstrated that PCR-DGGE analysis can be used to elucidate bacterial diversity and identify unculturable microorganisms.     

Culture-based and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of the bacterial community structure from the intestinal tracts of earthworms(Eisenia fetida)

The bacterial communities in the intestinal tracts of earthworm were investigated by culture-dependent and - independent approaches. In total, 72 and 55 pure cultures were isolated from the intestinal tracts of earthworms under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively. Aerobic bacteria were classified as Aeromonas (40%), Bacillus (37%), Photobacterium (10%), Pseudomonas (7%), and Shewanella (6%). Anaerobic bacteria were classified as Aeromonas (52%), Bacillus (27%), Shewanella (12%), Paenibacillus (5%), Clostridium (2%), and Cellulosimicrobium (2%). The dominant microorganisms were Aeromonas and Bacillus species under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In all, 39 DNA fragments were identified by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis. Aeromonas sp. was the dominant microorganism in feeds, intestinal tracts, and casts of earthworms. The DGGE band intensity of Aeromonas from feeds, intestinal tracts, and casts of earthworms was 12.8%, 14.7%, and 15.1%, respectively. The other strains identified were Bacillus, Clostridium, Enterobacter, Photobacterium, Pseudomonas, Shewanella, Streptomyces, uncultured Chloroflexi bacterium, and uncultured bacterium. These results suggest that PCR-DGGE analysis was more efficient than the culture-dependent approach for the investigation of bacterial diversity and the identification of unculturable microorganisms.     

鲟源病原性嗜水气单胞菌拮抗芽孢杆菌的鉴定及其生物学特性

从养殖池污泥中分离筛选了1株优良的鲟源嗜水气单胞菌拮抗芽孢杆菌G1,其对鲟源嗜水气单胞菌S1产生的抑菌圈直径为18.50 mm。通过API50CH细菌鉴定系统以及16S rRNA序列分析法,菌株G1被鉴定为解淀粉芽孢杆菌(Bacillus amyloliquefaciens),GenBank登录号HM245965.1,其16S rRNA序列与基因库中芽孢杆菌属菌株的16S rRNA序列有99%100%的同源性,而且与解淀粉芽孢杆菌Ba-74501(GenBank登录号:DQ422953.1)的亲缘关系最近。菌株G1的最适生长pH值为7,最适生长温度为30°C,其在30°C、200 r/min条件下的生长曲线为:0 6 h为生长延迟期,6 54 h为对数生长期,54 90 h为稳定期,90 h以后为衰亡期。此外,菌株G1对其他实验选用的病原性嗜水气单胞菌也表现出良好的拮抗活性。本实验结果有利于填补嗜水气单胞菌拮抗菌在分类地位、生物学特性等方面的不足,为鲟鱼嗜水气单胞菌病的生物防控提供科学资料。     

西伯利亚鲟致病性嗜水气单胞菌外膜蛋白及其抗原性分析

采用十二烷基肌氨酸钠(Sarkosyl)法提取西伯利亚鲟嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)外膜蛋白,电泳显示所提取的主要外膜蛋白分子量为26～120 kDa;为比较该菌株与气单胞菌菌属其他细菌外膜蛋白组分及抗原性异同,以致病性豚鼠气单胞菌(A.caviae)、温和气单胞菌(A.sobria)和无致病力的嗜水气单胞菌为对照,电泳图谱显示4种气单胞菌外膜蛋白的分子量主要集中在26～120 kDa之间;利用抗西伯利亚鲟嗜水气单胞菌血清的免疫印迹试验表明该菌株外膜蛋白中分子量为75 kDa、52 kDa、43 kDa、40 kDa、34 kDa、28 kDa的蛋白条带呈现阳性反应,其他3种气单胞菌外膜蛋白中均有与该抗血清反应的条带,且分子量为28 kDa、34 kDa的反应条带为4株菌共有;43 kDa与75 kDa反应条带为部分菌株共有.为进一步筛选和研究致病性气单胞菌的共同保护抗原提供参考.     

Bacteriocin-like substance (BLS) production in Aeromonas hydrophila water isolates

30 Aeromonas hydrophila water isolates were tested for bacteriocin-like substance (BLS) production using a target panel of closely related microorganisms and other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including food-borne pathogens. A. hydrophila showed antibacterial activity against one or more indicator microorganisms, but the activity emerged only with non-phylogenetically related genera or species. In particular all A. hydrophila showed antibacterial activity against one or more of the tested Staphylococcus strains, five against Listeria spp. (Listeria seeligeri, Listeria welshimeri and Listeria ivanovii), and eight presented a weak antagonistic activity towards Streptococcus agalactiae and Lactobacillus spp. Inhibitory activity was not observed against the other Gram-positive (Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria innocua and Enterococcus spp.) and Gram-negative tested strains, including Aeromonas sobria, Aeromonas caviae and the same A. hydrophila, when used as indicator. Anti-staphylococcal activity was observed with a gradual increase of the inhibition zone during incubation and seemed to be influenced by A. hydrophila hemolytic expression. Extrachromosomal analysis showed the presence, in 70% of the strains, of one to five plasmids with molecular masses ranging from 2.1 to 41.5 MDa, but it was not possible to relate this result with BLS production.     

Correlation between the distribution pattern of virulence genes and virulence of Aeromonas hydrophila strains

Nine strains of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from diseased fish or soft-shelled tortoise were tested for the presence of three virulence genes including the genes encoding aerolysin,hemolysin,and extracellular serine protease (i.e.,aerA,hlyA,and ahpA,respectively).These genes were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)with specific primers for each gene.And the pathogenicities to Carrassius auratus ibebio of these strains were also assayed.PCR results demonstrated that the distribution patterns of aerA,hlyA,and ahpA were different in these strains.6/9 of A.hydrophila strains were aer A positive,8/9 of strains hly A positive,7/9 of strains ahp A positive,respectively.However,the assay for pathogenesis showed that two strains (A.hydrophila XS91-4-1 and C2)were strong virulent,two strains (A.hydrophila ST78-3-3 and 58-20-9)avirulent and the rest middle virulent was to the fish.In conclusion,there are significant correlation between the distribution pattern of the three virulence genes and the pathogenicity to Carrassius auratus ibebio.All strong virulent A.hydrophila strains were aerA+hlyA+ahpA+genotype,and all aerA+hlyA+ahpA+strains were virulent.Strains with the genotype of aerA-hlyA-ahpA+have middle pathogenicity.In the present study,we found for the first time that all A.hydrophila isolated from the ahpA positive were virulent to Carrassius auratus ibebio.Additionally,there was a positive correlation between the virulence of A.hydrophila and the presence of aerA and ahpA.     

Cloning and characterization of fxp, the flexible pilin gene of Aeromonas hydrophila

The flexible pilus of Aeromonas hydrophila is a morphologically and biochemically unique organelle which binds eukaryotic cell surfaces and whose expression is induced by specific physiochemical conditions. fxp, the structural gene coding for the flexible pilus subunit, was localized on a 7.6kb plasmid of A. hydrophila strain AH26. A putative Shine-Dalgarno sequence and -10 and -35 regions were identified, a signal peptide sequence delineated, and the coding sequence compared with other bacterial sequences and found to be unique. Plasmid and chromosomal DNA was prepared from 66 other Aeromonas strains and 12 strains from other bacterial genera and examined by Southern blot hybridization using a labelled fxp oligonucleotide and the 7.6kb plasmid as probes. No hybridizing sequences were identified except in the original strain, AH26. It is proposed that fxp codes for a highly evolved organelle, possibly widely distributed in nature, but that it is carried on a genetic element that is rapidly lost from most strains upon in vitro cultivation and storage.     

Antibacterial properties of extracts from selected planktonic freshwater cyanobacteria – a comparative study of bacterial bioassays

Aqueous and methanol extracts from five selected cyanobacteria were examined for antibacterial properties in six different bacterial bioassays. All five cyanobacteria revealed antibacterial properties. Methanol extracts made from Tychonema bourrellyi, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii showed the most pronounced inhibitory effects. Aqueous extracts made from Microcystis aeruginosa and T. bourrellyi possessed evident antibacterial properties. The bacterial bioassays were based on agar diffusion tests and included pour-plate methods commonly used to detect residues of antibacterial substances in food. In addition, a pour-plate bioassay with Aeromonas hydrophila was developed and described. Antibacterial effects were observed in five of the six bacterial bioassays. No antibacterial effect was observed in the Micrococcus luteus bioassay. Bioassays based on Aer. hydrophila, Bacillus cereus and B. subtilis grown in Antibiotic Medium 8, pH 5·85, seemed to be sensitive and suitable. The MIC value of diluted MeOH extracts made from C. raciborskii and T. bourrellyi against Aer. hydrophila corresponded to 38 mg freeze-dried cyanobacteria. Bacillus subtilis was more sensitive when grown in a culture medium with pH 5·85 than 7·9. The antibacterial properties of extracts from the cyanobacteria examined differed from defined cyanotoxins and antibacterial substances. The pattern of inhibition in the bacterial bioassays indicated that various antibacterial substances are involved.     

Distribution of Aeromonas Species in the Intestinal Tracts of River Fish

Aeromonas isolates were obtained from fish intestines, water, and sediments from an urban river and identified by the DNA-DNA microplate hybridization method. The isolates were Aeromonas veronii (22%), Aeromonas caviae (18%), Aeromonas hydrophila (13%), Aeromonas sobria (8%), Aeromonas jandaei (7%), and other Aeromonas spp. (33%). Aeromonas species occurred at high densities with high incidences, regardless of season. The results strongly suggest that aeromonads are indigenous in fish intestines, water, and sediments of rivers and have the potential to be predominant in aquatic environments.     

黄沙鳖白底板病病原菌的分离鉴定及6种毒力基因检测

用常规方法从患典型白底板病黄沙鳖的心脏、肝脏等处进行细菌的接种分离, 通过人工感染确定分离菌株的致病性, API 20NE、16S rRNA基因序列分析进行病原菌鉴定和确定其系统发育地位, K-B纸片扩散法进行药敏试验, PCR检测病原菌的6种毒力基因。试验结果, 共分离到13株病原菌, 其中嗜水气单胞菌9株, 温和气单胞菌4株。在9株嗜水气单胞菌中, 有5株与Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC 7966菌株亲源关系最近, 4株与Aeromonas hydrophila北京株QDC01的亲源关系最近; 而4株温和气单胞菌与Aeromonas sobria ATCC 43979的亲源关系最近。药敏试验结果, 仅头孢哌酮对13株病原菌都高度敏感, 来源于不同养殖区域的病原菌药敏结果相差较大。6种毒力基因的阳性率, Aer、Act和ahp均为100%, hly和Alt为92.31%, ahal为76.92%; 毒力基因型共有4种, 嗜水气单胞菌主要为hly+Aer+Alt+Act+ahal+ahp+基因型, 而温和气单胞菌主要为 hly+Aer+Alt－Act+ahal+ahp+基因型, 同时携带hly基因的菌株其致病力更强。       

三重PCR检测鱼类致病性嗜水气单胞菌

[目的]建立一种能够快速准确地检测致病性嗜水气单胞菌的PCR.方法.[方法]根据嗜水气单胞菌的16S rRNA、气溶素基因(aer)和丝氨酸蛋白酶基因(ahp)的保守序列设计了3对引物,然后进行了PCR反应条件的优化、特异性和敏感性的检测并与普通的细菌分离鉴定进行了临床样本和人工攻毒样本检出率的比较.[结果]该方法特异性好,只对致病性嗜水气单胞菌呈阳性扩增;敏感性高,最低可检测100fg的细菌DNA模版.对临床疑似黄鳝(Monopterus albus)样本的检出率为81.8%,高于细菌分离的40.9%;对人工攻毒鲫鱼(Carassius auratus)样本的检出率为87.5%,高于细菌分离的67.5%.[结论]本方法的成功建立,实现在同一反应管中同时对16SrRNA、aer和ahp的检测,避免了只针对aer或ahp单个毒力基因的PCR检测方法可能存在的漏检和误检,为致病性嗜水气单胞菌的诊断、大规模检疫、流行病学调查等提供了一种快速、准确而有效的检测方法.     

Occurrence of conjugated R-plasmids in bacteria of the Aeromonas genus isolated from purified urban sewage water]

The aim of the study was to determine a participation of Aeromonas sp., having conjugation R plasmids, in a population of the bacteria present in purified urban sewage . In 1 ml of sewage 1.8 x 10(3) - 50 x 10(3) of Aeromonas sp., were found. The isolated strains belonged to the following genera: A. hydrophila, A. caviae, A. sorbia. All tested strains were sensitive to gentamicin, tetracycline, kanamycin and nalidixic acid. Among 186 strains of Aeromonas sp., two belonging to A. caviae genus transferred resistance to streptomycin to A. hydrophila and E. coli recipients on the other hand two strains of A. caviae transferred resistance to streptomycin exclusively to A. hydrophila recipient.     

Production of exotoxins by Aeromonas spp. at 5 degrees C

The ability of 60 strains of Aeromonas to produce enterotoxin and haemolysin after cultivation at 5 degrees C for 7-10 d was investigated. The strains were isolated from lamb meat, offal, carcasses and faeces, and had previously been tested for their ability to produce these exotoxins at 37 degrees C. The results showed that some strains of Aeromonas hydrophila and A. sobria were capable of producing enterotoxin and haemolysin at 5 degrees C, but none of the A. caviae strains tested produced these two factors. Of the 30 A. hydrophila strains investigated 25 and 27 were enterotoxigenic and haemolytic respectively. Likewise, of the 24 A. sobria strains investigated 16 and 18 were enterotoxigenic and haemolytic respectively. The results indicate that certain strains of Aeromonas species, in particular A. hydrophila and A. sobria, are of potential public health significance in meats stored at refrigeration temperature.     

Plasmid-encoded enzymatic degradation of dimethoate

Dimethoate-degrading enzymatic activity in Bacillus licheniformis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas hydrophila, Proteus mirabilis and Bacillus pumilus was found to be 6.4, 1.760, 4.09, 1.196 and 0.505 units/mg protein, respectively. The Escherichia coli C600 transconjugants of the isolated bacterial strains also exhibited dimethoate-degrading enzymatic activities. The cured derivatives did not show any decrease in the amount of dimethoate substrate and did not harbour plasmid as found in the original and transconjugant strains. Thus, the ability of enzymatic degradation of dimethoate was plasmid-mediated in B. licheniformis, Ps. aeruginosa, A. hydrophila, P. mirabilis and B. pumilus.     

The effect of earthworms on the physiological state of the microbial community at vermicomposting

The effect of earthworms on the microbial community of composts and vermicomposts was assayed by the following parameters: mineralization activity, the levels of physiologically active and growing microbial biomass, the requirement for growth factors, and the spectrum of assimilation of organic substrates by the microbial community. The substrate affinities of microbial enzyme systems in vermicompost were found to be lower than in compost without earthworms, which is evidence of a higher amount of r-strategists in the microbial community of vermicomposts. Physiologically active biomass of microorganisms is higher in peat-based vermicompost than in compost. The microorganisms of vermicomposts and composts experience deficiency in growth factors to a lesser extent than the microorganisms in soil. The presence of earthworms influences the physiological diversity: the Shannon index increases or decreases depending on the type of composted substrate and incubation time. The growth rate of microorganisms increases on various test substrates in the presence of worms.     

Faculative Anaerobic Bacteria in the Digestive Tract of Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Maintained in Fresh Water Under Defined Culture Conditions

The bacterial flora in the digestive tract of chum salmon growing in fresh water under defined and controlled culture conditions was examined both qualitatively and quantitatively. The predominant species present in the digestive tract were identified as Aeromonas, with Aeromonas hydrophila being the most common isolate. These aeromonads were not isolated from the diet. Other bacterial species commonly isolated included Bacillus, Enterobacter, nonpigmented pseudomonads, Micrococcus, and Acinetobacter. These species were also isolated from the diet or tank water. As many as 10-8 viable bacteria per g (wet weight) of digestive tract plus contents were counted. After 75 days of starvation, 10-6 viable bacteria were counted, whereas fish fed a sterile feed contained 10-5 viable bacteria per g (wet weight) of digestive tract plus contents.     

Enumeration and characterization of Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas caviae isolated from grocery store produce

Starch-ampicillin agar was used to quantitatively isolate Aeromonas sp. from retail grocery store produce. All produce sampled, including parsley, spinach, celery, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, and lettuce, contained Aeromonas sp. In most instances, the count of Aeromonas sp. increased 10- to 1,000-fold during 2 weeks of storage at 5 degrees C. Eleven (92%) of 12 kinds of produce yielded cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. Identification as Aeromonas hydrophila was the strongest indicator of cytotoxicity, and all 29 (100%) A. hydrophila isolates and 1 (6%) of 16 A. caviae isolates were cytotoxic. Twenty-seven (90%) of 30 cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. strains produced hemolysins. Strong correlations were also noted between ability to produce cytotoxin and positive Voges-Proskauer, lysine decarboxylase, and sorbitol fermentation reactions. It appears that grocery store produce is a potentially significant source of cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. and should be considered in the epidemiology of A. hydrophila gastroenteritis.     

Distribution and characterization of hemolytic, and enteropathogenic motile Aeromonas in aquatic environment

A year-long survey on the distribution of motile Aeromonas species in the surface waters of riverine and marine environments was conducted. The filtered membranes were directly placed onto the modified Pril-xylose-ampicillin agar for the enumeration of Aeromonas species. High counts of motile aromonads were found in riverine stations and this bacterial population was also observed in significant quantities in polluted marine samples. In the identification of 2,444 isolates, three species of motile Aeromonas were observed. A. caviae (43%) was prevalent followed by A. sobria (35%) and A. hydrophila (20%). A. hydrophila was high in clean riverine samples, A. sobria was predominantly isolated from a stagnant water sampling area, and A. caviae was distributed more in marine samples. Statistical analyses suggested that the densities of Aeromonas were related to the cumulative effect of various physicochemical parameters rather than to a single factor. Among the species of Aeromonas, A. hydrophila, and A. sobria were highly hemolytic whereas only 11% of A. caviae were observed to lyse sheep erythrocytes. Suckling-mouse assay was performed to elucidate the enterotoxicity of motile aeromonads and 21% of the tested strains (one A. caviae strain) were found to produce enterotoxin.     

Isolation of Aeromonas hydrophila from a captive caracal lynx (Felis caracal)

Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from the internal organs of a captive caracal lynx (Felis caracal) which died of acute septicemia. Grossly, patchy areas of focal necrosis were found in the lungs, liver and kidney; there was ulceration in the stomach and intestines. Microscopically, lesions contained cellular debris, neutrophils, lymphocytes and gram-negative bacilli. This is the first report of isolation of Aeromonas hydrophila from a captive wild animal in Nigeria.     

Enumeration and characterization of Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas caviae isolated from grocery store produce.

Starch-ampicillin agar was used to quantitatively isolate Aeromonas sp. from retail grocery store produce. All produce sampled, including parsley, spinach, celery, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, and lettuce, contained Aeromonas sp. In most instances, the count of Aeromonas sp. increased 10- to 1,000-fold during 2 weeks of storage at 5 degrees C. Eleven (92%) of 12 kinds of produce yielded cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. Identification as Aeromonas hydrophila was the strongest indicator of cytotoxicity, and all 29 (100%) A. hydrophila isolates and 1 (6%) of 16 A. caviae isolates were cytotoxic. Twenty-seven (90%) of 30 cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. strains produced hemolysins. Strong correlations were also noted between ability to produce cytotoxin and positive Voges-Proskauer, lysine decarboxylase, and sorbitol fermentation reactions. It appears that grocery store produce is a potentially significant source of cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. and should be considered in the epidemiology of A. hydrophila gastroenteritis.