The role of anti-lactoferrin activity of bacteria in their persistence

The role of anti-lactoferrin activity (ALfA) of bacteria in the persistence phenomenon, i.e. long survival of a causative agent in a host body, was studied in experimental staphylococcal infection. In experimental animals infected with isogenic clones of Staphylococcus aureus with different level of ALfA, longer terms were noted in bacterial recovery of staphylococci with this ability. Analysis on the occurrence and level of ALfA in clinical isolates of bacteria, isolated from different forms of infectious process, confirmed the significance of this sign in the persistence of a causative agent. High values of penetrance and expression of ALfA in bacteria were revealed in strains of microorganisms, isolated from chronic inflammatory diseases and from bacterial carriers.     

Antilactoferrin activity of microorganisms

The detection rate of the antilactoferrin sign and the level of its manifestation in 165 strains of different microbial species, isolated from patients with inflammatory diseases and intestinal dysbacteriosis, were analyzed. The detection rate of antilactoferrin activity was 43 - 90% for Escherichia coli strains, 20 - 86% for Staphylococcus aureus, 60 - 100% for Klebsiella pneumoniae, 76 - 78% for Candida albicans, isolated from different biotopes of man. Most frequently and with high levels of manifestation this sign was registered in strains isolated from the reproductive tract of women. The detection rate of this sign and the level of its manifestation in bacteria of the vaginal and cervical microbiocenosis, isolated from patients, were higher in comparison with healthy persons. The inverse dependence between the level of the antilactoferrin activity of microflora and the content of lactoferrin during the inflammatory process in women was established.     

Persistence factors of Francisella tularensis

The study of the persistence potential of 64 F. tularensis strains isolated from different sources was carried out. The wide spread of the antilysozyme, antilactoferrin and anticomplementory activities of F. tularensis were detected. F. tularensis, isolated from ticks and water, were characterized by the highest level of the expression of antilysozyme activity, while anticomplementory and antilactoferrin activities of the infective agents were characteristic of those microorganisms which were isolated from rodents and their excrements.     

印度洋可培养解有机磷细菌的多样性及解磷特性

【目的】筛选获得印度洋海水解有机磷细菌,研究其解有机磷作用机理,初步了解该地区可培养有机磷细菌的系统发育多样性。【方法】采用卵磷脂培养基从分离自印度洋的细菌中筛选解有机磷细菌,根据16S rRNA基因序列确定获得的有机磷细菌的分类地位;同时挑选解磷效果显著的3株细菌利用液体发酵进行产酶和解磷特性分析。【结果】自916株细菌中得到99株具有解有机磷活性的细菌,分属于16个属。在以卵磷脂为其有机磷来源时,菌株India-BSP-1 (Cobetia sp.)、India-BSP-21 (Pelagibaca sp.)、India-BSP-23 (Pelagibacterium sp.)的培养液中磷酸盐(DIP)浓度曲线为N型,并且碱性磷酸酶的检测活性滞后于DIP的生成。【结论】印度洋海水中解有机磷细菌种类多样性丰富,疑似有新种;解有机磷细菌的解磷特性受DIP和碱性磷酸酶相互作用的影响。     

具有抑菌活性的海洋细菌的分离与鉴定

分离并筛选具有抑菌活性的海洋细菌对于开发和利用海洋微生物具有重要意义,该研究从6份海泥样品中共分离到78株海洋细菌,以6种细菌作为敏感指示菌,采用覆盖技术对分离菌株进行拮抗试验,17株海洋细菌具有抑菌活性,对其中2株具有较强抑菌活性的海洋细菌进行革兰氏染色,耐盐试验,运动性观察,过氧化氢酶测定,明胶液化试验,硫化氢产生试验,石蕊牛奶试验,糖类发酵,硝酸盐还原等特性分析,依据《伯杰氏细菌鉴定手册》进行分类鉴定,它们分别应归属为气单孢菌属（Aeromonas sp.）和假单孢菌属（Pseudomonas sp.）。     

Studies on the possible role of cattle nuisance flies, especially Hydrotaea irritans, in the transmission of summer mastitis in Denmark

The summer mastitis pathogens Actinomyces pyogenes, Peptococcus indolicus, Bacteroides melaninogenicus ss. levii, Fusobacterium necrophorum and Streptococcus dysgalactiae were isolated from the polyphagous symbovine dipterans Hydrotaea irritans (Fallén) and Morellia sp. caught around dairy heifers on pasture, but not from the haematophagous species Haematobia irritans (L.), Haematobosca stimulans (Meigen), Culicoides sp. and Simulium sp. Secretions from clinical cases of summer mastitis proved to be sources of summer mastitis bacteria for more than 3 weeks despite antibiotic treatment and teat amputation. Taking into account the seasonal activity pattern of Hydrotaea irritans and its topographical distribution on grazing cattle, it appears evident that this fly may play a central role in the establishment and maintenance of the bacterial contamination with summer mastitis pathogens on the teats of healthy cattle. In the present study the survival of A.pyogenes and P.indolicus for 7 days in experimentally infected Hydrotaea irritans, as demonstrated by the recovery of these microorganisms from agar plates exposed to live infected flies, is described. However, experimental transmission of summer mastitis from sick to healthy heifers by Hydrotaea irritans proved unsuccessful.     

异养微生物在金属生物淋滤技术中的应用

生物淋滤技术主要应用于低品位矿石金属选矿、煤气脱硫、废弃物中金属回收和污染介质中金属离子毒性的去除等方面。作为生物淋滤技术中的主体微生物之一,异养微生物可通过其产生的酸性代谢物还原、酸化及络合,提取或者溶解非硫化矿、固体废弃物、污水污泥及土壤中的金属,有助于解决目前的资源短缺问题,还可对污染环境治理提供技术支持,具有重要的理论意义和实践价值。应用于异养微生物淋滤技术中的常见微生物包括细菌(以假单胞菌为主)和真菌(以曲霉菌和青霉菌应用最为广泛)。淋滤过程涉及酸解、络合、还原及碱化等。目前,异养微生物淋滤技术主要应用于生物冶金、固体废弃物处理、污水处理和污染土壤修复等。本文分析了异养微生物金属淋滤过程中的问题,并提出了未来研究的发展方向。     

The Ecological and Morphological Characteristics of Microorganisms in Lesnaya Lamba (Karelia)

This paper contains the results obtained in the investigations of morphology, ultrastructure and vertical distribution of microorganisms in a stratified lake, Lesnaya Lamba, Karelia. The culture of Ochrobium tectum (PERF.) was produced for the first time, and the bacterial nature of this organism was shown by investigating its ultrathin structure. The presence of gaseous vacuoles was also revealed, which explains the migrational ability of ferritized cells. Several new microorganisms were detected, including the filamentous photosynthetic green bacterium Chloronema giganteum (nov. gen. nov. sp.), a consortium of a new symbiotic form of green bacteria named Chloroplana vacuolata, formerly unknown tiny purple bacteria and blue-green algae Gloeocapsa, oxidizing iron. It was revealed that more than half of the bacterio-plankton in the bottom layer possess gaseous vacuoles; they are represented by various morphological forms. The vertical distribution of iron bacteria — Siderocapsa (Arthrobacter), Ochrobium, Siderococcus and other species is regulated according to ecological niches by the concentration of oxygen and iron, and, in phototrophs, by the amount of light and the presence of a certain type of bacteriochlorophyll. All in all, the distribution of nine species of phototrophic bacteria in the lake is described.     

Phylogenetic diversity and activity of anaerobic microorganisms of high-temperature horizons of the Dagang Oilfield (China)

The number of microorganisms of major metabolic groups and the rates of sulfate-reducing and methanogenic processes in the formation waters of the high-temperature horizons of Dagang oilfield have been determined. Using cultural methods, it was shown that the microbial community contained aerobic bacteria oxidizing crude oil, anaerobic fermentative bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria, and methanogenic bacteria. Using cultural methods, the possibility of methane production from a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide (H2 + CO2) and from acetate was established, and this result was confirmed by radioassays involving NaH14CO3 and 14CH3COONa. Analysis of 16S rDNA of enrichment cultures of methanogens demonstrated that these microorganisms belong to Methanothermobacter sp. (M. thermoautotrophicus), which consumes hydrogen and carbon dioxide as basic substrates. The genes of acetate-utilizing bacteria were not identified. Phylotypes of the representatives of Thermococcus spp. were found among 16S rDNAs of archaea. 16S rRNA genes of bacterial clones belong to the orders Thermoanaerobacteriales (Thermoanaerobacter, Thermovenabulum, Thermacetogenium, and Coprothermobacter spp.), Thermotogales, Nitrospirales (Thermodesulfovibrio sp.) and Planctomycetales. 16S rDNA of a bacterium capable of oxidizing acetate in the course of syntrophic growth with H2-utilizing methanogens was found at high-temperature petroleum reservoirs for the first time. These results provide further insight into the composition of microbial communities of high-temperature petroleum reservoirs, indicating that syntrophic processes play an important part in acetate degradation accompanied by methane production.     

Quantitative assessment of the biological activity of chemicals by soil microbial associations

Quantitative assessment, using three Pseudomonas sp. strains, of the activity of the microbial biocide Soncid 8101 demonstrated that the values of effective sublethal concentrations (L50) differed by 500% (because of individual variations in the sensitivity of the test strains). The spread of parameters of biocidal activity could be narrowed by using a mixture of microorganisms with high, medium, and weak resistance. A method for quantitative assessment of the activity of microbial biocides was proposed, based on the use of natural associations of soil bacteria.     

Quantitative Assessment of the Biocidal Activity of Chemicals Using Soil Microbial Associations

Quantitative assessment, using three Pseudomonas sp. strains, of the activity of the microbial biocide Soncid 8101 demonstrated that the values of effective sublethal concentrations (L₅₀) differed by 500% (because of individual variations in the sensitivity of the test strains). The spread of parameters of biocidal activity could be narrowed by using a mixture of microorganisms with high, medium, and weak resistance. A method for quantitative assessment of the activity of microbial biocides was proposed based on the use of natural associations of soil bacteria.     

Efficacy of microorganisms selected from compost to control soil-borne pathogens

Suppression of soil-borne plant pathogens with compost has been widely studied. Compost has been found to be suppressive against several soil-borne pathogens in various cropping systems. However, an increase of some diseases due to compost usage has also been observed, since compost is a product that varies considerably in chemical, physical and biotic composition, and, consequently, also in ability to suppress soil borne diseases. New opportunities in disease management can be obtained by the selection of antagonists from suppressive composts. The objective of the present work was to isolate microorganisms from a suppressive compost and to test them for their activity against soil-borne pathogens. A compost from green wastes, organic domestic wastes and urban sludge's that showed a good suppressive activity in previous trials was used as source of microorganisms. Serial diluted suspensions of compost samples were plated on five different media: selective for Fusarium sp., selective for Trichoderma sp., selective for oomycetes, potato dextrose agar (PDA) for isolation of fungi, lysogeny broth (LB) for isolation of bacteria. In total, 101 colonies were isolated from plates and tested under laboratory conditions on tomato seedlings growing on perlite medium in Petri plates infected with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici and compared to a commercial antagonist (Streptomyces griserovidis, Mycostop, Bioplanet). Among them, 28 showed a significant disease reduction and were assessed under greenhouse condition on three pathosystems: Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. basilica/basil, Phytophthora nicotianae/tomato and Rhizoctonia solani/bean. Fusarium spp. selected from compost generally showed a good disease control against Fusarium wilts, while only bacteria significantly controlled P. nicotianae on tomato under greenhouse conditions. None of the microorganisms was able to control the three soil-borne pathogens together, in particular Rhizoctonia solani. Results confirmed the good suppressive activity of the compost under study against soil-borne pathogens. The selection of antagonists from compost is a promising strategy for the development of new biological control agents against soil-borne pathogens.     

Destruction of mustard gas hydrolysis products by marine and soil bacteria

Destruction of mustard gas hydrolysis products by bacterial cultures isolated from soils and bottom waters at the sites of chemical weapons disposal has been studied. Among the tested microorganisms, the soil bacteria Pseudomonas putida Y-21 and Rhodococcus erythropolis 8D and the marine bacteria Achromobacter sp. 75-1, Arthrobacter sp. 23-3, and Pseudomonas sp. 93-2 show the highest activity. Thiodiglycol is utilized by two pathways; one of them, with formation of [(2-hydroxyethyl)thio]acetic and thiodiglycolic and thioglycolic acids, is a common pathway for all bacteria under study. The results demonstrate both the possibility of self-purification of natural objects by natural communities of microorganisms and the prospects for application of microorganisms-destructors in bioremediation of polluted territories.     

Selected fluorescent techniques for identification of the physiological state of individual water and soil bacterial cells — <Emphasis Type="Italic">review</Emphasis>

Stimulated by demands of the natural environment conservation, the need for thorough structural and functional identification of microorganisms colonizing different ecosystems has contributed to an intensive advance in research techniques. The article shows that some of these techniques are also a convenient tool for determination of the physiological state of single cells in a community of microorganisms. The paper presents selected fluorescent techniques, which are used in research on soil, water and sediment microorganisms. It covers the usability of determination of the dehydrogenase activity of an individual bacterial cell (CTC+) and of bacteria with intact, functioning cytoplasmic membranes, bacteria with an integrated nucleiod (NuCC+) as well as fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH).     

Potential use of endophytic root bacteria and host plants to degrade hydrocarbons

Abstract

Microbe-assisted phytoremediation depends on competent root-associated microorganisms that enhance remediation efficiency of organic compounds. Endophytic bacteria are a key element of the root microbiome and may assist plant degradation of contaminants. The aim of this study was to investigate the application of four hydrocarbon-degrading endophytic strains previously isolated from an oil sands reclamation area. Strains EA1-17 (Stenotrophomonas sp.), EA2-30 (Flavobacterium sp.), EA4-40 (Pantoea sp.), and EA6-5 (Pseudomonas sp.) were inoculated in white sweet clover growing on soils amended with diesel at 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000?mg·kg^?1. Our results indicate that plant growth inhibition caused by diesel fuel toxicity was overcome in inoculated plants, which showed significantly higher plant biomass. Analysis of soil F2 and F3 hydrocarbon fractions also revealed that these soils were remediated by inoculated plants when diesel was applied at 10,000?mg·kg^?1 and 20,000?mg·kg^?1. In addition, quantification of hydrocarbon-degrading genes suggests that all bacterial strains successfully colonized sweet clover plants. Overall, the endophytic strain EA6-5 (Pseudomonas sp.), which harbored hydrocarbon-degrading genes, was the most effective candidate in phytoremediation experiments and could be a strategy to increase plant tolerance and hydrocarbon degradation in contaminated (e.g., diesel fuel) soils.     

褐煤风化过程中微生物群落的演替

对采自辽宁省前屯煤矿的6种不同风化程度的褐煤样品进行扫描电子显微镜观察发现:刚采掘出来的褐煤表面几乎没有微生物存在.经5个月、1年及4年堆积风化的褐煤中也只见到休眠孢子和少量菌丝.将褐煤样品在潮湿状态下培养10天后,扫描电镜观察发现:刚采出来的褐煤及经5个月风化的褐煤表面有大量放线菌生长,而且菌落周围有褐煤被降解迹象.经1年风化的褐煤中除有大量放线菌及细菌生长外,真菌也有所增加.而在经4年风化褐煤中主要是真菌明显增加.平板计数结果同样说明褐煤风化过程中微生物存在演替现象:放线菌为褐煤初期降解的主要微生物,随后是细菌,在风化程度较高的褐煤中,真菌则为优势降解菌.三株优势放线菌为诺卡氏菌(Nocardia Sp.),束丝放线菌(Actinosynnema Sp.)和链霉菌(Streptomyces sp.).两株优势细菌均为节杆菌(Arthrobacter sp.).两株曲霉为栖土曲霉(A.terricola)及褚曲霉(A.ochraceous),为褐煤风化过程的优势真菌.     

Environmental and spatial drivers of beta diversity components of chironomid metacommunities in contrasting freshwater systems

Marine sponges are exposed to predation as well as to a wide array of potentially harmful microorganisms, and therefore they often possess chemical activity against putative predators and/or pathogens. Some crude extracts from sponges are effective in avoiding microbial colonization or potential infections, and in protecting them against predation. Here, the antibacterial activity of 18 sponge species of Antarctic shallow-waters was tested against four Antarctic and four human pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, all sponge extracts were tested for feeding repellence against the seastar Odontaster validus, one of the main predators living in those habitats. All the sponges showed antibacterial activity against at least one bacterial isolate, although not all of them were active against pathogenic bacteria. The antibacterial effect against sympatric bacteria was stronger than to pathogenic bacteria. In contrast, feeding deterrence was low, with similar activities in both hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts. Only four sponges (Myxilla lyssostyla, Phorbas areolatus, Polymastia invaginata and Iophon sp.), presented repellent chemical defenses. Therefore, we conclude that chemical defenses are widespread in Antarctic shallow-water sponges, and in fact, these sponges are better protected against bacteria than against the seastar predator. We conclude that Antarctic sponges represent a valuable source of biological active compounds with pharmacological and potential ecological relevance.     

Antimicrobial Functions of Lactoferrin Promote Genetic Conflicts in Ancient Primates and Modern Humans

Lactoferrin is a multifunctional mammalian immunity protein that limits microbial growth through sequestration of nutrient iron. Additionally, lactoferrin possesses cationic protein domains that directly bind and inhibit diverse microbes. The implications for these dual functions on lactoferrin evolution and genetic conflicts with microbes remain unclear. Here we show that lactoferrin has been subject to recurrent episodes of positive selection during primate divergence predominately at antimicrobial peptide surfaces consistent with long-term antagonism by bacteria. An abundant lactoferrin polymorphism in human populations and Neanderthals also exhibits signatures of positive selection across primates, linking ancient host-microbe conflicts to modern human genetic variation. Rapidly evolving sites in lactoferrin further correspond to molecular interfaces with opportunistic bacterial pathogens causing meningitis, pneumonia, and sepsis. Because microbes actively target lactoferrin to acquire iron, we propose that the emergence of antimicrobial activity provided a pivotal mechanism of adaptation sparking evolutionary conflicts via acquisition of new protein functions.     

Expression of a human lactoferrin cDNA in tobacco cells produces antibacterial protein(s).

A suspension tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cell line was transformed to express human lactoferrin, an iron-binding glycoprotein. The transgenic calli produced a protein that was significantly smaller than the full-length lactoferrin protein. Total protein extracts made from transgenic tobacco callus exhibited much higher antibacterial activity than commercially available purified lactoferrin as determined by the decrease of colony-forming units when tested with four phytopathogenic species of bacteria. Introduction of the lactoferrin gene in crop plants may provide resistance against phytopathogenic bacteria.     

Effect of ionic and colloid gold on ATP-hydrolase fermentative systems in the membrane of Bacillus sp. B4253 and Bacillus sp. B4851

Accumulation of gold in cells of Bacillus sp. B4253 can be directly or indirectly connected with activity of bacteria plasma membrane basal Mg2+-ATPase. Therefore this work deals with a comparative analysis of kinetic properties of plasma membrane basal azide-resistant Mg2+-dependent ATP-hydrolase activity of B. sp. B4253 and B. sp. B4851 capable to gold accumulation and not capable to this process, accordingly. It is shown, that by a number of kinetic parameters - specific fermentative activity, initial speed of reaction of hydrolysis ATP (V0), Mixaelis constant (Km), the maximal initial speed by Mg2+ (V(Mg)) and by ATP (V(ATP)), optimum concentration of ATP ([ATP]opt), pHmax, sensitivity to action of the thapsigargine and eosine Y - bacteria membranes basal Mg2+-ATPase activity accumulating gold, and the bacteria not capable to this process, are identical. But by some parameters they differ: Mg2+-ATPase activity of membranes of the bacteria which do not accumulate gold, has three times greater affinity for Mg ions and smaller value [Mg]opt. The inhibition effect of ionic gold (10(-4)-3x10(-4) M) is shown on azide-sensitive (H+-ATPase) and azide-resistant (Mg2+-ATPase) components Mg2+-dependent ATP-hydrolase activity in fraction of plasma membranes of microorganisms Bacillus accumulating gold, and not capable to this process. Colloid gold (0.0002-4 microg/ml) stimulates activity of H+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase in a membrane of the bacteria accumulating gold 1.5-2 times, and does not influence activity of ATPases of a membrane of the bacteria which do. not accumulate gold.