Genetic diversity study of Chromobacterium violaceum isolated from Kolli Hills by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)

Aim: Chromobacterium are saprophytes that cause highly fatal opportunistic infections. Identification and strain differentiation were performed to identify the strain variability among the environmental samples. We have evaluated the suitability of individual and combined methods to detect the strain variations of the samples collected in different seasons. Methods and Results: Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles were obtained using four different restriction enzyme digestions (AluI, HaeIII, MspI and RsaI) and five random primers. A matrix of dice similarity coefficients was calculated and used to compare these restriction patterns. ARDRA showed rapid differentiation of strains based on 16S rDNA, but the combined RAPD and ARDRA gave a more reliable differentiation than when either of them was analysed individually. Conclusion: A high level of genetic diversity was observed, which indicates that the Kolli Hills’C. violaceum isolates would fall into at least three new clusters. Significance and Impact of the Study: Results showed a noteworthy bacterial variation and genetic diversity of C. violaceum in the unexplored, virgin forest area.     

茜草内生菌的分离鉴定及其抗菌活性物质研究

对中药植物茜草(Rubia cordifoliaL)的内生菌进行了分离和抗菌活性筛选,获得一株具有广谱抗菌活性的内生细菌。该细菌对常见的3种人类病原菌和4种植物病原菌具有拮抗作用。传统分类学和基于16S rRNA基因的分子分类学证据表明,该内生细菌为一株新的枯草芽孢杆菌,命名为Bacillus subtilisRC4。B.subtilisRC4在综合马铃薯培养基(pH值5.0)中于28℃振荡培养60h,产生的代谢物对白色念珠菌的抗菌活性最强。抗菌活性物质在100℃受热20min,活性维持80%以上,且在pH值2.0~11.0范围内稳定。经硅胶柱层析和高效液相色谱分离,得到主要抗菌活性化合物,质谱分析表明其分子量约为288Da。     

Identification and characterization of bacterial isolates from the Mir space station

Twenty bacterial isolates (supplied by NASA) from the Mir space station water system were identified using Vitek GNI+ test card, API 20NE, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The identification of only one isolate agreed among the three techniques. The utility of the API 20NE and Vitek GNI+ test card approaches for identifying these isolates was Limited. Although 16S rRNA gene sequencing effectively identified many of the bacteria to the genus level, 74% of the isolates could not be identified to the species level. Isolates were also characterized based on motility and hydrophobicity. About 40% of the isolates were motile and four isolates were hydrophobic, suggesting that many of the bacteria have the potential to colonize surfaces and form biofilms. These findings demonstrate the difficulties in identifying bacteria from some environments to the species level and have implications for determining the risks of contamination in water systems of space shuttles and stations.     

Length-weight relationships of fish species from oxbow lakes on the floodplain of the middle Purus River in western Brazilian Amazon

The length-weight relationship (LWRs) was estimated for eight fish species collected from oxbow lakes on the floodplain of the middle Purus River in western Brazilian Amazonia in January, May, and September 2012. The specimens were collected using 12 gillnets (80 m in length × 4 m in height, meshes of between 1.5 cm and 12.0 cm), which were set during both diurnal and nocturnal periods. The species had allometric coefficients (b) of between 2.92 and 3.37, and correlation coefficients (r²) ranging from 0.954 to 0.993 and we highlight that the work presents new data for literature.     

Genetic markers for analysing symbiotic relationships and lateral gene transfer in Neotropical bradyrhizobia

Assays with seven sets of lineage-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers in the ribosomal RNA region were performed on 96 isolates of the Bradyrhizobium sp. nodule bacteria from Barro Colorado Island, Panama. The isolates were derived from 10 legume host species in six genera (Centrosema, Desmodium, Dioclea, Inga, Machaerium and Vigna). The PCR assays differentiated 13 composite genotypes, and sequencing of a 5' 23S rRNA region indicated that all but one had a unique sequence. The most common genotype (seen in 44% of the isolates) was associated with all six legume host genera, and had a marker profile and 5' 23S rRNA sequence identical to a Bradyrhizobium lineage associated with several other legume genera in Panama and Costa Rica. Another 46% of the isolates had genotypes found to be associated with two to three legume genera. Bradyrhizobium strains with low host specificity thus appear to be prevalent in this tropical forest. Based on 16S rRNA and 5' 23S rRNA markers, most of the isolates had clear affinities to either B. japonicum or B. elkanii. However, one strain (Cp5-3) with a B. elkanii-type 16S rRNA marker had a 5' 23S rRNA region resembling B. japonicum. A partition homogeneity test indicated that relationships of strain Cp5-3 were significantly discordant for 16S rRNA vs. 23S rRNA sequences, and a runs test detected significant mosaic structure across the rRNA region. Lateral gene transfer events have therefore played a role in the evolution of symbiotic bacteria in this environment.     

我国南北大豆产区慢生大豆根瘤菌的遗传多样性和系统发育研究

利用16S rRNA基因RFLP、16S rRNA基因序列分析以及16S-23S rRNA IGS PCR RFLP技术对分离自我国南北大豆产区的慢生大豆根瘤菌进行了群体遗传多样性和系统发育研究。16S rRNA基因PCR RFLP分析以及16S rRNA基因序列分析结果表明:所有供试慢生大豆根瘤菌可分为B.japonicum和B.elkanii两个类群,其中属于B.japonicum的为优势种群,占供试菌株的91%,属于B.elkanii的仅占9%,多样性水平较低。16S-23S rRNA IGS PCRRFLP研究结果表明:属于B.japonicum的慢生根瘤菌具有较丰富的遗传多样性,在69%的相似性水平上可分为群Ⅰ和群Ⅱ两大类群。群I的菌株以分离自黑龙江和河北等北部区域的菌株为代表,群Ⅱ的菌株以分离自广西和江苏等南部地域的菌株为代表,反映出明显的地域特征。两群菌株在系统发育上均与USDA6、USDA110和USDA122等B.japonicum的模式或代表菌株有差异。     

紫色色杆菌感染小熊猫引起肺炎的临床调查

本文报道了福州大熊猫研究中心小熊猫感染紫色色杆菌引起肺炎的群发病例。7 只小熊猫中,出现以呼吸衰竭为主要临床症状的3 只小熊猫在发病3 d内全部死亡,病死率100% 。死亡的小熊猫解剖病变为气管内有白色泡沫样分泌物,肺有化脓性坏死并严重淤血;胸腔,心包积液且胸水浑浊;肝脏呈弥漫性空泡变性,淤血和散在局灶性坏死。通过流行病学调查,病理解剖观察,细菌分离培养和鉴定及动物回归试验,诊断为紫色色杆菌无色变种感染。根据GenBank 数据库提供的紫色色杆菌16S RNA 基因序列,设计一对引物(5’GAG CAAACA GGA TTA GAT ACC 3’;5’TTA CGG TTA CCT TGT TAC GAC 3’),获得目的基因片段739 bp,将核苷酸序列测定的结果与GenBank 数据库提供的7 株紫色色杆菌进行同源性比较。分离的菌株(FJ08A) 与CV09 株、ESBV4400株同源性均为98.8% ,与AY117554 株、EAV2 株、AJ871127 株、LMG3953 株、JS1 株同源性分别为98. 2% 、98.0% 、94.9%、93.1% 、92.8% 。依据调查结果和药物敏感试验,对其余4 只未发病的小熊猫采取肌
肉注射头孢哌酮钠和口服复方新诺明进行预防性治疗,效果良好,未有新病发生。结果表明:(1)紫色色杆菌是革兰氏阴性菌,致病性强,致死率高,腹腔注射分离的紫色色杆菌菌液导致接种小白鼠在2 ～3 d 内全部死亡。小熊猫感染后,发病迅速,致死率高,应引起重视;(2)紫色色杆菌是一种条件致病菌,外伤感染是主要致病因素。     

我国主要生态区域绿豆慢生根瘤菌的遗传多样性和系统发育研究

利用16SrRNAPCR-RFLP、16SrRNA序列分析以及16S-23SrRNAIGS(IntergeneticSpacer)PCR-RFLP技术对分离自中国主要生态区域的44株慢生型绿豆根瘤菌和5株参比菌株进行了遗传多样性和系统发育研究。16SrRNAPCR-RFLP分析表明:在76%的相似水平上,所有供试菌株可分为三大类群:群I由LYG1等13株慢生根瘤菌组成,该群在系统发育上与B.japonicum和B.liaoningense的参比菌株存在一定的差异;群Ⅱ由XJ1等21株供试菌株、B.japonicum和B.liaoningense的代表菌株组成;群Ⅲ由10株来自广东和广西的菌株和B.elkanii的代表菌株组成。16S-23SrRNAIGSPCR-RFLP分析将供试菌株分为A、B两大群。群A由34株供试菌株、B.japonicum和B.liaoningense的代表菌株组成。在85%的相似性水平上,可再分为AⅠ、AⅡ和AⅢ3个亚群。群B由10株分离自广西和广东的菌株和B.elkanii的代表菌株组成。在85%的相似性水平上,可再分为BI和BⅡ两亚群,表现出一定的多样性。与16SrRNAPCR-RFLP相比,16S-23SrRNAIGSPCR-RFLP具有更高的解析度,供试菌株表现出更加丰富的遗传多样性。分离自中国新疆、广东和广西等地的菌株在分群上具有较为明显的地域特征。     

Diversity in antifungal activity of strains of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chromobacterium violaceum</Emphasis> from the Brazilian Amazon

Chromobacterium violaceum is a free-living Gram-negative bacterium found in soil and aquatic habitats; abundantly present in the Brazilian Amazon, it is an important example of exploitable microbial diversity of the tropics. In this study, 24 strains from the Brazilian Amazon and ATCC 12472(T) were investigated for biocontrol potential of seven fungi pathogenic to soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril] seed. Both cells and the supernatants of two Brazilian strains, 07-1 and 27-1, together with ATCC 12472(T) were strongly antagonistic to six out of the seven fungi. The antifungal activity of the Brazilian strains to Fusarium sp., Phomopsis sp. and Cercospora kikuchi was consistently stronger than that of ATCC 12472(T). In addition, the two Brazilian strains, but not ATCC 12472(T), were effective against Corynespora sp., and all three strains and their supernatants were equally effective against Aspergillus sp. and Colletotrichum sp. None of the strains had antifungal activity against Botroyodiplodia sp. Three potential mechanisms related to the antibiosis were investigated: violacein toxicity, cyanide production and chitinolytic activity; however, it was not possible to associate any of them with the antifungal activity. The results highlight the biotechnological potential still to be explored within the poorly characterized microbial biodiversity of the tropics.     

Characterization and identification of Borrelia isolates as Borrelia valaisiana in Taiwan and Kinmen Islands

Eleven pure cultures of Borrelia from 3 species of wild rodents (Apodemus agrarius, Mus formosanus, Rattus losea) captured in Taichung, located in the center of Taiwan island, and on Kinmen Island were characterized. Five isolates showed restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of 5S-23S rRNA gene intergenic spacer sequences identical to those of strains 5MT and 10MT, identified as Borrelia valaisiana, which were isolated in the southern tip of South Korea. Although the remaining six isolates showed novel RFLP patterns, these isolates showed more similarity to members of B. valaisiana from Korea, Japan and Europe based on 16S rRNA gene and flagellin gene sequences. This led us to speculate that transmission and proliferation of this type of borrelia occurred between Taiwan and the southern part of South Korea.     

Genomic and phenotypic heterogeneity of Acidithiobacillus spp. strains isolated from diverse habitats in China

The genetic variability among 32 Chinese Acidithiobacillus spp. environmental isolates and four reference strains representing three recognized species of the genus Acidithiobacillus was characterized by using a combination of molecular methods, namely restriction fragment length polymorphisms of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes and 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic spacers, repetitive element PCR, arbitrarily primed PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that all Acidithiobacillus spp. strains could be assigned to seven groups, three of which encompassed the Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strains from various parts of the world. A comparative analysis of the phylogenetic Group 1 and 2 was undertaken. Restriction fragment length polymorphism results allowed us to separate the 35 Acidithiobacillus strains into 15 different genotypes. An integrated phenotypic and genotypic analysis indicated that the distribution of A. ferrooxidans strains among the physiological groups were in agreement with their distribution among the genomic groups, and that no clear correlation was found between the genetic polymorphism of the Acidithiobacillus spp. strains and either the geographic location or type of habitats from which the strains were isolated. In addition, five unidentified sulfur-oxidizing isolates may represent one or two novel species of the genus Acidithiobacillus. The results showed that the Chinese Acidithiobacillus spp. isolates exhibited a high degree of genomic and phenotypic heterogeneity.     

Genetic diversity of Acacia tortilis ssp. raddiana rhizobia in Tunisia assessed by 16S and 16S-23S rDNA genes analysis

AIMS: In order to understand the genetic diversity of Acacia tortilis ssp. raddiana-rhizobia in Tunisia, isolates from nine geographical locations were obtained and analysed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Characterization using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene and the intergenic spacer (IGS) between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes was undertaken. Symbiotic efficiency of the strains was also estimated. Analysis of the 16S rRNA by PCR-RFLP showed that the isolates were phylogenetically related to Ensifer ssp., Rhizobium tropicii-IIA, and Rhizobium tumefaciens species. Analysis of 16S-23S spacer by PCR-RFLP showed a high diversity of these rhizobia and revealed eleven additional groups, which indicates that these strains are genetically very diverse. Full 16S rRNA gene-sequencing showed that the majority of strains form a new subdivion inside the genera Ensifer, with Ensifer meliloti being its nearest neighbour. Nodulation test performed on the plant host demonstrated differences in the infectivity among the strains. CONCLUSION: Rhizobial populations that nodulate specifically and efficiently Acacia tortilis ssp. raddiana in representative soils of Tunisia is dominated by E. meliloti-like genomospecies. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This paper provides the first clear characterization and symbiotic efficiency data of rhizobia strains nodulating A. tortilis in Tunisia.     

Igniting taxonomic curiosity: The amazing story of Amazonocrinis with the description of a new genus Ahomia gen. nov. and novel species of Ahomia,Amazonocrinis, and Dendronalium from the biodiversity-rich northeast region of India

Five cyanobacterial strains exhibiting Nostoc-like morphology were sampled from the biodiversity hotspots of the northeast region of India and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rRNA gene indicated that the strains belonged to the genera Amazonocrinis and Dendronalium. In the present investigation, the 16S rRNA gene phylogeny clearly demarcated two separate clades of Amazonocrinis. The strain MEG8-PS clustered along with Amazonocrinis nigriterrae CENA67, which is the type strain of the genus. The other three strains ASM11-PS, RAN-4C-PS, and NP-KLS-5A-PS clustered in a different clade that was phylogenetically distinct from the Amazonocrinis sensu stricto clade. Interestingly, while the 16S rRNA gene phylogeny exhibited two separate clusters, the 16S–23S ITS region analysis did not provide strong support for the phylogenetic observation. Subsequent analyses raised questions regarding the resolving power of the 16S–23S ITS region at the genera level and the associated complexities in cyanobacterial taxonomy. Through this study, we describe a novel genus Ahomia to accommodate the members clustering outside the Amazonocrinis sensu stricto clade. In addition, we describe five novel species, Ahomia kamrupensis, Ahomia purpurea, Ahomia soli, Amazonocrinis meghalayensis, and Dendronalium spirale, in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN). Apart from further enriching the genera Amazonocrinis and Dendronalium, the current study helps to resolve the taxonomic complexities revolving around the genus Amazonocrinis and aims to attract researchers to the continued exploration of the tropical and subtropical cyanobacteria for interesting taxa and lineages.     

The use of PCR-based typing methods to assess the diversity of Frankia nodule endophytes of the actinorhizal shrub Ceanothus

Our understanding of the actinorhizal symbiosis, in particular of the Frankia-Ceanothus association, has been hampered by the failure to isolate infective strains in pure culture. Recently, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been utilized to amplify regions of the Frankia genome, allowing analysis of the microsymbiont genome without first isolating the microbe in pure culture. Root nodules were collected from six Ceanothus spp. common to the coastal regions of the Santa Monica Mountains of southern California. Individual lobes were surface-sterilized, total DNA was extracted and amplified using prokaryotic-specific primers. To assess the genetic diversity of Frankia endophytes in the population studied, the BOX primer was used to generate genomic fingerprints of prokaryotic nodule inhabitants using rep-PCR. Fingerprint patterns fell into twelve distinct groups indicating the occurrence of genetic diversity of Frankia in the nodules sampled. DNA extracts of individual lobes that gave distinct BOX-PCR fingerprints were also amplified by PCR using primers directed against conserved regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were determined and aligned with the corresponding region from other taxa for phylogenetic analysis. The sequences from Ceanothus nodules share a common ancestor to that of the Elaeagnus –infective strains.