Induction of the mar operon by miscellaneous groceries

AIM: To investigate the potential of non-antibacterial consumer products to act as inducers of the multiple antibiotic resistance (mar) operon of Escherichia coli SPC105. METHODS AND RESULTS: Wells were cut into chemically defined agar medium (CDM) contained within Petri dishes. Molten agar slurries were prepared by mixing known quantities of 35 consumer products with molten CDM and these were pipetted into each well. Plates were overlaid with molten CDM (5 ml), containing 40 microg ml(-1) X-gal and approx. 1000 CFU ml(-1) of an overnight culture of E. coli SPC105 containing a chromosomal marOII::lacZ fusion. After incubation (37 degrees C, 24 h), plates were examined for zones of growth inhibition and the presence of a blue coloration, indicative of mar (marOII::lacZ) induction. Of the 35 products tested (nine herbs and spices, 19 food and drinks and seven household products), 24 (69%) of the items produced inhibitory zones and 22 (63%) of the items induced mar expression. Apple puree was inhibitory but did not induce marOII::lacZ. Mustard, chilli and garlic were shown to be powerful inducers of marOII::lacZ. Overall six products were shown to be powerful marOII::lacZ inducers. None of these made hygiene claims. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to induction by specific biocides and antibiotics, mar is induced by the exposure of bacteria to natural substances, many of which are common to a domiciliary setting. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Concern that the overuse of antibacterials within consumer products might select for mar-mediated resistance is shortsighted and fails to recognize the ubiquity of inducers in our environment.     

重组戊型肝炎病毒衣壳蛋白工程菌的高密度培养

在10L发酵罐中对戊型肝炎病毒衣壳蛋白在重组大肠杆菌中表达发酵工艺进行了研究,用分批培养方法探讨了不同培养基、培养基中磷酸盐浓度和Mg^2＋浓度等因素对菌体生长与重组蛋白表达的影响;用分批补料培养研究了不同的补料工艺对菌体生长与重组蛋白表达的影响,同时对重组菌诱导时期、诱导持续时间以及不同诱导温度表达包含体在尿素溶液中的溶解性进行了研究。结果表明,在优化后的培养基中,磷酸盐浓度、Mg^2＋浓度分别为80mmol/L 与20mmol/L时菌体生长与表达效果较好;分批补料培养中,37℃培养9h菌体达到对数期中期(约45OD600)为适宜诱导时期,加入终浓度为10mmol/L IPTG后诱导5h,OD600达到80以上,重组蛋白表达量达到29.74％,为最适收获菌体时间;37℃表达的包含体80％以上溶解在4mol/L的尿素溶液中,最终浓度达到14mg/mL; 10L发酵罐中确定的发酵工艺参数在30L发酵罐中进行了放大培养,10L发酵罐中确定的发酵工艺参数在30L发酵罐上具有可放大性与重复性, 可以应用于工业生产。     

Influence of growth environment on coaggregation between freshwater biofilm bacteria

AIM: To characterize the expression of coaggregation between Blastomonas natatoria 2.1 and Micrococcus luteus 2.13 following growth in liquid culture, on agar and in an artificial biofilm matrix composed of poloxamer hydrogel. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ability of B. natatoria 2.1 and M. luteus 2.13 to coaggregate with one another was assessed following growth in liquid culture as colonies on agar or within a poloxamer hydrogel matrix. In all these environments a cycle of gain and loss of coaggregation occurred when the two cell types were aged simultaneously, with optimum expression occurring in early stationary phase. Blastomonas natatoria 2.1 cells only coaggregated maximally after entry into stationary phase. Conversely, M. luteus 2.13 cells only coaggregated in exponential phase and early stationary phase and coaggregation ability was lost in late stationary phase. Maximal coaggregation therefore only occurred between the two strains if both were in early stationary phase, when the surface properties of the two cell types were optimal for coaggregation. CONCLUSION: In addition to occurring between cells grown in liquid culture, coaggregation between aquatic bacteria occurs after growth as a biofilm on agar and in an artificial biofilm matrix in poloxamer. Under all conditions, the B. natatoria 2.1 coaggregation adhesin and complementary receptor on M. luteus 2.13 were only expressed simultaneously during early stationary phase.     

Effect of iron concentration and growth rate on the expression of protein G in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Protein G of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be strongly induced by iron and repressed by iron restriction in chemically defined medium (CDM). Expression in batch culture was influenced by phase of growth and in iron limited continuous culture by the doubling time. We suggest that protein G may constitute a low-affinity iron uptake system.     

Effects of the dilution rate on cell cycle distribution and PEI-mediated transient gene expression by CHO cells in continuous culture

In this study, a continuous culture system was applied to mammalian cells on large scale, and polyethyleneimine (PEI) mediated transient gene expression (TGE). PEI MAX 40,000 was chosen as a superior reagent from three types of PEI. The cell cycle distribution of cells in batch and continuous cultures was determined, in which the effects of cell cycle distribution on transfection efficiency, post-transfection proliferation and recombinant prothrombin expression were evaluated. Compared with cells from end-log and plateau phase in batch culture, cells from mid-log phase possessed a larger fraction of S and G2/M phase cells and a smaller fraction of G1 phase cells. In the continuous culture, the fraction of cells in the S and G2/M phases increased and the fraction of cells in the G1/G0 phase decreased with increasing dilution rates. Cells from the continuous culture run at highest dilution rate had excellent proliferation, transfection efficiency and protein expression. These results were confirmed by transfecting cells synchronized to different phases. The G2/M arrested cells exhibited a nearly 10-fold increase in recombinant human prothrombin production relative to that of non-dividing cells. The use of continuous culture for large scale transfection demonstrated a better cell physiological state for TGE process.     

A method for discrimination of subpopulations of Candida albicans biofilm cells that exhibit relative levels of phenotypic resistance to chlorhexidine

Microbes in biofilms are generally found to be resistant to antimicrobial agents. One set of hypotheses attributes biofilm resistance to acquisition of special physiological traits (phenotypic resistance). Methods are presented that allow discrimination of subpopulations of Candida albicans cells that exhibit relative levels of phenotypic resistance to chlorhexidine. The assay for phenotypic resistance is based on microscopic detection of the rate of penetration of propidium iodide (PI) into single cells as their membranes become disrupted by chlorhexidine. Using the assay, it was found that batch cultures became progressively more resistant to the action of chlorhexidine during the transition from exponential growth to early stationary phase. Results are presented demonstrating that the methods can be used to characterize relative levels of phenotypic resistance exhibited by cells at the base of a C. albicans biofilm.     

The role of periplasmic antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and thiol peroxidase) of the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the formation of biofilms

This study examined the role of the periplasmic oxidative defense proteins, copper, zinc superoxide dismutase (SodC), and thiol peroxidase (Tpx), from the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC) in the formation of biofilms. Proteomic analyses have shown significantly higher expression levels of both periplasmic antioxidant systems (SodC and Tpx) in STEC cells grown under biofilm conditions than under planktonic conditions. An analysis of their growth phase-dependent gene expression indicated that a high level of the sodC expression occurred during the stationary phase and that the expression of the tpx gene was strongly induced only during the exponential growth phase. Exogenous hydrogen peroxide reduced the aerobic growth of the STEC sodC and tpx mutants by more than that of their parental strain. The two mutants also displayed significant reductions in their attachment to both biotic (HT-29 epithelial cell) and abiotic surfaces (polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride microplates) during static aerobic growth. However, the growth rates of both wild-type and mutants were similar under aerobic growth conditions. The formation of an STEC biofilm was only observed with the wild-type STEC cells in glass capillary tubes under continuous flow-culture conditions compared with the STEC sodC and tpx mutants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first mutational study to show the contribution of sodC and tpx gene products to the formation of an E. coli O157:H7 biofilm. These results also suggest that these biofilms are physiologically heterogeneous and that oxidative stress defenses in both the exponential and stationary growth stages play important roles in the formation of STEC biofilms.     

Effect of oxygen fluctuations on recombinant Escherichia coli fermentation

Escherichia coli DH5alpha, carrying the pUC19 plasmid for the lacZ fragment of beta-galactosidase and ampicillin resistance, was grown in a batch fermentor under conditions of fluctuating oxygen supply. A Monte Carlo method was used to control the on/off supply of air to simulate circulation of cells in a large fermentor. Rapid changes in oxygen supply reduced the rates of oxygen uptake the carbon dioxide release and prolonged the active second growth phase in batch culture, compared to growth with continuous aeration. Amplification of the plasmid was observed during the stationary phase when air supplied continuously, but not during the Monte Carlo experiments.     

Antibiotic susceptibility of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from very low birth weight babies: comprehensive comparisons of bacteria at different stages of biofilm formation

Background

Coagulase-negative staphylococci are major causes of bloodstream infections in very low birth weight babies cared for in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. The virulence of these bacteria is mainly due to their ability to form biofilms on indwelling medical devices. Biofilm-related infections often fail to respond to antibiotic chemotherapy guided by conventional antibiotic susceptibility tests.

Methods

Coagulase-negative staphylococcal blood culture isolates were grown in different phases relevant to biofilm formation: planktonic cells at mid-log phase, planktonic cells at stationary phase, adherent monolayers and mature biofilms and their susceptibilities to conventional antibiotics were assessed. The effects of oxacillin, gentamicin, and vancomycin on preformed biofilms, at the highest achievable serum concentrations were examined. Epifluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy in combination with bacterial viability staining and polysaccharide staining were used to confirm the stimulatory effects of antibiotics on biofilms.

Results

Most coagulase-negative staphylococcal clinical isolates were resistant to penicillin G (100%), gentamicin (83.3%) and oxacillin (91.7%) and susceptible to vancomycin (100%), ciprofloxacin (100%), and rifampicin (79.2%). Bacteria grown as adherent monolayers showed similar susceptibilities to their planktonic counterparts at mid-log phase. Isolates in a biofilm growth mode were more resistant to antibiotics than both planktonic cultures at mid-log phase and adherent monolayers; however they were equally resistant or less resistant than planktonic cells at stationary phase. Moreover, for some cell-wall active antibiotics, concentrations higher than conventional MICs were required to prevent the establishment of planktonic cultures from biofilms. Finally, the biofilm-growth of two S. capitis isolates could be enhanced by oxacillin at the highest achievable serum concentration.

Conclusion

We conclude that the resistance of coagulase-negative staphylococci to multiple antibiotics initially remain similar when the bacteria shift from a planktonic growth mode into an early attached mode, then increase significantly as the adherent mode further develops. Furthermore, preformed biofilms of some CoNS are enhanced by oxacillin in a dose-dependent manner.     

Recombinant protein synthesis and plasmid instability in continuous cultures of Escherichia coli JM103 harboring a high copy number plasmid

Escherichia coli JM103[pUC8] was employed as a model to investigate the behavior of a recombinant microbial system harboring a plasmid at high copy numbers. Experiments with batch and continuous cultures of recombinant and plasmid-free cells were conducted in a well-controlled bio-reactor. In batch experiments, plasmid copy number varied typically from an average of 500 during the exponential growth phase to as high as 1250 during the stationary phase. While the segregational plasmid instability was negligible in batch experiments, severe segregational instability occurred in continuous experiments conducted over a range of dilution rates, resulting in complete loss of plasmid-bearing cells from the continuous cultures within few residence times after transition to continuous operation. The profound differences in the specific growth rates and mass yields of the plasmid-free and plasmid-bearing cells resulting from the extra metabolic burden on the plasmid-bearing cells mainly due to excessive plasmid DNA content was the major cause for the plasmid instability. Plasmid multirnerization was detected in batch and continuous cultures and was found to have significant influence on the effective copy number and was partially responsible for the severe segregational instability in continuous cultures. A quasi-steady state representative of plasmid-bearing cells was established in the initial portion of each continuous culture experiment. Due to the profound growth rate differential between the two types of cells, transients of considerable duration were observed in each continuous culture experiment (initiated with a pure culture of plasmid bearing cells) following the slow accumulation of plasmid-free cells near the end of the quasi-steady state. Significant variations in various culture parameters (including a rapid decline in the plasmid-bearing fraction of the total cell population) occurred during this period, leading ultimately to a steady state for a culture dominated entirely by plasmid-free cells. In continuous cultures, plasmid copy number during the quasi-steady states increased with decreasing dilution rate from 50 (at 0.409 h(-1)) to 941 (at 0.233 h(-1)). Production of the plasmid-encoded protein (beta-lactamase) in these experiments was maximized at an intermediate dilution rate, corresponding to an optimum copy number of about 450. A similar optimum copy number was observed in batch cultures. Significant excretion of beta-lactamase was observed at both low and high dilution rates.     

Identification and characterization of a high-affinity zinc uptake system in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Bacteria growing in biofilms experience gradients of environmental conditions, including varying levels of nutrients and oxygen. Therefore, bacteria within biofilms may enter distinct physiological states, depending on the surrounding conditions. In this study, rpoS expression and RpoS levels were measured as indicators of stationary phase growth within thick continuously-fed Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. The level of rpoS expression in a 3-day-old biofilm was found to be three-fold higher than the average expression in stationary phase planktonic culture. RpoS levels in biofilms, indicated by immunoblot analysis, were similar to levels in stationary phase planktonic cultures. In planktonic cultures, oxygen limitation did not lead to increased levels of RpoS, suggesting that oxygen limitation was not the environmental signal causing increased expression of rpoS. These results suggest that bacteria within P. aeruginosa biofilms may exhibit stationary phase characteristics even when cultured in flow conditions that continually replenish nutrients.     

Enhancement of growth rate and β-galactosidase activity, and variation in organic acid profile of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb 12

The behavior of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb 12 under batch cultivation, after continuous culturing for up to 12 d, was monitored in skim milk-based media. Previous continuous culture for longer than 6 d affected the physiology of said microorganism. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of lactic and acetic acids increased from 18 to 26 g/l, whereas the molar ratio of acetic to lactic acid increased from 0.8 to 1.55, when the previous continuous culture increased its duration from 1 to 12 d. The specific lactose consumption rate decreased from 0.94 to 0.77 g_lactose/g_{cell dry mass}/h within the batch culture timeframe; this was concomitant with greater amounts of acetic and formic acids, and lower amounts of lactic acid produced. The β-galactosidase activity increased as continuous culturing time increased, and reached 446 units/ml by 12 d; however, the rate of enzyme synthesis decreased concomitantly. Succinic acid was produced during the exponential growth and stationary phases of the batch culture, but the former at exponential growth phase was higher as the continuous culturing time was longer. For comparison purposes, batch cultivation of samples taken from continuous cultures by 1 and 12 d was done using a semi-synthetic medium with glucose as carbon source; a pattern similar to that observed when using skim milk-based media was observed.     

Variation in the growth medium during the culture cycle of Tetrahymena: with special reference to ammonia (NH3), ammonium (NH4+), and pH1

The ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis was grown in a peptone medium without added glucose. The interrelationship between increasing cell density and pH of the growth medium was studied from mid-log to the stationary phase, i.e. from 50,000 to 1,000,000 cells/ml, by continuous registration of the pH of the growth medium. The present findings correlate with the known physiological, biochemical, and structural changes occurring in Tetrahymena as it passes through the culture cycle. The ammonia production of the cells and the buffer capacity of the growth medium were determined throughout the growth cycle. The results revealed that the ammonia excreted by the cells can explain the increase in pH of the medium from 6.8 to about 8.3 normally seen during the culture cycle. Moreover, neither the increased pH nor the raised level of ammonia were found to be the responsible factor for cessation of cell proliferation in the stationary growth phase although these factors may affect cell proliferation in concentrations well beyond the range found in normal cultures.     

Continuous production of L-tryptophan from indole and L-serine by immobilized Escherichia coli cells

Escherichia coli B 10, which has high activity of tryptophan synthetase, was grown in a 50-L batch culture in order to determine in which growth phase the cells have the highest specific tryptophan productivity. Accordingly, whole cells of the stationary phase were used for immobilization in polyacrylamide beads. After immobilization, these immobilized cells had 56% activity of tryptophan synthetase compared with that of free cells. First, the properties of immobilized cells were investigated. Next, discontinuous productions of L-tryptophan were carried out by using immobilized cells. In discontinuous production of L-tryptophan by the batch, the activity remaining of immobilized cells was 76-79% after 30 times batchwise use. In continuous production of L-tryptophan with a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), the activity remaining of the immobilized cells was 80% after continuous use for 50 days. The maximum productivity of L-tryptophan in this CSTR system was 0.12 g tryptophan L(-1) h(-1).     

Regulation of proteinase synthesis in Lactococcus lactis

The synthesis of extracellular serine proteinase of Lactococcus lactis was studied during the growth in a batch and a continuous culture on chemically defined media. In a batch culture the proteinase synthesis started during the exponential phase of growth and the highest proteinase concentrations were found at the end of the exponential and beginning of the stationary phase of growth. During the growth in a lactose-limited chemostat with amino acids as the sole source of nitrogen, the specific rate of proteinase synthesis was maximal at a μof 0.23 h^?1. At higher growth rates the proteinase productin declined. The proteinase synthesis was dependent on the amino acid sources in the medium. In batch cultures of L. lactis grown on a chemically defined medium with amino acids, the proteinase production was increased four-fold compared to media containing casein or a tryptic digest of casein as the sole source of nitrogen. The inhibition of the rate of proteinase synthesis by casein and peptides was also observed during the growth in a chemostat. The addition of the dipeptide leucylproline (final concentration of 100 μM) to a lactose-limited continuous culture during the steady state (D = 0.23 h^?1) resulted in a transient inhibition of the rate of proteinase synthesis. This suggested that exogenously supplied peptides control the regulation of proteinase synthesis of L. lactis.     

模拟失重对大肠杆菌K12基因表达及表型的影响

【目的】通过低剪切力模拟失重(Low-shear modeled microgravity,LSMMG)连续传代培养大肠杆菌,检测大肠杆菌在模拟失重条件下的表型变化及基因改变。【方法】利用旋转细胞培养系统模拟失重环境对大肠杆菌K12进行连续传代培养,对菌株进行增殖速率、耐酸性和生物膜形成的测定,以此评估LSMMG对大肠杆菌K12表型的影响。利用转录组测序检测模拟失重条件下差异表达的基因,与表型作比对。【结果】模拟失重导致大肠杆菌增殖速率降低,耐酸性下降,生物膜形成能力增强;模拟失重条件下,营养代谢相关差异表达基因有25个,其中20个表达下降,2个与耐酸相关基因表达均下降。【结论】模拟失重会引起大肠杆菌表型及相应的基因变化,其中生物膜形成能力的增强可能对航天飞行造成潜在威胁。     

红螺菌(Rhodospirillum sp.)的生长及其饥饿存活的研究

红螺菌（Ｒｈｏｄｏｐｉｒｉｌｌｕｍ ｓｐ．）是在多种不同生境中广泛存在的光合细菌中的一类,它在水产养殖上也得到了广泛应用。报道了不同生长阶段红螺菌在饥饿环境中的存添能力。红螺菌在饥饿环境中的存活能力提高。分批培养过程中,同时测定红螺菌数和可培养活菌数的变化表明,静止期生长期后的红螺菌难以在固体培养基上形成菌落,进入非可培养状态,进入非可培养状态的红螺菌经复苏培养后仍可恢复在固体培养基上形成菌落的能