Microbial diversity in ikaite tufa columns: an alkaline,cold ecological niche in Greenland

Ikaite tufa columns from the Ikka Fjord in south-western Greenland constitute a natural, stable environment at low temperature and with a pH ranging from neutral at the exterior to very alkaline (pH 10.4) at the interior of the column. Phylogenetic analysis of culturable organisms revealed ten different isolates representing three of the major bacterial divisions. Nine of the isolates showed 94-99% similarity to known sequences, whereas one isolate displayed a low degree of similarity (less than 90%) to a Cyclobacterium species. Seven of the isolates were shown to be cold active alkaliphiles, whereas three isolates showed optimal growth at neutral pH. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA isolated directly from the ikaite material demonstrated the presence of a microbial flora more diverse than the culturable isolates. Whereas approximately half of the phylotypes showed 90-99% similarity to known meso- or thermophilic alkaliphiles, the rest of the sequences displayed less than 90% similarity when compared to known 16S rRNA gene sequences in databases. Thus, in the present paper, we demonstrate that ikaite columns that host a specialized macroscopic flora and fauna also contain a unique, cold active, alkaliphilic microflora.     

Molecular analysis of bacterial communities associated with the roots of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) colonized by different ectomycorrhizal fungi

We studied the effect of ectomycorrhizal fungi on bacterial communities colonizing roots of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Mycorrhizal tips were cleaned of soil and separated based on gross morphological characteristics. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacers of the nuclear rRNA gene cluster indicated that the majority of the tips were colonized by fungi in the Russulaceae, with the genera Russula and Lactarius comprising 70% of the tips. Because coamplification of organellar 16S rRNA genes can interfere with bacterial community analysis of root tips, we developed and tested a new primer pair that permits amplification of bacterial 16S rRNA genes but discriminates more effectively against organellar sequences than commonly used bacterial primer sets. We then used terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene to examine differences in bacterial communities associated with the mycorrhizal tips. Cluster analysis of T-RFLP profiles indicated that there were different bacterial communities among the root tips; however, the communities did not seem to be affected by the taxonomic identity of the ectomycorrhizal fungi. Terminal restriction fragment profiling and sequencing of cloned partial 16S rRNA genes indicated that most bacteria on the ectomycorrhizal tips were related to the Alphaproteobacteria and the Bacteroidetes group.     

Molecular and culture-dependent analyses revealed similarities in the endophytic bacterial community composition of leaves from three rice (Oryza sativa) varieties

The endophytic bacterial communities of the three most important rice varieties cultivated in Uruguay were compared by a multiphasic approach. Leaves of mature plants grown in field experiments for two consecutive crop seasons were studied. No significant differences were found in the heterotrophic bacterial density for the three varieties. Pantoea ananatis and Pseudomonas syringae constituted 51% of the total of the isolates. These species were always present regardless of the variety or the season. Molecular analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene was performed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and cloning. T-RFLP analysis revealed that bacterial communities grouped according to the variety, although the three varieties presented communities that showed 74% or higher similarities. Brevundimonas, the dominant genus in the clone library (18% of the clones), which might be present in all varieties according to T-RFLP profiles, was not recovered by cultivation. Conversely, bacteria from the genus Pseudomonas were not detected in the clone library. These results indicate that communities established in leaves of physiologically different rice varieties were highly similar and composed by a reduced group of strongly associated and persistent bacteria that were partially recovered by cultivation.     

Novel phylogenetic assignment database for terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of human colonic microbiota

Various molecular-biological approaches using the 16S rRNA gene sequence have been used for the analysis of human colonic microbiota. Terminal- restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis is suitable for a rapid comparison of complex bacterial communities. Terminal-restriction fragment (T-RF) length can be calculated from a known sequence, thus one can predict bacterial species on the basis of their T-RF length by this analysis. The aim of this study was to build a phylogenetic assignment database for T-RFLP analysis of human colonic microbiota (PAD-HCM), and to demonstrate the effectiveness of PAD-HCM compared with the results of 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis. PAD-HCM was completed to include 342 sequence data obtained using four restriction enzymes. Approximately 80% of the total clones detected by 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis were the same bacterial species or phylotypes as those assigned from T-RF using PAD-HCM. Moreover, large T-RFs consisted of common species or phylotypes detected by both analytical methods. All pseudo-T-RFs identified by mung bean nuclease digestion could not be assigned to a bacterial species or phylotype, and this finding shows that pseudo-T-RFs can also be predicted using PAD-HCM. We conclude that PAD-HCM built in this study enables the prediction of T-RFs at the species level including difficult-to-culture bacteria, and that it is very useful for the T-RFLP analysis of human colonic microbiota.     

Detection and identification of species-specific bacteria associated with synanthropic mites

Internal bacterial communities of synanthropic mites Acarus siro, Dermatophagoides farinae, Lepidoglyphus destructor, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: Astigmata) were analyzed by culturing and culture-independent approaches from specimens obtained from laboratory colonies. Homogenates of surface-sterilized mites were used for cultivation on non-selective agar and DNA extraction. Isolated bacteria were identified by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. PCR amplified 16S rRNA genes were analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (T-RFLP) and cloning sequencing. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using universal bacterial probes was used for direct bacterial localization. T-RFLP analysis of 16S rRNA gene revealed distinct species-specific bacterial communities. The results were further confirmed by cloning and sequencing (284 clones). L. destructor and D. farinae showed more diverse communities then A. siro and T. putrescentiae. In the cultivated part of the community, the mean CFUs from four mite species ranged from 5.2?×?10(2) to 1.4?×?10(3) per mite. D. farinae had significantly higher CFUs than the other species. Bacteria were located in the digestive and reproductive tract, parenchymatical tissue, and in bacteriocytes. Among the clones, Bartonella-like bacteria occurring in A. siro and T. putresecentiae represented a distinct group related to Bartonellaceae and to Bartonella-like symbionts of ants. The clones of high similarity to Xenorhabdus cabanillasii were found in L. destructor and D. farinae, and one clone related to Photorhabdus temperata in A. siro. Members of Sphingobacteriales cloned from D. farinae and A. siro clustered with the sequences of "Candidatus Cardinium hertigii" and as a separate novel cluster.     

油樟内生芽孢细菌的系统发育多样性

摘要：【目的】为了解油樟产芽孢内生细菌的多样性。【方法】采用改良的牛肉膏琼脂培养基分离、去除冗余及芽孢染色,测定所得产芽孢内生细菌的16S rRNA基因,进行系统发育分析。【结果】40株产芽孢内生细菌数量占分离得到的内生细菌总数的38.1％,其中根、茎、叶中分别分离得到24株、7株和9株。16S rRNA基因序列系统发育分析结果表明,35株菌可能分属于Bacillus、Lysinibacillus、Paenibacillus属的16个种,还有5株菌的序列与数据库中典型菌株序列相似性低于97％,代表着潜在新类群的存在。【结论】从油樟3个部位分离出的产芽孢内生细菌存在明显的系统发育多样性,而且3个部位分离出的产芽孢内生细菌区系既呈现出一定程度的细菌区系相似性,又表现出器官细菌区系的特异性。     

Phylogenetic Diversity of Bacteria Associated with the Marine Sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gelliodes carnosa</Emphasis> Collected from the Hainan Island Coastal Waters of the South China Sea

Several molecular techniques were employed to document the bacterial diversity associated with the marine sponge Gelliodes carnosa. Cultivation-dependent and cultivation-independent methods were used to obtain the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the bacterial community structure was highly diverse with representatives of the high G + C Gram-positive bacteria, cyanobacteria, low G + C Gram-positive bacteria, and proteobacteria (α-, β-, and γ-), most of which were also found in other marine environments, including in association with other sponges. Overall, 300 bacterial isolates were cultivated, and a total of 62 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified from these isolates by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and DNA sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes. Approximately 1,000 16S rRNA gene clones were obtained by the cultivation-independent method. A total of 310 clones were randomly selected for RFLP analysis, from which 33 OTUs were acquired by further DNA sequencing and chimera checking. A total of 12 cultured OTUs (19.4% of the total cultured OTUs) and 13 uncultured OTUs (39.4% of the total uncultured OTUs) had low sequence identity (≤97%) with their closest matches in GenBank and were probably new species. Our data provide strong evidence for the presence of a diverse variety of unidentified bacteria in the marine sponge G. carnosa. A relatively high proportion of the isolates exhibited antimicrobial activity, and the deferred antagonism assay showed that over half of the active isolates exhibited a much stronger bioactivity when grown on medium containing seawater. In addition to demonstrating that the sponge-associated bacteria could be a rich source of new biologically active natural products, the results may have ecological implications. This study expands our knowledge of the diversity of sponge-associated bacteria and contributes to the growing database of the bacterial communities within sponges.     

Chilling and cultivar type affect the diversity of bacterial endophytes colonizing sweet pepper (Capsicum anuum L.)

A climate chamber experiment was conducted to assay the effect of low temperatures (chilling) on the diversity of bacteria colonizing the endospheres of two thermophilic sweet pepper (Capsicum anuum L.) cultivars, Milder Spiral and Ziegenhorn Bello. Structural diversity was analyzed by 16S rRNA-based terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis and by the generation of 16S rRNA gene libraries to determine dominant community members in T-RFLP profiles. Cultivable community members colonizing lines Milder Spiral and Ziegenhorn Bello were identified by 16S rRNA gene analysis. T-RFLP profiles and 16S rRNA gene libraries revealed a high heterogeneity of community composition due to chilling and suggested further the existence of cultivar-specific communities. The majority of isolates obtained from the cultivar Milder Spiral were assigned as high-G+C Gram-positive bacteria (Microbacterium sp., Micrococcus sp., Rhodococcus sp.) and Firmicutes (Staphylococcus sp.). Of the isolated endophytes obtained from cultivar Zeigenhorn Bello, 93% were affiliated with Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus sp. (Firmicutes). The experimental set-up was suited to demonstrate that chilling and cultivar type can influence the diversity of bacterial endophytes colonizing sweet pepper. We propose additional chilling experiments to investigate the effect of chilling on functional, plant-beneficial abilities of bacterial endophytes associated with low-temperature-sensitive crops, such as sweet pepper.     

Composition and variability of biofouling organisms in seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants

Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) membrane biofouling remains a common challenge in the desalination industry, but the marine bacterial community that causes membrane fouling is poorly understood. Microbial communities at different stages of treatment processes (intake, cartridge filtration, and SWRO) of a desalination pilot plant were examined by both culture-based and culture-independent approaches. Bacterial isolates were identified to match the genera Shewanella, Alteromonas, Vibrio, and Cellulophaga based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. The 16S rRNA gene clone library of the SWRO membrane biofilm showed that a filamentous bacterium, Leucothrix mucor, which belongs to the gammaproteobacteria, accounted for nearly 30% of the clone library, while the rest of the microorganisms (61.2% of the total clones) were related to the alphaproteobacteria. 16S rRNA gene terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis indicated that bacteria colonizing the SWRO membrane represented a subportion of microbes in the source seawater; however, they were quite different from those colonizing the cartridge filter. The examination of five SWRO membranes from desalination plants located in different parts of the world showed that although the bacterial communities from the membranes were not identical to each other, some dominant bacteria were commonly observed. In contrast, bacterial communities in source seawater were significantly different based on location and season. Microbial profiles from 14 cartridge filters collected from different plants also revealed spatial trends.     

四川冬菜中细菌群落组成及多样性

【目的】了解腌制4年的四川南充冬菜中细菌群落组成及多样性。【方法】通过16S rDNA多样性分析样品细菌落组成;采用16S rDNA-RFLP方法分析从样品中分离出的纯培养细菌。【结果】16S rDNA多样性分析结果表明,样品中细菌主要属于变形杆菌门(Proteobacteria)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),分别占克隆文库的87.9%、7.1%,其中包括Virgibacillus kekensis,Marinococcus albus,Salinicoccus sp.,Lactobacillus halophilus和Halomonas等中度嗜盐菌,仅有5%属于放线菌门(Actinobacteria)。通过纯培养方法从冬菜中分离到35株菌,16S rDNA-RFLP分析结果表明,34株属于厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),包括Virgibacillus,Bacillus megaterium和Gracilibacillus saliphilus等中度嗜盐菌,1株属于放线菌门(Actinobacteria)。【结论】冬菜中细菌群落多样性较低,以中度嗜盐菌为主。     

Bacterial diversity based on 16S rRNA and gyrB genes at Yinshan mine, China

The diversity of bacterial communities at three sites impacted by acid mine drainage (AMD) from the Yinshan Mine in China was studied using comparative sequence analysis of two molecular markers, the 16S rRNA and gyrB genes. The phylogenetic analyses retrieved sequences from six classes of bacteria, Nitrospira, Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria, as well as sequences related to the plastid of the cyanobacterium Cyanidium acidocaldarium and also some unknown bacteria. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on gyrB and 16S rRNA were compared. This confirmed that gyrB gene analysis may be a useful tool, in addition to the comparative sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, for the analysis of microbial community compositions. Moreover, the Mantel test showed that the geochemical characteristics, especially the pH value and the concentration of iron, strongly influenced the composition of the microbial communities.     

Sponge-associated bacteria are strictly maintained in two closely related but geographically distant sponge hosts

The giant barrel sponges Xestospongia muta and Xestospongia testudinaria are ubiquitous in tropical reefs of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, respectively. They are key species in their respective environments and are hosts to diverse assemblages of bacteria. These two closely related sponges from different oceans provide a unique opportunity to examine the evolution of sponge-associated bacterial communities. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene sequences from X. muta and X. testudinaria showed little divergence between the two species. A detailed analysis of the bacterial communities associated with these sponges, comprising over 900 full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences, revealed remarkable similarity in the bacterial communities of the two species. Both sponge-associated communities include sequences found only in the two Xestospongia species, as well as sequences found also in other sponge species and are dominated by three bacterial groups, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria. While these groups consistently dominate the bacterial communities revealed by 16S rRNA gene-based analysis of sponge-associated bacteria, the depth of sequencing undertaken in this study revealed clades of bacteria specifically associated with each of the two Xestospongia species, and also with the genus Xestospongia, that have not been found associated with other sponge species or other ecosystems. This study, comparing the bacterial communities associated with closely related but geographically distant sponge hosts, gives new insight into the intimate relationships between marine sponges and some of their bacterial symbionts.     

Fecal microbial diversity in a strict vegetarian as determined by molecular analysis and cultivation

Fecal microbial diversity in a strictly vegetarian woman was determined by the 16S rDNA library method, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis and a culture-based method. The 16S rDNA library was generated from extracted fecal DNA, using bacteria-specific primers. Randomly selected clones were partially sequenced. T-RFLP analysis was performed using amplified 16S rDNA. The lengths of T-RF were analyzed after digestion by HhaI and MspI. The cultivated bacterial isolates were used for partial sequencing of 16S rDNA. Among 183 clones obtained, approximately 29% of the clones belonged to 13 known species. About 71% of the remaining clones were novel "phylotypes" (at least 98% similarity of clone sequence). A total of 55 species or phylotypes were identified among the 16S rDNA library, while the cultivated isolates included 22 species or phylotypes. In addition, many new phylotypes were detected from the 16S rDNA library. The 16S rDNA library and isolates commonly included the Bacteroides group, Bifidobacterium group, and Clostridium rRNA clusters IV, XIVa, XVI and XVIII. T-RFLP analysis revealed the major composition of the vegetarian gut microbiota were Clostridium rRNA subcluster XIVa and Clostridium rRNA cluster XVIII. The dominant feature of this strictly vegetarian gut microbiota was the detection of many Clostridium rRNA subcluster XIVa and C. ramosum (Clostridium rRNA cluster XVIII).     

Genetic Diversity among Thermophilic Bacteria Isolated from Geothermal Sites by Using Two PCR Typing Methods

Microbial communities thriving at two hot springs, Hammam Pharaon (Pharaoh's Bath) and Oyoun Mossa (Moses springs), in Egypt was studied by cultural and molecular methods. Thirteen morphologically distinct strains of facultative anaerobic thermophilic bacterial isolates have been characterized and identified using phenotypic and genotypic characters including RAPD-PCR, ERIC-PCR typing, plasmid analysis and 16S rRNA sequencing. All isolates produced plasmid DNA with various sizes ranging from 0.7 kb to a larger plasmid 7.2 kb. The bacterial strains could tolerate a temperature range between 45 to 85°C and a pH between 4–11. Also, sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in the thermal springs were investigated with combined biochemical and molecular approaches. A sulphate-reducing bacteria medium containing lactate was used for enrichment and isolation, which yielded Gram negative, rod shaped, anaerobic, non-spore-forming and motile bacteria capable of reducing sulphate to sulphide. These grew at temperatures ranging from 30 to 50°C and could use pyruvate, lactate and ethanol as electron donors. The dissimilatory sulphite reductase (DSR) gene sequences of eleven representative isolates revealed that the strains belonged to the sulphur reducing bacterial species Desulfovibrio vulgaris. 16S rRNA gene partial sequence results indicated the presence of novel or existing species of Bacillus (one species), Anoxybacillus (four species) and Geobacillus (eight species). In this study phenotypic and genotypic diversity were applied for the first time to differentiate thermophilic bacteria of such geothermal sites in Sinai, Egypt.     

Web-based phylogenetic assignment tool for analysis of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles of microbial communities

Culture-independent DNA fingerprints are commonly used to assess the diversity of a microbial community. However, relating species composition to community profiles produced by community fingerprint methods is not straightforward. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) is a community fingerprint method in which phylogenetic assignments may be inferred from the terminal restriction fragment (T-RF) sizes through the use of web-based resources that predict T-RF sizes for known bacteria. The process quickly becomes computationally intensive due to the need to analyze profiles produced by multiple restriction digests and the complexity of profiles generated by natural microbial communities. A web-based tool is described here that rapidly generates phylogenetic assignments from submitted community T-RFLP profiles based on a database of fragments produced by known 16S rRNA gene sequences. Users have the option of submitting a customized database generated from unpublished sequences or from a gene other than the 16S rRNA gene. This phylogenetic assignment tool allows users to employ T-RFLP to simultaneously analyze microbial community diversity and species composition. An analysis of the variability of bacterial species composition throughout the water column in a humic lake was carried out to demonstrate the functionality of the phylogenetic assignment tool. This method was validated by comparing the results generated by this program with results from a 16S rRNA gene clone library.     

Web-Based Phylogenetic Assignment Tool for Analysis of Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Profiles of Microbial Communities

Culture-independent DNA fingerprints are commonly used to assess the diversity of a microbial community. However, relating species composition to community profiles produced by community fingerprint methods is not straightforward. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) is a community fingerprint method in which phylogenetic assignments may be inferred from the terminal restriction fragment (T-RF) sizes through the use of web-based resources that predict T-RF sizes for known bacteria. The process quickly becomes computationally intensive due to the need to analyze profiles produced by multiple restriction digests and the complexity of profiles generated by natural microbial communities. A web-based tool is described here that rapidly generates phylogenetic assignments from submitted community T-RFLP profiles based on a database of fragments produced by known 16S rRNA gene sequences. Users have the option of submitting a customized database generated from unpublished sequences or from a gene other than the 16S rRNA gene. This phylogenetic assignment tool allows users to employ T-RFLP to simultaneously analyze microbial community diversity and species composition. An analysis of the variability of bacterial species composition throughout the water column in a humic lake was carried out to demonstrate the functionality of the phylogenetic assignment tool. This method was validated by comparing the results generated by this program with results from a 16S rRNA gene clone library.     

Comparison of Bacterial Communities in New England Sphagnum Bogs Using Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP)

Wetlands are major sources of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases released during microbial degradation. Despite the fact that decomposition is mainly driven by bacteria and fungi, little is known about the taxonomic diversity of bacterial communities in wetlands, particularly Sphagnum bogs. To explore bacterial community composition, 24 bogs in Vermont and Massachusetts were censused for bacterial diversity at the surface (oxic) and 1 m (anoxic) regions. Bacterial diversity was characterized by a terminal restriction fragment length (T-RFLP) fingerprinting technique and a cloning strategy that targeted the 16S rRNA gene. T-RFLP analysis revealed a high level of diversity, and a canonical correspondence analysis demonstrated marked similarity among bogs, but consistent differences between surface and subsurface assemblages. 16S rDNA sequences derived from one of the sites showed high numbers of clones belonging to the Deltaproteobacteria group. Several other phyla were represented, as well as two Candidate Division-level taxonomic groups. These data suggest that bog microbial communities are complex, possibly stratified, and similar among multiple sites.     

Bacterial communities associated with the ctenophores Mnemiopsis leidyi and Beroe ovata

Residing in a phylum of their own, ctenophores are gelatinous zooplankton that drift through the ocean's water column. Although ctenophores are known to be parasitized by a variety of eukaryotes, no studies have examined their bacterial associates. This study describes the bacterial communities associated with the lobate ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi and its natural predator Beroe ovata in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. Investigations using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and cloning and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes demonstrated that ctenophore bacterial communities were distinct from the surrounding water. In addition, each ctenophore genus contained a unique microbiota. Ctenophore samples contained fewer bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) by T-RFLP and lower diversity communities by 16S rRNA gene sequencing than the water column. Both ctenophore genera contained sequences related to bacteria previously described in marine invertebrates, and sequences similar to a sea anemone pathogen were abundant in B.?ovata. Temporal sampling revealed that the ctenophore-associated bacterial communities varied over time, with no single OTU detected at all time points. This is the first report of distinct and dynamic bacterial communities associated with ctenophores, suggesting that these microbial consortia may play important roles in ctenophore ecology. Future work needs to elucidate the functional roles and mode of acquisition of these bacteria.