Phylogenetic Analysis of Dichloromethane-Utilizing Aerobic Methylotrophic Bacteria

The phylogenetic relationships of 12 aerobic dichloromethane-degrading bacteria that implement different C₁-assimilation pathways was determined based on 16S ribosomal RNA sequences and DNA–DNA hybridization data. The restricted facultative methylotroph Methylophilus leisingerii DM11 with the ribulose monophosphate pathway was found to belong to the genus Methylophilus cluster of the beta subclass of Proteobacteria. The facultative methylotroph Methylorhabdus multivorans DM13 was assigned to a separate branch of the alpha-2 group of Proteobacteria. Paracoccus methylutens DM12, which utilizes C₁-compounds via the Calvin cycle, was found to belong to the alpha-3 group of Proteobacteria (more precisely, to the genus Paracoccus cluster). Thus, phylogenetic analysis confirmed the taxonomic status of these recently characterized bacteria. According to the degree of DNA homology, several novel strains of methylotrophic bacteria were divided into three genotypic groups within the alpha-2 group of the Proteobacteria. Genotypic group 1, comprising strains DM1, DM3, and DM5 through DM9, and genotypic group 3, comprising strain DM10, were phylogenetically close to the methylotrophic bacteria of the genus Methylopila, whereas genotypic group 2 (strain DM4) was close to bacteria of the genus Methylobacterium. The genotypic groups obviously represent distinct taxa of methylotrophic bacteria, whose status should be confirmed by phenotypic analysis.     

Endophytic Bacteria in Plant Salt Stress Tolerance: Current and Future Prospects

Soil salinity is a major limiting factor for crop productivity worldwide and is continuously increasing owing to climate change. A wide range of studies and practices have been performed to induce salt tolerance mechanisms in plants, but their result in crop improvement has been limited due to lack of time and money. In the current scenario, there is increasing attention towards habitat-imposed plant stress tolerance driven by plant-associated microbes, either rhizospheric and/or endophytic. These microbes play a key role in protecting plants against various environmental stresses. Therefore, the use of plant growth-promoting microbes in agriculture is a low-cost and eco-friendly technology to enhance crop productivity in saline areas. In the present review, the authors describe the functionality of endophytic bacteria and their modes of action to enhance salinity tolerance in plants, with special reference to osmotic and ionic stress management. There is concrete evidence that endophytic bacteria serve host functions, such as improving osmolytes, anti-oxidant and phytohormonal signaling and enhancing plant nutrient uptake efficiency. More research on endophytes has enabled us to gain insights into the mechanism of colonization and their interactions with plants. With this information in mind, the authors tried to solve the following questions: (1) how do benign endophytes ameliorate salt stress in plants? (2) What type of physiological changes incur in plants under salt stress conditions? And (3), what type of determinants produced by endophytes will be helpful in plant growth promotion under salt stress?

     

A Review of Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH): Current Status and Future Prospects

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a powerful technique for detecting DNA or RNA sequences in cells, tissues and tumors. This molecular cytogenetic technique enables the localization of specific DNA sequences within interphase chromatin and metaphase chromosomes and the identification of both structural and numerical chromosome changes. FISH is quickly becoming one of the most extensively used cytochemical staining techniques owing to its sensitivity and versatility, and with the improvement of current technology and cost effectiveness, its use will surely continue to expand. Here we review the wide variety of current applications and future prospects of FISH technology.     

A Review of Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH): Current Status and Future Prospects

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a powerful technique for detecting DNA or RNA sequences in cells, tissues and tumors. This molecular cytogenetic technique enables the localization of specific DNA sequences within interphase chromatin and metaphase chromosomes and the identification of both structural and numerical chromosome changes. FISH is quickly becoming one of the most extensively used cytochemical staining techniques owing to its sensitivity and versatility, and with the improvement of current technology and cost effectiveness, its use will surely continue to expand. Here we review the wide variety of current applications and future prospects of FISH technology.     

Lignocellulose Biotechnology: Current and Future Prospects

Abstract

Lignocellulose is the most abundant biomass available on Earth. It has attracted considerable attention as an alternate feed stock and energy resource because of the large quantities available and its renewable nature. The potential uses of lignocelluloses are in pulp and paper industries, production of fuel alcohol and chemicals, protein for food, and feed using biotechnological means. The current industrial activity of lignocellulosic biomass fermentation is limited mainly because of the difficulty in economic bioconversion of these materials to value-added products. Considerable improvement in many processes related to lignocellulose biotechnology appeared during the last decade. Current uses of lignocellulosic biomass, process constraints, and areas of future research are discussed here.     

Biotechnological Potential of Some Cold-Adapted Bacteria Isolated from North-Western Himalaya

Microbiology - In the present study, cold-adapted bacteria were isolated from soil, water and glacial ice samples collected from various geographical locations within the north-western Himalayan...     

Current Status and Future Prospects for the Assessment of Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Services: A Systematic Review

Background

Research on ecosystem services has grown exponentially during the last decade. Most of the studies have focused on assessing and mapping terrestrial ecosystem services highlighting a knowledge gap on marine and coastal ecosystem services (MCES) and an urgent need to assess them.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We reviewed and summarized existing scientific literature related to MCES with the aim of extracting and classifying indicators used to assess and map them. We found 145 papers that specifically assessed marine and coastal ecosystem services from which we extracted 476 indicators. Food provision, in particular fisheries, was the most extensively analyzed MCES while water purification and coastal protection were the most frequently studied regulating and maintenance services. Also recreation and tourism under the cultural services was relatively well assessed. We highlight knowledge gaps regarding the availability of indicators that measure the capacity, flow or benefit derived from each ecosystem service. The majority of the case studies was found in mangroves and coastal wetlands and was mainly concentrated in Europe and North America. Our systematic review highlighted the need of an improved ecosystem service classification for marine and coastal systems, which is herein proposed with definitions and links to previous classifications.

Conclusions/Significance

This review summarizes the state of available information related to ecosystem services associated with marine and coastal ecosystems. The cataloging of MCES indicators and the integrated classification of MCES provided in this paper establish a background that can facilitate the planning and integration of future assessments. The final goal is to establish a consistent structure and populate it with information able to support the implementation of biodiversity conservation policies.     

Silicon and Plants: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Silicon (Si) is the most copious element of existence in the lithosphere but still it has not been added into the essential element list. The imperative role of...     

Diversity and Biotechnological Potential of Nitrate-Reducing Bacteria from Heavy-Oil Reservoirs (Russia)

Microbiology - Nitrates do not occur in the formation water of oil reservoirs. A number of oil companies use nitrate injection technology to suppress corrosion of steel equipment and to decrease...     

Genes of NAD+-Dependent Formate Dehydrogenases in Taxonomy of Aerobic Methylotrophic Bacteria of the Genus Ancylobacter

Microbiology - Comparative phylogenetic analysis of NAD+-dependent formate dehydrogenases (NAD+-FDH) genes, which have been detected in all available genomes of methylotrophs of the genera...     

A Brief Review of Metazoan Phylogeny and Future Prospects in Hox-Research

Underlying any analysis on the evolution of development is aphylogenetic framework, whether explicitly stated or implied.As such, differing views on phylogenetic relationships leadto variable interpretations of how developmental mechanismshave changed through time. Over the past decade, many long-standinghypotheses about animal evolution have been questioned causingsubstantial changes in the assumed phylogenetic framework underlyingcomparative developmental studies. Current hypotheses aboutearly metazoan history suggest that three, not two, major lineagesof bilateral animals originated in the Precambrian: the Deuterostomes(e.g., seastars, acorn worms, and vertebrates), the Ecdysozoans(e.g., nematodes and arthropods), and the Lophotrochozoans (e.g.,annelids, mollusks, and lophophorates). Although informationin Hox-genes bears directly on our understanding of early metazoanevolution and the formation of body plans, research effort hasbeen focused primarily on two taxa, insects and vertebrates.By sampling a greater diversity of metazoan taxa and takingadvantage of biotechnological advances in genomics, we willnot only learn more about metazoan phylogeny, but will alsogain valuable insight as to the key evolutionary forces thatestablished and maintained metazoan bauplans.     

The Effect of Aerobic Methylotrophic Bacteria on the in vitro Morphogenesis of Soft Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

The effects of four aerobic methylotrophic bacteria on the morphogenesis of soft wheat (Triticum aestivum) were studied in vitro using immature embryos as explants. The inoculation of the embryos with methylotrophic bacteria led to their stable colonization with the bacteria. The colonization of the explants with the strains of Methylobacterium sp. D10 and Methylophilus glucoseoxidans stimulated the formation of morphogenic calli and shoots and also promoted development of the regenerated plants. These regenerated plants manifested bright green leaves and a well-developed root system. The colonization of immature wheat embryos with methylotrophic bacteria can be employed as a tool for raising the efficiency of genetic transformation of various wheat cultivars.     

基因甘蔗：潜能、现状和前景

从基因中在甘蔗上的应用潜能、甘蔗遗传转化的方法及其成效、启动子及选择标记对基因表达和转化体筛选的效应,基因工程甘蔗的成就等几个方面进行综述评述,并提出了进一步的研究方向。     

Biogas Production from Maize: Current State, Challenges, and Prospects. 1. Methane Yield Potential

Growing interest in converting biomass to renewable energies has led to a considerable expansion of maize cultivation in Germany to provide substrate for anaerobic digestion, producing methane for heat and electricity generation. For decades, maize has been bred for human and livestock nutrition as well as industrial purposes, but not for biomethanization. This review addresses the optimization potential for enhancing maize methane yield, especially open issues pertaining to biogas maize breeding objectives. A great challenge to be faced is the precise quantification of maize-specific methane yield (SMY), i.e., the methane yield per unit biomass. Methodological aspects covered in this review include the impact of the fermentation test procedure as well as of substrate conservation and pretreatment. The contribution of genotypic variation to methane hectare yield (MHY) and SMY are discussed and changes in SMY and MHY during maturation are assessed with respect to harvest timing. The review concludes with a systematic overview of research findings on the relation between SMY and chemical composition, approaches to SMY estimation, and their validation. There is still considerable controversy concerning a biogas maize ideotype; recent research, however, suggests that it differs from the forage maize ideotype, and that a high methane yield can be achieved by different breeding strategies.     

Ancylobacter lacus sp. nov. and Ancylobacter plantiphilus sp. nov., Novel Aerobic Facultative Methylotrophic Bacteria

Microbiology - Novel aerobic facultatively methylotrophic bacteria were isolated from the water of a freshwater lake (strain F30LT), soil sample of rhizosphere of white clover Trifolium repens L....     

Holins in Bacteria,Eukaryotes, and Archaea: Multifunctional Xenologues with Potential Biotechnological and Biomedical Applications

Holins form pores in the cytoplasmic membranes of bacteria for the primary purpose of releasing endolysins that hydrolyze the cell wall and induce cell death. Holins are encoded within bacteriophage genomes, where they promote cell lysis for virion release, and within bacterial genomes, where they serve a diversity of potential or established functions. These include (i) release of gene transfer agents, (ii) facilitation of programs of differentiation such as those that allow sporulation and spore germination, (iii) contribution to biofilm formation, (iv) promotion of responses to stress conditions, and (v) release of toxins and other proteins. There are currently 58 recognized families of holins and putative holins with members exhibiting between 1 and 4 transmembrane α-helical spanners, but many more families have yet to be discovered. Programmed cell death in animals involves holin-like proteins such as Bax and Bak that may have evolved from bacterial holins. Holin homologues have also been identified in archaea, suggesting that these proteins are ubiquitous throughout the three domains of life. Phage-mediated cell lysis of dual-membrane Gram-negative bacteria also depends on outer membrane-disrupting “spanins” that function independently of, but in conjunction with, holins and endolysins. In this minireview, we provide an overview of their modes of action and the first comprehensive summary of the many currently recognized and postulated functions and uses of these cell lysis systems. It is anticipated that future studies will result in the elucidation of many more such functions and the development of additional applications.