Properties of a Novel Extracellular Cell-free Ice Nuclei from Ice-nucleating Pseudomonas antarctica IN-74

Some ice-nucleating bacterial strains, including Pantoea ananatis (Erwinia uredovora), Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pseudomonas syringae isolates, were examined for the ability to shed ice nuclei into the growth medium. A novel ice-nucleating bacterium, Pseudomonas antarctica IN-74, was isolated from Ross Island, Antarctica. Cell-free ice nuclei from P. antarctica IN-74 were different from the conventional cell-free ice nuclei and showed a unique characterization. Cell-free ice nuclei were purified by centrifugation, filtration (0.45 μm), ultrafiltration, and gel filtration. In an ice-nucleating medium in 1 liter of cell culture, maximum growth was obtained with the production of 1.9 mg of cell-free ice nuclei. Ice nucleation activity in these cell-free ice nuclei preparations was extremely sensitive to pH. It was demonstrated that the components of cell-free ice nuclei were protein (33%), saccharide (12%), and lipid (55%), indicating that cell-free ice nuclei were lipoglycoproteins. Also, carbohydrate and lipid stains showed that cell-free ice nuclei contained both carbohydrate and lipid moieties.     

Production of Low-salt Soy Sauce with Enriched Flavor by Freeze Concentration Using Bacterial Ice Nucleation Activity

Soy sauce was frozen in the presence of ice nucleation-active Xanthomonas campestris cells at ?25°C, and the resulting frozen soy sauce was filtered through a 22-mesh screen to remove the ice and eutectic crystals of salt and water. The product retained well its original aroma and taste substances.     

Features of air masses associated with the deposition of Pseudomonas syringae and Botrytis cinerea by rain and snowfall

Clarifying the role of precipitation in microbial dissemination is essential for elucidating the processes involved in disease emergence and spread. The ecology of Pseudomonas syringae and its presence throughout the water cycle makes it an excellent model to address this issue. In this study, 90 samples of freshly fallen rain and snow collected from 2005–2011 in France were analyzed for microbiological composition. The conditions favorable for dissemination of P. syringae by this precipitation were investigated by (i) estimating the physical properties and backward trajectories of the air masses associated with each precipitation event and by (ii) characterizing precipitation chemistry, and genetic and phenotypic structures of populations. A parallel study with the fungus Botrytis cinerea was also performed for comparison. Results showed that (i) the relationship of P. syringae to precipitation as a dissemination vector is not the same for snowfall and rainfall, whereas it is the same for B. cinerea and (ii) the occurrence of P. syringae in precipitation can be linked to electrical conductivity and pH of water, the trajectory of the air mass associated with the precipitation and certain physical conditions of the air mass (i.e. temperature, solar radiation exposure, distance traveled), whereas these predictions are different for B. cinerea. These results are pertinent to understanding microbial survival, emission sources and atmospheric processes and how they influence microbial dissemination.     

Does artificial snow production affect soil and vegetation of ski pistes? A review

The production of artificial snow and the use of snow additives in ski resorts have increased considerably during the last 20 years. Their ecological consequences are the subject of environmental concerns. This review compiles studies about the ecological implications of ski pistes preparation in general and of artificial snow production. The main direct impacts of ski piste preparation on the vegetation are related to the compaction of the snow cover, namely the induction of soil frost, the formation of ice layers, mechanical damage and a delay in plant development. The vegetation reacts with changes in species composition and a decrease in biodiversity. Artificial snowing modifies some of these impacts: The soil frost is mitigated due to an increased insulation of the snowpack, whereas the formation of ice layers is not considerably changed. The mechanical impacts of snow-grooming vehicles are mitigated due to the deeper snow cover. The delay of the vegetation development is enhanced by a considerably postponed snowmelt. Furthermore, artificial snowing induces new impacts to the alpine environment. Snowing increases the input of water and ions to ski pistes, which can have a fertilising effect and hence change the plant species composition. Increasingly, snow additives, made of potentially phytopathogenic bacteria, are used for snow production. They enhance ice crystal formation due to their ice nucleation activity. Although sterilised, additives affected the growth of some alpine plant species in laboratory experiments. Salts are applied not only but preferably on snowed pistes to improve the snow quality for ski races. The environmental impacts of most salts have not yet been investigated, but a commonly used nitrate salt has intense fertilising properties. Although snowing mitigates some of the negative impacts of ski piste preparation in general, new impacts induced by snowing could be non-beneficial to the vegetation, which, however, has yet to be clarified.     

Vm-milR21调控苹果黑腐皮壳侵染致病的功能和机理

苹果黑腐皮壳(Valsamali)引起的腐烂病是苹果最具毁灭性的枝干病害。微小核糖核酸(microRNA-like RNAs, milRNAs)在真菌生长发育、侵染致病和胁迫响应等过程中发挥重要作用。前期研究发现Vm-milR21在病菌侵染阶段特异性下调表达,推测其可能参与V. mali的侵染致病过程。【目的】本文对Vm-milR21的功能进行研究。【方法】制备Vm-milR21前体过表达和沉默转化株,评价不同转化株与野生型菌株表型差异。进而,通过实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, qRT-PCR)和共转化技术验证Vm-milR21与其潜在靶标Vm-03494之间的靶向调控关系。在此基础上,构建Vm-03494的基因敲除突变体,并鉴定突变体表型。【结果】与野生型菌株相比,过表达转化株的菌丝生长速率以及对叶片和枝条的致病力均大幅降低,而沉默转化株无明显变化。Vm-milR21能够序列特异性地抑制Vm-03494表达。相较于野生型菌株,Vm-03494敲除突变体菌丝生长速率和致病力均显著降低。【结论】...     

A one-step procedure for immobilising the thermostable carbonic anhydrase (SspCA) on the surface membrane of Escherichia coli

The carbonic anhydrase superfamily (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) of metalloenzymes is present in all three domains of life (Eubacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya), being an interesting example of convergent/divergent evolution, with its seven families (α-, β-, γ-, δ-, ζ-, η-, and θ-CAs) described so far. CAs catalyse the simple, but physiologically crucial reaction of carbon dioxide hydration to bicarbonate and protons. Recently, our groups characterised the α-CA from the thermophilic bacterium, Sulfurihydrogenibium yellowstonense finding a very high catalytic activity for the CO₂ hydration reaction (k_cat?=?9.35?×?10⁵?s^?1 and k_cat/K_m?=?1.1?×?10⁸?M^?1?s^?1) which was maintained after heating the enzyme at 80?°C for 3?h. This highly thermostable SspCA was covalently immobilised within polyurethane foam and onto the surface of magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. Here, we describe a one-step procedure for immobilising the thermostable SspCA directly on the surface membrane of Escherichia coli, using the INPN domain of Pseudomonas syringae. This strategy has clear advantages with respect to other methods, which require as the first step the production and the purification of the biocatalyst, and as the second step the immobilisation of the enzyme onto a specific support. Our results demonstrate that thermostable SspCA fused to the INPN domain of P. syringae ice nucleation protein (INP) was correctly expressed on the outer membrane of engineered E. coli cells, affording for an easy approach to design biotechnological applications for this highly effective thermostable catalyst.     

冰核活性细菌基因的研究进展及其应用

冰核活性细菌是一类可以诱导过冷水结冰而导致霜冻灾害的细菌,它已成为一种重要的生物资源获得广泛的研究与开发,在基础理论和应用研究方面取得了较大进展。近些年来,许多国家的学科研究者对于冰核基因的研究与开发开展了大量的工作。自1985年克隆出了第一个冰核基因后,目前已经从冰核细菌中克隆了8个冰蛋白基因并完成了测序。冰核活性细菌及基因资源具有广阔的研究开发的价值,且具有良好的应用前景。所以,对于冰核活性基因的结构特点及近年来的研究现状有个总体了解是很有必要的。本文主要介绍了冰核活性基因及其应用方面的研究进展情况。     

The role of ice nucleation active bacteria in supercooling of citrus tissues

The frost sensitivity of Citrus sinensis in relation to the presence of biogenic ice nuclei was studied. In commercially managed citrus groves the ice nucleation active (INA) bacterium Pseudomonas syringae reached 6 × 10⁴ colony forming units (CFU) leaf⁻¹, a population sufficiently high to catalyze ice formation. However, a transient loss of bacterial nucleation activity was noticeable at subzero field temperatures, followed by resumption as temperatures rose. This loss was apparently due to a temporary transition of INA to ice nucleation inactive (INI) bacteria. Field application of Bordeaux mixture, copper hydroxide, streptomycin, and 2-hydroxypropylmethanethiolsulfonate (HPMTS), resulted in reduction of INA bacterial populations to detectability (≤ 10² CFU leaf⁻¹) limits. However, the corresponding reduction in ice nucleation events in treated samples as compared to controls at nucleation temperature ≥−3°C was not as dramatic. It ranged from approximately 7% in samples treated with the bactericide HPMTS, to 35% in samples treated with chemicals possessing combined bactericidal - fungicidal action (coppers). Since a quantitative relationship exists between ice nucleation events on individual leaves and the INA bacterial populations harbored by these leaves, these results suggest the co-existence of a bacterial and a proteinaceous, yet non-bacterial ice nucleating source in citrus, both active at ≥−3°C.     

The Use of High-resolution Infrared Thermography (HRIT) for the Study of Ice Nucleation and Ice Propagation in Plants

Freezing events that occur when plants are actively growing can be a lethal event, particularly if the plant has no freezing tolerance. Such frost events often have devastating effects on agricultural production and can also play an important role in shaping community structure in natural populations of plants, especially in alpine, sub-arctic, and arctic ecosystems. Therefore, a better understanding of the freezing process in plants can play an important role in the development of methods of frost protection and understanding mechanisms of freeze avoidance. Here, we describe a protocol to visualize the freezing process in plants using high-resolution infrared thermography (HRIT). The use of this technology allows one to determine the primary sites of ice formation in plants, how ice propagates, and the presence of ice barriers. Furthermore, it allows one to examine the role of extrinsic and intrinsic nucleators in determining the temperature at which plants freeze and evaluate the ability of various compounds to either affect the freezing process or increase freezing tolerance. The use of HRIT allows one to visualize the many adaptations that have evolved in plants, which directly or indirectly impact the freezing process and ultimately enables plants to survive frost events.     

我国冰核活性细菌的优势种类调查与研究

１９８６￣１９９４年,从国内１７个省、市、自治区的６８种植物上分离到了２５０株冰核活性细菌,经鉴定分别属于３个属的１７个种或致病变种。其中出现最多的是菠萝欧文氏菌,共１３３株,占总数的５３．２％,其次是丁香假单胞菌群,共７０株,占２８％,其它种类的冰核活性细菌共４７株,仅占１８．８％。因此,我国冰核活性细菌的优势菌种是Ｅ．ａｎａｎａｓ,其次是Ｐ．ｓｙｒｉｎｇａｅ ｐｖｓ。在低纬度的南方地区中Ｅ．ａ     

细菌冰核基因的应用研究

细菌冰核基因的应用研究已成为生物冰核领域的研究热点,研究涉及细菌细胞表面展示、促冻杀虫、报告基因、病原微生物高敏检测、作物抗寒育种等多个领域,显示良好应用前景。通过对国外在该方面的研究现状的综述,和我们在冰核基因促冻杀虫研究方面重要进展的介绍,对今后我们拟开展的这一研究工作进行了展望。     

苹果轮纹病病害名称之规范

苹果轮纹病(apple ring rot)为苹果重要病害,严重危害果实和枝干,甚至造成幼树枯死等。苹果轮纹病可引起果实腐烂、枝干疣突、溃疡、粗皮等症状,导致苹果轮纹病病害汉语名称使用混乱,如苹果轮纹病、苹果干腐病、苹果果实轮纹病、苹果枝干轮纹病、轮纹烂果病等。病原拉丁学名的使用亦相当混乱,葡萄座腔菌Botryosphaeria dothidea、贝林格葡萄座腔菌B. berengeriana、贝林格葡萄座腔菌梨生专化型B. berengeriana f. sp. pyricola、七叶树壳梭孢Fusicoccum aesculi、锹冢大茎点霉Macrophoma kuwatsukai、梨生囊孢Physalospora pyricola和梨生球座菌Guignardia pyricola等学名都在被使用。本文根据近些年来国内外的研究新进展,认为苹果轮纹病是一类复合病害,与欧美国家发生的白腐病为同一种病害,其病原包括葡萄座腔菌B. dothidea和锹冢葡萄座腔菌B. kuwatsukai。建议将该复合病害汉语统称为苹果轮纹病,英文采用apple ring rot。鉴于两种病原在我国苹果产区的普发性,建议在病害发生规律及抗病育种等研究中,对于葡萄座腔菌和锹冢葡萄座腔菌均需充分重视。     

Mesophyll freezing and effects of freeze dehydration visualized by simultaneous measurement of IDTA and differential imaging chlorophyll fluorescence

Infrared differential thermal analysis (IDTA) and differential imaging chlorophyll fluorescence (DIF) were employed simultaneously to study the two-dimensional pattern of ice propagation in leaves and mesophyll freeze dehydration as detected by a significant increase of basic chlorophyll fluorescence (F(0)). IDTA and DIF technique gave different insights into the freezing process of leaves that was highly species-specific. IDTA clearly visualized the freezing process consisting of an initial fast spread of ice throughout the vascular system followed by mesophyll freezing. While mesophyll freezing was homogeneously in Poa alpina, Rhododendron ferrugineum and Senecio incanus as determined by IDTA, DIF showed a distinct pattern only in S. incanus, with the leaf tips being affected earlier. In Cinnamomum camphora, a mottled freezing pattern of small mesophyll compartments was observed by both methods. In IDTA images, a random pattern predominated, while in DIF images, compartments closer to lower order veins were affected earlier. The increase of F(0) following mesophyll freezing started after a species-specific time lag of up to 26 min. The start of the F(0) increase and its slope were significantly enhanced at lower temperatures, which suggest a higher strain on mesophyll protoplasts when freezing occurs at lower temperatures.     

新疆药用植物牛至内生细菌多样性与抗菌活性

【背景】植物内生菌作为微生物群落中一类非常重要的组成部分,在多个领域都有广泛的应用价值,如促进植物生长、抵抗病虫害、生物固氮、降解有毒有害化合物等。【目的】进一步丰富新疆野果林苹果腐烂病害的生防资源以及分析牛至内生细菌多样性特征。【方法】通过纯培养方法,对健康植物牛至组织进行内生细菌的分离纯化,并进行16S rRNA基因序列分析;再利用平板对峙法筛选具有抑制苹果腐烂病病原菌生长的内生细菌。【结果】共分离到168株内生细菌,最终确定为4门5纲8目12科17属,其中优势属为芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)。由分离实验结果可知,M1号TSA培养基,M5号组氨酸-棉子糖培养基和M6号NA培养基是分离牛至内生细菌较为理想的培养基;采自新源县野果林的牛至内生细菌多样性较为丰富,在牛至根部内生细菌种类更多;通过拮抗实验共筛选出59株牛至内生细菌具有较好的抑菌效果。【结论】新疆药用植物牛至内生细菌的物种多样性较为丰富,而且富含一批有效抑制野苹果腐烂病病原菌生长的内生细菌菌株。因此,本研究在新疆野果林苹果腐烂病的生物防治和药用植物内生细菌种质资源的填补等方面具有重要意义。     

菌种保存方法对冰核细菌冰核活性的影响

本文测定了5种保存方法及3种保存温度,对4株代表3个属4个种(变种)的冰核细菌冰棱活性的影响。结果表明,不同保存方法对冰核细菌的存活力和冰核活性存在着不同程度的影响,保存温度越高,对冰核活性的影响越大,不同菌种对保存的敏感性不同。所适合的保存方法也不同。真空冷冻干燥和灭菌水于-20℃冷冻保存对各菌株的存活力和冰核活性的影响都较小,适用于一般冰棱细菌的长期保存。而10%甘油冷冻保存则不适用于冰核细菌的保存。     

Proteins accumulate in the apoplast of winter rye leaves during cold acclimation

During cold acclimation, winter rye ( Secale cereale L.) plants develop the ability to tolerate freezing temperatures by forming ice in intercellular spaces and xylem vessels. In this study, proteins were extracted from the apoplast of rye leaves to determine their role in controlling extracellular ice formation. Several polypeptides in the 15 to 32 kDa range accumulated in the leaf apoplast during cold acclimation at 5°C and decreased during deacclimation at 20°C. A second group of polypeptides (63, 65 and 68 kDa) appeared only when the leaves were maximally frost tolerant. Ice nucleation activity, as well as the previously reported antifreeze activity, was higher in apoplastic extracts from cold-acclimated than from nonacclimated rye leaves. These results indicate that apoplastic proteins exert a direct influence on the growth of ice. In addition, freezing injury was greater in extracted cold-acclimated leaves than in unextracted cold-acclimated leaves, which suggests that the proteins present in the apoplast are an important component of the mechanism by which winter rye leaves tolerate ice formation     

The freezing characteristics of cauliflower curd

Cultivar differences in frost resistance and the heritable nature of resistance were demonstrated using seedling cauliflower plants. Such cultivar differences were not however expressed in the curd. Selection for frost resistance in cauliflower should therefore use whole plant screening techniques. Curd material when frozen as isolated florets, supercooled over the range – 1°C to – 12°C and the mean freezing point of all curds tested was -6°C to -7.25°C (overall mean -6.44°C). Curd florets which supercooled but did not freeze were completely undamaged, whereas freezing always led to cell damage and death observed as water-soaking of the floret surface and measured using an electrical conductivity method. The large range of freezing points measured suggests a range of active ice nucleators either on or within the florets. When curds were frozen intact the ability of florets to supercool was severely restricted which was attributed to the seeding of freezing by the internal growth of ice crystals. A crop protection strategy needs to identify and control or modify warm temperature nucleators in cauliflower curd.