Novel enrichment technique for the isolation of highly potent catalase producing yeasts from soil1

Among the 252 soil isolates screened, about 40% were catalase-positive. A novel soil enrichment culture technique consisting of feeding decreasing concentrations of a rich nutrient medium along with increasing concentrations of H2O2 (up to 15% v/v) in a semi- continuous glass column reactor over 15 days resulted in the isolation of high catalase producing yeasts identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. These yeasts produced 2–3 times more of intracellular catalase (1630 to 2277 U/ml) than the other microbial isolates (15 to 820 U/ml) tested. The other microorganisms gradually disappeared as the concentration of H2O2 increased in the enrichment. The technique could be used for the isolation of exclusively yeasts that might have superior industrial properties such as high ethanol, flavour, protein and lipid production.     

Efficacy of media and methods for detecting and enumerating Campylobacter jejuni in refrigerated chicken meat.

A study was undertaken to compare several enrichment and direct isolation media for their suitability to detect and enumerate five strains of Campylobacter jejuni in refrigerated (5 degrees C) chicken meat. The influence of CO2 on survival at 5 degrees C was also investigated. Selective enrichment media evaluated included Preston broth (PB), selective semisolid brucella medium (SSBM), Campylobacter enrichment broth (CEB), VTP brucella-FBP broth (VTP), Rosef and Kapperud Campylobacter enrichment broth (RKCEB), and Doyle and Roman enrichment broth (DREB). Direct isolation agars included Campy brucella agar (CBAP), blood-free Campylobacter medium (BFCM) and modified Butzler agar (MBA). Comminuted chicken meat was inoculated with C. jejuni, sealed under atmospheric gas or CO2, and stored at 5 degrees C for up to 21 days. Viable population was determined by the most-probable-number technique (PB, SSBM, CEB, VTP, and RKCEB, followed by plating on CBAP, BFCM, and MBA), enrichment on DREB, followed by plating on CBAP, BFCM, and MBA, and direct isolation on CBAP, BFCM, and MBA. Without exception, direct plating of samples was superior to the most-probable-number technique for enumerating C. jejuni; MBA was inferior to CBAP and BFCM, and DREB performed at least as well as other enrichment media evaluated. Carbon dioxide afforded protection against death of three of the five strains of C. jejuni tested.     

Efficacy of media and methods for detecting and enumerating Campylobacter jejuni in refrigerated chicken meat

A study was undertaken to compare several enrichment and direct isolation media for their suitability to detect and enumerate five strains of Campylobacter jejuni in refrigerated (5 degrees C) chicken meat. The influence of CO2 on survival at 5 degrees C was also investigated. Selective enrichment media evaluated included Preston broth (PB), selective semisolid brucella medium (SSBM), Campylobacter enrichment broth (CEB), VTP brucella-FBP broth (VTP), Rosef and Kapperud Campylobacter enrichment broth (RKCEB), and Doyle and Roman enrichment broth (DREB). Direct isolation agars included Campy brucella agar (CBAP), blood-free Campylobacter medium (BFCM) and modified Butzler agar (MBA). Comminuted chicken meat was inoculated with C. jejuni, sealed under atmospheric gas or CO2, and stored at 5 degrees C for up to 21 days. Viable population was determined by the most-probable-number technique (PB, SSBM, CEB, VTP, and RKCEB, followed by plating on CBAP, BFCM, and MBA), enrichment on DREB, followed by plating on CBAP, BFCM, and MBA, and direct isolation on CBAP, BFCM, and MBA. Without exception, direct plating of samples was superior to the most-probable-number technique for enumerating C. jejuni; MBA was inferior to CBAP and BFCM, and DREB performed at least as well as other enrichment media evaluated. Carbon dioxide afforded protection against death of three of the five strains of C. jejuni tested.     

三种荒漠灌木根际可培养固氮细菌类群及其固氮和产铁载体能力

【目的】揭示西鄂尔多斯荒漠孑遗灌木四合木(Tetraena mongolica)、沙冬青(Ammopiptanthus mongolicus)、白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)根际可培养固氮细菌类群,分析固氮酶活性和产铁载体能力,以期为认识和利用荒漠植物根际促生细菌提供依据。【方法】以Ashby无氮培养基、采用涂布划线法分离纯化根际固氮细菌;基于16S r RNA基因分析类群组成;以乙炔还原方法测定固氮酶活性;以铬天青S蓝色平板定性筛选产铁载体菌株,以分光光度计法定量产铁载体能力。【结果】共分离出固氮细菌22株,分别属于3个门与9个属,其中变形菌门(Proteobacteria,82%)为绝对优势门,假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas,27.27%)为优势属;Rhizobium和Bacillus分别是沙冬青和四合木的独有属,而白刺独有属有Enterobacter、Stenotrophomonas和Paenibacillus;10株在无氮培养基上生长迅速,它们的固氮酶活性在871.71-3 383.09 nmol C2H4/(H·Culture)之间,并且其中有7株具有产铁载体能力,其产铁载体的As/Ar值范围为0.35-0.79。【结论】鄂尔多斯荒漠珍稀孑遗灌木植物根际固氮细菌类群多样,植物间差异明显,包含多种高固氮酶活性和产铁载体能力的固氮细菌,可作为植物生长促进根际细菌的重要来源。     

Isolation and enumeration of Campylobacter jejuni from poultry products by a selective enrichment method.

A direct selective enrichment procedure was developed for the isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from poultry products. The selective enrichment medium (ATB) consisted of (per liter) tryptose (20 g), yeast extract (2.5 g), sodium chloride (5 g), FBP supplement (ferrous sulfate [0.25 g], sodium metabisulfite [0.25 g], sodium pyruvate [0.25 g]), bicine (10 g), and agar (1 g). Hematin solution (6.25 ml; prepared by dissolving 0.032 g of bovine hemin in 10 ml of 0.15 N sodium hydroxide solution and autoclaving at 0.35 kg/cm2 for 30 min), rifampin (25 mg), cefsulodin (6.25 mg), and polymyxin B sulfate (20,000 IU) were added after the medium was sterilized. The pH was adjusted to 8.0. Samples were enriched in the above medium at 42 degrees C for 48 h under an atmosphere of 5% O2, 10% CO2, and 85% N2. Enrichment cultures were streaked on a plating medium composed of Brucella agar, hematin solution, FBP supplement, and the above antibiotics. Plates were incubated under the same conditions as above. Suspect colonies from the plates were confirmed to be C. jejuni by morphological examination, growth characteristics, and biochemical tests. The above method yielded 25 isolates of C. jejuni from 50 samples of retail cut-up chicken and chicken parts, whereas a more complex method involving filtration, centrifugation, selective enrichment under a flowing atmosphere, and membrane filtration yielded only 6 positives from the same samples. The new isolation procedure was particularly effective in isolating C. jejuni in the presence of large numbers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Isolation and enumeration of Campylobacter jejuni from poultry products by a selective enrichment method

A direct selective enrichment procedure was developed for the isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from poultry products. The selective enrichment medium (ATB) consisted of (per liter) tryptose (20 g), yeast extract (2.5 g), sodium chloride (5 g), FBP supplement (ferrous sulfate [0.25 g], sodium metabisulfite [0.25 g], sodium pyruvate [0.25 g]), bicine (10 g), and agar (1 g). Hematin solution (6.25 ml; prepared by dissolving 0.032 g of bovine hemin in 10 ml of 0.15 N sodium hydroxide solution and autoclaving at 0.35 kg/cm2 for 30 min), rifampin (25 mg), cefsulodin (6.25 mg), and polymyxin B sulfate (20,000 IU) were added after the medium was sterilized. The pH was adjusted to 8.0. Samples were enriched in the above medium at 42 degrees C for 48 h under an atmosphere of 5% O2, 10% CO2, and 85% N2. Enrichment cultures were streaked on a plating medium composed of Brucella agar, hematin solution, FBP supplement, and the above antibiotics. Plates were incubated under the same conditions as above. Suspect colonies from the plates were confirmed to be C. jejuni by morphological examination, growth characteristics, and biochemical tests. The above method yielded 25 isolates of C. jejuni from 50 samples of retail cut-up chicken and chicken parts, whereas a more complex method involving filtration, centrifugation, selective enrichment under a flowing atmosphere, and membrane filtration yielded only 6 positives from the same samples. The new isolation procedure was particularly effective in isolating C. jejuni in the presence of large numbers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

类芦和狗牙根内生固氮菌初步研究

为探索水土保持禾草的固氮能力,利用乙炔还原法(ARA)对类芦(Neyraudia reynaudiana)和狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)植株内生固氮菌的固氮酶活性进行研究.结果表明:在类芦茎部和狗牙根叶片中存在高固氮酶活性的内生固氮菌群;这些菌群在无氮培养基上经划线分离纯化得到40个菌株,其中26株有微弱固氮酶活性,14株检测不到固氮酶活性;从类芦茎部和狗牙根叶片中筛选到的固氮菌群在兼性厌氧的环境中有较高的固氮酶活性,且在石蜡油密封条件下,两者的固氮酶活性均最高;在不改变自然界微生物之间的协同关系情况下,混合菌群均具有较高的固氮酶活性,而人为组配混合得到的菌群固氮酶活性较低. reynaudiana)和狗牙根(Cynodondxtylon)植株内生固氮菌的固氮酶活性进行研究.结果表明:在类芦茎部和狗牙根叶片中存在高固氮酶活性的内生固氮菌群;这些菌群在无氮培养基上经划线分离纯化得到40个菌株,其中26株有微弱固氮酶活性,14株检测不到固氮酶活性;从类芦茎部和狗牙根叶片中筛选到的固氮菌群在兼性厌氧的环境中有较高的固氮酶活性,且在石蜡油密封条件下,两者的固氮酶活性均最高;在不改变自然界微生物之间的协同关系 况下,混合菌群均具有较高的固氮酶     

Analysis of the abilities of endophytic bacteria associated with banana tree roots to promote plant growth

A total of 40 endophytic bacterial isolates obtained from banana tree roots were characterized for their biotechnological potential for promoting banana tree growth. All isolates had at least one positive feature. Twenty isolates were likely diazotrophs and formed pellicles in nitrogen-free culture medium, and 67% of these isolates belonged to the genus Bacillus sp. The isolates EB-04, EB-169, EB-64, and EB-144 had N fixation abilities as measured by the Kjeldahl method and by an acetylene reduction activity assay. Among the 40 isolates, 37.5% were capable of solubilizing inorganic phosphate and the isolates EB-47 and EB-64 showed the highest solubilization capacity. The isolate EB-53 (Lysinibacillus sp.) had a high solubilization index, whereas 73% of the isolates had low solubilization indices. The synthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in the presence of L-tryptophan was detected in 40% of the isolates. The isolate EB-40 (Bacillus sp.) produced the highest amount of IAA (47.88 μg/ml) in medium supplemented with L-tryptophan and was able to synthesize IAA in the absence of L-tryptophan. The isolates EB-126 (Bacillus subtilis) and EB-47 (Bacillus sp.) were able to simultaneously fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphate and produce IAA in vitro. The results of this study demonstrated that the isolates analyzed here had diverse abilities and all have the potential to be used as growth-promoting microbial inoculants for banana trees.     

Enumeration of free-living aerobic n(2)-fixing h(2)-oxidizing bacteria by using a heterotrophic semisolid medium and most-probable-number technique

A heterotrophic semisolid medium was used with two sensitive assay methods, C(2)H(2) reduction and O(2)-dependent tritium uptake, to determine nitrogenase and hydrogenase activities, respectively. Organisms known to be positive for both activities showed hydrogenase activity in both the presence and absence of 1% C(2)H(2), and thus, it was possible to test a single culture for both activities. Hydrogen uptake activity was detected for the first time in N(2)-fixing strains of Pseudomonas stutzeri. The method was then applied to the most-probable-number method of counting N(2)-fixing and H(2)-oxidizing bacteria in some natural systems. The numbers of H(2)-oxidizing diazotrophs were considerably higher in soil surrounding nodules of white beans than they were in the other systems tested. This observation is consistent with reports that the rhizosphere may be an important ecological niche for H(2) transformation.     

A selective medium for the isolation of Arcobacter from meats

A method, including enrichment in Arcobacter Selective Broth (ASB) and isolation on semisolid Arcobacter Selective Medium (ASM) under aerobic conditions at 24°C, is described for the isolation of Arcobacter from retail meat products. Selective agents used in ASB and ASM were cefoperazone, trimethoprim, piperacillin and cycloheximide. Arcobacters were isolated from 53 (24.1%) of 220 poultry meat products and also, at lower incidence from samples of beef and pork. The isolates were identified as A. butzleri or A. butzleri -like and belonged to a wide variety of serotypes and biotypes.     

Characterization of diazotrophs containing Mo-independent nitrogenases, isolated from diverse natural environments

Molybdenum-independent nitrogenases were first described in the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii and have since been described in other diazotrophic bacteria. Previously, we reported the isolation of seven diazotrophs with Mo-independent nitrogenases from aquatic environments. In the present study, we extend these results to include diazotrophs isolated from wood chip mulch, soil, "paraffin dirt," and sediments from mangrove swamps. Mo-deficient, N-free media under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions were used for the isolations. A total of 26 isolates were genetically and physiologically characterized. Their phylogenetic placement was determined using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Most of the isolates are members of the gamma subdivision of the class Proteobacteria and appear to be specifically related to fluorescent pseudomonads and azotobacteria. Two other isolates, AN1 and LPF4, are closely related to Enterobacter spp. and Paenibacillus spp., respectively. PCR and/or Southern hybridization were used to detect the presence of nitrogenase genes in the isolates. PCR amplification of vnfG and anfG was used to detect the genetic potential for the expression of the vanadium-containing nitrogenase and the iron-only nitrogenase in the isolates. This study demonstrates that diazotrophs with Mo-independent nitrogenases can be readily isolated from diverse natural environments.     

Autoradiographic Method for Isolation of Diverse Microbial Species with Unique Catabolic Traits

A novel autoradiographic method for isolation of bacteria with unique catabolic traits was developed to overcome many of the limitations of traditional selective enrichment techniques. The method consists of five steps. (i) An environmental sample is directly plated (without enrichment) on a microporous filter atop a solid medium that allows cultivation of diverse kinds of microorganisms. (ii) Once colonies form, two replicas of the filter are prepared and the colonies are regrown. (iii) The replica filters are starved 24 to 72 h to deplete intracellular carbon reserves and then (iv) placed on Na(inf2)(sup35)SO(inf4)-containing solid media with and without a test compound. (v) Following an incubation period, the replica filters are exposed to film in order to identify colonies that incorporate more (sup35)S into cell biomass in the presence of the test compound than in its absence, providing presumptive evidence for metabolism of the compound. The colonies identified in this manner can be recovered from the master filter. To demonstrate this technique, bacteria capable of degrading benzoate were isolated from a single soil slurry by traditional enrichment as well as by autoradiography. From the enrichment culture, a single isolate able to degrade benzoate was obtained. In contrast, 18 distinct strains were obtained by purifying 19 putative benzoate-degrading colonies identified by autoradiography. Each of the 18 strains was able to completely transform the substrate, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography analyses. The doubling times of a subset of the isolates grown in benzoate medium ranged from 1.4 to 17.1 h, whereas the doubling time of the isolate obtained by enrichment was 2.0 h. These data demonstrate that the method described here can be used to obtain a collection of diverse organisms able to metabolize a specific compound.     

Comparison of selective enrichment media for the detection of Salmonella in poultry faeces

AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the results of semisolid media and Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV) medium for the detection of Salmonella in faecal samples from broiler and layer flocks. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three different selective enrichment media were used: (a) RV medium; (b) diagnostic semisolid Salmonella medium (DIASALM) and (c) modified semisolid RV (MSRV) medium. The performance of DIASALM and MSRV was significantly better compared with RV. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that approximately 95% of the samples containing Salmonella would be detected by a combination of a semisolid medium (MSRV or DIASALM) and RV. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The International Standard method ISO 6579, including RV and selenite cystine broth as selective enrichment media, is most frequently used for the isolation of Salmonella from poultry faeces. This study reveals that there are more suitable combinations of selective enrichment media.     

Genetic Diversity through the Looking Glass: Effect of Enrichment Bias

The effect of enrichment bias on the diversity of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D)-degrading (2,4-D(sup+)) bacteria recovered from soil was evaluated by comparing the diversity of isolates obtained by direct plating to the diversity of isolates obtained from 85 liquid batch cultures. By the two methods, a total of 159 isolates were purified from 1 g of soil and divided into populations based on repeated extragenic palindromic sequence PCR (rep-PCR) genomic fingerprints. Approximately 42% of the direct-plating isolates hybridized with the tfdA and tfdB genes from Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP134(pJP4), 27% hybridized with the tfdA and tfdB genes from Burkholderia sp. strain RASC, and 30% hybridized with none of the probes. In contrast, the enrichment isolates not only represented fewer populations than the isolates obtained by direct plating but also exhibited, almost exclusively, a single hybridization pattern with 2,4-D catabolic gene probes. Approximately 98% of the enrichment isolates possessed pJP4-type tfdA and tfdB genes, whereas isolates containing RASC-type tfdA and tfdB genes were obtained from only 2 of the 85 enrichment cultures. The skewed occurrence of the pJP4-type genes among the isolates obtained by enrichment suggests that the competitive fitness of 2,4-D(sup+) populations during growth with 2,4-D may be influenced either by specific tfd alleles or by genetic factors linked to these alleles. Moreover, the results indicate that evaluation of the diversity and distribution of catabolic pathways in nature can be highly distorted by the use of enrichment culture techniques.     

不同红树林地区老鼠簕内生放线菌的分离及其环境适应性

【目的】比较不同红树林地区的老鼠簕内生放线菌的地理分布,了解内生放线菌与其所处环境的相关性。【方法】分别从5个不同地点的红树林采集老鼠簕全株植物,采用9种分离培养基,从植株不同部位分离内生放线菌,用16S rRNA基因序列分析鉴定到属,用添加不同NaCl浓度的ISP 2液体培养基进行耐盐度测试,用无氮基础培养基进行固氮活性测试。【结果】共分离得到内生放线菌52株,其中从叶、茎和根部分别获得5株、2株和45株,花和果中未分离到。52株内生放线菌分别属于小单孢菌属(47株),链霉菌属(3株),疣孢菌属(1株)和继生菌属(1株)。48株菌表现出耐盐或嗜盐特征,其中18株最高耐盐度20%,4株不能在无盐条件下生长,12株菌可在含有3.3%NaCl的培养基上生长良好。4株菌可在无氮培养基下生长。【结论】对47株内生小单孢菌的地理分布分析表明,老鼠簕内生小单孢菌的类群因不同地理位置有很大差异。耐盐和固氮活性测试结果表明了老鼠簕内生放线菌对环境的适应性。     

Studies on the isolation,growth and maintenance of Malassezia pachydermatis

Results related to the isolation, cultivation, culture and maintenance of the opportunistic pathogen Malassezia pachydermatis are reported. A dextrose nutrient medium with 1.5% yeast extract turned out to be the most favourable medium for its development. It permitted identification in 24 hours and maintenance of isolates for three months without subculturing. Addition of Tween 80 (1%) significantly enhanced the isolation of this yeast from clinical materials.     

USE OF UNIVERSAL PREENRICHMENT MEDIUM SUPPLEMENTED WITH OXYRASETM FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS RECOVERY OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 AND YERSINIA ENTEROCOLITICA

Universal Preenrichment (UP) medium was used successfully for the simultaneous recovery of two strains each of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Yersinia enterocolitica in the presence of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium. E. coli O157:H7 and Y. enterocolitica populations reached ca. 10⁸ CFU/ml in UP medium in 18 h from an initial level ofca. 10² CFU/ml. Addition of Oxyrase_TM enhanced the growth of both E. coli O157:H7 strains and one strain of Y. enterocolitica. These three strains were able to recover from heat injury by 6 h when 24-h cultures were tested, but not when 18-h cultures were used. Injured and noninjured E. coli O157:H7 could be recovered from artificially inoculated food samples (shredded cheddar cheese, turkey ham, hot dogs, mayonnaise, and ground beef) in UP medium supplemented with Oxyrase^TM (UPO) by 18 h using immunoblotting. Y. enterocolitica could be recovered from turkey ham, hog dogs, and mayonnaise by direct plating on CIN agar from UPO medium. However, recovery of Y. enterocolitica from shredded cheddar cheese and ground beef required subsequent selective enrichment in sorbitol bile broth and isolation on Cefsulodin Irgasan Novobiocin agar (CIN). UPO medium can be used for simultaneous detection of E. coli O157:H7 and Y. enterocolitica from foods. However, subsequent selective enrichment and isolation on selective plating media are required for isolation of Y. enterocolitca from raw foods containing high population levels of background microflora.     

Isolation and Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from Cape Cod Soft-Shell Clams (Mya arenaria)

Vibro parahaemolyticus was isolated from soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria) taken from 10 different clamming areas on Cape Cod, Mass., during July and August 1972. Direct plating on thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose agar was found to be superior to either direct plating on Vanderzant modified salt starch agar or enrichment with Trypticase soy broth containing 7% salt for isolation from clam samples. Morphological and biochemical characteristics of 33 isolates from 30 samples generally conform to those described for this organism in the literature, except for the production of acid from sucrose, lactose, and sorbitol. Six of the isolates were hemolytic on human blood agar plates, whereas all showed a negative Kanagawa phenomenon. Twenty of the 33 isolates reacted with pooled antisera to the K antigen; 15 of these reacted with 9 different specific K antisera, leaving 5 untypable. Ten of these 15 reacted with 4 different O antisera.     

Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli O157 and non-Shiga-toxigenic E. coli O157 respond differently to culture and isolation from naturally contaminated bovine faeces

AIM: To quantify the effect of enrichment, immunomagnetic separation (IMS), and selective plating procedures on isolation of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli O157 (STEC O157) and non-Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli O157 (non-STEC O157) from naturally contaminated bovine faeces. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two broth enrichment times, two IMS strategies, and two selective plating media were evaluated. STEC O157 and non-STEC O157 strains were often isolated from the same faecal specimen and responded differently to the isolation protocols. A large-volume IMS system was more sensitive than a conventional small-volume IMS method, but was also more expensive. STEC O157 was more frequently isolated from 6 h enriched broth and ChromAgar plates containing 0.63 mg l(-1) potassium tellurite (TCA). Non-STEC O157 was more frequently isolated from un-enriched broth and ChromAgar plates without tellurite (CA). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of 6-h enrichment in Gram-negative broth containing vancomycin, cefixime and cefsuludin, large volume IMS and selective plating on TCA maximized STEC O157 recovery from naturally contaminated cattle faecal specimens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The pairing of proper enrichment with a specific plating procedure is key for STEC O157 recovery from naturally contaminated bovine faeces. Incorporating tellurite into an E. coli O157 detection strategy may select for the subset of E. coli O157 that contains the Shiga-toxin genes.     

Improved methodology for isolating soil microorganisms

Polyurethane foam cylinders and a replica-stamp technique were used for plating soil samples. This in conjunction with the addition of NaCl to the isolation medium substantially increased the variety of isolates recovered.