Occurrence and patterns of antibiotic resistance in vertebrates off the Northeastern United States coast

The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the marine environment is a growing concern, but the degree to which marine mammals, seabirds and fish harbor these organisms is not well documented. This project sought to identify the occurrence and patterns of antibiotic resistance in bacteria isolated from vertebrates of coastal waters in the northeastern United States. Four hundred and seventy-two isolates of clinical interest were tested for resistance to a suite of 16 antibiotics. Fifty-eight percent were resistant to at least one antibiotic, while 43% were resistant to multiple antibiotics. A multiple antibiotic resistance index value ≥0.2 was observed in 38% of the resistant pathogens, suggesting exposure of the animals to bacteria from significantly contaminated sites. Groups of antibiotics were identified for which bacterial resistance commonly co-occurred. Antibiotic resistance was more widespread in bacteria isolated from seabirds than marine mammals, and was more widespread in stranded or bycaught marine mammals than live marine mammals. Structuring of resistance patterns based on sample type (live/stranded/bycaught) but not animal group (mammal/bird/fish) was observed. These data indicate that antibiotic resistance is widespread in marine vertebrates, and they may be important reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the marine environment.     

Draft genome sequence of marine Streptomyces sp. strain W007, which produces angucyclinone antibiotics with a benz[a]anthracene skeleton

A series of angucyclinone antibiotics have been isolated from marine Streptomyces sp. strain W007 and identified. Here, a draft genome sequence of Streptomyces sp. W007 is presented. The genome contains an intact biosynthetic gene cluster for angucyclinone antibiotics, which provides insight into the combinatorial biosynthesis of angucyclinone antibiotics produced by marine streptomycetes.     

Microbial antagonism: a neglected avenue of natural products research

Competition amongst microbes for space and nutrients in the marine environment is a powerful selective force which has led to the evolution of a variety of effective strategies for colonising and growing on surfaces. We are particularly interested in the chemical ecology of marine epibiotic bacteria which live on the surfaces of marine algae or invertebrates. Over 400 strains of surface-associated bacteria from various species of seaweed and invertebrate from Scottish coastal waters were isolated and 35% of them shown to produce antimicrobial compounds. This is a much higher proportion than free living marine isolates or soil bacteria. In addition, many strains which did not normally produce antibiotics could be induced to do so by exposing them to small amounts of live cells, supernatants from other bacterial cultures or other chemicals. Thus the number of strains able to produce antibiotics appears to be much higher than previously thought. Induction of antibiotic production was elicited by other marine epibionts and also by terrestrial human pathogens such as Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An understanding of this type of chemical induction and the factors regulating non-constitutive secretion of antimicrobial compounds will allow more effective strategies for searching for new chemotherapeutic antibiotics to be designed.     

海洋微生物生物活性物质的研究进展

海洋微生物是海洋生物的重要组成部分.研究结果表明,海洋微生物产生的生物活性物质种类丰富, 主要包括抗肿瘤抗病毒物质、抗生素、生物毒素、酶类、酶抑制剂、多糖、不饱和脂肪酸等等.对海洋细菌、海洋真菌和海洋放线菌所产生的抗菌活性物质和抗肿瘤活性物质进行了综述.     

Enzyme inhibitors and other bioactive compounds from marine actinomycetes

Several enzyme-inhibitor-producing actinomycetes were isolated from various samples collected from the marine environment and characterized. Most of them produced novel compounds that are useful in medicine and agriculture. Actinomycete strain no. 18, which produces antibiotics against Gram-positive bacteria only in the presence of seawater, was isolated from sediment sampled from neritic sea water and characterized. The production of antibiotics was observed at seawater concentrations ranging from 60 to 110% (v/v). Thus, the production was seawater-dependent. The production of tetrodotoxin (TTX), known otherwise as puffer fish toxin, was investigated in various actinomycetes collected from the marine environment. Of 10 isolates from various sea areas, 9 produced TTX as judged by their retention times on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To our knowledge, this is the first report of actinomycetes from the marine environment that produce TTX.     

Competitive dominance of antibiotic-producing marine bacteria in mixed cultures

Competitive relationships between antibiotic-producing marine bacteria and other non-producers were studied in seawater mixed cultures. Producer strains showed a competitive advantage against non-producers as the latter were inhibited after a short time. Inhibition was also noted in mixed cultures of two producer strains. The inhibitory effect was not observed in a mixed culture with two non-producers, which indicates that an amensalist interaction occurred between populations of antibiotic-producing and non-producing marine bacteria. The results suggest that antibiotics could play an important role in the competitive relationships between marine bacterial populations.     

海洋放线菌研究的新进展

海洋放线菌由于其独特的代谢途径和合成新颖抗生素的能力,已经广泛引起人们的关注。本文就海洋放线菌在海洋环境中的分布、医药领域的应用及其相关研究方法进行了综述。     

Marine actinomycetes as a source of novel secondary metabolites

A set of 600 actinomycetes strains which were isolated from marine sediments from various sites in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans were screened for the production of bioactive secondary metabolites. Marine streptomycete strains were found to be producers of well known chemically diverse antibiotics isolated from terrestrial streptomycetes, as in the case of marine Micromonospora strains. New marine members of the rare genus Verrucosispora seem to be a promising source for novel bioactive secondary metabolites as shown in the case of the abyssomicin producing strain AB-18-032.     

小单孢菌及其在海洋药物开发中的前景

小单孢菌是除链霉菌外,生产抗生素的另一大家族。从分类地位、生态分布、分离方法以及产生物活性物质的状况等方面,介绍了小单孢菌研究的历史和现状。展望了小单孢菌在海洋药物开发中的前景。     

抗生素对于对虾苗池水体细菌区系的影响

以细菌16S rDNA片段作为分子标记,采用PCR结合DGGE（Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis）的方法构建了细菌区系指纹图谱,研究了对虾苗池使用硫酸链霉素、土霉素和氨苄青霉素3种抗生素后水体细菌区系的变化.结果表明：在120 h试验期内,与对照组相比,苗池水体分别经0.5 mg·L^-1的硫酸链霉素、土霉素和氨苄青霉素处理后,细菌区系均产生了显著变化;对照组水体0～30 h时段的细菌DGGE条带聚为一组,56～120 h取样时的条带聚为一组;而3个处理组水体0～56 h时段的细菌DGGE条带聚为一组,72～120 h聚为一组.对DGGE图谱典型条带进行测序,经BLAST-N比对,表明对虾苗池水体细菌多样性丰富,包括可培养的细菌（主要包括亚硫酸盐杆菌、红假单胞菌、美人鱼发光杆菌、聚球菌、海洋放线菌、黄杆菌、丝状光合细菌、粘细菌、哈氏弧菌）和某些不可培养的其他海洋细菌等.其中,单胞菌、发光杆菌、放线菌、黄杆菌、粘细菌和2种不可培养的其他海洋细菌不受抗生素的影响;而硫细菌、丝状光合细菌和另外8种不可培养的其他海洋细菌则因抗生素种类不同产生了不同的时空变化.     

Ecological Application of Antibiotics as Respiratory Inhibitors of Bacterial Populations

Two terregenous and four marine bacterial isolates were treated with six antibiotics and antibiotic combinations. Comparisons made between responses of cells in early and late logarithmic and stationary growth phases indicated variable sensitivity to the agents. Bacteria in stationary and late log-phase cultures exhibited the greatest resistance, whereas the early log-phase cells exhibited greatest antibiotic susceptibility. We conclude that the tested antibiotics cannot be used for ecological purposes to delineate bacterial respiration in mixed microbial communities.     

Draft genome sequence of the marine bacterium Streptomyces griseoaurantiacus M045, which produces novel manumycin-type antibiotics with a pABA core component

Streptomyces griseoaurantiacus M045, isolated from marine sediment, produces manumycin and chinikomycin antibiotics. Here we present a high-quality draft genome sequence of S. griseoaurantiacus M045, the first marine Streptomyces species to be sequenced and annotated. The genome encodes several gene clusters for biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and has provided insight into genomic islands linking secondary metabolism to functional adaptation in marine S. griseoaurantiacus M045.     

海洋微生物多样性的研究进展

海洋微生物多样性（marine microorganisms diversity)是指所有海洋微生物种类、种内遗传变异和它们的生存环境的总称。本文介绍了海洋微生物多样性方面的研究和利用进展,包括研究微生物多样性方法的改进,有价值的海洋微生物功能性产品的开发;关于海洋微生物抗肿瘤、抗病毒药物的研究等。     

Competitive dominance of antibiotic-producing marine bacteria in mixed cultures

M.L. LEMOS. C.P. DOPAZO, ALICIA E. TORANZO AND J. L. BARJA. 1991. Competitive relationships between antibiotic-producing marine bacteria and other non-producers were studied in seawater mixed cultures. Producer strains showed a competitive advantage against non-producers as the latter were inhibited after a short time. Inhibition was also noted in mixed cultures of two producer strains. The inhibitory effect was not observed in a mixed culture with two non-producers, which indicates that an amensalist interaction occurred between populations of antibiotic-producing and non-producing marine bacteria. The results suggest that antibiotics could play an important role in the competitive relationships between marine bacterial populations.     

Streptomyces sp. 173, an insecticidal micro-organism from marine

AIMS: To find new insecticidal antibiotics from marine micro-organisms. METHODS AND RESULTS: Strains isolated from seawater and sea sediments from Beidiahe and Dagang of the east coast of China were screened for their insecticidal qualities. The screening was carried out using bioassay of brine shrimp and the insect pest Helicoverpa armigera. The fermentation, preliminary extraction and isolation of Streptomyces sp.173 were carried out. CONCLUSIONS: In total 331 isolates were examined through bioassay of brine shrimp and 40 isolates (12.08%) showed potential insecticidal activities. Of the 40 isolates, one isolate, designated Streptomyces sp.173, was found to have strong insecticidal activity against both brine shrimp and H. armigera, similar to that of avermectin B1. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The isolated Streptomyces sp.173 has great insecticidal potency. This work indicated that marine micro-organisms could be an important source of insecticidal antibiotics and the improved anti-brine shrimp bioassay is suitable for primary screening.     

Isolation and characterization of a high molecular weight antibiotic produced by a marine bacterium

Many marine bacteria demonstrate antibiotic activity against organisms of terrestrial origin. Low molecular weight antibiotics have been extracted and, in some cases, purified, but few attempts have been made to isolate high molecular weight antibiotics produced by marine bacteria. In the study reported here, a high molecular weight antibiotic was extracted from whole cells ofAlteromonas strain P18 (NCMB 1890) grown on 2216E medium. Purification included ammonium sulfate precipitation, ultracentrifugation, chromatography on DEAE cellulose, and gel filtration on Ultrogel. A rapid method for measuring specific activity of the antibiotic was developed.     

Taxonomic position and seasonal variations in marine neritic environment of some gram-negative antibiotic-producing bacteria.

Six marine bacteria which synthesize macromolecular antibiotics were isolated from neritic waters on the French Mediterranean coast, and their frequency recorded over two successive years. They appeared in relatively large numbers during the period August to December, and can be identified as marine pseudomonads; however, the low guaninecytosine ratio of their DNA, lack of catalase and specific self-inhibition are not compatible with the characteristics of the genus Pseudomonas. Two produced violacein, usually synthesized by bacteria belonging to the genus Chromobacterium. Their taxonomic position is discussed.     

微藻抗菌物质及筛选模型

由于海洋环境和微藻本身的特殊性,从微藻中筛选抗菌物质已成为当今研究的热点之一,并且具有广阔的应用前景。对近年来从微藻中筛选抗菌物质的研究现状和进展进行了综述,重点总结了抗菌活性物质筛选过程中的模型选用,并介绍了新筛选模型的发展,指出了难点问题及可行的解决方法。     

Culturable heterotrophic bacteria from the marine sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendrilla</Emphasis> <Emphasis Type="Italic">nigra</Emphasis>: isolation and phylogenetic diversity of actinobacteria

Culturable heterotrophic bacterial composition of marine sponge Dendrilla nigra was analysed using different enrichments. Five media compositions including without enrichment (control), enriched with sponge extract, with growth regulator (antibiotics), with autoinducers, and complete enrichment containing sponge extract, antibiotics, and autoinducers were developed. DNA hybridization assay was performed to explore host specific bacteria and ecotypes of culturable sponge-associated bacteria. Enrichment with selective inducers (AHLs and sponge extract) and regulators (antibiotics) considerably enhanced the cultivation potential of sponge-associated bacteria. It was found that Marinobacter (MSI032), Micromonospora (MSI033), Streptomyces (MSI051), and Pseudomonas (MSI057) were sponge-associated obligate symbionts. The present findings envisaged that “Micromonospora–Saccharomonospora–Streptomyces” group was the major culturable actinobacteria in the marine sponge D. nigra. The DNA hybridization assay was a reliable method for the analysis of culturable bacterial community in marine sponges. Based on the culturable community structure, the sponge-associated bacteria can be grouped (ecotypes) as general symbionts, specific symbionts, habitat flora, and antagonists.     

Antibiotic production by the marine photosynthetic bacterium Chromatium purpuratum NKPB 031704: localization of activity to the chromatophores

Abstract Over 200 strains of marine purple photosynthetic bacteria were isolated. Two strains showed antibiotic activity towards Saccharomyces cerevisiae and were tentatively identified as Chromatium purpuratum . Crude antibiotic, prepared by solvent extraction, showed a broad antimicrobial spectrum. The highest activity was found in the chromatophore fraction. Chromatographic separation of purified light harvesting complex from one strain, NKPB 031704, showed the presence of two separate pigmented compounds which were responsible for antimicrobial activity. Our findings reveal the unexpected ability of photosynthetic bacteria to produce broad spectrum antibiotics. In addition, this is the first example of intracellular localization of antibiotic activity in a marine bacterium.