Adaptive modifications in membranes of halotolerant and halophilic microorganisms

Halotolerant and halophilic microorganisms can grow in (hyper)saline environments, but only halophiles specifically require salt. Genotypic and phenotypic adaptations are displayed by halophiles; the halotolerants adapt phenotypically, but it is not established whether they show genotypic adaptation. This paper reviews the various strategies of haloadaptation of membrane proteins and lipids by halotolerant and halophilic microorganisms. Moderate halophiles and halotolerants adapt their membrane lipid composition by increasing the proportion of anionic lipids, often phosphatidylglycerol and/or glycolipids, which in the moderately halophilic bacteriumVibrio costicola appears to be part of an osmoregulatory response to minimize membrane stress at high salinities. Extreme halophiles possess typical archaebacterial ether lipids, which are genotypically adapted by having additional substitutions with negatively-charged residues such as sulfate. In contrast to the lipids, it is less clear whether membrane proteins are haloadapted, although they may be more acidic; very few depend on salt for their activity.     

江苏盐城盐场中度嗜盐菌的分离与鉴定

采用高盐的牛肉膏蛋白胨培养基(盐浓度为8%NaCl),研究江苏省盐城市盐场土壤里中度嗜盐菌的分布情况及种群特征。从盐城市的射阳、新滩、灌东三处盐场土壤中共采集和分离得到13株中度嗜盐菌。通过形态观察、生理生化分析、16S rRNA序列分析和系统进化分析等方法进行初步鉴定,结果表明:分离到的中度嗜盐菌分属3个属,Virgibacillus属4株、Halomonas属7株和Marinobacter属2株。研究结果揭示盐城市的盐场存在较为丰富的中度嗜盐菌,具有较高的研究和利用价值。     

原核微生物的多样性

微生物是一群以分解代谢为主的重要生物类群,其生物学多样性十分丰富。但由于它们的微观性,尤其原核微生物简单的单细胞结构、以无性方式进行快速地繁殖而造成的无准确的基线难以对其进行种群数目和数量的统计,因而对微生物的多样性研究远没有宏观生物那样深入和受到重视。本文根据原核微生物的特性,从其物种、所代表的进化分支、生理代谢类群及遗传背景几个方面简述了它们的多样性及重要意义,意在引起科学界和全社会对这类生物资源的认识和保护的重视。     

新疆罗布泊地区可培养嗜盐古菌多样性及其功能酶筛选

【目的】探索新疆罗布泊地区高盐环境可培养嗜盐古菌的多样性及其功能酶应用潜力。【方法】采集罗布泊地区13份土样,用纯培养并结合基于16S rRNA基因系统发育分析的方法来研究样品中嗜盐古菌的多样性。按系统进化树的聚类关系,挑选出一些菌株进行盐度耐受及淀粉酶、蛋白酶、酯酶的酶活检测。【结果】从13份土样中共分离到56株嗜盐古菌,经16S rRNA基因克隆测序,通过MEGA 4.0构建N-J树分析,56株菌分布于嗜盐古菌的10个生效发表属和5个潜在新属。运用Shannon-Wiener方法计算其多样性指数为1.820。挑选17株嗜盐古菌所测试盐浓度实验结果表明这一批嗜盐古菌的大部分生长范围在10%-35%之间,最适盐浓度在20%-25%之间。不同酶活检测结果为:淀粉酶酶活率为70.6%,蛋白酶酶活率为35.3%,酯酶酶活率为82.4%。【结论】新疆罗布泊周边地区由于气候及地理位置的独特性,蕴藏丰富的嗜盐古菌资源。本实验所设计的分离方法对嗜盐古菌的分离是极其有效的,为进一步研究新疆罗布泊及周边地区嗜盐古菌资源提供了技术基础。盐度耐受实验结果验证在低盐环境中分离嗜盐古菌新物种的可行性。同时,嗜盐古菌的酶活比率较高且活性较强为进一步开发利用嗜盐古菌资源提供了理论依据。     

Ultrastructure and phylogenetic placement within Heterolobosea of the previously unclassified, extremely halophilic heterotrophic flagellate Pleurostomum flabellatum (Ruinen 1938)

Although Pleurostomum was described almost a century ago, flagellates assigned to this taxon have been recorded only in very occasional faunistic studies of highly saline habitats, and their phylogenetic position has remained uncertain. We report the cultivation, ultrastructure, and phylogenetic relationships of Pleurostomum flabellatum isolated from a Korean saltern pond of 313 per thousand salinity. This isolate is biflagellated with a cytostomal groove, and is not distinguishable from previous accounts of P. flabellatum from saturated brines in India and Australia. Pleurostomum flabellatum shows ultrastructural features characteristic of many Heterolobosea: (1) a striated rhizoplast, (2) an absence of stacked Golgi bodies, (3) parallel basal bodies and flagella, and (4) a large number of peripheral microtubules supporting a rostrum. 18S rRNA gene phylogenies strongly confirm the affinities of P. flabellatum within Heterolobosea. Furthermore, the 18S rRNA gene of P. flabellatum has the heterolobosean-specific helix 17_1, and a group I intron in the same position as in Acrasis rosea. Within Heterolobosea, the 'amoeboflagellate' genera Naegleria and Willaertia were its closest relatives with high bootstrap support and posterior probability. P. flabellatum was observed only as a flagellate, and never as an amoeba. Since light microscopy and electron microscopy observations indicate that P. flabellatum flagellates are capable both of feeding and division, there might be no amoeba stage. Being morphologically distinct from its closest relatives and phylogenetically distant from other flagellate-only Heterolobosea, P. flabellatum cannot be moved into any previously described heterolobosean genus. Instead, we move Pleurostomum into Heterolobosea, and assign as the type species Pleurostomum salinum Namyslowski 1913, a species that closely resembles P. flabellatum. The optimal temperature for growth of P. flabellatum is 40 degrees C. Interestingly, P. flabellatum grows optimally at 300 per thousand salinity and fails to grow below 200 per thousand salinity, indicating that it is an 'extreme halophile'. The optimal salinity for growth is the highest for any eukaryote examined to date.     

Culturable halophilic archaeal diversity of Ayakekumu salt lake located in Xinjiang, China

Molecular diversity of halophilic archaea from Ayakekumu salt lake was investigated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and culture methods. 19 water samples and 15 soil samples were taken from 19 sites within Ayakekumu salt lake in winter and spring. Under aerobic culture conditions, some halophilic microorganisms were isolated by five different media. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of 62 red strains were amplified by using PCR, determined by the DNA sequencer and analyzed through the BLASTn program subsequently. Results revealed that all sequences belonged to six genera grouped within the Halobacteriaceae. Mostly 16S rRNA gene sequences related to the genera Halorubrum (47%) and Natrinema (24%) were detected. Subsequent analysis by using Shannon index indicated that cultured halophilic archaeal diversities are not significantly different between winter and spring samplings in Ayakekumu salt lake. Similarity values of haloarchaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences to known sequences were less than 97%, suggesting the presence of two novel taxa. In addition, taxonomic characteristics of Natrinema altunense and Halobiforma lacisalsi isolated from Ayakekumu salt lake had been described previously. The discovery of the novel species provides new opportunity to further examine the diversity of these halophilic microorganisms in Ayakekumu salt lake.     

Culturable halophilic archaeal diversity of Ayakekumu salt lake located in Xinjiang, China

Molecular diversity of halophilic archaea from Ayakekumu salt lake was investigated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and culture methods. 19 water samples and 15 soil samples were taken from 19 sites within Ayakekumu salt lake in winter and spring. Under aerobic culture conditions, some halophilic microorganisms were isolated by five different media. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of 62 red strains were amplified by using PCR, determined by the DNA sequencer and analyzed through the BLASTn program subsequently. Results revealed that all sequences belonged to six genera grouped within the Halobacteriaceae. Mostly 16S rRNA gene sequences related to the genera Halorubrum (47%) and Natrinema (24%) were detected. Subsequent analysis by using Shannon index indicated that cultured halophilic archaeal diversities are not significantly different between winter and spring samplings in Ayakekumu salt lake. Similarity values of haloarchaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences to known sequences were less than 97%, suggesting the presence of two novel taxa. In addition, taxonomic characteristics of Natrinema altunense and Halobiforma lacisalsi isolated from Ayakekumu salt lake had been described previously. The discovery of the novel species provides new opportunity to further examine the diversity of these halophilic microorganisms in Ayakekumu salt lake.     

Diversity of biosurfactant producing microorganisms isolated from soils contaminated with diesel oil

Biosurfactant production is a desirable property of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms (HDM). We characterized biosurfactant producing microbial populations from a Long Beach soil, California (USA) and a Hong Kong soil (China), contaminated with diesel oil. A total of 33 hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms were isolated from the soils. Twelve isolates and three defined consortia were tested for biosurfactant production and emulsification activity. The highest reduction of surface tension was achieved with a consortium of L1, L2 and L3 isolates from a Long Beach soil (41.4mN m(-1)). Isolate L1 (Acinetobacter junii) displayed the highest reduction of surface tension (46.5 mN m(-1)). The emulsifying capacity evaluated by the E24 emulsification index was highest in the culture of isolate L5 (74%). No substantial emulsification was achieved with the cell-free extracts, indicating that the emulsifying activity was not extracellular. Based on surface tension and the E24 index results, isolates F1, F2, F3, F4, L1, L2, L3 and L4 were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Bacillus cereus, Bacillus sphaericus, B. fusiformis, Acinetobacter junii, a non-cultured bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. and B. pumilus, respectively. Cluster analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences of the bacterial isolates revealed 70% similarity amongst hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial community present in both soils. Five isolates (isolates F1, F2, F3, F4 and L4) belong to the Firmicutes order, two isolates (L1 and L3) belong to the Proteobacteria order and one isolate (L2) is an Actinomyces sp. Simpson's index (1 - D) and the Shannon-Weaver index (H) revealed more diversity of HDM in the Hong Kong soil, while evenness (E) and the equitability (J) data indicated that there was not a dominant population. Bacterial isolates displaying substantial potential for production of biosurfactants can be applied in the bioremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons.     

Biotechnological applications and potentialities of halophilic microorganisms

Halophilic microorganisms are found as normal inhabitants of highly saline environments and thus are considered extremophiles. They are mainly represented, but not exclusively, by the halobacteria (extremely halophilic aerobic Archaea), the moderate halophiles (Bacteria and some methanogens) and several eukaryotic algae. These extremophilic microorganisms are already used for some biotechnological processes, for example halobacteria are used for the production of bacteriorhodopsin, and the alga Dunaliella is used in the commercial production of -carotene. Several other present or potential applications of halophiles are reviewed, including the production of polymers (polyhydroxyalcanoates and polysaccharides), enzymes, and compatible solutes, and the use of these extremophiles in enhanced oil recovery, cancer detection, drug screening and the biodegradation of residues and toxic compounds.The authors are with the Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain     

红树林土壤微生物的研究：过去、现在、未来

红树林土壤生境的独特性决定了其中微生物的多样性及其资源的珍稀性,对于红树林土壤微生物的研究正在成为热点。然而由于传统研究方法等因素的限制,至今人们对红树林土壤微生物的系统了解仍较为有限。近年来,基于16S rRNA,18S rRNA基因的各种分子微生物学技术的迅速发展,红树林土壤微生物的研究亦面临着崭新的局面。文中主要从红树林土壤微生物物种的多样性、生理生化类型的多样性及其在治理污染环境、生物修复作用中的可能性、有效性等方面阐述了红树林土壤微生物的研究进展,并以更合理、有效地开发利用红树林土壤微生物资源为目标,展望了21世纪,以新理念、新技术、新方法进行红树林土壤微生物研究及资源开发的巨大前景。     

小溪自然保护区非盐环境土壤中嗜盐和耐盐菌多样性

【目的】研究湖南小溪国家级自然保护区普通非盐环境(ordinary non-saline environment)土壤样品中可培养嗜盐及耐盐细菌(含放线菌)多样性。【方法】采用纯培养法和基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析对样品中嗜盐及耐盐细菌多样性进行研究。【结果】用补充5%-20%(w/v)NaCl的MA、ISP2、ISP5、NA和HAA培养基从土壤样品中分离到114株细菌,其中8株为中度嗜盐菌,19株为轻度嗜盐菌,87株为耐盐菌。根据形态观察和部分生理生化实验结果去冗余,选取61个代表性菌株进行基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育多样性分析。结果表明,这些菌株属于细菌域(Bacteria)的3个大的系统发育类群(门;phylum)(Actinobacteria,Firmicutes,Proteobacteria)的16个科、18个属,代表了41个物种。多数菌株属于Firmicutes门(38株,62.3%)和Actinobacteria门(18株,29.5%)。大多数菌株与其系统发育关系最密切的已知物种的典型菌株之间存在一定的遗传差异(16S rRNA基因序列相似性为96.9%-99.8%),其中有7个菌株(JSM070026,JSM081004,JSM081006,JSM081008,JSM083058,JSM083085,JSM084035)代表7个潜在新种(potential novel species)。【结论】研究结果表明,湖南小溪国家级自然保护区普通非盐环境土壤中存在较为丰富的可培养嗜盐及耐盐细菌多样性,并且潜藏着较多新的微生物类群(物种)。     

南海Formosa冷泉区沉积物微生物多样性与分布规律研究

【目的】当前对全球冷泉生态系统微生物生态学研究显示，冷泉生态系统中主要微生物类群为参与甲烷代谢的微生物，它们的分布差异与所处冷泉区生物地球化学环境密切相关。但在冷泉区内也存在环境因子截然不同的生境，尚缺乏比较冷泉区内小尺度生境间微生物多样性和分布规律的研究。本研究旨在分析南海Formosa冷泉区内不同生境间微生物多样性差异，完善和理解不同环境因子对冷泉内微生物群落结构的影响。【方法】对采集自南海Formosa冷泉区不同生境(黑色菌席区、白色菌席区和碳酸盐岩区)沉积物样本中古菌和细菌16S rRNA基因进行测序，结合环境因子，比较微生物多样性差异，分析环境因子对微生物分布的影响。【结果】发现在Formosa冷泉内的不同生境中，甲烷厌氧氧化古菌(anaerobic methanotrophic archaea,ANME)是主要古菌类群，占古菌总体相对丰度超过70%；在菌席区ANME-1b和ANME-2a/b是主要ANME亚群，碳酸盐岩区则是ANME-1b。硫酸盐还原菌(sulfate-reducing bacteria,SRB)和硫氧化菌(sulfur-oxidizing bacteria...     

Microbial diversity: the importance of exploration and conservation

Microbial diversity is fundamental to maintenance and conservation of global genetic resources. As extreme environments are explored, the richness of microbial diversity is increasingly evident. Measures must be taken to estimate, record, and conserve microbial diversity, not only to sustain human health but also to enrich the human condition globally through wise use and conservation of genetic resources of the microbial world. Received 24 April 1996/ Accepted in revised form 07 January 1997     

不同种苏铁珊瑚状根内生微生物多样性及适应性研究

【目的】苏铁(Cycassp.)是珍稀濒危树种,能在干热河谷中长期稳定生存的原因可能与珊瑚状根内生微生物有密切关系。不同种苏铁在同一生境下其珊瑚状根内生微生物种类和群落组成存在怎样的差异性是本研究的科学问题。【方法】采用宏基因测序技术对四川省攀枝花公园内5种同属不同种苏铁珊瑚状根进行了分子鉴定,分析了苏铁间微生物类型、功能基因和代谢通路过程的差异性。【结果】公园内不同苏铁的珊瑚状根内生微生物的优势类群在门水平上基本相同,但相对丰度有差异性。在真菌界水平上的优势类群为担子菌门(Basidiomycota)、子囊菌门(Ascomycota)、球囊菌门(Glomeromycota)和隐真菌门(Cryptomycota),在细菌界水平上的优势类群为蓝细菌门(Cyanobacteria)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、螺旋体门(Spirochaetes)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria)。不同种的苏铁在真菌界和细菌界的微生物群落相对丰度存在一定差异。蓝细菌门在篦齿苏铁、攀枝花苏铁、华南苏铁和贵州苏铁中的相对丰度远高于宽叶苏铁,而放线菌门和球囊...     

Ecology, physiology, and phylogeny of deep subsurface Sphingomonas sp

Several new species of the genus Sphingomonas including S. aromaticivorans, S. stygia, and S. subterranea that have the capacity for degrading a broad range of aromatic compounds including toluene, naphthalene, xylenes, p-cresol, fluorene, biphenyl, and dibenzothiophene, were isolated from deeply-buried (>200 m) sediments of the US Atlantic coastal plain (ACP). In S. aromaticivorans F199, many of the genes involved in the catabolism of these aromatic compounds are encoded on a 184-kb conjugative plasmid; some of the genes involved in aromatic catabolism are plasmid-encoded in the other strains as well. Members of the genus Sphingomonas were common among aerobic heterotrophic bacteria cultured from ACP sediments and have been detected in deep subsurface environments elsewhere. The major source of organic carbon for heterotrophic metabolism in ACP deep aquifers is lignite that originated from plant material buried with the sediments. We speculate that the ability of the subsurface Sphingomonas strains to degrade a wide array of aromatic compounds represents an adaptation for utilization of sedimentary lignite. These and related subsurface Sphingomonas spp may play an important role in the transformation of sedimentary organic carbon in the aerobic and microaerobic regions of the deep aquifers of the ACP. Received 12 May 1999/ Accepted in revised form 25 July 1999     

微生物物种多样性的保护与其资源保藏

从微生物物种多样性的保护以及微生物物种资源的保藏等方面较全面地阐述了微生物物种资源保护与保藏的重要性及其相互关系 ,阐明了微生物菌种保藏的原理及方法 ,同时介绍了保藏技术领域的研究动向和保藏机构或组织在微生物资源的保藏、开发和交流等方面所起的重要作用     

Influence of the Degree of Aeration on Halotolerance of Yeasts of the Genera Candida,Rhodotorula, and Malassezia

The biochemical mechanisms were studied that determine different reactions of yeasts of different genera to two simultaneously imposed stressors, hypoxia and osmotic shock. For Candida lipolytica, these two stressors were antagonistic, which resulted in stimulation (and not suppression) of the growth of this yeast by NaCl (in a wide range of concentrations) under microaerobic conditions. The reaction of Malasseziasp. was different: the degree of halotolerance of this microorganism was lower under microaerobic conditions. An intervening reaction pattern was characteristic of Rhodotorula aurantiaca.These differences were found to be determined, above all, by the induction of a salt-resistant respiratory system (oxidase) in C. lipolytica, which could not be induced in Malassezia sp. In addition, the synthesis of catalase was enhanced in C. lipolytica, which provided for neutralization of the active forms of oxygen accumulating as a result of inhibition of other protective enzymes by salt.     

Genetic diversity of soil microorganisms assessed by analysis ofhsp70 (dnaK) sequences

The genetic diversity of a soil microbial community was assessed by analysis of clonedhsp70 sequences. A clone library was generated by polymerase chain reaction-mediated amplification of a 650-base pair fragment of thehsp70 gene, using DNA extracted from soil, without culturing the microorganisms. Fifty-five random clones were sequenced and their amino acid sequences deduced. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of the clones revealed the presence of signature sequences in common with known prokaryotic and lower eukaryotic HSP70 homologs. None of the 55 analyzed sequences were identical to each other or to a published sequence. These results confirm the presence of considerable genetic diversity within soil microbial communities, the major proportion of which remains uncharacterized.