Potassium dependence and phytoplankton ecology: an experimental study

SUMMARY 1. Unialgal cultures of three species common in the freshwater phytoplankton were used to test limitation of specific growth rate and final yield in defined media of low K⁺ concentration (range <0.3–6 μmol L⁻¹ or mmol m⁻³).
2. Growth rate of the diatom Asterionella formosa was independent of K⁺ concentration above 0.7 μmol L⁻¹. Final yield was dependent on initial concentration when accompanied by K⁺ depletion below this concentration, but not by lesser depletion with more residual K⁺. Analyses of particulate K in the biomass indicated a mean final cell content of 2.8 μmol K 10⁻⁸ cells, approximately 1.0% of the organic dry weight.
3. Less detailed work with the diatom Diatoma elongatum showed no dependence of growth rate or final yield upon the initial K⁺ concentration in the range 0.8–3.2 μmol L⁻¹. The phytoflagellate Plagioselmis nannoplanctica suffered net mortality in the lowest concentration tested, 0.8 μmol L⁻¹.
4. Comparison with the range of K⁺ concentration in natural fresh waters, including a depletion induced by an aquatic macrophyte, suggests that K⁺ is unlikely to limit growth of phytoplankton. Nevertheless, there can be correlation of K⁺ with lake trophy.     

Mixed aerobic and anaerobic microbial communities in benzene-contaminated groundwater

Aims:  To investigate the factors affecting benzene biodegradation and microbial community composition in a contaminated aquifer.
Methods and Results:  We identified the microbial community in groundwater samples from a benzene-contaminated aquifer situated below a petrochemical plant. Eleven out of twelve groundwater samples with in situ dissolved oxygen concentrations between 0 and 2·57 mg l⁻¹ showed benzene degradation in aerobic microcosm experiments, whereas no degradation in anaerobic microcosms was observed. The lack of aerobic degradation in the remaining microcosm could be attributed to a pH of 12·1. Three groundwaters, examined by 16S rRNA gene clone libraries, with low in situ oxygen concentrations and high benzene levels, each had a different dominant aerobic (or denitrifying) population, either Pseudomonas , Polaromonas or Acidovorax species. These groundwaters also had syntrophic organisms, and aceticlastic methanogens were detected in two samples. The alkaline groundwater was dominated by organisms closely related to Hydrogenophaga .
Conclusions:  Results show that pH 12·1 is inimical to benzene biodegradation, and that oxygen concentrations below 0·03 mg l⁻¹ can support aerobic benzene-degrading communities.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  These findings will help to guide the treatment of contaminated groundwaters, and raise questions about the extent to which aerobes and anaerobes may interact to effect benzene degradation.     

Isolation and characterization of plant growth-promoting strain Pantoea NII-186. From Western Ghat Forest soil, India

Aims:  To isolate plant growth-promoting bacterium from Western Ghat forests in India.
Methods and Results:  A Gram-negative, rod shaped, cream white coloured strain Pantoea NII-186 isolated from Western Ghat soil sample. The taxonomic position of the bacterium was confirmed by sequencing of 16S rRNA and phylogenetic analysis. A strain grew at a wide range of temperature ranging from 5–40°C, but optimum growth was observed at 28–30°C. It showed multiple plant growth-promoting attributes such as phosphate solubilization activity, indole acetic acid (IAA) production, siderophore production and HCN production. It was able to solubilize (28 μg of Ca₃PO₄ ml⁻¹ day⁻¹), and produce IAA (59 μg) at 28°C. The solubilization of insoluble phosphate was associates with a drop in the pH of the culture medium. Pantoea sp. NII-186 tolerate to different environmental stresses like 5–40°C, 0–7% salt concentration and 4–12 pH range.
Conclusions:  The 16S rRNA gene sequence confirmed that the isolate NII-186 was belongs to Pantoea genus and showed considerable differences in physiological properties with previously reported species of this genus. Isolate NII-186 possessed multiple attributes of plant growth-promoting activity.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Hence in the context it is proposed that Pantoea sp. NII-186, could be deployed as an inoculant to attain the desired plant growth-promoting activity in agricultural environment.     

Abrupt change in primary productivity in a littoral zone of Lake Biwa with the development of a filamentous green-algal community

1. Some characteristics of the photosynthesis and primary production of benthic and planktonic algal communities were investigated in a littoral zone covered with gravel in the north basin of Lake Biwa, paying special attention to the recent development of filamentous green algae (FGA) in the benthic algal community.
2. P_max (maximum gross photosynthesis rate) values of the benthic algal community (0.1–1.2 mg C mg chl. a ⁻¹ h⁻¹) obtained from photosynthesis–irradiance (P–I) curves were lower than those of the planktonic algal community (2.4–11.5 mg C mg chl. a ⁻¹ h⁻¹). This is apparently a result of the high degree of self shading in the benthic algal community and its low turnover as compared with that of the planktonic algal community.
3. Relatively high I_k values (150–200 μmol photon m⁻² s⁻¹) were observed in the benthic algal community only in June–July when a FGA, Spirogyra sp., was abundant. This reflected a photosynthetic characteristic of the Spirogyra itself, in which photosynthesis was saturated at high light intensity.
4. The FGA community established in the layer between planktonic and sessile (benthic algae except for FGA) algal communities. It brought about extraordinarily high organic matter production in the littoral zone at the expense of production in the sessile algal community.     

Breakdown of tussock grass in streams along a gradient of agricultural development in New Zealand

Summary 1. We measured the breakdown rate of tussock grass in 12 New Zealand streams in catchments that provided a gradient of agricultural development. We also examined the microbial and invertebrate communities associated with decomposing tussock litter.
2. Pristine streams in the study had low concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (<10  μ g L⁻¹) and dissolved reactive phosphate (<3  μ g L⁻¹), whereas streams in the most developed catchments had high concentrations of nitrate (>2500  μ g L⁻¹) and phosphate (35  μ g L⁻¹), as well as greater amounts of suspended sediment and fine sediment covering the streambed.
3. Breakdown rate and microbial respiration were significantly related across the sites, and both were positively related to concentrations of nitrate and phosphate. Fungal biomass, measured as ergosterol, was positively related to microbial respiration and was also higher at sites with higher concentrations of nutrients. Total and shredding invertebrates were most abundant at the sites with high nutrient concentrations, but abundance of shredding invertebrates was not significantly related to breakdown rate. Amphipods were the most common shredding invertebrate at most sites, but probably did not contribute greatly to high rates of breakdown in streams in agricultural catchments.
4. With the exception of one site, nutrients from agricultural development appeared to have larger positive effects on litter breakdown than negative effects from sedimentation. Litter breakdown can serve as a functional measure of ecosystem health in streams, but caution should be exercised when a stress, such as land use, can have both positive (nutrients) and negative (sedimentation) effects.     

Assessment of anti-oxidant activity of plant extracts using microbial test systems

Aims:  To evaluate the anti-oxidant properties of extracts from 20 medicinal herbs growing in western Siberia using microbial test systems and different in vitro methods.
Methods and results:  In vivo anti-oxidant activity of extracts was evaluated for their capacity to protect bacteria, Escherichia coli , against bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of H₂O₂ and menadione, and action on anti-oxidant gene expression. In vitro anti-oxidant activity has been examined by a number of methods including: the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH^•)-scavenging assay, chelating activity and capacity to protect plasmid DNA against oxidative damage. In addition, total polyphenol content was determined. The extracts of Fragaria vesca , Rosa majalis , Pentaphylloides fruticosa , Alchemilla vulgaris and Pulmonaria mollis possessed the highest levels of anti-oxidant activity in vivo and in vitro . The protective properties were more closely related to the DPPH^• radical-scavenging activity, tannin content and action on anti-oxidant gene expression than to other parameters.
Conclusion:  The extracts of medicinal plants may have anti-oxidant effects on bacteria simultaneously through several different pathways, including direct inhibition of reactive oxygen species, iron chelation and anti-oxidant genes induction.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Using microbial test systems, we revealed herbs that may be used as potential sources of natural anti-oxidants.     

In vitro efficacy of nisin Z against Candida albicans adhesion and transition following contact with normal human gingival cells

Aim:  To investigate the nisin Z innocuity using normal human gingival fibroblast and epithelial cell cultures, and its synergistic effect with these gingival cells against Candida albicans adhesion and transition from blastospore to hyphal form.
Methods and Results:  Cells were cultured to 80% confluence and infected with C. albicans in the absence or presence of various concentrations of nisin Z. Our results indicate that only high concentrations of nisin Z promoted gingival cell detachment and differentiation. Determination of the LD₅₀ showed that the fibroblasts were able to tolerate up to 80  μ g ml⁻¹ for 24 h, dropping thereafter to 62  μ g ml⁻¹ after 72 h of contact, compared to 160  μ g ml⁻¹ after 24 h, and 80  μ g ml⁻¹ after 72 h recorded by the gingival epithelial cells which displayed a greater resistance to nisin Z. The use of nisin Z even at low concentration (25  μ g ml⁻¹) at appropriate concentrations with gingival cells significantly reduced C. albicans adhesion to gingival monolayer cultures and inhibited the yeast's transition.
Conclusion:  These findings show that when used at non-toxic levels for human cells, nisin Z can be effective against C. albicans adhesion and transition and may synergistically interact with gingival cells for an efficient resistance against C. albicans .
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study suggests the potential usefulness of nisin Z as an antifungal agent, when used in an appropriate range.     

Effect of 2,5-norbornadiene on abscission and ethylene production in citrus leaf explants

Citrus ( Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) leaf explants completely abscise within 48 h when exposed to saturating amounts of ethylene at 25°C. When 2,5-norbornadiene was added, 2000 μl 1⁻¹ reduced abscission of explants also exposed to 2 μl 1⁻¹ of ethylene to the level of the control, and 8000 μl 1⁻¹ reduced abscission in explants exposed to 10 μl 1⁻¹ of ethylene to the level of the control, but abscission was complete when 1 000 μl 1⁻¹ of ethylene was used in the presence of 8 000 μl 1⁻¹ of 2,5-norbornadiene. When explants were exposed to 2 μl 1⁻¹ of ethylene, 2000 μl 1⁻¹ of 2,5-norbornadiene prevented abscission if applied up to 10 h after exposure to ethylene. After 18 h, applied 2,5-norbornadiene had little effect on abscission at 48 h. A Lineweaver-Burk plot gave a 1/2 maximum value of 0.12 μl 1⁻¹ for ethylene on abscission, 2,5-Norbornadiene gave competitive kinetics with respect to ethylene with a K₁ value of approximately 120 μl 1⁻¹ of 2,5-norbornadiene. The presence of 2,5norbornadiene stimulated ethylene production, which progressively increased as the 2,5-norbornadiene concentration was increased from 250 to 8 000 μl 1⁻¹ 2,5-Norbornadiene also suppressed the induction of cellulase and polygalacturonase by ethylene. Together, 2,5-norbornadiene and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid were more effective than either alone in reducing abscission. 2,5-Norbornadiene also was effective in preventing the reduction of indole-3-acetic acid transport induced by ethylene.     

Production of tylosin in solid-state fermentation by Streptomyces fradiae NRRL-2702 and its gamma-irradiated mutant (γ-1)

Aims:  To develop solid-state fermentation system (SSF) for hyper production of tylosin from a mutant γ-1 of Streptomyces fradiae NRRL-2702 and its parent strain.
Methods and Results:  Various agro-industrial wastes were screened to study their effect on tylosin production in SSF. Wheat bran as solid substrate gave the highest production of 2500 μg of tylosin g⁻¹ substrate by mutant γ-1 against parent strain (300 μg tylosin g⁻¹ substrate). The tylosin yield was further improved to 4500 μg g⁻¹ substrate [70% moisture, 10% inoculum (v/w), pH 9·2, 30°C, supplemental lactose and sodium glutamate on day 9]. Wild-type strain displayed less production of tylosin (655 μg of tylosin g⁻¹ substrate) in SSF even after optimization of process parameters.
Conclusion:  The study has shown that solid-state fermentation system significantly enhanced the tylosin yield by mutant γ-1.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study proved to be very useful and resulted in 6·87 ± 0·30-fold increase in tylosin yield by this mutant when compared to that of wild-type strain.     

Effects of estrone and 17 β-estradiol on vegetative growth of Medicago sativa

Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) plants were grown in the absence or presence of the steroidal estrogens, estrone and 17β-estradiol, under varying conditions. Plants were analysed for the following parameters: plant weight, estrogen content, phytoestrogen content, degree of nodulation and nitrogen fixation activity. It was found that under controlled greenhouse conditions: (1) Treatment with estrogens in the range of 0.005 to 0.5 μg 1⁻¹ increases both shoot and root dry weitht. In contrast, estrogen in concentrations of 50 to 500 μg 1⁻¹ decreases plant growth. (2) The effect of estrogen of growth is most marked in the absence of nitrogen. (3) Estrone is more effective in increasing growth than 17 β-estradiol. (4) In the plants where estrogen induced growth there was no significant increase in nitrogen fixation activity and nodule number. (5) Endogenous estrogen content of the plant did not increase at concentrations (0.005-0.5 μg 1⁻¹) which increased vegetative growth. (6) Endogenous estrogen content of the plant did increase at concentrations of estrogen (50-500 μg 1⁻¹ which inhibited vegetative growth and nodule weight. It can be concluded that estrogen in concentrations found in sewage water (0.3 μg estrogen 1⁻¹) can affect the vegetative growth of alfalfa plants.     

Mechanism of phosphorus-induced zinc deficiency in cotton. III. Changes in physiological availability of zinc in plants Is mail

The effect of varied supply of P (2.5× 10⁻⁵ to 6× 10⁻⁴ M) and Zn (0 to 10⁻⁶ M) on uptake and concentrations of P and Zn was studied in cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Deltapine 15/21) grown in nutrient solution under controlled environmental conditions. At a given Zn supply, increasing levels of P had no significant effect on the concentrations of total Zn in plants. However, increasing levels of P induced or enhanced visual Zn deficiency symptoms when the Zn concentration in the nutrient solution was low. The concentrations of water-soluble Zn in roots and shoots constituted 60% of the total Zn concentrations for plants grown with low P and 30% for plants grown with high P. The concentration of water-soluble Zn in leaves, but not total Zn, was closely correlated with visual Zn deficiency symptoms, levels of chlorophyll, super oxide dismutase and membrane permeability. The critical deficiency concentration of water-soluble Zn in cotton leaves was in the range of 6 to 7 μg (g dry weight)⁻¹ or about 1.0 μg (g fresh weight)⁻¹. The results show that high P concentrations in plant tissue decrease the physiological availability of Zn. Water-soluble Zn in the tissue appears to be a suitable indicator for Zn nutritional status in general and phosphorus-induced Zn deficiency in particular. Also in field-grown orange trees (Citrus sinensis) visual Zn deficiency symptoms in leaves were closely related to the concentration of water-soluble Zn.     

Influence of phosphorus on biofilm formation in model drinking water distribution systems

Aims:  This study investigated the effects of phosphorus on biofilm formation via annular reactor systems in terms of biofilm cell growth, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, biofilm structure and cell metabolic potential.
Methods and Results:  Drinking water biofilms were developed in annular reactors with supplement of carbon and different levels of phosphorus. The biofilm formation was monitored over a period of 30 days. Biofilm related parameters were examined by various methods, which included heterotrophic plate count, total carbohydrate content, confocal laser scanning microscopy and GN2 microplate assay. Our results showed that phosphorus addition can promote the biofilm cell growth (cell count increased about 1 log with addition of 30 and 300 μg l⁻¹ of phosphorus). However, the addition of 30 and 300 μg l⁻¹ of phosphorus caused 81% and 77% decrease in EPS production, respectively. The results of biofilm structure analysis showed that the addition of 30 and 300 μg l⁻¹ of phosphorus can induce thicker and less homogeneous biofilms with more biomass. Furthermore, the addition of 30 and 300 μg l⁻¹ of phosphorus dramatically increased the biofilm cell metabolic potential. The addition of 3 μg l⁻¹ of phosphorus was found to have minor effects on the parameters examined.
Conclusions:  The results indicate phosphorus addition to drinking water distribution system (DWDS) has a complicated effect on the biofilm formation.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  As the addition of phosphorus at certain levels can affect the biofilm growth in DWDS, care should be taken when phosphate-based corrosion inhibitors are used in the DWDS.     

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. in marine environments from the West Coast of the USA

Aims:  The aim of the study was to determine if vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. [VRE] carrying vanA and/or vanB genes were present in public marine beaches and a fishing pier [2001–2003, 2008] from Washington and California [2008].
Methods:  PCR assays for the vanA and/or vanB genes with verification by DNA–DNA hybridization of the PCR products were used. Positive isolates were speciated using the BD BBL Crystal™ Identification and/or by sequencing the 16S ribosomal region.
Results:  Eighteen (8%) of 227 isolates including Enterococcus faecalis , Enterococcus faecium , Enterococcus casseliflavus/gallinarum and a Staphylococcus epidermidis carrying vanA and/or vanB genes, from four of six Washington and one of two California sites, were identified. Selected VRE and the S. epidermidis were able to transfer their van genes to an E. faecalis recipient at frequencies ranging from 1·9 × 10⁻⁶ to 6·7 × 10⁻⁹.
Conclusions:  Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. was isolated from five of the seven sites suggesting that other North America public beaches could be the reservoirs for VRE and should be assessed.
Significance & Impact of the Study:  This is the first report of isolation and characterization of VRE strains (and a vanB Staphylococcus sp.) from North American environmental sources suggesting that public beaches may be a reservoir for possible transmission of VRE to beach visitors.     

Variation of broth composition by addition of broiler litter composting substrate extracts: influence on faecal bacterial growth

Aim:  This study investigates differences in bacterial growth response in broth amended with compost-substrate extracts periodically bypassed during broiler litter composting.
Methods and Results:  Compost samples, suspended in diluent were mixed with double strength broth into which ampicillin selective (0·3 g l⁻¹) Escherichia coli and E. faecalis were separately seeded. Growth was measured by viable cell count. The Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm was applied to obtain a four-parameter sigmoidal function that best described the diminishing height transitions of the curves for extracts of increasing composting age. The time course of the growth rate followed a unimodal bell-shaped curve. The Microfit^© application was run to generate information of direct microbiological interest: increasing λ and decreasing μ_max for both bacteria with time.
Conclusion:  More than the curve-fitting process, the Unified model option of the Microfit^© application has confirmed the significant differences ( P  <   0·05) in the growth curve behaviour with more stabilized substrate extracts. The study demonstrates further scopes for characterization of the sanitization potential and indirectly, the impact of indigenous microbial competitive exclusion effects on enteric bacteria.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  A different outlook to understanding faecal bacterial growth dynamics in compost has been presented, using predictive microbiology concepts. Further structured studies are needed to fine-tune the generality of the findings for model development.     

Ammonium and phosphate regenerationby the zooplankton of an Amazon floodplain lake

SUMMARY. 1. Regeneration of ammonium and phosphate by macro-zooplankton (Cladocera. adult copepods. and copepodites) was measured in Lake Calado. an Amazon floodplain lake, Macrozooplanktonabundances ranged between 1×10⁴ and 3×10⁵ individuals m⁻².
2. Phosphate regeneration ranged from 0.2 to 1.3 μ mol PO₄ m⁻² b⁻¹at station 1. located 2 km from the Solimoes River, and from 1.6 to8.3 μ mol PO₄ m⁻² h ⁻¹ at station 3, located 7 km from the SolimoesRiver. Ammonium regeneration at stations 1 and 3 ranged from 1.7 to11.9 and from 13.4 to 77.2 μ mol NH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹. respectively.
3. Zooplankton regenerated ammonium and phosphate at similarrates during rising and falling waier. Regeneration by macrozooplankton was low compared to other tropical lakes and compared to microbesand microzooplankton in Lake Calado.     

Sucrose phosphorylase of the rumen bacterium Pseudobutyrivibrio ruminis strain A

Aims:  To verify the taxonomic affiliation of bacterium Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens strain A from our collection and to characterize its enzyme(s) responsible for digestion of sucrose.
Methods and Results:  Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene of the bacterium with GenBank showed over 99% sequence identity to the species Pseudobutyrivibrio ruminis . Molecular filtration, native electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel, zymography and thin layer chromatography were used to identify and characterize the relevant enzyme. An intracellular sucrose phosphorylase with an approximate molecular mass of 52 kDa exhibiting maximum activity at pH 6·0 and temperature 45°C was identified. The enzyme was of inducible character and catalysed the reversible conversion of sucrose to fructose and glucose-1-P. The reaction required inorganic phosphate. The K _m for glucose-1-P formation and fructose release were 3·88 × 10⁻³ and 5·56 × 10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ sucrose, respectively – while the V _max of the reactions were −0·579 and 0·9  μ mol mg protein⁻¹ min⁻¹. The enzyme also released free glucose from glucose phosphate.
Conclusion:  Pseudobutyrivibrio ruminis strain A utilized sucrose by phosphorolytic cleavage.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Bacterium P. ruminis strain A probably participates in the transfer of energy from dietetary sucrose to the host animal.     

The effects of water hardness upon the uptake, accumulation and excretion of zinc in the brown trout, Salmo trutta L.

The effects of water hardness (9 and 220 mgl⁻¹ as CaCO₃) upon zinc exchange in brown trout exposed to 0.77 μmol Zn 1⁻¹ have been investigated using artificial soft water (<49.9 μmol Ca ^l-1, <40.1 μmol Mg 1⁻¹) and mains hard water (1671.7 μmol Ca 1⁻¹, 493.6 μmol Mg 1⁻¹) of known composition. Both hard and soft water-adapted fish exhibited a bimodal pattern of net zinc influx. Net zinc influxes during both fast and slow uptake phases were significantly greater ( P <0.001) in soft (82.9 and 6.2 μmol Zn 100 g⁻¹ h⁻¹) than in hard water (46.3 and 2.4 μmol Zn 100 g h⁻¹). Zinc efflux (- 0.2 μmol Zn 100 g⁻¹ h⁻¹) was enhanced only in hard water during the slow net influx phase.
Brown trout exposed to zinc in hard water and placed in metal-free media exhibited a greater net efflux (- 25.6 μmol Zn 100 g⁻¹ h⁻¹) of the metal than did fish in soft water (-4.2 μmol Zn 100 g⁻¹ h⁻¹) treated in the same manner. Tissue ⁶⁵Zn activities reflected both the differences in uptake and excretion rates of the metal between hard and soft water fish. During zinc exposure (0.77 μmol Zn 1⁻¹) high water hardness reduced tissue burdens of the metal by reducing net branchial influx, and enhancing efflux of the metal in hard water fish.     

Spatiotemporal distribution of microbial communities in a coastal, sandy aquifer system (Doñana, SW Spain)

The aquifer system of Doñana (SW Spain) represents the most important freshwater source in the Doñana Natural Area. Its spatiotemporal dynamics favours the hydrological connection between surface and subsurface ecosystems, and promotes matter fluxes among the different terrestrial and aquatic systems present here. This aquifer has been intensively studied from a hydrogeological point of view but little is known from an ecological perspective. In order to understand the ecological roles played by microbial communities in this system, we conducted a long-term seasonal study of bacterial abundance, cell biomass, bacterial biomass and functional activities over a 2-year period. Bacterial abundance ranged between 2.11 ± 1.79 × 10⁵ and 8.58 ± 6.99 × 10⁷ bacteria mL⁻¹ groundwater, average cell biomass was estimated to be 77.01 ± 31.56 fgC and bacterial biomass varied between 8.99 ± 4.10 × 10⁻² and 5.65 ± 0.70 µgC mL⁻¹. Iron-related bacteria showed the highest activities among the functional groups studied. Moreover, among the variables that usually control spatial distributions of microbial communities in aquifer systems, depth did not have a relevant effect on this aquifer, at least in the range of depths studied, but grain size, probably due to its direct effects on hydrogeological parameters, such as permeability or porosity, appeared to exert moderate control, principally in terms of bacterial abundance. Finally, significant seasonal differences in the means of these microbiological variables were also observed; temperature seems to be the main factor controlling the temporal distribution of microbial communities in this aquifer system.     

Antimicrobial resistance and in vitro gene transfer in bacteria isolated from the ulcers of EUS-affected fish in India

Aims:  The occurrence of drug resistance and plasmid-mediated transferability was investigated in 15 Aeromonas isolates collected from the ulcers of epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS)-affected fishes Katla ( Catla catla ), Mrigel ( Cirrhinus mrigala ) and Punti ( Puntius sp.).
Methods and Results:  Disc diffusion assay showed that all the strains were resistant to ampicillin and sensitive to streptomycin. Of the 15 isolates examined, 93·3% isolates were resistant to erythromycin, sulfadiazine and novobiocin, while 66% were resistant to rifampin and 20% to chloramphenicol. All isolates harboured plasmids with sizes ranging from 64 to 23 kbp with a 23-kbp plasmid in common. Plasmids from 11 Aeromonas strains were transferred to Escherichia coli DH5α recipient strain along with the transfer of ampicillin, erythromycin and chloramphenicol resistance determinants with frequencies ranging from 7·0 × 10⁻⁶ to 1·8 × 10⁻⁵ transconjugants per recipient cell.
Conclusions:  The resistance to ampicillin, erythromycin, sulfadiazine, novobiocin and chloramphenicol is prevalent among the bacteria isolated from EUS-affected fish, and resistant determinants of some of these antibiotics have been transferred to the bacteria of other origin.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  The emergence of antibiotic resistance bacteria and gene transfer in vitr o suggests that antibiotics should be used more cautiously to treat Aeromonas infections in aquaculture.     

Population growth rates of two closely related rotifer species: effects of food quantity, particle size, and nutritional quality

SUMMARY. 1. The relationship between population growth rates and the concentrations of several algal species was determined in laboratory experiments with the rotifers Brachionus rubens and B. calyciflorus .
2. The effects of food quantity were well described by a modified Monod model with a threshold for zero population growth. The model parameters depended on particle size and nutritional quality of the food algae. Differences between the rotifer species were significant and reflected their varying food-size preferences.
3. For each rotifer species, thresholds were lowest for algae in the most readily ingested size range. The lowest thresholds were 0.07–0.09 mgC 1⁻¹ with algae of about 5 μm equivalent spherical diameter (ESD) for B. rubens , and 0.19 mgC 1⁻¹ with algae of about 10 μm ESD for B. calyciflorus .
4. Maximal growth rates ( r _max) were slightly below 0.8 day⁻¹ for both rotifers with most algal species. The highest r _max values for both rotifers were observed when Cyclotella meneghiniana was provided as food. With this alga, B. calyciflorus had a significantly higher r_max (1.02 day⁻¹) than B. rubens (0.838 day⁻¹).
5. From a comparison of the relationship between growth rates and ingestion rates, Chlamydomonas reinhardii appeared to be of low nutritional quality for B. rubens .
6. Egg ratios were related to growth rate and were not influenced by the algal food used. Egg development times and average mortality rates were estimated from the relationship between egg ratio and growth rate. B. calyciflorus appeared to have a high average mortality rate (0.383 day⁻¹) compared to B. rubens (0.083 day⁻¹).