Intracellular aminopeptidases inStreptomyces lividans 66

Summary We have investigated the aminopeptidase activities present inStreptomyces lividans strains. The majority of these activities proved to be intracellular with multiple active species. Two aminopeptidase P genes were identified to be responsible for the ability to hydrolyze amino terminal peptide bonds adjacent to proline residues. Two other broad spectrum aminopeptidases were found to display homology at both the DNA and protein levels. One showed significant homology to PepN proteins, particularly around the putative zinc-binding residues which are important for catalysis. The second broad spectrum activity was not analyzed in detail but showed a different spectrum of substrate specificity to that of PepN.     

Polysulfide as a possible substrate for sulfur-reducing bacteria

Because of its low solubility it is unlikely that elemental sulfur serves as the direct substrate for sulfur-reducing bacteria. To test the hypothesis that polysulfide may represent a soluble intermediate of sulfur reduction, the maximal polysulfide concentrations formed from elemental sulfur in aqueous sulfide solutions were measured at near neutral pH and at temperatures up to 90°C. The saturation concentrations decreased by two orders of magnitude when the pH was lowered from 7 to 6 at a given temperature, and increased about tenfold when the temperature was raised from 37°C to 90°C at a given pH. The dissolution of 0.1 mM zerovalent sulfur in 1 mM sulfide (H₂S+HS^–) required a pH of 7.5 at 20°C and of only 6.1 at 100°C. A comparison with the growth optima of sulfur-reducers suggests that polysulfide is present at sufficient concentration at the growth conditions of the Bacteria and the moderately acidophilic Archaea. Polysulfide is apparently not available at the growth conditions of the extremely acidophilic Archaea. Alternative mechanisms for the sulfur utilization under these conditions are discussed.Abbreviations MOPS Morpholinopropanesulfonate - PIPES 1,4 piperazine-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonate) - HEPES N-2-hydroxy-ethylpiperazine-N-ethanesulfonate     

Targeting of superantigens

The bacterial superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) is an extremely potent activator of T lymphocytes when presented on MHC class II antigens. In order to induce T lymphocytes to reject a tumor, we substituted the specificity of SEA for MHC class II molecules with specificity for tumor cells by combining SEA with a MAb recognizing colon carcinomas. Chemical conjugates or recombinant fusion proteins of the MAb C215 and SEA retained excellent antigen binding properties whereas the binding to MHC class II was markedly reduced. The hybrid proteins directed SEA responsive T cells to tumors with specificity determined by the specificity of the MAb. Significant tumor cell killing was obtained at picomolar concentrations of the hybrid proteins and was the result of direct cell mediated by cytotoxicity as well as production of tumoricidal cytokines by T cells. Targeting of superantigens represents a novel approach to specific immunomodulation and deserves further study as a potential therapy for malignant disease.     

Glucoamylases encoded by variantSaccharomycopsis fibuligera genes: Structure and properties

The genes of two variant glucoamylases (GLA1 and GLU1) ofSaccharomycopsis fibuligera were expressed inSaccharomyces cerevisiae, and biochemical properties of the secreted enzymes were compared. It was found that three amino acid alterations in the signal peptide and N-terminal regions of the variants had no effect on the levels of the secreted enzymes. Amino acid alterations in the C-terminal region of the mature proteins influenced their specific activity, substrate specificity, as well as temperature and pH optima. Because of the glycosylation heterogeneity, the glucoamylases of each gene variant were isolated and purified in two forms (A and B), which were essentially similar in catalytic and physicochemical properties but differed in their thermal stability and ability to renaturate after thermal denaturation.     

Anti-Candida activity of four antifungal benzothiazoles

Abstract Anti- Candida activity of 6-amino-2- n -pentylthiobenzothiazole (I), benzylester of (6-amino-2-benzothiazolylthio)acetic acid (II) and of 3-butylthio-(1,2,4-triazolo)-2,3-benzothiazole (III) was followed and compared to that of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (IV). I and II exhibited good activity against the C. albicans yeast form, similar to IV. They were inhibitorily active against other Candida strains, IC₅₀ values being of the order of 10⁻⁵ M, which means better activity than IV. Compound I also exhibited inhibitory activity on germ-tube formation and mycelial growth in the C. albicans strains, while II, III and IV were not active in these tests. III was the least active form of the compounds tested, IC₅₀ values being of the order of 10⁻⁴ M. All the compounds tested were highly active on a nystatin-resistant C. albicans mutant, with IC₅₀s of the order of 10⁻⁶ M−10⁻⁵ M.     

Distribution,causal agents,and infection dynamic of emerging ink disease of sweet chestnut in Southern Switzerland

Emerging diseases caused by both native and exotic pathogens represent a main threat to forest ecosystems worldwide. The two invasive soilborne pathogens Phytophthora cinnamomi and Phytophthora × cambivora are the causal agents of ink disease, which has been threatening Castanea sativa in Europe for several centuries and seems to be re-emerging in recent years. Here, we investigated the distribution, causal agents, and infection dynamics of ink disease in southern Switzerland. A total of 25 outbreaks were identified, 19 with only P. cinnamomi, 5 with only P. × cambivora, and 1 with both species. Dendrochronological analyses showed that the disease emerged in the last 20–30 years. Infected trees either died rapidly within 5–15 years post-infection or showed a prolonged state of general decline until death. Based on a generalized linear model, the local risk of occurrence of ink disease was increased by an S-SE aspect of the chestnut stand, the presence of a pure chestnut stand, management activities, the proximity of roads and buildings, and increasing annual mean temperature and precipitation. The genetic structure of the local P. cinnamomi population suggests independent introductions and local spread of the pathogen.     

The distribution of coastal fish eDNA sequences in the Anthropocene

Aim

Coastal fishes have a fundamental role in marine ecosystem functioning and contributions to people, but face increasing threats due to climate change, habitat degradation and overexploitation. The extent to which human pressures are impacting coastal fish biodiversity in comparison with geographic and environmental factors at large spatial scale is still under scrutiny. Here, we took advantage of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to investigate the relationship between fish biodiversity, including taxonomic and genetic components, and environmental but also socio-economic factors.

Location

Tropical, temperate and polar coastal areas.

Time period

Present day.

Major taxa studied

Marine fishes.

Methods

We analysed fish eDNA in 263 stations (samples) in 68 sites distributed across polar, temperate and tropical regions. We modelled the effect of environmental, geographic and socio-economic factors on α- and β-diversity. We then computed the partial effect of each factor on several fish biodiversity components using taxonomic molecular units (MOTU) and genetic sequences. We also investigated the relationship between fish genetic α- and β-diversity measured from our barcodes, and phylogenetic but also functional diversity.

Results

We show that fish eDNA MOTU and sequence α- and β-diversity have the strongest correlation with environmental factors on coastal ecosystems worldwide. However, our models also reveal a negative correlation between biodiversity and human dependence on marine ecosystems. In areas with high dependence, diversity of all fish, cryptobenthic fish and large fish MOTUs declined steeply. Finally, we show that a sequence diversity index, accounting for genetic distance between pairs of MOTUs, within and between communities, is a reliable proxy of phylogenetic and functional diversity.

Main conclusions

Together, our results demonstrate that short eDNA sequences can be used to assess climate and direct human impacts on marine biodiversity at large scale in the Anthropocene and can further be extended to investigate biodiversity in its phylogenetic and functional dimensions.