Effect of pH and buffer on butyric acid production and microbial community characteristics in bioconversion of rice straw with undefined mixed culture

This study was conducted to identify the optimum pH range and the appropriate buffer for butyric acid production from rice straw by fermentation using an undefined mixed culture. A series of experiments conducted at pH levels of 5.0 ~ 7.0 showed that neutral pH improved rice straw conversion and consequently carboxylic acid production. The highest butyric acid production (up to 6.7 g/L) was achieved at pH of 6.0 ~ 6.5, while it was only 1.7 g/L without pH control or at pH 5.0. Another series of experiments conducted at pH 6.0 ~ 6.5 buffered with CaCO₃, NaHCO₃, NH₄HCO₃ and their combinations indicated that different buffers had different effects onthe product spectrum, and that CaCO₃ combined with NaHCO₃ was an effective buffer for butyric acid production. The highest total volatile fatty acids (about 12.6 g/L) production and one of the two highest butyric acid concentrations (about 7.6 g/L) were obtained by buffering with CaCO₃ combined with NaHCO₃. PCR-DGGE analysis revealed that different pH and buffers also influenced the microbial population distribution. Bacteria were suppressed at low pH, while the bacterial community structures at higher pH varied slightly. Overall, this study presents an alternative method for butyric acid production from lignocellulosic biomass without supplementary cellulolytic enzyme.     

Checkpoint Activation of an Unconventional DNA Replication Program in Tetrahymena

The intra-S phase checkpoint kinase of metazoa and yeast, ATR/MEC1, protects chromosomes from DNA damage and replication stress by phosphorylating subunits of the replicative helicase, MCM2-7. Here we describe an unprecedented ATR-dependent pathway in Tetrahymena thermophila in which the essential pre-replicative complex proteins, Orc1p, Orc2p and Mcm6p are degraded in hydroxyurea-treated S phase cells. Chromosomes undergo global changes during HU-arrest, including phosphorylation of histone H2A.X, deacetylation of histone H3, and an apparent diminution in DNA content that can be blocked by the deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate. Most remarkably, the cell cycle rapidly resumes upon hydroxyurea removal, and the entire genome is replicated prior to replenishment of ORC and MCMs. While stalled replication forks are elongated under these conditions, DNA fiber imaging revealed that most replicating molecules are produced by new initiation events. Furthermore, the sole origin in the ribosomal DNA minichromosome is inactive and replication appears to initiate near the rRNA promoter. The collective data raise the possibility that replication initiation occurs by an ORC-independent mechanism during the recovery from HU-induced replication stress.     

Dominance of CTX-M-Type Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Patients with Community-Onset and Hospital-Onset Infection in China

Objective

To investigate CTX-M genotypes among extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) isolated from patients with community-onset and hospital-onset infections in China, their clonality and the distribution of CTX-M variants in different specimens of community-onset and hospital-onset infections.

Methods

ESBL-EC isolates were collected from general hospitals from 2011 to 2012 in China. Broth microdilution method antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 16 antibiotics was performed. Clinical data from community-onset and hospital-onset infections due to ESBL-EC were analyzed. ESBL-encoding genes were amplified by PCR and sequenced, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed for a random selection of predominant CTX-M type strains identified.

Results

A total of 1,168 ESBL-EC isolates were obtained from various clinical specimens, 41.7% of which were responsible for causing community-onset infections. The presence of urinary calculi was higher in community-onset infections, whereas malignancy, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, dementia, chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus and surgical treatment were found to have higher proportions in hospital-onset infections. There was no significant difference in trauma between community-onset and hospital-onset infections. 96.2% of the isolates were detected to harbor bla _CTX-M genes. bla _CTX-M-1 group and bla _CTX-M-9 group were detected at 40.7% and 48.7% respectively, and both positive group accounted for 10.6%. bla _CTX-M-55 (24.8%) and bla _CTX-M-15 (18.2%) were the major genotypes in bla _CTX-M-1 group while bla _CTX-M-14 (46.8%) was predominant in bla _CTX-M-9 group. A comparison of bla _CTX-M distribution in different specimens between ESBL-EC causing community-onset and hospital-onset infection showed no significant difference. A total of 229 isolates were tested for MLST. ST131 (14%) was the predominant type. ST648, ST405 and ST1193 were also detected.

Conclusions

Community-onset ESBL-EC has emerged as a common pathogen in China. CTX-M-14 is the most commonly encountered, CTX-M-55 and CTX-M-15 have spread rapidly. ST131 is the predominant clonal group, and the great diversity of CTX-M-producing isolates of E. coli has emerged in China.     

喀斯特山区粗裂地钱风兜亚种冬季芽胞杯的形态多样性特征及芽胞传播观察

芽胞杯是地钱属特有的无性繁殖器官,关于其冬季形态特征及繁殖传播的行为研究较少。现以贵州喀斯特山区常见的粗裂地钱风兜亚种（Marchantia paleacea subsp.diptera）为代表,在最冷的冬季1月份,对其芽胞杯、杯内芽胞产量及传播方式进行野外定点观察和采样分析。结果显示：（1）冬季芽胞杯形态多样。根据其颜色和杯内芽胞特点将其划分为4个生长时期：未成熟期（透明）、成熟期（绿色）、衰退期（紫色）和衰亡期（紫黑色）,反映了冬季芽胞杯生长发育的不同阶段。（2）各生长时期的芽胞杯数量不同,表现出有序的凋亡特征。在统计的708个芽胞杯中,4个时期芽胞杯数量分别为62、209、254和183个,且不同时期的芽胞杯内芽胞的平均产量明显不同,不同时期单杯芽胞的平均产量分别为42、131、87和0 个;（3）冬季芽胞杯及芽胞在配子体上的密度较高,每平方米分别达到10 139和754 889个;（4）除春夏季常见的被雨滴敲打传播外,通过重力作用传播是冬季芽胞的一种重要传播方式。冬季粗裂地钱风兜亚种配子体上的芽胞杯处在不同的生长时期,形成的芽胞仍十分丰富,这对该物种适应喀斯特山区最冷月严苛环境条件具有积极的意义。