Response of methanotrophic activity and community structure to temperature changes in a diffusive CH4/O2 counter gradient in an unsaturated porous medium

Microbial methane oxidation is a key process in the global methane cycle. In the context of global warming, it is important to understand the responses of the methane-oxidizing microbial community to temperature changes in terms of community structure and activity. We studied microbial methane oxidation in a laboratory-column system in which a diffusive CH₄/O₂ counter gradient was maintained in an unsaturated porous medium at temperatures between 4 and 20 °C. Methane oxidation was highly efficient at all temperatures, as on average 99 ± 0.5% of methane supplied to the system was oxidized. The methanotrophic community that established in the model system after initial inoculation appeared to be able to adapt quickly to different temperatures, as methane emissions remained low even after the system was subjected to abrupt temperature changes. FISH showed that Type I as well as Type II methanotrophs were probably responsible for the observed activity in the column system, with a dominance of Type I methanotrophs. Cloning and sequencing suggested that Type I methanotrophs were represented by the genus Methylobacter while Type II were represented by Methylocystis . The results suggest that in an unsaturated system with diffusive substrate supply, direct effects of temperature on apparent methanotrophic activity and community may be of minor importance. However, this remains to be verified in the field.     

Genotypic diversity and environmental variability affect the invasibility of experimental plant populations

The world is experiencing increasing climatic variability, an ongoing loss of biodiversity and a growing spread of invasive species. Previous experimental studies demonstrated that the invasibility of plant populations is reduced with increasing resident genetic diversity and is promoted by environmental fluctuations, but their combined effect has so far not been considered. In a growth chamber experiment, we tested whether the genotypic diversity of experimental populations of Arabidopsis thaliana (1, 3 or 6 genotypes) and temperature fluctuations affect population invasion by Senecio vulgaris, and how these factors interact. We found that genotypic diversity tended to increase the invasion resistance of experimental plant populations in terms of the biomass ratio between the species, and that temperature fluctuations strongly favoured Arabidopsis (biomass: +49%) over Senecio (–28%). However, there were no interactions between environmental fluctuations and genotypic diversity. Nevertheless, the magnitude of net diversity effects and transgressive overyielding depended on temperature conditions, indicating that increased environmental variability can influence diversity mechanisms. Our study shows that, although genotypic diversity and environmental variability did not interact, these two factors independently affected the invasibility of plant populations.     

Ice cover and thaw events influence nitrogen partitioning and concentration in two shallow eutrophic lakes

Biogeochemistry - The frequency and duration of lake ice cover is rapidly declining in the Northern Hemisphere. Limited research in oligotrophic and mesotrophic lakes suggests that extended periods...     

Nitrogen use in mixed tree crop plantations with a legume cover crop

Plant and Soil - In a multi-strata agroforestry system in central Amazonia, we studied the nitrogen (N) use of two indigenous fruit tree species, Theobroma grandiflorum Willd. (ex Spreng.) K....     

Association of Bitter Taste Receptor T2R38 Polymorphisms,Oral Microbiota,and Rheumatoid Arthritis

The association of taste genetics and the oral microbiome in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been reported. We explored a novel oral mucosal innate immune pathway involving the bitter taste G protein-coupled receptor T2R38. This case–control study aimed to evaluate whether T2R38 polymorphisms associate with the buccal microbial composition in RA. Genomic DNA was obtained from buccal swabs of 35 RA patients and 64 non-RA controls. TAS2R38 genotypes were determined by Sanger sequencing. The buccal microbiome was assessed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the V4-16S rRNA gene. Bacterial community differences were analyzed with alpha and beta diversity measures. Linear discriminant analysis effect size identified taxa discriminating between RA versus non-RA and across TAS2R38 genotypes. TAS2R38 genotype frequency was similar between RA and non-RA controls (PAV/PAV; PAV/AVI; AVI/AVI: RA 42.9%; 45.7%; 11.4% versus controls 32.8%; 48.4%; 18.8%, chi-square (2, N = 99) = 2.1, p = 0.35). The relative abundance of Porphyromonas, among others, differed between RA and non-RA controls. The relative abundance of several bacterial species also differed across TAS2R38 genotypes. These findings suggest an association between T2R38 polymorphisms and RA buccal microbial composition. However, further research is needed to understand the impact of T2R38 in oral health and RA development.     

Agricultural Plants and Soil as a Reservoir for Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in 24% of the soil samples but in only 0.13% of the vegetable samples from various agricultural areas of California. The distribution of pyocin types of soil and vegetable isolates was similar to that of clinical strains, and three of the soil isolates were resistant to carbenicillin. Pseudomonas aeruginosa multiplied in lettuce and bean under conditions of high temperature and high relative humidity (27 C and 80-95% relative humidity) but declined when the temperature and humidity were lowered (16 C, 55-75% relative humidity). The results suggest that soil is a reservior for P. aeruginosa and that the bacterium has the capacity to colonize plants during favorable conditions of temperature and moisture.     

Genetic transfer of Pseudomonas aeruginosa R factors to plant pathogenic Erwinia species.

The R factors RP1, R68 and R91 were freely transmissible to and from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, and various plant pathogenic Erwinia spp. The antibiotic resistance spectrum of R+ Erwinia recipients was similar to those of other bacteria harboring these R factors, but maximum resistance levels differed with each recipient. The sponstaneous elimination of these factors from the Erwinia strains and the ability to transfer multiple antibiotic resistance suggest that these exist as plasmids in these hosts. Several, but not all, RP1-carrying Erwinia strains were sensitive to the RP1 specific phage PRR1. The R factor R18-1 was also transferred from P. aeruginosa to Erwinia spp. R18-1 was unstable in all Erwinia strains. Stable strains were isolated in which R18-1 could not be eliminated by sodium dodecyl sulfate and could not be transferred to other strains.