Electrophysical characteristics of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 during interaction with antibodies to various cell surface epitopes

This work was undertaken to examine the electrooptical characteristics of cells of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 during their interaction with antibodies developed to various cell surface epitopes. We used the dependences of the cell suspension optical density changes induced by electroorientation on the orienting field frequency (740, 1000, 1450, 2000, and 2800kHz). Cell interactions with homologous strain-specific antibodies to the A. brasilense Sp245 O antigen and with homologous antibodies to whole bacterial cells brought about considerable changes in the electrooptical properties of the bacterial suspension. When genus-specific antibodies to the flagellin of the Azospirillum sheathed flagellum and antibodies to the serologically distinct O antigen of A. brasilense Sp7 were included in the A. brasilense Sp245 suspension, the changes caused in the electrooptical signal were slight and had values close to those for the above changes. These findings agree well with the immunochemical characteristics of the Azospirillum O antigens and with the data on the topographical distribution of the Azospirillum major cell surface antigens. The obtained results can serve as a basis for the development of a rapid test for the intraspecies detection of microorganisms.     

长沙走马楼东吴竹简蚀斑微生物的研究

竹简为我国古代早期文字记录的一种重要载体。湖南长沙竹简博物馆珍藏了一大批走马楼出土的三国时期东吴竹简,具有极为重要的史料价值。以吴简为材料,从竹简中分离微生物,获得10株细菌纯培养,并对这些分离菌株进行多相分类学鉴定。根据其培养特征、生理生化特性、细胞脂肪酸组份的测定以及部份菌株16S rRNA基因序列分析,将10个菌株划归为4个属。这些菌株可作为进一步探讨竹制品文物的微生物腐蚀提供有价值的材料。     

Species richness and community composition of mat-forming ectomycorrhizal fungi in old- and second-growth Douglas-fir forests of the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest,Oregon, USA

We investigated the species identity of mat-forming ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi associated with old- and second-growth Douglas-fir stands. Using molecular analyses of rhizomorphs and EM root tips, we characterized 28 unique internal transcribed spacer sequences and considered them proxies for mat-forming EM species. In both stand age classes, one Athelioid species in the genus Piloderma dominated our sample of the mat-forming fungal community. In second-growth stands, the second most frequently encountered mat-forming EM species belonged to the genus Hysterangium. In old-growth stands, several Ramaria species were associated with a frequently encountered mat morphology but no species dominated the community. After using rarefaction analysis to standardize sampling effort, the total species richness did not differ statistically between old- and second-growth habitats. Both an abundance of infrequently encountered species and incomplete sampling of the mat-forming EM community may have limited our ability to detect potential differences in species richness. Several frequently encountered Piloderma species appear to have broad (holarctic) distributions and diverse host associations and their potential importance in forest ecosystems warrants further study.     

Are endophytic microorganisms involved in the stereoselective reduction of ketones by Daucus carota root?

Four strains of endophytic microorganisms isolated from carrot root were able to carry out the reduction of the carbonyl group with diverse degree of enantio-, and diasteroselectivity. Furthermore, biotransformation in the presence of bacterial inhibitor affects the stereochemical outcome of the reaction, and the concomitant addition of a yeast inhibitor results in a large decrease in the conversion percentage. These results indicate that endophytic microorganisms might be involved in the enantioselective reduction of ketones and ketoesters with fresh carrot root pieces.     

Phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil: part I. Dissipation of target contaminants

Phytoremediation has been demonstrated to be a viable cleanup alternative for soils contaminated with petroleum products. This study evaluated the application of phytoremediation to soil from a manufactured gas plant (MGP) site with high concentrations of recalcitrant, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Two greenhouse studies investigated the potential dissipation and plant translocation of PAHs by fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the first experiment and zucchini (Curcubita pepo Raven) in the second. The MGP soil was highly hydrophobic and initially inhibited plant growth. Two unplanted controls were established with and without fertilization. In the first experiment, concentrations of PAHs decreased significantly in all treatments after 12 mo. Plant biomass and microbial numbers were statistically equivalent among plant species. PAH concentrations in plant biomass were negligible for fescue and switchgrass. In the second experiment, zucchini enhanced the dissipation of several PAHs after 90 d of treatment when compared to the unvegetated soil. Plant tissue concentrations of PAHs were not elevated in the zucchini roots and shoots, and PAHs were not detectable in the fruit.     

Impact of microbial/plant interactions on the transformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rhizosphere of Festuca arundinacea

The promotion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation was demonstrated in the rhizosphere of Festuca arundinacea with Pseudomonas fluorescens. P. fluorescens 5RL more significantly interacted with salicylate and dextrose in the agar containing tall fescue than agar without plant roots. Although the presence of tall fescue did not promote catabolic enzyme induction in the absence of salicylate, an increase in dioxygenase activity relative to no plant controls implies that this plant may enhance the degradation of PAHs or facilitate the genotypes that are capable of transforming PAH in the rhizosphere.     

Phytoremediation of polycyclic hydrocarbon contaminated soil: part II. Impact on ecotoxicity

Several biological assays were used to evaluate the toxic effects of contaminants in soil after phytoremediation. During the treatment process, significant decreases in overall toxicity were observed. Specifically, earthworm survivability and lettuce germination increased over the study period. Microbial respiration improved, but only in planted treatments. Toxicity and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations showed some correlation, but the relationships generally were not significant. Soil moisture was less of a predictor for biological responses. The presence of plants did not provide a clear advantage for improving toxicity compared to unplanted treatments.     

薇甘菊根际可培养固氮菌和氨化细菌的分离鉴定与促生作用

【目的】固氮菌和氨化细菌是氮循环产生生物有效氮的关键起始环节,直接影响了外来入侵植物的生长速度和扩散进程。然而,关于典型入侵植物薇甘菊根际可培养固氮菌和氨化细菌的研究尚未见报道,这在很大程度上制约了我们对薇甘菊根际高效的氮素转化机制的深刻理解。【方法】采用传统平板涂布培养法对野外采集的薇甘菊根际土壤中的可培养固氮菌和氨化细菌进行了分离鉴定,并进行了接种验证实验。【结果】结果表明,入侵植物薇甘菊根际土壤中的固氮菌和氨化细菌的菌群密度显著高于两个本地伴生植物(火炭母和鸡屎藤),其固氮效率及有机氮矿化效率也优于2个本地种;系统发育分析表明：薇甘菊根际的固氮菌菌株归类于5个属,分别为伯克霍尔德氏菌属(Burkholderia)、肠杆菌属(Enterobacter)、植物杆菌属(Phytobacter)、新肠杆菌属(Kosakonia)和根瘤菌属(Rhizobium);氨化细菌归类于7个属,分别为沙雷氏菌属(Serratia)、不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、博德特氏菌属(Bordetella)、寡养单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas)、苍...     

新疆两盐湖可培养极端嗜盐菌组成及功能多样性研究

【目的】通过分析不同成盐类型盐湖中的极端嗜盐菌群落组成差异,探究可培养极端嗜盐菌的功能特性。【方法】采集新疆硫酸盐型盐湖七角井和碳酸盐型盐湖南湖的土壤样品,通过平板稀释涂布法分离极端嗜盐菌,经过形态学观察、特征分析获取代表菌株,通过耐盐性测定和16S rRNA基因序列测序等对代表菌株进行鉴定,并对极端嗜盐菌的蛋白酶、淀粉酶、纤维素酶和酯酶活性进行筛选,同时检测苯酚降解能力。【结果】本研究共获得1 679株极端嗜盐菌,代表菌株45株,隶属于5门14个属,古菌数量(70.58%)明显多于细菌,最优盐浓度生长范围为18.4%–20.0%。在属水平上,盐湖中优势类群为古菌的Haloterrigena属(32.94%)和Natrialba属(26.03%),以及细菌的Aquisalimonas属(9.85%)和Aliifodinibius属(8.10%)。两盐湖中,盐度较低的南湖物种丰富度高于七角井盐湖,古菌物种组成相似,均以Haloterrigena属为主;细菌群落组成有差异,南湖以Aquisalimonas属为主,而七角井以Aliifodinibius属为主。功能筛选表明,盐湖中80%的嗜盐...     

Characterisation of Rubus niveus: a prerequisite to its biological control in oceanic islands

This study is intended to inform the search for a biocontrol solution to stem the spread of Rubus niveus, a morphologically-diverse and invasive Rubus species which has become an aggressive invader in areas of the world outside its native range. The fragile biodiversity of islands can be especially threatened by this plant – exemplars of this are the Galápagos archipelago and Hawaii. This report focuses on the morphological and molecular work carried out to establish the homogeneity or intra-specific variation of R. niveus populations within the Galápagos Islands, as well as their kinship with plants of the same name found in Asia. The premise of this study is that genetic closeness between these populations offers increased probability that pathogens of R. niveus in its native range will also provide effective control in the target environment. Increased knowledge of the genetic make-up of R. niveus in both its native and naturalised locations will also help to assess the feasibility of using organisms which have been found to be effective against other Rubus species, but not hitherto considered for R. niveus itself.