Bioluminescent Toxicity Assay of Polyethylenimine-Based Sorbents

Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology - The toxicity of polyethylenimine-based sorbents and their extracts was evaluated, and their effect on the bioluminescence of Photobacterium phosphoreum...     

Erratum to: Characteristics of Vacuolar Inclusions in Coelastrella rubescens Namsu R1 Green Microalgae Cells in Low- and High-Intensity Light

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - Under the growth experiment, the effect of zinc deficiency in the substrate on a number of growth of barley parameters, the state of the photosynthetic...     

Morphological and physiological modifications of cyanobacteria in experimental cyanobacterium-actinomycete associations

Associations of cyanobacteria and actinomycetes were formed experimentally from the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 and the streptomycetes isolated from apogeotropic roots of sago plants. Based on their phenotypic properties and the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the streptomycetes were identified as representatives of Streptomyces pluricolorescens (strains 1 and 2). Cyanobacteria developing in monoculture and in association with an actinomycete were essentially different in their morphological and physiological-biochemical characteristics. In associations, cyanobacteria showed a higher (by tens of times) nitrogen-fixing activity compared to the monoculture and the morphological modifications of which were not observed in the monoculture (increase in cell size, increase in the portion of heterocysts among vegetative cells, appearance of the forms of unbalanced growth of cyanobacteria as giant, disc-shaped, curved, and rhomboid cells). At extremely low humidity (a_w 0.50), associated cyanobacterial cells remained viable, whereas in the monoculture, chlorophyll decomposition and cells death occurred. The methods of high-resolution (H¹ 600 MHz) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and pulsed-gradient spin echo NMR revealed a fraction of mobile protons in lyophilized samples of the cyanobacterium-actinomycete association, which was evidence of the presence of free water. This fraction was not found in the lyophilized samples of cyanobacterial and streptomycete monocultures. The revealed differences can explain the survival of cyanobacterial cells in associations.     

Immobilization of a Mixed Culture of Oxygenic Phototrophic Microorganisms on a Chitosan-Based Sorbent for Nutrient Bioremoval

Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology - The immobilization of cells of a mixed culture of the microalgae (MA) Micractinium sp. NAMSU A-19 and cyanobacteria (CB) Synechococcus sp. 1Dp66E-1 on a...     

Identification of the Channelrhodopsin Genes in the Green and Cryptophytic Algae from the White and Black Seas

Biochemistry (Moscow) - Due to the unique capability of modulating cell membrane potential upon photoactivation, channelrhodopsins of green (Chlorophyta) and cryptophytic (Cryptophyta) algae are...     

Experimental lichenology

Experimental methods in lichenology are summarized, the most attention being paid to the synthetic and cultural methods. Synthetic methods are based on the several stages: induction of dissociation of the natural lichen thallus to the monocultures of symbionts, culturing of these symbionts, and subsequent resynthesis under controlled conditions. Synthesis of the model association is based on monocultures of one of the symbionts and free-living organisms. These methods allow studying specificity and selectivity of interactions among symbionts, morphogenesis of the lichen thallus, and the role of minor components of the symbiotic system. Cultural methods involve development of dedifferentiated cell aggregates of lichen thallus ("lichen tissue cultures") on the solid and liquid media. At present, the methods of maintenance of lichen tissue cultures on the solid medium are worked out only. However, the lichen tissue cultures on the liquid medium are much more interesting because this method can be introduced in biotechnology. Cultural methods allow to achieve lichen biomass that contain specific lichen compounds. Induction of morphogenesis in lichen tissue cultures is possible.     

The Formation of Artificial Nitrogen-Fixing Symbioses with Rape (Brassica napusvar. napus) Plants in Nonsterile Soil

The treatment of rape plants grown in nonsterile soil with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (auxin-like growth-promoting substance) or their inoculation with the bacterial association Micrococcussp. + Rhodococcussp. and/or with the mixed nitrogen-fixing culture Azotobacter nigricans+ Bacillussp. led to the formation of paranodules on the rape roots. The introduced bacteria were detected both in the intercellular space and inside the cells of the paranodules and the rape roots. The nitrogen-fixing activity of the paranodulated plants was two times higher than that of the inoculated plants lacking paranodules and five times higher than that of the control (i.e., not inoculated) plants. The paranodulation led to a 40% increase in the crop yield of rape plants and provided for a statistically significant increase in the total nitrogen as well as protein nitrogen contents of the plants.     

Infection of Plants and Plant Tissue Cultures with Cyanobacteria–Bacteria Complexes

The infection of tobacco, nightshade, rice plants, and their tissue cultures with the cyanobacteria–bacteria associative microsymbiont complexes (AMC) isolated from natural syncyanoses (the ferns Azolla pinnataand Azollasp. and the cycad Encephalartos ferox) was studied. The inoculation of the intact plants or their cuttings with AMC led to the colonization of the plant roots, stems, and leaves by cyanobacteria and their bacterial symbionts (referred to as satellite bacteria, SB). The sites of the long-term contact of plant organs with cyanobacteria were characterized by the formation of copious slime. On the roots of infected plants, one could observe the callus growth of cortical parenchyma cells and the formation of pseudonodules, in which SB cells gradually accumulated. In mixed cultures of plant callus tissues and the AMC isolated from the fernsA. pinnataand Azollasp., the callus tissue specifically influenced the growth of the AMC components, causing (depending on the plant species and strain) either their balanced growth, or their cyclic growth, or the predominant growth of one of the AMC components (either cyanobacteria or satellite bacteria). This phenomenon is proposed to be used for the dissociation of stable multicomponent natural symbiotic complexes and the selection of their particular components.     

Cyanobacterial–Bacterial Complexes in Plant Syncyanoses

The morphology and ultrastructure of associative microsymbiont complexes (AMC) isolated from the ferns Azolla pinnata and Azolla sp. and the apogeotropic roots of the cycad Cycas revoluta were studied. The composition of the AMC obtained includes the cyanobionts (symbiotic cyanobacteria) and satellite bacteria (SB). It was found that two types of cyanobacteria that substantially differ in their morphological organization are likely present as cyanobionts in the coralloids of C. revoluta. The isolated cyanobiont strains exhibited the morphological traits and regularities of development typical of the genus Nostoc; they were characterized by the ability of their cells to divide in mutually perpendicular planes. When isolating AMC from different morphological zones of C. revoluta apogeotropic roots, SB growth was revealed only around the pieces corresponding to the coralloid apical zone. No AMC components were revealed around the segments of the basal growth zone. Pure cyanobiont cultures were obtained from the AMC of C. revoluta coralloids. The AMC isolated from the ferns A. pinnata and Azolla sp. are characterized by obligate mutual dependence of the partners (the cyanobiont and SB).