Thermoanaerobium lactoethylicum spec. nov. a new anaerobic bacterium from a hot spring of Kamchatka

A new anaerobic thermophilic Gram-positive, nonsporeforming bacterium strain ZE-1 was isolated from a hot spring of Kamchatka (USSR). The cells are rod-shaped, (0.5–0.8 · 2.0–20 m), non-motile. The bacterium can grow between 42 and 75°C; the optimal temperature is 65°C. The growth is possible between pH values 5.0 and 8.5; optimal pH is 7.0. The cultures grow on the media containing peptone, yeast extract, or casein hydrolysate as nitrogen sources in the presence of glucose or some other sugars, mannitol or starch. The main fermentation products of glucose are ethanol, acetate, lactate, H₂, CO₂; byproducts are propionic, butyric and isovaleric acids. Glucose is metabolized via Embden-Meyerhoff-Parnas pathway. Molecular hydrogen does not inhibit growth. The bacterium does not reduce aceton to isopropanol, but is able to form H₂S from elemental sulfur. The bacterium contains a soluble hydrogenase. This enzyme catalyzes both evolution and uptake of H₂ and is active in the presence of methyl viologen. The DNA-base composition is 34.6 mol%; the genome size 2.08x10⁹ D. The name proposed for the isolated bacterium strain ZE-1 is Thermoanaerobium lactoethylicum spec. nov.     

Acetonema longum gen.nov.sp.nov., an H2/CO2 acetogenic bacterium from the termite,Pterotermes occidentis

A previously undescribed, H₂-oxidizing CO₂-reducing acetogenic bacterium was isolated from gut contents of the wood-feeding termite, Pterotermes occidentis. Cells of representative strain APO-1 were strictly anaerobic, Gram-negative, endospore-forming motile rods which measured 0.30–0.40×6–60 m. Cells were catalase positive, oxidase negative, and had 51.5 mol percent G+C in their DNA. Optimum conditions for growth on H₂+CO₂ were at 30–33°C and pH (initial) 7.8, and under these conditions cells formed acetate according to the equation: 4 H₂+2 CO₂CH₃COOH+2 H₂O. Other energy sources supporting good growth of strain APO-1 included glucose, ribose, and various organic acids. Acetate and butyrate were major fermentation products from most organic compounds tested, however propionate, succinate, and 1,2-propanediol were also formed from some substrates. Based on comparative analysis of 16S rRNA nucleotide sequences, strain APO-1 was related to, but distinct from, members of the genus Sporomusa. Moreover, physiological and morphological differences between strain APO-1 and the six known species of Sporomusa were significant. Consequently, it is proposed herewith that a new genus, Acetonema, be established with strain APO-1 as the type strain of the new species, Acetonema longum. A. longum may contribute to the nutrition of P. occidentis by forming acetate, propionate and butyrate, compounds which are important carbon and energy sources for termites.     

羧甲基壳聚糖对口腔重要厌氧菌的抑菌性能评价

目的 :评价羧甲基壳聚糖对口腔重要厌氧菌的抑菌性能。方法 :选择与口腔疾病密切相关的厌氧菌 11株 ,采用梯度稀释法测定羧甲基壳聚糖的最低抑菌浓度 (MIC)。结果 :羧甲基壳聚糖对牙龈卟啉菌、放线共生放线菌、中间普氏菌、牙龈嗜二氧化碳纤维菌、黄褐嗜二氧化碳纤维菌、产黑色素普氏菌、白色念珠菌、牙髓卟啉菌、小齿普氏菌、变形链球菌、远缘链球菌、粘性放线菌的 MIC分别为 2 0 ,10 ,5,80 ,2 0 ,>80 ,2 0 ,5,2 0 ,10 ,60 ,40 mg/ml。结论 :羧甲基壳聚糖对多数与口腔疾病密切相关的厌氧菌有一定抑制作用 ,而对产黑色素普氏菌的抑菌性不明显     

Draft Genome Sequence of Amphibacillus jilinensis Y1T,a Facultatively Anaerobic,Alkaliphilic and Halotolerant Bacterium

The genus Amphibacillus was established in 1990, and seven additional species were described in the past two decades. Amphibacillus jilinensis Y1^T is a facultatively anaerobic and alkaliphilic bacterium isolated from a soda lake in China. Here we describe the structural and genetic features of the draft genome about the type strain Y1^T (3,831,075 bp, with a G+C content of 37.27%). This is the first genome report of the Amphibacillus genus.     

Prevalence of nim genes in anaerobic/facultative anaerobic bacteria isolated in South Africa

This study investigated the prevalence of nim genes (proposed to encode a 5-nitroimidazole resistance product) in 64 anaerobic/facultative anaerobic bacteria. Employing universal nim gene primers, 458-bp amplified fragments were recorded as presumptive positives in 22/64 strains at an annealing temperature of 52 degrees C and 15/64 strains at 62 degrees C, of which seven were propionibacteria. DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of nimA genes in Propionibacterium spp. (five strains), Actinomyces odontolyticus (one strain), Prevotella bivia (one strain) and Clostridium bifermentans (one strain) and nimB genes from five strains of Bacteroides fragilis. nimA genes were predominant in propionibacteria indicating a potential nimA gene source in anaerobic environments.     

Complete genome sequence of Ferroglobus placidus AEDII12DO

Ferroglobus placidus belongs to the order Archaeoglobales within the archaeal phylum Euryarchaeota. Strain AEDII12DO is the type strain of the species and was isolated from a shallow marine hydrothermal system at Vulcano, Italy. It is a hyperthermophilic, anaerobic chemolithoautotroph, but it can also use a variety of aromatic compounds as electron donors. Here we describe the features of this organism together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 2,196,266 bp genome with its 2,567 protein-coding and 55 RNA genes was sequenced as part of a DOE Joint Genome Institute Laboratory Sequencing Program (LSP) project.     

Complete genome sequence of "Enterobacter lignolyticus" SCF1

In an effort to discover anaerobic bacteria capable of lignin degradation, we isolated "Enterobacter lignolyticus" SCF1 on minimal media with alkali lignin as the sole source of carbon. This organism was isolated anaerobically from tropical forest soils collected from the Short Cloud Forest site in the El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico, USA, part of the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Station. At this site, the soils experience strong fluctuations in redox potential and are net methane producers. Because of its ability to grow on lignin anaerobically, we sequenced the genome. The genome of "E. lignolyticus" SCF1 is 4.81 Mbp with no detected plasmids, and includes a relatively small arsenal of lignocellulolytic carbohydrate active enzymes. Lignin degradation was observed in culture, and the genome revealed two putative laccases, a putative peroxidase, and a complete 4-hydroxyphenylacetate degradation pathway encoded in a single gene cluster.     

Novel ecological niche of Cetobacterium somerae, an anaerobic bacterium in the intestinal tracts of freshwater fish

AIMS: This study was conducted to clarify the taxonomic status of Bacteroides type A strains with high vitamin B(12)-producing ability that is widely distributed in the intestinal tracts of freshwater fish. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventeen strains of Bacteroides type A isolated from five fish species were all rod-shaped and gram-negative. The strains were positive for esculin hydrolysis, nitrate reduction, resistance to bile, acid phosphatase, and negative for the production of catalase and urease and the susceptibility to vancomycin. The G+C content of DNA from the 17 strains was 29 x 1-31 x 9 mol%, and 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed a close phylogenetic relationship between Bacteroides type A strains and Cetobacterium somerae sharing 99 x 7-100% sequence similarity. In addition, strains were capable of producing vitamin B(12) at a rate of 1 x 82-13 x 98 ng ml(-1) in 48 h. CONCLUSION: Phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics indicated that all isolates previously classified as Bacteroides type A strains belong to C. someare. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provided the important finding of novel niche of vancomycin-resistant bacteria such as C. somerae in the intestinal tract of freshwater fish.     

产生物表面活性剂菌株的选育

以原油为碳源进行微好氧培养筛选到1株产生物表面活性剂的兼性厌氧菌I,其可将界面张力由16.36mN/m降到6.49mN/m。以其为出发菌株,经过紫外和甲基磺酸乙酯复合诱变,得到1株性能优良的变异新菌株,其降低界面张力的能力显著提高,界面张力降低了32.8%。性能评价表明,该菌株能在72℃高温和30%矿化度下生长。有望用于微生物采油研究。     

Antioxidant defence mechanisms: From the beginning to the end (of the beginning)

When life first evolved on Earth, there was little oxygen in the atmosphere. Evolution of antioxidant defences must have been closely associated with the evolution of photosynthesis and of O₂-dependent electron transport mechanisms. Studies with mice lacking antioxidant defences confirm the important roles of MnSOD and transferrin in maintaining health, but show that glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and CuZnSOD are not essential for everyday life (at least in mice). Superoxide can be cytotoxic by several mechanisms: one is the formation of hydroxyl radicals. There is good evidence that OH^· formation occurs in vivo. Other important antioxidants may include thioredoxin, and selenoproteins other than GPX. Nitric oxide may be an important antioxidant in the vascular system. Diet-derived antioxidants are important in maintaining human health, but recent studies employing “biomarkers” of oxidative DNA damage are questioning the “antioxidant” roles of β-carotene and ascorbate. An important area of future research will be elucidation of the reasons why levels of steady-state oxidative damage to DNA and lipids vary so much between individuals, and their predictive value for the later development of human disease.