Microcystin Production in the Tripartite Cyanolichen Peltigera leucophlebia

We show that the cyanobacterial symbionts of a tripartite cyanolichen can produce hepatotoxic microcystins in situ. Microcystins were detected with high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry both from cephalodia of the tripartite cyanolichen Peltigera leucophlebia and from a symbiotic Nostoc strain isolated from the same lichen specimen. Genetic identities of symbiotic Nostoc strains were studied by amplifying and sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Also, the presence of the microcystin synthetase gene mcyE was confirmed by sequencing. Three highly toxic microcystins were detected from the lichen specimen. Several different Nostoc 16S rRNA haplotypes were present in the lichen sample but only one was found in the toxin-producing cultures. In culture, the toxin-producing Nostoc strain produced a total of 19 different microcystin variants. In phylogenetic analysis, this cyanobacterium and related strains from the lichen thallus grouped together with a previously known microcystin-producing Nostoc strain and other strains previously isolated from the symbiotic thalloid bryophyte Blasia pusilla. Our finding is the first direct evidence of in situ production of microcystins in lichens or plant–cyanobacterial symbioses. Microcystins may explain why cyanolichens and symbiotic bryophytes are not among the preferred food sources of most animal grazers.

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Ultrastructural and molecular characterization of endosymbionts of the reed beetle genusMacroplea(Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae), and proposal of “CandidatusMacropleicola appendiculatae” and “CandidatusMacropleicola muticae”

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/w09-085 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 55 (11) ◽

pp. 1250-1260 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Gregor Kölsch ◽

Corinna Matz-Grund ◽

Bo V. Pedersen

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

16S Rrna ◽

Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization ◽

Malpighian Tubules ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Beetle Species ◽

Bacterial Symbionts ◽

The 16S Rrna Gene

Intracellular bacterial symbionts are known from various insect groups, particularly from those feeding on unbalanced diets, where the bacteria provide essential nutrients to the host. In the case of reed beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae), however, the endosymbionts appear to be associated with specialized “glands” that secrete a material used for the beetles’ unusual water-tight cocoon. These glands were discovered over a century ago, but the bacteria they contain have yet to be characterized and placed in a phylogenetic context. Here, we describe the ultrastructure of two endosymbiotic species (“ Candidatus Macropleicola appendiculatae” and “ Candidatus Macropleicola muticae”) that reside in cells of the Malpighian tubules of the reed beetle species Macroplea appendiculata and Macroplea mutica , respectively. Fluorescent in situ hybridization using oligonucleotides targeting the 16S rRNA gene specific to Macroplea symbionts verified the localization of the symbionts in these organs. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA placed “Candidatus Macropleicola” in a clade of typically endosymbiotic Enterobacteriaceae (γ-proteobacteria). Finally, we discuss the evidence available for the hypothesis that the beetle larvae use a secretion produced by the bacteria for the formation of an underwater cocoon.

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Feasibility of Transferring Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Probes to an 18S rRNA Gene Phylochip and Mapping of Signal Intensities

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02122-07 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 74 (9) ◽

pp. 2814-2821 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Katja Metfies ◽

Linda K. Medlin

Keyword(s):

In Situ Hybridization ◽

Secondary Structure ◽

16S Rrna ◽

Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization ◽

18S Rrna ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Rrna Molecule ◽

The 16S Rrna Gene

ABSTRACT DNA microarray technology offers the possibility to analyze microbial communities without cultivation, thus benefiting biodiversity studies. We developed a DNA phylochip to assess phytoplankton diversity and transferred 18S rRNA probes from dot blot or fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses to a microarray format. Similar studies with 16S rRNA probes have been done determined that in order to achieve a signal on the microarray, the 16S rRNA molecule had to be fragmented, or PCR amplicons had to be <150 bp in length to minimize the formation of a secondary structure in the molecule so that the probe could bind to the target site. We found different results with the 18S rRNA molecule. Four out of 12 FISH probes exhibited false-negative signals on the microarray; eight exhibited strong but variable signals using full-length 18S RNA molecules. A systematic investigation of the probe's accessibility to the 18S rRNA gene was made using Prymenisum parvum as the target. Fourteen additional probes identical to this target covered the regions not tested with existing FISH probes. Probes with a binding site in the first 900 bp of the gene generated positive signals. Six out of nine probes binding in the last 900 bp of the gene produced no signal. Our results suggest that although secondary structure affected probe binding, the effect is not the same for the 18S rRNA gene and the 16S rRNA gene. For the 16S rRNA gene, the secondary structure is stronger in the first half of the molecule, whereas in the 18S rRNA gene, the last half of the molecule is critical. Probe-binding sites within 18S rRNA gene molecules are important for the probe design for DNA phylochips because signal intensity appears to be correlated with the secondary structure at the binding site in this molecule. If probes are designed from the first half of the 18S rRNA molecule, then full-length 18S rRNA molecules can be used in the hybridization on the chip, avoiding the fragmentation and the necessity for the short PCR amplicons that are associated with using the 16S rRNA molecule. Thus, the 18S rRNA molecule is a more attractive molecule for use in environmental studies where some level of quantification is desired. Target size was a minor problem, whereas for 16S rRNA molecules target size rather than probe site was important.

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Quantifying Genes and Transcripts To Assess the In Situ Physiology of “Dehalococcoides” spp. in a Trichloroethene-Contaminated Groundwater Site

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02199-07 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 74 (9) ◽

pp. 2728-2739 ◽

Cited By ~ 117

Author(s):

Patrick K. H. Lee ◽

Tamzen W. Macbeth ◽

Kent S. Sorenson ◽

Rula A. Deeb ◽

Lisa Alvarez-Cohen

Keyword(s):

16S Rrna ◽

16S Rrna Gene ◽

Gene Copy ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Copy Numbers ◽

Field Samples ◽

Rdase Genes ◽

Gene Copy Numbers ◽

The 16S Rrna Gene

ABSTRACT Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was coupled with reverse transcription (RT) to analyze both gene copy numbers and transcripts of the 16S rRNA gene and three reductive dehalogenase (RDase) genes (tceA, vcrA, and bvcA) as biomarkers of “Dehalococcoides” spp. in the groundwater of a trichloroethene-dense nonaqueous-phase liquid site at Fort Lewis, WA, that was sequentially subjected to biostimulation and bioaugmentation. Dehalococcoides cells carrying the tceA, vcrA, and bvcA genes were indigenous to the site. The sum of the three identified RDase gene copy numbers closely correlated to 16S rRNA gene copy numbers throughout the biostimulation and bioaugmentation activity, suggesting that these RDase genes represented the major Dehalococcoides metabolic functions at this site. Biomarker quantification revealed an overall increase of more than 3 orders of magnitude in the total Dehalococcoides population through the 1-year monitoring period (spanning biostimulation and bioaugmentation), and measurement of the respective RDase gene concentrations indicated different growth dynamics among Dehalococcoides cells. The Dehalococcoides cells containing the tceA gene consistently lagged behind other Dehalococcoides cells in population numbers and made up less than 5% of the total Dehalococcoides population, whereas the vcrA- and bvcA-containing cells represented the dominant fractions. Quantification of transcripts in groundwater samples verified that the 16S rRNA gene and the bvcA and vcrA genes were consistently highly expressed in all samples examined, while the tceA transcripts were detected inconsistently, suggesting a less active physiological state of the cells with this gene. The production of vinyl chloride and ethene toward the end of treatment supported the physiological activity of the bvcA- and vcrA-carrying cells. A clone library of the expressed RDase genes in field samples produced with degenerate primers revealed the expression of two putative RDase genes that were not previously monitored with RT-qPCR. The level of abundance of one of the putative RDase genes (FtL-RDase-1638) identified in the cDNA clone library tracked closely in field samples with abundance of the bvcA gene, suggesting that the FtL-RDase-1638 gene was likely colocated in genomes containing the bvcA gene. Overall, results from this study demonstrate that quantification of biomarker dynamics at field sites can provide useful information about the in situ physiology of Dehalococcoides strains and their associated activity.

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Phylogeny of 16S rRNA, Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase, and Adenosine 5′-Phosphosulfate Reductase Genes from Gamma- and Alphaproteobacterial Symbionts in Gutless Marine Worms (Oligochaeta) from Bermuda and the Bahamas

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02441-05 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 72 (8) ◽

pp. 5527-5536 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Anna Blazejak ◽

Jan Kuever ◽

Christer Erséus ◽

Rudolf Amann ◽

Nicole Dubilier

Keyword(s):

16S Rrna ◽

Comparative Sequence Analysis ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

The Bahamas ◽

Bisphosphate Carboxylase ◽

Host Genus ◽

Bacterial Endosymbionts ◽

Marine Worms ◽

The 16S Rrna Gene

ABSTRACT Gutless oligochaetes are small marine worms that live in obligate associations with bacterial endosymbionts. While symbionts from several host species belonging to the genus Olavius have been described, little is known of the symbionts from the host genus Inanidrilus. In this study, the diversity of bacterial endosymbionts in Inanidrilus leukodermatus from Bermuda and Inanidrilus makropetalos from the Bahamas was investigated using comparative sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and fluorescence in situ hybridization. As in all other gutless oligochaetes examined to date, I. leukodermatus and I. makropetalos harbor large, oval bacteria identified as Gamma 1 symbionts. The presence of genes coding for ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase form I (cbbL) and adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate reductase (aprA) supports earlier studies indicating that these symbionts are chemoautotrophic sulfur oxidizers. Alphaproteobacteria, previously identified only in the gutless oligochaete Olavius loisae from the southwest Pacific Ocean, coexist with the Gamma 1 symbionts in both I. leukodermatus and I. makropetalos, with the former harboring four and the latter two alphaproteobacterial phylotypes. The presence of these symbionts in hosts from such geographically distant oceans as the Atlantic and Pacific suggests that symbioses with alphaproteobacterial symbionts may be widespread in gutless oligochaetes. The high phylogenetic diversity of bacterial endosymbionts in two species of the genus Inanidrilus, previously known only from members of the genus Olavius, shows that the stable coexistence of multiple symbionts is a common feature in gutless oligochaetes.

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A Differential Metabarcoding Approach to Describe Taxonomy Profiles of Bacteria and Archaea in the Saltern of Margherita di Savoia (Italy)

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8060936 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 936 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Claudia Leoni ◽

Mariateresa Volpicella ◽

Bruno Fosso ◽

Caterina Manzari ◽

Elisabetta Piancone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ecological Model ◽

Salinity Range ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Hypervariable Regions ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Precious Resource ◽

Catalyzed Reporter Deposition ◽

Card Fish ◽

The 16S Rrna Gene

Microorganisms inhabiting saline environments are an interesting ecological model for the study of the adaptation of organisms to extreme living conditions and constitute a precious resource of enzymes and bioproducts for biotechnological applications. We analyzed the microbial communities in nine ponds with increasing salt concentrations (salinity range 4.9–36.0%) of the Saltern of Margherita di Savoia (Italy), the largest thalassohaline saltern in Europe. A deep-metabarcoding NGS procedure addressing separately the V5-V6 and V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene of Bacteria and Archaea, respectively, and a CARD-FISH (catalyzed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization) analysis allowed us to profile the dynamics of microbial populations at the different salt concentrations. Both the domains were detected throughout the saltern, even if the low relative abundance of Archaea in the three ponds with the lowest salinities prevented the construction of the relative amplicon libraries. The highest cell counts were recorded at 14.5% salinity for Bacteria and at 24.1% salinity for Archaea. While Bacteria showed the greatest number of genera in the first ponds (salinity range 4.9–14.5%), archaeal genera were more numerous in the last ponds of the saltern (salinity 24.1–36.0%). Among prokaryotes, Salinibacter was the genus with the maximum abundance (~49% at 34.6% salinity). Other genera detected at high abundance were the archaeal Haloquadratum (~43% at 36.0% salinity) and Natronomonas (~18% at 13.1% salinity) and the bacterial “Candidatus Aquiluna” (~19% at 14.5% salinity). Interestingly, “Candidatus Aquiluna” had not been identified before in thalassohaline waters.

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Phyllobacterium loti sp. nov. isolated from nodules of Lotus corniculatus

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY ◽

10.1099/ijs.0.052993-0 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 64 (Pt_3) ◽

pp. 781-786 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Maximo Sánchez ◽

Martha-Helena Ramírez-Bahena ◽

Alvaro Peix ◽

María J. Lorite ◽

Juan Sanjuán ◽

...

Keyword(s):

16S Rrna ◽

16S Rrna Gene ◽

Sequence Similarity ◽

Carbon Sources ◽

Lotus Corniculatus ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Content Type ◽

Link Type ◽

The 16S Rrna Gene

Strain S658T was isolated from a Lotus corniculatus nodule in a soil sample obtained in Uruguay. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and atpD gene showed that this strain clustered within the genus Phyllobacterium . The closest related species was, in both cases, Phyllobacterium trifolii PETP02T with 99.8 % sequence similarity in the 16S rRNA gene and 96.1 % in the atpD gene. The 16S rRNA gene contains an insert at the beginning of the sequence that has no similarities with other inserts present in the same gene in described rhizobial species. Ubiquinone Q-10 was the only quinone detected. Strain S658T differed from its closest relatives through its growth in diverse culture conditions and in the assimilation of several carbon sources. It was not able to reproduce nodules in Lotus corniculatus. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization, phenotypic tests and fatty acid analyses confirmed that this strain should be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Phyllobacterium , for which the name Phyllobacterium loti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S658T( = LMG 27289T = CECT 8230T).

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Bacterial community dynamics during different stages of processing of smoked bacon using the 16S rRNA gene amplicon analysis

International Journal of Food Microbiology ◽

10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2021.109076 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 109076

Author(s):

Xinfu Li ◽

Qiang Xiong ◽

Baocai Xu ◽

Haoxin Wang ◽

Hui Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Community ◽

16S Rrna ◽

16S Rrna Gene ◽

Community Dynamics ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Bacterial Community Dynamics ◽

The 16S Rrna Gene

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Microbiological and Geochemical Heterogeneity in an In Situ Uranium Bioremediation Field Site

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.71.10.6308-6318.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 71 (10) ◽

pp. 6308-6318 ◽

Cited By ~ 172

Author(s):

Helen A. Vrionis ◽

Robert T. Anderson ◽

Irene Ortiz-Bernad ◽

Kathleen R. O'Neill ◽

Charles T. Resch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

16S Rrna ◽

16S Rrna Gene ◽

16S Rrna Genes ◽

Rrna Genes ◽

Acid Volatile Sulfide ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Gene Sequences ◽

16S Rrna Gene Sequences ◽

Geochemical Heterogeneity

ABSTRACT The geochemistry and microbiology of a uranium-contaminated subsurface environment that had undergone two seasons of acetate addition to stimulate microbial U(VI) reduction was examined. There were distinct horizontal and vertical geochemical gradients that could be attributed in large part to the manner in which acetate was distributed in the aquifer, with more reduction of Fe(III) and sulfate occurring at greater depths and closer to the point of acetate injection. Clone libraries of 16S rRNA genes derived from sediments and groundwater indicated an enrichment of sulfate-reducing bacteria in the order Desulfobacterales in sediment and groundwater samples. These samples were collected nearest the injection gallery where microbially reducible Fe(III) oxides were highly depleted, groundwater sulfate concentrations were low, and increases in acid volatile sulfide were observed in the sediment. Further down-gradient, metal-reducing conditions were present as indicated by intermediate Fe(II)/Fe(total) ratios, lower acid volatile sulfide values, and increased abundance of 16S rRNA gene sequences belonging to the dissimilatory Fe(III)- and U(VI)-reducing family Geobacteraceae. Maximal Fe(III) and U(VI) reduction correlated with maximal recovery of Geobacteraceae 16S rRNA gene sequences in both groundwater and sediment; however, the sites at which these maxima occurred were spatially separated within the aquifer. The substantial microbial and geochemical heterogeneity at this site demonstrates that attempts should be made to deliver acetate in a more uniform manner and that closely spaced sampling intervals, horizontally and vertically, in both sediment and groundwater are necessary in order to obtain a more in-depth understanding of microbial processes and the relative contribution of attached and planktonic populations to in situ uranium bioremediation.

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