scholarly journals Native plasmid-encoded mercury resistance genes are functional and demonstrate natural transformation in environmental bacterial isolates

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankita Kothari ◽  
Drishti Soneja ◽  
Albert Tang ◽  
Hans Carlson ◽  
Adam M. Deutschbauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Transformation ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Environmental Dna ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Mercury Resistance ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Rapid Adaptation ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Resistance Trait ◽  
Native Plasmid

AbstractPlasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major driver of genetic diversity in bacteria. We experimentally validated the function of a putative mercury resistance operon present on an abundant 8 kilobase pair native plasmid found in groundwater samples without detectable levels of mercury. Phylogenetic analyses of the plasmid-encoded mercury reductases from the studied groundwater site show them to be distinct from those reported in proximal metal-contaminated sites. We synthesized the entire native plasmid and demonstrated that the plasmid was sufficient to confer functional mercury resistance in Escherichia coli. Given the possibility that natural transformation is a prevalent HGT mechanism in the low cell density environments of groundwaters, we also assayed bacterial strains from this environment for competence. We used the native plasmid-encoded metal resistance to design a screen and identified 17 strains positive for natural transformation. We selected 2 of the positive strains along with a model bacterium to fully confirm HGT via natural transformation. From an ecological perspective, the role of the native plasmid population in providing advantageous traits combined with the microbiome’s capacity to take up environmental DNA enables rapid adaptation to environmental stresses.ImportanceHorizontal transfer of mobile genetic elements via natural transformation has been poorly understood in environmental microbes. Here, we confirm the functionality of a native plasmid-encoded mercury resistance operon in a model microbe and then query for the dissemination of this resistance trait via natural transformation into environmental bacterial isolates. We identify seventeen strains including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria to be naturally competent. These strains were able to successfully take up the plasmid DNA and obtain a clear growth advantage in the presence of mercury. Our study provides important insights into gene dissemination via natural transformation enabling rapid adaptation to dynamic stresses in groundwater environments.

scholarly journals Native Plasmid-Encoded Mercury Resistance Genes Are Functional and Demonstrate Natural Transformation in Environmental Bacterial Isolates

mSystems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankita Kothari ◽  
Drishti Soneja ◽  
Albert Tang ◽  
Hans K. Carlson ◽  
Adam M. Deutschbauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Transformation ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Environmental Dna ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Mercury Resistance ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Rapid Adaptation ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Native Plasmid

ABSTRACT Plasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major driver of genetic diversity in bacteria. We experimentally validated the function of a putative mercury resistance operon present on an abundant 8-kbp native plasmid found in groundwater samples without detectable levels of mercury. Phylogenetic analyses of the plasmid-encoded mercury reductases from the studied groundwater site show them to be distinct from those reported in proximal metal-contaminated sites. We synthesized the entire native plasmid and demonstrated that the plasmid was sufficient to confer functional mercury resistance in Escherichia coli. Given the possibility that natural transformation is a prevalent HGT mechanism in the low-cell-density environments of groundwaters, we also assayed bacterial strains from this environment for competence. We used the native plasmid-encoded metal resistance to design a screen and identified 17 strains positive for natural transformation. We selected 2 of the positive strains along with a model bacterium to fully confirm HGT via natural transformation. From an ecological perspective, the role of the native plasmid population in providing advantageous traits combined with the microbiome’s capacity to take up environmental DNA enables rapid adaptation to environmental stresses. IMPORTANCE Horizontal transfer of mobile genetic elements via natural transformation has been poorly understood in environmental microbes. Here, we confirm the functionality of a native plasmid-encoded mercury resistance operon in a model microbe and then query for the dissemination of this resistance trait via natural transformation into environmental bacterial isolates. We identified 17 strains including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria to be naturally competent. These strains were able to successfully take up the plasmid DNA and obtain a clear growth advantage in the presence of mercury. Our study provides important insights into gene dissemination via natural transformation enabling rapid adaptation to dynamic stresses in groundwater environments.

STUDIES ON SOME BACTERIAL DISEASES IN OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCES TO TREATMENT

2018 ◽  
pp. 39-47
Author(s):  
Viola Zaki ◽  
Ahmed EL-gamal ◽  
Yasmin Reyad
Keyword(s):  
Oreochromis Niloticus ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Histopathological Examination ◽  
Klebsiella Oxytoca ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Hydropic Degeneration ◽  
Total Prevalence

he present research carried out to study the common bacterial infections in Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) in Manzala area at Dakahlia governorate and possible antimicrobial agents used for treatment. A total number of 400 fish were randomly collected from Manzala private farms at Dakahlia governorate and subjected to the clinical, bacteriological and histopathological examination. The highest prevalence of bacterial isolates during the whole period of examination of naturally infected O.niloticus was recorded for A.hydrophila (22.66%), followed by V.alginolyticus (19.01%), V.parahemolyticus (13.80%), Streptococcus spp. (12.24%), A.caviae (11.72%), V.cholera (10.16%), A.salmonicida (7.55%), while the lowest prevalence was recorded for Klebsiella oxytoca (2.86%). The seasonal highest total prevalence of bacterial isolates from examined naturally infected O. niloticus was recorded in spring (30.21%), followed by autumn (28.39%), then summer (22.40%) and the lowest prevalence was recorded in winter (19.01%). Histopathological findings of the tissue samples which collected from different organs of naturally infected O.niloticus revealed that spleen show marked hemosiderosis and sever hemorrhage, gills showsever congestion of lamellar capillaries with marked aneurysm, necrosis and hemorrhage of lamellar epithelium and liver show sever hydropic degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes, Ciprofloxacin was the most effective antibiotic against all isolated bacterial strains

Biodegradation of organophosphorus Pollutants by Soil Bacteria: Biochemical Aspects and Unsolved Problems

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 126-135
Author(s):  
T.V. Shushkova ◽  
D.O. Epiktetov ◽  
S.V. Tarlachkov ◽  
I.T. Ermakova ◽  
A.A. Leontievskii
Keyword(s):  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Soil Bacteria ◽  
Activity Regulation ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Russian Science ◽  
Degrading Bacteria ◽  
Phosphorus Source ◽  
Glyphosate Herbicide ◽  
Enzymatic Pathways

The degradation of persistent organophosphorus pollutants have been studied in 6 soil bacterial isolates and in 3 bacterial strains adapted for utilization of glyphosate herbicide (GP) under laboratory conditions. Significant differences in the uptake of organophosphonates were found in taxonomically close strains possessing similar enzymatic pathways of catabolism of these compounds, which indicates the existence of unknown mechanisms of activity regulation of these enzymes. The effect of adaptation for GP utilization as a sole phosphorus source on assimilation rates of several other phosphonates was observed in studied bacteria. The newly found efficient stains provided up to 56% of GP decomposition after application to the soil in the laboratory. The unresolved problems of microbial GP metabolism and the trends for further research on the creation of reliable biologicals capable of decomposing organophosphonates in the environment are discussed. organophosphonates, glyphosate, biodegradation, bioremediation, C-P lyase, phosphonatase, degrading bacteria Investigation of phosphonatase and genome sequencing were supported by Russian Science Foundation Grant no. 18-074-00021.

scholarly journals Phenotypically and Genotypically Heterogeneous Strains of Pseudomonas syringae Associated With Alfalfa Leaf Spot Disease in Iran

Plant Disease ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (12) ◽  
pp. 3199-3208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Ansari ◽  
S. Mohsen Taghavi ◽  
Sadegh Zarei ◽  
Soraya Mehrb-Moghadam ◽  
Hamzeh Mafakheri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Pseudomonas Syringae ◽  
Leaf Spot ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Housekeeping Genes ◽  
Pcr Primers ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Leaf Spot Disease ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Alfalfa Leaf

In this study, we provide a polyphasic characterization of 18 Pseudomonas spp. strains associated with alfalfa leaf spot symptoms in Iran. All of the strains were pathogenic on alfalfa, although the aggressiveness and symptomology varied among the strains. All strains but one were pathogenic on broad bean, cucumber, honeydew, and zucchini, whereas only a fraction of the strains were pathogenic on sugar beet, tomato, and wheat. Syringomycin biosynthesis genes (syrB1 and syrP) were detected using the corresponding PCR primers in all of the strains isolated from alfalfa. Phylogenetic analyses using the sequences of four housekeeping genes (gapA, gltA, gyrB, and rpoD) revealed that all of the strains except one (Als34) belong to phylogroup 2b of P. syringae sensu lato, whereas strain Als34 placed within phylogroup 1 close to the type strain of P. syringae pv. apii. Among the phylogroup 2b strains, nine strains were phylogenetically close to the P. syringae pv. aptata clade, whereas the remainder were scattered among P. syringae pv. atrofaciens and P. syringae pv. syringae strains. Pathogenicity and host range assays of the bacterial strains evaluated in this study on a set of taxonomically diverse plant species did not allow us to assign a “pathovar” status to the alfalfa strains. However, these results provide novel insight into the host range and phylogenetic position of the alfalfa-pathogenic members of P. syringae sensu lato, and they reveal that phenotypically and genotypically heterogeneous strains of the pathogen cause bacterial leaf spot of alfalfa.

scholarly journals Metaplasmidome-encoded functions of Siberian low-centered polygonal tundra soils

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Gorecki ◽  
Stine Holm ◽  
Mikolaj Dziurzynski ◽  
Matthias Winkel ◽  
Sizhong Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Layer ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Extraction Methods ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Rapid Adaptation ◽  
Tundra Soils ◽  
Genetic Traits ◽  
Functional Potential ◽  
Stress Response Genes ◽  
Genes Encoding

AbstractPlasmids have the potential to transfer genetic traits within bacterial communities and thereby serve as a crucial tool for the rapid adaptation of bacteria in response to changing environmental conditions. Our knowledge of the environmental pool of plasmids (the metaplasmidome) and encoded functions is still limited due to a lack of sufficient extraction methods and tools for identifying and assembling plasmids from metagenomic datasets. Here, we present the first insights into the functional potential of the metaplasmidome of permafrost-affected active-layer soil—an environment with a relatively low biomass and seasonal freeze–thaw cycles that is strongly affected by global warming. The obtained results were compared with plasmid-derived sequences extracted from polar metagenomes. Metaplasmidomes from the Siberian active layer were enriched via cultivation, which resulted in a longer contig length as compared with plasmids that had been directly retrieved from the metagenomes of polar environments. The predicted hosts of plasmids belonged to Moraxellaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Pectobacteriaceae, Burkholderiaceae, and Firmicutes. Analysis of their genetic content revealed the presence of stress-response genes, including antibiotic and metal resistance determinants, as well as genes encoding protectants against the cold.

Actinomyces marmotae sp. nov. and Actinomyces procaprae sp. nov. isolated from wild animals and reclassification of Actinomyces liubingyangii and Actinomyces tangfeifanii as Boudabousia liubingyangii comb. nov. and Boudabousia tangfeifanii comb. nov., respectively

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caixin Yang ◽  
Yibo Bai ◽  
Kui Dong ◽  
Jing Yang ◽  
Xin-He Lai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Brain Heart Infusion ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Pr China ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Four Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strains (zg-325T, zg329, dk561T and dk752) were isolated from the respiratory tract of marmot (Marmota himalayana) and the faeces of Tibetan gazelle (Procapra picticaudata) from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of PR China. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analyses indicated that strains zg-325T and dk561T represent members of the genus Actinomyces , most similar to Actinomyces denticolens DSM 20671T and Actinomyces ruminicola B71T, respectively. The DNA G+C contents of strains zg-325T and dk561T were 71.6 and 69.3 mol%, respectively. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization values of strains zg-325T and dk561T with their most closely related species were below the 70 % threshold for species demarcation. The four strains grew best at 35 °C in air containing 5 % CO2 on brain heart infusion (BHI) agar with 5 % sheep blood. All four strains had C18:1ω9c and C16:0 as the major cellular fatty acids. MK-8 and MK-9 were the major menaquinones in zg-325T while MK-10 was predominant in dk561T. The major polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. On the basis of several lines of evidence from phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses, zg-325T and dk561T represent novel species of the genus Actinomyces , for which the name Actinomyces marmotae sp. nov. and Actinomyces procaprae sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains are zg-325T (=GDMCC 1.1724T=JCM 34091T) and dk561T (=CGMCC 4.7566T=JCM 33484T). We also propose, on the basis of the phylogenetic results herein, the reclassification of Actinomyces liubingyangii and Actinomyces tangfeifanii as Boudabousia liubingyangii comb. nov. and Boudabousia tangfeifanii comb. nov., respectively.

scholarly journals Potential of carbonic anhydrase and urease bacteria for sequestration of CO2 into aerated concrete

2018 ◽  
Vol 250 ◽  
pp. 03004 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Faisal Alshalif ◽  
JM Irwan ◽  
N Othman ◽  
Adel Al-Gheethi ◽  
Algaifi Hassan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbonic Anhydrase ◽  
Bacterial Isolate ◽  
Cement Kiln ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Jar Test ◽  
Facultative Anaerobic ◽  
Aerated Concrete ◽  
Kiln Dust ◽  
Freeze Dryer

The present study aimed to investigate the potential of bacterial strains from cement kiln dust (CKD) to sequestrate atmospheric CO2 into aerated concrete as a functional for carbonic anhydrase (CA) and urease enzymes. Five samples of CKD was collected from Cement Industries of Malaysia Berhad (CIMA). The most potent bacterial isolates were selected and adapted to grow in 5% of CO2 and in bio-aerated concrete medium. CA enzyme was detected by using a solution of 1.8 g of p-NPA (p-nitrophenyl acetate) and 25 mg of ampicillin at 7-pH. The results of thioglycolate broth medium assay indicated that the bacterial isolates were facultative anaerobic. Furthermore, the results of candle jar test reflected that the bacterial isolates have the ability to survive with 5% of CO2 concentrations. Two bacterial isolates distinctly grow in bio-aerated concrete simulation medium, while only one bacterial isolate was the most potent and has produced in a powder form using freeze dryer to be ready to apply in bio-aerated concrete.

scholarly journals Biosorption potential and molecular characterization of metal resistant autochthonous microbes from tannery solid waste

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajira Younas ◽  
Aisha Nazir ◽  
Zakia Latif ◽  
Janice E Thies ◽  
Muhammad Shafiq ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solid Waste ◽  
Its Region ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Fungal Strains ◽  
Resistant Strains ◽  
Tannery Solid Waste ◽  
Clean Metal

This study encompasses isolation and screening of heavy metal-resistant fungal and bacterial strains from tannery solid waste (TSW). Twelve fungal strains and twenty-five bacterial strains were isolated from TSW. The growth of fungal strains was observed against different heavy metals ranging from 10 mg L -1 to 1050 mg L -1 and the growth of bacteria was observed in metal concentrations ranging from 10 mg L -1 to 1200 mg L -1 . Five multi-metal resistant fungal isolates belonging to the genus Trichoderma and ten bacterial isolates belonging to the genus Bacillus showed good metal resistance and biosorption potential. They were identified through molecular techniques, fungi based on ITS region ribotyping, and bacteria based on 16S rRNA ribotyping. The fungal strains were characterized as T. hamatum (TSWF-06), T. harzianum (TSWF-11), T. lixii (TSWF-02) and T. pseudokoningii (TSWF-03, TSWF-10). The bacterial strains were characterized as Bacillus xiamenensis (TSW-02), B. velezensis (TSW-05), B. piscis (TSW-06), B. safensis (TSW-10), B. subtilis (TSW-14, TSW-15, TSW-17) B. licheniformis (TSW-19), B. cereus (TSW-20) and B. thuringiensis (TSW-22). The fungal strains namely, T. pseudokoningii (TSWF-03) and T. harzianum proved to be two multi-metal resistant strains with good biosorption efficiency. Unlike fungi, bacterial strains showed metal specific resistance. The strains Bacillus xiamenensis , B. subtilis (TSW-14) and B. subtilis (TSW-15) showed good biosorption efficiency against Cr, B. safensis against Cu, B. piscis and B. subtilis (TSW-17) against Pb and B. licheniformis and B. thuringiensis against Zn. The autochthonous fungal and bacterial strains can therefore be employed to clean metal contaminated environments.

scholarly journals Unexplored diversity of microscopic myxomycetes: evidence from environmental DNA

2019 ◽  
Vol 152 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleg N. Shchepin ◽  
Martin Schnittler ◽  
Nikki H.A. Dagamac ◽  
Dmitry V. Leontyev ◽  
Yuri K. Novozhilov
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
18S Rdna ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Environmental Dna ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Detection Techniques ◽  
Rdna Sequences ◽  
18S Rdna Sequences ◽  
Environmental Sequences

Background and aims – Recent studies showed the position of two slime mould species with microscopic sporocarps, Echinosteliopsis oligospora and Echinostelium bisporum, within the class Myxomycetes. These minute species are seldom seen in studies based on detection of sporocarps and can easily be confused with protosteloid amoebozoans.Methods – We searched all published ePCR data sets that targeted myxomycete 18S rDNA for the presence of environmental sequences similar to E. oligospora and Echinosteliales in traditional circumscription, and performed phylogenetic analyses that included short environmental sequences and full-length 18S rDNA sequences representing all the major groups of myxomycetes.Key results – We report 19 unique sequences which are closely related to E. bisporum or E. oligospora based on sequence similarity (73.1–95.2% similarity) and which form well-supported monophyletic clades with these species in phylogenetic analyses. They may represent new species that are not yet described. Our phylogeny based on full-length 18S rDNA sequences further confirms the position of E. bisporum and E. oligospora within myxomycetes and the paraphyly of the order Echinosteliales in its traditional circumscription.Conclusions – Our results show that ePCR-based studies can reveal myxomycete taxa that often escape detection by traditional approaches, including potentially new species, and thus provide valuable new data on diversity and ecology of myxomycetes. As such, strategies for studying myxomycetes biodiversity should be revised, focusing also on molecular detection techniques in addition to the sporocarp-based ones.

scholarly journals Searching for Antagonistic Activity of Bacterial Isolates Derived from Food Processing Environments on Some Food-Borne Pathogenic Bacteria

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-423
Author(s):  
B. Baráti-Deák ◽  
Cs. Mohácsi-Farkas ◽  
Á. Belák
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Food Processing ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Antagonistic Activity ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Growth Decline

Bacterial strains with inhibitory effect on Salmonella Hartford, Listeria monocytogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Escherichia coli, respectively, were isolated. Out of the 64 bacteria originated from food processing environments, 20 could inhibit at least one of the tested pathogens, and it was proved that growth decline of the pathogenic bacteria was more remarkable by co-culturing than by using cell-free supernatants of the isolates. Seven different genera (Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Macrococcus, Staphylococcus, Serratia, and Rothia) reduced the pathogens’ growth during the time period of analysis, and the strongest inhibitory effect was observed after 24 h between 15 and 30 °C. Sensitivity of the tested human pathogenic bacteria against the inhibitory strains was distinct, as Y. enterocolitica could be inhibited by numerous isolates, while S. Hartford proved to be the most resistant. Our results reveal that the isolated bacteria or their excreted metabolites could hinder pathogen growth when used in sufficient quantities.

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