scholarly journals DNA as a Nutrient: Novel Role for Bacterial Competence Gene Homologs

2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (21) ◽  
pp. 6288-6293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven E. Finkel ◽  
Roberto Kolter
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Growth ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Microbial Evolution ◽  
Extracellular Dna ◽  
Genetic Competence ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Phase Competition ◽  
Stable Maintenance ◽  
Natural Genetic Competence

ABSTRACT The uptake and stable maintenance of extracellular DNA, genetic transformation, is universally recognized as a major force in microbial evolution. We show here that extracellular DNA, both homospecific and heterospecific, can also serve as the sole source of carbon and energy supporting microbial growth. Mutants unable to consume DNA suffer a significant loss of fitness during stationary-phase competition. InEscherichia coli, the use of DNA as a nutrient depends on homologs of proteins involved in natural genetic competence and transformation in Haemophilus influenzae andNeisseria gonorrhoeae. Homologs of these E. coli genes are present in many members of the γ subclass ofProteobacteria, suggesting that the mechanisms for consumption of DNA may have been widely conserved during evolution.

scholarly journals Escherichia coli Competence Gene Homologs Are Essential for Competitive Fitness and the Use of DNA as a Nutrient

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (11) ◽  
pp. 3902-3910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vyacheslav Palchevskiy ◽  
Steven E. Finkel
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Extracellular Dna ◽  
Nutrient Source ◽  
Genetic Competence ◽  
Exogenous Dna ◽  
Competitive Fitness ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Widespread Phenomenon

ABSTRACT Natural genetic competence is the ability of cells to take up extracellular DNA and is an important mechanism for horizontal gene transfer. Another potential benefit of natural competence is that exogenous DNA can serve as a nutrient source for starving bacteria because the ability to “eat” DNA is necessary for competitive survival in environments containing limited nutrients. We show here that eight Escherichia coli genes, identified as homologs of com genes in Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, are necessary for the use of extracellular DNA as the sole source of carbon and energy. These genes also confer a competitive advantage to E. coli during long-term stationary-phase incubation. We also show that homologs of these genes are found throughout the proteobacteria, suggesting that the use of DNA as a nutrient may be a widespread phenomenon.

Microbial Growth Response to Hydrogel Encapsulated Quantum Dot Nanospheres

2007 ◽  
Vol 1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somesree GhoshMitra ◽  
Tong Cai ◽  
Santaneel Ghosh ◽  
Arup Neogi ◽  
Zhibing Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
Microbial Growth ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Swelling Properties ◽  
Growth Environment ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Cdte Qds ◽  
Biological Compatibility

ABSTRACTQuantum dots (QDs) are now used extensively for labeling in biomedical research due to their unique photoluminescence behavior, involving size-tunable emission color, a narrow and symmetric emission profile and a broad excitation range [1]. Uncoated QDs made of CdTe core are toxic to cells because of release of Cd2+ ions into the cellular environment. This problem can be partially solved by encapsulating QDs with polymers, like poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) or poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Based on biological compatibility, fast response as well as pH, temperature and magnetic field dependent swelling properties, hydrogel nanospheres has become carriers of drugs, fluorescence labels, magnetic particles for hyperthermia applications and particles that have strong optical absorption profiles for optical excitation. The toxicity of uncoated QDs are known; however, there have been a very limited number of studies specially designed to assess thoroughly the toxicity of nanosphere encapsulated QDs against QD density and dosing level.In this work, we present preliminary studies of biological effects of a novel QD based nanomaterial system on Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. Cadmium chalcogenide QDs provide the most attractive fluorescence labels in comparison with routine dyes or metal complexes. Nanospheres on the other hand are the most commonly used carriers of fluorescence labels for fluorescence detection. The integration of fluorescent QDs in nanospheres therefore provides a new generation of fluorescence markers for biological assays. Hydrogels based on PNIPAM is a well known thermoresponsive polymer that undergoes a volume phase transition across the low critical solution (LCST) [2]. Therefore, the inherent temperature-sensitive swelling properties of PNIPAM offer the potentiality to control QD density within the nanospheres. In the present work, E. coli growth was monitored as E. coli served as a representation of how cells might respond in the presence of hydrogel encapsulated QDs in their growth environment. The present work describes the successful encapsulation of CdTe QDs in PNIPAM gel network. Microgel encapsulated QDs were synthesized by first preparing PNIPAM microspheres with cystaminebisacrylamide as a crosslinker and CdTe QDs capped with a stabilizer. The CdTe QDs were bonded into PNIPAM microgels through the replacement of CdTe's stabilizer inside PNIPAM microspheres. Growth curves were generated for E. coli growing in 20 mL of LB media containing hydrogel encapsulated QD nanospheres (400 nm diameter) at relatively higher (0.5mg/mL) and lower (0.01mg/mL) concentration of solution. From the growth curves, there was no evidence at lower concentration (0.01mg/mL) that the hydrogel encapsulated QDs prevent the microbial cells from growing but at higher concentration (0.5mg/mL), microbial growth was inhibited. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize QD size and density inside the hydrogel nanospheres. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to observe size and morphology of the hydrogel particles. Further investigation is going on cell growth response at different QD density and to evaluate the limiting hydrogel concentration for different QD densities.

scholarly journals Does Spray Mango Kernel (Mangifera indica Linn.) Prolong the Shelf Life of Beef Sausages?

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 118
Author(s):  
Aly R. Abdel-Moemin
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Microbial Growth ◽  
Mangifera Indica ◽  
Thiobarbituric Acid ◽  
Effective Inhibitor ◽  
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Minced Beef ◽  
Mango Kernel ◽  
Odor Score

<p>The study was aimed to look at the effect of different forms of mango kernels (MK) on the shelf life of refrigerated beef sausages over 12 days of cold storage. The (MK) was chemically and microbiologically analyzed. Beef sausages were treated with MK in 3 states, as dry ground (1.5%), an extract (1.5%) and spray MK extract (1.5%) over minced beef of sausages. Two controls were used; BHT 0.02% and no additives. A series of analyses were performed after treatments; thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), analysis of color, myoglobin and odor. The results indicated that different forms of MK added to the beef sausages had different effects on its shelf life. Furthermore, the sprayed MK extract has significantly (P ?0.05) lowered metmyoglobin (MMb) and TBARS and increased oxymyoglobin (MbO<sub>2</sub>), odor score and a* (redness) than other forms. The potential effects of the sprayed MK may be due to a cloud of droplets cover the large surfaces of minced beef sausages with efficient extracted antioxidants. MK is source of flavonoids 142mg/g F.W. GAE. The spraying of MK at 1.5% showed an improvement of <em>E. coli</em> from minced beef and beef sausages that were less than 10 cfu g<strong><sup>-1</sup></strong>. Also the concentrations of yeasts and moulds were not detected at day 12 of storage. Hierarchically, sprayed MK extract gave best results than ground MK or MK extract form which shows effective inhibitor of lipid oxidation and microbial growth of beef sausages.</p>

scholarly journals 702. Zinc Blockade of SOS Response Inhibits Horizontal Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Enteric Bacteria

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S253-S253
Author(s):  
John Crane ◽  
Mark Sutton ◽  
Muhammad Cheema ◽  
Michael Olyer
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Sos Response ◽  
Enteric Bacteria ◽  
Extracellular Dna ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
E Coli

Abstract Background The SOS response is a conserved response to DNA damage that is found in Gram negative and Gram-positive bacteria. When DNA damage is sustained and severe, activation of error-prone DNA polymerases can induce a higher mutation rate then normally observed, which is called the mutator phenotype or hypermutation. We previously showed that zinc blocked the hypermutation response induced by quinolone antibiotics and mitomycin C in E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Bunnell BE, Escobar JF, Bair KL, Sutton MD, Crane JK (2017). Zinc blocks SOS-induced antibiotic resistance via inhibition of RecA in Escherichia coli. PLoS ONE 12(5): e0178303. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178303.) In addition to causing copying errors in DNA replication, Beaber et al. showed that induction of the SOS response increased the frequency of horizontal gene transfer into Vibrio cholerae, an organism naturally competent at uptake of extracellular DNA. (Beaber JW, Hochhut B, Waldor MK. 2003. SOS response promotes horizontal dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. Nature 427:72–74.) Methods. In this study, we tested whether induction of the SOS response could induce transfer of antibiotic resistance from Enterobacter cloacae into E. coli, and whether zinc could inhibit that inter-species transfer of antibiotic resistance. Results. Ciprofloxacin, an inducer of the SOS response, increased the rate of transfer of an extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) gene from Enterobacter into a susceptible E. coli strain. Zinc blocked SOS-induced horizontal transfer of §-lactamase into E. coli. Other divalent metals, such as iron and manganese, failed to inhibit these responses. Conclusion. In vitro assays showed that zinc blocked the ability of RecA to bind to ssDNA, an early step in the SOS response, suggesting the mechanism by which zinc blocks the SOS response. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Urinary Recovery of 3-Methylglucose Administered to Rats

1956 ◽  
Vol 188 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Z. Csáky ◽  
J. E. Glenn
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Growth ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Urinary Recovery ◽  
E Coli

The fate of 3-methylglucose in rats was studied in view of previous findings that this sugar is actively absorbed from the intestine. Unchanged 3-methylglucose was identified in the urine following the administration of the sugar. The recovery is essentially quantitative provided that bacterial growth is inhibited during collection. E. coli can utilize 3-methylglucose as sole source of carbon.

2,5-Dihydrophenylalanine as an inhibitor of microbial growth

1970 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 545-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy S. Genghof
Keyword(s):  
Synergistic Effect ◽  
Growth Inhibition ◽  
Filamentous Fungi ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Microbial Growth ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Growth Of A Variety ◽  
Derivatives Of

DL-2,5-Dihydrophenylalanine (DHPA) inhibited the growth of a variety of bacteria representing 10 different genera. Three yeasts were also sensitive to DHPA but only two of nine filamentous fungi were inhibited. The relative effectiveness of DHPA isomers as growth antagonists for S. cerevisiae and E. coli has also been investigated, and, on a molecular basis, DL-DHPA was found to be half as effective as L-DHPA against both of these microorganisms. This DHPA inhibition was reversed by addition of equimolar amounts of phenylalanine. Acetyl derivatives of L-DHPA and DL-DHPA were only slightly inhibitory for S. cerevisiae. A synergistic effect on the DHPA-induced growth inhibition of S. cerevisiae was observed when tyrosine was added to the medium.

scholarly journals The Transcriptional Factors MurR and Catabolite Activator Protein Regulate N-Acetylmuramic Acid Catabolism in Escherichia coli

2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (20) ◽  
pp. 6598-6608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Jaeger ◽  
Christoph Mayer
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Lag Phase ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Catabolite Activator Protein ◽  
Activator Protein ◽  
High Level ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT The MurNAc etherase MurQ of Escherichia coli is essential for the catabolism of the bacterial cell wall sugar N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc) obtained either from the environment or from the endogenous cell wall (i.e., recycling). High-level expression of murQ is required for growth on MurNAc as the sole source of carbon and energy, whereas constitutive low-level expression of murQ is sufficient for the recycling of peptidoglycan fragments continuously released from the cell wall during growth of the bacteria. Here we characterize for the first time the expression of murQ and its regulation by MurR, a member of the poorly characterized RpiR/AlsR family of transcriptional regulators. Deleting murR abolished the extensive lag phase observed for E. coli grown on MurNAc and enhanced murQ transcription some 20-fold. MurR forms a stable multimer (most likely a tetramer) and binds to two adjacent inverted repeats within an operator region. In this way MurR represses transcription from the murQ promoter and also interferes with its own transcription. MurNAc-6-phosphate, the substrate of MurQ, was identified as a specific inducer that weakens binding of MurR to the operator. Moreover, murQ transcription depends on the activation by cyclic AMP (cAMP)-catabolite activator protein (CAP) bound to a class I site upstream of the murQ promoter. murR and murQ are divergently orientated and expressed from nonoverlapping face-to-face (convergent) promoters, yielding transcripts that are complementary at their 5′ ends. As a consequence of this unusual promoter arrangement, cAMP-CAP also affects murR transcription, presumably by acting as a roadblock for RNA polymerase.

Stability of Donepezil in an Extemporaneously Prepared Oral Liquid

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 282-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weeranuj Yamreudeewong ◽  
Eric Kurt Dolence ◽  
Deborah Pahl
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Storage Time ◽  
Microbial Growth ◽  
Storage Period ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Ambient Room Temperature ◽  
Oral Liquid ◽  
Liquid Preparation ◽  
The Stability

The stability of donepezil in an extemporaneously prepared oral liquid was studied. An aqueous liquid formulation of donepezil was prepared by reconstituting the powder from triturated 5-mg tablets with equal amounts of deionized water and 70% sorbitol solution with an expected donepezil concentration of 1 mg/mL. Polyethylene terephthalate plastic bottles containing donepezil liquid preparation were stored at ambient room temperature (22° C-26° C) and in the refrigerator (4° C-8° C). After a storage time of 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks, donepezil liquid samples were analyzed in triplicate for donepezil concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatography. The concentrations of donepezil were found to be within the acceptable limit (± 10% of the initial concentration) in all test samples, which indicated that donepezil liquid preparation was stable at room temperature and in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. In addition, our study findings indicated that there was no microbial growth in the extemporaneously prepared donepezil liquid preparation after a storage period of 4 weeks in the refrigerator. In summary, the results of our study revealed that donepezil is stable (no significant loss of donepezil concentration and no microbial growth) in an extemporaneously prepared oral liquid when stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

Microbial growth on mercaptosuccinic acid

1968 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. Hall ◽  
Richard S. Berk
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Growth ◽  
Enrichment Culture ◽  
Basal Medium ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Resting Cells ◽  
Metabolic Fate ◽  
Succinate Oxidation ◽  
Oxidase System ◽  
Mercaptosuccinic Acid ◽  
Inorganic Sulfate

Using enrichment culture technics a species of Alcaligenes (M1) was isolated from soil which was able to utilize mercaptosuccinic acid (MS) as a sole source of carbon, sulfur, and energy. Growth on a MS–salts basal medium was not significantly enhanced by single supplements of B-vitamins or by yeast extract. Comparative studies on succinate and MS oxidation by Alcaligenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa indicated that MS was an inhibitor of succinate oxidation by resting cells of both microorganisms when they were grown in a medium lacking mercaptosuccinic acid such as a succinate–salts basal. However, when M1 was grown on MS, it was able to oxidize both succinate and MS, thereby indicating that the MS oxidase system was inducible. In addition, the MS oxidase system in cell-free extracts of M1 was relatively insensitive to 10–30 μmoles of malonate, whereas the succinoxidase system was inhibited 66% by 30 μmoles of the inhibitor. Cell-free extracts of succinate-grown cells of P. aeruginosa were unable to oxidize MS, indicating that the inactivity of resting cells was not due to a permease problem. Investigation of the metabolic fate of the sulfur moiety of MS by growing cells of M1 indicated that all of the available sulfur was liberated as inorganic sulfate, while no free sulfide was detected. Thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (rhodanese) was detected in extracts from cells grown both with and without mercaptosuccinic acid. However, growth in the MS medium enhanced the production of rhodanese approximately 40%. In addition, thiosulfate oxidase activity was also detected in resting cells and cell-free extracts prepared from MS-grown cells, but not from cells grown without mercaptosuccinic acid.

Growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in Packaged Fresh-Cut Romaine Mix at Fluctuating Temperatures during Commercial Transport, Retail Storage, and Display

2014 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
WENTING ZENG ◽  
KEITH VORST ◽  
WYATT BROWN ◽  
BRADLEY P. MARKS ◽  
SANGHYUP JEONG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Microbial Growth ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Temperature Profiles ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Leafy Greens ◽  
Retail Display ◽  
Fluctuating Temperatures

Temperature abuse during commercial transport and retail sale of leafy greens negatively impacts both microbial safety and product quality. Consequently, the effect of fluctuating temperatures on Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes growth in commercially-bagged salad greens was assessed during transport, retail storage, and display. Over a 16-month period, a series of time-temperature profiles for bagged salads were obtained from five transportation routes covering four geographic regions (432 profiles), as well as during retail storage (4,867 profiles) and display (3,799 profiles). Five different time-temperature profiles collected during 2 to 3 days of transport, 1 and 3 days of retail storage, and 3 days of retail display were then duplicated in a programmable incubator to assess E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes growth in commercial bags of romaine lettuce mix. Microbial growth predictions using the Koseki-Isobe and McKellar-Delaquis models were validated by comparing the root mean square error (RMSE), bias, and the acceptable prediction zone between the laboratory growth data and model predictions. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to calculate the probability distribution of microbial growth from 8,122,127,472 scenarios during transport, cold room storage, and retail display. Using inoculated bags of retail salad, E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes populations increased a maximum of 3.1 and 3.0 log CFU/g at retail storage. Both models yielded acceptable RMSEs and biases within the acceptable prediction zone for E. coli O157:H7. Based on the simulation, both pathogens generally increased &lt;2 log CFU/g during transport, storage, and display. However, retail storage duration can significantly impact pathogen growth. This large-scale U.S. study—the first using commercial time/temperature profiles to assess the microbial risk of leafy greens—should be useful in filling some of the data gaps in current risk assessments for leafy greens.

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