scholarly journals Amplifying and Fine-Tuning Rsm sRNAs Expression and Stability to Optimize the Survival of Pseudomonas brassicacerum in Nutrient-Poor Environments

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 250
Author(s):  
David Lalaouna ◽  
Sylvain Fochesato ◽  
Mourad Harir ◽  
Philippe Ortet ◽  
Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin ◽  
...  

In the beneficial plant root-associated Pseudomonas brassicacearum strain NFM421, the GacS/GacA two-component system positively controls biofilm formation and the production of secondary metabolites through the synthesis of rsmX, rsmY and rsmZ. Here, we evidenced the genetic amplification of Rsm sRNAs by the discovery of a novel 110-nt long sRNA encoding gene, rsmX-2, generated by the duplication of rsmX-1 (formerly rsmX). Like the others rsm genes, its overexpression overrides the gacA mutation. We explored the expression and the stability of rsmX-1, rsmX-2, rsmY and rsmZ encoding genes under rich or nutrient-poor conditions, and showed that their amount is fine-tuned at the transcriptional and more interestingly at the post-transcriptional level. Unlike rsmY and rsmZ, we noticed that the expression of rsmX-1 and rsmX-2 genes was exclusively GacA-dependent. The highest expression level and longest half-life for each sRNA were correlated with the highest ppGpp and cyclic-di-GMP levels and were recorded under nutrient-poor conditions. Together, these data support the view that the Rsm system in P. brassicacearum is likely linked to the stringent response, and seems to be required for bacterial adaptation to nutritional stress.

2008 ◽  
Vol 191 (6) ◽  
pp. 1910-1923 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. de Bruijn ◽  
J. M. Raaijmakers

ABSTRACT Cyclic lipopeptides produced by Pseudomonas species exhibit potent surfactant and broad-spectrum antibiotic properties. Their biosynthesis is governed by large multimodular nonribosomal peptide synthetases, but little is known about the genetic regulatory network. This study provides, for the first time, evidence that the serine protease ClpP regulates the biosynthesis of massetolides, cyclic lipopeptides involved in swarming motility, biofilm formation, and antimicrobial activity of Pseudomonas fluorescens SS101. The results show that ClpP affects the expression of luxR(mA), the transcriptional regulator of the massetolide biosynthesis genes massABC, thereby regulating biofilm formation and swarming motility of P. fluorescens SS101. Transcription of luxR(mA) was significantly repressed in the clpP mutant, and introduction of luxR(mA) restored, in part, massetolide biosynthesis and swarming motility of the clpP mutant. Site-directed mutagenesis and expression analyses indicated that the chaperone subunit ClpX and the Lon protease are not involved in regulation of massetolide biosynthesis and are transcribed independently of clpP. Addition of Casamino Acids enhanced the transcription of luxR(mA) and massABC in the clpP mutant, leading to a partial rescue of massetolide production and swarming motility. The results further suggested that, at the transcriptional level, ClpP-mediated regulation of massetolide biosynthesis operates independently of regulation by the GacA/GacS two-component system. The role of amino acid metabolism and the putative mechanisms underlying ClpP-mediated regulation of cyclic lipopeptide biosynthesis, swarming motility, and growth in P. fluorescens are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathilde Nordgaard Christensen ◽  
Rasmus Moller Rosenbek Mortensen ◽  
Nikolaj Kaae Kirk ◽  
Ramses Gallegos-Monterrosa ◽  
Akos T. Kovacs

Natural isolates of the soil-dwelling bacterium Bacillus subtilis form robust biofilms under laboratory conditions and colonize plant roots. B. subtilis biofilm gene expression displays phenotypic heterogeneity that is influenced by a family of Rap-Phr regulatory systems. Most Rap-Phr systems have been studied independently, in different genetic backgrounds and under distinct conditions, hampering true comparison of the Rap-Phr systems impact on bacterial differentiation. Here, we investigated each of the 12 Rap-Phr systems of B. subtilis NCIB 3610 for their role in biofilm formation. While Δ11 rap-phr mutants displayed increased matrix gene expression under biofilm inducing conditions, only some of the mutants demonstrated altered biofilm formation and colonization of Arabidopsis thaliana roots. Therefore, matrix gene expression does not directly correlate with biofilm formation in vitro and on the root. Our results suggest that each of the 12 Rap-Phr systems influences matrix gene expression, thereby allowing fine-tuning of the timing and level of matrix production in response to specific conditions, but additional factors also contribute to biofilm architecture and root colonization.


Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 634
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Kisielewicz ◽  
Karthikeyan Thalavai Pandian ◽  
Daniel Sthen ◽  
Petter Hagqvist ◽  
Maria Asuncion Valiente Bermejo ◽  
...  

This study investigates the influence of resistive pre-heating of the feedstock wire (here called hot-wire) on the stability of laser-directed energy deposition of Duplex stainless steel. Data acquired online during depositions as well as metallographic investigations revealed the process characteristic and its stability window. The online data, such as electrical signals in the pre-heating circuit and images captured from side-view of the process interaction zone gave insight on the metal transfer between the molten wire and the melt pool. The results show that the characteristics of the process, like laser-wire and wire-melt pool interaction, vary depending on the level of the wire pre-heating. In addition, application of two independent energy sources, laser beam and electrical power, allows fine-tuning of the heat input and increases penetration depth, with little influence on the height and width of the beads. This allows for better process stability as well as elimination of lack of fusion defects. Electrical signals measured in the hot-wire circuit indicate the process stability such that the resistive pre-heating can be used for in-process monitoring. The conclusion is that the resistive pre-heating gives additional means for controlling the stability and the heat input of the laser-directed energy deposition.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoqian Tang ◽  
Huilong Zhang ◽  
Sergey Shabala ◽  
Huanyong Li ◽  
Xiuyan Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Plant salt tolerance relies on a coordinated functioning of different tissues and organs. Salinity tissue tolerance is one of the key traits that confers plant adaptation to saline environment. This trait implies maintenance low cytosolic Na+/K+ ratio in metabolically active cellular compartments. In this study, we used Nitraria sibirica Pall., a perennial woody halophytes species, to understand the mechanistic basis of its salinity tissue tolerance. The results showed that the growth of seedlings was stimulated by 100-200 mM NaCl treatment. The ions distribution analysis showed that the leaves acted as Na+ sink while plant root possess superior K+ retention. The excessive Na+ absorbed from soil was mainly transported to the shoot and eventually sequestrated into mesophyll vacuoles in the leaves. As a result, N. sibirica could keep optimal balance of K+/Na+ at a tissue- and cell-specific level under saline condition. To enable this, N. sibirica increased both vacuolar H+-ATPase and H+-PPase enzymes activities and up-regulated expressions of NsVHA, NsVP1 and NsNHX1 genes. Vacuolar Na+ sequestration in the leaf mesophyll mediated by NsVHA, NsVP1 and NsNHX1 reduced the Na+ concentration in cytosol and inhibited further K+ loss. Meanwhile, N.sibirica enhanced the TPK expression at the transcriptional level to promote K+ efflux from vacuole into cytoplasm, assisting in maintaining cytosolic K+ homeostasis. It is concluded that the tissue tolerance traits such as vacuolar Na+ sequestration and intracellular K+ homeostasis is critical to confer adaptation of N. sibirica to soil salinity.


Author(s):  
Baina He ◽  
Yadi Xie ◽  
Jingru Zhang ◽  
Nirmal-Kumar C. Nair ◽  
Xingmin He ◽  
...  

Abstract In the transmission line, the series compensation device is often used to improve the transmission capacity. However, when the fixed series capacitor (FSC) is used in high compensation series compensation device, the stability margin cannot meet the requirements. Therefore, thyristor controlled series compensator (TCSC) is often installed in transmission lines to improve the transmission capacity of the line and the stability of the system. For cost considerations, the hybrid compensation mode of FSC and TCSC is often adopted. However, when a single-phase grounding fault occurs in a transmission line with increased series compensation degree, the unreasonable distribution of FSC and TCSC will lead to the excessive amplitude of secondary arc current, which is not conducive to rapid arc extinguishing. To solve this problem, this paper is based on 1000 kV Changzhi-Nanyang-Jingmen UHV series compensation transmission system, using PSCAD simulation program to established UHV series compensation simulation model, The variation law of secondary arc current and recovery voltage during operation in fine tuning mode after adding TCSC to UHV transmission line is analyzed, and the effect of increasing series compensation degree on secondary arc current and recovery voltage characteristics is studied. And analyze the secondary arc current and recovery voltage when using different FSC and TCSC series compensation degree schemes, and get the most reasonable series compensation configuration scheme. The results show that TCSC compensation is more beneficial to arc extinguishing under the same series compensation. Compared with several series compensation schemes, it is found that with the increase of the proportion of TCSC, the amplitude of secondary arc current and recovery voltage vary greatly. Considering various factors, the scheme that is more conducive to accelerating arc extinguishing is chosen.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathilde Nordgaard ◽  
Rasmus Møller Rosenbek Mortensen ◽  
Nikolaj Kaae Kirk ◽  
Ramses Gallegos‐Monterrosa ◽  
Ákos T. Kovács

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (05) ◽  
pp. 2050075
Author(s):  
Nasr Ahmed ◽  
Kazuharu Bamba ◽  
F. Salama

In this paper, we study the possibility of obtaining a stable flat dark energy-dominated universe in a good agreement with observations in the framework of Swiss-cheese brane-world cosmology. Two different brane-world cosmologies with black strings have been introduced for any cosmological constant [Formula: see text] using two empirical forms of the scale factor. In both models, we have performed a fine-tuning between the brane tension and the cosmological constant so that the Equation of state (EoS) parameter [Formula: see text] for the current epoch, where the redshift [Formula: see text]. We then used these fine–tuned values to calculate and plot all parameters and energy conditions. The deceleration–acceleration cosmic transition is allowed in both models, and the jerk parameter [Formula: see text] at late-times. Both solutions predict a future dark energy-dominated universe in which [Formula: see text] with no crossing to the phantom divide line. While the pressure in the first solution is always negative, the second solution predicts a better behavior of cosmic pressure where the pressure is negative only in the late-time accelerating era but positive in the early-time decelerating era. Such a positive-to-negative transition in the evolution of pressure helps to explain the cosmic deceleration–acceleration transition. Since black strings have been proved to be unstable by some authors, this instability can actually reflect doubts on the stability of cosmological models with black strings (Swiss-cheese type brane-worlds cosmological models). For this reason, we have carefully investigated the stability through energy conditions and sound speed. Because of the presence of quadratic energy terms in Swiss-cheese type brane-world cosmology, we have tested the new nonlinear energy conditions in addition to the classical energy conditions. We have also found that a negative tension brane is not allowed in both models of the current work as the energy density will no longer be well defined.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Soheir A.A. Hagras ◽  
Alaa El-Dien M.S. Hosny ◽  
Omneya M. Helmy ◽  
Mounir M. Salem-Bekhit ◽  
Faiyaz Shakeel ◽  
...  

This study investigated the effect of cefepime at sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) on in vitro biofilm formation (BF) by clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The effect of cefepime at sub-MIC levels (½–1/256 MIC) on in vitro BF by six clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa was phenotypically assessed following 24 and 48 h of challenge using the tissue culture plate (TCP) assay. Quantitative real-time polymeric chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to observe the change in expression of three biofilm-related genes, namely, a protease-encoding gene (lasA), fimbrial protein-encoding gene (cupA1), and alginate-encoding gene (algC), in a weak biofilm-producing strain of P. aeruginosa following 24 and 48 h of challenge with sub-MICs of cefepime. The BF morphology in response to cefepime was imaged using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The TCP assay showed strain-, time-, and concentration-dependent changes in in vitro BF in P. aeruginosa following challenge with sub-MICs of cefepime, with a profound increase in strains with inherently no or weak biofilm-producing ability. RT-PCR revealed time-dependent upregulation in the expression of the investigated genes following challenge with ½ and ¼ MIC levels, as confirmed by SEM. Cefepime at sub-MICs could upregulate the expression of BF-related genes and enhance BF by P. aeruginosa clinical isolates.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10165
Author(s):  
Nucharee Juntarachot ◽  
Sasithorn Sirilun ◽  
Duangporn Kantachote ◽  
Phakkharawat Sittiprapaporn ◽  
Piyachat Tongpong ◽  
...  

Background The accumulation of plaque causes oral diseases. Dental plaque is formed on teeth surfaces by oral bacterial pathogens, particularly Streptococcus mutans, in the oral cavity. Dextranase is one of the enzymes involved in antiplaque accumulation as it can prevent dental caries by the degradation of dextran, which is a component of plaque biofilm. This led to the idea of creating toothpaste containing dextranase for preventing oral diseases. However, the dextranase enzyme must be stable in the product; therefore, encapsulation is an attractive way to increase the stability of this enzyme. Methods The activity of food-grade fungal dextranase was measured on the basis of increasing ratio of reducing sugar concentration, determined by the reaction with 3, 5-dinitrosalicylic acid reagent. The efficiency of the dextranase enzyme was investigated based on its minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against biofilm formation by S. mutans ATCC 25175. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to study the three factors affecting encapsulation: pH, calcium chloride concentration, and sodium alginate concentration. Encapsulation efficiency (% EE) and the activity of dextranase enzyme trapped in alginate beads were determined. Then, the encapsulated dextranase in alginate beads was added to toothpaste base, and the stability of the enzyme was examined. Finally, sensory test and safety evaluation of toothpaste containing encapsulated dextranase were done. Results The highest activity of the dextranase enzyme was 4401.71 unit/g at a pH of 6 and 37 °C. The dextranase at its MIC (4.5 unit/g) showed strong inhibition against the growth of S. mutans. This enzyme at 1/2 MIC also showed a remarkable decrease in biofilm formation by S. mutans. The most effective condition of dextranase encapsulation was at a pH of 7, 20% w/v calcium chloride and 0.85% w/v sodium alginate. Toothpaste containing encapsulated dextranase alginate beads produced under suitable condition was stable after 3 months of storage, while the sensory test of the product was accepted at level 3 (like slightly), and it was safe. Conclusion This research achieved an alternative health product for oral care by formulating toothpaste with dextranase encapsulated in effective alginate beads to act against cariogenic bacteria, like S. mutants, by preventing dental plaque.


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