ALBERT

Description:    Fifty-five bacteriocinogenic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from seven different sources. Eight isolates were found to produce pediocin PA-1 like bacteriocin as detected by ped B gene PCR and dot-blot hybridization. The culture filtrate (CF) activity of these isolates exhibited strong antilisterial, antibacterial activity against tested food-borne pathogens and LAB. The identification and genetic diversity among the selected LAB was performed by conventional morphological and molecular tools like RFLP, RAPD, and 16S rDNA gene sequencing. The isolates were identified as, 1 each of Pediococcus acidilactici Cb1, Lactobacillus plantarum Acr2, and Streptococcus equinus AC1, 2 were of P. pentosaceus Cb4 and R38, and other 3 were Enterococcus faecium Acr4, BL1, V3. Partial characterization of the bacteriocins revealed that the peptide was heat-stable, active at acidic to alkaline pH, inactivated by proteolytic enzymes, and had molecular weight around 4.6 kDa and shared the properties of class IIa pediocin-family. The bacteriocin production at different temperatures, pH, and salt concentrations was studied to investigate the optimal condition for application of these isolates as a starter culture or as a biopreservative in either acidic or non-acidic foods. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00284-011-9963-8 Authors S. Manjulata Devi, Department of Food Microbiology, CFTRI, Mysore, India Prakash M. Halami, Department of Food Microbiology, CFTRI, Mysore, India Journal Current Microbiology Online ISSN 1432-0991 Print ISSN 0343-8651

Description:    The ability of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes to develop biofilm in food-processing environment is a major concern for the food safety, because biofilms allow bacteria to better resist environmental stresses. PrfA is a key transcriptional activator that positively regulates most of the known listerial virulence gene expression. In order to explore the role of PrfA on Listeria biofilm development, we compared the abilities of biofilm formation by L. monocytogenes wild type strains (EGD and EGDe) and their prfA deletion mutants (EGD∆ prfA and EGDe∆ prfA ), nonpathogenic Listeria innocua , as well as the recombinant strains that express constitutively active mutant PrfA (PrfA*) in L. innocua (LI-pERL3- prfA *) and in EGDe∆ prfA (EGDe∆ prfA -pERL3- prfA *) at 37°C in brain heart infusion (BHI) medium using the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microtiter plate assay and microscopic examination. Our results showed that the wild types of L. monocytogenes had strong abilities to develop biofilm with meshwork of bacterial aggregates, while biofilm with sparse small clumps were observed in L. innocua . The biofilm production of strains EGD∆ prfA and EGDe∆ prfA that lack funtional PrfA was reduced and could be recovered by the introduction of the PrfA*, however, the PrfA* had no impact on the biofilm forming ability of L. innocua . Our results suggest that PrfA plays a significant role in biofilm formation in L. monocytogenes but not in L. innocua , thus may reflect differences in the molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation by these two closely related species. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00284-011-9964-7 Authors Qingchun Zhou, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Science, Central China Normal University, Luo Yu Road 152, Wuhan, 430079 People’s Republic of China Feifei Feng, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Science, Central China Normal University, Luo Yu Road 152, Wuhan, 430079 People’s Republic of China Li Wang, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Science, Central China Normal University, Luo Yu Road 152, Wuhan, 430079 People’s Republic of China Xiaoqin Feng, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Science, Central China Normal University, Luo Yu Road 152, Wuhan, 430079 People’s Republic of China Xiaojiao Yin, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Science, Central China Normal University, Luo Yu Road 152, Wuhan, 430079 People’s Republic of China Qin Luo, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Science, Central China Normal University, Luo Yu Road 152, Wuhan, 430079 People’s Republic of China Journal Current Microbiology Online ISSN 1432-0991 Print ISSN 0343-8651

Description:    Natural wild-type strains of Bacillus subtilis spore is regarded as a non-pathogenic for both human and animal, and has been classified as a novel food which is currently being used as probiotics added in the consumption. To identify B. subtilis spore proteins, we have accomplished a preliminary proteomic analysis of B. subtilis spore, with a combination of two-dimensional electrophoretic separations and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization tandem time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF–MS). In this article, we presented a reference map of 158 B. subtilis spore proteins with an isoelectric point (pI) between 4 and 7. Followed by mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, we identified 71 B. subtilis spore proteins with high level of confidence. Database searches, combined with hydropathy analysis and GO analysis revealed that most of the B. subtilis spore proteins were hydrophilic proteins related to catalytic function. These results should accelerate efforts to understand the resistance of spore to harsh conditions. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00284-011-9967-4 Authors Langyong Mao, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, 301# Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China Shantong Jiang, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, 301# Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China Bin Wang, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, 301# Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China Liang Chen, School of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, 29# Wangjiang Road, Chengdu, 610064 Sichuan, People’s Republic of China Qin Yao, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, 301# Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China Keping Chen, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, 301# Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China Journal Current Microbiology Online ISSN 1432-0991 Print ISSN 0343-8651

Description:    A fruity aroma-producing strain WG4 was isolated from a water sample collected from the Western Ghats, India. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain WG4 indicated that Chryseobacterium indologenes , a member of the family ‘Flavobacteriaceae’ is the closest related species with a pair-wise sequence similarity of 98.6%. Strain WG4 produces a fruity aroma when grown on nutrient or trypticase soy agar plates. The fruity aroma is more when the strain WG4 is grown on agar plates compared to their growth in broth. The aromatic compounds produced by the strain WG4 were identified as ester compounds and were confirmed as ethyl-2-methylbutyrate and ethyl-3-methylbutyrate based on Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis and using standard reference compounds. Even after repeated subcultures strain WG4 produced the same aroma in high intensity. Thus, strain WG4 could serve as a source for the production of these flavour compounds. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00284-011-9966-5 Authors P. Anil Kumar, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007 India T. N. R. Srinivas, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007 India A. R. Prasad, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007 India S. Shivaji, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007 India Journal Current Microbiology Online ISSN 1432-0991 Print ISSN 0343-8651

Description:    This study reports the first detection of Wolbachia and yeast-like symbiont (YLS) harbored in Kerria lacca (Kerr), a scale insect, latter of which produces an economically important natural resin, known as lac. Wolbachia was detected using PCR amplification and sequencing of 16S rDNA; and further confirmation and phylogenetic analysis was carried out by fast evolving wsp gene. Neighbor-joining and maximum parsimonious (MP) analysis showed that this strain belongs to subgroup “ori” of Wolbachia super group B of arthropods. Wolbachia of K . lacca is hereby designated as “ w Kerlac” according to Wolbachia nomenclature system. Histological study revealed the presence of yeast-like endosymbiont, which was also confirmed by PCR amplification of 18S rDNA. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that YLS of K . lacca is quite distinct from YLS of aphid, planthoppers, and beetles. Putative roles of Wolbachia in lecanoid chromosome system of sex determination and in biased sex ratio of K . lacca populations; and YLS in nutritional supplementation and detoxifying substances which are deleterious to K . lacca , are hereby, suggested. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00284-011-9961-x Authors Amit Vashishtha, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007 India K. K. Sharama, Indian Institute of Natural Resin and Gum (IINRG), Namkum, Ranchi, India Suman Lakhanpaul, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007 India Journal Current Microbiology Online ISSN 1432-0991 Print ISSN 0343-8651

Description:    The genus Asaia (family Acetobacteraceae) was first introduced with a single species— Asaia bogorensis and later six more species were described namely A . siamensis , A . krungthepensis , A . lannaensis , A . platycodi , A . prunellae , and A . astilbes. Acetobacteraceae family has been divided into ten genera but, only three of them include nitrogen fixing species: Gluconacetobacter , Acetobacter , and Swaminathania . This article originated from our study primarily aimed to isolate new endosymbiotic nitrogen fixer among Acetobacteraceae during which we have isolated, for the first time in India, four different strains of Asaia sp. from three different sources: Michalia champaca flower, Anopheles mosquito, and ant Tetraponera rufonigra . All the endosymbiotic strains isolated possess the ability to fix nitrogen. Evidence for both nitrogenase activity and the presence of nifH gene in isolated Asaia sp. is presented. Asaia bogorensis (MTCC 4041 T ) and A . siamensis (MTCC 4042 T ), two of the validated type strains available from the repository, were tested positive for the presence of functional nitrogenase. The nifH gene sequences from these type strains were also confirmed and compared with other nitrogen fixing members of the family Acetobacteraceae. Our result corroborate with the previous reports that Asaia sp. are indeed widely distributed in nature but this is the first time demonstration of their functional nitrogenase activity. This study shows Asaia sp. as fourth genera of nitrogen fixing bacteria in the family Acetobacteraceae. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00284-011-9968-3 Authors Neeloy Samaddar, Department of Life Science & Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India Arundhati Paul, Department of Life Science & Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India Somnath Chakravorty, Department of Life Science & Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India Writachit Chakraborty, Department of Life Science & Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India Joydeep Mukherjee, School of Environmental Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India Debarati Chowdhuri, Department of Life Science & Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India Ratan Gachhui, Department of Life Science & Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India Journal Current Microbiology Online ISSN 1432-0991 Print ISSN 0343-8651

Description:    Leptothrix species in aquatic environments produce uniquely shaped hollow microtubules composed of aquatic inorganic and bacterium-derived organic hybrids. Our group termed this biologically derived iron oxide as “biogenous iron oxide (BIOX)”. The artificial synthesis of most industrial iron oxides requires massive energy and is costly while BIOX from natural environments is energy and cost effective. The BIOX microtubules could potentially be used as novel industrial functional resources for catalysts, adsorbents and pigments, among others if effective and efficient applications are developed. For these purposes, a reproducible system to regulate bacteria and their BIOX productivity must be established to supply a sufficient amount of BIOX upon industrial demand. However, the bacterial species and the mechanism of BIOX microtubule formation are currently poorly understood. In this study, a novel Leptothrix sp. strain designated OUMS1 was successfully isolated from ocherous deposits in groundwater by testing various culture media and conditions. Morphological and physiological characters and elemental composition were compared with those of the known strain L. cholodnii SP-6 and the differences between these two strains were shown. The successful isolation of OUMS1 led us to establish a basic system to accumulate biological knowledge of Leptothrix and to promote the understanding of the mechanism of microtubule formation. Additional geochemical studies of the OUMS1-related microstructures are expected provide an attractive approach to study the broad industrial application of bacteria-derived iron oxides. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00284-011-9957-6 Authors Michinori Sawayama, Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan Tomoko Suzuki, Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan Hideki Hashimoto, Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan Tomonari Kasai, Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan Mitsuaki Furutani, Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan Naoyuki Miyata, Department of Biological Environment, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan Hitoshi Kunoh, Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan Jun Takada, Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan Journal Current Microbiology Online ISSN 1432-0991 Print ISSN 0343-8651

Description:    A Gram-negative, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase- positive, strictly aerobic, and short rod-shaped bacterium that was designated strain KOPRI 25157 T was isolated from coastal seawater sample in Antarctica. The temperature and pH ranges for growth on R2A agar were 10–20°C, and 5.0–10.0, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain KOPRI 25157 T showed it to belong to the family Oxalobacteraceae of the class Betaproteobacteria , and it formed a distinct clade from other recognized members of the family. DNA G + C content was 65.9 mol%. Major ubiquinone was Q-8. Predominant cellular fatty acids were C 16:1 ω 7 c /15 iso 2OH (56.4%) and C 16:1 (30.5%). Major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and unknown lipid. On the basis of these data, it is proposed that strain KOPRI 25157 T is the representative of a novel genus, for which the name Actimicrobium gen. nov. is proposed in the family Oxalobacteraceae. The type strain for Actimicrobium antarcticum sp. nov. is KOPRI 25157 T (=JCM 16673 T =KCTC 23040 T ). Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00284-011-9962-9 Authors Eun Hye Kim, Division of Polar Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Get-pearl Tower, 12 Gaetbeol-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 406-840 Republic of Korea Hyun-Jeong Jeong, Division of Polar Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Get-pearl Tower, 12 Gaetbeol-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 406-840 Republic of Korea Yoo Kyoung Lee, Division of Polar Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Get-pearl Tower, 12 Gaetbeol-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 406-840 Republic of Korea Eun Young Moon, Institute of Microbiology, Seoul National University, Gwanak_1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742 Republic of Korea Jang-Cheon Cho, Division of Biology and Ocean Sciences, Inha University, 253 Yonghyun-dong, Nam-gu, Incheon, 402-751 Republic of Korea Hong Kum Lee, Division of Polar Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Get-pearl Tower, 12 Gaetbeol-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 406-840 Republic of Korea Soon Gyu Hong, Division of Polar Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Get-pearl Tower, 12 Gaetbeol-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 406-840 Republic of Korea Journal Current Microbiology Online ISSN 1432-0991 Print ISSN 0343-8651

Description:    Bromoxynil octanoate (BOO), the most widespread herbicide applied to maize, is potentially toxic to both animals and humans. In this article, a highly effective BOO-degrading bacterial strain, XB2, was isolated from the soil of a herbicide factory. The strain was identified as an Acinetobacter sp. based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties. This strain could use BOO as its sole carbon source and could degrade 100 mg l −1 BOO to non-detectable levels in 72 h (h). The optimal pH and temperature for strain XB2’s growth and degradation of BOO in MSM are 7.0 and 30°C, respectively. We propose the following pathway of BOO degradation by strain XB2: the first step is the scission of the ester bond to form bromoxynil, bromoxynil then transformed to 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzoic acid due to the hydrolysis of nitriles, and debromination finally results in the formation of 3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzoic acid. Inoculating BOO-treated soil samples with strain XB2 resulted in a higher rate of BOO degradation than in non-inoculated soil, regardless of whether the soil had previously been sterilized. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00284-011-9965-6 Authors Tianming Cai, The College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 People’s Republic of China Liwei Chen, The College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 People’s Republic of China Jing Xu, The College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 People’s Republic of China Shu Cai, The College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 People’s Republic of China Journal Current Microbiology Online ISSN 1432-0991 Print ISSN 0343-8651

Description:    The ability of Aspergillus fumigatus l -amino acid oxidase ( l -aao) to cause the resolution of racemic mixtures of dl -amino acids was investigated with dl -alanine, dl -phenylalanine, dl -tyrosine, and dl -aspartic acid. A chiral column, Crownpak CR+ was used for the analysis of the amino acids. The enzyme was able to cause the resolution of the three dl -amino acids resulting in the production of optically pure d -alanine (100% resolution), d -phenylalanine (80.2%), and d -tyrosine (84.1%), respectively. The optically pure d -amino acids have many uses and thus can be exploited industrially. This is the first report of the use of A. fumigatus l -amino acid oxidase for racemic resolution of dl -amino acids. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00284-011-9955-8 Authors Susmita Singh, Biotechnology Division, North East Institute of Science and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Jorhat, 785006 Assam, India Binod K. Gogoi, Biotechnology Division, North East Institute of Science and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Jorhat, 785006 Assam, India Rajib L. Bezbaruah, Biotechnology Division, North East Institute of Science and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Jorhat, 785006 Assam, India Journal Current Microbiology Online ISSN 1432-0991 Print ISSN 0343-8651