Inhibitory effect of a bioactivity-guided fraction from Rheum undulatum on the acid production of Streptococcus mutans biofilms at sub-MIC levels

Rheum undulatum root has been used traditionally in Korea for the treatment of dental diseases. The purpose of this study was to separate a fraction from R. undulatum showing anti-acid production activity against Streptococcus mutans biofilms and identify the main components in that fraction. Methanol extract of R. undulatum root and its fractions were prepared. To select a fraction exhibiting anti-acid production activity, suspension glycolytic pH-drop assay was performed. Among the fractions tested, dichloromethane fraction exhibited the strongest activity in a dose-dependent manner. To examine the effect of the selected fraction on the anti-acid production of S. mutans biofilms, 74 h old S. mutans biofilms were used. The selected fraction reduced the initial rate of acid production of S. mutans biofilms at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels. HPLC qualitative analysis of the selected fraction indicated that the presence of anthraquinone derivatives, such as aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion, as main components.     

Biofilms: A role in recurrent mastitis infections?

Mastitis remains one the most important diseases in dairy cattle despite the progress made in improving general udder health in recent years. Epidemiological studies have revealed that following treatment with antimicrobials, bacteriological cure rates vary between 0% and 80% but with no evidence of a significant loss of activity of the major classes of antibiotics licensed for the treatment of bovine mastitis. Recurrent infections are often attributable to biofilm growth of bacteria and this review provides an overview of those mechanisms related to bacterial biofilm growth in mastitis. Biofilm formation is accompanied by significant genetic and subsequent physiological changes in the microorganisms resulting, inter alia, in a loss of sensitivity to virtually all classes of antibiotics.     

细菌运动性对生物被膜的动态演替及其对厚壳贻贝附着的影响

为研究海洋细菌的运动性在生物被膜形成和贝类附着过程中的作用,本研究以厚壳贻贝(Mytilus coruscus)为研究对象,开展了海洋假交替单胞菌(Pseudoalteromonas marina)野生型菌株和ΔcheW菌株不同时间段的运动性能分析,调查了运动性能不同的细菌形成生物被膜的膜厚、细菌密度以及胞外产物的动态变化,探究了其生物被膜的动态演替对厚壳贻贝附着的影响。研究发现,野生型菌株和ΔcheW菌株在6、12、24、48、72和96 h等不同时间的运动性能差异显著(P<0.05)。同时,对2株菌株形成菌圈的半径进行测量发现,随着时间的变化,菌圈的半径不断增加,均在96 h达到最大。整体上,野生型菌株在不同时间段形成的菌圈大于ΔcheW菌株。在运动性的作用下,2株菌株随着时间的变化形成生物被膜的细菌密度及膜厚在48 h达到最大值,在72 h后开始扩散。在运动性的影响下,野生型菌株在不同时间段形成的生物被膜对厚壳贻贝附着诱导效果显著高于ΔcheW菌株。在运动性介导下,2株菌株形成生物被膜对厚壳贻贝稚贝附着率随着时间变化呈现先增长后减少的趋势,在48 h达到最高,在72 h后开始降低,这一结果与不同时间段下形成生物被膜的胞外产物变化一致,且胞外产物分泌与细菌运动性密切相关。因此,运动性影响生物被膜的形成,且在生物被膜动态演替过程中介导了生物被膜的膜厚、细菌密度以及胞外产物的分泌,从而影响了厚壳贻贝的附着。本研究为后续开展细菌运动性、生物被膜形成和厚壳贻贝互作机制研究奠定了基础,为海洋经济物种的生产养殖提供了技术支撑。     

中国主要稻区周丛生物群落组成结构及其磷捕获能力

广泛分布在水-土界面之间的周丛生物是稻田生态系统物质迁移和能量交换的关键热区和必经之地，但至今鲜有研究关注稻田周丛生物的群落特征及其调控功能。为进一步了解周丛生物磷捕获功能，本研究选取我国主要稻区周丛生物，覆盖华南地区、长江中下游地区、东北地区三个水稻种植区，利用高通量测序技术分析周丛生物群落组成结构，结合PLS-PM和回归分析揭示影响稻田周丛生物捕获磷的因素。结果表明：不同地区稻田土壤理化性质存在显著差异（P < 0.05）。我国主要稻区周丛生物磷捕获能力由北到南、由西向东呈现递增的趋势。不同地区稻田周丛生物群落组成差异显著（P < 0.05）。在属水平上，华南地区周丛生物以Acinetobacter、Proteiniclasticum等原核微生物及Gregarina、Adriamonas等真核微生物为优势物种；长江中下游地区周丛生物以Bacillus、Cloacibacterium等原核微生物及Gregarina、Vermamoeba等真核微生物为主组成；在东北地区，周丛生物由Flavisolibacter、Anaerolinea为优势的原核微生物和以Adriamonas、Vermamoeba为优势的真核微生物组成。发现土壤理化性质（特别是土壤有机碳含量和田面水pH）与周丛生物群落多样性存在相关性。华南地区周丛生物中的微藻对于磷的捕获起到一定的促进作用，而东北地区周丛生物中的聚磷菌对磷的捕获有正效应。本研究通过对全国不同地区稻田周丛生物磷捕获能力的分析，丰富了对稻田周丛生物群落组成、结构及其调控磷循环的认识，也为将来开发生物技术回收利用稻田盈余磷提供了理论依据。