Soil sterilization effects on root growth and formation of rhizosheaths in wheat seedlings

Sterilized soils are frequently used in experiments related to soil biology. Soil sterilization is known to alter physicochemical characteristics of soil, plant growth and community structure of the newly developed bacterial population. However, little information exists regarding soil sterilization effects on belowground processes mediated through root–microbe–soil interactions, e.g., development of rhizosheaths which significantly promote the plant growth under stress environments. The present study was conducted to elucidate effects of soil sterilization on wheat root growth and formation of rhizosheaths in relation to chemical changes caused by soil sterilization and the proportion of expolysaccharide (EPS)-producers in bacterial population recolonizing the sterilized soils. Wheat plants were grown for two weeks under greenhouse conditions either in the unsterilized soil or in soils sterilized by autoclaving (121 °C, 1 h) or by gamma (γ)-irradiation (50 kGy). While soil sterilization had no effect on the release of macronutrients, both sterilization procedures significantly increased the electrical conductivity, water-soluble carbon and DTPA-extractable Mn. Seedlings grown in sterilized soils produced higher root biomass and the rhizosheath soil (RS) mass as compared to those grown in the unsterilized soil. Soil sterilization also increased the root length, surface area, volume and number of tips. In bulk soil, RS and on roots, the proportion of EPS-producers in the total bacterial population was higher in sterilized treatments than in the unsterilized. Amending the unsterilized soil with glucose-C increased the root biomass, whereas adding Mn II increased the RS mass. The results showed that soil sterilization by autoclaving or γ-irradiation increases the root growth and RS mass of wheat seedlings. The water-soluble C and DTPA-extractable Mn released upon sterilization, and the increased proportion of EPS-producers in the bacterial population recolonizing the sterilized soils were involved in the observed effects. The results may have implications in studies using autoclaved or γ-irradiated soils to investigate soil–plant–microbe interactions and signify the need to account for intrinsic stimulatory effects of soil sterilization.     

Rate-specific responses of prokaryotic diversity and structure to nitrogen deposition in the Leymus chinensis steppe

Serious nitrogen (N) deposition in terrestrial ecosystems causes soil acidification and changes the structure and function of the microbial community. However, it is unclear how these changes are dependent on N deposition rates, other factors induced by N (e.g., pH), and their interactions. In this study, we investigated the responses of soil prokaryotic community structure and stability after a 13-year N addition in the semi-arid Leymus chinensis steppe in Inner Mongolia, China. Our results demonstrated that the prokaryotic community structure changed at the low N addition rate of 1.75 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹; however, dramatic changes in microbial abundance, respiratory quotient, and prokaryotic diversity occurred at N addition rates of more than 5.25 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹ when the soil pH dropped below 6.0. The two patterns indicated the difference in driving forces for different microbial properties. The N-driven and pH-driven processes are likely the most important mechanisms determining the responses of bacterial community to N. Some copiotrophic/oligotrophic bacteria, e.g., Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria, changed their relative abundances with the N addition continuously even at a low rate, indicating that they were more sensitive to N directly. Some bacterial groups significantly changed their relative abundance at a high N addition rate when pH dropped below 6.0, e.g., Verrucomicrobia and Armatimonadetes, indicating that they were more sensitive to pH below 6.0. N addition altered the prokaryotic community structure through enrichment of copiotrophic bacteria (species adjustment) at low N addition rates and through enrichment of nitrophilous taxa and significant loss of diversity at high N rates. The results also demonstrated that a high N addition diminished the stability of the prokaryotic community structure and activity through reduction in species diversity and bacterial interaction. Overall, this study supported the hypothesis that the responses of prokaryota to N were dependent on deposition rates, and N-driven and pH-driven processes were the important mechanisms to control the shift of the prokaryotic community.     

Prey and non‐native fish predict the distribution of Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) in a south‐western river in North America

Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) has been extirpated from a large portion of its historical range in the Colorado River basin, USA. A repatriation effort via stocking of juvenile P. lucius in the San Juan River, NM, CO and UT has resulted in limited recruitment of individuals into an adult population. Understanding biotic and abiotic factors that limit their persistence in the Colorado River basin will be a critical step in providing for their recovery. To elucidate potential recruitment barriers in the San Juan River, we assessed relationships between the numbers of two age classes of P. lucius and prey, competitors and predators collected at a 1.6 km reach scale between 2003 and 2012. We used an information theoretical approach to rank candidate models testing the relative importance of these biotic conditions in predicting the spatial distribution of P. lucius. We found positive relationships between the numbers of P. lucius ≤200 mm total length (TL) collected and catch per unit effort (CPUE) of native prey among reaches. For P. lucius >200 mm TL (individuals that are likely completely piscivorous), we found positive associations between the numbers of P. lucius collected and CPUE of total prey and CPUE of potential non‐native competitors in each reach. Our data suggest size‐specific affinities of P. lucius for native and non‐native prey as well as the potential for negative interactions between P. lucius and non‐native competitors may contribute to limited recruitment of juvenile P. lucius into an adult population in the San Juan River.     

Susceptibility pattern of bacterial isolates in equine ulcerative keratitis: Implications for empirical treatment at a university teaching hospital in Sydney

Corneal ulceration is a common ophthalmic condition in horses. It is frequently caused by trauma to the corneal surface, followed by secondary infection by commensal or pathogenic organisms including Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus spp. Emerging antimicrobial resistance amongst these organisms has raised the need for appropriate antimicrobial therapy selection, to optimise treatment efficacy while minimising further antimicrobial resistance. Medical records of 38 horses presented at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden for ulcerative keratitis between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed to identify those with positive bacterial cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles (13/38). Common susceptibility patterns were identified and used to guide the empirical treatment of equine bacterial corneal ulcers. Pseudomonas spp. (64.3%), Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (14.3%) and Actinobacillus spp. (14.3%) were most commonly identified. Susceptibility to amikacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin was observed in 100%, 66.7% and 85.7% Pseudomonas spp. isolates respectively. Resistance to polymyxin B and neomycin occurred in 85.7% and 71.4% of Pseudomonas spp., respectively. All Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus organisms in this study were susceptible to ceftiofur, cephalexin, penicillin and ampicillin, while they were all resistant to gentamicin, neomycin, enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin. Predominating in this study, Pseudomonas spp. maintained overall aminoglycoside susceptibility despite some emerging resistance, and good fluoroquinolone susceptibility. High resistance to Polymyxin B could have arisen from its common use as first-line therapy for bacterial corneal ulcers. Although further research is required, these new findings about predominant bacteria in equine corneal ulceration in the Camden region and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns can be used to guide the empirical treatment of bacterial corneal ulcers in horses.     

银杏叶提取物对发酵乳贮藏期理化和感官特性的影响

[目的] 考察不同添加量银杏叶提取物对发酵乳贮藏期品质的影响。[方法] 采用持水率、黏度、乳酸菌活菌数、抗氧化能力、感官评价方法测定不同添加量银杏叶提取物制备的发酵乳,并结合多元统计分析方法进行分析。[结果] 银杏叶提取物对乳酸杆菌和链球菌的活力没有显著影响,为保证活菌数在1.0×10⁷ CFU/g以上,建议该发酵乳最多冷藏9 天。在酸奶中添加银杏叶提取物可提高其抗氧化特性。添加银杏叶提取物的酸奶样品与对照组在风味和口感方面存在差异,且添加量越大差异越明显。[结论] 银杏叶提取物本身作为一种中成药,具有成为一种新的功能性酸奶成分的巨大潜力。     

Tooth brushing inhibits oral bacteria in dogs

In this study, scaling, polishing and daily tooth brushing were performed in 20 beagle dogs, and the number of oral bacteria was determined using a bacterial counter. The dogs were randomized into the scaling (S), scaling + polishing (SP), scaling + tooth daily brushing (SB) and scaling + polishing + tooth daily brushing (SPB) groups. Samples were collected from the buccal surface of the maxillary fourth premolars of the dogs immediately after scaling and every week thereafter from weeks 1 to 8. Throughout the study, the number of bacteria was significantly lower in the SB and SPB groups compared with the S group. The findings suggest that daily tooth brushing inhibited oral bacterial growth in the dogs.     

巨大芽胞杆菌YB-3的筛选、鉴定及其对生姜青枯病的生防效果研究

青枯病（bacterial wilt）是生姜上的一种细菌土传毁灭性病害,化学防治易污染环境且常规化学药剂很难在土壤中起到持续控病的作用,生物防治是其理想的防治方法。为开发对生姜青枯病有效的生防措施,对从生姜根际土壤中分离的一株生防细菌YB-3进行了鉴定,并对其生物学特性及生防效果进行了研究,以丰富生防菌株资源库。采用抑菌圈法筛选拮抗细菌,对效果最好的拮抗菌株做盆栽试验,测定其对生姜青枯病的防治效果,根据形态特征、生理生化特性以及16S rDNA序列对筛选得到的优良菌株进行鉴定。试验结果表明,该拮抗菌在平皿上对青枯菌的抑菌率为50.67%,盆栽试验对青枯病的防治效果为60.86%;经16S rDNA序列分析,并结合形态学和生理生化特征,将菌株YB-3鉴定为巨大芽胞杆菌Bacillus megaterium。YB-3是一株具有开发利用价值的姜青枯病生防菌株。     

竹鼠肠道中厌氧纤维素降解菌的分离与鉴定

本试验旨在从竹鼠肠道中分离厌氧纤维素降解菌并鉴定。取中华竹鼠盲肠内容物稀释,采用含2种不同纤维素[微晶纤维素(MCC)和羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC-Na)]的培养基在厌氧条件下对纤维素降解菌进行初筛,后又经以纤维二糖为唯一碳源的培养基的多次复筛,选出的菌株进行经形态学和分子生物学的鉴定。结果表明:经过初筛和复筛,筛选出了2株厌氧纤维素降解菌。初筛培养基采用MCC和CMC-Na最终筛选出的2株纤维素降解菌的纤维素酶活力分别为6.599和5.268U/m L。菌株经PCR鉴定、测序,用所得序列构建系统发育树,得出这2株菌与酪酸梭状芽孢杆菌(Clostridium butyricum)具有很高的同源性,达99%,二者均属于梭菌属(Clostridium)。本试验从竹鼠盲肠中成功筛选出2株纤维素降解菌,经鉴定确定属于梭菌属。