Characterization of Nitrate-Reducing and Amino Acid–Using Bacteria Prominent in Nitrotoxin-Enriched Equine Cecal Populations

Horses can be at risk for nitropoisoning by consuming plants containing 3-nitro-1-propionic acid or 3-nitro-1-propanol and to a lesser extent by plants containing nitrate. Populations of equine cecal microbes enriched for enhanced rates of 3-nitro-1-propionic acid (NPA) or nitrate metabolism were cultured for NPA- or nitrate-metabolizing bacteria on basal enrichment medium or tryptose soy agar supplemented with either 5-mM NPA or nitrate and under H₂:CO₂ (20:80) as the energy source. After 72 hours, separated colonies picked from plates, or roll tubes were cultured in fresh broth medium for 72 hours and then identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Isolates from the NPA-enriched populations were identified as Streptococcus lutetiensis (five strains), Escherichia coli (two strains), and Sporanaerobacter acetigens (one strain). Strains isolated from nitrate-enriched populations were identified as Escherichia coli (one strain) and Wolinella succinogenes (three strains). None of these strains degraded NPA. Enriched populations of equine cecal microbes, the isolated pure strains and the type strain of Denitrobacterium detoxificans, a competent NPA-metabolizing microbe, were examined using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The DGGE analysis indicated that none of the strains in the enriched population of equine cecal microbes were similar to D. detoxificans. However, we report for the first time the isolation of the anaerobic amino acid–using Sporanaerobacter acetigenes from the equine cecum.     

Establishment of macro-aggregates and organic matter turnover by microbial communities in long-term incubated artificial soils

The study of interactions between minerals, organic matter (OM) and microorganisms is essential for the understanding of soil functions such as OM turnover. Here, we present an interdisciplinary approach using artificial soils to study the establishment of the microbial community and the formation of macro-aggregates as a function of the mineral composition by using artificial soils. The defined composition of a model system enables to directly relate the development of microbial communities and soil structure to the presence of specific constituents. Five different artificial soil compositions were produced with two types of clay minerals (illite, montmorillonite), metal oxides (ferrihydrite, boehmite) and charcoal incubated with sterile manure and a microbial community derived from a natural soil. We used the artificial soils to analyse the response of these model soil systems to additional sterile manure supply (after 562 days). The artificial soils were subjected to a prolonged incubation period of more than two years (842 days) in order to take temporally dynamic processes into account. In our model systems with varying mineralogy, we expected a changing microbial community composition and an effect on macro-aggregation after OM addition, as the input of fresh substrate will re-activate the artificial soils. The abundance and structure of 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) fragments amplified from total community DNA were studied by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), respectively. The formation of macro-aggregates (>2 mm), the total organic carbon (OC) and nitrogen (N) contents, the OC and N contents in particle size fractions and the CO₂ respiration were determined. The second manure input resulted in higher CO₂ respiration rates, 16S rRNA gene and ITS copy numbers, indicating a stronger response of the microbial community in the matured soil-like system. The type of clay minerals was identified as the most important factor determining the composition of the bacterial communities established. The additional OM and longer incubation time led to a re-formation of macro-aggregates which was significantly higher when montmorillonite was present. Thus, the type of clay mineral was decisive for both microbial community composition as well as macro-aggregation, whereas the addition of other components had a minor effect. Even though different bacterial communities were established depending on the artificial soil composition, the amount and quality of the OM did not show significant differences supporting the concept of functional redundancy.     

The effect of lactic acid bacterial starter culture and chemical additives on wilted rice straw silage

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are suitable for rice straw silage fermentation, but have been studied rarely, and rice straw as raw material for ensiling is difficult because of its disadvantages, such as low nutrition for microbial activities and low abundances of natural populations of LAB. So we investigated the effect of application of LAB and chemical additives on the fermentation quality and microbial community of wilted rice straw silage. Treatment with chemical additives increased the concentrations of crude protein (CP), water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), acetic acid and lactic acid, reduced the concentrations of acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), but did not effectively inhibit the growth of spoilage organisms. Inoculation with LABs did not improve the nutritional value of the silage because of poor growth of LABs in wilted rice straw. Inoculation with LAB and addition of chemical materials improved the quality of silage similar to the effects of addition of chemical materials alone. Growth of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria was inhibited by this mixed treatment and the LAB gradually dominated the microbial community. In summary, the fermentation quality of wilted rice straw silage had improved by addition of LAB and chemical materials.     

基于16SrDNA比较研究混养三角帆蚌和鲢鳙对池塘养殖水体微生物群落结构的影响

为了研究混养三角帆蚌(Hyriopsis cumingii)和鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)鳙(Aristichthys nobilis)对池塘养殖水体微生物群落结构的影响,分别在浙江海盐、江西九江、上海浦东开展了罗氏沼虾-三角帆蚌混养、草鱼—三角帆蚌混养、罗氏沼虾-三角帆蚌-鲢鳙鱼混养三组系列实验。利用DGGE技术对养殖水体的16S r DNA进行指纹图谱分析。三组实验共鉴定出57条不同条带,每组实验中混养三角帆蚌或鲢鳙实验组的平均条带数均高于单养水体水样平均条带数。Shannon多样性指数分析结果显示,各养殖水体混养三角帆蚌、鲢鳙后,多样性指数均有所增加。PCA分析和DGGE聚类结果显示,在无鲢鳙的情况下,蚌与主养物种(罗氏沼虾、草鱼)混养实验组的16S r DNA图谱聚为一类,显示出蚌对于微生物群落结构影响的贡献;在同时引入鲢鳙和蚌的情况下,16S r DNA指纹图谱则是按照有无鲢鳙聚为两类,提示在本实验中鲢鳙对于水体微生物的影响要大于蚌。对DGGE图谱其中20条显著条带进行回收、测序和系统发育分析,结果表明,所获序列主要分属于放线菌门(Actinobacteria,25%)、蓝藻门(Cyanobacteria,25%)、α-变形菌亚门(Alphaproteobacteria,15%)、β-变形菌亚门(Betaproteobacteria,15%)、γ-变形菌亚门(Gammaproteobacteria,10%)、ε-变形菌亚门(Epsilonproteobacteria,5%)、裸藻叶绿体(Euglenales,5%)。     

Assessment of gut microbiota in different developmental stages of Malaysian Mahseer (Tor tambroides)

Malaysian Mahseer (Tor tambroides) has a good prospect for aquaculture because of its high market demand. However, there is a scarce information on gut microbiota associated with Malaysian Mahseer unlike other fish species. Therefore, we constructed and compared gut microbiota in different developmental stages (larval, juvenile, fingerling, yearling, and adult) using culture dependent and PCR‐DGGE fingerprinting technique for better understanding of gut microbiota composition associated with T. tambroides. Culturable gut microbiota composition in all developmental stages were composed of β‐ and γ‐Proteobacteria, and Bacilli. Biodiversity analysis of culturable gut microbiota showed that larval, juvenile, and adult stages have higher diversity than fingerling and yearling stages. Ward's linkage cluster analysis showed that culturable gut microbiota composition in larval and juvenile stages were close to adult stages, whereas fingerling and yearling stage composed same cluster. PCR‐DGGE fingerprinting technique showed that unculturable gut microbiota were constituted by α‐and γ‐Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Ward's linkage cluster analysis showed that unculturable gut microbiota composition in both larval and juvenile stages were distinct from other developmental stages. Our results revealed that gut microbiota composition were varied in different developmental stages of Malaysian Mahseer and continuous shifts of gut microbiota from larval to adult stages.     

用DGGE法初步解析茯砖茶渥堆发酵过程中真菌群落的结构

为研究茯砖茶发花过程中真菌群落的结构和种类,对茯砖茶渥堆发酵过程中不同时间段黑毛茶样品中真菌群落的18S rDNA高变区进行扩增,对真菌18S rDNA变性梯度凝胶电脉(DGGE)图谱中的条带进行回收、克隆、测序和序列比对。结果表明:茯砖茶渥堆发酵过程中的真菌类型丰富,有好干性酵母(Wallemia sebi)、假丝酵母菌(Candida sp.)、热带假丝酵母(Candida tropicalis)、路德酵母(Lodderomyces sp.)、汉逊德巴利酵母(Debaryomyces hansenii)、毕赤酵母(Pichia kudriavzevii)、酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)、隐球酵母(Cryptococcus sp.)、牧草红酵母(Rhodotorula graminis)、阿姆斯特丹散囊菌(Eurotium amstelodami)、灰绿曲霉(Aspergillus glaucus)、米赫根毛霉(Rhizomucor miehei)、微小根毛霉(Rhizomucor pusillus)、白地霉(Galactomyces geotrichum)、安大略假单胞菌(Candida ontarioensis)、真皮毛孢子菌(Trichosporon dermatis)、斜卧青霉(Penicillium decumbens)、曲霉(Aspergillus penicillioides)等真菌存在;以渥堆24 h为分界点,真菌群落结构在分界点前后变化较大;真菌群落多样性指数在渥堆0~16 h呈升高趋势,16~24 h略有降低,24 h后继续升高,在渥堆后40 h上升到最高水平2.348,而渥堆40~48 h仍然维持在较高水平;在整个渥堆过程中,优势菌路德酵母、汉逊德巴利酵母和次优势菌阿姆斯特丹散囊菌均有出现,在渥堆后期出现了次优势菌好干性酵母、汉逊德巴利酵母和酿酒酵母;比对结果表明,渥堆过程中同时存在3株好干性酵母菌和7株阿姆斯特丹散囊菌,说明在渥堆发酵过程中优势菌种存在多样性。本研究结果表明,采用DGGE指纹图谱能全面、真实地反映茯砖茶渥堆发酵过程中真菌群落的结构和多样性变化。     

不同年限毛竹林土壤固氮菌群落结构和丰度的演变

应用变性梯度凝胶电泳(denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis,DGGE)和荧光定量PCR(real time fluorescent quantitative PCR,q PCR)方法研究了不同年限毛竹林土壤固氮菌群落结构和丰度的变化。结果表明:土壤p H、有机质、有效磷、速效钾和铵态氮含量在马尾松林改造成毛竹林5 a后明显提高,而后逐渐降低,并趋于稳定;土壤固氮菌多样性和nif H基因丰度也呈现相似的趋势。条带测序分析表明,毛竹林土壤固氮菌均为不可培养的固氮菌,与慢生根瘤菌(Bradyrhizobium sp.)具有较高的相似度。冗余分析结果表明,不同栽培年限毛竹林地土壤固氮菌群落组成发生了明显变化,长期栽培毛竹林引起的土壤养分变化对土壤固氮菌多样性具有重要影响。     

Survival of bacterial DNA and culturable bacteria in archived soils from the Rothamsted Broadbalk experiment

Dried soil samples from many sources have been stored in archives world-wide over the years, but there has been little research on their value for studying microbial populations. Samples collected since 1843 from the Broadbalk field experiment on crop nutrition at Rothamsted have been used to document changes in the structure and composition of soils as agricultural practices evolve, also offering an invaluable record of environmental changes from the pre- to post-industrial era in the UK. To date, the microbial communities of these soils have not been studied, in part due to the well-documented drop in bacterial culturability in dried soils. However, modern molecular methods based on PCR amplification of DNA extracted directly from soil do not require bacterial cells to be viable or intact and may allow investigations into the legacy of bacteria that were present at the time of sample collection.

In a preliminary study, to establish if dried soils can provide a historical record of bacterial communities, samples from the Broadbalk soil archive dating back to 1868 were investigated and plots treated with either farmyard manure (FYM) or inorganic fertilizer (NPK) were compared. As anticipated, the processes of air-drying and milling greatly reduced bacterial viability whilst DNA yields declined less and may be preserved by desiccation. A higher proportion of culturable bacteria survived the archiving process in the FYM soil, possibly protected by the increased soil organic matter. The majority of surviving bacteria were firmicutes, whether collected in 2003 or in 1914, but a wide range of genera was detected in DNA extracted from the samples using PCR and DGGE of 16S rRNA genes. Analysis of DGGE band profiles indicated that the two plots maintained divergent populations. Sequence analysis of bands excised from DGGE gels, from a sample collected in 1914, revealed DNA from - and β-proteobacteria as well as firmicutes. PCR using primers specific for ammonia oxidizing bacteria showed similar band profiles across the two treatments in recently collected samples, however older samples from the NPK plot showed greater divergence. Primers specific for the genus Pseudomonas were designed and used in real-time quantitative PCR to indicate that archived soil collected in 1868 contained 10-fold less pseudomonad DNA than fresh soil, representing around 10⁵ genomes g⁻¹ soil. Prior to milling, dramatically less pseudomonad DNA was extracted from recently collected air-dried soil from the NPK compared to the FYM plot; otherwise, the two plots followed similar trends. Overall bacterial abundance, diversity and survival during the archiving process differed in the two soils, possibly due to differences in clay and soil organic matter content. Nevertheless, the results demonstrate that air-dried soils can protect microbial DNA for more than 150 years and offer an invaluable resource for future research.     

三种土壤微生物总DNA提取方法的比较

本文对3种常用的土壤微生物总DNA提取方法Martin法、高盐改进法及试剂盒法进行了比较,并通过DNA得率、纯度及16S rDNA V3可变区的PCR扩增结合DGGE法（denatumg gradient gel electrophoresis）,分别对3种方法进行评价。结果表明,3种方法提取的DNA均能满足土壤微生物多样性分析的要求。其中试剂盒方法操作简单,提取的DNA质量较高,但DNA得率较低且成本昂贵。Martin法和高盐改进法用时较长,DNA得率较高,纯度较低,但对后续PCR扩增和DGGE分析没有明显影响,且成本低廉。     

土壤微生物多样性的分子生态学研究方法

传统的平板培养法分离培养和鉴定土壤微生物只能反映极少数微生物的信息,种类只占土壤微生物种类总数的0.1%～1%,分子生态学方法应用于土壤微生物的鉴定显示出极大的优越性.着重阐述了土壤微生物多样性的研究内容、意义及目前的采用分子生态学的方法研究土壤微生物多样性,尤其以DGGE（denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis）分子生物学技术以及RAPD（Random amplified polymorphic DNA ）随机扩增的多态性分析方法更为精确和快速,为土壤微生物多样性研究提供了一个更加广阔的前景.