Potato diseases caused by soft rot erwinias: an overview of pathogenesis

Three soft rot erwinias, Erwinia carotovora ssp. carotovora , E. carotovora ssp. atroseptica and E. chrysanthemi are associated with potatoes causing tuber soft rot and blackleg (stem rot). Latent infection of tubers and stems is widespread. As opportunistic pathogens, the bacteria tend to cause disease when potato resistance is impaired. Pathogenesis or disease development in potato tubers and stems is discussed in terms of the interaction between pathogen, host and environment, microbial competition and recent findings on the molecular basis of pathogenicity. Emphasis is placed on the role of free water and anaerobiosis in weakening tuber resistance and in providing nutrient for erwinias to multiply. Blackleg symptoms are expressed when erwinias predominate in rotting mother tubers, invade the stems and multiply in xylem vessels under favourable weather conditions. Soft rot erwinias tend to out-compete other bacteria in tuber rots because of their ability to produce larger quantities of a wider range of cell wall-degrading enzymes. However, despite extensive studies on their induction, regulation and secretion, little is known about the precise role of the different enzymes in pathogenesis. The putative role of quorum-sensing regulation of these enzymes in disease development is evaluated. The role certain pathogenicity-related characters, including motility, adhesion, siderophores, detoxifying systems and the hrp gene complex, common to most bacteria including symbionts and saprophytes, could play in latent and active infections is also discussed.     

Ecological and Industrial Implications of Dynamic Seaweed-Associated Microbiota Interactions

Seaweeds are broadly distributed and represent an important source of secondary metabolites (e.g., halogenated compounds, polyphenols) eliciting various pharmacological activities and playing a relevant ecological role in the anti-epibiosis. Importantly, host (as known as basibiont such as algae)–microbe (as known as epibiont such as bacteria) interaction (as known as halobiont) is a driving force for coevolution in the marine environment. Nevertheless, halobionts may be fundamental (harmless) or detrimental (harmful) to the functioning of the host. In addition to biotic factors, abiotic factors (e.g., pH, salinity, temperature, nutrients) regulate halobionts. Spatiotemporal and functional exploration of such dynamic interactions appear crucial. Indeed, environmental stress in a constantly changing ocean may disturb complex mutualistic relations, through mechanisms involving host chemical defense strategies (e.g., secretion of secondary metabolites and antifouling chemicals by quorum sensing). It is worth mentioning that many of bioactive compounds, such as terpenoids, previously attributed to macroalgae are in fact produced or metabolized by their associated microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites). Eventually, recent metagenomics analyses suggest that microbes may have acquired seaweed associated genes because of increased seaweed in diets. This article retrospectively reviews pertinent studies on the spatiotemporal and functional seaweed-associated microbiota interactions which can lead to the production of bioactive compounds with high antifouling, theranostic, and biotechnological potential.     

小冠开心形和细型主干形‘玉露香’梨光能截获与光合作用差异

小冠开心形和细型主干形是黄土高原梨树生产中的主要树形模式。为阐述这两种树形对冠层光能截获和叶片光合功能的影响,以山西芮城县4年生的‘玉露香’梨为试材,2017年和2018年连续两年测定了冠层截获的光合有效辐射PAR、叶片光合的光响应特性、荧光淬灭动力学特性以及光午休期间叶片的热耗散特性和光呼吸。结果表明：小冠开心形冠层不同方位和不同时刻截获的PAR均高于细型主干形,平均提高47.6%;与细型主干形相比,小冠开心形叶片光响应的最大净光合速率Pnmax,p与光饱和点LSP显著升高;光合碳同化过程的3个限制因子中,磷酸丙糖利用速率Vtpu对冠层光环境变化最敏感。正午强光胁迫下,小冠开心形叶片光呼吸速率Pr与总光合速率Pg的比例（Pr/Pg）比细型主干形叶片提高58.5%,NPQ中可恢复组分r(qE)提高了8.9%,而不可恢复组分r(qI)降低了75.0%。两种树形相比,小冠开心形梨树冠层可截获更多的光能,叶片的光合能力更强,强光胁迫时能够通过更高效的热耗散和光呼吸进行自我保护,可作为黄土高原产区梨树适宜树形。     

Characterization of an Insoluble and Soluble Form of Melanin Produced by Streptomyces cavourensis SV 21, a Sea Cucumber Associated Bacterium

Melanin is a widely distributed and striking dark-colored pigment produced by countless living organisms. Although a wide range of bioactivities have been recognized, there are still major constraints in using melanin for biotechnological applications such as its fragmentary known chemical structure and its insolubility in inorganic and organic solvents. In this study, a bacterial culture of Streptomyces cavourensis SV 21 produced two distinct forms of melanin: (1) a particulate, insoluble form as well as (2) a rarely observed water-soluble form. The here presented novel, acid-free purification protocol of purified particulate melanin (PPM) and purified dissolved melanin (PDM) represents the basis for an in-depth comparison of their physicochemical and biological properties, which were compared to the traditional acid-based precipitation of melanin (AM) and to a synthetic melanin standard (SM). Our data show that the differences in solubility between PDM and PPM in aqueous solutions may be a result of different adjoining cation species, since the soluble PDM polymer is largely composed of Mg²⁺ ions and the insoluble PPM is dominated by Ca²⁺ ions. Furthermore, AM shared most properties with SM, which is likely attributed to a similar, acid-based production protocol. The here presented gentler approach of purifying melanin facilitates a new perspective of an intact form of soluble and insoluble melanin that is less chemical altered and thus closer to its original biological form.     

冬前低温条件下冬小麦品种间叶绿素荧光参数的比较

为比较抗寒性不同的冬麦品种低温和不同光强作用下叶绿素荧光参数的变化,以3个抗寒性不同的冬麦品种为材料,分别在低温驯化期、低温驯化结束期和封冻期取样,室内暗处理后给予6个不同的光强,测定不同光强下的光合电子传递速率(ETR)、光化学猝灭系数(qP)和非光化学猝灭系数(qN)。结果表明,低温、高光强下抗寒品种东农冬麦1号的ETR、qP和qN显著高于其他2个品种,济麦22的这几个叶绿素荧光参数最低。封冻前抗寒中间型东农705品系的热耗散保持较高水平,但进入封冻期后其热耗散能力迅速降低。     

群体感应信号物质对吡咯伯克霍尔德氏菌JK-SH007在杨树内定殖的影响

为了明确杨树溃疡病生防菌吡咯伯克霍尔德氏菌JK-SH007的群体感应系统是否与其内生定殖相关,本文通过群体感应指示菌紫色杆菌CV026和液相色谱串联四级杆飞行时间质谱技术(HPLC-Q-TOF-MS)确定其群体感应信号物质种类,并利用结晶紫染色、菌体回收、GFP标记等技术,研究其群体感应信号物质对该菌株生物膜及在杨树苗内的定殖能力的影响。结果表明,菌株JK-SH007产生的群体感应信号物质为含8个碳原子酰基侧链的辛酰基-L-高丝氨酸内酯(C8-HSL)。群体感应信号物质C8-HSL的添加对该菌株生物膜及在杨树苗内的定殖能力有影响,并且呈现低浓度促进,较高浓度抑制的规律。C8-HSL的添加与菌株JK-SH007生物膜的OD值和菌体量具有显著相关性,相关系数分别为0.923和0.756。当添加1.0%C8-HSL终浓度达到5×10^-8 g/L时,菌株JK-SH007生物膜的形成量达到峰值。荧光显微镜镜检发现,当添加100μL C8-HSL时,杨树组培苗根和茎中GFP荧光标记的菌株JK-SH007的定殖数量明显较CK多。菌株JK-SH007的群体感应与其在杨树内的内生定殖能力密切相关,群体感应信号物质C8-HSL具有增强菌株JK-SH007内生定殖的能力,同时也表明该物质有利于该菌株生防效果的发挥。     

高温胁迫对黄瓜叶片叶绿素荧光猝灭的效应

以黄瓜叶片为试材,研究其在不同强度的高温胁迫下叶绿素荧光猝灭的差异,以揭示高温对黄瓜光合作用的伤害机理.结果表明:42℃/29℃(昼/夜均为12 h)高温处理对黄瓜叶片的光合机构造成了不可逆性伤害,而35℃/22℃的高温昼夜处理则对光合机构不会造成伤害.在42℃/29℃处理后黄瓜叶片PSⅡ光合电子传递量子效率(ФPSⅡ)、黄瓜叶片光化学猝灭系数(qP)和黄瓜叶片天线转化效率(Fv′/Fm′)明显下降,而35℃/22℃处理则变化不大.     

溶藻弧菌生物被膜的特性与相关基因的研究

建立溶藻弧菌（gibrioaigino／yticus）的生物被膜（BF）体外形成模型,用银染法观察检测溶藻弧菌HY9901生物被膜的形成;同时研究温度和消毒剂对HY9901的游离（FC）细菌和具有生物被膜（BF）的细菌的影响。实验结果表明,溶藻弧菌HY9901株可以形成BF,而非致病株ZJ017不形成BF。HY9901株的BF细菌经85℃30min、-20℃80d、0．01％新洁尔灭处理后均有存活,而游离（FC）细菌则无存活细菌。根据已发表的哈氏弧菌Lux R基因核酸序列,设计并合成了一对引物,对溶藻弧菌HY9901株的基因组进行PCR扩增和测序分析,扩增出了520bp的核苷酸片段,该片段与已发表的哈氏弧菌Lux L基因的同源性达95％,而非致病性菌株ZJ017株则扩增不出该基因片段。     

Global and Phylogenetic Distribution of Quorum Sensing Signals,Acyl Homoserine Lactones,in the Family of Vibrionaceae

Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) and the corresponding signals, acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), were first described for a luminescent Vibrio species. Since then, detailed knowledge has been gained on the functional level of QS; however, the abundance of AHLs in the family of Vibrionaceae in the environment has remained unclear. Three hundred and one Vibrionaceae strains were collected on a global research cruise and the prevalence and profile of AHL signals in this global collection were determined. AHLs were detected in 32 of the 301 strains using Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Chromobacterium violaceum reporter strains. Ethyl acetate extracts of the cultures were analysed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (MS) with automated tandem MS confirmation for AHLs. N-(3-hydroxy-hexanoyl) (OH-C6) and N-(3-hydroxy-decanoyl) (OH-C10) homoserine lactones were the most common AHLs found in 17 and 12 strains, respectively. Several strains produced a diversity of different AHLs, including N-heptanoyl (C7) HL. AHL-producing Vibrionaceae were found in polar, temperate and tropical waters. The AHL profiles correlated with strain phylogeny based on gene sequence homology, however not with geographical location. In conclusion, a wide range of AHL signals are produced by a number of clades in the Vibrionaceae family and these results will allow future investigations of inter- and intra-species interactions within this cosmopolitan family of marine bacteria.     

Haloperoxidase Mediated Quorum Quenching by Nitzschia cf pellucida: Study of the Metabolization of N-Acyl Homoserine Lactones by a Benthic Diatom

Diatoms are known to produce a variety of halogenated compounds, which were recently shown to have a role in allelopathic interactions between competing species. The production of these compounds is linked to haloperoxidase activity. This research, has shown that this system may also be involved in diatom-bacteria interactions via the H₂O₂ dependent inactivation of a type of quorum sensing (QS) molecule, i.e., N-β-ketoacylated homoserine lactones (AHLs), by a natural haloperoxidase system from the benthic diatom Nitzschia cf pellucida. The AHL degradation pathway towards corresponding halogenated derivatives was elucidated via HPLC-MS analysis and the synthesis of a broad series of novel halogenated AHL analogues as reference compounds. Furthermore, their biological activity as quorum sensing modulators was directly compared and evaluated against a series of naturally occurring β-keto-AHLs. It has been demonstrated that the loss of the QS activity results from the final cleavage of the halogenated N-acyl chain of the signal molecules.