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MBio Jun 2021Fungal pathogens, among other stressors, negatively impact the productivity and population size of honey bees, one of our most important pollinators (1, 2), in...
Fungal pathogens, among other stressors, negatively impact the productivity and population size of honey bees, one of our most important pollinators (1, 2), in particular their brood (larvae and pupae) (3, 4). Understanding the factors that influence disease incidence and prevalence in brood may help us improve colony health and productivity. Here, we examined the capacity of a honey bee-associated bacterium, Bombella apis, to suppress the growth of fungal pathogens and ultimately protect bee brood from infection. Our results showed that strains of inhibit the growth of two insect fungal pathogens, Beauveria bassiana and Aspergillus flavus, . This phenotype was recapitulated ; bee broods supplemented with were significantly less likely to be infected by A. flavus. Additionally, the presence of reduced sporulation of A. flavus in the few bees that were infected. Analyses of biosynthetic gene clusters across strains suggest antifungal candidates, including a type 1 polyketide, terpene, and aryl polyene. Secreted metabolites from alone were sufficient to suppress fungal growth, supporting the hypothesis that fungal inhibition is mediated by an antifungal metabolite. Together, these data suggest that can suppress fungal infections in bee brood via secretion of an antifungal metabolite. Fungi can play critical roles in host microbiomes (5-7), yet bacterial-fungal interactions are understudied. For insects, fungi are the leading cause of disease (5, 8). In particular, populations of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), an agriculturally and economically critical species, have declined in part due to fungal pathogens. The presence and prevalence of fungal pathogens in honey bees have far-reaching consequences, endangering other species and threatening food security (1, 2, 9). Our research highlights how a bacterial symbiont protects bee brood from fungal infection. Further mechanistic work could lead to the development of new antifungal treatments.
Topics: Acetobacteraceae; Animals; Bees; Fungi; Host Microbial Interactions; Larva; Microbial Interactions; Mycoses; Symbiosis
PubMed: 34101488
DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00503-21 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology May 2021Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are valuable biocatalysts for which there is growing interest in understanding their basics including physiology and biochemistry. This is... (Review)
Review
Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are valuable biocatalysts for which there is growing interest in understanding their basics including physiology and biochemistry. This is accompanied by growing demands for metabolic engineering of AAB to take advantage of their properties and to improve their biomanufacturing efficiencies. Controlled expression of target genes is key to fundamental and applied microbiological research. In order to get an overview of expression systems and their applications in AAB, we carried out a comprehensive literature search using the Web of Science Core Collection database. The Acetobacteraceae family currently comprises 49 genera. We found overall 6097 publications related to one or more AAB genera since 1973, when the first successful recombinant DNA experiments in Escherichia coli have been published. The use of plasmids in AAB began in 1985 and till today was reported for only nine out of the 49 AAB genera currently described. We found at least five major expression plasmid lineages and a multitude of further expression plasmids, almost all enabling only constitutive target gene expression. Only recently, two regulatable expression systems became available for AAB, an N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL)-inducible system for Komagataeibacter rhaeticus and an L-arabinose-inducible system for Gluconobacter oxydans. Thus, after 35 years of constitutive target gene expression in AAB, we now have the first regulatable expression systems for AAB in hand and further regulatable expression systems for AAB can be expected. KEY POINTS: • Literature search revealed developments and usage of expression systems in AAB. • Only recently 2 regulatable plasmid systems became available for only 2 AAB genera. • Further regulatable expression systems for AAB are in sight.
Topics: Acetic Acid; Acetobacteraceae; Gene Expression; Metabolic Engineering
PubMed: 33856535
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11269-z -
BMC Ecology and Evolution Aug 2023Rodents form the largest order among mammals in terms of species diversity, and home range is the area where an individual normally moves during its normal daily...
BACKGROUND
Rodents form the largest order among mammals in terms of species diversity, and home range is the area where an individual normally moves during its normal daily activities. Information about rodent home ranges is paramount in the development of effective conservation and management strategies. This is because rodent home range varies within species and different habitats. In Uganda, tropical high altitude forests such as the Mabira Central Forest Reserve are experiencing continuous disturbance. However, information on rodent home range is lacking. Therefore, a two year Capture-Mark-Release (CMR) of rodents was conducted in the intact forest habitat: Wakisi, regenerating forest habitat: Namananga, and the depleted forest habitat: Namawanyi of Mabira Central Forest Reserve in order to determine the dominant rodent species, their home ranges, and factors affecting these home ranges. The home ranges were determined by calculating a minimum convex polygon with an added boundary strip of 5 m.
RESULTS
Overall, the most dominant rodent species were: Lophuromys stanleyi, Hylomyscus stella, Praomys jacksoni Mastomys natalensis, Lophuromys ansorgei, and Lemniscomys striatus. H. stella dominated the intact forest habitat, while L. stanleyi was the most dominant both in the regenerating and the depleted forest habitats. L. stanleyi had a larger home range in the depleted forest, and the regenerating forest habitats, respectively. In the regenerating forest habitat, M. natalensis had a larger home range size, followed by L. stanleyi, and L. striatus. While in the intact forest habitat, H. stella had the largest home range followed by P. jacksoni. H. stella, L. striatus, L. stanleyi, M. natalensis, and P. jacksoni were most dominant during the wet season while L. ansorgei was relatively more dominant during the dry season. L. ansorgei, and P. jacksoni had a larger home range in the dry season, and a lower home range in the wet season. H. stella, L. stanleyi, M. natalansis and L.striatus had larger home ranges in the wet season, and lower home ranges in the dry season. The home ranges of the dominant rodent species varied across the three habitats in Mabira central forest reserve ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]).
CONCLUSION
The significant variation in home ranges of the dominant rodent species in Mabira Central Forest Reserve depending on the type of habitat presupposes that the rodent management strategies in disturbed forest reserves should focus on the type of habitat.
Topics: Animals; Homing Behavior; Uganda; Forests; Acetobacteraceae; Murinae
PubMed: 37605119
DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02148-4 -
The Journal of Experimental Biology Oct 2020Most research on the impact of the gut microbiome on animal nutrition is designed to identify the effects of single microbial taxa and single metabolites of microbial...
Most research on the impact of the gut microbiome on animal nutrition is designed to identify the effects of single microbial taxa and single metabolites of microbial origin, without considering the potentially complex network of interactions among co-occurring microorganisms. Here, we investigated how different microbial associations and their fermentation products affect host nutrition, using colonized with three gut microorganisms (the bacteria and , and the yeast ) in all seven possible combinations. Some microbial effects on host traits could be attributed to single taxa (e.g. yeast-mediated reduction of insect development time), while other effects were sex specific and driven by among-microbe interactions (e.g. male lipid content determined by interactions between the yeast and both bacteria). Parallel analysis of nutritional indices of microbe-free flies administered different microbial fermentation products (acetic acid, acetoin, ethanol and lactic acid) revealed a single consistent effect: that the lipid content of both male and female flies is reduced by acetic acid. This effect was recapitulated in male flies colonized with both yeast and , but not for any microbial treatment in females or males with other microbial complements. These data suggest that the effect of microbial fermentation products on host nutritional status is strongly context dependent, with respect to both the combination of associated microorganisms and host sex. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that among-microbe interactions can play a critically important role in determining the physiological outcome of host-microbiome interactions in and, likely, in other animal hosts.
Topics: Acetobacter; Animals; Drosophila melanogaster; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Hanseniaspora; Male
PubMed: 33051361
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.227843 -
Journal of Environmental Management Jan 2021The coffee processing wastewater (CPWW) requires treatment before being disposed of in the environment or reused due to its high organic and inorganic composition and a...
The coffee processing wastewater (CPWW) requires treatment before being disposed of in the environment or reused due to its high organic and inorganic composition and a low pH. The indigenous microbiota from CPWW is highly diverse and could be selected as inoculums in treatment waste plants. Considering the physico-chemical characteristics of wastewater coffee, we elaborate on steps to select the microbial consortium that showed positive impact via decreasing the pollutant parameters of this effluent. The effectiveness was confirmed using wastewater from different origins with different chemical characteristics. A bacterial consortium composed by Serratia marcescens CCMA 1010 and CCMA 1012, Corynebacterium flavescens CCMA 1006, and Acetobacter indonesiensis CCMA 1002 was selected as the inoculums-based phenotypic assays. The mixed inoculum showed a highly active population (11.18 log CFU mL), promoting an 85% decrease in biochemical oxygen demand and a 60% decrease in chemical oxygen demand. There was also an 80% reduction in phosphorus and nitrogen. The final pH changed from 6.0 to 7.5. Additionally, the eco-toxicity using Daphnia similis was reduced by more than 59%. The microbial inoculum was efficient in the biological treatment in CPWWs, demonstrating the efficiency and robustness of the selected strains, independent of the physico-chemical characteristics of wastewater.
Topics: Acetobacter; Animals; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Coffee; Corynebacterium; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Wastewater; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 33129032
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111541 -
International Journal of Systematic and... Jul 2021Two novel Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, cocci-shaped, non-motile, non-spore forming, pink-pigmented bacteria designated strains T6 and T18, were isolated from a...
Two novel Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, cocci-shaped, non-motile, non-spore forming, pink-pigmented bacteria designated strains T6 and T18, were isolated from a biocrust (biological soil crust) sample from the vicinity of the Tabernas Desert (Spain). Both strains were catalase-positive and oxidase-negative, and grew under mesophilic, neutrophilic and non-halophilic conditions. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequences, strains T6 and T18 showed similarities with CGMCC 1.10758 and CP2C (98.11 and 98.55% gene sequence similarity, respectively). The DNA G+C content was 69.80 and 68.96% for strains T6 and T18, respectively; the average nucleotide identity by blast (ANIb) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values confirmed their adscription to two novel species within the genus . The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 8 (Cω7Cω6), C, C 2-OH and summed feature 3 (Cω7Cω6). According to he results of the polyphasic study, strains T6 and T18 represent two novel species in the genus (which currently includes only three species), for which names sp. nov. (type strain T6 = CECT 30228=DSM 112073) and sp. nov. (type strain T18=CECT 30229=DSM 112074) are proposed, respectively.
Topics: Acetobacteraceae; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Base Composition; DNA, Bacterial; Desert Climate; Fatty Acids; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Phospholipids; Phylogeny; Pigmentation; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Soil Microbiology; Spain
PubMed: 34292142
DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004837 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2022Bacterial nanocellulose (BC) is a highly versatile biopolymer currently pursued as a material of choice in varied themes of biomedical and material science research...
Bacterial nanocellulose (BC) is a highly versatile biopolymer currently pursued as a material of choice in varied themes of biomedical and material science research fields. With the aim to extend the biotechnological applications, the genetic tractability of the BC producers within the Komagataeibacter genus and its potential as an alternative host chassis in synthetic biology have been extensively studied. However, such studies have been largely focused on the model Komagataeibacter spp. Here, we present a novel K. intermedius strain capable of utilizing glucose, and glycerol sources for biomass and BC synthesis. Genome assembly identified one bacterial cellulose synthetase (bcs) operon containing the complete gene set encoding the BC biogenesis machinery (bcsI) and three additional copies (bcsII-IV). Investigations on the genetic tractability confirmed plasmid transformation, propagation of vectors with pBBR1 and p15A origin of replications and constitutive and inducible induction of recombinant protein in K. intermedius ENS15. This study provides the first report on the genetic tractability of K. intermedius, serving as starting point towards future genetic engineering of this strain.
Topics: Acetobacteraceae; Genetic Engineering; Synthetic Biology; Biomass
PubMed: 36443480
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24735-z -
Carbohydrate Polymers Nov 2021Topical approaches to oral diseases require frequent dosing due to limited retention time. A mucoadhesive drug delivery platform with extended soft tissue adhesion...
Topical approaches to oral diseases require frequent dosing due to limited retention time. A mucoadhesive drug delivery platform with extended soft tissue adhesion capability of up to 7 days is proposed for on-site management of oral wound. Bacterial cellulose (BC) and photoactivated carbene-based bioadhesives (PDz) are combined to yield flexible film platform for interfacing soft tissues in dynamic, wet environments. Structure-activity relationships evaluate UV dose and hydration state with respect to adhesive strength on soft tissue mimics. The bioadhesive composite has an adhesion strength ranging from 7 to 17 kPa and duration exceeding 48 h in wet conditions under sustained shear forces, while other mucoadhesives based on hydrophilic macromolecules exhibit adhesion strength of 0.5-5 kPa and last only a few hours. The work highlights the first evaluation of BC composites for mucoadhesive treatments in the buccal cavity.
Topics: Acetobacteraceae; Adhesives; Cellulose; Drug Delivery Systems; Mouth; Pharmaceutical Preparations, Dental
PubMed: 34702445
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118403 -
Toxins Jun 2022Patulin is a mycotoxin that primarily contaminate apples and apple products. Whole cell or cell-free extracts of ATCC 621 were able to transform patulin to E-ascladiol....
Patulin is a mycotoxin that primarily contaminate apples and apple products. Whole cell or cell-free extracts of ATCC 621 were able to transform patulin to E-ascladiol. Proteins from cell-free extracts were separated by anion exchange chromatography and fractions with patulin transformation activity were subjected to peptide mass fingerprinting, enabling the identification of two NADPH dependent short chain dehydrogenases, GOX0525 and GOX1899, with the requisite activity. The genes encoding these enzymes were expressed in and purified. Kinetic parameters for patulin reduction, as well as pH profiles and thermostability were established to provide further insight on the potential application of these enzymes for patulin detoxification.
Topics: Escherichia coli; Furans; Gluconobacter oxydans; Malus; Oxidoreductases; Patulin
PubMed: 35878161
DOI: 10.3390/toxins14070423 -
Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering Jun 2023In this study, the synthesis of xylonic acid from xylose by Gluconobacter oxydans NL71 has been investigated. According to the relationship between oxygen transfer rate...
In this study, the synthesis of xylonic acid from xylose by Gluconobacter oxydans NL71 has been investigated. According to the relationship between oxygen transfer rate and oxygen uptake rate, three different kinetic models of product formation were established and the nonlinear fitting was carried out. The results showed that G. oxydans has critical dissolved oxygen under different strain concentrations, and the relationship between respiration intensity and dissolved oxygen conformed to the Monod equation [Formula: see text]. The maximum reaction rate per unit cell mass and the theoretical maximum specific productivity of G. oxydans obtained by the kinetic model are 0.042 mol/L/h and 6.97 g/g/h, respectively. These results will assist in determining the best balance between the airflow rate and cell concentration in the reaction and improve the production efficiency of xylonic acid.
Topics: Fermentation; Gluconobacter oxydans; Xylose; Hydrodynamics; Oxygen
PubMed: 36952003
DOI: 10.1007/s00449-023-02865-6