The complete genome sequence of Trueperella pyogenes UFV1 reveals a processing system involved in the quorumsensing signal response

We present here the complete genome sequence of Trueperella pyogenes UFV1. The 2.3-Mbp genome contains an extremely interesting AI-2 transporter and processing system related to the quorum-sensing signal response. This specific feature is described in this species for the first time and might be responsible for a new pathogenic behavior

Milk microbial composition of Brazilian dairy cows entering the dry period and genomic comparison between Staphylococcus aureus strains susceptible to the bacteriophage vB_SauM-UFV_DC4

Brazil has the second-largest dairy cattle herd in the world, and bovine mastitis still can cause significant losses for dairy farmers. Despite this fact, little information is available about milk microbial composition of Brazilian dairy cows, as well as the potential use of bacteriophages in the control of S. aureus. Here, we investigated milk bacterial composition of 28 Holstein Fresian cows (109 teats), selected in the dry-off period, using 16S rRNA analysis. Furthermore, a representative S. aureus strain (UFV2030RH1) was obtained at drying-off for isolation of a bacteriophage (vB_SauM-UFV_DC4, UFV_DC4) and bacterial genomic comparison purposes. Our outcomes revealed that Staphylococcus was the third most prevalent genus and positively correlated with subclinical mastitis events. As a major finding, genomic analyses showed the presence of adhesive matrix molecules that recognize microbial surface components (MSCRAMM) in UFV2030RH1 and might indicate great biofilm formation capability. A minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay showed that resistance to ampicillin was the highest among the antibiotic tested in S. aureus 3059 and UFV2030RH1, displaying values four and sixteen times greater than MIC resistance breakpoint, respectively. Together, our results suggest that Staphylococcus is highly prevalent in dairy cows at drying-off and the use of the phage UFV_DC4 as a biocontrol agent must be investigated in future studies

Genomic analysis and immune response in a murine mastitis model of vB_EcoM-UFV13, a potential biocontrol agent for use in dairy cows

Bovine mastitis remains the main cause of economic losses for dairy farmers. Mammary pathogenic Escherichia coli (MPEC) is related to an acute mastitis and its treatment is still based on the use of antibiotics. In the era of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) present as an efficient treatment or prophylactic option. However, this makes it essential that its genetic structure, stability and interaction with the host immune system be thoroughly characterized. The present study analyzed a novel, broad host-range anti-mastitis agent, the T4virus vB-EcoM-UFV13 in genomic terms, and its activity against a MPEC strain in an experimental E. coli-induced mastitis mouse model. 4,975 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were assigned between vB-EcoM-UFV13 and E. coli phage T4 genomes with high impact on coding sequences (CDS) (37.60%) for virion proteins. Phylogenetic trees and genome analysis supported a recent infection mix between vB-EcoM-UFV13 and Shigella phage Shfl2. After a viral stability evaluation (e.g pH and temperature), intramammary administration (MOI 10) resulted in a 10-fold reduction in bacterial load. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-\u3b1, were observed after viral treatment. This work brings the whole characterization and immune response to vB-EcoM-UFV13, a biocontrol candidate for bovine mastitis

Expression of the nifH gene in diazotrophic bacteria in Eucalyptus urograndis plantations

A large proportion of eucalypt plantations in Brazil are located in areas with low soil fertility. The actions of microorganisms are of great importance for the cycling of nutrients, including nitrogen (N), that are essential for plant metabolism. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to monitor and identify the total and active microorganisms involved in the N cycle in both the soil and root systems of a forest of Eucalyptus urograndis with sections that were fertilized with N or unfertilized. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to examine the expression of the nifH gene in N-fixing bacteria present in both the soil and root systems. According to the DGGE analysis, in the total and active populations of N-fixing bacteria, the presence and expression of the nifH gene were influenced by the winter and summer seasons and (or) N fertilization, respectively. DGGE band sequencing from total DNA samples showed that the most abundant group of diazotrophic bacteria belonged to Alphaproteobacteria in both the soil and root systems. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that nifH expression was higher in the soil samples, especially in those that did not receive N fertilization. The differences in the composition of the total and active diazotrophic populations highlight the importance of evaluating the active populations, because they are effectively responsible for the biogeochemical transformation of N and also control its' availability to plants.Une grande partie des plantations brésiliennes d'eucalyptus sont situées sur des sites peu fertiles. L'action des microorganismes est d'une grande importance dans le recyclage des nutriments, incluant l'azote (N) qui est essentiel au métabolisme des plantes. La technique de DGGE a été employée pour effectuer le suivi et identifier la quantité de microorganismes totaux et actifs impliqués dans le recyclage de N à la fois dans le sol et les systèmes racinaires d'une forêt d'Eucalyptus urograndis comprenant des sections fertilisées à l'azote et d'autres pas. La PCR quantitative en temps réel a été utilisée pour examiner l'expression du gène nifH dans les bactéries fixatrices d'azote présentes à la fois dans le sol et les systèmes racinaires. Selon l'analyse DGGE, chez les populations totales et actives de bactéries fixatrices d'azote, la présence et l'expression du gène nifH étaient respectivement influencées par les saisons hivernale et estivale et/ou par la fertilisation azotée. Le séquençage des bandes de DGGE à partir d'échantillons d'ADN total a démontré que le groupe le plus abondant de bactéries diazotrophiques appartenait aux Alphaprotéobactéries, à la fois dans le sol et les systèmes racinaires. Le PCR quantitatif en temps réel a révélé que l'expression des gènes nifH était plus élevée dans les échantillons de sol, et spécialement dans ceux qui n'avaient pas été fertilisés à l'azote. Les différences dans la composition des populations diazotrophiques totales et actives soulignent l'importance d'évaluer les populations actives puisqu'elles sont effectivement responsables de la transformation biogéochimique de l'azote et qu'elles contrôlent sa disponibilité pour les plantes. [Traduit par la Rédaction]

The use of the carbon/nitrogen ratio and specific organic loading rate as tools for improving biohydrogen production in fixed-bed reactors

This study assessed the effect of the carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio on the hydrogen production from sucrose-based synthetic wastewater in upflow fixed-bed anaerobic reactors. C/N ratios of 40, 90, 140, and 190 (g C/g N) were studied using sucrose and urea as the carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. An optimum hydrogen yield of 3.5 mol H2 mol−1 sucrose was obtained for a C/N ratio of 137 by means of mathematical adjustment. For all C/N ratios, the sucrose removal efficiency reached values greater than 80% and was stable after the transient stage. However, biogas production was not stable at all C/N ratios as a consequence of the continuous decreasing of the specific organic loading rate (SOLR) when the biomass accumulated in the fixed-bed, causing the proliferation of H2-consuming microorganisms. It was found that the application of a constant SOLR of 6.0 g sucrose g−1 VSS d−1 stabilized the system

The complete genome sequence of Trueperella pyogenes UFV1 reveals a processing system involved in the quorum-sensing signal response

We present here the complete genome sequence of Trueperella pyogenes UFV1. The 2.3-Mbp genome contains an extremely interesting AI-2 transporter and processing system related to the quorum-sensing signal response. This specific feature is described in this species for the first time and might be responsible for a new pathogenic behavior

Zika Virus Envelope Protein Domain III Produced in <i>K. phaffii</i> Has the Potential for Diagnostic Applications

Zika virus (ZIKV) represents a global human health threat and it is related to severe diseases such as congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). There is no vaccine available nor specific antiviral treatment, so developing sensitive, specific, and low-cost diagnostic tests is necessary. Thus, the objective of this work was to produce the Zika virus envelope protein domain III (ZIKV-EDIII) in Komagataella phaffii KM71H and evaluate its potential for diagnostic applications. After the K. phaffii had been transformed with the pPICZαA-ZIKV-EDIII vector, an SDS-PAGE and Western Blot were performed to characterize the recombinant protein and an ELISA to evaluate the antigenic potential. The results show that ZIKV-EDIII was produced in the expected size, with a good purity grade and yield of 2.58 mg/L. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed 90% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity for IgM, and 93.33% sensitivity and 82.76% specificity for IgG. The ZIKV-EDIII protein was efficiently produced in K. phaffi, and it has the potential for diagnostic applications

Heterotrophic nitrifying/aerobic denitrifying bacteria: Ammonium removal under different physical-chemical conditions and molecular characterization

Biological ammonium removal via heterotrophic nitrification/aerobic denitrification (HN/AD) was characterized for two isolates from a wastewater treatment station (WWTS). They were identified as Pseudomonas balearica UFV3 and Gordonia anticalis UFV4. Their ability to remove ammonium via NH/DA was validated by chromatography, and the influence of different physical-chemical factors on removal was evaluated. The presence of genes involved in conventional nitrification and denitrification processes was investigated via PCR and comparative genomics. Both isolates removed 100% of the ammonium in a medium containing citrate as its carbon source with a C/N ratio of 8, 3% salt, pH 7 and 30 degrees C. Nitrogen balance showed that approximately 55% of the ammonium removed was lost as N-2((g)), and 45% was assimilated. Molecular characterization revealed the absence of genes involved in autotrophic nitrification in the genome of the two isolates and the presence of genes involved in anaerobic denitrification only in P. balearica UFV3, suggesting the involvement of other genes in the HN/AD process. This was the first report of G. amicalis and P. balearica with the capability for HN/AD248CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE MINAS GERAIS - FAPEMIGsem informaçãosem informaçãosem informação8603-4600391375PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S. A. - PETROBRA

Distribution of predominant bacterial groups in the soils and root systems of <i>E. globulus</i> plantations in three regions of Portugal (Penafiel, Gavião and Odemira).

<p>Bacteria were identified by band sequencing of the <i>nifH</i> gene obtained using the DGGE technique.</p