Pseudomonas campi sp. nov., a nitrate-reducing bacterium isolated from grassland soil

A novel strain was isolated from grassland soil that has the potential to assimilate ammonium by the reduction of nitrate in the presence of oxygen. Whole genome sequence analysis revealed the presence of an assimilatory cytoplasmic nitrate reductase gene nasA and the assimilatory nitrite reductase genes nirBD which are involved in the sequential reduction of nitrate to nitrite and further to ammonium, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolate represents a member of the genus Pseudomonas. The closest phylogenetic neighbours based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis are the type strains of Pseudomonas peli (98.17%) and Pseudomonas guineae (98.03%). In contrast, phylogenomic analysis revealed a close relationship to Pseudomonas alcaligenes. Computation of the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) with the closest phylogenetic neighbours of S1-A32-2T revealed genetic differences at the species level, which were further substantiated by differences in several physiological characteristics. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that the soil isolate represents a novel species of the genus Pseudomonas, for which the name Pseu-domonas campi sp. nov. (type strain S1-A32-2T=LMG 31521T=DSM 110222T) is proposed

Ether- and Ester-Bound iso-Diabolic Acid and Other Lipids in Members of <i>Acidobacteria</i> Subdivision 4

Recently, iso-diabolic acid (13,16-dimethyl octacosanedioic acid) has been identified as a major membrane-spanning lipid of subdivisions 1 and 3 of the Acidobacteria, a highly diverse phylum within the Bacteria. This finding pointed to the Acidobacteria as a potential source for the bacterial glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers that occur ubiquitously in peat, soil, lakes, and hot springs. Here, we examined the lipid composition of seven phylogenetically divergent strains of subdivision 4 of the Acidobacteria, a bacterial group that is commonly encountered in soil. Acid hydrolysis of total cell material released iso-diabolic acid derivatives in substantial quantities (11 to 48% of all fatty acids). In contrast to subdivisions 1 and 3 of the Acidobacteria, 6 out of the 7 species of subdivision 4 (excepting “Candidatus Chloracidobacterium thermophilum”) contained iso-diabolic acid ether bound to a glycerol in larger fractional abundance than iso-diabolic acid itself. This is in agreement with the analysis of intact polar lipids (IPLs) by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), which showed the dominance of mixed ether-ester glycerides. iso-Diabolic acid-containing IPLs were not identified, because these IPLs are not released with a Bligh-Dyer extraction, as observed before when studying lipid compositions of subdivisions 1 and 3 of the Acidobacteria. The presence of ether bonds in the membrane lipids does not seem to be an adaptation to temperature, because the five mesophilic isolates contained a larger amount of ether lipids than the thermophile “Ca. Chloracidobacterium thermophilum.” Furthermore, experiments with Pyrinomonas methylaliphatogenes did not reveal a major influence of growth temperature over the 50 to 69°C range

Ammonia‐oxidizing archaea and nitrite‐oxidizing nitrospiras in the biofilter of a shrimp recirculating aquaculture system

This study analysed the nitrifier community in the biofilter of a zero discharge, recirculating aquaculture system ( RAS ) for the production of marine shrimp in a low density (low ammonium production) system. The ammonia‐oxidizing populations were examined by targeting 16 S rRNA and amoA genes of ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria ( AOB ) and archaea ( AOA ). The nitrite‐oxidizing bacteria ( NOB ) were investigated by targeting the 16 S rRNA gene. Archaeal amoA genes were more abundant in all compartments of the RAS than bacterial amoA genes. Analysis of bacterial and archaeal amoA gene sequences revealed that most ammonia oxidizers were related to N itrosomonas marina and N itrosopumilus maritimus . The NOB detected were related to N itrospira marina and N itrospira moscoviensis, and Nitrospira  marina ‐type NOB were more abundant than N . moscoviensis ‐type NOB . Water quality and biofilm attachment media played a role in the competitiveness of AOA over AOB and Nitrospira  marina‐ over N . moscoviensis‐ type NOB .Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95109/1/fem1448.pd

Study of the reaction γp→pπ0η\gamma p\to p\pi^0\eta

The reaction $\gamma p\to p\pi^0\eta$ has been studied with the CBELSA detector at the tagged photon beam of the Bonn electron stretcher facility. The reaction shows contributions from $\Delta^+(1232)\eta$, $N(1535)^+\pi^0$ and $pa_0(980)$ as intermediate states. A partial wave analysis suggests that the reaction proceeds via formation of six $\Delta$ resonances, $\Delta(1600)P_{33}$, $\Delta(1920)P_{33}$, $\Delta(1700)D_{33}$, $\Delta(1940)D_{33}$, $\Delta(1905)F_{35}$, $\Delta(2360)D_{33}$, and two nucleon resonances $N(1880)P_{11}$ and $N(2200)P_{13}$, for which pole positions and decay branching ratios are given.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, 7 table

Aquarium Nitrification Revisited: Thaumarchaeota Are the Dominant Ammonia Oxidizers in Freshwater Aquarium Biofilters

Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) outnumber ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in many terrestrial and aquatic environments. Although nitrification is the primary function of aquarium biofilters, very few studies have investigated the microorganisms responsible for this process in aquaria. This study used quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to quantify the ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) and 16S rRNA genes of Bacteria and Thaumarchaeota in freshwater aquarium biofilters, in addition to assessing the diversity of AOA amoA genes by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and clone libraries. AOA were numerically dominant in 23 of 27 freshwater biofilters, and in 12 of these biofilters AOA contributed all detectable amoA genes. Eight saltwater aquaria and two commercial aquarium nitrifier supplements were included for comparison. Both thaumarchaeal and bacterial amoA genes were detected in all saltwater samples, with AOA genes outnumbering AOB genes in five of eight biofilters. Bacterial amoA genes were abundant in both supplements, but thaumarchaeal amoA and 16S rRNA genes could not be detected. For freshwater aquaria, the proportion of amoA genes from AOA relative to AOB was inversely correlated with ammonium concentration. DGGE of AOA amoA genes revealed variable diversity across samples, with nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) indicating separation of freshwater and saltwater fingerprints. Composite clone libraries of AOA amoA genes revealed distinct freshwater and saltwater clusters, as well as mixed clusters containing both freshwater and saltwater amoA gene sequences. These results reveal insight into commonplace residential biofilters and suggest that aquarium biofilters may represent valuable biofilm microcosms for future studies of AOA ecology

Spatial patterns of microbial diversity and activity in an aged creosote-contaminated site

Restoration of polluted sites via in situ bioremediation relies heavily on the indigenous microbes and their activities. Spatial heterogeneity of microbial populations, contaminants and soil chemical parameters on such sites is a major hurdle in optimizing and implementing an appropriate bioremediation regime. We performed a grid-based sampling of an aged creosote-contaminated site followed by geostatistical modelling to illustrate the spatial patterns of microbial diversity and activity and to relate these patterns to the distribution of pollutants. Spatial distribution of bacterial groups unveiled patterns of niche differentiation regulated by patchy distribution of pollutants and an east-to-west pH gradient at the studied site. Proteobacteria clearly dominated in the hot spots of creosote pollution, whereas the abundance of Actinobacteria, TM7 and Planctomycetes was considerably reduced from the hot spots. The pH preferences of proteobacterial groups dominating in pollution could be recognized by examining the order and family-level responses. Acidobacterial classes came across as generalists in hydrocarbon pollution whose spatial distribution seemed to be regulated solely by the pH gradient. Although the community evenness decreased in the heavily polluted zones, basal respiration and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis rates were higher, indicating the adaptation of specific indigenous microbial populations to hydrocarbon pollution. Combining the information from the kriged maps of microbial and soil chemistry data provided a comprehensive understanding of the long-term impacts of creosote pollution on the subsurface microbial communities. This study also highlighted the prospect of interpreting taxa-specific spatial patterns and applying them as indicators or proxies for monitoring polluted sites