Neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences of isolates 4.1, 4.2, 9.3 and 11.5, as well as strain 2362 and some other strains belonging to related taxa.

<p>The evolutionary distances are based on the Kimura 2-parameter model. Bootstrap values (>50%) based on 1000 replications are shown at branch nodes. Gene Bank accession numbers are given in parentheses. <i>Paenibacillus polymyxa</i> NCDO 1774^T was used as outgroup. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA version 4.</p

Evolution of <i>Lysinibacillus sphaericus</i> and <i>Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis</i> spores in water and sludge samples collected in treated catch basins (average±SE).

<p>Symbols: ○ = Lsph spores per ml of water; • = Bti spores per ml of water; □ = Lsph spores per gram of sludge; ▪ = Bti spores per gram of sludge.</p

PFGE patterns of <i>Sma</i>I digested genomic DNA of the 11 <i>Lysinibacillus</i> isolates and references (strains 2362 and the ATCC14577^T).

<p>Sb: <i>Salmonella</i> serotype Braenderup H9812 restricted with <i>Xba</i>I.</p

Standard curves for the quantification of <i>Lysinibacillus sphaericus</i> (A) and <i>Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis</i> (B).

<p>Each spore concentration was tested with 9 replicates on 3 different runs. Linear regressions, Lsph: y = 3.59x+40.71, R² = 0.98; Bti: y = 3.39x+37.50, R² = 0.97. The dashed line represents the LOQ of the real-time PCR assay.</p

Dynamic cellular complexity of anoxygenic phototrophic sulfur bacteria in the chemocline of meromictic Lake Cadagno

<div><p>The meromictic Lake Cadagno is characterized by a compact chemocline with high concentrations of anoxygenic phototrophic purple sulfur bacteria (PSB) and green sulfur bacteria (GSB). The co-occurrence of phylogenetically distant bacterial groups such as PSB and GSB in the same ecological niche, makes the chemocline of Lake Cadagno an ideal system for studying the conditions and consequences of coexistence of photosynthetic bacteria populations. In this study, we applied flow cytometry (FCM) as a fast tool to identify metabolic changes due to the production and consumption of inclusion bodies such as sulfur globules (SGBs), and follow population dynamics of closely related anoxygenic photosynthetic sulfur bacteria in their natural environment. Large-celled PSB <i>Chromatium okenii</i> and GSB <i>Chlorobium</i> populations were reliably separated and identified due to differences in auto-fluorescence and cell size. Moreover, we showed that these dominant taxa share the same ecological niche over seasonal periods. Taking advantage of FCM detection of dynamic cellular complexity variation during phases of photosynthetic activity, we identified an unexpected alternation in PSB versus GSB metabolic activity, indicating dynamic interspecific interactions between these two populations.</p></div

Specificity of different methods for the identification of four <i>Staphylococcus</i> species as compared to 16S sequencing.

<p>Specificity of different methods for the identification of four <i>Staphylococcus</i> species as compared to 16S sequencing.</p

Correlation between SGBs per cell and FCM median SSC for anoxygenic PSB <i>C</i>. <i>okenii</i>.

<p>(A)Intracellular sulfur globules (SGBs) consumption per cell in function of light hours irradiation. (B) Flow cytometry median sideward scatter (SSC) decrease in function of light hours irradiation. (C) Correlation between number of SGBs per cell and median SSC in PSB <i>C</i>. <i>okenii</i>.</p

Physico-chemical and biological profiles of Lake Cadagno water column.

<p>A) Oxygen [mg L^-1], H₂S [mg L^-1], conductivity [mS cm^-1]. (B) Flow cytometry detected percentage of microbial chlorophyll and bacteriochlorophyll (% red fluorescence, FL3 positive-signal) and turbidity profile [NTU]. Orange shading highlight the chemocline layer on the sampling day (12 July 2016).</p

Flow cytometry quantification of phototrophic cells in Lake Cadagno water column.

<p>Total photosynthetic cells, PSB <i>C</i>. <i>okenii</i>, GSB <i>Chlorobium</i> spp. vertical profile. Orange shading highlight chemocline layer (9:00 AM, 12 July 2016).</p

Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for <i>Streptococcus agalactiae</i> and <i>S. pneumoniae</i>.

<p>The study sample on which the calculation is based was represented by <i>Streptococcus</i> spp. only.</p