Correlation between some environmental variables and abundance of Almophrya mediovacuolata (Ciliophora: Anoplophryidae) endocommensal ciliate of an anecic earthworms (Oligochaeta: Annelida) in Bambui (North-West Cameroon)

This study was devoted to accessing the influence of some soil physico-chemical parameters on the abundance of Almophrya mediovacuolata Ngassam, 1983, astome ciliate of the digestive tract of earthworms (EW) of the species Alma nilotica collected along “Fa’a ntsa” stream in Bambui. The survey primarily involved soil samples collection from the same spots of EW collection and preparation for physico-chemical analysis; evaluation in situ of the volumic density (VD) of worms (number /dm3 soil), their dissection, isolation and counting of ciliates with respect to different portion of EW’s gut (fore, mid and hindgut). Furthermore, correlation analysis between soil physico-chemical parameters and biological responses (EW volumic density and ciliate abundance) were performed. The results reveal that EW abundance was positively and significantly correlated with the following physico-chemical parameters: Cation Exchange Capacity CEC (p <0.01) and Mg2+ (p <0.05). A positive and significant correlation was found between Almophrya mediovacuolata and the pH of KCl in the foregut and midgut (p <0.01) while a negative and significant correlation was found between the abundance of Almophrya mediovacuolata and Ca2+ in the foregut (p <0.05). Almophrya mediovacuolata were found mostly in the foregut. This result shows that each portion of the digestive tract of Alma nilotica can be considered as a set of natural microhabitat in which a number of physico-chemical factors generate ecological niches suitable for the survival of different species of microorganisms among which ciliated protozoa. The fore and midgut was noticed to be the preferential zones of Almophrya mediovacuolata.Keywords: Biotic parameters, ciliated protozoa, microhabitat, soil physico-chemical parameters

ASSESSMENT OF THE ADSORPTION OF AEROMONAS HYDROPHILA ON POLYTHENE IN SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TREATED WATER

A study was carried out on Aeromonas hydrophila adhesion to polythene fragment at different cell growth phases in aquatic microcosm. The main purpose of this study was to assess adsorption capacity, adsorption intensity and kinetics of Aeromonas hydrophila on polythene in sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) disinfected water. The mean abundance of adhered A. hydrophila sometimes reached 28 and 111CFU.cm-2 respectively in NaOCl and H2O2 treated water. The adsorption capacities of A. hydrophila cells fluctuated between 1 and 2.12x1057 and between 1 and 2.29x1027 adhered cells.cm-2 in NaOCl and H2O2 disinfected water respectively. The adsorption intensities of this bacterium ranged from -45.81 to 3.49x1019 and from 0.16 to 2.29x1027 respectively in NaOCl and H2O2 treated water. Adsorption capacity and adsorption intensity of A. hydrophila cells on polythene in NaOCl treated water were greater than that obtained in water disinfected with H2O2. Adhesion kinetics of A. hydrophila cells oscillated between 0.001 and 0.930 adhered cell.cm-2.h-1. Adsorption kinetics seem resulted from interactions between bacterial cells and substrates, and depended both on the fragment type and bacterial species. The values of A. hydrophila surface hydrophobicity fluctuated between 65.11 and 92.74% in NaOCl disinfected water and between 63.38 and 89.41% in H2O2 treated water. The mean values of contact angle ranged from 83.1±0.6 to 85.8±0.8°.   Adhesion of A. hydrophila on polythene is mediated amongst others by cell growth phases, cell surface hydrophobicity, cell kinetic adhesion, adsorption capacity and adsorption intensity

Assessment of the potential effect of some streams properties on the isolated Aeromonas hydrophila strains susceptibility against some β-Lactams and Sulfamids

The isolation and characterization of A. hydrophila strains were carried out a given stream located in the equatorial zone in Cameroon (Central Africa), during the mild rainy season and the mild dry season. The water physicochemical parameters measured were temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, color, turbidity and suspended solids. It has been noted that bacterial abundances as well as the values of physicochemical parameters undergoes temporal variations. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests showed that the means diameters of inhibition with Oxacillin, Ceftriazone, Penicellin, Sulfamethoxazol-trimethoprim, Chloramphenicol, Imipenem, Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid and Cefazolin were 6.44, 21, 6.63, 9.58, 15.37, 22.18, 14.29 and 10.26 mm respectively. 100% of strains tested were resistant to Penicillin, 89.47 % resistant to Oxacillin, 68.42% resistant to Sulphamethoxazole-trimetroprim and 63.15% were resistant to Cefazolin. There were 54.60% cases of antibiotic resistance, 24.34 % of intermediate sensitivity and 21.05% of sensitive strains against the tested antibiotics. The encoded redundancy analysis indicates that the percentage of the variation explained on the canonical axes is of 47.8% for the F1 axis and 25.9% for the F2 axis, for an accumulated percentage of 73.7%. The suspended solids, the Ceftriazon and Chloramphenicol are correlated to the F1 axis in positive coordinates, and the Temperature and Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid in negative coordinates. The correlation test between the water physicochemical characteristics and the inhibition diameters of antibiotics showed some significant correlations (P<0.05). The regulation of bacterial genes would be regulated by complex mechanisms. Although many factors implied are linked to the bacterial cell, others may belong to the closed environment

The effect of extrinsic mortality on genome size evolution in prokaryotes

Mortality has a significant role in prokaryotic ecology and evolution, yet the impact of variations in extrinsic mortality on prokaryotic genome evolution has received little attention. We used both mathematical and agent-based models to reveal how variations in extrinsic mortality affect prokaryotic genome evolution. Our results suggest that the genome size of bacteria increases with increased mortality. A high extrinsic mortality increases the pool of free resources and shortens life expectancy, which selects for faster reproduction, a phenotype we called ‘scramblers’. This phenotype is realised by the expansion of gene families involved in nutrient acquisition and metabolism. In contrast, a low mortality rate increases an individual’s life expectancy, which results in natural selection favouring tolerance to starvation when conditions are unfavourable. This leads to the evolution of small, streamlined genomes (‘stayers’). Our models predict that large genomes, gene family expansion and horizontal gene transfer should be observed in prokaryotes occupying ecosystems exposed to high abiotic stress, as well as those under strong predator- and/or pathogen-mediated selection. A comparison of genome size of cyanobacteria in relatively stable marine versus more turbulent freshwater environments corroborates our predictions, although other factors between these environments could also be responsible

Anatomy of the recurrent coastal sediment plume in Lake Michigan and its impacts on light climate, nutrients, and plankton

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/94624/1/jgrc9664.pd

Functional Effects of Parasites on Food Web Properties during the Spring Diatom Bloom in Lake Pavin: A Linear Inverse Modeling Analysis

This study is the first assessment of the quantitative impact of parasitic chytrids on a planktonic food web. We used a carbon-based food web model of Lake Pavin (Massif Central, France) to investigate the effects of chytrids during the spring diatom bloom by developing models with and without chytrids. Linear inverse modelling procedures were employed to estimate undetermined flows in the lake. The Monte Carlo Markov chain linear inverse modelling procedure provided estimates of the ranges of model-derived fluxes. Model results support recent theories on the probable impact of parasites on food web function. In the lake, during spring, when ‘inedible’ algae (unexploited by planktonic herbivores) were the dominant primary producers, the epidemic growth of chytrids significantly reduced the sedimentation loss of algal carbon to the detritus pool through the production of grazer-exploitable zoospores. We also review some theories about the potential influence of parasites on ecological network properties and argue that parasitism contributes to longer carbon path lengths, higher levels of activity and specialization, and lower recycling. Considering the “structural asymmetry” hypothesis as a stabilizing pattern, chytrids should contribute to the stability of aquatic food webs

The Airway Microbiota in Cystic Fibrosis: A Complex Fungal and Bacterial Community—Implications for Therapeutic Management

International audienceBackground Given the polymicrobial nature of pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), it is essential to enhance our knowledge on the composition of the microbial community to improve patient management. In this study, we developed a pyrosequencing approach to extensively explore the diversity and dynamics of fungal and prokaryotic populations in CF lower airways. Methodology and Principal Findings Fungi and bacteria diversity in eight sputum samples collected from four adult CF patients was investigated using conventional microbiological culturing and high-throughput pyrosequencing approach targeting the ITS2 locus and the 16S rDNA gene. The unveiled microbial community structure was compared to the clinical profile of the CF patients. Pyrosequencing confirmed recently reported bacterial diversity and observed complex fungal communities, in which more than 60% of the species or genera were not detected by cultures. Strikingly, the diversity and species richness of fungal and bacterial communities was significantly lower in patients with decreased lung function and poor clinical status. Values of Chao1 richness estimator were statistically correlated with values of the Shwachman-Kulczycki score, body mass index, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (p = 0.046, 0.047, 0.004, and 0.001, respectively for fungal Chao1 indices, and p = 0.010, 0.047, 0.002, and 0.0003, respectively for bacterial Chao1 values). Phylogenetic analysis showed high molecular diversities at the sub-species level for the main fungal and bacterial taxa identified in the present study. Anaerobes were isolated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was more likely to be observed in association with Candida albicans than with Aspergillus fumigatus