Presence of Legionellaceae in warm water supplies and typing of strains by polymerase chain reaction

Outbreaks of Legionnaire's disease present a public health challenge especially because fatal outcomes still remain frequent. The aim of this study was to describe the abundance and epidemiology of Legionellaceae in the human-made environment. Water was sampled from hot-water taps in private and public buildings across the area of Göttingen, Germany, including distant suburbs. Following isolation, we used polymerase chain reaction in order to generate strain specific banding profiles of legionella isolates. In total, 70 buildings were examined. Of these 18 (26%) had the bacterium in at least one water sample. Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1, 4, 5 and 6 could be identified in the water samples. Most of the buildings were colonized solely by one distinct strain, as proven by PCR. In three cases equal patterns were found in separate buildings. There were two buildings in this study where isolates with different serogroups were found at the same time

Amphritea atlantica gen. nov., sp. nov., a gammaproteobacterium from the Logatchev hydrothermal vent field

A novel Gram-negative, motile, aerobic rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from a Bathymodiolus sp. specimen collected from the Logatchev hydrothermal vent field at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The novel strain, M41(T), was catalase- and oxidase-positive and metabolised various carbohydrates and amino acids. It grew well in marine broth with an optimal growth temperature of 31 degrees C to 34 degrees C (range 4-40 degrees C and salinity requirement of 3% (range 0.3-9%). The pH range for growth was pH 4.6 to 9.5, with an optimum at pH 8.0. The predominant fatty acids were C-16: (1)omega 7c, C-16: 0 and C-18: 1 omega 7c. The DNA G + C content of strain M41(T) was 52.2 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence was 94 % similar to that of the type strain of Oceanospirillum beijerinckii, the closest cultivated relative. Other related type strains were Oceanospirillum multiglobuliferum (93% gene sequence similarity), Neptunomonas naphthovorans (92%) and Marinobacterium jannaschii (92 %). According to phylogenetic analysis and physiological characteristics, it is suggested that strain M41(T) represents a new genus and novel species for which the name Amphritea atlantica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M41(T) (= DSM 18887(T) = LMG 24143(T))

Bacterial isolates from the bryozoan Membranipora membranacea: influence of culture media on isolation and antimicrobial activity

From specimens of the bryozoan Membranipora membranacea collected in the Baltic Sea, bacteria were isolated on four different media, which significantly increased the diversity of the isolated groups. All isolates were classifiedaccording to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and tested for antimicrobial properties using a panel of five indicator strainsand six different media. Each medium featured a unique set of isolated phylotypes, and a phylogenetically diverse collection of isolates was obtained. A total of 96 isolates were assigned to 49 phylotypes and 29 genera. Only one-third of the members of these genera had been isolated previously from comparable sources. The isolates were affiliated with Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria, Bacilli, and Actinobacteria. A comparable large portion of up to 22 isolates, i.e., 15 phylotypes, probably represent new species. Likewise, 47 isolates (approximately 50%) displayed antibiotic activities, mostly against grampositive indicator strains. Of the active strains, 63.8 % had antibiotic traits only on one or two of the growth media, whereas only 12.7 % inhibited growth on five or all six media. The application of six different media for antimicrobial testing resulted in twice the number of positive hits as obtained with only a single medium. The use of different media for the isolation of bacteria as well as the variation of media considered suitable for the production of antibiotic substances significantly enhanced both the number of isolates obtained and the proportion of antibiotic active cultures. Thus the approach described herein offers an improved strategy in the search for new antibiotic compounds. [Int Microbiol 2012; 15(1):17-32

Bacterial isolates from the bryozoan Membranipora membranacea: influence of culture media on isolation and antimicrobioal activity

From specimens of the bryozoan Membranipora membranacea collected in the Baltic Sea, bacteria were isolated on four different media, which significantly increased the diversity of the isolated groups. All isolates were classifiedaccording to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and tested for antimicrobial properties using a panel of five indicator strainsand six different media. Each medium featured a unique set of isolated phylotypes, and a phylogenetically diverse collection of isolates was obtained. A total of 96 isolates were assigned to 49 phylotypes and 29 genera. Only one-third of the members of these genera had been isolated previously from comparable sources. The isolates were affiliated with Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria, Bacilli, and Actinobacteria. A comparable large portion of up to 22 isolates, i.e., 15 phylotypes, probably represent new species. Likewise, 47 isolates (approximately 50%) displayed antibiotic activities, mostly against grampositive indicator strains. Of the active strains, 63.8 % had antibiotic traits only on one or two of the growth media, whereas only 12.7 % inhibited growth on five or all six media. The application of six different media for antimicrobial testing resulted in twice the number of positive hits as obtained with only a single medium. The use of different media for the isolation of bacteria as well as the variation of media considered suitable for the production of antibiotic substances significantly enhanced both the number of isolates obtained and the proportion of antibiotic active cultures. Thus the approach described herein offers an improved strategy in the search for new antibiotic compound

DDR-Fußball und gesamtdeutsche Identität im Kalten Krieg

'Der Bereich Sport repräsentiert einen bemerkenswerten Fall in der zeitgenössischen deutschen Geschichte. In allen entscheidenden Sektoren der Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft erwies sich die Bundesrepublik als überlegen, seit 1968 allerdings gelang es der DDR Westdeutschland in den Olympischen Spielen zu schlagen. Nichtsdestotrotz konnte die DDR im Bereich Fußball nicht konkurrieren; der berühmte Sieg im Jahre 1974 gegen das Team der BRD bleib der einzige. Im Bewusstsein der Unterlegenheit vermied die DDR in Zukunft jegliches Match gegen die westdeutsche Nationalmannschaft. Gegenüberstellungen zwischen individuellen Vereinen waren einer strikten Kontrolle unterzogen, um jede Art von menschlicher Annäherung zwischen des Athleten von Ost und West zu unterbinden. Der anhaltende Enthusiasmus der DDR-Fußball-Fans für westdeutsche Teams blieb jedoch ein gesamtdeutsches Bekenntnis in der Zeit der geteilten Nation und konnte auch durch repressive Maßnahmen des Staatssicherheitsdienstes nicht verhindert werden.' (Autorenreferat)'The field of sport represents a remarkable special case in contemporary German history: In all crucial sectors of economics and society, the Federal Republic turned out to be the superior one, but since 1968 the GDR succeeded to beat West-Germany in the Olympic games. Nevertheless, the GDR couldn't compete on the football fields; the famous victory in the year 1974 against the FRG team remained the one and only one. Being aware of their inferiority, the GDR constantly avoided any matches against the West German national team in the future. Comparisons between individual clubs were subject to a strict monitoring, in order to prevent any human approximation between the athletes from east and west. The continuous enthusiasm of the GDR football fans for West German teams remained nevertheless a national clip in the epoch of the divided nation and could not be prohibited by repressive measures of the security service.' (author's abstract

Kiloniella laminariae, gen. nov., sp. nov., a new alphaproteobacterium from the marine macroalga Laminaria saccharina

A novel alphaproteobacterium, strain LD81(T), was isolated from the marine macroalga. Laminaria saccharina. The bacterium is mesophilic and shows a typical marine growth response. It is a chemoheterotrophic aerobe with the potential for denitrification. Growth optima are 25 degrees C, pH 5.5 and 3% NaCl. Strain LD81(T) has a unique phylogenetic position, not fitting any of the known families of the Alphaproteobacteria. The 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed a distant relationship to species of several orders of the Alphaproteobacteria, with less than 90% sequence similarity. Phylogenetically, strain LD81(T) is related to the type strains of Terasakiella pusilla (88.4% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and the three Thalassospira species (88.9-89.2%. It forms a cluster with these bacteria and a novel as-yet undescribed isolate (KOPRI 13522; 96.6% sequence similarity). Strain LD81(T) has a relatively low DNA G + C content (51.1 mol%) and, due to its distant phylogenetic position from all other alphaprotecibacteria, strain LD81(T) (=NCIMB 14374(T) =JCM 14845(T)) is considered as the type strain of a novel species within a new genus, for which the name Kiloniella laminariae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The genus Kiloniella represents the type of the new family Kiloniellaceae fam. nov. and order Kiloniellales ord. nov

Observación de bacterias sobre la superficie de oogonios liberados de Fucus vesiculosus L. (Phaeophyceae)

Pese al enorme número de bacterias que se encuentran normalmente en la columna de agua, se registra por primera vez su presencia sobre oogonios del alga Fucus vesiculosus. En cortes transversales, sin embargo, los oogonios se encontraban libres de epibiosis. Las algas fucoides son fundamentales en ciertos ambientes costeros, mas el impacto microbiano sobre su ciclo de vida y colonización es completamente desconocido.Pese al enorme número de bacterias que se encuentran normalmente en la columna de agua, se registra por primera vez su presencia sobre oogonios del alga Fucus vesiculosus. En cortes transversales, sin embargo, los oogonios se encontraban libres de epibiosis. Las algas fucoides son fundamentales en ciertos ambientes costeros, mas el impacto microbiano sobre su ciclo de vida y colonización es completamente desconocido

Subtercola vilae sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium from an extremely high-altitude cold volcano lake in Chile

A novel actinobacterium, strain DB165T, was isolated from cold waters of Llullaillaco Volcano Lake (6170 m asl) in Chile. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences identified strain DB165T as belonging to the genus Subtercola in the family Microbacteriaceae, sharing 97.4% of sequence similarity with Subtercola frigoramans DSM 13057T, 96.7% with Subtercola lobariae DSM 103962T, and 96.1% with Subtercola boreus DSM 13056T. The cells were observed to be Gram-positive, form rods with irregular morphology, and to grow best at 10–15 °C, pH 7 and in the absence of NaCl. The cross-linkage between the amino acids in its peptidoglycan is type B2γ; 2,4-diaminobutyric acid is the diagnostic diamino acid; the major respiratory quinones are MK-9 and MK-10; and the polar lipids consist of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, 5 glycolipids, 2 phospholipids and 5 additional polar lipids. The fatty acid profile of DB165T (5% >) contains iso-C14:0, iso-C16:0, anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0, and the dimethylacetal iso-C16:0 DMA. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain DB165T was determined to be 65 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic analyses presented in this study, strain DB165T (= DSM 105013T = JCM 32044T) represents a new species in the genus Subtercola, for which the name Subtercola vilae sp. nov. is proposed