Proteobacteria, extremophiles and unassigned species dominate in a tape-like showerhead biofilm

Abstract The development of showerhead biofilms exposes the user to repeated contact with potentially pathogenic microbes, yet we know relatively little about the content of these aggregates. The aim of the present study was to examine the microbial content of tape-like films found protruding from a domestic showerhead. Culturing showed that the films were dominated by aerobic α- and β-proteobacteria. Three isolates made up almost the entire plate count. These were a Brevundimonas species, a metalophilic Cupriavidus species and a thermophile, Geobacillus species. Furthermore, it was shown that the Cupriavidus isolate alone had a high capacity for biofilm formation and thus might be the initiator of biofilm production. A clone library revealed the same general composition. However, half of the 70 clones analyzed could not be assigned to a particular bacterial phylum and of these 29 differed from one another by only 1–2 base pairs, indicating a single species. Thus both the culture dependent and culture independent characterizations suggest a simple yet novel composition. The work is important as the biofilm is fundamentally different in form (tape-like) and content from that of all previously reported ones, where variously Mycobacterium, Methylobacterium and Xanthomonas species have dominated, and extremophiles were not reported.

Bacterial diversity in relatively pristine and anthropogenically-influenced mangrove ecosystems (Goa, India)

To appreciate differences in benthic bacterial community composition at the relatively pristine Tuvem and the anthropogenically-influenced Divar mangrove ecosystems in Goa, India, parallel tag sequencing of the V6 region of 16S rDNA was carried out. We hypothesize that availability of extraneously-derived anthropogenic substrates could act as a stimulatant but not a deterrent to promote higher bacterial diversity at Divar. Our observations revealed that the phylum Proteobacteria was dominant at both locations comprising 43-46% of total tags. The Tuvem ecosystem was characterized by an abundance of members belonging to the class Deltaproteobacteria (21%), ~ 2100 phylotypes and 1561 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) sharing > 97% similarity. At Divar, the Gammaproteobacteria were ~ 2x higher (17%) than at Tuvem. A more diverse bacterial community with > 3300 phylotypes and > 2000 OTUs mostly belonging to Gammaproteobacteria and a significantly higher DNT (n = 9, p < 0.001, df = 1) were recorded at Divar. These findings suggest that the quantity and quality of pollutants at Divar are perhaps still at a level to maintain high diversity. Using this technique we could show higher diversity at Divar with the possibility of Gammaproteobacteria contributing to modulating excess nitrate.

History on the biological nitrogen fixation research in graminaceous plants: special emphasis on the Brazilian experience

A presente revisão aborda a história da Fixação Biológica de Nitrogênio (FBN) em Gramíneas no Brasil, procurando mostrar a evolução da pesquisa na área iniciada a mais de 40 anos sob a liderança da pesquisadora Johanna Döbereiner. Um aspecto marcante deste período foi a descoberta de diversas bactérias fixadoras de nitrogênio atmosférico tais com as rizosféricas (Beijerinckia fluminensis e Azotobacter paspali), associativas (Azospirillum lipoferum, A. brasilense, A. amazonense) e as endofíticas (Herbaspirillum seropedicae, H. rubrisubalbicans, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, Burkholderia brasilensis e B. tropica). O papel destas bactérias diazotróficas em associação com as gramíneas, especialmente os cereais, tem sido estudado e muito se avançou sobre os aspectos ecológicos, fisiológicos, bioquímicos e genéticos. Os mecanismos de colonização e infecção dos tecidos das plantas foram melhor entendidos e a contribuição da FBN para o sistema solo-planta foi determinado. Estudos de inoculação de cereais com bactérias diazotróficas, têm mostrado que as endofíticas têm um maior potencial de contribuição da FBN e que o genótipo da planta influencia na associação da planta/bactéria. Os avanços alcançados apontam para uma maior exploração e entendimento desta associação endofítica. Os programas de sequenciamento do genoma: RIOGENE (Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus) e GENOPAR (Herbaspirillum seropedicae) mostram a importância da FBN no Brasil e devem permitir que o país continue na fronteira do conhecimento em relação ao processo de FBN em gramíneas.