Abscesos cerebrales por Dermacoccus nishinomiyaensis como primera manifestación de enfermedad granulomatosa crónica / Dermacoccus nishinomiyaensis brain abscesses as the first manifestation of chronic granulomatous disease

La enfermedad granulomatosa crónica es una inmunodeficiencia primaria poco frecuente, que secaracteriza por defectos en alguna de las subunidades del complejo enzimático nicotinamida adeninadinucleótido fosfato oxidasa, que ocasiona un déficit en la generación de anión superóxido por losfagocitos. Dentro de este grupo, la forma ligada al X es la más frecuente. Se reporta el caso de una paciente de sexo femenino de 2 años con enfermedad granulomatosa crónica autosómica recesiva, con mutación en gen CYBA, quien presentó manifestación inicial de la enfermedad con abscesos cerebrales ocasionados por un germen oportunista (Dermacoccus nishinomiyaensis). Esta infección permitió la sospecha diagnóstica temprana, por lo que recibió el tratamiento y la profilaxis en forma oportuna. Actualmente, se encuentra libre de infecciones, a la espera del trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas.

Chronic granulomatous disease is a rare primary immunodeficiency characterized by defects in one of the subunits of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase enzyme complex, which causes a deficiency in the capacity of phagocytes to generate superoxide anion. Within this group, the X-linked form is the most frequent. Here we report the case of a 2-year-old female patient with autosomal recessive chronic granulomatous disease, with a mutation in the CYBA gene, whose initial manifestation was brain abscesses caused by an opportunistic microorganism (Dermacoccus nishinomiyaensis). The infection led to an early diagnostic suspicion, so treatment and prophylaxis were administered in a timely manner. Currently, she is infectionfree, awaiting hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation.

Advances in the biosynthesis of cyclodipeptide type natural products derived from actinomycetes / 生物工程学报

Cyclodipeptide (CDP) composed of two amino acids is the simplest cyclic peptide. These two amino acids form a typical diketopiperazine (DKP) ring by linking each other with peptide bonds. This characteristic stable ring skeleton is the foundation of CDP to display extensive and excellent bioactivities, which is beneficial for CDPs' pharmaceutical research and development. The natural CDP products are well isolated from actinomycetes. These bacteria can synthesize DKP backbones with nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) or cyclodipeptide synthase (CDPS). Moreover, actinomycetes could produce a variety of CDPs through different enzymatic modification. The presence of these abundant and diversified catalysis indicates that actinomycetes are promising microbial resource for exploring CDPs. This review summarized the pathways for DKP backbones biosynthesis and their post-modification mechanism in actinomycetes. The aim of this review was to accelerate the genome mining of CDPs and their isolation, purification and structure identification, and to facilitate revealing the biosynthesis mechanism of novel CDPs as well as their synthetic biology design.

Microbial evaluation of implant surface - a clinical study comparing submerged, non-submerged and immediately loaded implants

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the microbial contamination in internal and external walls of cone morse implant walls. Methods: Eleven patients with edentulous mandibular posterior area were selected to received dental implants, divided into groups: submerged (S), non-submerged (NS), and immediately loaded (IL). Microbiological evaluations (microorganisms' number, aerobic and anaerobic colony forming units (CFU) number and microorganisms' qualification) were divided into internal and external collection of the implant walls, at different stages: T0 (surgical procedure), T2 (suture removal), T4 (reopening S group), T6 (suture removal S group), and T8 (abutment placement in S and NS). All data were submitted to statistical analyses, with confidence level of 0.05. Results: There was difference in number of microorganisms observed over time within the same group (p < 0.05). A difference was observed in CFU when evaluated within the same group over time (p < 0.05), except for the IL group. In internal collection, a predominance of non-formation of microorganisms was observed at T0 in all groups, while formation of Gram-positive Diplococci and Gram-positive Bacilli was observed at T8 (p>0.05). In external collection, an increase in number of microorganisms was observed at T0. Conclusion: There was no difference in microbial contamination among the evaluated groups. The microorganism's colonization changed over time

Actividad antibacteriana de actinomicetos frente a Escherichia coli y Staphylococcus aureus multirresistentes de origen hospitalario / Antibacterial activity of actimycetes against multiresistant Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a hospital

Introducción: La resistencia a los antimicrobianos (RAM) es un problema de salud pública que manifiesta la disminuida eficacia de estos agentes en la prevención y tratamiento de una proporción cada vez más amplia de patologías. Los actinomicetos son un grupo bacteriano importante de productores de metabolitos activos contra patógenos. Objetivo: Aislar actinomicetos del bosque tropical de Nariño, con potencial producción de metabolitos inhibitorios contra bacterias multidrogo-resistentes. Materiales y métodos: Se tomaron muestras de suelo de Bosque Tropical Húmedo de la Reserva Natural del Río Ñambí, se analizaron microbiológica y molecularmente. Se estimuló la producción in vitro de metabolitos secundarios y evaluó el efecto inhibitorio de estos extractos contra las bacterias multidrogo-resistentes Escherichia coli y Staphylococcus aureus. Resultados: Se obtuvieron 11 aislados presuntivos, se confirmó que cuatro de ellos correspondieron al género Streptomyces sp. Las pruebas de inhibición contra bacterias multidrogo-resistentes E. coli y S. aureus, permitieron verificar que el aislado P3772 fue el más eficiente en la inhibición de los patógenos. Conclusiones: Todos los actinomicetos evaluados presentan actividad antibacteriana contra al menos una de las bacterias patógenas estudiadas; destacando el aislado P3772, que inhibe a E. coli y S. aureus. Se espera caracterizar los compuestos vinculados a la actividad antibacteriana.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AR) is a public health problem that reveals the diminished efficacy of these agents in the prevention and treatment of an increasingly larger number of pathologies. Actinomycetes are an important bacterial producer group of metabolites that are active against pathogens. Objective: To isolate actinomycetes from the tropical forest of Nariño (Colombia), which have the potential to produce inhibitory metabolites against multi-drug resistant bacteria. Materials and methods: Soil samples were taken from the Humid Tropical Forest of the Río Ńambí Natural Reserve and analyzed through microbiological and molecular assays. In vitro production of secondary metabolites was first stimulated, followed by the assessment of the inhibitory effect of these extracts against multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Results: 11 presumptive isolates were obtained, confirming that four of them corresponded to the Streptomyces sp. genus. The bacterial isolate P3772 was identified as the one with the highest inhibitory effect against multi-drug resistant E. coli and S. aureus. Conclusions: All the actinomycetes evaluated presented antibacterial activity. The isolate P3772 stands out, which inhibited both E. coli and S. aureus. The compounds associated with this antibacterial activity will be characterized in future studies.

Genome analysis and plant growth promoting activity of Pseudonocardia strain DR1-2 from the root of Dendrobium christyanum Rchb.f

Aims@#The objective of this study was to analyze the genome of endophytic actinomycete associated with orchids and evaluate its plant hormone activities, including phytohormone, siderophore, ammonia production, zinc and phosphate solubilization.@*Methodology and results@#Strain DR1-2 isolated from the roots of the Thai orchid, Dendrobium christyanum Rchb.f., was closely related to Pseudonocardia alni DSM 44104T, P. antarctica DSM 44749T and P. carboxydivorans Y8T (99.93-100% similarity) based 16S rRNA gene sequence. This strain exhibited IAA production (294.10 ± 12.17 μg/mL), phosphate solubilization (2.20 ± 0.08 solubilization Index, SI), positive for siderophore production and ammonia production (36.99 ± 2.24 μg/mL). It showed a maximum IAA of 489.73 ± 8.90 μg/mL, when optimized using 0.5% Ltryptophan, pH 6 and incubated at 30 °C for 7 days. The IAA of strain enhanced the root length, shoot length, number of roots and fresh weight of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L. cv. RD49). The draft genome of strain DR1-2 was 6,077,423 bp in 23 contigs with G+C content of 74.6%. The average nucleotide identity-Blast (ANIb) and average nucleotide identity-MUMmer (ANIm) values of strain DR1-2 and related type strains were 95.81 to 97.25% and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were 72.60 to 74.00%, respectively. Genomic analysis of strain DR1-2 revealed that the gene encodes the enzyme involved in the phytohormones biosynthesis and gene clusters involved in the biosynthesis of bioactive metabolites.@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#Endophytic actinomycete, Pseudonocardia strain DR1-2 from Thai orchid, D. christyanum Rchb.f., exhibited significant IAA production and affected the growth of the plant, which was the potential source of plant hormones for agricultural applications.

Marine actinomycetes from the Kerala coastal region as a potential expedient for the natural drug discovery

Aims@#The marine actinomycetes are a rich source of novel bioactive molecules. Especially the exotic tropical marine habitat of the Kerala coastal region favours the actinomycete diversity. The present study focuses on the isolation, purification and morphological characterization of marine actinomycetes for the discovery of new bioactive compounds.@*Methodology and results@#A total of 280 morphologically distinct actinomycetes were isolated from marine soil and sediments of 10 different isolation sites located along the coastal region of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India using standard microbiological techniques. The physicochemical analysis of the soil samples collected from different stations was also done.@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#Even though the soil/sediment samples were collected from geographically nearby places, the physicochemical parameters showed a significant variation. This may be one of the factors which may trigger the actinomycete diversity in these regions. The diversity of actinomycetes prevalent in this region could serve as a potential source for the discovery of novel biomolecules.

Development and application of ribosomal engineering in actinomycetes / 生物工程学报

Ribosomal engineering is a technique that can improve the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in the antibiotics-resistant mutants by attacking the bacterial RNA polymerase or ribosome units using the corresponding antibiotics. Ribosomal engineering can be used to discover and increase the production of valuable bioactive secondary metabolites from almost all actinomycetes strains regardless of their genetic accessibility. As a consequence, ribosomal engineering has been widely applied to genome mining and production optimization of secondary metabolites in actinomycetes. To date, more than a dozen of new molecules were discovered and production of approximately 30 secondary metabolites were enhanced using actinomycetes mutant strains generated by ribosomal engineering. This review summarized the mechanism, development, and protocol of ribosomal engineering, highlighting the application of ribosomal engineering in actinomycetes, with the aim to facilitate future development of ribosomal engineering and discovery of actinomycetes secondary metabolites.

In-vitro model of scardovia wiggsiae biofilm formation and effect of nicotine

Abstract Recently, Scardovia wiggsiae has been reported to be strongly associated with caries formation. This study aimed to establish an in vitro model of S. wiggsiae biofilm and to investigate the effect of nicotine on S. wiggsiae colony-forming units (CFUs) growth. S. wiggsiae biofilm was grown overnight using brain-heart infusion (BHI) broth supplemented with 5 g of yeast extract/L (BHI-YE). The overnight culture was used as an inoculum to grow S. wiggsiae biofilm on standardized enamel and dentin samples. Samples were incubated with different nicotine concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mg/mL) for 3 days. The dissociated biofilms were diluted, spiral plated on blood agar plates, and incubated for 24 h. CFUs/mL were quantified using an automated colony counter. A two-way ANOVA was used to compare the effect of different nicotine concentrations on S. wiggsiae CFUs. This study demonstrated that S. wiggsiae biofilm could be initiated and formed in vitro. Increased CFUs was observed through 0.5-4 mg/mL and 0.5-8 mg/mL of nicotine using enamel and dentin substrates, respectively. 16 and 32 mg/mL of nicotine were determined as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), respectively. S. wiggsiae formed greater biofilm on enamel than dentin specimens in response to the nicotine stimulus. This study demonstrated the negative effect of smoking on increasing S. wiggsiae biofilm. Establishing S. wiggsiae biofilm in vitro may allow researchers in the future to have a better understanding of caries pathogenesis and bacterial interaction.

Resumo Recentemente, foi relatado que Scardovia wiggsiae está fortemente associado à formação de cáries. Este estudo teve como objetivo estabelecer um modelo in vitro de biofilme de S. wiggsiae e investigar o efeito da nicotina no crescimento de unidades formadoras de colônias (UFC) de S. wiggsiae. O biofilme de S. wiggsiae foi cultivado durante a noite usando caldo de infusão de cérebro-coração (BHI) suplementado com 5 g de extrato de levedura / L (BHI-YE). A cultura noturna foi usada como um inóculo para cultivar biofilme de S. wiggsiae em amostras padronizadas de esmalte e dentina. As amostras foram incubadas com diferentes concentrações de nicotina (0, 0,5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 e 32 mg/mL) por 3 dias. Os biofilmes dissociados foram diluídos, semeados em espiral em placas de ágar sangue e incubados por 24 h. UFC/mL foram quantificados usando um contador de colônias automatizado. Uma ANOVA de duas vias foi usada para comparar o efeito de diferentes concentrações de nicotina em UFCs de S. wiggsiae. Este estudo demonstrou que o biofilme de S. wiggsiae pode ser iniciado e formado in vitro. UFCs aumentadas foram observadas com 0,5-4 mg/mL e 0,5-8 mg/mL de nicotina usando substratos de esmalte e dentina, respectivamente. A concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) e a concentração bactericida mínima (CBM) de nicotina foram determinadas, respectivamente, como 16 e 32 mg/mL. S. wiggsiae formou maior biofilme no esmalte do que espécimes de dentina em resposta ao estímulo de nicotina. Este estudo demonstrou o efeito negativo do tabagismo no aumento do biofilme de S. wiggsiae. O estabelecimento do biofilme de S. wiggsiae in vitro pode permitir que os pesquisadores no futuro tenham uma melhor compreensão da patogênese da cárie e da interação bacteriana.

Effect of Polygonum multiflorum-Andrographis paniculata intercropping system on rhizosphere soil actinomycetes community structure and diversity of P. multiflorum / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the effect of Polygonum multiflorum-Andrographis paniculata intercropping system on rhizosphere soil actinomycetes of P. multiflorum, the community structure and diversity of soil actinomycetes were studied by using the original soil as the control group and the rhizosphere soil actinomycetes communities of P. multiflorum under monoculture and intercropping systems as the experimental group. In this study 655 221 effective sequences were obtained with an average length of 408 bp. OTU coverage and rarefaction curve showed that the sequencing could represent the real situation of soil actinomycetes. According to the results of alpha diversity analysis, the diversity soil actinomycetes varied as follows: original soil>intercropping soil>monoculture soil. The soil actinomycetes community structure and the relative abundance of dominant genera were significantly changed by both monoculture and intercropping, especially monoculture. OTU clustering and PCA analysis of soil samples showed that all the soil samples were divided into three distinct groups and the original soil was more similar to intercropping soil. In addition, intercropping increased the relative abundance of some beneficial actinomyces, such as Kitasatospora and Mycobacterium, which was beneficial to maintain soil health and reduce the occurrence of soil-borne diseases. The results show that, P. multiflorum-A. paniculata intercropping reduced the change of community structure and the decrease of diversity of soil actinomycetes caused by P. multiflorum monoculture, and made the actinomycete community in rhizosphere soil of P. multiflorum close to the original soil.

Gene expression profile of Scardovia spp. in the metatranscriptome of root caries

Abstract A few investigations of caries biofilms have identified Scardovia spp.; however, little is known about its involvement in caries pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to assess the gene expression profile of Scardovia spp. in root caries, and compare it with other microorganisms. Clinical samples from active root caries lesions were collected. Microbial mRNA was isolated and cDNA sequenced. The function and composition of the Scardovia were investigated using two methods: a) de novo assembly of the read data and mapping to contigs, and b) reads mapping to reference genomes. Pearson correlation was performed (p < 0.05). Proportion of Scardovia inopinata and Scardovia wiggsiae sequences ranged from 0-6% in the root caries metatranscriptome. There was a positive correlation between the transcriptome of Lactobacillus spp. and Scardovia spp. (r = 0.70; p = 0.03), as well as with other Bifidobacteriaceae (r = 0.91; p = 0.0006). Genes that code for fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase (the key enzyme for "Bifid shunt"), as well as ABC transporters and glycosyl-hydrolases were highly expressed. In conclusion, "Bifid shunt" and starch metabolism are involved in carbohydrate metabolism of S. inopinata and S. wiggsiae in root caries. There is a positive correlation between the metabolism abundance of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacteriaceae members, and Scardovia in root caries.

Endocarditis bacteriana por Kocuria kristinae en un paciente inmunocompetente. Reporte de caso / Bacterial endocarditis by Kocuria kristinae in an immunocompetent patient. Case report

Los miembros del género Kocuria corresponden a cocos Gram positivos ubicuos, generalmente inocuos y que hacen parte de la flora saprófita de un porcentaje importante de la población; ocasionalmente han sido descritos como los agentes responsables de patologías infecciosas, principalmente dentro del contexto de pacientes que concomitantemente cursan con enfermedades crónicas y estados de inmunosupresión. Son escasos los casos reportados como causa de endocarditis en pacientes inmunocompetentes a nivel global por especies de este género. Se expone el caso de una mujer inmunocompetente de 44 años, sin antecedentes de importancia, en quien solo el diagnóstico microbiológico permitió confirmar la presencia de Kocuria kristinae como agente causal de su endocarditis infecciosa; la literatura señala la dificultad existente al momento de diferenciar la endocarditis producida por Staphylococcus spp. versus Kocuria kristinae por su evolución clínica similar, indicando la importancia de la microbiología al momento de identificar y diagnosticar apropiadamente.

Members of the genus Kocuria correspond to ubiquitous, generally harmless, Gram-positive cocci that are part of the saprophytic flora of a significant percentage of the population; occasionally they have been described as the agents responsible for infectious pathologies, mainly in the context of patients who concomitantly have chronic diseases and are under an immunosuppression state. There are few cases reported as a cause of endocarditis in immunocompetent patients globally by species of this genus. We present the case of a 44-year-old immunocompetent woman, with no relevant history, in whom only the microbiological diagnosis confirmed the presence of Kocuria kristinae as the causative agent of her infectious endocarditis; Literature points out the difficulty existing when differentiating endocarditis produced by Staphylococcus spp. versus Kocuria kristinae because of their similar clinical evolution, indicating the importance of microbiology when identifying and diagnosing accurately.

Gut microbiota in Mexican patients with common variable immunodeficiency

Introduction: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the main symptomatic primary immunodeficiency and is associated with complex immune disorders. Gut microbiota interacts closely with the immune system, and intestinal dysbiosis is related to multiple diseases. Objective: To describe for the first time the composition of gut microbiota in Mexican patients with CVID. Methods: Fecal samples from five patients with CVID were collected and massive sequencing of the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was carried out using illumina technology. Results: Bacterial relative abundance was observed at all taxonomic levels. Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia were the predominant phyla. The Clostridia class and the Clostridial order were the most common in their respective taxon; the Ruminococcaceae family predominated. A total of 166 genera were reported, with the most abundant being Faecalibacterium. Five species were identified, but only Bifidobacterium longum was present in all patients. Conclusions: Unlike healthy subjects' gut microbiota, where Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes predominate, the microbiota of the patients with CVID considered in this study was abundant in Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. The low presence of Bacteroidetes and high abundance of Firmicutes might indicate the existence of intestinal dysbiosis in these patients.

Diversidad bacteriana en el biocátodo reductor de Cr(VI) de una Celda de Combustible Microbiana con puente salino / Bacterial diversity in the Cr(VI) reducing biocathode of a Microbial Fuel Cell with salt bridge

Although Cr(VI)-reducing and/or tolerant microorganisms have been investigated, there is no detailed information on the composition of the microbial community of the biocathode microbial fuel cell for Cr(VI) reduction. In this investigation, the bacterial diversity of a biocathode was analyzed using 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. It was found that most bacteria belonged to phylum Proteobacteria (78.8%), Firmicutes (7.9%), Actinobacteria (6.6%) and Bacteroidetes (5.5%), commonly present in environments contaminated with Cr(VI). The dominance of the genus Pseudomonas (34.87%), followed by the genera Stenotrophomonas (5.8%), Shinella (4%), Papillibacter (3.96%), Brevundimonas (3.91%), Pseu-dochrobactrum (3.54%), Ochrobactrum (3.49%), Hydrogenophaga (2.88%), Rhodococcus (2.88%), Fluviicola (2.35%), and Alcaligenes (2.3%), was found. It is emphasized that some genera have not previously been associated with Cr(VI) reduction. This biocathode from waters contaminated with tannery effluents was able to remove Cr(VI) (97.83%) in the cathodic chamber. Additionally, through use of anaerobic sludge in the anodic chamber, the removal of 76.6% of organic matter (glucose) from synthetic waste water was achieved. In this study, an efficient biocathode for the reduction of Cr(VI) with future use in bioremediation, was characterized.

Aunque se ha investigado sobre los microorganismos reductores y/o tolerantes de Cr(VI), no hay información detallada sobre la composición de la comunidad microbiana del cátodo de una Celda de Combustible Microbiana para la reducción de Cr(VI). En esta investigación se analizó la diversidad bacteriana de un biocátodo usando pirosecuenciación 454 del gen 16S rRNA. Se encontró que la mayoría de las bacterias pertenecieron a los filos Proteobac-teria (78,8%), Firmicutes (7,9%), Actinobacteria (6,6%) y Bacteroidetes (5,5%), comúnmente presentes en ambientes contaminados con Cr(VI). Se encontró como género dominante a Pseudomonas (34,87%), seguido por los géneros Stenotrophomonas (5,8%), Shinella (4%), Papil-libacter (3,96%), Brevundimonas (3,91%), Pseudochrobactrum (3,54%), Ochrobactrum (3,49%), Hydrogenophaga (2,88%), Rhodococcus (2,88%), Fluviicola (2,35%) y Alcaligenes (2,3%). Se destaca que algunos géneros no han sido previamente asociados con la reducción de Cr(VI). Este biocátodo procedente de aguas contaminadas con efluentes de curtiembres fue capaz de remover Cr(VI) (97,83%) en la cámara catódica. Adicionalmente, a través del uso de lodo anaeróbico en la cámara anódica, se logró la remoción del 76,6% de materia orgánica (glucosa) a partir de agua residual sintética. En este estudio se caracterizó un eficiente biocátodo para la reducción de Cr(VI) con futuro uso en biorremediación.

Dominant bacterial and archaeal phyla associated with top soils sourced from commercial farm holding in Delta State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT: The dominant bacteriological and archaeal phyla of compounded soils sourced from a commercial farm estate located in Amukpe town and a nearby control in Adavware community both in Delta State, were evaluated with the aid of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) protocols. The residual herbicide and pesticide composition of the bulked soils were also determined using gas chromatography (GC) and electron capture detector (ECD). Total concentrations of the extracted DNA were 6.83 and 6.65 ng/µl for the control and experimental soils. Nine (9) bacterial phyla; Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Planctomycetes, Bacteroidetes Acidobacteria, and Elusimicrobia were observed in the control soil. Thirteen (13) bacterial phyla; Elusimicrobia, Fibrobacteres Lentisphaerae, Armatimonadetes, Cyanobacteria/Chloroplast, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes and Verrucomicrobia were detected in the experimental soil. Two (2) archaeal phyla; Euryarchaeota, and Diapherotrites were detected both the experimental and control soil, whilst an additional archaeal phylum; Woesearchaeota was present in only the experimental soil. The total organochloride phosphate component of the experimental soil was 1.4µg/Kg and 0.4µg/Kg for the control soil respectively

Antimicrobial activity of actinomycetes and characterization of actinomycin-producing strain KRG-1 isolated from Karoo, South Africa

In the present study we reported the antimicrobial activity of actinomycetes isolated from aridic soil sample collected in Karoo, South Africa. Eighty-six actinomycete strains were isolated and purified, out of them thirty-four morphologically different strains were tested for antimicrobial activity. Among 35 isolates, 10 (28.57%) showed both antibacterial and antifungal activity. The ethyl acetate extract of strain KRG-1 showed the strongest antimicrobial activity and therefore was selected for further investigation. The almost complete nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene as well as distinctive matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) profile of whole-cell proteins acquired for strain KRG-1 led to the identification of Streptomyces antibioticus KRG-1 (GenBank accession number: KX827270). The ethyl acetate extract of KRG-1 was fractionated by HPLC method against the most suppressed bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (Newman). LC//MS analysis led to the identification of the active peak that exhibited UV-VIS maxima at 442 nm and the ESI-HRMS spectrum showing the prominent ion clusters for [M-H2O+H]+ at m/z 635.3109 and for [M+Na]+ at m/z 1269.6148. This information could be assigned to chromopeptide lactone antibiotic - actinomycin. Our results suggest that unexplored soils could be an interesting source for exploring antibacterial secondary metabolites.

Septic shock caused by the under-recognized bacterium Eggerthella lenta in a 61-year-old male with a periurethral abscess: a case report

Abstract Eggerthella lenta is a gram-positive anaerobic bacillus that has been associated with life-threatening infections. Bacteremia is always clinically significant and is mostly but not always associated with gastrointestinal disease. We present a unique case of abrupt deterioration and rapid development of septic shock secondary to periurethral abscess caused by E. lenta infection. This case highlights the atypical clinical presentation, risk factors, uncommon source of infection, challenges in therapy, and outcome of this infrequent infection. There is still a gap in the understanding of E. lenta pathogenicity, and more literature is needed to establish clear management recommendations.

Endophytic Actinomycetes as Potential Producers of Hemicellulases and Related Enzymes for Plant Biomass Degradation

Abstract Tailor made enzymatic preparation must be design to hydrolyze efficiently plant biomass, once that each plant biomass possesses a distinct cell wall composition. Most of actinomycetes used for plant cell wall degradation are focused on the cellulases and xylanases production. However, a wide range of enzymes must be produced for an efficient degradation of lignocellulose materials. During the last decade several unusual environments were studied to obtain strains that produce glycohydrolases with innovator characteristics. In this context, the present work concerned the selection of endophytic actinomycetes as producers of hemicellulases and related enzymes with different enzymatic profiles, for use in the deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass. A total of 45 Brazilian actinomycetes previously isolated from plants (endophytics) and soil were prospected for hemicellulases and β-glucosidase production. Four strains highlighted for hemicellulase production (DR61, DR63, DR69 and DR66) and were selected for cultivation under other inductors substrates (xylan and pectin). All strains belong to Streptomyces genera and have their extracts tested for degradation of several hemicellulolytic substrates. The strains presented different glicohydrolyse enzymes profiles mainly for xylans and glucans that can be used for specific formulations of enzymes applied on the biomass deconstruction, principally on sugar cane bagasse.

Changes induced by co-inoculation in nitrogen-carbon metabolism in cowpea under salinity stress

ABSTRACT To mitigate the deleterious effects of abiotic stress, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria along with diazotrophic bacteria has been increasing. The objectives of this study were to investigate the key enzymes related to nitrogen and carbon metabolism in the biological nitrogen fixation process and to elucidate the activities of these enzymes by the synergistic interaction between Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria in the absence and presence of salt stress. Cowpea plants were cultivated under axenic conditions, inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Actinomadura sp., Bradyrhizobium sp. and Bacillus sp., Bradyrhizobium sp. and Paenibacillus graminis, and Bradyrhizobium sp. and Streptomycessp.; the plants were also maintained in the absence (control) and presence of salt stress (50 mmolL-1 NaCl). Salinity reduced the amino acids, free ammonia, ureides, proteins and total nitrogen content in nodules and increased the levels of sucrose and soluble sugars. The co-inoculations responded differently to the activity of glutamine synthetase enzymes under salt stress, as well as glutamate synthase, glutamate dehydrogenase aminating, and acid invertase in the control and salt stress. Considering the development conditions of this experiment, co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Bacillus sp. in cowpea provided better symbiotic performance, mitigating the deleterious effects of salt stress.

Dose-response effect of crude extracts produced by actinobacteria on in vitro rumen fermentation / Padrão dose-resposta de extratos brutos produzidos por actinobactérias sobre a fermentação ruminal in vitro

Actinobacteria have been researched as a source that produces crude extracts, which contain bioactive compounds able to act as antimicrobial agents. The present investigation evaluated the dose-response effect of two crude extracts, obtained at Caatinga rhizosphere (Caat) and Rhizophora mangle (AMC), on in vitro ruminal fermentation by:cumulative gas production, digestibility of dry (IVDMD) and organic matter (IVOMD), and short-chain fatty acids concentration (SCFA). Three multiparous Holstein dairy cows with ruminal fistula were used as the inoculum donors and fed a basal diet consisting of corn silage, soybean meal, urea, ground corn and mineral supplement. Ruminal fluid samples were incubated in glass bottles with 1 g of the dried and milled diet, a buffer solution, and the crude extracts evaluated in four doses (0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.20 mg/10 mL inoculum) in a randomized block design, and the donators were considered as blocks with random effects. Additionally, negative controls were used. The results were expressed as average values based on triplicate analyses. Decreased cumulative gas production was observed according to linear dose response at 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation with the addition of Caat extract. The IVOMD showed a linear decrease at 72 h of incubation with dose Caat inclusion. Furthermore, the inclusion of Caat extract linearly reduced butyric and isovaleric acid concentrations, as well as acetate:propionate ratio. Finally, the Caat inclusion increased the propionic acid concentration in comparison to AMC extract. However, the inclusion of AMC extract did not affect any of the analyzed variables at the used doses. The Caat extract could be used as a modulator of in vitro ruminal fermentation, since it reduced acetate:propionate ratio and cumulative gas production.(AU)

As actinobactérias têm sido pesquisadas como fonte produtoras de extratos brutos que contêm compostos bioativos capazes de atuar como agentes antimicrobianos. O presente trabalho investigou o efeito dose-resposta de dois extratos brutos, AMC e Caat, na fermentação ruminal in vitro por: produção cumulativa de gás, digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (IVDMD) e matéria orgânica (IVOMD) e concentração de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta (SCFA). Três vacas leiteiras da raça Holandesa, multíparas e portadoras de fístula ruminal foram utilizadas como doadoras de inóculo ruminal e foram alimentadas com uma dieta basal composta por silagem de milho, farelo de soja, ureia, milho moído e suplemento mineral. As amostras de inóculo ruminal foram incubadas em garrafas de vidro com 1 g da dieta seca e moída, solução tampão e os extratos brutos avaliados em quatro doses (0,3, 0,6, 0,9 e 1,20 mg/10 mL de inóculo) em delineamento em blocos casualizados, sendo as doadoras consideradas os blocos como efeito aleatório. Além disso, foram utilizados controles negativos para a correção da produção de gás. Os resultados foram expressos como valores médios com base em análises triplicadas. A diminuição da produção cumulativa de gás foi observada de acordo com a dose em resposta linear às 24, 48 e 72 h de incubação com a adição de extrato de Caat. A IVOMD mostrou uma diminuição linear com 72 h de incubação com inclusão de Caat. Além disso, a inclusão do Caat reduziu linearmente as concentrações de ácido butírico e isovalérico, bem como a proporção de acetato/propionato. Diferentemente, a inclusão do extrato de AMC não afetou nenhuma das variáveis analisadas nas doses utilizadas. O extrato de Caat pode ser usado como um modulador da fermentação ruminal in vitro, uma vez que reduziu a proporção de acetato/propionato e a produção de gás acumulada. (AU)

Anaerobic biodegradation of benzo(a)pyrene by a novel Cellulosimicrobium cellulans CWS2 isolated from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated soil

Abstract Cellulosimicrobium cellulans CWS2, a novel strain capable of utilizing benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) as the sole carbon and energy source under nitrate-reducing conditions, was isolated from PAH-contaminated soil. Temperature and pH significantly affected BaP biodegradation, and the strain exhibited enhanced biodegradation ability at temperatures above 30 °C and between pH 7 and 10. The highest BaP removal rate (78.8%) was observed in 13 days when the initial BaP concentration was 10 mg/L, and the strain degraded BaP at constant rate even at a higher concentration (50 mg/L). Metal exposure experimental results illustrated that Cd(II) was the only metal ion that significantly inhibited biodegradation of BaP. The addition of 0.5 and 1.0 g/L glucose enhanced BaP biodegradation, while the addition of low-molecular-weight organic acids with stronger acidity reduced BaP removal rates during co-metabolic biodegradation. The addition of phenanthrene and pyrene, which were degraded to some extent by the strain, showed no distinct effect on BaP biodegradation. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that the five rings of BaP opened, producing compounds with one to four rings which were more bioavailable. Thus, the strain exhibited strong BaP degradation capability and has great potential in the remediation of BaP-/PAH-contaminated environments.