ABSTRACT
Migrants in Germany are a very heterogeneous population. This has to be taken into account when developing and distributing materials. Linguistic and cultural barriers lead to the conclusion that personal communication is the best way to approach some of the migrant groups--especially in sensitive fields like HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The German Federal Centre of Health Education (BZgA) supports multipliers with special material for prevention and counselling. New methods for translation and distribution were developed for a family planning brochure in Turkish. Furthermore, a newsletter provides a forum for exchange of information and experiences among those working in the field of migration and health.
Subject(s)
Family Planning Services , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Health Education , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/prevention & control , Transients and Migrants , Adult , Counseling , Female , Germany , Humans , Male , Pilot ProjectsABSTRACT
The gene coding for an aerobic azoreductase was cloned from Pigmentiphaga kullae K24, which is able to grow with the carboxylated azo compound 1-(4'-carboxyphenylazo)-4-naphthol (carboxy-Orange I) as sole source of carbon and energy. The gene encoded a protein with a molecular weight of 20,557 Da, with a conserved putative NAD(P)H-binding site in the amino-terminal region. The deduced amino acid sequence showed no further significant sequence homologies to previously studied aerobic azoreductases. The azoreductase was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and shown to convert the sulfonated azo dye Orange I and furthermore Magneson II [4-(4-nitrophenylazo)-1-naphthol].
Subject(s)
Betaproteobacteria/enzymology , Betaproteobacteria/genetics , Genes, Bacterial , NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases/genetics , Aerobiosis , Amino Acid Sequence , Azo Compounds/metabolism , Base Sequence , Cloning, Molecular , Coloring Agents/metabolism , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , Escherichia coli/genetics , Gene Expression , Molecular Sequence Data , NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases/isolation & purification , NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases/metabolism , Nitroreductases , Recombinant Proteins/genetics , Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification , Recombinant Proteins/metabolism , Substrate SpecificityABSTRACT
The taxonomy of strain KF46FT, which was isolated previously after an aerobic enrichment with the azo compound 1-(4'-carboxyphenylazo)-2-naphthol as the sole source of energy and carbon, was investigated by a polyphasic approach. The organism contained a quinone system with ubiquinone Q-8 and 2-hydroxyputrescine and putrescine as the major polyamines, suggesting that strain KF46FT belonged to the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria. The polar lipid profile consisted mainly of phosphatidylethanolamine and minor amounts of phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene supported its placement in the family Comamonadaceae, but the sequence similarities to the most closely related species of the genera Hydrogenophaga, Acidovorax, Comamonas and Xylophilus were only in the range 95.0 to 96.1%. Different methods for the construction of phylogenetic trees showed the separate position of strain KF46FT 'between' the genera Hydrogenophaga, Variovorax, Comamonas and Xylophilus. Analysis of the fatty acids revealed an unusual profile, with the presence of 8:0 3-OH, 10:0 3-OH, 16:1 2-OH, 16:0 2-OH and 18:1 2-OH in addition to 17:0 cyclo, which is unique among the previously described genera of the family Comamonadaceae. Thus, a new taxon is proposed for strain KF46FT, with the name Xenophilus azovorans gen. nov., sp. nov.
Subject(s)
Azo Compounds/metabolism , Benzenesulfonates/metabolism , Betaproteobacteria/classification , Soil Microbiology , Betaproteobacteria/chemistry , Betaproteobacteria/genetics , Betaproteobacteria/physiology , Biodegradation, Environmental , DNA, Ribosomal/analysis , Fatty Acids/analysis , Lipid Metabolism , Molecular Sequence Data , Phylogeny , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
The taxonomic position of Pseudomonas strain K24, which was isolated previously after an aerobic enrichment with the azo compound 1-(4'-carboxyphenylazo)-4-naphthol as the sole source of carbon and energy, was investigated. The detection of a quinone system with ubiquinone Q-8 as the predominant compound and a polyamine pattern with putrescine and 2-hydroxyputrescine as the major polyamines present suggested that strain K24T belongs to the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria. This was supported by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene, which demonstrated about 95-96% sequence similarity to different species of the genera Achromobacter, Alcaligenes and Bordetella. This suggested that strain K24T is a member of the family Alcaligenaceae. The G+C content of the DNA was 68.5 mol %. Different methods for the construction of phylogenetic dendrograms placed strain K24T separate from the genera Alcaligenes, Achromobacter and Bordetella. Analysis of the fatty acids demonstrated the presence of 10:0 3-OH and high concentrations of summed feature 7 (18:1omega7c, 18:1omega9t and/or 18:1omega12t) and 19:0 cycloomega8c, which is unique among previously described species of the genera Alcaligenes, Achromobacter and Bordetella. On the basis of the low 16S rRNA sequence similarities, the composition of the fatty acid profile and unique phenotypic properties, a new genus and species is proposed for strain K24T with the name Pigmentiphaga kullae gen. nov., sp. nov.
Subject(s)
Azo Compounds/metabolism , Betaproteobacteria/classification , Betaproteobacteria/growth & development , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Aerobiosis , Betaproteobacteria/genetics , Betaproteobacteria/metabolism , Biodegradation, Environmental , Fatty Acids/analysis , Genes, rRNA , Molecular Sequence Data , Phenotype , Phylogeny , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
The success of combined release of the predatory mites Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus in suppression of spider mites may be related to the effects of the interactions between the two predators on their population dynamics. We studied population growth and persistence of the specialist P persimilis and the generalist N. californicus reared singly versus reared in combination after simultaneous and successive predator introductions on detached bean leaf arenas with abundant prey, Tetranychus urticae. and with diminishing prey. When reared singly with abundant prey, either predator population persisted at high densities to the end of the experiment. In every predator combination system with abundant prey and various initial predator:predator ratios N. californicus displaced P persimilis. When held singly with diminishing prey, the population of P. persimilis grew initially faster than the population of N. californicus but both species reached similar population peaks. Irrespective whether reared singly or in combination. N. californicus persisted three to five times longer after prey depletion than did P. persimilis. Regarding the crucial interactions in the predator combination systems, we conclude that intraguild predation was a stronger force than food competition and finally resulted in the displacement of P. persimilis. Previous studies showed that intraguild predation between the specialist P. persimilis and the generalist N. californicus is strongly asymmetric favoring the generalist. We discuss the implications of potential interactions between P. persimilis and N. californicus to biological control of spider mites.
Subject(s)
Mites , Animals , Fabaceae , Plant Leaves , Population Dynamics , Predatory BehaviorABSTRACT
The taxonomic status of a gram-negative, oxidase positive rod (strain S1) able to degrade 4-aminobenzenesulfonate was studied using a polyphasic approach. Chemotaxonomic investigations of quinones and polar lipids established the allocation of this strain to the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria and revealed similarities to Hydrogenophaga palleronii. 16S rRNA sequence comparisons demonstrated that this strain clusters phylogenetically with H. palleronii and H. taeniospiralis, but clearly represents a new species. The fatty acid patterns and substrate utilization profile displayed similarity to the characteristics of the four validly published species of Hydrogenophaga, although clear differentiating characters were also observed. No close similarities between the type strains of H. palleronii and H. taeniospiralis were detected in hybridization experiments with the genomic DNAs. On basis of these results, the new species Hydrogenophaga intermedia sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain S1T (= DSM 5680).
Subject(s)
Betaproteobacteria/classification , Bacterial Typing Techniques , Betaproteobacteria/genetics , Betaproteobacteria/metabolism , Betaproteobacteria/ultrastructure , Biodegradation, Environmental , Culture Media , DNA, Ribosomal/analysis , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , Evolution, Molecular , Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria/classification , Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria/enzymology , Molecular Sequence DataABSTRACT
A bacterial strain (strain S5) which grows aerobically with the sulfonated azo compound 4-carboxy-4'-sulfoazobenzene as the sole source of carbon and energy was isolated. This strain was obtained by continuous adaptation of "Hydrogenophaga palleronii" S1, which has the ability to grow aerobically with 4-aminobenzenesulfonate. Strain S5 probably cleaves 4-carboxy-4'-sulfoazobenzene reductively under aerobic conditions to 4-aminobenzoate and 4-aminobenzene-sulfonate, which are mineralized by previously established degradation pathways.
