Taxonomic profiling of bacterial community structure from coastal sediment of Alang-Sosiya shipbreaking yard near Bhavnagar, India.

The Alang-Sosiya shipbreaking yard (ASSBY) is considered the largest of its kind in the world, and a major source of anthropogenic pollutants. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of shipbreaking activities on the bacterial community structure with a combination of culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. In the culture-dependent approach, 200 bacterial cultures were isolated and analyzed by molecular fingerprinting and 16S ribosomal RNA (r-RNA) gene sequencing, as well as being studied for degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In the culture-independent approach, operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were related to eight major phyla, of which Betaproteobacteria (especially Acidovorax) was predominantly found in the polluted sediments of ASSBY and Gammaproteobacteria in the pristine sediment sample. The statistical approaches showed a significant difference in the bacterial community structure between the pristine and polluted sediments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the effect of shipbreaking activity on the bacterial community structure of the coastal sediment at ASSBY.

Description of Micrococcus aloeverae sp. nov., an endophytic actinobacterium isolated from Aloe vera.

A yellow Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-endospore -forming, spherical endophytic actinobacterium, designated strain AE-6(T), was isolated from the inner fleshy leaf tissues of Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) collected from Pune, Maharashtra, India. Strain AE-6(T) grew at high salt concentrations [10% (w/v) NaCl], temperatures of 15-41 °C and a pH range of 5-12. It showed highest (99.7%) 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Micrococcus yunnanensis YIM 65004(T) followed by Micrococcus luteus NCTC 2665(T) (99.6%) and Micrococcus endophyticus YIM 56238(T) (99.0%). Ribosomal protein profiling by MALDI-TOF/MS also showed it was most closely related to M. yunnanensis YIM 65004(T) and M. luteus NCTC 2665(T). Like other members of the genus Micrococcus, strain AE-6(T) had a high content of branched chain fatty acids (iso-C15:0 and anteiso-C15:0). MK-8(H2) and MK-8 were the predominant isoprenoid quinones. Cell wall analysis showed an 'A2 L-Lys-peptide subunit' type of peptidoglycan and ribose to be the major cell wall sugar. The DNA G+C content was 70 mol%. Results of DNA-DNA hybridization of AE-6(T) with its closest relatives from the genus Micrococcus produced a value of less than 70%. Based on the results of this study, strain AE-6(T) could be clearly differentiated from other members of the genus Micrococcus. We propose that it represents a novel species of the genus Micrococcus and suggest the name Micrococcus aloeverae sp. nov., with strain AE-6(T) ( = MCC 2184(T) = DSM 27472(T)) as the type strain of the species.

Response of bacterial community structure to seasonal fluctuation and anthropogenic pollution on coastal water of Alang-Sosiya ship breaking yard, Bhavnagar, India.

Bacterial community structure was analyzed from coastal water of Alang-Sosiya ship breaking yard (ASSBY), world's largest ship breaking yard, near Bhavnagar, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (cultured dependent and culture independent). In clone libraries, total 2324 clones were retrieved from seven samples (coastal water of ASSBY for three seasons along with one pristine coastal water) which were grouped in 525 operational taxonomic units. Proteobacteria was found to be dominant in all samples. In pristine samples, Gammaproteobacteria was found to be dominant, whereas in polluted samples dominancy of Gammaproteobacteria has shifted to Betaproteobacteria and Epsilonproteobacteria. Richness and diversity indices also indicated that bacterial community in pristine sample was the most diverse followed by summer, monsoon and winter samples. To the best of knowledge, this is the first study describing bacterial community structure from coastal water of ASSBY, and it suggests that seasonal fluctuation and anthropogenic pollutions alters the bacterial community structure.

Description of Pelistega indica sp. nov., isolated from human gut.

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, non-spore-forming, coccoid bacterium was isolated from a stool sample of a healthy human subject and formed cream colour colonies on tryptic soy agar. Almost full-length (1500 bp) small subunit rRNA (16S rRNA) gene sequences were generated and a similarity search was conducted by blast. The results of the similarity search indicated that the bacterium belongs to the class Betaproteobacteria, family Alcaligenaceae. It showed maximum sequence similarity (96.5 %) with Pelistega europaea CCUG 39967(T) followed by Advenella mimigardefordensis DSM 17166(T) (96.1 %) and Taylorella asinigenitalis LMG 19572(T) (95.3 %). The DNA G+C content of strain HM-7(T) was 42 mol%. Strain HM-7(T) contained C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C16 : 0 3-OH and C18 : 0 as the dominant fatty acids. Morphological, physiological and biochemical data also indicated that strain HM-7(T) represents a member of the genus Pelistega, but at the same time distinguished it from Pelistega europaea CCUG 39967(T), the only species of the genus with a validly published name. Based on polyphasic characterization we conclude that the bacterium represents a novel species of the genus Pelistega and propose the name Pelistega indica sp. nov., with strain HM-7(T) ( = MCC 2185(T) = DSM 27484(T)) as the type strain of the species.

Orally active hypoglycemic protein from Costus igneus N. E. Br.: an in vitro and in vivo study.

Plants have been used for the treatment of diabetes since time immemorial. In the present study, insulin-like protein (ILP) is purified from Costus igneus belonging to family Costaceae from Western ghats of India. The ILP showed cross reactivity with murine anti-insulin antibodies hence was purified by affinity chromatography using anti-insulin antibodies. The characterization of ILP showed that it is structurally different from insulin but functionally similar. The ILP showed a hypoglycemic activity in an in vitro assay with insulin responsive cell line RIN 5f. Interestingly ILP showed significant decrease in blood glucose level when administered orally in oral glucose tolerance test. This was compared to insulin a positive control given intraperitoneally in streptozotocine induced diabetic mice. There was no toxic effect seen on animals after administrating the ILP. Therefore we conclude that the ILP purified in the present study from C. igneus is a novel protein having hypoglycemic activity.

Draft Genome Sequence of Methylophaga lonarensis MPLT, a Haloalkaliphilic (Non-Methane-Utilizing) Methylotroph.

Methylophaga lonarensis strain MPL(T) is a haloalkaliphilic methylotroph isolated from Lonar Lake, a saline and alkaline lake in Maharashtra, India. Strain MPL(T) utilizes methanol as its sole carbon and energy source. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of M. lonarensis MPL(T) (VKM B-2684(T) = MCC 1002(T)).

Helicobacter pylori cagA, vacA and iceA genotypes in western Indian population of Maharashtra with varied gastroduodenal diseases.

Scarce reports relying on rapid urease test, serology and histopathology are currently known for H. pylori from Western India, Maharashtra. We investigated H. pylori genotypes at molecular level in gastro-duodenal disease population during the years 2002-2005. H. pylori presence was scored by polymerase chain reaction in the infected biopsies (n = 95) in various gastric diseases. H. pylori specific 16S rDNA gene amplification based preliminary identification coupled with protein coding gene amplification scores were assessed for the incidence. H. pylori 16S rDNA and 7 housekeeping genes were detected in all biopsies, whereas 71.18% and 28% found to be cagA positive and negative respectively. The vacA toxigenic alleles (vacA s1) and middle region subunit vac m1a were found in 54%, and 59% patients. However, the iceA1 was present in 40.06%; the iceA2 was less i.e. in 13.5% patients. The most common allelic combinations in different age groups irrespective of disease types were 13-30, 31-45, 46-60 and 61-73 were cagA-vac m1a-vacA s1-iceA1. In our analysis, PCR was found to be 100% accurate in detecting H. pylori in gastric biopsies. Among West Indian population H. pylori was found to be present, irrespective of any correlation with the genotype and gender of patients with the clinical outcome. However, the genotype incidences were related to age of the patients, wherein the age group ranging from 46 to 60 years was found be susceptible for H. pylori infection.

Isolation and functional characterization of siderophore-producing lead- and cadmium-resistant Pseudomonas putida KNP9.

Heavy metals, being phytotoxic, cause growth inhibition and even plant death. Siderophore-producing bacterial strain KNP9 is growth promoting and has been isolated from Panki Power Plant, Kanpur, India. It simulated significant (p > 5%) root and shoot growth of mung bean to the extent of 16.48% and 28.80%, respectively in the presence of CdCl(2) (110 microM: ). However, the increase in root and shoot growth was 20% and 19.5%, respectively, in the presence of (CH(3)COO)(2)Pb (660 microM: ). Moreover, concentration of accumulated lead and cadmium in root and shoot was also reduced in the presence of this isolate ranging from 37.5 to 93.19%. A moderate reduction in chlorophyll content (39.14%) in the presence of 110 microM: CdCl(2) was rescued by bioinoculant KNP9. However, the 19.58% decrease in chlorophyll content in the case of lead acetate remained unchanged even in the presence of KNP9. Nevertheless, 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing identified KNP9 as a strain of Pseudomonas putida.