0000000000464062
AUTHOR
Javier Pascual
Shedding light on biogas: a transparent reactor triggers the development of a biofilm dominated by Rhodopseudomonas faecalis that holds potential for improved biogas production
AbstractConventional anaerobic digesters intended for the production of biogas usually operate in complete darkness. Therefore, little is known about the effect of light on microbial communities operating in anaerobic digesters. In the present work, we have studied through 16S rRNA gene amplicon Nanopore sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing the taxonomic and functional structure of the microbial community forming a biofilm on the inner wall of a lab-scale transparent anaerobic biodigester illuminated with natural sunlight. The biofilm was composed of microorganisms involved in the four metabolic processes needed for biogas production. The biofilm proved surprisingly rich in Rhodops…
Kineococcus vitellinus sp. nov., Kineococcus indalonis sp. nov. and Kineococcus siccus sp. nov., isolated nearby the Tabernas desert (Almería, Spain)
This article belongs to the Section Environmental Microbiology.
Terricaulis silvestris gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel prosthecate, budding member of the family Caulobacteraceae isolated from forest soil
The family Caulobacteraceae comprises prosthecate bacteria with a dimorphic cell cycle and also non-prosthecate bacteria. Cells of all described species divide by binary fission. Strain 0127_4T was isolated from forest soil in Baden Württemberg (Germany) and determined to be the first representative of the family Caulobacteraceae which divided by budding. Cells of strain 0127_4T were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, prosthecate, motile by means of a polar flagellum, non-spore-forming and non-capsulated. The strain formed small white colonies and grew aerobically and chemo-organotrophically utilizing organic acids, amino acids and proteinaceous substrates. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated…
Belnapia mucosa sp. nov. and Belnapia arida sp. nov., isolated from desert biocrust
Two novel Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, cocci-shaped, non-motile, non-spore forming, pink-pigmented bacteria designated strains T6T and T18T, were isolated from a biocrust (biological soil crust) sample from the vicinity of the Tabernas Desert (Spain). Both strains were catalase-positive and oxidase-negative, and grew under mesophilic, neutrophilic and non-halophilic conditions. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequences, strains T6T and T18T showed similarities with Belnapia rosea CGMCC 1.10758T and Belnapia moabensis CP2CT (98.11 and 98.55% gene sequence similarity, respectively). The DNA G+C content was 69.80 and 68.96% for strains T6T and T18T, respectively; the average nucleotide iden…
Complete Genome Sequence of a New Clostridium sp. Isolated from Anaerobic Digestion and Biomethanation
Here, we present the genome sequence and annotation of the bacterial strain HV4-5-A1G, a potentially new Clostridium species. Based on its genomic data, this strain may act as a keystone microorganism in the hydrolysis of complex polymers, as well as in the different acidogenesis and acetogenesis steps during anaerobic digestion.
Euzebyella saccharophila gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine bacterium of the family Flavobacteriaceae.
Strain 7SM30T , an aerobic marine, Gram-negative, heterotrophic and yellow- to orange-pigmented bacterium isolated from seawater from Castellón, Spain, was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the isolate represented a novel lineage within the family Flavobacteriaceae. The most closely related genera were Pseudozobellia, Zobellia and Kriegella. Cells of strain 7SM30T were non-motile rods that required sea salts for growth, used a wide variety of carbohydrates as sole carbon and energy sources and, unlike species of the genera Pseudozobellia and Zobellia, did not possess flexirubin-type pigment or hydrolyse agar. Strain 7SM30T containe…
Multilocus sequence analysis of the central clade of the genus Vibrio by using the 16S rRNA, recA, pyrH, rpoD, gyrB, rctB and toxR genes.
The central clade of the genus Vibrio, also called the Vibrio core group, comprises six species that are tightly related (DNA–DNA reassociation values are very close to 70 % for most species pairs). Identification of novel strains to the species level within this group is troublesome and results are quite often dependent on the methodology employed. Therefore, this group represents an excellent framework to test the robustness of multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) not only for inferring phylogeny but also as an identification tool without the need for DNA–DNA hybridization assays. The genes selected, 16S rRNA, recA, pyrH, rpoD, gyrB, rctB and toxR, were amplified by direct PCR from 44 Vibr…
Assembly methods for nanopore-based metagenomic sequencing: a comparative study
ABSTRACTBackgroundMetagenomic sequencing has lead to the recovery of previously unexplored microbial genomes. In this sense, short-reads sequencing platforms often result in highly fragmented metagenomes, thus complicating downstream analyses. Third generation sequencing technologies, such as MinION, could lead to more contiguous assemblies due to their ability to generate long reads. Nevertheless, there is a lack of studies evaluating the suitability of the available assembly tools for this new type of data.FindingsWe benchmarked the ability of different short-reads and long-reads tools to assembly two different commercially available mock communities, and observed remarkable differences i…
Photobacterium aphoticum sp. nov., isolated from coastal water
A facultatively anaerobic marine gammaproteobacterium, designated strain M46T, was isolated from Mediterranean seawater at Malvarrosa beach, Valencia, Spain. The strain was characterized by using a polyphasic approach and was found to be situated within the genus Photobacterium in the family Vibrionaceae. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain M46T was closely related to P. rosenbergii CECT 7644T, P. halotolerans CECT 5860T and P. ganghwense CECT 7641T, showing sequence similarities of 96.8, 96.4 and 96.2 %, respectively. According to the results of phylogenetic analyses based on recA and gyrB gene sequences, the most closely related taxon was P. ganghwens…
Bermanella marisrubri gen. nov., sp. nov., a genome-sequenced gammaproteobacterium from the Red Sea
5 pages, 2 figures, 1 table
Neptuniibacter caesariensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel marine genome-sequenced gammaproteobacterium.
7 pages, 1 figure, 1 table
Description of Enterovibrio nigricans sp. nov., reclassification of Vibrio calviensis as Enterovibrio calviensis comb. nov. and emended description of the genus Enterovibrio Thompson et al. 2002
Eleven strains of halophilic, facultative anaerobes isolated from healthy and diseased Dentex dentex and Sparus aurata (bony fishes) cultured in Spanish Mediterranean fisheries have been studied by a polyphasic approach that included a wide phenotypic characterization, DNA-DNA hybridization and phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA, recA and rpoD gene sequences. All strains were phylogenetically related to Enterovibrio species and Vibrio calviensis. On the basis of sequence analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization data, eight of the strains were identified as Enterovibrio coralii. The remaining three strains formed a tight, independent clade in all sequence analyses and showed less than 70 % DNA-D…
Shedding light on biogas: Phototrophic biofilms in anaerobic digesters hold potential for improved biogas production
Conventional anaerobic digesters intended for the production of biogas usually operate in complete darkness. Therefore, little is known about the effect of light on their microbial communities. In the present work, 16S rRNA gene amplicon Nanopore sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing were used to study the taxonomic and functional structure of the microbial community forming a biofilm on the inner wall of a laboratory-scale transparent anaerobic biodigester illuminated with natural sunlight. The biofilm was composed of microorganisms involved in the four metabolic processes needed for biogas production, and it was surprisingly rich in Rhodopseudomonas faecalis, a versatile bacterium…
Sphingomonas solaris sp. nov., isolated from a solar panel in Boston, Massachusetts
Solar panel surfaces, although subjected to a range of extreme environmental conditions, are inhabited by a diverse microbial community adapted to solar radiation, desiccation and temperature fluctuations. This is the first time a new bacterial species has been isolated from this environment. Strain R4DWNT belongs to the genus Sphingomonas and was isolated from a solar panel surface in Boston, MA, USA. Strain R4DWNT is a Gram-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped bacteria that tested positive for oxidase and catalase and forms round-shaped, shiny and orange-coloured colonies. It is mesophilic, neutrophilic and non-halophilic, and presents a more stenotrophic metabolism than its closest neighb…
Vibrio sinaloensis sp. nov., isolated from the spotted rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus Steindachner, 1869.
Nine bacterial strains were studied by means of rep-PCR, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization and physiological characterization. Typing analysis by means of rep-PCR showed that all nine strains were highly homogeneous, with similarities above 94 %. The strains were isolated from the same geographical area (Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico) and the same type of host (cultured rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus), although from different individuals and organs. Comparison of the almost-complete 16S rRNA gene sequences of five strains showed that they belonged to the genus Vibrio and are closely related to the type strains of Vibrio brasiliensis and Vibrio hepatarius, with simila…
Lack of effect of intraocular lens asphericity on visual performance with acrylic intraocular lenses.
Purpose. To determine whether implantation of acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) with aspheric design (Tecnis Z9003, AMO) results in improved visual acuity or contrast sensitivity compared with conventional spherical acrylic IOL (AR40e, AMO). Methods. In an intraindividual randomized prospective study of 60 patients with bilateral cataract, the Tecnis Z9003 IOL was compared with the AR40e IOL. Ocular aberrations for a 4.0-mm pupil and 6.0-mm pupil were measured with a Hartmann-Shack aberrometer. Quality of vision was measured using visual acuity and contrast sensitivity under mesopic and photopic conditions. Results. Eyes with the Tecnis Z9003 IOL had significantly less spherical aberration and…
Interactions between bacteria and Cryptosporidium molnari in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) under farm and laboratory conditions
The possible interaction of Cryptosporidium molnari and bacteria in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) was studied. Epidemiological data from a pathological survey under farm conditions were analyzed. In addition, parasite and bacteria burdens were studied in experimental models in which naturally and experimentally parasitized fish were challenged with a particular strain of Vibrio harveyi (H57). All the bacteria species present were studied. Under farm conditions, the parasite was more prevalent when mortality or morbidity cases (study C) occurred than in randomly sampled fish (study B). In study C, parasite abundance was significantly higher in bacteria-negative fish, and total bacteria …
A lab in the field: applications of real-time, in situ metagenomic sequencing
High-throughput metagenomic sequencing is considered one of the main technologies fostering the development of microbial ecology. Widely used second-generation sequencers have enabled the analysis of extremely diverse microbial communities, the discovery of novel gene functions, and the comprehension of the metabolic interconnections established among microbial consortia. However, the high cost of the sequencers and the complexity of library preparation and sequencing protocols still hamper the application of metagenomic sequencing in a vast range of real-life applications. In this context, the emergence of portable, third-generation sequencers is becoming a popular alternative for the rapi…
A round trip to the desert: In situ nanopore sequencing informs targeted bioprospecting
Bioprospecting expeditions are often performed in remote locations, in order to access previously unexplored samples. Nevertheless, the actual potential of those samples is only assessed once scientists are back in the laboratory, where a time-consuming screening must take place. This work evaluates the suitability of using Nanopore sequencing during a journey to the Tabernas Desert (Spain) for forecasting the potential of specific samples in terms of bacterial diversity and prevalence of radiation- and desiccation-resistant taxa, which were the target of the bioprospecting activities. Samples collected during the first day were analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing using a mobile labor…
Haliea mediterranea sp. nov., a marine gammaproteobacterium.
Strain 7SM29T, an aerobic marine gammaproteobacterium isolated from seawater from Castellón, Spain, was characterized by classical phenotyping, chemotaxonomy and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Strain 7SM29T was found to be closely related to strains in the genus Haliea and to Congregibacter litoralis KT71T, with which a genus-level cluster was formed within the NOR5/OM60 clade of the Gammaproteobacteria. Strain 7SM29T was a short, motile rod with a tuft of three polar flagella. The strain grew on marine agar and formed pale-yellow colonies. Strain 7SM29T required NaCl for growth, reduced nitrate to nitrite, degraded several polymers and showed a preference for organic acids and amino acid…
Out of the Abyss: Genome and Metagenome Mining Reveals Unexpected Environmental Distribution of Abyssomicins.
AbstractNatural products have traditionally been discovered through the screening of culturable microbial isolates from all sort of environments. The sequencing revolution allowed the identification of dozens of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) within single bacterial genomes, either from cultured or uncultured strains. However, we are still far from fully exploiting the microbial reservoir, as most of the species are non-model organisms with complex regulatory systems and yet recalcitrant to be engineered. Today, genomic and metagenomic data produced by laboratories worldwide covering the most different natural and artificial environments on Earth, are an invaluable source of raw informat…
High Culturable Bacterial Diversity From a European Desert: The Tabernas Desert.
One of the most diverse ecological niches for microbial bioprospecting is soil, including that of drylands. Drylands are one of the most abundant biomes on Earth, but extreme cases, such as deserts, are considered very rare in Europe. The so-called Tabernas Desert is one of the few examples of a desert area in continental Europe, and although some microbial studies have been performed on this region, a comprehensive strategy to maximize the isolation of environmental bacteria has not been conducted to date. We report here a culturomics approach to study the bacterial diversity of this dryland by using a simple strategy consisting of combining different media, using serial dilutions of the n…
Vibrio gallaecicus sp. nov. isolated from cultured clams in north-western Spain.
Abstract A group of three motile facultative anaerobic marine bacteria were isolated from cultured Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) in Galicia, north-western Spain. The strains were characterized phenotypically and genotypically. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and four housekeeping genes, RNA polymerase α-chain (rpoA), RecA protein (recA), the α-subunit of bacterial ATP synthase (atpA) and the uridine monophosphate (UMP) kinase (pyrH), indicated that these strains were closely related to the Vibrio splendidus clade. The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprints, DNA–DNA hybridizations and phylogenies of the housekeeping and 16S rRNA gene sequences showed t…
Complete genome sequence of a new Bacteroidaceae bacterium isolated from anaerobic biomass digestion
Here, we present the genome sequence and annotation of HV4-6-C5C, a bacterial strain isolated from a mesophilic two-stage laboratory-scale leach bed biogas reactor system. Strain HV4-6-C5C may represent a new genus of the family Bacteroidaceae and may have a key role in acidogenesis and acetogenesis steps during anaerobic biomass digestion.