0000000001033332

AUTHOR

Renato Fani

Endophytic Bacteria Associated with Origanum heracleoticum L. (Lamiaceae) Seeds

Seed-associated microbiota are believed to play a crucial role in seed germination, seedling establishment, and plant growth and fitness stimulation, due to the vertical transmission of a core microbiota from seeds to the next generations. It might be hypothesized that medicinal and aromatic plants could use the seeds as vectors to vertically transfer beneficial endophytes, providing plants with metabolic pathways that could influence phytochemicals production. Here, we investigated the localization, the structure and the composition of the bacterial endophytic population that resides in Origanum heracleoticum L. seeds. Endocellular bacteria, surrounded by a wall, were localized close to th…

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Bacterial Community Structure of an IFAS-MBRs Wastewater Treatment Plant

TIn this work, the bacterial community putatively involved in BNR events of a UCT-MBMBR pilot plant was elucidated by both culture-dependent and metagenomics DNA analyses. The presence of bacterial isolates belonging to Bacillus (in the anoxic compartment) and to Acinetobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Rhodococcus, Escherichia and Aeromonas (in the aerobic compartment) is in agreement with the nitrification/denitrification processes observed in the plant. Moreover, the study of bacterial community structure by NGS revealed a microbial diversity suggesting a biochemical complexity which can be further explored and exploited to improve UCT-MBMBR plant performance.

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Additional file 4: of Genomic traits of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614, an uncommon metal-nanoparticle producer strain isolated from acid mine drainages

Figure S1. K. oxytoca DSM 29614 grown in NaC (left) and in FeC medium (right) after 7 day of incubation at 30 °C. Figure S2. a,b) Production of ortorhomboidal struvite in the presence of Hg2+ (a) and Ag+ (b); both crystals precipitated in aerobic cultures of K. oxytoca DSM 29614. c,d) Micrographs of microcrystal of struvite by K. oxytoca DSM 29614 cells, grown in aerobic conditions in the presence of Pd2+ in transmission mode (c) and in fluorescence mode (d) with cells stained with DAPI. e) Micrographs of TEM of microcrystals of struvite coated by Pd2+. (PDF 527 kb)

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In vivo evaluation of the interaction between the Escherichia coli IGP synthase subunits using the Bacterial Two-Hybrid system

ABSTRACT Histidine biosynthesis is one of the most characterized metabolic routes for its antiquity and its central role in cellular metabolism; indeed, it represents a cross-road between nitrogen metabolism and de novo synthesis of purines. This interconnection is due to the activity of imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase, a heterodimeric enzyme constituted by the products of two his genes, hisH and hisF, encoding a glutamine amidotransferase and a cyclase, respectively. Despite their interaction was suggested by several in vitro experiments, their in vivo complex formation has not been demonstrated. On the contrary, the analysis of the entire Escherichia coli interactome performed using…

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Assessment and characterization of the bacterial community structure in advanced activated sludge systems

Abstract The present study is aimed to assess and characterize the structure of bacterial community in advanced activated sludge systems. In particular, activated sludge samples were collected from an Integrated Fixed-film Activated Sludge – Membrane Bioreactor pilot plant under a University of Cape Town configuration with in-series anaerobic (Noair)/anoxic (Anox)/aerobic (Oxy) reactors – and further analyzed. The achieved results – based on Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of 16S rDNA amplicons – revealed that the bacterial biofilm (bf) communities on plastic carriers of Oxy and Anox reactors had a greater diversity compared to suspended (sp) bacterial flocs of Oxy, Anox and Noair. Indeed,…

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Genomic traits of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614, an uncommon metal-nanoparticle producer strain isolated from acid mine drainages

Background Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614 - isolated from acid mine drainages - grows anaerobically using Fe(III)-citrate as sole carbon and energy source, unlike other enterobacteria and K. oxytoca clinical isolates. The DSM 29614 strain is multi metal resistant and produces metal nanoparticles that are embedded in its very peculiar capsular exopolysaccharide. These metal nanoparticles were effective as antimicrobial and anticancer compounds, chemical catalysts and nano-fertilizers. Results The DSM 29614 strain genome was sequenced and analysed by a combination of in silico procedures. Comparative genomics, performed between 85 K. oxytoca representatives and K. oxytoca DSM 29614, revealed th…

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Unravelling the DNA sequences carried by Streptomyces coelicolor membrane vesicles

AbstractMembrane vesicles (MVs) are spherical particles with nanoscale dimensions and characterized by the presence of diverse cargos, such as nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and cellular metabolites. Many examples of (micro)organisms producing MVs are reported in literature. Among them, bacterial MVs are of particular interest because they are now considered as the fourth mechanism of horizontal gene transfer. Streptomyces bacteria are well-known for their ecological roles and ability to synthesize bioactive compounds, with Streptomyces coelicolor being the model organism. It was previously demonstrated that it can produce distinct populations of MVs characterized by different protein and…

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Endophytic Bacteria and Essential Oil from Origanum vulgare ssp. vulgare Share Some VOCs with an Antibacterial Activity

Medicinal aromatic plants’ essential oils (EOs) are mixtures of volatile compounds showing antimicrobial activity, which could be exploited to face the emerging problem of multi-drug resistance. Their chemical composition can depend on the interactions between the plant and its endophytic microbiota, which is known to synthesize volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, it is still not clear whether those volatile metabolites can contribute to the composition of the aroma profile of plants’ EOs. The aims of this study were to characterize medicinal plant O. vulgare ssp. vulgare bacterial endophyte VOCs, evaluating their ability to antagonize the growth of opportunistic human pathogens bel…

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Additional file 5: of Genomic traits of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614, an uncommon metal-nanoparticle producer strain isolated from acid mine drainages

Supporting Information. (PDF 130 kb)

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The cypsela (achene) of Echinacea purpurea as a diffusion unit of a community of microorganisms

AbstractEchinacea purpurea is a plant cultivated worldwide for its pharmaceutical properties, mainly related to the stimulation of the immune system in the treatment of respiratory infections. The cypselas (fruits) of E. purpurea were examined in order to investigate the presence, localization and potential function(s) of endophytic microorganisms. Electron and confocal microscopy observations showed that three different components of microorganisms were associated to cypselas of E. purpurea: (i) one endocellular bacterial component in the cotyledons, enclosed within the host membrane; (ii) another more generic bacterial component adhering to the external side of the perianth; and (iii) a f…

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Genomic Analysis of Endophytic Bacillus-Related Strains Isolated from the Medicinal Plant Origanum vulgare L. Revealed the Presence of Metabolic Pathways Involved in the Biosynthesis of Bioactive Compounds

Multidrug-resistant pathogens represent a serious threat to human health. The inefficacy of traditional antibiotic drugs could be surmounted through the exploitation of natural bioactive compounds of which medicinal plants are a great reservoir. The finding that bacteria living inside plant tissues, (i.e., the endophytic bacterial microbiome) can influence the synthesis of the aforementioned compounds leads to the necessity of unraveling the mechanisms involved in the determination of this symbiotic relationship. Here, we report the genome sequence of four endophytic bacterial strains isolated from the medicinal plant Origanum vulgare L. and able to antagonize the growth of opportunistic pa…

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Additional file 5: of Genomic traits of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614, an uncommon metal-nanoparticle producer strain isolated from acid mine drainages

Supporting Information. (PDF 130 kb)

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Additional file 4: of Genomic traits of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614, an uncommon metal-nanoparticle producer strain isolated from acid mine drainages

Figure S1. K. oxytoca DSM 29614 grown in NaC (left) and in FeC medium (right) after 7 day of incubation at 30 °C. Figure S2. a,b) Production of ortorhomboidal struvite in the presence of Hg2+ (a) and Ag+ (b); both crystals precipitated in aerobic cultures of K. oxytoca DSM 29614. c,d) Micrographs of microcrystal of struvite by K. oxytoca DSM 29614 cells, grown in aerobic conditions in the presence of Pd2+ in transmission mode (c) and in fluorescence mode (d) with cells stained with DAPI. e) Micrographs of TEM of microcrystals of struvite coated by Pd2+. (PDF 527 kb)

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Novel Sources of Biodiversity and Biomolecules from Bacteria Isolated from a High Middle Ages Soil Sample in Palermo (Sicily, Italy)

: The urban plan of Palermo (Sicily, Italy) has evolved throughout Punic, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Norman ages until it stabilized within the borders that correspond to the current historic center. During the 2012 to 2013 excavation campaign, new remains of the Arab settlement, directly implanted above the structures of the Roman age, were found. The materials investigated in this study derived from the so-called Survey No 3, which consists of a rock cavity of subcylindrical shape covered with calcarenite blocks: it was probably used to dispose of garbage during the Arabic age and its content, derived from daily activities, included grape seeds, scales and bones of fish, small animal bon…

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Additional file 6: of Genomic traits of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614, an uncommon metal-nanoparticle producer strain isolated from acid mine drainages

Table S4. List of genes associate with cps1 cluster in DSM 29614 strain. (XLSX 10 kb)

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Additional file 2: of Genomic traits of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614, an uncommon metal-nanoparticle producer strain isolated from acid mine drainages

Table S2. List of differentially abundant proteins in DSM 29614 strain used for protein functional enrichment analysis. (XLSX 17 kb)

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Additional file 1: of Genomic traits of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614, an uncommon metal-nanoparticle producer strain isolated from acid mine drainages

Table S1. List of genomes of K. oxytoca strains used for comparative genomics. (XLSX 10 kb)

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Additional file 3: of Genomic traits of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614, an uncommon metal-nanoparticle producer strain isolated from acid mine drainages

Table S3. List of metal resistance genes identified in the DSM 29614 strain genome. (XLSX 48 kb)

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Additional file 6: of Genomic traits of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614, an uncommon metal-nanoparticle producer strain isolated from acid mine drainages

Table S4. List of genes associate with cps1 cluster in DSM 29614 strain. (XLSX 10 kb)

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Additional file 3: of Genomic traits of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614, an uncommon metal-nanoparticle producer strain isolated from acid mine drainages

Table S3. List of metal resistance genes identified in the DSM 29614 strain genome. (XLSX 48 kb)

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Additional file 2: of Genomic traits of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614, an uncommon metal-nanoparticle producer strain isolated from acid mine drainages

Table S2. List of differentially abundant proteins in DSM 29614 strain used for protein functional enrichment analysis. (XLSX 17 kb)

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