Search results for " Microbiology"
showing 10 items of 4081 documents
Double copies of blaKPC-3::Tn4401a on an IncX3 plasmid in Klebsiella pneumoniae successful clone ST512 from Italy
2015
ABSTRACT A carbapenem-resistant sequence type 512 (ST512) Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase 3 (KPC-3)-producing K. pneumoniae strain showing a novel variant plasmid content was isolated in Palermo, Italy, in 2014. ST512 is a worldwide successful clone associated with the spread of bla KPC genes located on the IncFIIk pKpQIL plasmid. In our ST512 strain, the bla KPC-3 gene was unusually located on an IncX3 plasmid, whose complete sequence was determined. Two copies of bla KPC-3 ::Tn 4401a caused by intramolecular transposition events were detected in the plasmid.
Black Queen Evolution and Trophic Interactions Determine Plasmid Survival after the Disruption of the Conjugation Network
2018
Bacterial antibiotic resistance is often a part of mobile genetic elements that move from one bacterium to another. By interfering with the horizontal movement and the maintenance of these elements, it is possible to remove the resistance from the population. Here, we show that a so-called plasmid-dependent bacteriophage causes the initially resistant bacterial population to become susceptible to antibiotics. However, this effect is efficiently countered when the system also contains a predator that feeds on bacteria. Moreover, when the environment contains antibiotics, the survival of resistance is dependent on the resistance mechanism. When bacteria can help their contemporaries to degrad…
In-depth characterization of denitrifier communities across different soil ecosystems in the tundra
2022
Abstract Background In contrast to earlier assumptions, there is now mounting evidence for the role of tundra soils as important sources of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). However, the microorganisms involved in the cycling of N2O in this system remain largely uncharacterized. Since tundra soils are variable sources and sinks of N2O, we aimed at investigating differences in community structure across different soil ecosystems in the tundra. Results We analysed 1.4 Tb of metagenomic data from soils in northern Finland covering a range of ecosystems from dry upland soils to water-logged fens and obtained 796 manually binned and curated metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). We then sear…
Experimental Evolution Reveals a Genetic Basis for Membrane-Associated Virus Release
2021
Many animal viruses replicate and are released from cells in close association to membranes. However, whether this is a passive process or is controlled by the virus remains poorly understood. Importantly, the genetic basis and evolvability of membrane-associated viral shedding have not been investigated. To address this, we performed a directed evolution experiment using coxsackievirus B3, a model enterovirus, in which we repeatedly selected the free-virion or the fast-sedimenting membrane-associated viral subpopulations. The virus responded to this selection regime by reproducibly fixing a series of mutations that altered the extent of membrane-associated viral shedding, as revealed by fu…
Modelling the effect of ethanol on growth rate of food spoilage moulds
2005
The effect of ethanol (E) on the radial growth rate (mu) of food spoilage moulds (Aspergillus candidus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Eurotium herbariorum, Mucor circinelloides, Mucor racemosus, Paecilomyces variotii, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium digitatum, Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma harzianum) was assessed in Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium at a(w) 0.99, 25 degrees C. In order to model this effect, the Monod type equation described previously by Houtsma et al. (Houtsma, P.C., Kusters, B.J.M., de Wit, J.C., Rombouts, F.M., Zwietering, M.H., 1994. Modelling growth rates of Listeria monocytogenes as a function of lactate concentration. Int…
Drying process strongly affects probiotics viability and functionalities
2015
International audience; Probiotic formulations are widely used and are proposed to have a variety of beneficial effects, depending on the probiotic strains present in the product. The impact of drying processes on the viability of probiotics is well documented. However, the impact of these processes on probiotics functionality remains unclear. In this work, we investigated variations in seven different bacterial markers after various desiccation processes. Markers were composed of four different viability evaluation (combining two growth abilities and two cytometric measurements) and in three in vitro functionalities: stimulation of IL-10 and IL-12 production by PBMCs (immunomodulation) and…
Factors affecting the production of putrescine from agmatine by Lactobacillus hilgardii X1B isolated from wine
2008
Aims: To elucidate and characterize the metabolic putrescine synthesis pathway from agmatine by Lactobacillus hilgardii X1B. Methods and Results: The putrescine formation from agmatine by resting cells (the normal physiological state in wine) of lactic acid bacteria isolated from wine has been determined for the first time. Agmatine deiminase and N-carbamoylputrescine hydrolase enzymes, determined by HPLC and LC-Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry, carried out the putrescine synthesis from agmatine. The influence of pH, temperature, organic acids, amino acids, sugars and ethanol on the putrescine formation in wine was determined. Conclusions: Resting cells of Lact. hilgardii X 1B produce putrescine …
Regulation of hdc expression and HDC activity by enological factors in lactic acid bacteria.
2008
Aims: The aim of this work was to study the influence of enological factors on the histidine decarboxylase gene (hdc) expression and on histidine decarboxylase enzyme (HDC) activity in Lactobacillus hilgardii, Pediococcus parvulus and Oenococcus oeni. Methods and Results: Cell extracts and whole cells were used. Glucose, fructose, malic acid and citric acid diminished the hdc expression. Ethanol did not increase hdc expression or activity in cells, but increased HDC activity. Temperature and pH had effect on the activity of HDC but not on hdc expression. Tartaric acid and l-lactic acid, and sulphur dioxide (SO2) had no effect on enzyme synthesis and activity. Bacterial species differ in t…
Peptide-mediated interference with baculovirus transduction
2007
Baculovirus represents a multifunctional platform with potential for biomedical applications including disease therapies. The importance of F3, a tumor-homing peptide, in baculovirus transduction was previously recognized by the ability of F3 to augment viral binding and gene delivery to human cancer cells following display on the viral envelope. Here, F3 was utilized as a molecular tool to expand understanding of the poorly characterized baculovirus-mammalian cell interactions. Baculovirus-mediated transduction of HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells was strongly inhibited by coincubating the virus with synthetic F3 or following incorporation of F3 into viral nucleocapsid by genetic engineering, th…
Occlusion-derived baculovirus: interaction with human cells and evaluation of the envelope protein P74 as a surface display platform.
2008
To develop complementary baculovirus-based tools for gene delivery and display technologies, the interaction of occlusion-derived baculovirus (ODV) with human cells, and the functionality of the P74 ODV envelope protein for display of the IgG-binding Z domains (ZZP74) were evaluated. The cellular binding of ODV was concentration-dependent and saturable. Only minority of the bound virions were internalized at both 37 and 4 degrees C, suggesting usage of direct membrane fusion as the entry mode. The intracellular transport of ODV was confined in vesicular structures peripheral to the plasma membrane, impeding subsequent nuclear entry and transgene expression. Transduction of ODV was not rescu…