Search results for "Microorganism"
showing 10 items of 449 documents
Experimental modeling of bacterially-induced Ca carbonate precipitation: new insights on possible mechanisms.
2015
The contribution of microorganisms, particularly bacteria, in carbonate mineral formation, the main natural processes controlling CO2 level in the atmosphere, has played an important role since the Archean Eon. In this study we review our recent experimental work on CaCO3 precipitation induced by two anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (APB), Rhodovulum steppense A-20sT and Rhodovulum sp. S-17-65, and by cyanobacteria Gloeocapsa sp. f-6gl. These bacteria are representatives of two important groups of photosynthetic organisms present at the Earth surface both in the past and at the present times. The mechanisms of organomineralization deriving from APB and cyanobacteria activities are drastical…
Contribution of Molecular Structure to Self-Assembling and Biological Properties of Bifunctional Lipid-Like 4-(N-Alkylpyridinium)-1,4-Dihydropyridines
2019
The design of nanoparticle delivery materials possessing biological activities is an attractive strategy for the development of various therapies. In this study, 11 cationic amphiphilic 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) derivatives differing in alkyl chain length and propargyl moiety/ties number and position were selected for the study of their self-assembling properties, evaluation of their cytotoxicity in vitro and toxicity on microorganisms, and the characterisation of their interaction with phospholipids. These lipid-like 1,4-DHPs have been earlier proposed as promising nanocarriers for DNA delivery. We have revealed that the mean diameter of freshly prepared nanoparti…
New Trends in Molecular Techniques to Identify Microorganisms in Dairy Products
2018
International audience; Dairy products constitute one of the most important types of functional foods. Most of these functional properties have been attributed to their complex microbial ecosystem. Moreover, microorganisms are responsible for the broad diversity of tastes, aromas, and textures of dairy products. For instance, many bacteria make a positive contribution to the organoleptic quality of cheeses or fermented milk. However, some other bacteria may have adverse effects, or may even present a health risk from a safety point of view. Thus, it is of a paramount importance to control microbial ecosystem of dairy products. Traditionally culture-based methods have been used for the ident…
Selecting Microbial Strains from Pine Tree Resin: Biotechnological Applications from a Terpene World
2014
Resin is a chemical and physical defensive barrier secreted by many plants, especially coniferous trees, with insecticidal and antimicrobial properties. The degradation of terpenes, the main components accounting for the toxicity of resin, is highly relevant for a vast range of biotechnological processes, including bioremediation. In the present work, we used a resin-based selective medium in order to study the resin-tolerant microbial communities associated with the galls formed by the moth Retinia resinella; as well as resin from Pinus sylvestris forests, one of the largest ecosystems on Earth and a yet-unexplored source of terpene-degrading microorganisms. The taxonomic and functional di…
Manganese/polymetallic nodules: Micro-structural characterization of exolithobiontic- and endolithobiontic microbial biofilms by scanning electron mi…
2009
Polymetallic/ferromanganese nodules (Mn-nodules) provide a rich source for manganese. It is not yet known if the nodules have a biogenic or an abiogenic origin. Here we applied the technique of high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, in combination with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopical (EDX) analysis, to trace the existence of microbial biofilms. Two spatially separated assemblies exist, the exolithobiontic- and endolithobiontic colonizations. The exolithobiontic colonization is seen in the micro-canals, which traverse the outer surface layer of the nodules and are formed by elongated filamentous organisms, which show no signs of mineralization. In the center of the nodules thr…
Oxygen-Controlled Bacterial Growth in the Sponge Suberites domuncula: toward a Molecular Understanding of the Symbiotic Relationships between Sponge …
2004
ABSTRACT Sponges (phylum Porifera), known to be the richest producers among the metazoans of bioactive secondary metabolites, are assumed to live in a symbiotic relationship with microorganisms, especially bacteria. Until now, the molecular basis of the mutual symbiosis, the exchange of metabolites for the benefit of the other partner, has not been understood. We show with the demosponge Suberites domuncula as a model that the sponge expresses under optimal aeration conditions the enzyme tyrosinase, which synthesizes diphenols from monophenolic compounds. The cDNA isolated was used as a probe to determine the steady-state level of gene expression. The gene expression level parallels the lev…
PCR-DGGE fingerprints of microbial succession during a manufacture of traditional water buffalo mozzarella cheese.
2004
D . E R C O L I N I , G . M A U R I E L L O , G . B L A I O T T A , G . M O S C H E T T I A N D S . C O P P O L A . 2003. Aims: To monitor the process and the starter effectiveness recording a series of fingerprints of the microbial diversity occurring at different steps of mozzarella cheese manufacture and to investigate the involvement of the natural starter to the achievement of the final product. Methods and Results: Samples of raw milk, natural whey culture (NWC) used as starter, curd after ripening and final product were collected during a mozzarella cheese manufacture. Total microbial DNA was directly extracted from the dairy samples as well as bulk colonies collected from the plates…
Conservation of type III secretion system genes inBradyrhizobiumisolated from soybean
2006
International audience; The distribution of rhcRST genes encoding the type III secretion system (T3SS) in a collection of Bradyrhizobium strains was characterized by PCR and Southern blot hybridization. The polymorphism of the corresponding sequences amplified by PCR was characterized by RFLP and sequencing together with those available in the databank. Genomic group I is characterized by the presence of Bradyrhizobium elkanii strains and group II by the presence of B. japonicum and B. liaoningense strains. Highly conserved T3SS-like genes were detected by PCR in all Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from soybean belonging to genomic group II, and in none of the strains belonging to genomic g…
Heterotrophic microorganisms in deteriorated medieval wall paintings in southern Italian churches
2008
The Campania region in southern Italy is noted for its large number of churches that harbour invaluable frescoes, dated from the beginnings of the 4th up to the 13th century. The wall paintings represent an integral part of the monuments, and their deterioration constitutes a potentially significant loss for the world's cultural heritage. Heterotrophic microorganisms such as bacteria and mould can grow on the surface of paintings that contain a wide range of organic and inorganic constituents, and provide different ecological. niches that are exploited by a large variety of microbial. species. We isolated and identified the heterotrophic microorganisms found in the biodegraded medieval wall…
Identification of bacterial groups preferentially associated with mycorrhizal roots of Medicago truncatula
2007
ABSTRACT The genetic structures of bacterial communities associated with Medicago truncatula Gaertn. cv. Jemalong line J5 (Myc + Nod + ) and its symbiosis-defective mutants TRV48 (Myc + Nod − ) and TRV25 (Myc − Nod − ) were compared. Plants were cultivated in a fertile soil (Châteaurenard, France) and in soil from the Mediterranean basin showing a low fertility (Mas d'Imbert, France). Plant growth, root architecture, and the efficiency of root symbiosis of the three plant genotypes were characterized in the two soils. Structures of the bacterial communities were assessed by automated-ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (A-RISA) fingerprinting from DNA extracted from the rhizosphere soil an…