Journal of Microbiology

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Journal Article

UBCG: Up-to-date bacterial core gene set and pipeline for phylogenomic tree reconstruction: Seong-In Na , Yeong Ouk Kim , Seok-Hwan Yoon , Sung-min Ha , Inwoo Baek , Jongsik Chun; J. Microbiol. 2018;56(4):280-285. Published online February 28, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-018-8014-6

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Abstract: Genome-based phylogeny plays a central role in the future taxonomy and phylogenetics of Bacteria and Archaea by replacing 16S rRNA gene phylogeny. The concatenated core gene alignments are frequently used for such a purpose. The bacterial core genes are defined as single-copy, homologous genes that are present in most of the known bacterial species. There have been several studies describing such a gene set, but the number of species considered was rather small. Here we present the up-to-date bacterial core gene set, named UBCG, and software suites to accommodate necessary steps to generate and evaluate phylogenetic trees. The method was successfully used to infer phylogenomic relationship of Escherichia and related taxa and can be used for the set of genomes at any taxonomic ranks of Bacteria. The UBCG pipeline and file viewer are freely available at https://www.ezbiocloud.net/ tools/ubcg and https://www.ezbiocloud.net/tools/ubcg_viewer, respectively.

Reviews

Minireview] Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP): principle, features, and future prospects: Tsugunori Notomi , Yasuyoshi Mori , Norihiro Tomita , Hidetoshi Kanda; J. Microbiol. 2015;53(1):1-5. Published online January 4, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-015-4656-9

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613 Citations

Abstract: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), a newly developed gene amplification method, combines rapidity, simplicity, and high specificity. Several tests have been developed based on this method, and simplicity is maintained throughout all steps, from extraction of nucleic acids to detection of amplification. In the LAMP reaction, samples are amplified at a fixed temperature through a repetition of two types of elongation reactions occurring at the loop regions: self-elongation of templates from the stem loop structure formed at the 3'-terminal and the binding and elongation of new primers to the loop region. The LAMP reaction has a wide range of possible applications, including point-of-care testing, genetic testing in resource-poor settings (such as in developing countries), and rapid testing of food products and environmental samples.

REVIEW] Candida albicans, a Major Human Fungal Pathogen: Joon Kim , Peter Sudbery; J. Microbiol. 2011;49(2):171-177. Published online May 3, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-011-1064-7

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373 Citations

Abstract: Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen (Beck-Sague and Jarvis, 1993). It is normally a harmless commensal organism. However, it is a opportunistic pathogen for some immunologically weak and immunocompromised people. It is responsible for painful mucosal infections such as the vaginitis in women and oral-pharangeal thrush in AIDS patients. In certain groups of vulnerable patients it causes severe, life-threatening bloodstream infections and it causes severe, life-threatening bloodstream infections and subsequent infections in the internal organs. There are various fascinating features of the C. albicans life cycle and biology that have made the pathogen the subject of extensive research, including its ability to grow in unicellular yeast, psudohyphal, and hyphal forms (Fig. 1A); its ability to switch between different but stable phenotypic states, and the way that it retains the ability to mate but apparently loses the ability to go through meiosis to complete the sexual cycle. This research has been greatly facilitated by the derivation of the complete C. albicans genome sequence (Braun et al., 2005), the development of a variety of molecular tools for gene manipulation, and a store of underpinning knowledge of cell biology borrowed from the distantly related model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Berman and Sudbery, 2002; Noble and Johnson, 2007). This review will provide a brief overview of the importance of C. albicans as a public health issue, the experimental tools developed to study its fascinating biology, and some examples of how these have been applied.

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Bacterial Endophyte Sphingomonas sp. LK11 Produces Gibberellins and IAA and Promotes Tomato Plant Growth: Abdul Latif Khan , Muhammad Waqas , Sang-Mo Kang , Ahmed Al-Harrasi , Javid Hussain , Ahmed Al-Rawahi , Salima Al-Khiziri , Ihsan Ullah , Liaqat Ali , Hee-Young Jung , In-Jung Lee; J. Microbiol. 2014;52(8):689-695. Published online July 4, 2014; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-014-4002-7

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369 Citations

Abstract: Plant growth promoting endophytic bacteria have been identified as potential growth regulators of crops. Endophytic bacterium, Sphingomonas sp. LK11, was isolated from the leaves of Tephrosia apollinea. The pure culture of Sphingomonas sp. LK11 was subjected to advance chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques to extract and isolate gibberellins (GAs). Deuterated standards of [17, 17-2H2]-GA4, [17, 17-2H2]-GA9 and [17, 17-2H2]-GA20 were used to quantify the bacterial GAs. The analysis of the culture broth of Sphingomonas sp. LK11 revealed the existence of physiologically active gibberellins (GA4: 2.97 ± 0.11 ng/ml) and inactive GA9 (0.98 ± 0.15 ng/ml) and GA20 (2.41 ± 0.23). The endophyte also produced indole acetic acid (11.23 ± 0.93 μM/ml). Tomato plants inoculated with endophytic Sphingomonas sp. LK11 showed significantly increased growth attributes (shoot length, chlorophyll contents, shoot, and root dry weights) compared to the control. This indicated that such phyto-hormones-producing strains could help in increasing crop growth.

Reviews

MINIREVIEW] The therapeutic applications of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs): a patent review: Hee-Kyoung Kang , Cheolmin Kim , Chang Ho Seo , Yoonkyung Park; J. Microbiol. 2017;55(1):1-12. Published online December 30, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-017-6452-1

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284 Citations

Abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small molecules with a broad spectrum of antibiotic activities against bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and viruses and cytotoxic activity on cancer cells, in addition to anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. Therefore, AMPs have garnered interest as novel therapeutic agents. Because of the rapid increase in drug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms, AMPs from synthetic and natural sources have been developed using alternative antimicrobial strategies. This article presents a broad analysis of patents referring to the therapeutic applications of AMPs since 2009. The review focuses on the universal trends in the effective design, mechanism, and biological evolution of AMPs.

REVIEW] Phage Lysis: Three Steps, Three Choices, One Outcome: Ryl Young; J. Microbiol. 2014;52(3):243-258. Published online March 1, 2014; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-014-4087-z

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284 Citations

Abstract: The lysis of bacterial hosts by double-strand DNA bacteriophages, once thought to reflect merely the accumulation of sufficient lysozyme activity during the infection cycle, has been revealed to recently been revealed to be a carefully regulated and temporally scheduled process. For phages of Gramnegative hosts, there are three steps, corresponding to subversion of each of the three layers of the cell envelope: inner membrane, peptidoglycan, and outer membrane. The pathway is controlled at the level of the cytoplasmic membrane. In canonical lysis, a phage encoded protein, the holin, accumulates harmlessly in the cytoplasmic membrane until triggering at an allele-specific time to form micron-scale holes. This allows the soluble endolysin to escape from the cytoplasm to degrade the peptidoglycan. Recently a parallel pathway has been elucidated in which a different type of holin, the pinholin, which, instead of triggering to form large holes, triggers to form small, heptameric channels that serve to depolarize the membrane. Pinholins are associated with SAR endolysins, which accumulate in the periplasm as inactive, membrane-tethered enzymes. Pinholin triggering collapses the proton motive force, allowing the SAR endolysins to refold to an active form and attack the peptidoglycan. Surprisingly, a third step, the disruption of the outer membrane is also required. This is usually achieved by a spanin complex, consisting of a small outer membrane lipoprotein and an integral cytoplasmic membrane protein, designated as o-spanin and i-spanin, respectively. Without spanin function, lysis is blocked and progeny virions are trapped in dead spherical cells, suggesting that the outer membrane has considerable tensile strength. In addition to two-component spanins, there are some single-component spanins, or u-spanins, that have an N-terminal outer-membrane lipoprotein signal and a C-terminal transmembrane domain. A possible mechanism for spanin function to disrupt the outer membrane is to catalyze fusion of the inner and outer membranes.

Journal Article

Inhibitory Effect of Methyl Gallate and Gallic Acid on Oral Bacteria: Mi-Sun Kang , Jong-Suk Oh , In-Chol Kang , Suk-Jin Hong , Choong-Ho Choi; J. Microbiol. 2008;46(6):744-750. Published online December 24, 2008; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-008-0235-7

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242 Citations

Abstract: This study examined the ability of methyl gallate (MG) and gallic acid (GA), the main compounds of gallotannins in Galla Rhois, to inhibit the proliferation of oral bacterial and the in vitro formation of Streptococcus mutans biofilms. The antimicrobial activities of these compounds were evaluated in vitro using the broth microdilution method and a beaker-wire test. Both MG and GA had inhibitory effects on the growth of cariogenic (MIC<8 mg/ml) and periodontopathic bacteria (MIC=1 mg/ml). Moreover, these compounds significantly inhibited the in vitro formation of S. mutans biofilms (MG, 1 mg/ml; GA, 4 mg/ml; P<0.05). MG was more effective in inhibiting bacterial growth and the formation of S. mutans biofilm than GA. In conclusion, MG and GA can inhibit the growth of oral pathogens and S. mutans biofilm formation, and may be used to prevent the formation of oral biofilms.

Review

REVIEW] The Ruminococci: key symbionts of the gut ecosystem: Alex J. La Reau , Garret Suen; J. Microbiol. 2018;56(3):199-208. Published online February 28, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-018-8024-4

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205 Citations

Abstract: Mammalian gut microbial communities form intricate mutualisms with their hosts, which have profound implications on overall health. One group of important gut microbial mutualists are bacteria in the genus Ruminococcus, which serve to degrade and convert complex polysaccharides into a variety of nutrients for their hosts. Isolated decades ago from the bovine rumen, ruminococci have since been cultured from other ruminant and non-ruminant sources, and next-generation sequencing has further shown their distribution to be widespread in a diversity of animal hosts. While most ruminococci that have been studied are those capable of degrading cellulose, much less is known about non-cellulolytic, nonruminant- associated species, such as those found in humans. Furthermore, a mechanistic understanding of the role of Ruminococcus spp. in their respective hosts is still a work in progress. This review highlights the broad work done on species within the genus Ruminococcus with respect to their physiology, phylogenetic relatedness, and their potential impact on host health.

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Bacterial Communities in the Initial Stage of Marine Biofilm Formation on Artificial Surfaces: Jin-Woo Lee , Ji-Hyun Nam , Yang-Hoon Kim , Kyu-Ho Lee , Dong-Hun Lee; J. Microbiol. 2008;46(2):174-182. Published online June 11, 2008; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-008-0032-3

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197 Citations

Abstract: Succession of bacterial communities during the first 36 h of biofilm formation in coastal water was investigated at 3~15 h intervals. Three kinds of surfaces (i.e., acryl, glass, and steel substratum) were submerged in situ at Sacheon harbor, Korea. Biofilms were harvested by scraping the surfaces, and the compositions of bacterial communities were analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), and cloning and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. While community structure based on T-RFLP analysis showed slight differences by substratum, dramatic changes were commonly observed for all substrata between 9 and 24 h. Identification of major populations by 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that γ-Proteobacteria (Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Alteromonas, and uncultured γ-Proteobacteria) were predominant in the community during 0~9 h, while the ratio of α-Proteobacteria (Loktanella, Methylobacterium, Pelagibacter, and uncultured α-Proteobacteria) increased 2.6~4.8 folds during 24~36 h of the biofilm formation, emerging as the most predominant group. Previously, α-Proteobacteria were recognized as the pioneering organisms in marine biofilm formation. However, results of this study, which revealed the bacterial succession with finer temporal resolution, indicated some species of γ-Proteobacteria were more important as the pioneering population. Measures to control pioneering activities of these species can be useful in prevention of marine biofilm formation.

Review

MINIREVIEW] Toxin-producing Cyanobacteria in Freshwater: A Review of the Problems, Impact on Drinking Water Safety, and Efforts for Protecting Public Health: Melissa Y. Cheung , Song Liang , Jiyoung Lee; J. Microbiol. 2013;51(1):1-10. Published online March 2, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-013-2549-3

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181 Citations

Abstract: Cyanobacteria have adapted to survive in a variety of environments and have been found globally. Toxin-producing cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CHABs) have been increasing in frequency worldwide and pose a threat to drinking and recreational water. In this study, the prevalence, impact of CHABs and mitigation efforts were reviewed, focusing on the Lake Erie region and Ohio’s inland lakes that have been impacted heavily as an example so that the findings can be transferrable to other parts of the world that face the similar problems due to the CHABs in their freshwater environments. This paper provides a basic introduction to CHABs and their toxins as well as an overview of public health implications including exposure routes, health effects, and drinking water issues, algal bloom advisory practices in Ohio, toxin measurements results in Ohio public water supplies, and mitigation efforts.

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'ts

Diversity of Endophytic Bacteria in Ginseng and Their Potential for Plant Growth Promotion: Regupathy Thamizh Vendan , Young Joon Yu , Sun Hee Lee , Young Ha Rhee; J. Microbiol. 2010;48(5):559-565. Published online November 3, 2010; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-010-0082-1

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176 Citations

Abstract: Endophytic bacteria have been found in virtually every plant studied, where they colonize the internal tissues of their host plant and can form a range of different beneficial relationships. The diversity of bacterial endophytes associated with ginseng plants of varying age levels in Korea was investigated. Fifty-one colonies were isolated from the interior of ginseng stems. Although a mixed composition of endophyte communities was recovered from ginseng based on the results of 16S rDNA analysis, bacteria of the genus Bacillus and Staphylococcus dominated in 1-year-old and 4-year-old plants, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed four clusters: Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, α-Proteobacteria, and γ-Proteobacteria, with Firmicutes being predominant. To evaluate the plant growth promoting activities, 18 representative isolates were selected. Amplification of nifH gene confirmed the presence of diazotrophy in only two isolates. Half of the isolates solubilized mineral phosphate. Except four, all the other endophytic isolates produced significant amounts of indole acetic acid in nutrient broth. Iron sequestering siderophore production was detected in seven isolates. Isolates E-I-3 (Bacillus megaterium), E-I-4 (Micrococcus luteus), E-I-8 (B. cereus), and E-I-20 (Lysinibacillus fusiformis) were positive for most of the plant growth promoting traits, indicating their role in growth promotion of ginseng.

Role of Heavy Metal Resistant Ochrobactrum sp. and Bacillus spp. Strains in Bioremediation of a Rice Cultivar and Their PGPR Like Activities: Sanjeev Pandey , Pallab Kumar Ghosh , Sisir Ghosh , Tarun Kumar De , Tushar Kanti Maiti; J. Microbiol. 2013;51(1):11-17. Published online March 2, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-013-2330-7

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175 Citations

Abstract: The present study demonstrates the metal toxicity ameliorating and growth promoting abilities of three different bacterial isolates when applied to rice as host plant. The three bacterial strains included a cadmium resistant Ochrobactrum sp., a lead resistant Bacillus sp. and an arsenic resistant Bacillus sp. designated as CdSP9, PbSP6, and AsSP9, respectively. When these isolates were used as inocula applied to metaltreated rice plants of variety Satabdi, the germination percentage, relative root elongation (RRE), amylase and protease activities were increased. The toxic effect of metal was reduced in presence of these bacteria. The overall biomass and root/shoot ratio were also enhanced by bacterial inoculation. Hydroponic studies showed that the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level, which had been increased in the presence of metal stress in rice roots, were lowered by the bacterial inoculation. In addition, all three strains were 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase and catalase positive, whereas siderophore producing ability was lacking in PbSP6. However, both PbSP6 and AsSP9 were protease positive and could hydrolyse starch. The data indicate that these bacteria have promise for bioremediation as well as for plant growth promotion.

Review

REVIEW] Interaction of Candida albicans with host cells: virulence factors, host defense, escape strategies, and the microbiota: Sarah Höfs , Selene Mogavero , Bernhard Hube; J. Microbiol. 2016;54(3):149-169. Published online February 27, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-016-5514-0

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172 Citations

Abstract: The interaction between Candida albicans and its host cells is characterized by a complex interplay between the expression of fungal virulence factors, which results in adherence, invasion and cell damage, and the host immune system, which responds by secreting proinflammatory cytokines, activating antimicrobial activities and killing the fungal pathogen. In this review we describe this interplay by taking a closer look at how C. albicans pathogenicity is induced and executed, how the host responds in order to prevent and clear an infection, and which mechanisms C. albicans has evolved to bypass these immune responses to avoid clearance. Furthermore, we review studies that show how the presence of other microorganisms affects this interplay.

Journal Article

Introducing EzAAI: a pipeline for high throughput calculations of prokaryotic average amino acid identity: Dongwook Kim , Sein Park , Jongsik Chun; J. Microbiol. 2021;59(5):476-480. Published online April 28, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-021-1154-0

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170 Citations

Abstract: The average amino acid identity (AAI) is an index of pairwise genomic relatedness, and multiple studies have proposed its application in prokaryotic taxonomy and related disciplines. AAI demonstrates better resolution in elucidating taxonomic structure beyond the species rank when compared with average nucleotide identity (ANI), which is a standard criterion in species delineation. However, an efficient and easy-to-use computational tool for AAI calculation in large-scale taxonomic studies is not yet available. Here, we introduce a bioinformatic pipeline, named EzAAI, which allows for rapid and accurate AAI calculation in prokaryote sequences. The EzAAI tool is based on the MMSeqs2 program and computes AAI values almost identical to those generated by the standard BLAST algorithm with significant improvements in the speed of these evaluations. Our pipeline also provides a function for hierarchical clustering to create dendrograms, which is an essential part of any taxonomic study. EzAAI is available for download as a standalone JAVA program at http:// leb.snu.ac.kr/ezaai.

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Bacillus megaterium Strain XTBG34 Promotes Plant Growth by Producing 2-Pentylfuran: Changsong Zou , Zhifang Li , Diqiu Yu; J. Microbiol. 2010;48(4):460-466. Published online August 20, 2010; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-010-0068-z

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147 Citations

Abstract: Several chemical changes in soil are associated with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. An endosporeforming bacterium, strain XTBG34, was isolated from a Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden soil sample and identified as Bacillus megaterium. The strain’s volatiles had remarkable plant growth promotion activity in Arabidopsis thaliana plants; after 15 days treatment, the fresh weight of plants inoculated with XTBG34 was almost 2-fold compared with those inoculated with DH5α. Head space volatile compounds produced by XTBG34, trapped with headspace solid phase microextraction and identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, included aldehydes, alkanes, ketones and aroma components. Of the 11 compounds assayed for plant growth promotion activity in divided Petri plates, only 2-pentylfuran increased plant growth. We have therefore identified a new plant growth promotion volatile of B. megaterium XTBG34, which deserves further study in the mechanisms of interaction between plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and plants.

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