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Toxic Strain (toxic + strain)
Selected AbstractsGenetic Diversity: Geographical Distribution and Toxin Profiles of Microcystis Strains (Cyanobacteria) in ChinaJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Zhong-Xing Wu Abstract Twenty strains of Microcystis Kütz were isolated from different freshwater bodies in China to analyze the diversity, geographical distribution and toxin profiles. Based on whole-cell polymerase chain reaction of cpcBA-IGS nucleotide sequence, the derived neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximum parsimony (MP) trees indicate that these strains of Microcystis can be divided into four clusters. The strains from south, middle and north region of China formed distinct lineages, suggesting high diversity and a geographical distribution from south to north locations. Moreover, the results being indicating high variable genotypes of the strains of the Microcystis strains from the same lake show that there is high diversity of Microcystis within a water bloom population. Comparing the results of the present study with those reported for compared with 43 strains of Microcystis from other locations, also reveals Chinese strains have high similarity with those from regions in the North Hemispherical. This suggests that the Microcystis strains in the world might have a geographical distribution. Analysis of 30 strains using the primers MCF/TER and TOX2P/TOX2M showed that there was no correlation between the gene of cpcBA-IGS and the presence of mcy. Toxic strains were founded to be predominant in different water bodies throughout China. [source] Phenotypical variation in a toxic strain of the phytoplankter, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (nostocales, cyanophyceae) during batch cultureENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2001Peter R. Hawkins Abstract A nonaxenic strain of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii Woloszynska (AWT 205) was grown in batch culture, with and without nitrate as the primary N source. Rapid log-phase growth with nitrate was 1.0 doubling/day versus 0.3 doubling/day without nitrate. Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) production was measured by HPLC. The rate of intracellular CYN production matched cell division rate for both the diazotrophies at cell densities less than 107 cell/ml. At cell density >107 cell/ml, additional resource limitation in batch culture slowed log-phase growth to 0.04 division/day and cell division and CYN production decoupled. Intracellular CYN concentration increased at a rate of 0.08 doubling/day, twice the cell division rate. Extracellular CYN as a proportion of the total CYN increased from 20% during the rapid growth phase, to 50% during the slow growth phase. The total CYN yield from cultures grown out to stationary phase (55 days) exceeded 2 mg CYN/l. C. raciborskii cells in log-phase growth, exposed to 1 ppm copper (as copper sulphate), lysed within 24 hours. After copper treatment, all CYN was in the filterable fraction. These findings imply that in naturally occurring blooms of C. raciborskii, the movement of intracellular CYN into solution will be the greatest during stationary phase, when intracellular concentrations are highest and cell lysis is more frequent. The application of algicides that promote cell lysis will exacerbate this effect. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 16: 460,467, 2001 [source] Alkaloids may not be responsible for endophyte-associated reductions in tall fescue decomposition ratesFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Jacob A. Siegrist Summary 1. ,Fungal endophyte , grass symbioses can have dramatic ecological effects, altering individual plant physiology, plant and animal community structure and function, and ecosystem processes such as litter decomposition and nutrient cycling. 2. ,Within the tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) , fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) symbiosis, fungal produced alkaloids are often invoked as the putative mechanism driving these ecological responses. Yet few measurements of alkaloids exist in the ecological literature. In this study, we quantified alkaloid levels in live, standing dead and decomposing endophyte-infected (E+) and ,free (E,) plant material and simultaneously evaluated the direct and indirect effects of endophyte presence on tall fescue decomposition. 3. ,Loline and ergot alkaloid levels were consistently high in live E+ (common toxic strain of N. coenophialum) tall fescue biomass throughout the sampling period (May,November 2007), whereas, E, live and standing dead material had non-detectable alkaloid concentrations. Standing dead E+ biomass had significantly reduced alkaloid levels (6,19x lower than the levels measured in the corresponding live E+ biomass) that were equivalent to E, live and dead for loline but were still somewhat higher than E, material for ergots. 4. ,In an effort to test the role of alkaloids in directly inhibiting decomposition, as has been suggested by previous studies, we conducted a litter bag experiment using green, alkaloid-laden E+ and alkaloid-free E, tall fescue plant material. We incubated E+ and E, litter bags in both E+ and E, tall fescue stands for 170 days, and measured mass loss, carbon and nitrogen content, and ergot and loline alkaloid concentrations over the incubation period. 5. ,Consistent with previous reports, both direct and indirect effects of endophyte presence on litter decomposition were observed: endophyte presence in the litter and surrounding microenvironment significantly reduced decomposition rates. Surprisingly, despite large differences in alkaloid content between E+ and E, litter from Day 0,Day 21 of the incubation, direct effects of the endophyte on litter decomposition, while significant, were relatively small (differences in mass loss between E+ and E, litter were never >3%). Alkaloids were gone from E+ material by day 56. 6. ,We propose that results from this study indicating alkaloids are largely absent in standing dead material (the typical input to the decomposition process), and that despite being present in our litter bag experiment, failed to produce large differences in mass loss between E+ and E, material questions the supposition that fungal produced alkaloids directly inhibit decomposition. Additional studies exploring the mechanisms behind the direct and indirect effects of endophytes on this ecosystem process are needed. [source] Prevalence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in an ethnic adult Chinese populationJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 9 2001Kai Soo Tan Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the structure of the leukotoxin promoter region of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in an ethnic Chinese population. Method: Subgingival plaque samples were collected from 42 patients with moderate to advanced periodontitis and 50 periodontally healthy patients. A. actinomycetemcomitans was detected directly from the crude subgingival plaque by PCR using leukotoxin gene specific primers. The presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans was determined by a single 285 bp PCR amplicon. Results:A. actinomycetemcomitans was found to be present in the subgingival plaque of 68 out of a total of 92 patients examined (74%). 29 out of the 42 periodontitis patients tested were carriers of A. actinomycetemcomitans (69%). Among the periodontally healthy patients studied, 39 out of 50 subjects possessed the bacteria (78%). PCR analysis of the promoter region of the ltx operon revealed that none of the 42 moderate to advanced periodontitis patients examined harboured A.actinomycetemcomitans strains with the JP2-like promoter of the ltx operon, known to enhance leukotoxin expression. 2 out of the 27 advanced periodontitis patients clinically diagnosed as suffering from rapidly progressive periodontitis were found to be carriers of the mildly toxic strain of A. actinomycetemcomitans with the characteristic 652-like promoter. Conclusions: The high prevalence of A. actinomycetemcomitans, regardless of whether the subgingival samples were analysed from patients with healthy or diseased periodontium suggests that this bacterial species is part of the normal oral flora of ethnic Chinese. Our preliminary results also suggested that subjects who harboured the mildly toxic strain of A. actinomycetemcomitans were potentially susceptible to aggressive forms of periodontitis. Zusammenfassung Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, in einer ethnischen Population von Chinesen die Prävalenz von Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans und die Struktur der Leukotoxin-Promoterregion zu bestimmen. Von 42 Patienten mit moderater bis fortgeschrittener Parodontitis und 50 parodontal gesunden Patienten wurden subgingivale Plaqueproben entnommen. A. actinomycetemcomitans wurde direkt in der unbehandelten subgingivalen Plaque durch PCR unter Verwendung eines Leukotoxingen-spezifischen Primers nachgewiesen. Das Vorhandensein von A. actinomycetemcomitans wurde mittels eines einzigen 285 bp-PCR-Amplikons bestimmt. Es wurde A. actinomycetemcomitans bei 68 von 92 untersuchten Patienten (74%) vorgefunden. 29 von 42 getesteten Parodontitispatienten waren Träger von A. actinomycetemcomitans (69%). Unter den Studierten parodontal gesunden Patienten besaßen 39 von 50 Personen das Bakterium (78%). Die PCR-Analyse der Promoterregion des ltx -Operons zeigte, dass keiner der 42 untersuchten Patienten mit moderater bis fortgeschrittener Parodontitis den A. actinomycetemcomitans mit dem JP2-ähnlichen Promoter des ltx -Operons, welches die Leukotoxinexpression verstärkt, besaß. Bei 2 der 27 Patienten mit fortgeschrittener Parodontitis wurde klinisch eine rasch fortschreitende Parodontitis diagnostiziert und es wurde der mit geringer Toxizität versehene Stamm des A. actinomycetemcomitans mit dem charakteristischen 652-ähnlichen Promoter vorgefunden. Bedingt durch die hohe Prävalenz von A. actinomycetemcomitans unabhängig davon, ob die Proben von Patienten mit gesundem oder erkranktem Parodontium stammen, lässt sich annehmen, dass diese Bakterienspezies bei ethnischen Chinesen ein Teil normalen Mundflora ist. Unsere vorläufigen Resultate lassen auch annehmen, dass Personen, die den mit geringer Toxizität versehenen Stamm des A. actinomycetemcomitans tragen eine potentielle Anfälligkeit für aggressive Formen der Parodontitis besitzen. Résumé Le but de l'étude présente a été de déterminer la fréquence globale et la structure de la région promoteur de leukotoxine de l'Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) dans une population chinoise. Des échantillons de plaque dentaire sous-gingivale ont été prélevés chez 42 patients avec parodontite modérée à avancée et chez 50 patients sains. L'A.a. a été détecté directement dans la plaque sous-gingivale par PCR en utilisant les sites spécifiques de gènes leukotoxines. La présence de l'A.a. a été déterminée par un amplicon PCR de 285 bp. L'A.a. a été décelé dans la plaque sous-gingivale de 68 des 92 patients examinés (74%). 29 des 42 patients avec parodontite ont été reconnus comme porteurs d'A.a. (69%). Parmi les patients sains étudiés, 39 des 50 sujets étaient porteurs de la bactérie (78%). L'analyse PCR de la région promoteur de operon ltx a révélé que des 42 patients avec parodontite modéréà avancée aucun n'avaient de souche A.a. avec le promoteur ressemblant au JP2 de l'operon ltx, reconnu pour acroître la leukotoxine. 2 des 27 patients avec parodontit avancée souffraient d'une parodontite progressant rapidement et étaient porteurs d'une souche moyennement toxique d'A.a. avec la caractéristique du promoteur ressemblant au 652. La fréquence globale importante d'A.a., sans tenir compte si les échantillons sous-gingivaux ont été analysés de patients avec un parodonte sain ou malade, suggère que ces espèces bactériennes font partie de la flore buccale normale de l'ethnie chinoise. Ces résultats indiquent également que les porteurs de la souche peu toxique d'A.a. seraient potentiellement susceptibles à des formes de parodontite agressive. [source] EXTRACELLULAR ENZYMES OF THE MICROCYSTIS AERUGINOSA PCC 7813 STRAIN ARE INHIBITED IN THE PRESENCE OF HYDROQUINONE AND PYROGALLOL, ALLELOCHEMICALS PRODUCED BY AQUATIC PLANTS,JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Dariusz Dziga Several cyanobacterial species have a high potential to dominate in marine environments and freshwater reservoirs, and the ecological and physiological reasons for this phenomenon are not understood comprehensively. In this study, the ability of a Microcystis aeruginosa Kütz. strain to produce free dissolved enzymes was documented. We have observed that this highly toxic strain releases alkaline phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, and ,-glucosidase into the ambient environment. Additionally, the inhibitory activity of selected phenols produced by aquatic plants on the activity of these enzymes was analyzed. The investigated compounds, pyrogallol and, to a lesser degree, hydroquinone, decreased the activity of extracellular enzymes produced by M. aeruginosa, with leucine aminopeptidase being the most sensitive to the inhibitors. The noncompetitive character of enzymatic inhibition suggests that the polyphenols produced by aquatic plants are able to influence the activity of different extracellular or membrane-bound enzymes. [source] Inhibition of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxicity by bacteria from the subgingival floraMOLECULAR ORAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000A. Johansson Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans produces a pore-forming leukotoxin that lyses human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes. Certain proteolytic bacteria may coexist with A. actinomycetemcomitans in periodontal pockets. We aimed therefore to examine whether oral bacteria can modify the leukotoxicity of A. actinomycetemcomitans. A total of 55 strains representing 45 bacterial species of the subgingival flora were tested. Each strain was incubated with the highly toxic strain of A. actinomycetemcomitans HK 1519 and the leukotoxic activity of the suspension against human polymorphonuclear leukocytes was determined from the activity of the lactate dehydrogenase released upon lysis of the leukocytes. Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens, Prevotella melaninogenica and Prevotella loeschii inhibited the leukotoxicity of A. actinomycetemcomitans cells as well as the activity of leukotoxin purified from the same strain. The bacterial strains without the ability to block leukotoxic activity also failed to destroy pure leukotoxin even after 5 h of incubation. The proteolytic degradation of leukotoxin by P. gingivalis was mainly dependent on the activity of the enzymes R- and K-gingipains. P. intermedia and P. nigrescens also degraded the leukotoxin by enzymes. The results imply a role of the periodontal microflora in modifying the virulence of A. actinomycetemcomitans by destroying its leukotoxin. [source] Occurrence of toxic cyanobacterial blooms in San Roque Reservoir (Córdoba, Argentina): A field and chemometric studyENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2003María Valeria Amé Abstract We evaluated the presence of cyanobacterial blooms in San Roque Reservoir (Córdoba, Argentina). Cyanobacterial blooms and water samples were collected over 4 years (1998,2002). We confirmed the presence of microcystin-LR and microcystin-RR in 97% of these blooms. The total amount of microcystin (MC) ranged between 5.8 and 2400.0 ,g g,1 of freeze-dried bloom material. These values suggest that guidelines for safe water consumption and recreational use should be established for this reservoir. Twenty-eight physical and chemical parameters were measured in water samples and evaluated by discriminant analysis (DA). A first DA was used to evaluate the factors promoting cyanobacteria occurrence, identifying nine parameters following three patterns associated with cyanobacterial growth. Inorganic phosphorous was found to promote the presence of blooms, whereas the highest proliferation of cyanobacteria was observed in the presence of smaller amounts of carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, and fecal coliform bacteria. The results observed during our fieldwork, analyzed using DA, agreed with the results of other laboratory studies, thus confirming the usefulness of DA to help with the evaluation of a complicated environmental data matrix. A second DA, using only water samples collected during the presence of cyanobacteria blooms, identified another nine parameters. The analysis of these parameters allowed us to identify certain environmental factors that could lead to the dominance of toxic strains, thus increasing the amount of MC. The results showed that, in our case, an increase in the water temperature was associated with higher amounts of MC per dry weight unit, whereas an increase in the concentrations of ammonia,nitrogen and iron were associated with lower amounts of MC, thus disfavoring the dominance of toxic strains. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 18: 192,201, 2003. [source] | |||||||||||||