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Bacillus Species (bacillus + species)
Selected AbstractsDifference between the spore sizes of Bacillus anthracis and other Bacillus speciesJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007M. Carrera Abstract Aims:, To determine the size distribution of the spores of Bacillus anthracis, and compare its size with other Bacillus species grown and sporulated under similar conditions. Methods and Results:, Spores from several Bacillus species, including seven strains of B. anthracis and six close neighbours, were prepared and studied using identical media, protocols and instruments. Here, we report the spore length and diameter distributions, as determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We calculated the aspect ratio and volume of each spore. All the studied strains of B. anthracis had similar diameter (mean range between 0·81 ± 0·08 ,m and 0·86 ± 0·08 ,m). The mean lengths of the spores from different B. anthracis strains fell into two significantly different groups: one with mean spore lengths 1·26 ± 0·13 ,m or shorter, and another group of strains with mean spore lengths between 1·49 and 1·67 ,m. The strains of B. anthracis that were significantly shorter also sporulated with higher yield at relatively lower temperature. The grouping of B. anthracis strains by size and sporulation temperature did not correlate with their respective virulence. Conclusions:, The spores of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus atrophaeus (previously named Bacillus globigii), two commonly used simulants of B. anthracis, were considerably smaller in length, diameter and volume than all the B. anthracis spores studied. Although rarely used as simulants, the spores of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis had dimensions similar to those of B. anthracis. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Spores of nonvirulent Bacillus species are often used as simulants in the development and testing of countermeasures for biodefence against B. anthracis. The data presented here should help in the selection of simulants that better resemble the properties of B. anthracis, and thus, more accurately represent the performance of collectors, detectors and other countermeasures against this threat agent. [source] Virulent spores of Bacillus anthracis and other Bacillus species deposited on solid surfaces have similar sensitivity to chemical decontaminantsJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007J-L. Sagripanti Abstract Aims:, To compare the relative sensitivity of Bacillus anthracis and spores of other Bacillus spp. deposited on different solid surfaces to inactivation by liquid chemical disinfecting agents. Methods and Results:, We prepared under similar conditions spores from five different virulent and three attenuated strains of B. anthracis, as well as spores of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus atrophaeus (previously known as Bacillus globigii), Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus megaterium. As spore-surface interactions may bias inactivation experiments, we evaluated the relative binding of different spores to carrier materials. The survival of spores deposited on glass, metallic or polymeric surfaces were quantitatively measured by ASTM standard method E-2414-05 which recovers spores from surfaces by increasing stringency. The number of spores inactivated by each decontaminant was similar and generally within 1 log among the 12 different Bacillus strains tested. This similarity among Bacillus strains and species was observed through a range of sporicidal efficacy on spores deposited on painted metal, polymeric rubber or glass. Conclusions:, The data obtained indicate that the sensitivity of common simulants (B. atrophaeus and B. subtilis), as well as spores of B. cereus, B. thuringiensis, and B. megaterium, to inactivation by products that contain either: peroxide, chlorine or oxidants is similar to that shown by spores from all eight B. anthracis strains studied. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The comparative results of the present study suggest that decontamination and sterilization data obtained with simulants can be safely extrapolated to virulent spores of B. anthracis. Thus, valid conclusions on sporicidal efficacy could be drawn from safer and less costly experiments employing non-pathogenic spore simulants. [source] Characterization of extracellular polymers synthesized by tropical intertidal biofilm bacteriaJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007B.O. Ortega-Morales Abstract Aim:, This study was performed to determine the potential of tropical intertidal biofilm bacteria as a source of novel exopolymers (EPS). Methods and Results:, A screening procedure was implemented to detect EPS-producing biofilm bacteria. Isolates MC3B-10 and MC6B-22, identified respectively as a Microbacterium species and Bacillus species by 16S rDNA and cellular fatty acids analyses, produced different EPS, as evidenced by colorimetric and gas chromatographic analyses. The polymer produced by isolate MC3B-10 displays significant surfactant activity, and may chelate calcium as evidenced by spectroscopic analysis. Conclusions:, Polymer MC3B-10 appears to be a glycoprotein, while EPS MC6B-22 seems to be a true polysaccharide dominated by neutral sugars but with significant concentrations of uronic acids and hexosamines. EPS MC3B-10 possesses a higher surfactant activity than that of commercial surfactants, and given its anionic nature, may chelate cations thus proving useful in bioremediation. The chemical composition of polymer MC6B-22 suggests its potential biomedical application in tissue regeneration. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This is the first report of a Microbacterium species producing EPS with surfactant properties, which expands our knowledge of the micro-organisms capable of producing these biomolecules. Furthermore, this work shows that tropical intertidal environments are a nonpreviously recognized habitat for bioprospecting EPS-producing bacteria, and that these molecules might be involved in ecological roles protecting the cells against dessication. [source] Commensal bacilli inhibitory to mastitis pathogens isolated from the udder microbiota of healthy cowsJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006M. Al-Qumber Abstract Aims:, To isolate from the microbiota of the healthy cow udder commensal bacteria having antimicrobial activity against bovine mastitis pathogens, with a long-term view to their potential application as antimastitis probiotics. Methods and Results:, Bacterial isolates from four healthy cow udders were tested for inhibitory activity against three Gram-positive indicator bacteria. This led to the selection of nine broadly inhibitory strains. All were of the Bacillus genus and their antimicrobial activities, which appeared heterogeneous on the basis of their antibacterial spectra and heat susceptibilities, enabled grouping of the inhibitory bacilli into six different inhibitory profiles. All displayed strong in vitro activity against Gram-positive mastitis pathogens. Inhibitory bacilli were recovered from each of the 11 udder samples collected over 7 months from one of these cows and the isolates included representatives of all six inhibitory profiles. Conclusions:, Bacilli present in the udder microbiota of healthy cows can produce a variety of broadly active inhibitors of Gram-positive bacteria, including potential mastitis pathogens. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Inhibitor-producing strains of commensal Bacillus species have been identified, which may have the potential for use as possible antimastitis probiotics. [source] Differential identification of Bacillus anthracis from environmental Bacillus species using microarray analysisJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2006J.E. Burton Abstract Aims:, To determine whether microarray analysis could be employed for the differential identification of a range of environmental Bacillus sp. from four strains of Bacillus anthracis. Methods and Results:, Oligonucleotide probes were designed that were specific to virulence factor genes of B. anthracis (pag, lef and cap), the variable number tandem repeat region of the B. anthracis vrrA gene and to the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer region (ITS) and pleiotropic regulator (plcR) regions of the Bacillus cereus subgroup species. Generic probes were also designed to hybridize with conserved regions of the 16S rRNA genes of Bacillus (as a positive control), Neisseria sp., Pseudomonas sp., Streptococcus sp., Mycobacterium sp. and to all members of the Enterobacteriaceae to allow simultaneous detection of these bacteria. Identification of B. anthracis was found to rely entirely on hybridization of DNA specific to regions of the pag, lef and cap genes. Cross-reaction was observed between B. anthracis and other Bacillus species with all the other Bacillus probes tested. Results obtained using microarray hybridizations were confirmed using conventional microbiological techniques and found to have very high comparability. Conclusions:, Microarray-based assays are an effective method for the identification of B. anthracis from mixed-culture environmental samples without problems of false-positivity that have been observed with conventional PCR assays. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Identification of environmental Bacillus sp. by conventional PCR is prone to potential for reporting false-positives. This study provides a method for the exclusion of such isolates. [source] Inactivation of Bacillus spores in reconstituted skim milk by combined high pressure and heat treatmentJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006K.J. Scurrah Abstract Aims:, To determine the resistance of a variety of Bacillus species spores to a combined high pressure and heat treatment; and to determine the affect of varying sporulation and treatment conditions on the level of inactivation achieved. Methods and Results:, Spores from eight Bacillus species (40 isolates) were high pressure,heat treated at 600 MPa, 1 min, initial temperature 72°C. The level of inactivation was broad (no inactivation to 6 log10 spores ml,1 reduction) and it varied within species. Different sporulation agar, high pressure equipment and pressure-transmitting fluid significantly affected the response of some isolates. Varying the initial treatment temperature (75, 85 or 95°C) shifted the relative order of isolate high pressure,heat resistance. Conclusions:, The response of Bacillus spores to combined high pressure,heat treatment is variable and can be attributed to both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The combined process resulted in a high level of spore inactivation for several Bacillus species and is a potential alternative treatment to traditional heat-only processes. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Sporulation conditions, processing conditions and treatment temperature all affect the response of Bacillus spores to the combined treatment of high pressure and heat. High levels of spore inactivation can be achieved but the response is variable both within and between species. [source] PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF CYCLODEXTRIN GLUCANOTRANSFERASE FROM AN ALKALOPHILIC BACILLUS sp.JOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2004ABSTRACT Cyclodextrin glucanotransferases (EC 2.4.1.19) (CGTase) are industrially important enzymes for production of cyclodextrin (CD) from starch. ,-CD yield of CGTase from alkalophilic Bacillus species is usually much lower than ,-CD, while from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. 7-12. ,-CD yield is close to ,-CD. A CGTase from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. 7-12 was purified and characterized. When purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose column chromatography and Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography, the enzyme obtained consisted of a single band that did not dissociate into subunits by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Molecular weight of the purified enzyme was determined to be 69,000 Da by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme showed a Kmof 1.24 mg/mL and Vmax0.101 µM/min when potato starch was used as substrate. The enzyme was stable below 70C with an optimum activity at 60C, and stable at pH range 6,10 with an optimum pH at 8.5. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by Ag+, Cu2+, Mg2+, Al3+, Co2+, Zn2+, Fe2+and slightly inhibited by Sn2+, Mn2+. The ions Ca2+and K+, EDTA and DTT had no influence on the enzyme activity. [source] The Role of Biotechnology in Modern Food ProductionJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 3 2004CHERL-HO LEE ABSTRACT: Modern food production technology is given great challenges by the emerging fields of biotechnology and molecular biology. Knowledge of conventional fermentation technology is upgraded by the gene level explanations of enzyme actions and physiological functions of biomaterials derived therefrom. The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their products in food widens the availability of resources while also raising public interest about safety and labeling. As an example of the application of molecular biology in conventional fermentation technology the selection of proteases from a Bacillus species grown in Korean traditional soybean fermentation starter, Meju, and the production of peptides with blood cholesterol lowering effect, obtained from soybean protein hydrolysate, are presented. Recent developments in the Korean bioindustry are reviewed as an example of the role of biotechnology in the food industry. The present status of GMO enzymes in food production is reviewed and safety issues about GMO use in the food system are discussed. [source] Complete sequences of small acid-soluble proteins from Bacillus globigiiJOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 10 2004Jeffrey R. Whiteaker Abstract Three abundant small acid-soluble proteins (SASPs) from spores of Bacillus globigii were sequenced using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry with post-source decay and nanoelectrospray collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry. The proteins were extracted from spores with 1 M HCl. Scanning electron micrographs of spores before and after acid extraction show that the spores retain their overall structure but have a shriveled texture following the acid treatment. Extracted SASPs were purified by high-performance liquid chromatography and molecular masses of the SASPs were identified at 7068 (SASP-1), 7332 (SASP-2), and 8889 (,-SASP). De novo peptide sequencing was used to determine the protein sequences. The correct ordering of peptide sequences was aided by mapping overlapping enzymatic digests and by comparison with homologous SASPs from Bacillus stearothermophilus. B. globigii is used in many field tests as a surrogate for B. anthracis. Thus complete SASP sequences from B. globigii will facilitate the development of methods for rapid identification of bacteria based on mass spectrometry and the examination of taxonomic relationships between Bacillus species. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Negative and positive ion matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and positive ion nano-electrospray ionization quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry of peptidoglycan fragments isolated from various Bacillus speciesJOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 2 2001Gerold Bacher Abstract A general approach for the detailed characterization of sodium borohydride-reduced peptidoglycan fragments (syn. muropeptides), produced by muramidase digestion of the purified sacculus isolated from Bacillus subtilis (vegetative cell form of the wild type and a dacA mutant) and Bacillus megaterium (endospore form), is outlined based on UV matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) and nano-electrospray ionization (nESI) quadrupole ion trap (QIT) mass spectrometry (MS). After enzymatic digestion and reduction of the resulting muropeptides, the complex glycopeptide mixture was separated and fractionated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Prior to mass spectrometric analysis, the muropeptide samples were subjected to a desalting step and an aliquot was taken for amino acid analysis. Initial molecular mass determination of these peptidoglycan fragments (ranging from monomeric to tetrameric muropeptides) was performed by positive and negative ion MALDI-MS using the thin-layer technique with the matrix ,-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid. The results demonstrated that for the fast molecular mass determination of large sample numbers in the 0.8,10 pmol range and with a mass accuracy of ±0.07%, negative ion MALDI-MS in the linear TOF mode is the method of choice. After this kind of muropeptide screening often a detailed primary structural analysis is required owing to ambiguous data. Structural data could be obtained from peptidoglycan monomers by post-source decay (PSD) fragment ion analysis, but not from dimers or higher oligomers and not with the necessary sensitivity. Multistage collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments performed on an nESI-QIT instrument were found to be the superior method for structural characterization of not only monomeric but also of dimeric and trimeric muropeptides. Up to MS4 experiments were sometimes necessary to obtain unambiguous structural information. Three examples are presented: (a) CID MSn (n = 2,4) of a peptidoglycan monomer (disaccharide-tripeptide) isolated from B. subtilis (wild type, vegetative cell form), (b) CID MSn (n = 2,4) of a peptidoglycan dimer (bis-disaccharide-tetrapentapeptide) obtained from a B. subtilis mutant (vegetative cell form) and (c) CID MS2 of a peptidoglycan trimer (a linear hexasaccharide with two peptide side chains) isolated from the spore cortex of B. megaterium. All MSn experiments were performed on singly charged precursor ions and the MS2 spectra were dominated by fragments derived from interglycosidic bond cleavages. MS3 and MS4 spectra exhibited mainly peptide moiety fragment ions. In case of the bis-disaccharide-tetrapentapeptide, the peptide branching point could be determined based on MS3 and MS4 spectra. The results demonstrate the utility of nESI-QIT-MS towards the facile determination of the glycan sequence, the peptide linkage and the peptide sequence and branching of purified muropeptides (monomeric up to trimeric forms). The wealth of structural information generated by nESI-QIT-MSn is unsurpassed by any other individual technique. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Evaluation of spore extraction and purification methods for selective recovery of viable Bacillus anthracis sporesLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2001D.C. Dragon Aims: To investigate methods of improving anthrax spore detection with PLET. Methods and Results: Comparisons were made of PLET and blood-supplemented PLET to recover and distinguish spores of a variety of Bacillus species. Heat and ethanol purification of spores, and spore extraction from soil with water and high specific gravity sucrose plus non-ionic detergent, were also carried out. Conclusions: PLET was more selective and suitable than blood-supplemented PLET for detection of anthrax spores in the environmental specimens. However, PLET is not an optimal spore recovery medium. Purification of spores with ethanol was as effective as heat purification. High specific gravity sucrose plus detergent extraction solutions may be more sensitive than extraction with water. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study highlights shortcomings with the standard PLET isolation of anthrax spores and describes ways in which the procedure may be improved. [source] Molecular recognition specificity of Bacillus globigii spore antibodiesLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2000P. Longchamp Western blotting methods have been used to assess the specificity of polyclonal antibodies raised against Bacillus globigii spore and vegetative cell preparations. None of the antibodies studied were completely species-specific in their recognition of spore surface epitopes. One polyclonal serum recognized several spore surface epitopes and demonstrated limited cross-reaction with the spore surface of the near-neighbour species B. subtilis. A second polyclonal serum, raised against aged spore antigens, recognized damaged spore epitopes primarily. Both of these antibodies also cross-reacted with vegetative cell epitopes present in all four Bacillus species (B. globigii, B. subtilis, B. cereus and B. anthracis) studied. [source] Two small c -type cytochromes affect virulence gene expression in Bacillus anthracisMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Adam C. Wilson Summary Regulated expression of the genes for anthrax toxin proteins is essential for the virulence of the pathogenic bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Induction of toxin gene expression depends on several factors, including temperature, bicarbonate levels, and metabolic state of the cell. To identify factors that regulate toxin expression, transposon mutagenesis was performed under non-inducing conditions and mutants were isolated that untimely expressed high levels of toxin. A number of these mutations clustered in the haem biosynthetic and cytochrome c maturation pathways. Genetic analysis revealed that two haem-dependent, small c -type cytochromes, CccA and CccB, located on the extracellular surface of the cytoplasmic membrane, regulate toxin gene expression by affecting the expression of the master virulence regulator AtxA. Deregulated AtxA expression in early exponential phase resulted in increased expression of toxin genes in response to loss of the CccA-CccB signalling pathway. This is the first function identified for these two small c -type cytochromes of Bacillus species. Extension of the transposon screen identified a previously uncharacterized protein, BAS3568, highly conserved across many bacterial and archeal species, as involved in cytochrome c activity and virulence regulation. These findings are significant not only to virulence regulation in B. anthracis, but also to analysis of virulence regulation in many pathogenic bacteria and to the study of cytochrome c activity in Gram-positive bacteria. [source] Mistic: Cellular localization, solution behavior, polymerization, and fibril formation,PROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 7 2009Hay Dvir Abstract Mistic represents a family of unique membrane-associating proteins originally found in Bacillus subtilis (M110). As a fusion partner, it has been shown to assist overexpression of foreign integral membrane proteins in E. coli. We have expressed shorter Mistic homologs from other Bacillus species and surprisingly, unlike M110, found them abundant in the cytoplasm. These Mistic homologs including the corresponding shorter sequence (amino acids 27 through 110 of M110) exist as multimeric assemblies in solution in the absence of detergent. Crystals of Mistic from B. leicheniformis (M2) diffracted to 3.2 Å resolution, indicating that it exists as a multimer in the crystalline state as well. Moreover, we show that although M2 is mostly ,-helical, it tends to polymerize and form fibrils. Such oligomerization could potentially mask the charged surface of the monomeric Mistic to assist membrane integration. [source] Pseudochromhidrosis: Blue discolouration of the head and neckAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Sarah Hill SUMMARY A 57-year-old man is presented with blue pseudochromhidrosis affecting the face and neck following combination treatment with lansoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, and ranitidine, a type two histamine receptor antagonist. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinico-histological features and growth of Malassezia furfur, and Bacillus species, not Bacillus cereus, in the absence of lipofuscin. The pseudochromhidrosis resolved on stopping both medications and did not recur on restarting only the proton pump inhibitor. [source] Crystallization and preliminary diffraction studies of a truncated form of a novel protease from spores of Bacillus megateriumACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 1 2000Karthe Ponnuraj During germination of spores of Bacillus species, a novel protease termed GPR initiates the degradation of a group of small acid-soluble spore proteins which protect the dormant spore's DNA from damage. Trypsin digestion of the zymogen of B. megaterium GPR removes ,15 kDa from the C-terminal end of the 46,kDa zymogen subunit, leaving a 30,kDa subunit. Single crystals of this truncated form of GPR have been obtained by the vapor-diffusion method using PEG 4000 as a precipitating agent. The crystals belong to the monoclinic space group P21, with unit-cell parameters a = 67.99, b = 105.34, c = 108.63,Å, , = 95.68°. The cryofrozen crystals diffract X-rays to about 3.3,Å using synchrotron radiation. [source] |