Bacterial Taxa (bacterial + taxa)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Halophilic archaea in the human intestinal mucosa

ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010
Andrew P. A. Oxley
Summary The human gastrointestinal tract microbiota, despite its key roles in health and disease, remains a diverse, variable and poorly understood entity. Current surveys reveal a multitude of undefined bacterial taxa and a low diversity of methanogenic archaea. In an analysis of the microbiota in colonic mucosal biopsies from patients with inflammatory bowel disease we found 16S rDNA sequences representing a phylogenetically rich diversity of halophilic archaea from the Halobacteriaceae (haloarchaea), including novel phylotypes. As the human colon is not considered a salty environment and haloarchaea are described as extreme halophiles, we evaluated and further discarded the possibility that these sequences originated from pre-colonoscopy saline lavage solutions. Furthermore, aerobic enrichment cultures prepared from a patient biopsy at low salinity (2.5% NaCl) yielded haloarchaeal sequence types. Microscopic observation after fluorescence in situ hybridization provided evidence of the presence of viable archaeal cells in these cultures. These results prove the survival of haloarchaea in the digestive system and suggest that they may be members of the mucosal microbiota, even if present in low numbers in comparison with methanogenic archaea. Investigation of a potential physiological basis of this association may lead to new insights into gastrointestinal health and disease. [source]


Active bacterial community structure along vertical redox gradients in Baltic Sea sediment

ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 8 2008
Anna Edlund
Summary Community structures of active bacterial populations were investigated along a vertical redox profile in coastal Baltic Sea sediments by terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and clone library analysis. According to correspondence analysis of T-RFLP results and sequencing of cloned 16S rRNA genes, the microbial community structures at three redox depths (179, ,64 and ,337 mV) differed significantly. The bacterial communities in the community DNA differed from those in bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labelled DNA, indicating that the growing members of the community that incorporated BrdU were not necessarily the most dominant members. The structures of the actively growing bacterial communities were most strongly correlated to organic carbon followed by total nitrogen and redox potentials. Bacterial identification by sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from clones of BrdU-labelled DNA and DNA from reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction showed that bacterial taxa involved in nitrogen and sulfur cycling were metabolically active along the redox profiles. Several sequences had low similarities to previously detected sequences, indicating that novel lineages of bacteria are present in Baltic Sea sediments. Also, a high number of different 16S rRNA gene sequences representing different phyla were detected at all sampling depths. [source]


Diversity of endophytic bacterial communities in poplar grown under field conditions

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2008
Kristina Ulrich
Abstract Bacterial endophytes may be important for plant health and other ecologically relevant functions of poplar trees. The composition of endophytic bacteria colonizing the aerial parts of poplar was studied using a multiphasic approach. The terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of 16S rRNA genes demonstrated the impact of different hybrid poplar clones on the endophytic community structure. Detailed analysis of endophytic bacteria using cultivation methods in combination with cloning of 16S rRNA genes amplified from plant tissue revealed a high phylogenetic diversity of endophytic bacteria with a total of 53 taxa at the genus level that included Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. The community structure displayed clear differences in terms of the presence and relative proportions of bacterial taxa between the four poplar clones studied. The results showed that the genetic background of the hybrid poplar clones corresponded well with the endophytic community structure. Out of the 513 isolates and 209 clones identified, Actinobacteria, in particular the family Microbacteriaceae, made up the largest fraction of the isolates, whereas the clone library was dominated by Alpha - and Betaproteobacteria. The most abundant genera among the isolates were Pseudomonas and Curtobacterium, while Sphingomonas prevailed among the clones. [source]


Microbial composition of supra- and subgingival plaque in subjects with adult periodontitis

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 10 2000
Laurie Ann Ximénez-Fyvie
Abstract Background, aims: The purpose of the present study was to compare and relate the microbial composition of supra and subgingival plaque in 23 adult periodontitis subjects (mean age 51±14 years). Methods: A total of 1,170 samples of supra and subgingival plaque were collected from the mesial aspect of every tooth (up to 28 supra and 28 subgingival samples) from each subject and evaluated for the presence and levels of 40 bacterial taxa using whole genomic DNA probes and checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization. Clinical assessments including dichotomous measures of gingival redness, bleeding on probing, plaque accumulation and suppuration, as well as duplicate measures of pocket depth and attachment level, were made at 6 sites per tooth. The counts (levels), % DNA probe count (proportion) and % of sites colonized (prevalence) of each species in supra and separately in subgingival plaque were computed for each subject. Significance of differences between supra and subgingival plaque for each species was sought using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test and adjusted for multiple comparisons. Results: All 40 taxa were detected in both supra and subgingival plaque. Actinomyces species were the most prevalent taxa in both habitats. 75 to 100% of supra and 62 to 100% of subgingival sites were colonized by at least one of the 5 Actinomyces species. Supragingival samples exhibited significantly higher counts of Actinomyces naeslundii genospecies 1, Actinomyces israelii, Actinomyces odontolyticus, Neisseria mucosa, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga ochracea and Capnocytophaga sputigena when compared with mean counts in subgingival samples taken from the same tooth surfaces. Subgingival plaque samples presented significantly higher counts of Prevotella nigrescens, Prevotella intermedia, Bacteroides forsythus and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Subgingival samples exhibited a significantly higher proportion of "red" and "orange complex" species, while supragingival plaque exhibited higher proportions of "green" and "purple" complex species as well as Actinomyces species. Suspected periodontal pathogens could be detected in supragingival plaque from sites where subgingival samples were negative for the same species. Conclusions: The data indicate that supragingival plaque can harbor putative periodontal pathogens, suggesting a possible rôle of this environment as a reservoir of such species for the spread or reinfection of subgingival sites. [source]


The effect of repeated professional supragingival plaque removal on the composition of the supra- and subgingival microbiota

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 9 2000
Laurie Ann Ximénez-Fyvie
Abstract Background, aims: The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effect of weekly professionally administered supragingival plaque removal on the composition of the supra and subgingival microbiota. Methods: 18 adult subjects with periodontitis who had been treated and were in a maintenance phase of therapy were clinically and microbiologically monitored at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. After the baseline visit, the subjects received scaling and root planing followed by professional supragingival plaque removal every week for 3 months. Clinical measures of plaque accumulation, bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival redness, suppuration, pocket depth and attachment level were made at 6 sites per tooth at each visit. Separate supra (N=1804) and subgingival (N=1804) plaque samples were taken from the mesial aspect of all teeth excluding third molars in each subject at each time point and evaluated for their content of 40 bacterial taxa using checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization. Significance of changes in mean counts, prevalence and proportions of bacterial species over time in both supra and subgingival samples were determined using the Quade test and adjusted for multiple comparisons. Results: Mean % of sites exhibiting plaque, gingival redness and BOP were significantly reduced during the course of the study. Significant decreases in mean counts were observed in both supra and subgingival samples. Mean total DNA probe counts (×105, ±SEM) at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months were: 133±19, 95±25, 66±6, 41±6 (p<0.001) for supragingival samples and 105±22, 40±10, 19±4, 13±3 (p<0.001) for subgingival samples. Mean counts of 22 of 40 and 34 of 40 species tested were significantly reduced in the supra and subgingival samples respectively over the monitoring period. For example, mean counts of Porphyromonas gingivalis×105 at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months in the subgingival plaque samples were 2.0±0.4, 0.5±0.2, 0.6±0.3, 0.3±0.1 (p<0.001); Bacteroides forsythus 2.0±0.6, 0.4±0.1, 0.4±0.2, 0.1±0.2 (p<0.001); Treponema denticola 3.4±1.1, 0.8±0.3, 0.4±0.2, 0.3±0.3 (p<0.01). Similar reductions were seen in supragingival plaque samples. While counts were markedly reduced by professional plaque removal, the proportion and prevalence of the 40 test species were marginally affected. Conclusions: Weekly professional supragingival plaque removal profoundly diminished counts of both supra- and subgingival species creating a microbial profile comparable to that observed in periodontal health. This profile was maintained at the final monitoring visit, 9 months after completion of therapy. [source]


IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH DINOFLAGELLATES (DINOPHYCEAE) ALEXANDRIUM SPP.

JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
FLUORESCENT IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION AND CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY, USING TYRAMIDE SIGNAL AMPLIFICATION
In the marine environment, phytoplankton and bacterioplankton can be physically associated. Such association has recently been hypothesized to be involved in the toxicity of the dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium. However, the methods, which have been used so far to identify, localize, and quantify bacteria associated with phytoplankton, are either destructive, time consuming, or lack precision. In the present study we combined tyramide signal amplification,fluorescent in situ hybridization (TSA-FISH) with confocal microscopy to determine the physical association of dinoflagellate cells with bacteria. Dinoflagellate attached microflora was successfully identified with TSA-FISH, whereas FISH using monolabeled probes failed to detect bacteria, because of the dinoflagellate autofluorescence. Bacteria attached to entire dinoflagellates were further localized and distinguished from those attached to empty theca, by using calcofluor and DAPI, two fluorochromes that stain dinoflagellate theca and DNA, respectively. The contribution of specific bacterial taxa of attached microflora was assessed by double hybridization. Endocytoplasmic and endonuclear bacteria were successfully identified in the nonthecate dinoflagellate Gyrodinium instriatum. In contrast, intracellular bacteria were not observed in either toxic or nontoxic strains of Alexandrium spp. Finally, the method was successfully tested on natural phytoplankton assemblages, suggesting that this combination of techniques could prove a useful tool for the simultaneous identification, localization, and quantification of bacteria physically associated with dinoflagellates and more generally with phytoplankton. [source]


Identification of the adherent microbiota on the gills and skin of poly-cultured gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) and bluntnose black bream (Megalobrama amblycephala Yih)

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 9 2010
Wenwen Wang
Abstract PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was applied to analyse the microbial community attached to the gills and skin of poly-cultured gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) and bluntnose black bream (Megalobrama amblycephala Yih) and compare these results with those detected in the rearing water. The microbiota discussed included bacteria, fungi and a specific bacterial taxa of actinomycetes was also analysed. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and some unclassified microbiota were identified. Based on our results, we concluded that: (1) the adherent bacterial/fungal communities on the gills and skin were different from those in the rearing water, (2) the bacterial/fungal diversities on fish gills were lower than that on fish skin, (3) the adherent bacterial/fungal communities on gill and skin of gibel carp were different from that of bluntnose black bream and (4) the adherent actinomycetal community showed certain similarity between the skin of different hosts. Based on our conclusions, we suggested that the topic investigated in the present study merits further investigations. [source]


Possible association between amniotic fluid micro-organism infection and microflora in the mouth

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 5 2002
Caroline Bearfield
Objective To determine whether oral bacteria are found in the amniotic cavity. Design Laboratory based analysis of clinical samples. Setting Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel. Population Forty-eight women attending for elective caesarean section. Methods Dental plaque, a high vaginal swab, amniotic fluid and chorioamnion tissue were taken from women with intact membranes. Main outcome measures Samples were investigated using culture and microscopy for the presence of micro-organisms. Amniotic fluid was analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of the ubiquitous 16S rRNA gene specific to most eubacteria. Samples were analysed using PCR genus and species specific primers directed to bacterial taxa found as part of the normal oral microflora (Streptococcus spp. and Fusobacterium nucleatum). Levels of prostaglandin E2 and cytokines were measured in amniotic fluid. Results Amniotic fluid was positive for universal bacteria PCR, Streptococcus spp. PCR and F. nucleatum PCR in 34/48, 20/48 and 7/48 of cases, respectively. Streptococcus spp. and F. nucleatum were cultured from the dental plaque, vagina and amniotic fluid of 48/48, 14/48, 0/48 and 29/48, 6/48, 0/48 subjects, respectively. A significant association was found between detection of microbial DNA (universal and F. nucletum) and complications in previous pregnancies including miscarriage, intrauterine death, neonatal death, preterm delivery and premature rupture of membranes (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Prostaglandin E2 and cytokine levels, with the exception of IL-1,, were not significantly different between women with and without evidence of infection. Conclusions The results indicate that Streptococcus spp. and F. nucleatum in the amniotic fluid may have an oral origin. [source]