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BackgroundThe Atribacterota are widely distributed in the subsurface biosphere. Recently, the first Atribacterota isolate was described and the number of Atribacterota genome sequences retrieved from environmental samples has increased significantly; however, their diversity, physiology, ecology, and evolution remain poorly understood.ResultsWe report the isolation of the second member of Atribacterota, Thermatribacter velox gen. nov., sp. nov., within a new family Thermatribacteraceae fam. nov., and the short-term laboratory cultivation of a member of the JS1 lineage, Phoenicimicrobium oleiphilum HX-OS.bin.34TS, both from a terrestrial oil reservoir. Physiological and metatranscriptomics analyses showed that Thermatribacter velox B11T and Phoenicimicrobium oleiphilum HX-OS.bin.34TS ferment sugars and n-alkanes, respectively, producing H2, CO2, and acetate as common products. Comparative genomics showed that all members of the Atribacterota lack a complete Wood-Ljungdahl Pathway (WLP), but that the Reductive Glycine Pathway (RGP) is widespread, indicating that the RGP, rather than WLP, is a central hub in Atribacterota metabolism. Ancestral character state reconstructions and phylogenetic analyses showed that key genes encoding the RGP (fdhA, fhs, folD, glyA, gcvT, gcvPAB, pdhD) and other central functions were gained independently in the two classes, Atribacteria (OP9) and Phoenicimicrobiia (JS1), after which they were inherited vertically; these genes included fumarate-adding enzymes (faeA; Phoenicimicrobiia only), the CODH/ACS complex (acsABCDE), and diverse hydrogenases (NiFe group 3b, 4b and FeFe group A3, C). Finally, we present genome-resolved community metabolic models showing the central roles of Atribacteria (OP9) and Phoenicimicrobiia (JS1) in acetate- and hydrocarbon-rich environments.ConclusionOur findings expand the knowledge of the diversity, physiology, ecology, and evolution of the phylum Atribacterota. This study is a starting point for promoting more incisive studies of their syntrophic biology and may guide the rational design of strategies to cultivate them in the laboratory. Video Abstract.

Until mid-1970s, cyanobacteria have been interpreted as algae despite they differed from other members of this taxonomic group by the absence of cell nucleus (that is currently considered among the characters of prokaryotic organization). However, when bacteria were interpreted as prokaryotes, blue-green algae became reattributed as cyanobacteria, and bacteriologists began to study their cultured strains with microbiology methods. But since these objects did not obey the provisions of bacteriological code (ICNB), development of their taxonomy had certain problems, especially regarding nomenclature, that could not be solved until early-2010s. Current changes in taxonomy of cyanobacteria result from the general progress in taxonomy of prokaryotes due to explosive accumulation of 16S rRNA gene sequencing data, particularly for uncultured objects. Advances in description of new cyanobacteral taxa are as follows: (I) based on polyphasic approach, new taxa ranging from species to order were published; (II) "dark" cyanobacteria demonstrating several types of non-photosynthetic metabolism were described; I(II) strains producing red-shifted chlorophylls d and f were published. Advances in nomenclature of cyanobacteria are: (IV) taxa validly published according to botanical code (ICN) are also considered valid under prokaryotic code (ICNP); (V) the category of phylum was introduced into ICNP, and due to valid publication of the type genus Cyanobacterium, phylum name Cyanobacteriota became legitimate; (VI) names of uncultured Candidatus objects could get a standing in nomenclature based on SeqCode in which type material is represented by genomic DNA sequences. Advances in classification of cyanobacteria are: (VII) evolutionary tree of oxygenic phototrophs and related phylotypes was construed; (VIII) phylogenomic system of orders and families was elaborated; (IX) ecogenomic system combining genomie analysis with genome distribution data was offered. A subject for future research is restriction of taxonomic redundancy in cyanobacteria, and further attempts to establish their species concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The Atribacterota are widely distributed in the subsurface biosphere. Recently, the first Atribacterota isolate was described and the number of Atribacterota genome sequences retrieved from environmental samples has increased significantly; however, their diversity, physiology, ecology, and evolution remain poorly understood. Results We report the isolation of the second member of Atribacterota, Thermatribacter velox gen. nov., sp. nov., within a new family Thermatribacteraceae fam. nov., and the short-term laboratory cultivation of a member of the JS1 lineage, Phoenicimicrobium oleiphilum HX-OS.bin.34TS, both from a terrestrial oil reservoir. Physiological and metatranscriptomics analyses showed that Thermatribacter velox B11T and Phoenicimicrobium oleiphilum HX-OS.bin.34TS ferment sugars and n-alkanes, respectively, producing H2, CO2, and acetate as common products. Comparative genomics showed that all members of the Atribacterota lack a complete Wood-Ljungdahl Pathway (WLP), but that the Reductive Glycine Pathway (RGP) is widespread, indicating that the RGP, rather than WLP, is a central hub in Atribacterota metabolism. Ancestral character state reconstructions and phylogenetic analyses showed that key genes encoding the RGP (fdhA, fhs, folD, glyA, gcvT, gcvPAB, pdhD) and other central functions were gained independently in the two classes, Atribacteria (OP9) and Phoenicimicrobiia (JS1), after which they were inherited vertically; these genes included fumarate-adding enzymes (faeA; Phoenicimicrobiia only), the CODH/ACS complex (acsABCDE), and diverse hydrogenases (NiFe group 3b, 4b and FeFe group A3, C). Finally, we present genome-resolved community metabolic models showing the central roles of Atribacteria (OP9) and Phoenicimicrobiia (JS1) in acetate- and hydrocarbon-rich environments. Conclusion Our findings expand the knowledge of the diversity, physiology, ecology, and evolution of the phylum Atribacterota. This study is a starting point for promoting more incisive studies of their syntrophic biology and may guide the rational design of strategies to cultivate them in the laboratory. Video Abstract

1,4-Dioxane concentration in most contaminated water is much less than 1 mg/L, which cannot sustain the growth of most reported 1,4-dioxane-metabolizing pure cultures. These pure cultures were isolated following enrichment of mixed cultures at high concentrations (20 to 1,000 mg/L). This study is based on a different strategy: 1,4-dioxane-metabolizing mixed cultures were enriched by periodically spiking 1,4-dioxane at low concentrations (≤1 mg/L). Five 1,4-dioxane-metabolizing pure strains LCD6B, LCD6D, WC10G, WCD6H, and WD4H were isolated and characterized. The partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the five bacterial strains were related to Dokdonella sp. (98.3%), Acinetobacter sp. (99.0%), Afipia sp. (99.2%), Nitrobacter sp. (97.9%), and Pseudonocardia sp. (99.4%), respectively. Nitrobacter sp. WCD6H is the first reported 1,4-dioxane-metabolizing bacterium in the genus of Nitrobacter. The net specific growth rates of these five cultures are consistently higher than those reported in the literature at 1,4-dioxane concentrations

Water samples taken from the Çubuk Stream (Ankara, Turkey) were inoculated into nutrient broth media containing Setazol Navy Blue SBG (SNB), an organic pollutant, and heavy metal Cr(VI), an inorganic pollutant, to obtain a pollutant-resistant mixed microbial culture. Experiments were conducted with this culture to remove SNB and heavy metal. The optimum conditions, where the mixed bacterial culture removed the pollutants most effectively, were determined, showing that the highest capacity for removal took place at pH 8 with removal percentages 96.3% for Cr(VI) and 78.5% for SNB. In media with 50.4 mg/L SNB and 9.7 mg/L Cr(VI), the SNB removal was 87.3%, and the Cr(VI) removal was 96.6% at the end of the 7-day incubation period. The highest removal was observed with a biomass concentration of 8% (v/v) of mixed culture [50 mg/L SNB dye+25 mg/L Cr(VI)]. The removal was 100% for both Cr(VI) and the SNB dye. The bacteria with the highest removal were isolated and identified using 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis as Microbacterium oxydans and Leucobacter aridicollis. The role of various functional groups and the structures of the microorganisms that might be involved in the removal mechanisms were discussed using their FTIR spectra. This report is the first study that investigates a mixed bacterial culture and pure cultures (M. oxydans and L. aridicollis) isolated from that mixed culture, removing both SNB and Cr(VI) simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichosanthis Fructus (TrF) is an edible medicinal fruit with a sweet taste and pleasant flavor. In this study, different concentrations of TrF were added into the media to brew Monascus rice wine using a pure culture method, and the physicochemical properties, volatile compounds, antioxidant activity, and sensory quality of the brewed samples were characterized. In addition, the effect of TrF on the growth and metabolism of Monascus purpureus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. The results show that addition of TrF reduces the growth and metabolism of M. purpureus and S. cerevisiae in a dose-dependent manner, but also enriches the flavor components, in addition to increasing the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activity of rice wine. Combined with the results of sensory evaluation, we find that 15% TrF is optimal for improving the flavor of Monascus rice wine. The results from this study can serve as a basis for improving the quality and flavor of rice wine brewed using pure strain culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Applied Biotechnology is the property of National Center for Biotechnology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The post-fire recovery of soil microbes is critical for ecological conservation, yet the mechanisms behind it are not well understood. Aim: In this study, we examined the recovery patterns of culturable soil microbes following a fire. Methods: A field experiment was conducted in which a forest soil was subjected to surface fire, and the culturable microbial biomass and soil physicochemical characteristics were evaluated 1 day after the fire, and subsequently every 10 days for 90 days. Key results: Microbial biomass significantly reduced post-fire, with varying effects across microbial taxa and soil layers. The recovery patterns of microbial biomass at topsoil (0–10 cm) and subsoil (10–20 cm), and among different microbial taxa were also different and were determined by the residual microbiomes. Heat released during a fire (the combination of heat duration and temperature reached during treatment) was significantly related to the decrease and recovery of microbial biomass, whereas there was no relationship between soil physicochemical properties and microbial biomass recovery. Conclusions: Soil microbial biomass recovered quickly post-fire, which can be mainly due to the rapid attenuation of heat along the soil profile. Heat released during fire was the key factor determining the residual biomass, and the residual microbiomes determined the recovery patterns of the various taxa that comprise the culturable microbial biomass. Implications: Due to the complexity of natural fire, simulated fire experiment and systematic sampling based on space (soil profile) and time are crucial to investigate the dynamics of soil microbes post-fire. Recovery of soil microbes is crucial for the entire forest ecosystem following a fire. Our research, using simulated burns, revealed that soil microbial biomass began to recover only 20 days post‐disturbance, with subsurface soil microbes playing a key role. Heat indicators were found to more significantly influence microbial responses than soil physiochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim of study: In semi-arid afforestation sites, the study aimed to create mycorrhizal seedlings with high vitality, health, and tolerance to harsh environments. The study's hypotheses state that mycorrhizal inoculation will improve Cedrus libani (Taurus cedar) seedlings' growth characteristics, nutrition, root colonization, and mycorrhizal reliance. Area of study: The Eastern Mediterranean Research Institute laboratory and greenhouse in Tarsus district-Mersin, Türkiye. Material and methods: The experiment involved inoculation of three ectomycorrhizal fungal species (Lactarius delicious, Hebeloma crustuliniforme, Tricholoma ustale) collected from natural cedar stands on to cedar seedlings grown in two different substrates (sterilized, non-sterilized. Inoculation was carried out by dipping the roots of Cedrus libani A. Rich (Taurus cedar) seedlings into mycorrhizal mycelia. Main results: Cedar seedlings infected with mycorrhiza exhibited a greater biomass ratio in comparison to the control seedlings. Substrate sterilization increased seedling growth variables. The highest growth, some nutrients such as N, P, K, Fe and Zn uptake, root colonization and mycorrhizal dependence occurred in seedlings with H. crustuliniforme and L. delicious. Research highlights: Although this study is limited to Taurus cedar-mycorrhiza combinations, it may also be applicable to different mycorrhizal fungal species and many other valuable host tree species. More research is needed on the adaptation of different mycorrhizal species to habitats to increase the success of afforestation efforts in arid and semi-arid regions.

This study evaluated the energy recovery of citrus wastes with pure cultures (Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824, Clostridium beijerinckii ATCC 10132 – Inocula 1 and 2, respectively) and an autochthonous microbial (Inoculum 3) from citrus wastewater (CW) in anaerobic batch reactors to produce biofuels (H 2 and ethanol) fed with different carbon sources (glucose, maltose, fructose, sucrose, xylose, lactose, starch, acetate, and glycerol) in addition to CW. 4 conditions are tested: 1st - Inoculum 3, composed by Bacillus (20.44%), Clostridium (13.65%) and Lactobacillus (10.61%) was able to produce H 2 with sucrose, glucose and fructose. 2nd - The highest metabolites were produced with TYA medium with Inocula 1 (374 mg L−1 of acetic acid) and 2 (611 mg L−1 of butanol). Inoculum 3 generated the highest ethanol (1571.8 mg L−1) in PYG medium. 3rd - In the same nutritional conditions (PYG), Inocula 1 and 2 produced H 2 (36.80 and 64.10 mmol L−1, respectively) and acetic acid (246 and 201 mg L−1, respectively); the H 2 was suppressed with inoculum 3 due to Lactobacillus genus. 4th H 2 production was favored by autochthonous bacteria in CW. This study valued the autochthonous microorganisms in the possibility of bioconversion of organic matter into value-added products in addition to contribute to an environment-sustainable solution for citrus processing. [Display omitted] • Autochthonous consortium from citrus wastewater was able to produce 37.8 mmol H 2 L−1. • Bacillus , Clostridium and Lactobacillus were identified in autochthonous microbial. • Clostridium beijerinckii ATCC 10132 was able to produce 611 mg L−1 of butanol. • Autochthonous microbial generated the highest ethanol (1571.8 mg L−1) in PYG medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectomycorrhizal fungi can absorb heavy metals and allow host plants to develop resistance to heavy metal stress, but their heavy metal tolerance is not fully understood. In this study, the ability of Suillus bovinus (Sb) and Suillus placidus (Sp) to tolerate cadmium (Cd) was evaluated. Sb and Sp were treated with different Cd concentrations (0 (control), 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/L) under pure culture conditions, and the biomass, osmotic adjustment substance contents (soluble sugar and soluble protein), antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)), pH and conductivity were examined. Sb biomass, soluble protein content and SOD activity first increased (0.2 mg/L and 0.4 mg/L Cd) and then decreased (0.8 mg/L Cd). Sp showed a similar change rule but a smaller range. Cd treatment increased the CAT activity of Sb and Sp but significantly reduced soluble sugars in Sb mycelium, whereas 0.2 mg/L Cd significantly increased soluble sugars in Sp mycelium. The pH and conductivity in the medium of Sb treated with different Cd concentrations showed more significant changes than those of Sp. The pH of Sp at 0 mg/L Cd and conductivity at 0.8 mg/L Cd were significantly lower than those of Sb. Correlation analysis suggested that Cd affected Sb more than Sp. In general, Cd treatment had less effect on the indexes of Sp, and Sp tolerated Cd better than Sb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the differences in the growth and metabolism of Clostridium celerecrescens JSJ-1, a strain able to produce caproic acid, and Clostridium tyrobutyricum D-1, a stain able to produce butyric acid, when cultured separately or co-cultured in different systems (solid medium, and liquid medium with or without use of dialysis bag). Furthermore, this study investigated the effect and mechanism of co-culture with C. tyrobutyricum on caproic acid metabolism in caproic acid-producing bacteria by culturing JSJ-1 alone in the presence of butyric acid or sodium butyrate at different concentrations. The results showed that when co-cultured on a composite solid medium containing glucose in anaerobic conditions at 34 ℃, D-1 grew better than JSJ-1, and could preferentially utilize glucose for growth. The generation time of caproic acid was three days earlier when D-1 and JSJ-1 were co-cultured in a liquid medium than when JSJ-1 was cultured alone under the same conditions, and the concentration of caproic acid was 9.93 and 9.79 g/L on the 12th day in the two cases, respectively. Glucose had a strong inhibitory effect on the production of caproic acid by JSJ-1, which could be relieved by preferential utilization of by D-1 upon co-culture. The co-culture in the liquid medium with and without use of dialysis bag were compared, revealing that whether there was direct contact between JSJ-1 and D-1 had no effect on the yield of caproic acid. By purely culturing JSJ-1 in the presence of butyric acid or sodium butyrate, it was found that butyric acid generated by D-1 at pH 6–6.5 could promote the synthesis of caproic acid by JSJ-1. During co-culture, the preferential utilization of glucose by D-1 could relieve the inhibitory effect of glucose on the production of caproic acid, and butyric acid produced by D-1 could promote the synthesis of caproic acid.

The great majority of microorganisms are as-yet-uncultivated, mostly found in extreme environments. High-throughput sequencing provides data-rich genomes from single-cell and metagenomic techniques, which has enabled researchers to obtain a glimpse of the unexpected genetic diversity of "microbial dark matter." However, cultivating microorganisms from extreme environments remains essential for dissecting and utilizing the functions of extremophiles. Here, we provide a straightforward protocol for efficiently isolating prokaryotic microorganisms from different extreme habitats (thermal, xeric, saline, alkaline, acidic, and cryogenic environments), which was established through previous successful work and our long-term experience in extremophile resource mining. We propose common processes for extremophile isolation at first and then summarize multiple cultivation strategies for recovering prokaryotic microorganisms from extreme environments and meanwhile provide specific isolation tips that are always overlooked but important. Furthermore, we propose the use of multi-omics-guided microbial cultivation approaches for culturing these as-yet-uncultivated microorganisms and two examples are provided to introduce how these approaches work. In summary, the protocol allows researchers to significantly improve the isolation efficiency of pure cultures and novel taxa, which therefore paves the way for the protection and utilization of microbial resources from extreme environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present work was to identify and characterize several yeast strains useful in fermentation process and present in the Stefanesti-Arges vineyards. The biological material used was freshly squeezed grape must from the white wine grape cultivar, 'Fetească regală' one of the most widespread and appreciated cultivars for wine in the Arges region. In this study is described the procedure of obtaining the pure isolates and are presented the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of these isolates retained on the culture medium. By microscopy and molecular analyses was confirmed that the selected isolates in pure culture belongs to the genus Saccharomyces. The morphological characteristics, complemented by the molecular ones of the PCR amplification of the region ITS1-5,8S -ITS2, as well as the analysis of the "killer" profile of the selected strains, proved that the four isolates obtained and analyzed are identical and belong to the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

ABSTRACT Although gut bacteria are vital to their hosts, few studies have focused on marine animals. Psychrilyobacter is frequently related to various marine animals, but its interaction with host remains unknown due to the lack of host-associated isolate or genomic information. Here, we combined cultivation-independent and cultivation-dependent methods to uncover the potential roles of Psychrilyobacter in the host abalone. The high-throughput sequencing and literature compiling results indicated that Psychrilyobacter is widely distributed in marine and terrestrial ecosystems with both host-associated and free-living lifestyles, but with a strong niche preference in the guts of marine invertebrates, especially abalone. By in vitro enrichment that mimicked the gut inner environment, the first host-related pure culture of Psychrilyobacter was isolated from the abalone intestine. Phylogenetic, physiological, and biochemical characterizations suggested that it represents a novel species named Psychrilyobacter haliotis B1. Carbohydrate utilization experiments and genomic evidence indicated that B1 can utilize diverse host-food-related monosaccharides and disaccharides but not polysaccharides, implying its potential role in the downstream fermentation instead of the upstream food degradation in the gut. Particularly, this strain showed potential to colonize the gut and benefit the host via different strategies, such as the short-chain fatty acids generation by fermenting peptides and/or amino acids, and the putative production of diverse vitamins and antibiotics to support the host growth and antipathogenicity. To our knowledge, strain B1 represents the first host-related pure culture of Psychrilyobacter; genomic and metabolic evidence showed some beneficial characteristics of the dominant gut anaerobe to the host. IMPORTANCE Psychrilyobacter is a globally distributed bacterial genus and with an inhabiting preference for guts of marine invertebrates. Due to the difficulty of cultivation and the limited genomic information, its role in host remains largely unknown. We isolated the first host-associated Psychrilyobacter species from abalone gut and uncovered its functional potential to the host through different mechanisms. Our findings provide some insights into the understanding of host-microbe interactions on a core taxon with the marine invertebrates, and the isolate may have an application potential in the protection of marine animals.

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Harmoniella junipericola, a new hyphomycete inhabiting on leaf litter of Juniperus chinensis (Cupressaceae) in Japan is described based on morphological characters on natural substrates and in culture and phylogenetic analyses using the sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit nrRNA gene (LSU; 28S), DNA-directed RNA polymerase I largest subunit gene (RPB1), and DNA-directed RNA polymerase II second largest subunit gene (RPB2). The fungus belongs to the monotypic/monogeneric family Strobiloscyphaceae (one genus with two species; Pezizales) typified by Strobiloscypha. Brief notes are added on morphological and ecological comparisons among H. chrysocephala (type species, in Ukraine), H. campanaensis (in Chile), and H. junipericola. Using the ITS sequences deposited in the DNA Data Bank, additional operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of Harmoniella and phylogenetically related sequences are briefly discussed based on the data from East Asia (Japan, China), Middle East (Israel), Europe (France, Italy, Portugal), and North America (USA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of biogeography for microorganisms is a raising topic in ecology and researchers are employing better distinctions between single species, including the most rare ones, to reveal potential hidden patterns. An important volume of evidence supporting heterogeneous distributions for bacteria, archaea and protists is accumulating, and more recently a few efforts have targeted microscopic fungi. We propose an insight into this latter kingdom by looking at a group of soil nematode-trapping fungi whose species are well-known and easily recognizable. We chose a pure culture approach because of its reliable isolation procedures for this specific group. After morphologically and molecularly identifying all species collected from 2250 samples distributed in 228 locations across Yunnan province of China, we analyzed occurrence frequencies and mapped species, genera, and richness. Results showed an apparent cosmopolitan tendency for this group of fungi, including species richness among sites. However, only four species were widespread across the region, while non-random heterogeneous distributions were observed for the remaining 40 species, both in terms of statistical distribution of species richness reflected by a significant variance-to-mean ratio, as well as in terms of visually discernible spatial clusters of rare species and genera on the map. Moreover, several species were restricted to only one location, raising the question of whether endemicity exists for this microbial group. Finally, environmental heterogeneity showed a marginal contribution in explaining restricted distributions, suggesting that other factors such as geographical isolation and dispersal capabilities should be explored. These findings contribute to our understanding of the cryptic geographic distribution of microorganisms and encourage further research in this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichosanthis Fructus (TrF) is an edible medicinal fruit with a sweet taste and pleasant flavor. In this study, different concentrations of TrF were added into the media to brew Monascus rice wine using a pure culture method, and the physicochemical properties, volatile compounds, antioxidant activity, and sensory quality of the brewed samples were characterized. In addition, the effect of TrF on the growth and metabolism of Monascus purpureus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. The results show that addition of TrF reduces the growth and metabolism of M. purpureus and S. cerevisiae in a dose-dependent manner, but also enriches the flavor components, in addition to increasing the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activity of rice wine. Combined with the results of sensory evaluation, we find that 15% TrF is optimal for improving the flavor of Monascus rice wine. The results from this study can serve as a basis for improving the quality and flavor of rice wine brewed using pure strain culture.

To examine the characteristic of denitrification in Frankia, a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing microbe associated with non-leguminous plants, and its role as a N2 O source or sink, Casuarina root nodule endophyte Frankia was isolated using sectioning method, which was then purely cultured to investigate the denitrification process under NO3-addition. The results showed that after addition of NO3-to the medium under anaerobic condition, the concentration of NO3-decreased with time, while the concentrations of NO2-and N2 O initially increased and then decreased over time. Key denitrification genes and nitrogenase gene were detected at 26 h, 54 h and 98 h during incubation. Abundances of these genes significantly delivered among each other, and their dynamics were asynchronous. Redundancy analysis of the effect of NO3-, NO2-, N2O concentrations on abundances of denitrification genes and nitrogenase gene indicated that 81.9% of' the total variation in gene abundances could be explained by the first two axes. Frankia had a denitrifying activity under anaerobic condition, with denitrification genes, including nitrous oxide reductase gene (nosZ), being identified. Our results suggested that Frankia possessed a complete denitrification pathway and the ability of N2O reduction under anaerobic condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the DNA barcoding of rotifers from the Cochin backwaters, Kerala, India, with specimens obtained from the pure culture, using primers LCO1490/HCO2198 and a recently reported primer 30F/885R which was designed especially for the rotifers. Partial sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene from five species belonging to three genera (Brachionus, Keratella and Asplanchna) and two families (Brachionidae and Asplanchnidae) of the order Ploimida were generated. All the obtained nucleotide sequences were submitted to NCBI (accession numbers: OL477582-OL477584, OL477586 and OL757796). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Due to their huge biodiversity and the capability to produce a wide range of secondary metabolites, lichens have a great potential in biotechnological applications. They have, however, hardly been used as cell factories to date, as it is considered to be difficult and laborious to cultivate lichen partners in pure or co-culture in the laboratory. The various methods used to isolate lichen fungi, based on either the ascospores, the conidia, or the thallus, have so far not been compared or critically examined. Therefore, here we systematically investigate and compare the known methods and two new methods to identify the most suitable technology for isolation of fungi from lichens. Results Within this study six lichen fungi species were isolated and propagated as pure cultures. All of them formed colonies within one month. In case of lichens with ascocarps the spore discharge was the most suitable method. Spores were already discharged within 2 days and germinated within only four days and the contamination rate was low. Otherwise, the soredia and thallus method without homogenization, as described in this work, are also well suited to obtain pure fungal cultures. For the isolation of algae, we were also successful with the thallus method without homogenization. Conclusion With the methods described here and the proposed strategic approach, we believe that a large proportion of the lichen fungi can be cultivated within a reasonable time and effort. Based on this, methods of controlled cultivation and co-cultivation must now be developed in order to use the potential of lichens with regard to their secondary metabolites, but also for other applications.

Copyright of Journal of the Chinese Society of Animal Science is the property of Chinese Society of Animal Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Chinese herbal slices (CHSs) are closely associated to microorganisms, whether they are endophytic or epiphytic in plants, or introduced during processing. In this study, the structures and predicted functions of microbial communities in 150 batches of samples from five types of CHSs were investigated by combining pure culture and 16 S rDNA amplicon sequencing. Bile-salt-tolerant gram-negative bacteria were detected in 56.0% of samples, and Salmonella was detected in two batches of Glycyrrhiza slices and in one batch of Rheum slices. The main genera from the Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillaceae, Fibrobacteraceae, and Pseudomonadaceae families were assessed in typical colonies. Amplicon sequencing identified 1200 bacterial genera, including some pharmacopeial-controlled bacteria and many beneficial endophytes of medicinal plants. Around 65% of the genera co-occurred in all five CHSs. In clustering based on different algorithms, the samples from each CHS type were relatively clustered, with some overlap. Ranked from highest to lowest diversity, the CHSs were Rheum, Angelica, Astragalus, Codonopsis, and Glycyrrhiza. Each CHS had its indicator species. Functional annotations suggest that potential microbial transformation uses CHSs as substrates and microbial communities as transformants. Overall, it was demonstrated that, based on their complementary advantages, high-throughput sequencing technology and traditional pure-culture technology together can fully assess the microbial load of CHSs and reduce the misdetection rate. We observed large microbial communities in typical CHSs, demonstrating differences and similarities among different CHS types. These results provide a reference for establishing new microbial limit criteria for CHSs and highlight the importance of further correlating CHS microbial community structure and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The edible ectomycorrhizal (ECM) mushroom Rhizopogon roseolus usually develops basidium and basidiospores in the gleba of its basidiomata. Here, we report a novel production of basidia in laboratory cultures of the edible ECM mushroom. The basidium with sterigma was observed on the old mantle structure (> six months) of the ECM between R. roseolus and Pinus thunbergii in a modified Melin-Norkrans medium that was subjected to a temperature shock from 25 °C to 4 °C. The basidia were cylindrical to clavate, with prominent sterigmata and no basidiospores. The absence of basidiospores might indicate partial development of the basidium structure as a response to environmental stress and incomplete life cycle of R. roseolus. In addition, branched cystidia were evident in two or three clavate-to-ovoid cells. This study suggests the possibility of obtaining the primary mycelium of R. roseolus from pure cultures and may be an alternative genetic source for cultivation purposes. Further observations are required to induce basidiosporogenesis of R. roseolus basidia in an agar medium focusing on manipulation of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective methods of preserving the gene pool of valuable edible and medicinal mushrooms are to maintain them in in vitro culture collections and to correctly identify and verify the preserved strains. It is necessary to consider not only the results of molecular genetic studies but also cultural, morphological and physiological characteristics as additional criteria. This article presents data on the colony and mycelial morphology, growth characteristics and temperature tolerance, and phylogenetical placement of four strains of edible and medicinal mushroom from the P. eryngii species complex received into the IBK Mushroom Collection as P. nebrodensis strains. All the studied strains are mesophiles with the fastest growth rate of 11.0 mm/day at 26°С and a lethal temperature of 40°С. In addition to common anastomoses, mycelial strands and clamp connections, the vegetative mycelium of the studied strains formed single colorless round excretory cells on the lateral hyphal ramifications. All cultures were able to form primordia and fruit bodies on agar media. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that all four strains do not belong to P. nebrodensis, but two of them, IBK 1947, 2035 are P. eryngii var. ferulae, and two strains, IBK 1855 and 1927, belong to P. tuoliensis (P. eryngii var. tuoliensis).

To decrease the time and cost of experiments as well as the use of animals in nutrition research, in vitro methodologies have become more commonplace in the field of ruminant nutrition. Therefore, the objectives of this review are 1) to describe the development of different in vitro methodologies, 2) to discuss the application, utilization, and advantages of in vitro methodologies, 3) to discuss shortcomings of in vitro methodologies, and 4) to describe the potential developments that may be able to improve in vitro methods. Having been used for decades, some in vitro methodologies such as pure, batch, and continuous cultures have been very well documented and utilized to investigate a wide array of different aspects of nutrition, including the effects of different dietary compositions, individual fermentation end products, and impacts on the microbiome of the rumen. However, both batch and pure cultures can result in a build-up of end products that may inhibit fermentation, as they culture ruminal contents or defined strains of bacteria, respectfully. Continuous culture; however, allows for the removal of end products but, similar to pure and batch cultures, is applicable only to ruminal fermentation and cannot provide information regarding intestinal digestion and bioavailability. This information for in vitro can only be provided using an assay designed for total tract digestibility, which is the three-step procedure (TSP). The TSP may be improved by coupling it with cell culture to investigate the absorption of nutrients in both the ruminal and intestinal phases of the methodology; however, the TSP needs further development to investigate all nutrients and the methodologies available for cell culture are still relatively new to ruminant nutrition. Therefore, while in vitro methodologies provide useful data in the field of ruminant nutrition without the continuous use of animals, there is still much work to be done to improve the methodologies to further apply them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytes in the seeds of plants have shown plant growth promoting (PGP) properties. Highland barley is an economically important crop and a major part of the local diet in the Tibetan Plateau, China, with potential health benefits. We applied culture-dependent and culture-independent methods to study endophytic bacteria in the seeds of eight Highland barley varieties. Based on the seed properties, the variety Ali was clearly separated from the other varieties except the variety CM. Most of the 86 isolates were assigned into genus Bacillus. Approximately half of the isolates showed PGP properties in vitro. Compared to the not-inoculated plants, inoculation with the isolate Bacillus tequilensis LZ-9 resulted in greater length and number of roots, and in bigger aboveground and root weights. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the seed microbiome was majorly affiliated with the phylum Proteobacteria and the family Enterobacteriaceae. Overall, the bacterial community compositions in the different varieties were different from each other, yet the between variety differences in community composition seemed relatively small. The differences in community compositions were associated with differences in the total and reducing sugar contents and viscosity of the seeds, thus possibly connected to differences in the osmotic pressure tolerance of the endophytes. The results suggested that the seed endophytes are likely to promote the growth of Highland barley since germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cell lines provide a useful in vitro model to study in different biotechnological fields. The purity of the cell lines plays a pivotal role in research and production activities. This study aims to present a new method to establish pure cell lines by using bovine tongue tissue. For this purpose, the bovine tongue was obtained from the local slaughterhouse. After establishing primary cell culture, the cells were treated with EDTA (0.02%) for 3-5 min at 37°C. Primarily detached fibroblasts were collected into 5 mL EMEM (with 20% FBS), centrifuged and transferred to a new culture flask with EMEM (10% FCS) medium. The remainder cells in the primary flask were incubated for 8 hours with DMEM (10% FCS). Thereafter, the same process was applied with Na2EDDA (0.01%), and the cells were washed twice with DMEM (with 20% FBS). Reincubation was carried out with decreased FBS concentration (10%) and EGF (10 ng/mL) at 37°C, 5% CO2 in humidified air conditions. The same processes were repeated after 48 h. Conformational studies of pure cultures were done with immunostaining technique with anti-cytokeratin and anti-vimentin monoclonal antibodies where, after purification, fibroblasts displayed vimentin-positive and epithelial cells cytokeratin-positive. In conclusion, this study successfully demonstrated an easy, effective, and efficient method to generate pure novel cell lines from primary tissue culture or mixed cell cultures.

The electrochemical process of microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is used to drive the metabolism of electroactive microorganisms for the production of valuable chemicals and fuels. MES combines the advantages of electrochemistry, engineering, and microbiology and offers alternative production processes based on renewable raw materials and regenerative energies. In addition to the reactor concept and electrode design, the biocatalysts used have a significant influence on the performance of MES. Thus, pure and mixed cultures can be used as biocatalysts. By using mixed cultures, interactions between organisms, such as the direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) or syntrophic interactions, influence the performance in terms of productivity and the product range of MES. This review focuses on the comparison of pure and mixed cultures in microbial electrosynthesis. The performance indicators, such as productivities and coulombic efficiencies (CEs), for both procedural methods are discussed. Typical products in MES are methane and acetate, therefore these processes are the focus of this review. In general, most studies used mixed cultures as biocatalyst, as more advanced performance of mixed cultures has been seen for both products. When comparing pure and mixed cultures in equivalent experimental setups a 3-fold higher methane and a nearly 2-fold higher acetate production rate can be achieved in mixed cultures. However, studies of pure culture MES for methane production have shown some improvement through reactor optimization and operational mode reaching similar performance indicators as mixed culture MES. Overall, the review gives an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of using pure or mixed cultures in MES. Key points: • Undefined mixed cultures dominate as inoculums for the MES of methane and acetate, which comprise a high potential of improvement • Under similar conditions, mixed cultures outperform pure cultures in MES • Understanding the role of single species in mixed culture MES is essential for future industrial applications [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to their huge biodiversity and the capability to produce a wide range of secondary metabolites, lichens have a great potential in biotechnological applications. They have, however, hardly been used as cell factories to date, as it is considered to be difficult and laborious to cultivate lichen partners in pure or co-culture in the laboratory. The various methods used to isolate lichen fungi, based on either the ascospores, the conidia, or the thallus, have so far not been compared or critically examined. Therefore, here we systematically investigate and compare the known methods and two new methods to identify the most suitable technology for isolation of fungi from lichens. Results: Within this study six lichen fungi species were isolated and propagated as pure cultures. All of them formed colonies within one month. In case of lichens with ascocarps the spore discharge was the most suitable method. Spores were already discharged within 2 days and germinated within only four days and the contamination rate was low. Otherwise, the soredia and thallus method without homogenization, as described in this work, are also well suited to obtain pure fungal cultures. For the isolation of algae, we were also successful with the thallus method without homogenization. Conclusion: With the methods described here and the proposed strategic approach, we believe that a large proportion of the lichen fungi can be cultivated within a reasonable time and effort. Based on this, methods of controlled cultivation and co-cultivation must now be developed in order to use the potential of lichens with regard to their secondary metabolites, but also for other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore the impact of ambient pH on lactate catabolism by Megasphaera elsdenii BE2‐2083 and Selenomonas ruminantium HD4 in both pure culture and in binary mixed culture. Methods and results: The growth rate, substrate consumption, product formation, enzymatic activity and gene expression of M. elsdenii and S. ruminantium at various pHs were examined. Furthermore, the metabolism of lactate catabolism pathways for M. elsdenii and S. ruminantium in the co‐culture system was investigated by chasing the conversion of sodium L‐[3‐13C]‐lactate in nuclear magnetic resonance. In the pure culture systems, ambient pH had significant effects on the growth of M. elsdenii, whereas S. ruminantium was less sensitive to pH changes. In addition, lactate metabolic genes and activities of key enzymes were affected by ambient pH in M. elsdenii and S. ruminantium. In the co‐culture system, low ambient pH reduced the contribution lactate catabolism by M. elsdenii. Conclusion: M. elsdenii BE2‐2083 and S. ruminantium HD4 lactate degradation affected by ambient pH. Significance and impact of the study: This study demonstrates the regulatory mechanisms of lactate decomposing bacteria in lactate catabolism under the condition of subacute ruminal acidosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cercospora leaf spot disease (CLSD) is a serious constraint to the production of cowpea worldwide, especially in the tropics. This study was conducted to identify the causative agent of CLSD on cowpea accessions. Infected cowpea leaf samples were collected from established cowpea experimental field at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan. The leaves were placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and sub-cultured to obtain pure fungi isolates. Nucleic acid extraction from the pure culture was carried out at the molecular laboratory of National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out to amplify fungi nucleic acid using ITS1 and ITS4 universal primers. The amplicon obtained were subjected to Basic Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) to determine the sequence homology. These sequences were compared with known sequences on the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. The sequences analysed had similarity with Cercospora canescens (MK029364.1 and MW756382.1) deposited on the NCBI database. This study confirms that C. canescens is the causal pathogen of CLSD found on the infected cowpea leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seedlings of Pinus densiflora and Abies sachalinensis were inoculated with Tuber mycelial strains of the Puberulum clade in vitro to examine the morphological characteristics of their ectomycorrhizas. Axenically germinated seedlings were inoculated with the mycelia of five taxa from the Puberulum clade and grown in glass jars for 4 mo in an illuminated incubator. The seedlings were successfully colonized by the inoculated Tuber strains, as confirmed by the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer barcoding of the synthesized ectomycorrhizas. The ectomycorrhizas were characterized by a pale yellow to brown color, short needle-shaped cystidia, and net-like hyphal arrangement, and epidermoid cells on the mantle surface; notably, these features are similar to the ectomycorrhizas of various Puberulum clade members. As the ectomycorrhizas of different Tuber species are indistinguishable by morphological characters, molecular techniques are necessary to identify ectomycorrhizas formed by Tuber species within the Puberulum clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although microbial remediation has been widely used in the bioremediation of various contaminants, in practical applications of biological remediation, pure cultures of microorganisms are seriously limited by their adaptability, efficiency, and capacity to handle multiple contaminants. Mixed cultures of microorganisms involve the symbiosis of two or more microorganisms. Such cultures exhibit a collection of the characteristics of each microorganism species or strain, showing enormous potential in the bioremediation of organic or heavy metal pollutants. The present review focuses on the mixed cultures of microorganisms, demonstrating its importance and summarizing the advantages of mixed cultures of microorganisms in bioremediation. Furthermore, the internal and external relations of mixed culture microorganisms were analyzed with respect to their involvement in the removal process to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell lines provide a useful in vitro model to study in different biotechnological fields. The purity of the cell lines plays a pivotal role in research and production activities. This study aims to present a new method to establish pure cell lines by using bovine tongue tissue. For this purpose, the bovine tongue was obtained from the local slaughterhouse. After establishing primary cell culture, the cells were treated with EDTA (0.02%) for 3-5 min at 37°C. Primarily detached fibroblasts were collected into 5 mL EMEM (with 20% FBS), centrifuged and transferred to a new culture flask with EMEM (10% FCS) medium. The remainder cells in the primary flask were incubated for 8 hours with DMEM (10% FCS). Thereafter, the same process was applied with Na2EDDA (0.01%), and the cells were washed twice with DMEM (with 20% FBS). Reincubation was carried out with decreased FBS concentration (10%) and EGF (10 ng/mL) at 37°C, 5% CO2 in humidified air conditions. The same processes were repeated after 48 h. Conformational studies of pure cultures were done with immunostaining technique with anti-cytokeratin and antivimentin monoclonal antibodies where, after purification, fibroblasts displayed vimentin-positive and epithelial cells cytokeratin-positive. In conclusion, this study successfully demonstrated an easy, effective, and efficient method to generate pure novel cell lines from primary tissue culture or mixed cell cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetotactic bacteria(MTB) display magnetotaxis ability because of biomineralization of intracellular nanometer-sized, membrane-bound organelles termed magnetosomes. Despite having been discovered more than half a century, only a few representatives of MTB have been isolated and cultured in the laboratory. In this study, we report the genomic characterization of a novel marine magnetotactic spirillum strain SH-1 belonging to the genus Terasakiella that was recently isolated. A gene encoding haloalkane dehalogenase, which is involved in the degradation of chlorocyclohexane, chlorobenzene, chloroalkane, and chloroalkene, was identified. SH-1 genome contained cysCHI and soxBAZYX genes, thus potentially capable of assimilatory sulfate reduction to H 2 S and using thiosulfate as electron donors and oxidizing it to sulfate. Genome of SH-1 also contained genes encoding periplasmic dissimilatory nitrate reductases(napAB), assimilatory nitrate reductase(nasA) and assimilatory nitrite reductases(nasB), suggesting that it is capable of gaining energy by converting nitrate to ammonia. The pure culture of Terasakiella sp. SH-1 together with its genomic results offers new opportunities to examine biology, physiology, and biomineralization mechanisms of MTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Single culture Thraustochytrium striatum granulation can be cultivated. • Aerobic granulation is culture-independent. • Low feast/famine duration ratio and strong settling velocity selection are required. Thraustochytrium striatum was selected as a model protist to test the possibility of protist granulation for its good potential of organic waste valorization. Initially, only a selective settling velocity of 9 m h−1 was applied in a sequential batch reactor (SBR) with minimal granulation progress after three months. After the famine condition was introduced into the SBR with a feast-to-famine duration ratio of 0.2 by extending the cycle time and lowering the initial substrate concentration while keeping the selective settling velocity unchanged, protist granules with spherical shape and smooth surface formed and were dominated in the reactor after another month. The average particle size of protist granules was 728 μm, 90 times greater than its planktonic counterpart. This study evidenced the culture-independent phenomenon of aerobic granulation. Also, the combination of a low feast-to-famine duration ratio with a selective settling velocity was found to be required for inducing successful protist granulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biohydrogen production from H 2 -producing has been considered a promising alternative for the replacement of fossil fuels. However, the mechanisms that affect the H 2 -producing capacities of wild-type strains remain largely elusive. To explore the capabilities of biohydrogen production from microorganisms in the deep subsurface oil-reservoir environment, we isolated an H 2 -producing bacteria identified as the genus Petroclostridium from a long-term methanogenic crude oil-degrading enrichment culture of the production water from oil reservoir. The impact of various temperature, pH, and glucose concentrations on hydrogen production by Petroclostridium sp. X23 was investigated. Under the conditions of 37 °C, initial pH 8.0, and glucose concentration of 4 g/L, the strain X23 achieved its maximum hydrogen yield at 1.82 ± 0.12 mol H 2 /mol glucose. When compared to the previously reported strain SK-Y3, X23 exhibited enhanced H 2 -producing ability, with lesser energy biomass production. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the genome of X23 contains more genes associated with hydrogen generation than SK-Y3. These findings proposed Petroclostridium sp. X23 is a potential candidate for dark fermentative hydrogen production under alkaline and mesophilic conditions. It also increased our knowledge of genotypes related to high H 2 -producing capability, which may provide instructions for future selection of high-yielding strains and reasonable metabolic engineering of wild-type H 2 -producing strains. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycelial microstructures of taxa of the genus Ganoderma from the IBK Culture Collection of Mushrooms at the M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany NASU were investigated by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In total, seven strains of the following five species were studied: G. carnosum, G. resinaceum, G. sinense, G. tsugae, and G. oregonense. Mycelium of all these species consists of thin-walled septate hyphae of different size. Characteristic microstructures for vegetative mycelia were observed: clamp connections, swollen hyphae, mycelial pellicle, mycelial cords, staghorn (coralloid) hyphae, and chlamydospores. For G. carnosum the following mycelial microstructures were found: single clamp connections with or without anastomoses, double clamp connections with anastomoses and rarely swollen hyphae; for G. resinaceum and G. sinense – single clamp connections, large number of staghorn hyphae, sometimes with perforations; in addition, for G. resinaceum ellipsoid chlamydospores with smooth surface were observed. Mycelium of G. tsugae was found to have two kinds of clamp connections, single clamps with or without anastomoses while in mycelium of G. oregonense single clamp connections and occasionally swollen hyphae were seen. Double clamp connections and those with anastomoses were noticed for the first time in vegetative mycelium of G. carnosum, as well as staghorn hyphae – in the mycelia of G. sinense and G. carnosum.

Low-temperature biohydrometallurgy is implicated in metal recovery in alpine mining areas, but bioleaching using microbial consortia at temperatures

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) can develop the resistance of host plants to heavy metal stress. However, little is known about the response of ECMF to heavy metal exposure. In this study, the growth and physiological indices of Lepista sordida under Cd and Cu stress were studied. The growth of L. sordida on PDA medium under Cd and Cu stress was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After the addition of Cd and Cu to the medium, the mycelium started twisting, breaking, sticking together, and even dissolving. In the control group, a good and luxuriant mycelium growth of L. sordida along with the numerous clamp connections was observed. The mycelial biomass decreased with increasing concentrations of heavy metals in a liquid medium. The catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities were also investigated, and the results showed that the Cd and Cu treatments caused a significant increase in the antioxidant enzyme activities. The contents of soluble protein, soluble sugar, and free proline in L. sordida were investigated, and it was found that the contents initially increased and then decreased with the increasing concentrations of Cd and Cu. However, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased with the increasing concentrations of Cd and Cu. In conclusion, the present study provides a theoretical basis for the better utilization of Ectomycorrhizal fungal resources for the remediation of soil contaminated with heavy metal.

Fermentative hydrogen production is considered as a promising source of renewable energy, and bacterial strain is an essential factor influencing hydrogen production. In this study, a high hydrogen-producing fermentative strain was isolated from a sugar plant, and identified as Clostridium sp. 5A-1 by 16S rRNA analysis. Strain 5A-1 was found to be a robust hydrogen-producing fermentative bacterium, which could produce hydrogen under a wide range of temperature (25°C–50°C) and initial pH (pH 5–9). The optimum culture temperature and initial pH for hydrogen production was 43°C and pH 7.5, respectively. The glucose concentration of 10 g/L resulted in the highest hydrogen production (1847 mL/L) and hydrogen production rate (231 mL/L.h), and 7 g/L glucose was the optimum substrate concentration for hydrogen yield (1.92 mol/mol glucose). Thus, Clostridium sp. 5A-1 is a potential candidate for fermentative hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]