scholarly journals Genome Shuffling in Clostridium diolis DSM 15410 for Improved 1,3-Propanediol Production

2009 ◽  
Vol 75 (24) ◽  
pp. 7610-7616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Burkhard Otte ◽  
Eike Grunwaldt ◽  
Osama Mahmoud ◽  
Stefan Jennewein

ABSTRACT Several microorganisms are known for their efficient anaerobic conversion of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol, with Clostridium diolis DSM 15410 as one of the better performers in terms of molar yield and volumetric productivity. However, this performance is still insufficient to compete with established chemical processes. Previous studies have shown that high concentrations of 1,3-propanediol, glycerol, and fermentation side products can limit the productivity of C. diolis DSM 15410. Here, we describe the use of genome shuffling for improved 1,3-propanediol fermentation by the strict anaerobe C. diolis DSM 15410. By using chemical mutagenesis, strains with superior substrate and product tolerance levels were isolated and higher product yields were obtained. These superior strains were then used for genome shuffling and selection for 1,3-propanediol and organic acid tolerance. After four rounds of genome shuffling and selection, significant improvements were observed, with one strain attaining a 1,3-propanediol volumetric yield of 85 g/liter. This result represents an 80% improvement compared to the yield from the parental wild-type strain.

Genetics ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 140 (2) ◽  
pp. 505-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Patterson ◽  
J A Spudich

Abstract We developed a positive selection for myosin heavy chain mutants in Dictyostelium. This selection is based on the fact that brief exposure to azide causes wild-type cells to release from the substrate, whereas myosin null cells remain adherent. This procedure assays myosin function on a time scale of minutes and has therefore allowed us to select rapid-onset cold-sensitive mutants after random chemical mutagenesis of Dictyostelium cells. We developed a rapid technique for determining which mutations lie in sequences of the myosin gene that encode the head (motor) domain and localized 27 of 34 mutants to this domain. We recovered the appropriate sequences from five of the mutants and demonstrated that they retain their cold-sensitive properties when expressed from extrachromosomal plasmids.


mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karan Gautam Kaval ◽  
Kavindra V. Singh ◽  
Melissa R. Cruz ◽  
Sruti DebRoy ◽  
Wade C. Winkler ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Enterococcus faecalis is paradoxically a dangerous nosocomial pathogen and a normal constituent of the human gut microbiome, an environment rich in ethanolamine. E. faecalis carries the eut (ethanolamine utilization) genes, which enable the catabolism of ethanolamine (EA) as a valuable source of carbon and/or nitrogen. EA catabolism was previously shown to contribute to the colonization and growth of enteric pathogens, such as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), in the gut environment. We tested the ability of eut mutants of E. faecalis to colonize the gut using a murine model of gastrointestinal (GI) tract competition and report the surprising observation that these mutants outcompete the wild-type strain. IMPORTANCE Some bacteria that are normal, harmless colonizers of the human body can cause disease in immunocompromised patients, particularly those that have been heavily treated with antibiotics. Therefore, it is important to understand the factors that promote or negate these organisms’ ability to colonize. Previously, ethanolamine, found in high concentrations in the GI tract, was shown to promote the colonization and growth of bacteria associated with food poisoning. Here, we report the surprising, opposite effect of ethanolamine utilization on the commensal colonizer E. faecalis , namely, that loss of this metabolic capacity made it a better colonizer.


Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarja Pohjanvirta ◽  
Nella Vähänikkilä ◽  
Henri Simonen ◽  
Sinikka Pelkonen ◽  
Tiina Autio

Mycoplasma bovis is an important bovine pathogen. Artificial insemination (AI) using contaminated semen can introduce the agent into a naïve herd. Antibiotics, most often gentamycin, tylosin, lincomycin, spectinomycin (GTLS) combination are added to semen extender to prevent transmission of pathogenic bacteria and mycoplasmas. In a commercial AI straw production system with industrial scale procedures, we analyzed the mycoplasmacidal efficacy of GTLS and ofloxacin on M. bovis ATCC and wild type strain isolated from commercial AI straws. The strains were spiked at two concentrations (106 and 103 CFU/mL) into semen. Viable M. bovis in frozen semen straws was detected by enrichment culture and real-time PCR. We also compared different protocols to extract M. bovis DNA from spiked semen. None of the antibiotic protocols had any effect on the viability of either of the M. bovis strains at high spiking concentration. At low concentration, the wild type was inhibited by all other protocols, except low GTLS, whereas the ATCC strain was inhibited only by high GTLS. The InstaGene™ matrix was the most effective method to extract M. bovis DNA from semen. When there is a low M. bovis contamination level in semen, GTLS used at high concentrations, in accordance with Certified Semen Services requirements, is more efficient than GTLS used at concentrations stated in the OIE Terrestrial Code.


2000 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 572-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramón González-Pasayo ◽  
Esperanza Martínez-Romero

Multidrug efflux pumps of bacteria are involved in the resistance to various antibiotics and toxic compounds. In Rhizobium etli, a mutualistic symbiont of Phaseolus vulgaris (bean), genes resembling multidrug efflux pump genes were identified and designated rmrA and rmrB. rmrA was obtained after the screening of transposon-generated fusions that are inducible by bean-root released flavonoids. The predicted gene products of rmrAB shared significant homology to membrane fusion and major facilitator proteins, respectively. Mutants of rmrA formed on average 40% less nodules in bean, while mutants of rmrA and rmrB had enhanced sensitivity to phytoalexins, flavonoids, and salicylic acid, compared with the wild-type strain. Multidrug resistance genes emrAB from Escherichia coli complemented an rmrA mutant from R. etli for resistance to high concentrations of naringenin.


Gut Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutao Liu ◽  
Shujie Li ◽  
Wendi Li ◽  
Peisheng Wang ◽  
Peng Ding ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EHEC O157) causes bloody diarrhea and hemolytic-uremic syndrome. EHEC O157 encounters varied microenvironments during infection, and can efficiently adapt to these using the two-component system (TCS). Recently, a functional TCS, RstAB, has been implicated in the regulation of virulence of several bacterial pathogens. However, the regulatory function of RstAB in EHEC O157 is poorly understood. This study aimed at providing insights into the global effects of RstA on gene expression in EHEC O157. Results In the present study, we analyzed gene expression differences between the EHEC O157 wild-type strain and a ΔrstA mutant using RNA-seq technology. Genes with differential expression in the ΔrstA mutant compared to that in the wild-type strain were identified and grouped into clusters of orthologous categories. RstA promoted EHEC O157 LEE gene expression, adhesion in vitro, and colonization in vivo by indirect regulation. We also found that RstA could bind directly to the promoter region of hdeA and yeaI to enhance acid tolerance and decrease biofilm formation by modulating the concentration of c-di-GMP. Conclusions In summary, the RstAB TCS in EHEC O157 plays a major role in the regulation of virulence, acid tolerance, and biofilm formation. We clarified the regulatory function of RstA, providing an insight into mechanisms that may be potential drug targets for treatment of EHEC O157-related infections.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ameerah Tharek ◽  
Shaza Eva Mohamad ◽  
Iwane Suzuki ◽  
Koji Iwamoto ◽  
Hirofumi Hara ◽  
...  

AbstractA newly isolated green microalga, Coelastrum sp. has the capability to produce and accumulate astaxanthin under various stress conditions. At present, a mutant G1-C1 of Coelastrum sp. obtained through chemical mutagenesis using ethyl methane sulfonate displayed an improvement in astaxanthin accumulation, which was 2-fold higher than that of the wild-type. However, lack of genomic information limits the understanding of the molecular mechanism that leads to a high level of astaxanthin in the mutant G1-C1. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was performed to compare the transcriptome of astaxanthin hyper-producing mutant G1-C1 and wild-type of Coelastrum sp. with respect to astaxanthin biosynthesis. This is to clarify why the mutant produced higher astaxanthin yield compared to the wild-type strain. Based on the transcriptomic analysis, the differentially expressed genes involved in astaxanthin biosynthesis were significantly upregulated in the mutant G1-C1 of Coelastrum sp. Genes coding phytoene synthase, phytoene desaturase, ζ-carotene desaturase, and lycopene β-cyclase involved in β-carotene biosynthesis in the mutant cells were upregulated by 10-, 9.2-, 8.4-, and 8.7-fold, respectively. Genes coding beta-carotene ketolase and beta-carotene 3-hydroxylase involved in converting β-carotene into astaxanthin were upregulated by 7.8- and 8.0-fold, respectively. In contrast, the lycopene ε-cyclase gene was downregulated by 9.7-fold in mutant G1-C1. Together, these results contribute to higher astaxanthin accumulation in mutant G1-C1. Overall, the data in this study provided molecular insight for a better understanding of the differences in astaxanthin biosynthesis between the wild-type and mutant G1-C1 strains.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiaan H van Dorp ◽  
Emma E Goldberg ◽  
Nicolas Hengartner ◽  
Ruian Ke ◽  
Ethan Obie Romero-Severson

A challenge to controlling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is the ability of the virus to adapt to its new human hosts, with novel and more transmissible strains of the virus being continually identified. Yet there are no generally accepted methods to consistently estimate the relative magnitude of the change in transmissiblity of newly emerging variants. In this paper we consider three methods for examining and quantifying positive selection of new and emerging strains of SARS-CoV-2 over an existing wild-type strain. We consider replication at the level of countries and allow for the action of other processes that can change variants' frequencies, specifically migration and drift. We apply these methods to the D614G spike mutation and the variant designated B.1.1.7, in every country where there is sufficient sequence data. For each of D614G and B.1.1.7, we find evidence for strong selection (greater than 25% increased contagiousness) in more than half of countries analyzed. Our results also shows that the selective advantages of these strains are highly heterogeneous at the country level, suggesting the need for a truly global perspective on the molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2.


2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 2391-2397 ◽  
Author(s):  
MingHua Dai ◽  
Shelley D. Copley

ABSTRACT Pentachlorophenol (PCP), a highly toxic anthropogenic pesticide, can be mineralized by Sphingobium chlorophenolicum, a gram-negative bacterium isolated from PCP-contaminated soil. However, degradation of PCP is slow and S. chlorophenolicum cannot tolerate high levels of PCP. We have used genome shuffling to improve the degradation of PCP by S. chlorophenolicum. We have obtained several strains that degrade PCP faster and tolerate higher levels of PCP than the wild-type strain. Several strains obtained after the third round of shuffling can grow on one-quarter-strength tryptic soy broth plates containing 6 to 8 mM PCP, while the original strain cannot grow in the presence of PCP at concentrations higher than 0.6 mM. Some of the mutants are able to completely degrade 3 mM PCP in one-quarter-strength tryptic soy broth, whereas no degradation can be achieved by the wild-type strain. Analysis of several improved strains suggests that the improved phenotypes are due to various combinations of mutations leading to an enhanced growth rate, constitutive expression of the PCP degradation genes, and enhanced resistance to the toxicity of PCP and its metabolites.


2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 1431-1440 ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. C. Lemos ◽  
Thomas A. Brown ◽  
Robert A. Burne

ABSTRACT Streptococcus mutans is a biofilm-forming bacterium that is adapted to tolerate rapid and dramatic fluctuations in nutrient availability, carbohydrate source, and pH in its natural environment, the human oral cavity. Dissecting the pathways used to form stable biofilms and to tolerate environmental stress is central to understanding the virulence of this organism. Here, we investigated the role of the S. mutans relA gene, which codes for a guanosine tetraphosphate and guanosine pentaphosphate [(p)ppGpp] synthetase/hydrolase, in biofilm formation and acid tolerance. Two mutants in which relA was insertionally inactivated or replaced by an antibiotic resistance determinant were constructed. Under normal growth and stress conditions, the mutants grew slower than the wild-type strain, although the final yields were similar. The mutants, which were still able to accumulate (p)ppGpp after the induction of a stringent response, showed significant reductions in biofilm formation on microtiter plates or hydroxylapatite disks. There was no difference in the sensitivities to acid killing of the parent and relA strains grown in planktonic cultures. However, when cells were grown in biofilms, the mutants became more acid resistant and could lower the pH through glycolysis faster and to a greater extent than the wild-type strain. Differences in acid resistance were not correlated with increases in F-ATPase activity, although bacterial sugar:phosphotransferase activity was elevated in the mutants. Expression of the luxS gene was increased as much as fivefold in the relA mutants, suggesting a link between AI-2 quorum sensing and the stringent response.


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