O-requiring molecular reporters of gene expression for anaerobic microorganisms.

Many genetic reporter systems require molecular oxygen; therefore, the use of reporter genes to study molecular mechanisms in anaerobic microorganisms has been hampered by the lack of convenient reporting systems. We describe reporter gene whole cell-based biosensor systems based on luciferase genes and the associated oxygen-requiring enzymes. By using two different oxygen-dependent reporters, insect and bacterial luciferases, and two bacterial hosts, Gram (+) Bifidobacterium longum and Gram (-) Escherichia coli, we show that the enzymes can be used in gene expression studies of anaerobic bacteria.

TgaA, a VirB1-like component belonging to a putative type IV secretion system of Bifidobacterium bifidum MIMBb75.

Bifidobacterium bifidum MIMBb75 is a human intestinal isolate demonstrated to be interactive with the host and efficacious as a probiotic. However, the molecular biology of this microorganism is yet largely unknown. For this reason, we undertook whole-genome sequencing of B.

Assessment of metabolic flux distribution in the thermophilic hydrogen producer Caloramator celer as affected by external pH and hydrogen partial pressure.

Background: Caloramator celer is a strict anaerobic, alkalitolerant, thermophilic bacterium capable of converting glucose to hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide, acetate, ethanol and formate by a mixed acid fermentation. Depending on the growth conditions C. celer can produce H2 at high yields.

Draft Genome Sequence of the Hydrogen- and Ethanol-Producing Anaerobic Alkalithermophilic Bacterium Caloramator celer.

Caloramator celer strain JW/YL-NZ35 is a Gram-positive thermophilic, alkalitolerant, and strictly anaerobic bacterium capable of producing hydrogen and ethanol under extreme conditions. The draft genome sequence presented here will provide valuable information to further explore the physiology of this species and its potential for biofuel production.

Genome Sequence of Halanaerobium saccharolyticum subsp. saccharolyticum Strain DSM 6643T, a Halophilic Hydrogen-Producing Bacterium.

Halanaerobium saccharolyticum is a halophilic anaerobic fermentative bacterium capable of producing hydrogen, a potential future energy carrier molecule. The high-quality draft genome of H. saccharolyticum subsp.

Biohydrogen production in alkalithermophilic conditions: Thermobrachium celere as a case study.

In the present work the hydrogenesis in the anaerobic alkalithermophilic bacterium Thermobrachium celere was studied. The impact of several factors on hydrogen production during glucose fermentation was investigated in batch conditions. The optimal hydrogen production occurred at pH (67 °C) 8.

Construction, characterization and exemplificative application of bioluminescent Bifidobacterium longum biovar longum.

The aim of this work was to construct a bifidobacterial biosensor that could be used to analyze the metabolic state of cells. We transformed by electroporation the human intestinal bacterium Bifidobacterium longum biovar longum with a vector (pGBL8b) containing the insect luciferase gene from a click beetle (Pyrophorus plagiophthalamus) and studied the basic parameters affecting light production in the bioluminescent phenotype. We detected a minimum of 4000 cells, which indicates that the insect luciferase expression in Bifidobacterium longum is extremely good, and a measurement requires only a few minutes of incubation in ambient oxygen conditions.