Transferrin Impacts Biofilm Levels.

The present study examined the impact of transferrin on biofilms. Three commercial strains, an environmental strain (33679), the type strain (10792), and an isolate from a diseased insect (700872), were cultured in iron restricted minimal medium. All strains produced biofilm when grown in vinyl plates at 30°C.

Functional Annotation Analytics of Bacillus Genomes Reveals Stress Responsive Acetate Utilization and Sulfate Uptake in the Biotechnologically Relevant Bacillus megaterium.

Bacillus species form an heterogeneous group of Gram-positive bacteria that include members that are disease-causing, biotechnologically-relevant, and can serve as biological research tools. A common feature of Bacillus species is their ability to survive in harsh environmental conditions by formation of resistant endospores. Genes encoding the universal stress protein (USP) domain confer cellular and organismal survival during unfavorable conditions such as nutrient depletion.

Production of protocatechuic acid in Bacillus Thuringiensis ATCC33679.

Protocatechuic acid, or 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, is produced by both soil and marine bacteria in the free form and as the iron binding component of the siderophore petrobactin. The soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki ATCC 33679, contains the asb operon, but does not produce petrobactin. Iron restriction resulted in diminished B.

The interaction of mannose binding lectin (MBL) with mannose containing glycopeptides and the resultant potential impact on invasive fungal infection.

Mannnose-binding lectin (MBL) binds oligosaccharides on the surface of microorganisms to form complexes that activate the complement cascade and facilitate phagocytosis. Teicoplanin and dalbavancin glycopeptide antibiotics possess N-acetyl glucosamine and mannose oligosaccharides that may bind MBL. Pharmaceuticals capable of binding to MBL may decrease clearance of significant pathogens such as yeast.

Temperature control of a 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (protocatechuate)-based siderophore in Bacillus anthracis.

Bacillus anthracis Sterne produced a catecholate siderophore named anthrachelin that was based on 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHB, or protocatechuic acid), a catechol moiety previously unreported as a siderophore component. During iron restriction, both anthrachelin and free 3,4-DHB were excreted. Growth at 37 degrees C (as compared with 23 degrees C) decreased excretion of anthrachelin but not its precursor 3,4-DHB, suggesting that anthrachelin assembly is temperature regulated.