Optimization of multilocus sequence analysis for identification of species in the genus Vibrio.

Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) is an important method for identification of taxa that are not well differentiated by 16S rRNA gene sequences alone. In this procedure, concatenated sequences of selected genes are constructed and then analyzed. The effects that the number and the order of genes used in MLSA have on reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships were examined.

Celerinatantimonas diazotrophica gen. nov., sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing bacterium representing a new family in the Gammaproteobacteria, Celerinatantimonadaceae fam. nov.

Five strains representing a novel family within the Gammaproteobacteria were isolated from the estuarine grasses Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus. All strains were facultatively anaerobic, Gram-negative, short, motile, polar monotrichous rods that were mesophilic, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, had DNA G+C contents of 41.5-44.

Production of the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid by estuarine species of the genus Vibrio.

Strains of Vibrio spp. isolated from roots of the estuarine grasses Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus produce the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The colorimetric Salkowski assay was used for initial screening of IAA production.

Analysis of a diverse assemblage of diazotrophic bacteria from Spartina alterniflora using DGGE and clone library screening.

Methods to assess the diversity of the diazotroph assemblage in the rhizosphere of the salt marsh cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora were examined. The effectiveness of nifH PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was compared to that of nifH clone library analysis. Seventeen DGGE gel bands were sequenced and yielded 58 nonidentical nifH sequences from a total of 67 sequences determined.

Sulfate-reducing bacteria in tubes constructed by the marine infaunal polychaete Diopatra cuprea.

Marine infaunal burrows and tubes greatly enhance solute transport between sediments and the overlying water column and are sites of elevated microbial activity. Biotic and abiotic controls of the compositions and activities of burrow and tube microbial communities are poorly understood. The microbial communities in tubes of the marine infaunal polychaete Diopatria cuprea collected from two different sediment habitats were examined.