Unveiling the microbial communities and metabolic pathways of Keem, a traditional starter culture, through whole-genome sequencing.

Traditional alcoholic beverages have played a significant role in the cultural, social, and culinary fabric of societies worldwide for centuries. Studying the microbial community structure and their metabolic potential in such beverages is necessary to define product quality, safety, and consistency, as well as to explore associated biotechnological applications. In the present investigation, Illumina-based (MiSeq system) whole-genome shotgun sequencing was utilized to characterize the microbial diversity and conduct predictive gene function analysis of keem, a starter culture employed by the Jaunsari tribal community in India for producing various traditional alcoholic beverages.

Crp/fnr family protein binds to promoters of atxA and sodmn genes that regulate the expression of exotoxins in Bacillus anthracis.

Bacillus anthracis produces a tripartite exotoxin, which is regulated by AtxA. Sodmn is constitutively expressed during invasion. Crp/Fnr family transcriptional regulators are known to bind promoters of toxin regulators as well as constitutively expressed genes during pathogenesis.

Bacterial community structure analysis of a hot spring soil by next generation sequencing of ribosomal RNA.

In the present study the whole bacterial community structure of Tapovan hot spring soil located in the state of Uttarakhand, India was analysed through next generation sequencing. The hot spring soil is slightly alkaline in nature with abundance of sulphur. The spring soil was rich in various metallic and non-metallic elements required for bacterial survival.

Alleviation of cold stress in inoculated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings with psychrotolerant Pseudomonads from NW Himalayas.

Twelve psychrotolerant Pseudomonad strains were selected on the basis of various plant growth-promoting (PGP) activities at cold temperature (4°C). The effect of inoculation with Pseudomonad strains on cold alleviation and growth of wheat seedling at cold temperature (8°C) was investigated under greenhouse condition. Inoculation with Pseudomonad strains significantly enhanced root/shoot biomass and nutrients uptake as compared to non-bacterized control at 60 days of plant growth.