Sialyltransferases of marine bacteria efficiently utilize glycosphingolipid substrates.

Bacterial sialyltransferases (STs) from marine sources were characterized using glycosphingolipids (GSLs). Bacterial STs were found to be beta-galacotoside STs. There were two types of STs: (1) ST obtained from strains such as ishi-224, 05JTC1 (#1), ishi-467, 05JTD2 (#2), and faj-16, 05JTE1 (#3), which form alpha2-3 sialic acid (Sia) linkages, named alpha2-3ST, (2) ST obtained from strains such as ISH-224, N1C0 (#4), pda-rec, 05JTB2 (#5), and pda-0160, 05JTA2 (#6), which form alpha2-6 Sia linkages, named alpha2-6ST.

Glycosphingolipids as a possible signature of microbial communities in activated sludge and the potential contribution of fungi to wastewater treatment under cold conditions.

Seven strains of fungi were isolated from activated sludge and identified as Mucor sp., Geotrichum sp., Trichosporon sp.