The cell envelope-associated phospholipid-binding protein LmeA is required for mannan polymerization in mycobacteria.

The integrity of the distinguishing, multilaminate cell envelope surrounding mycobacteria is critical to their survival and pathogenesis. The prevalence of phosphatidylinositol mannosides in the cell envelope suggests an important role in the mycobacterial life cycle. Indeed, deletion of the gene (Δ) encoding the first committed step in phosphatidylinositol hexamannoside biosynthesis in results in the formation of smaller colonies than wild-type colonies on Middlebrook 7H10 agar.

Protozoan grazing reduces the current output of microbial fuel cells.

Several experiments were conducted to determine whether protozoan grazing can reduce current output from sediment microbial fuel cells. When marine sediments were amended with eukaryotic inhibitors, the power output from the fuel cells increased 2-5-fold. Quantitative PCR showed that Geobacteraceae sequences were 120 times more abundant on anodes from treated fuel cells compared to untreated fuel cells, and that Spirotrichea sequences in untreated fuel cells were 200 times more abundant on anode surfaces than in the surrounding sediments.