Draft Genome Sequence of the Toluene-Degrading, Dissimilatory Sulfate-Reducing Bacterium sp. Strain TSK.

The draft genome sequence of sp. strain TSK, which oxidizes toluene under dissimilatory sulfate-reducing conditions, had an estimated size of 4,933,642 bp.

Complete Genomic Sequence of the Thermophilic Hydrogen-Oxidizing Methanogen Methanothermobacter tenebrarum Strain RMAS.

Methanothermobacter tenebrarum strain RMAS has a complete genomic length of 1,472,762 bp, a GC content of 42.1%, 1,599 coding DNA sequences (CDSs), 1 CRISPR array, 3 rRNAs, and 38 tRNAs.

Involvement of soil bacteria in ABO blood mistyping.

The current study investigated whether ABO blood mistyping of human biological samples is induced by soil bacteria. A total of 380 bacterial strains were isolated from 50 discrete soil samples using human blood agar, and glycosidase activity evaluated for all strains using 4-nitropheny glycosides (4-nitrophenyl n-acetyl-α-D-galactosaminide, 4-nitrophenyl-α-D-galactopyranoside, 4-nitrophenyl-α-L-fucopyranoside) as substrates. Thirteen strains possessed α-galactosidase activity, and 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed a close relatedness to the genus Bacillus.

Development of an indirect competitive ELISA for the detection of ABO blood group antigens.

We developed an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of ABO blood group antigens in human samples; in particular for blood stains. ABO blood group antigens conjugated to polyacrylamide were used for immobilized antigen. ABO blood group antigens were extracted from blood stains using a novel method involving pre-incubation with proteinase K (PK), followed by heat treatment.

Isolation of Bacillus sp. strains capable of decomposing alkali lignin and their application in combination with lactic acid bacteria for enhancing cellulase performance.

Effective biological pretreatment method for enhancing cellulase performance was investigated. Two alkali lignin-degrading bacteria were isolated from forest soils in Japan and named CS-1 and CS-2. 16S rDNA sequence analysis indicated that CS-1 and CS-2 were Bacillus sp.

Geobacter sulfurreducens subsp. ethanolicus, subsp. nov., an ethanol-utilizing dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing bacterium from a lotus field.

An ethanol-utilizing Fe(III)-reducing bacterial strain, OSK2A(T), was isolated from a lotus field in Aichi, Japan. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of OSK2A(T) and related strains placed it within Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA(T). Strain OSK2A(T) was shown to be a Gram-negative, motile, rod-shaped bacterium, strictly anaerobic, 0.

Xylitol production by NAD(+)-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase (xdhA)- and l-arabitol-4-dehydrogenase (ladA)-disrupted mutants of Aspergillus oryzae.

Aspergillus oryzae can metabolize xylan to d-xylose and d-xylose to xylitol. However, accumulation of xylitol is controlled by dehydrogenases, such as xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) and l-arabitol-4-dehydrogenase (LAD), and fluxed into the pentose phosphate pathway. In A.

Distribution and role of Coprothermobacter spp. in anaerobic digesters.

The distribution of Coprothermobacter spp. was investigated in seven anaerobic digesters using 16S rRNA gene-based quantitative PCR. The largest number of Coprothermobacter spp.

Methanothermobacter tenebrarum sp. nov., a hydrogenotrophic, thermophilic methanogen isolated from gas-associated formation water of a natural gas field.

A thermophilic and hydrogenotrophic methanogen, strain RMAS(T), was isolated from gas-associated formation water of a gas-producing well in a natural gas field in Japan. Strain RMAS(T) grew solely on H(2)/CO(2) but required Casamino acids, tryptone, yeast extract or vitamins for growth. Growth of strain RMAS(T) was stimulated by acetate.

Geobacter luticola sp. nov., an Fe(III)-reducing bacterium isolated from lotus field mud.

A novel species of Fe(III)-reducing bacterium, designated strain OSK6(T), belonging to the genus Geobacter, was isolated from lotus field mud in Japan. Strain OSK6(T) was isolated using a solid medium containing acetate, Fe(III)-nitrilotriacetate (NTA) and gellan gum. The isolate is a strictly anaerobic, gram-negative, motile, straight rod-shaped bacterium, 0.

Resolution of culture Clostridium bifermentans DPH-1 into two populations, a Clostridium sp. and tetrachloroethene-dechlorinating Desulfitobacterium hafniense strain JH1.

Clostridium bifermentans strain DPH-1 reportedly dechlorinates tetrachloroethene (PCE) to cis-1,2-dichloroethene. Cultivation-based approaches resolved the DPH-1 culture into two populations: a nondechlorinating Clostridium sp. and PCE-dechlorinating Desulfitobacterium hafniense strain JH1.

Cloning and expression of NAD+-dependent L-arabinitol 4-dehydrogenase gene (ladA) of Aspergillus oryzae.

A gene of Aspergillus oryzae, ladA, which encodes L-arabinitol 4-dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.

Cloning and expression of a NAD+-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase gene (xdhA) of Aspergillus oryzae.

XdhA, which encodes a xylitol dehydrogenase gene, was cloned from Aspergillus oryzae genomic DNA. It consists of 1214 bp structural region, which is interrupted by two introns, and encodes 358-amino-acid protein (38,197 Da). It is similar to the known NAD(+)-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase (EC 1.

Ribotyping and a study of transmission of Staphylococcus aureus collected from food preparation facilities.

Food poisoning from Staphylococcus aureus is sometimes caused by improper handling of food items in food preparation facilities. Prevention of contamination by employees is particularly important in facilities where a significant amount of food preparation is performed by hand. Some experiments have been performed to describe bacterial cross-contamination in the food preparation process, but there have been few studies of cross-contamination in actual food preparation facilities.

Biodegradation of cis-1,2-dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride in anaerobic cultures enriched from landfill leachate sediment under Fe(III)-reducing conditions.

An anaerobic, Fe(III)-reducing enrichment culture, which originated from a sediment sample collected at a landfill in Nanji-do, Seoul, Korea, was capable of degrading cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cis-DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC). Although it exhibited the ability under Fe(III)-reducing conditions, the chlorinated ethenes degradation was not linked to the Fe(III) reduction. During cis-DCE degradation, no VC, ethene, or ethane was detected through the experimental period.

Substrate specificity of the alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase from Rhizomucor pusillus HHT-1.

The alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase (AF) from the fungus Rhizomucor pusillus HHT-1 released arabinose at appreciable rates from (1-->5)-alpha-L-arabinofuranooligosaccharides, sugar beet arabinan and debranched arabinan. This enzyme preferentially hydrolyzed the terminal arabinofuranosyl residue [alpha-(1-->5)-linked] of the arabinan backbone rather than the arabinosyl side chain [alpha-(1-->3)-linked residues]. The enzyme-hydrolyzed arabinan reacted at and debranched the arabinan almost at the same rate, and the degree of conversion for both cases was 65%.

A role of xylanase, alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase, and xylosidase in xylan degradation.

Renewable natural resources such as xylans are abundant in many agricultural wastes. Penicillium sp. AHT-1 is a strong producer of xylanolytic enzymes.

Quantification and diversity of the archaeal community in a landfill site.

At a sea-based, solid waste disposal site, methanogenic organisms were quantified by molecular approaches. The samples collected for analysis were from anaerobic leachate of the landfill site. When the DNA extracted from the leachate was examined by a quantitative PCR method using domain-specific 16S rDNA primers, archaeal DNA represented 2-3% of the total extracted DNA.

Monitoring of Bacillus thermodenitrificans OHT-1 in compost by whole cell hybridization.

Thermophilic aerobic composting is a widely practiced method for the disposal of exhaust materials. We isolated a thermophilic bacteria strain from a compost sample under aerobic conditions at 60 degrees C. On the basis of its 16S rRNA sequence and physiological characteristics, this strain was identified as Bacillus thermodenitrificans OHT-1.

A novel filamentous Bacillus sp., strain NAF001, forming endospores and budding cells.

A novel filamentous bacterium, strain NAF001, was isolated from suspended water of a domestic wastewater treatment tank. It formed an extremely long filamentous trichome and produced endospores. It formed spore-like resting cells (SLRCs) which were heat-resistant.