Community and shotgun metagenomic analysis of Alligator mississippiensis oral cavity and GI tracts reveal complex ecosystems and potential reservoirs of antibiotic resistance.

We report here the community structure and functional analysis of the microbiome of the Alligator mississippiensis GI tract from the oral cavity through the entirety of the digestive tract. Although many vertebrate microbiomes have been studied in recent years, the archosaur microbiome has only been given cursory attention. In the oral cavity we used amplicon-based community analysis to examine the structure of the oral microbiome during alligator development.

Complete Genome Sequences of Four Isolated Bacteria from an Undergraduate Microbiology Course Using a Hybrid Assembly Approach.

Three Gram-negative bacteria and one Gram-positive bacterium were isolated from environmental samples in an undergraduate microbiology class on the basis of antibiotic resistance. Isolate DNA was purified, sequenced, and assembled using a hybrid approach. Here, we report the genomes of Acinetobacter johnsonii CSUSB1, Aeromonas hydrophila CSUSB2, Bacillus velezensis CSUSB3, and Comamonas thiooxydans CSUSB4.

Hybrid Assembly of the Quorum-Quenching Isolate Variovorax paradoxus VAI-C Genome Sequence.

VAI-C was isolated due to its ability to utilize acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) as the sole source of carbon, energy, and nitrogen. Here, we present a hybrid assembly of the VAI-C genome sequence, consisting of a primary chromosome, a secondary chromid, and a plasmid.

Transcriptome profiling of EPS under different growth conditions reveals regulatory and structural novelty in biofilm formation.

We used transcriptome analysis by paired-end strand-specific RNA-seq to evaluate the specific changes in gene expression associated with the transition to static biofilm growth in the rhizosphere plant growth-promoting bacterium EPS. Triplicate biological samples of exponential growth, stationary phase and static biofilm samples were examined. DESeq2 and Rockhopper were used to identify robust and widespread shifts in gene expression specific to each growth phase.

Complete Genome Sequences of Pseudomonas alkylphenolica Neo and sp. Strain CSUSB, Obtained in Undergraduate Microbiology Courses Using a Hybrid Assembly Approach.

Two Gram-negative bacteria with a high G+C content were isolated from soil in undergraduate microbiology classes by enriching for low nutrient growth and neonicotinoid pesticide tolerance. DNA from these isolates was purified and sequenced using a hybrid approach. Here we report the genome sequences of strain Neo and sp.

In Vitro activity of novel glycopolymer against clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a serious threat to public health. Progress in developing new therapeutics is being outpaced by antibiotic resistance development, and alternative agents that rapidly permeabilize bacteria hold tremendous potential for treating MDR infections. A new class of glycopolymers includes polycationic poly-N (acetyl, arginyl) glucosamine (PAAG) is under development as an alternative to traditional antibiotic strategies to treat MRSA infections.

Genome of the Root-Associated Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium Variovorax paradoxus Strain EPS.

Variovorax paradoxus is a ubiquitous betaproteobacterium involved in plant growth promotion, the degradation of xenobiotics, and quorum-quenching activity. The genome of V. paradoxus strain EPS consists of a single circular chromosome of 6,550,056 bp, with a 66.

Culture-independent investigation of the microbiome associated with the nematode Acrobeloides maximus.

Background: Symbioses between metazoans and microbes are widespread and vital to many ecosystems. Recent work with several nematode species has suggested that strong associations with microbial symbionts may also be common among members of this phylu. In this work we explore possible symbiosis between bacteria and the free living soil bacteriovorous nematode Acrobeloides maximus.

Genes that influence swarming motility and biofilm formation in Variovorax paradoxus EPS.

Background: Variovorax paradoxus is an aerobic soil bacterium associated with important biodegradative processes in nature. We use V. paradoxus EPS to study multicellular behaviors on surfaces.

Complete genome sequence of the metabolically versatile plant growth-promoting endophyte Variovorax paradoxus S110.

Variovorax paradoxus is a microorganism of special interest due to its diverse metabolic capabilities, including the biodegradation of both biogenic compounds and anthropogenic contaminants. V. paradoxus also engages in mutually beneficial interactions with both bacteria and plants.

Coordinated surface activities in Variovorax paradoxus EPS.

Background: Variovorax paradoxus is an aerobic soil bacterium frequently associated with important biodegradative processes in nature. Our group has cultivated a mucoid strain of Variovorax paradoxus for study as a model of bacterial development and response to environmental conditions. Colonies of this organism vary widely in appearance depending on agar plate type.

Spatial expression of a mercury-inducible green fluorescent protein within a nanoporous latex-based biosensor coating.

Optimizing the reactivity of cell coatings developed as biosensors or biocatalysts requires measurements of gene expression in the immobilized cells. To quantify and localize gene expression within a latex-based mercury biosensor, a plasmid, pmerGFP, was constructed, which contains the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene under transcriptional control of the mercury resistance operon regulatory sequences. When cells containing this plasmid were exposed to mercuric chloride, GFP synthesis was induced and could be quantified by fluorescence.

Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin L.

Staphylococcus aureus causes a wide variety of diseases. Major virulence factors of this organism include enterotoxins (SEs) that cause both food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. Recently, a novel SE, tentatively designated SEL, was identified in a pathogenicity island from a bovine mastitis isolate.

Characterization of a novel staphylococcal enterotoxin-like superantigen, a member of the group V subfamily of pyrogenic toxins.

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen, causing a variety of diseases. Major virulence factors of this organism include staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) that cause food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. Our study identified a novel enterotoxin-like protein that is a member of the new subfamily (group V) of pyrogenic toxin superantigens (PTSAgs) and examined its biochemical and immunobiological properties.

Characterization and expression analysis of Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity island 3. Implications for the evolution of staphylococcal pathogenicity islands.

We describe the complete sequence of the 15.9-kb staphylococcal pathogenicity island 3 encoding staphylococcal enterotoxin serotypes B, K, and Q. The island, which meets the generally accepted definition of pathogenicity islands, contains 24 open reading frames potentially encoding proteins of more than 50 amino acids, including an apparently functional integrase.