Molecular phylogenetic and zoospore ultrastructural analyses of Chytridium olla establish the limits of a monophyletic Chytridiales.

Chytridium olla A. Braun, the first described chytrid and an obligate algal parasite, is the type for the genus and thus the foundation of family Chytridiaceae, order Chytridiales, class Chytridiomycetes and phylum Chytridiomycota. Chytridium olla was isolated in coculture with its host, Oedogonium capilliforme.

A molecular phylogenetic evaluation of the spizellomycetales.

Order Spizellomycetales was delineated based on a unique suite of zoospore ultrastructural characters and currently includes five genera and 14 validly published species, all of which have a propensity for soil habitats. We generated DNA sequences from small (SSU), large (LSU) and 5.8S ribosomal subunit genes to assess the monophyly of all genera and species in this order.

The early-onset torsion dystonia-associated protein, torsinA, displays molecular chaperone activity in vitro.

TorsinA is a member of the AAA+ ATPase family of proteins and, notably, is the only known ATPase localized to the ER lumen. It has been suggested to act as a molecular chaperone, while a mutant form associated with early-onset torsion dystonia, a dominantly inherited movement disorder, appears to result in a net loss of function in vivo. Thus far, no studies have examined the chaperone activity of torsinA in vitro.

Characterization of a pyrene-degrading Mycobacterium sp. strain CH-2.

Mycobacterium sp strain CH-2 was isolated from a manufactured gas plant contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and was identified by analysis of 16S rDNA sequences. Strain CH-2 was capable of mineralizing 3- and 4- ring PAHs, including phenanthrene, pyrene, and fluoranthene. In addition, strain CH-2 could utilize phenanthrene, pyrene and a wide range of alkanes as a sole carbon and energy source.

Rhizophlyctidales--a new order in Chytridiomycota.

Rhizophlyctis rosea (Chytridiomycota) is an apparently ubiquitous, soil-inhabiting, cellulose-degrading chytrid that is the type for Rhizophlyctis. Previous studies have revealed multiple zoospore subtypes among morphologically indistinguishable isolates in the R. rosea complex sensu Barr.

The microtubule-associated protein, NUD-1, exhibits chaperone activity in vitro.

Regulation of cell division requires the concerted function of proteins and protein complexes that properly mediate cytoskeletal dynamics. NudC is an evolutionarily conserved protein of undetermined function that associates with microtubules and interacts with several key regulators of mitosis, such as polo-kinase 1 (Plk1) and dynein. NudC is essential for proper mitotic progression, and homologs have been identified in species ranging from fungi to humans.

Ultrastructural and molecular analyses of Rhizophydiales (Chytridiomycota) isolates from North America and Argentina.

The Rhizophydiales is the most recently circumscribed order in the Chytridiomycota. Past studies focused on soil chytrids from North America and Australia to determine the range of diversity within this clade of chytrids and established three families (Rhizophydiaceae, Terramycetaceae, and Kappamycetaceae) in the new order. Although Rhizophydiales contains seemingly simple chytrids morphologically, analyses of ribosomal gene sequences and zoospore characters have demonstrated unexpected genetic and ultrastructural diversity, highlighting the need for broader habitat and geographic sampling to reveal the actual diversity within this new order.

Ultrastructural and molecular phylogenetic delineation of a new order, the Rhizophydiales (Chytridiomycota).

In the order Chytridiales, Rhizophydium is a morphologically defined genus based upon the production of a monocentric, inoperculate, epibiotic sporangium, an endobiotic rhizoidal axis which branches, and an epibiotic resting spore. Despite its simple morphology, over 220 species of Rhizophydium have been described. Recent phylogenetic analyses using nuLSU rRNA (28 S rRNA) gene sequences of a geographically diverse sampling of Rhizophydium cultures revealed that the classical genus Rhizophydium is genetically more variable than previously understood and actually represents multiple genera.

Anaerobic redox cycling of iron by freshwater sediment microorganisms.

The potential for microbially mediated anaerobic redox cycling of iron (Fe) was examined in a first-generation enrichment culture of freshwater wetland sediment microorganisms. Most probable number enumerations revealed the presence of significant populations of Fe(III)-reducing (approximately 10(8) cells ml(-1)) and Fe(II)-oxidizing, nitrate-reducing organisms (approximately 10(5) cells ml(-1)) in the freshwater sediment used to inoculate the enrichment cultures. Nitrate reduction commenced immediately following inoculation of acetate-containing (approximately 1 mM) medium with a small quantity (1% v/v) of wetland sediment, and resulted in the transient accumulation of NO(2)(-) and production of a mixture of gaseous end-products (N(2)O and N(2)) and NH(4)(+).

Effect of Mycobacterium sp. strain CH1 and mycobacterium sp. strain CH2 on the degradation of four-ring creosote compounds.

The influence of nutrients, Mycobacterium sp. strain CH1 and Mycobacterium sp. strain CH2 on the degradation of aged creosote hydrocarbon contaminants was investigated.