Discovering the deep evolutionary roots of serum amyloid A protein family.

Deep evolutionary origin of the conserved animal serum amyloid A (SAA) apolipoprotein family leading to yet unknown highly similar SAA-like sequences occurring in certain bacterial genomes is demonstrated in this contribution. Horizontal gene transfer event of corresponding genes between gut bacteria and non-vertebrate animals was discovered in the reconstructed phylogenetic tree obtained with maximum likelihood and neighbor-joining methods, respectively. This detailed phylogeny based on totally 128 complete sequences comprised diverse serum amyloid A isoforms from various animal vertebrate and non-vertebrate phyla and also corresponding genes coding for highly similar proteins from animal gut bacteria.

Deep Insights into the Specific Evolution of Fungal Hybrid B Heme Peroxidases.

In this study, we focus on a detailed bioinformatics analysis of genes, mainly within the genomes of (Ascomycota, Leotiomycetes), which is a specifically evolved fungal family of necrotrophic host generalists and saprophytic or biotrophic host specialists. Members of the genus produce only sclerotia and no fruiting bodies or spores. Thus, their physiological role for peroxidases remains open.

A new type strain of Pseudomonas putida NM-CH-I15-I isolated from a nickel-contaminated soil in southwest Slovakia harbouring the czcA-NM15I resistance determinant.

A soil bacterium MR-CH-I15-I was on the base of phylogenetic analysis of almost the whole (1,492 bp) 16S rRNA sequence and sequences of selected 9 marker genes identified as Pseudomonas putida strain NM-CH-I15-I. The bacterium exhibited typical morphological features and biochemical properties for this species, the highest resistance to nickel and copper and multidrug resistance to different antibiotic groups. In addition, the whole czcA-NM15I heavy-metal resistance gene sequence (3,126 bp, 1,042 amino acids, MW 112, 138 Da) was obtained and on the base of phylogenetic analysis was assigned to CzcA protein from Pseudomonas reidholzensis with 93% similarity.

The Heavy-Metal Resistance Determinant of Newly Isolated Bacterium from a Nickel-Contaminated Soil in Southwest Slovakia.

A bacterial isolate MR-CH-I2 [KC809939] isolated from soil contaminated mainly by high nickel concentrations in southwest Slovakia was previously found carrying nccA-like heavy-metal resistance determinant, marked as MR-CH-I2-HMR [KF218096]. According to phylogenetic analysis of short (696 bp) 16S rDNA (16S rRNA) sequences this bacterium was tentatively assigned to Uncultured beta proteobacterium clone GC0AA7ZA05PP1 [JQ913301]. nccA-like gene product was on the same base of its partial (581 bp) sequences tentatively assigned to CzcA family heavy metal efflux pump [YP_001899332] from Ralstonia picketii 12J with 99% similarity.

A simple strategy for investigating the diversity and hydrocarbon degradation abilities of cultivable bacteria from contaminated soil.

The use of indigenous bacterial strains is a valuable bioremediation strategy for cleaning the environment from hydrocarbon pollutants. The isolation and selection of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria is therefore crucial for obtaining the most promising strains for site decontamination. Two different media, a minimal medium supplemented with a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and a MS medium supplemented with triphenyltetrazolium chloride, were used for the isolation of bacterial strains from two hydrocarbon contaminated soils and from their enrichment phases.

Isolation, identification, and characterization of Vibrio cholerae from the Danube River in Slovakia.

The occurrence of Vibrio cholerae, an important aquatic pathogen, was assessed in the surface water of the Danube River near Bratislava. The isolates were distinguished by biochemical tests and grouped by ARDRA to three clusters corresponding to three species (V. cholerae, Vibrio metschnikovii, and Aeromonas spp.

Investigation of microbial community isolated from indoor artworks and air environment: identification, biodegradative abilities, and DNA typing.

This study deals with establishing the characteristics of a microbial community isolated from indoor artworks and the surrounding air environment. It is one of the few studies on microbial degradation of indoor artworks. It shows the potential biodegradative risk that can occur if artworks are not exhibited and conserved in an appropriate environment.

Assessment of environmental enterococci: bacterial antagonism, pathogenic capacity and antibiotic resistance.

The properties of 166 environmental strains belonging to the seven enterococcal species were studied. Enterococci originated mainly from surface- and waste-waters. They were screened for the presence of enterocins, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance.

Evaluation of different PCR-based approaches for the identification and typing of environmental enterococci.

The aim of the work was the evaluation of different PCR-based methods to found an appropriate identification and typing strategy for environmental enterococci. Environmental enterococci were isolated mainly from surface- and waste-waters. Species identification was provided by combination of phenotypic (Micronaut System, Merlin) and molecular detection methods (fluorescent ITS-PCR, ddl-PCR, REP-PCR, AFLP).

Function of a novel cadmium-induced yodA protein in Escherichia coli.

Cells of Escherichia coli increase greatly the synthesis of a small primarily cytoplasmic protein as soon as the cell growth rate falls below the maximal growth rate supported by cadmium exposure, after which the mature product is exported to the periplasm. This protein was previously identified as the product of the E. coli yodA open reading frame.

Lag period of 14CO2 evolution from dioctyl sulpho[2,3-14C]succinate in relation to adaptation of bacterium, Comamonas terrigena, to dialkyl esters of sulphosuccinate.

Comamonas terrigena, strain N3H, which was isolated from soil polluted with crude oil products, degraded dioctyl sulphosuccinate, a synthetic commercial surfactant. The primary degradation of this compound, the cleavage of ester bonds between octyl groups and sulphosuccinate, lasted significantly shorter time than the subsequent breakdown of the sulphosuccinate moiety of dioctyl sulpho[2,3-(14)C]succinate. (14)CO(2) evolution had a significant shorter lag period with cells in Tris/phosphate medium, without inorganic sulphate and adapted to surfactant, than unadapted cells.

The cadmium-stress stimulon of Escherichia coli K-12.

The influence of cadmium on stress protein production in Escherichia coli K-12 (strain MG1655) was analysed using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the gene-protein database of E. coli K-12. Cadmium (273 microM) caused complete but transient inhibition of growth accompanied by the synthesis of cadmium-induced proteins (CDPs).