Streptomyces oryzae sp. nov., an endophytic actinomycete isolated from stems of rice plant.

An actinomycete strain S16-07(T), isolated from surface-sterilized stems of rice plant (Oryza sativa L.), was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated affiliation of the strain belonged to the genus Streptomyces.

Sphaerisporangium rufum sp. nov., an endophytic actinomycete from roots of Oryza sativa L.

An endophytic actinomycete, strain R10-82(T), isolated from surface-sterilized roots of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was studied using a polyphasic approach. Strain R10-82(T) produced branching substrate mycelia and developed spherical spore vesicles on aerial hyphae containing non-motile spores.

Isolation of rhizospheric and roots endophytic actinomycetes from Leguminosae plant and their activities to inhibit soybean pathogen, Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycine.

In this study, actinomycetes from roots and rhizospheric soils of leguminous plants were isolated using starch casein agar supplemented with antifungal and antibacterial antibiotics. Three hundred and seventeen actinomycetes were isolated with 77 isolates obtained from plant roots and 240 isolates from rhizospheric soils. Analysis of whole-organism hydrolysates showed that 289 strains were rich in the LL-isomer of diaminopimelic acid, a result consistent with their assignment to the streptomycetes.

Symbiotic fungi produce laccases potentially involved in phenol degradation in fungus combs of fungus-growing termites in Thailand.

Fungus-growing termites efficiently decompose plant litter through their symbiotic relationship with basidiomycete fungi of the genus Termitomyces. Here, we investigated phenol-oxidizing enzymes in symbiotic fungi and fungus combs (a substrate used to cultivate symbiotic fungi) from termites belonging to the genera Macrotermes, Odontotermes, and Microtermes in Thailand, because these enzymes are potentially involved in the degradation of phenolic compounds during fungus comb aging. Laccase activity was detected in all the fungus combs examined as well as in the culture supernatants of isolated symbiotic fungi.

Intra- and interspecific comparisons of bacterial diversity and community structure support coevolution of gut microbiota and termite host.

We investigated the bacterial gut microbiota from 32 colonies of wood-feeding termites, comprising four Microcerotermes species (Termitidae) and four Reticulitermes species (Rhinotermitidae), using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and clonal analysis of 16S rRNA. The obtained molecular community profiles were compared statistically between individuals, colonies, locations, and species of termites. Both analyses revealed that the bacterial community structure was remarkably similar within each termite genus, with small but significant differences between sampling sites and/or termite species.

The selection of mixed microbial inocula in environmental biotechnology: example using petroleum contaminated tropical soils.

The impact of inorganic N and P additions on a tropical soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons was investigated using molecular and culture techniques. Microcosms were incubated for 42 days and sampled at 0, 1, 7, 28 and 42 days. Changes in bacterial community structure were determined using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of the rRNA following reverse transcription PCR using primers specific to the V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene.

Comparison of bacterial communities in the alkaline gut segment among various species of higher termites.

The first proctodeal (P1) segment in the hindgut of certain higher termites shows high alkalinity. We examined the bacterial diversity of the alkaline P1 gut segments of four species of higher termites by T-RFLP and phylogenetic analyses based on PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes. The bacterial community of the P1 segment was apparently different from that of the whole gut in each termite.