Improvements of polymerase chain reaction and capillary electrophoresis single-strand conformation polymorphism methods in microbial ecology: toward a high-throughput method for microbial diversity studies in soil.

The molecular signature of bacteria from soil ecosystems is an important tool for studying microbial ecology and biogeography. However, a high-throughput technology is needed for such studies. In this article, we tested the suitability of available methods ranging from soil DNA extraction to capillary electrophoresis single-strand conformation polymorphism (CE-SSCP) for high-throughput studies.

Stimulation of pyrene mineralization in freshwater sediments by bacterial and plant bioaugmentation.

As a means to study the fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in freshwater sediments, pyrene mineralization was examined in microcosms spiked with [14C]pyrene. Some microcosms were planted with reeds (Phragmites australis) and/or inoculated with a pyrene-degrading strain, Mycobacterium sp. 6PY1.

Identification of pyrene-induced proteins in Mycobacterium sp. strain 6PY1: evidence for two ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases.

In this study, the enzymes involved in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation were investigated in the pyrene-degrading Mycobacterium sp. strain 6PY1. [(14)C]pyrene mineralization experiments showed that bacteria grown with either pyrene or phenanthrene produced high levels of pyrene-catabolic activity but that acetate-grown cells had no activity.

Fungal flora and ochratoxin a production in grapes and musts from france.

Eleven samples of grapes and musts used in red table wines were investigated for the occurrence of potential ochratoxin A (OTA)-producing molds. From these samples, 59 filamentous fungi and 2 yeasts were isolated. Among the 30 genera isolated, Deuteromycetes were the most frequent (70%) followed by Ascomycetes (10%).