A novel bacteriobiont of the Arctic lichen Flavocetraria nivalis, Lichenifustis flavocetrariae gen. nov, sp. nov. demonstrating hydrolytic properties and containing a full set of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle genes.

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, chemoorganotrophic, bacteriochlorophyll a-containing, slow-growing bacterium was isolated from the lichen Flavocetraria nivalis and designated strain BP6-180914. Cells of this strain were large nonmotile rods, which reproduced by binary fission. Cells grew under oxic conditions and were able to utilize sugars and several polysaccharides, including starch and pectin.

Biocides with Controlled Degradation for Environmentally Friendly and Cost-Effective Fecal Sludge Management.

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) and polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) exhibit high antimicrobial activity and are widely used as biocidal agents in chemical toilet additives for the management of fecal sludge (FS). Disposal of such biocide-treated FS to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is a major environmental problem. It is possible to reduce environmental damage through the use of biocidal agents, which easily decompose after performing their main biocidal functions.

Regulation of Lysozyme Activity by Human Hormones.

Background: Lysozyme is a part of human and animal noncellular immunity. The regulation of its activity by hormones is poorly studied. The aim of this study was to test the in vitro activity of lysozyme in the presence of catecholamines, natriuretic hormones, and estradiol (E2).

Acidisoma tundrae gen. nov., sp. nov. and Acidisoma sibiricum sp. nov., two acidophilic, psychrotolerant members of the Alphaproteobacteria from acidic northern wetlands.

Three obligately aerobic, heterotrophic bacteria, designated strains WM1T, TPB606T and TPB621, were isolated from acidic Sphagnum-dominated tundra and Siberian wetlands in Russia. Cells of these isolates were Gram-negative, non-motile coccobacilli that occurred singly, in pairs or in chains, and were covered by large capsules. The novel strains were moderately acidophilic and psychrotolerant organisms capable of growth at pH 3.

Substrate-induced growth and isolation of Acidobacteria from acidic Sphagnum peat.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied to estimate the population size of the poorly characterized phylum Acidobacteria in acidic peat sampled from nine different Sphagnum-dominated wetlands of Northern Russia. The cell numbers of these bacteria in oxic peat layers ranged from 0.4 x 10(6) to 1.

Mucilaginibacter paludis gen. nov., sp. nov. and Mucilaginibacter gracilis sp. nov., pectin-, xylan- and laminarin-degrading members of the family Sphingobacteriaceae from acidic Sphagnum peat bog.

Two facultatively aerobic, heterotrophic bacteria capable of degrading pectin, xylan, laminarin and some other polysaccharides were obtained from the acidic Sphagnum peat bog Bakchar, in western Siberia, Russia, and were designated strains TPT18(T) and TPT56(T). Cells of these isolates are Gram-negative, non-motile, long rods that are covered by large capsules. On ageing, they transform into spherical L-forms.

Isolation of aerobic, gliding, xylanolytic and laminarinolytic bacteria from acidic Sphagnum peatlands and emended description of Chitinophaga arvensicola Kampfer et al. 2006.

Four aerobic, heterotrophic, yellow-pigmented and flexirubin-producing bacterial strains with gliding motility were isolated from acidic Sphagnum-dominated wetlands of Northern Russia. These bacteria are capable of degrading xylan, laminarin and some other polysaccharides, but not cellulose, pectin or chitin. The four strains possess almost identical 16S rRNA gene sequences and are most closely related (98.

Phylogenetic analysis and in situ identification of bacteria community composition in an acidic Sphagnum peat bog.

The Bacteria community composition in an acidic Sphagnum peat bog (pH 3.9 to 4.5) was characterized by a combination of 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis, rRNA-targeted fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and cultivation.