Two distinct manganese-containing superoxide dismutase genes in Bacillus cereus: their physiological characterizations and roles in surviving in wheat rhizosphere

Watermelon Root Exudates Enhance Root Colonization of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TR2

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TR2, one of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), is capable of colonizing plant roots in a large population size. However, the interaction of watermelon root exudates and colonization of the strain TR2 has not yet been clearly elucidated. In this investigation, we demonstrated that B. amyloliquefaciens TR2 promoted watermelon plants growth and exhibited biocontrol efficacy against watermelon Fusarium wilt under greenhouse conditions. Collected watermelon root exudates significantly induced chemotaxis, swarming motility, and biofilm formation of the strain TR2. We also tested the components of root exudates (organic acids: malic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, and fumaric acid; amino acids: methionine, glutamic acid, alanine, and aspartic acid; phenolic acid: benzoic acid) and the results showed that a majority of these compounds could promote chemotactic response, swarming motility, and biofilm formation in a different degree. Benzoic acid induced the strongest chemotactic response; however, the swarming motility and biofilm formation of the strain TR2 were maximumly enhanced by supplement of fumaric acid and glutamic acid, respectively. In addition, the root colonization examination indicated that the population of B. amyloliquefaciens TR2 colonized on watermelon root surfaces was dramatically increased by adding concentrated watermelon root exudates. In summary, our studies provide evidence suggesting that root exudates are important for colonization of B. amyloliquefaciens TR2 on plant roots and help us to understand the interaction between plants and beneficial bacteria.

Why is manganese so valuable to bacterial pathogens?

Apart from oxygenic photosynthesis, the extent of manganese utilization in bacteria varies from species to species and also appears to depend on external conditions. This observation is in striking contrast to iron, which is similar to manganese but essential for the vast majority of bacteria. To adequately explain the role of manganese in pathogens, we first present in this review that the accumulation of molecular oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere was a key event that linked manganese utilization to iron utilization and put pressure on the use of manganese in general. We devote a large part of our contribution to explanation of how molecular oxygen interferes with iron so that it enhances oxidative stress in cells, and how bacteria have learned to control the concentration of free iron in the cytosol. The functioning of iron in the presence of molecular oxygen serves as a springboard for a fundamental understanding of why manganese is so valued by bacterial pathogens. The bulk of this review addresses how manganese can replace iron in enzymes. Redox-active enzymes must cope with the higher redox potential of manganese compared to iron. Therefore, specific manganese-dependent isoenzymes have evolved that either lower the redox potential of the bound metal or use a stronger oxidant. In contrast, redox-inactive enzymes can exchange the metal directly within the individual active site, so no isoenzymes are required. It appears that in the physiological context, only redox-inactive mononuclear or dinuclear enzymes are capable of replacing iron with manganese within the same active site. In both cases, cytosolic conditions play an important role in the selection of the metal used. In conclusion, we summarize both well-characterized and less-studied mechanisms of the tug-of-war for manganese between host and pathogen.

Influence of Sugarcane Variety on Rhizosphere Microbiota Under Irrigated and Water-Limiting Conditions

Drought is one of the main problems linked to climate change that is faced by agriculture, affecting various globally important crops, including sugarcane. Environmentally sustainable strategies have been sought to mitigate the effects of climate change on crops. Among them, the use of beneficial microorganisms offers a promising approach. However, it is still necessary to understand the mechanisms that regulate plant-microorganism interactions, in normal situations and under stress. In this work, the rhizosphere metagenomes of two sugarcane varieties, one resistant and the other susceptible to drought, were compared under normal conditions and under water-limiting conditions. The results showed that for the drought-resistant sugarcane variety, bacteria belonging to the order Sphingomonadales and the family Xanthomonadaceae presented increased activities in terms of mobility, colonization, and cell growth. In contrast, the rhizosphere associated with the drought-sensitive variety exhibited increases of bacteria belonging to the family Polyangiaceae, and the genus Streptomyces, with modifications in DNA metabolism and ribosome binding proteins. The results pointed to variation in the rhizosphere microbiota that was modulated by the host plant genotype, revealing potential bacterial candidates that could be recruited to assist plants during water-limiting conditions.

Evaluation of the Effects of Ag, Cu, ZnO and TiO2 Nanoparticles on the Expression Level of Oxidative Stress-Related Genes and the Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes in Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus epidermidis

Although the molecular response of bacteria exposed to metal nanoparticles (NPs) is intensively studied, many phenomena related to their survival, metal uptake, gene expression and protein production are not fully understood. Therefore, this work aimed to study Ag-NPs, Cu-NPs, ZnO-NPs and TiO2-NPs-induced alterations in the expression level of selected oxidative stress-related genes in connection with the activity of antioxidant enzymes: catalase (CAT), peroxidase (PER) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The methodology used included: the extraction of total RNA and cDNA synthesis, the preparation of primers for selected housekeeping and oxidative stress genes, RT-qPCR reaction and the measurements of CAT, PER and SOD activities. It was established that the treatment of E. coli and S. epidermidis with NPs resulted mainly in the down-regulation of targeted genes, whilst the up-regulation of genes was confirmed in B. cereus. The greatest differences in the relative expression levels of tested genes occurred in B. cereus and S. epidermidis treated with TiO2-NPs, while in E. coli, they were observed under ZnO-NPs exposure. The changes found were mostly related to the expression of genes encoding proteins with PER and CAT-like activity. Among NPs, ZnO-NPs and Cu-NPs increased the activity of antioxidants in E. coli and B. cereus. In turn, TiO2-NPs had a major effect on enzymes activity in S. epidermidis. Considering all of the collected results for tested bacteria, it can be emphasised that the impact of NPs on the antioxidant system functioning was dependent on their type and concentration.

SigB regulates stress resistance, glucose starvation, MnSOD production, biofilm formation, and root colonization in Bacillus cereus 905

Bacillus cereus 905, originally isolated from wheat rhizosphere, exhibits strong colonization ability on wheat roots. Our previous studies showed that root colonization is contributed by the ability of the bacterium to efficiently utilize carbon sources and form biofilms and that the sodA2 gene-encoded manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD2) plays an indispensable role in the survival of B. cereus 905 in the wheat rhizosphere. In this investigation, we further demonstrated that the ability of B. cereus 905 to resist adverse environmental conditions is partially attributed to activation of the alternative sigma factor σ^B, encoded by the sigB gene. The sigB mutant experienced a dramatic reduction in survival when cells were exposed to ethanol, acid, heat, and oxidative stress or under glucose starvation. Analysis of the sodA2 gene transcription revealed a partial, σ^B-dependent induction of the gene during glucose starvation or when treated with paraquat. In addition, the sigB mutant displayed a defect in biofilm formation under stress conditions. Finally, results from the root colonization assay indicated that sigB and sodA2 collectively contribute to B. cereus 905 colonization on wheat roots. Our study suggests a diverse role of SigB in rhizosphere survival and root colonization of B. cereus 905 under stress conditions. KEY POINTS : • SigB confers resistance to environmental stresses in B. cereus 905. • SigB plays a positive role in glucose utilization and biofilm formation in B. cereus. • SigB and SodA2 collectively contribute to colonization on wheat roots by B. cereus.

Genome analysis provides insights into the biocontrol ability of Mitsuaria sp. strain TWR114

Mitsuaria sp. TWR114 is a biocontrol agent against tomato bacterial wilt (TBW). We aimed to gain genomic insights relevant to the biocontrol mechanisms and colonization ability of this strain. The draft genome size was found to be 5,632,523 bp, with a GC content of 69.5%, assembled into 1144 scaffolds. Genome annotation predicted a total of 4675 protein coding sequences (CDSs), 914 pseudogenes, 49 transfer RNAs, 3 noncoding RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNAs. Genome analysis identified multiple CDSs associated with various pathways for the metabolism and transport of amino acids and carbohydrates, motility and chemotactic capacities, protection against stresses (oxidative, antibiotic, and phage), production of secondary metabolites, peptidases, quorum-quenching enzymes, and indole-3-acetic acid, as well as protein secretion systems and their related appendages. The genome resource will extend our understanding of the genomic features related to TWR114's biocontrol and colonization abilities and facilitate its development as a new biopesticide against TBW.

The recA gene is crucial to mediate colonization of Bacillus cereus 905 on wheat roots

Bacillus cereus 905, one of the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), is capable of colonizing wheat roots in a large population size. From previous studies, we learned that the sodA2-encoding manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD2) is important for B. cereus 905 to survive in wheat rhizosphere. In this investigation, we demonstrated that deletion of the recA gene, which codes for the recombinase A, significantly reduced MnSOD2 expression at both the mRNA and the protein levels. Through comparison with the wild-type, the ∆recA showed a dramatic decrease in cell survival after exposure to 50 μM paraquat or 15 mM H₂O₂. Evidence indicated that the recA gene of B. cereus 905 also notably regulated nutrition utilization efficiency, biofilm formation, and swarming motility. The root colonization examination showed that the ∆recA had a 1000- to 2500-fold reduction in colonization on wheat roots, suggesting that RecA plays an indispensable role in effective colonization on wheat roots by B. cereus 905. Taken together, the recA gene positively regulates MnSOD2 production and nutrition utilization and protects B. cereus 905 cells against paraquat and H₂O₂. Besides, biofilm formation and swarming motility of B. cereus 905 are promoted by RecA. Finally, RecA significantly contributes to wheat root colonization of B. cereus 905. Our results showed the important role of RecA during physiological processes in B. cereus 905, especially for colonization on wheat roots. Our findings will point out a research direction to study the colonization mechanisms of B. cereus 905 in the future and provide potential effective strategy to enhance the biocontrol efficacy of PGPR strains. KEY POINTS : • RecA plays an indispensable role in root colonization of B. cereus.

Four superoxide dismutases of Bacillus cereus 0-9 are non-redundant and perform different functions in diverse living conditions

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) have been shown to exhibit high levels of conservation and exist in almost all aerobic organisms and even many strict anaerobes. There are four SODs in Bacillus cereus 0-9, and this coexistence of multiple homologous enzymes is of great significance in the evolution of bacteria. We hypothesized that the four sod genes in B. cereus 0-9 constituted non-redundant protection against oxidative damage in vivo and played unique roles in the pathogenicity of B. cereus 0-9 during different phases or growth environments. To test this hypothesis, we constructed four single-knockout mutants (∆sodA1, ∆sodA2, ∆sodS, and ∆sodC) and a mutant lacking all four sod genes (∆sod-4) of B. cereus 0-9 and assessed their various phenotypes. Our results indicated that sodA1 plays a major role in tolerance to intracellular oxidative stress and spore formation. The ∆sodA1 and ∆sod-4 mutants were very sensitive to oxidants. The spore formation of the ∆sodA1 mutant was dramatically delayed, and the ∆sod-4 mutant did not form any spores under our experimental conditions. The sodA2 gene may play an important role in negative regulation of swarming motility, pathogenicity, and phospholipase and haemolytic activity of B. cereus but also a role in positive regulation of biofilm formation under our experimental conditions. The other two genes, sodS and sodC, were key to the pathogenicity of B. cereus. The lethal rates of Helicoverpa armigera infected by the ∆sodS and ∆sodC mutants were only 26.67%, while wild-type B. cereus 0-9 caused lethality in up to 86.67% of the insects at 24 h after injection. Moreover, the ∆sod-4 mutant caused a reduced death rate of H. armigera of 46.70%, which was slightly higher than that caused by the ∆sodS and ∆sodC strains. Thus, these four sod genes were non-redundant for oxidative stress and may play different additional roles in B. cereus 0-9. These results can help us to further understand the biocontrol characteristics of B. cereus 0-9 and lay a theoretical foundation for further research.

Endophytic bacteria isolated from Solanum nigrum L., alleviate cadmium (Cd) stress response by their antioxidant potentials, including SOD synthesis by sodA gene

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal and an abiotic stressor to plants; however, inoculation of endophytic bacteria can raise resistance in plants against Cd, as well as improve plant growth. In the present study, two endophytic bacterial strains were isolated from Solanum nigrum, identified as Serratia sp. IU01 and Enterobacter sp. IU02 by 16S DNA sequencing. Both IU01 and IU02 were tolerant up to 9.0 mM of Cd in culture broth and successive increase in Cd concentration from 0 mM to 9.0 mM, led to an increase in the SOD enzyme activity of the isolates. Both strains were capable of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis and phosphate solubilization, detected through gas spectrometry-mass chromatography (GC-MS) and Pikovskaya agar medium respectively. Brassica juncea plants stressed with 0-25 mg/kg Cd showed retardation in all growth attributes, however, inoculation of strain IU01 and IU02 significantly promoted the plant growth attributes as compared to control. Moreover, antioxidant enzymes and metabolites against reactive oxygen species (ROS) including polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), flavonoid and polyphenolic contents were also significantly relieved by inoculation of IU01 and IU02 in plant exposed to different concentration of Cd stress as compared to control plants. Phytohormone production, phosphate solubilization, and/or antioxidative support of IU01 and IU02 might be responsible for growth promotion and Cd resistance in the plant.

Multifaceted toxin profile, an approach toward a better understanding of probiotic Bacillus cereus

Strains of the Bacillus cereus group have been widely used as probiotics for human beings, food animals, plants, and environmental remediation. Paradoxically, B. cereus is responsible for both gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal syndromes and represents an important opportunistic food-borne pathogen. Toxicity assessment is a fundamental issue to evaluate safety of probiotics. Here, we summarize the state of our current knowledge about the toxins of B. cereus sensu lato to be considered for safety assessment of probiotic candidates. Surfactin-like emetic toxin (cereulide) and various enterotoxins including nonhemolytic enterotoxin, hemolysin BL, and cytotoxin K are responsible for food poisoning outbreaks characterized by emesis and diarrhea. In addition, other factors, such as hemolysin II, Certhrax, immune inhibitor A1, and sphingomyelinase, contribute to toxicity and overall virulence of B. cereus.

Roles of the Two-MnSOD System of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in the Alleviation of Superoxide Stress

Manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD, SodA) and iron-dependent SOD (FeSOD, SodB) are critical cytosolic enzymes for alleviating superoxide stress. Distinct from the singular sodA gene in most bacteria, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia harbors two sodA genes, sodA1 and sodA2. The roles of SodA1, SodA2, and SodB of S. maltophilia in alleviating superoxide stress were investigated. The expression of sod genes was determined by promoter–xylE transcriptional fusion assay and qRT–PCR. SodA2 and sodB expressions were proportional to the bacterial logarithmic growth, but unaffected by menadione (MD), iron, or manganese challenges. SodA1 was intrinsically unexpressed and inducibly expressed by MD. Complementary expression of sodA1 was observed when sodA2 was inactivated. The individual or combined sod deletion mutants were constructed using the gene replacement strategy. The functions of SODs were assessed by evaluating cell viabilities of different sod mutants in MD, low iron-stressed, and/or low manganese-stressed conditions. Inactivation of SodA1 or SodA2 alone did not affect bacterial viability; however, simultaneously inactivating sodA1 and sodA2 significantly compromised bacterial viability in both aerobic growth and stressed conditions. SodA1 can either rescue or support SodA2 when SodA2 is defective or insufficiently potent. The presence of two MnSODs gives S. maltophilia an advantage against superoxide stress.

The application of the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for diagnosing Enterococcus hirae-associated endocarditis outbreaks in chickens

BACKGROUND

Enterococcus hirae is considered a part of the normal intestinal biota of several domestic animals, including poultry. However, this species is also associated with infective endocarditis in chickens, a disease that leads to unexpected deaths and serious economical losses. Enterococcus hirae is identified predominantly with the use of conventional bacteriological methods, biochemical tests and PCR. Rapid, sensitive and specific methods for detecting E. hirae in clinical samples are required in poultry production. The aim of this study was to use the Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) for the identification and quantification of E. hirae in heart samples from broiler chickens.

RESULTS

The specificity of the LAMP method was confirmed for 7 enterococcal strains and 3 non-enterococcal strains. E. hirae was detected in all of the 22 analyzed clinical bacterial isolates and in all of the 9 heart samples. Three sets of primers supported the detection of E. hirae with high sensitivity and specificity within one hour. The highest detection rate of a LAMP product was approximately 7 min for an E. hirae strain and 12 min for a positive heart sample. The detection limit for the E. hirae ATCC 10541 standard was 1.3 × 10² CFU (43.4 fg) or 13.8 copies of the E. hirae genome equivalent per reaction. The reaction was 10-fold more sensitive than conventional species-specific PCR. The LAMP assay supported the determination of the E. hirae load in chicken hearts with endocarditis in field cases. The average number of E. hirae cells in hearts was 5.19 × 10⁷ CFU/g of tissue, and the average number of E. hirae genome equivalents in hearts was 5.51× 10⁶ copies/g of tissue. Bacterial counts were significantly higher in the LAMP assay than in the standard plate count.

CONCLUSIONS

The LAMP assay is a useful diagnostic tool and an effective alternative to conventional methods for the detection of this enterococcal species. The sodA-based LAMP assay supported direct identification of E. hirae from pure cultures and heart samples without previous bacterial cultivation. This is the first study to apply the LAMP method for the purpose of diagnosing E. hirae-associated endocarditis in poultry.

Structural characterization of a pathogenicity-related superoxide dismutase codified by a probably essential gene in Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri

Citrus canker is a plant disease caused by the bacteria Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri that affects all domestic varieties of citrus. Some annotated genes from the X. citri subsp. citri genome are assigned to an interesting class named "pathogenicity, virulence and adaptation". Amongst these is sodM, which encodes for the gene product XcSOD, one of four superoxide dismutase homologs predicted from the genome. SODs are widespread enzymes that play roles in the oxidative stress response, catalyzing the degradation of the deleterious superoxide radical. In Xanthomonas, SOD has been associated with pathogenesis as a counter measure against the plant defense response. In this work we initially present the 1.8 Å crystal structure of XcSOD, a manganese containing superoxide dismutase from Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri. The structure bears all the hallmarks of a dimeric member of the MnSOD family, including the conserved hydrogen-bonding network residues. Despite the apparent gene redundancy, several attempts to obtain a sodM deletion mutant were unsuccessful, suggesting the encoded protein to be essential for bacterial survival. This intriguing observation led us to extend our structural studies to the remaining three SOD homologs, for which comparative models were built. The models imply that X. citri subsp. citri produces an iron-containing SOD which is unlikely to be catalytically active along with two conventional Cu,ZnSODs. Although the latter are expected to possess catalytic activity, we propose they may not be able to replace XcSOD for reasons such as distinct subcellular compartmentalization or differential gene expression in pathogenicity-inducing conditions.

Comparative genomic and functional analyses of four sequenced Bacillus cereus genomes reveal conservation of genes relevant to plant-growth-promoting traits

Some Bacillus strains function as predominant plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Bacillus cereus 905 is a rod-shaped Gram-positive bacterium isolated from wheat rhizosphere and is a rhizobacterium that exhibits significant plant-growth-promoting effects. Species belonging to the genus Bacillus are observed in numerous different habitats. Several papers on B. cereus are related to pathogens that causes food-borne illness and industrial applications. However, genomic analysis of plant-associated B. cereus has yet to be reported. Here, we conducted a genomic analysis comparing strain 905 with three other B. cereus strains and investigate the genomic characteristics and evolution traits of the species in different niches. The genome sizes of four B. cereus strains range from 5.38 M to 6.40 M, and the number of protein-coding genes varies in the four strains. Comparisons of the four B. cereus strains reveal 3,998 core genes. The function of strain-specific genes are related to carbohydrate, amino acid and coenzyme metabolism and transcription. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) indicates local diversification of the four strains. SNPs are unevenly distributed throughout the four genomes, and function interpretation of regions with high SNP density coincides with the function of strain-specific genes. Detailed analysis indicates that certain SNPs contribute to the formation of strain-specific genes. By contrast, genes related to plant-growth-promoting traits are highly conserved. This study shows the genomic differences between four strains from different niches and provides an in-depth understanding of the genome architecture of these species, thus facilitating genetic engineering and agricultural applications in the future.

The phosphotransferase system gene ptsH plays an important role in MnSOD production, biofilm formation, swarming motility, and root colonization in Bacillus cereus 905

The rhizosphere bacterium Bacillus cereus 905 is capable of promoting plant growth through effective colonization on plant roots. The sodA2-encoding manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD2) is important for survival of B. cereus 905 in the wheat rhizosphere. However, the genes involved in regulating sodA2 expression and the mechanisms of rhizosphere colonization of B. cereus 905 are not well elucidated. In this study, we found that the deletion of the ptsH gene, which encodes the histidine-phosphorylatable protein (HPr), a component of the phosphotransferase system (PTS), causes a decrease of about 60% in the MnSOD2 expression. Evidences indicate that the ptsH dramatically influences resistance to oxidative stress, glucose uptake, as well as biofilm formation and swarming motility of B. cereus 905. Root colonization assay demonstrated that ΔptsH is defective in colonizing wheat roots, while complementation of the sodA2 gene could partially restore the ability in utilization of arabinose, a non-PTS sugar, and root colonization caused by the loss of the ptsH gene. In toto, based on the current findings, we propose that PtsH contributes to root colonization of B. cereus 905 through multiple indistinct mechanisms, involving PTS and uptake of PTS-sugars, up-regulation of MnSOD2 production, and promotion of biofilm formation and swarming motility.

Biocontrol of Bacterial Fruit Blotch by Bacillus subtilis 9407 via Surfactin-Mediated Antibacterial Activity and Colonization

In this study, Bacillus subtilis 9407 showed a strong antibacterial activity against Acidovorax citrulli in vitro and 61.7% biocontrol efficacy on melon seedlings 4 days post inoculation under greenhouse conditions. To understand the biocontrol mechanism of B. subtilis 9407, identify the primary antibacterial compound and determine its role in controlling bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), a srfAB deletion mutant (ΔsrfAB) was constructed. The ΔsrfAB which was deficient in production of surfactin, not only showed almost no ability to inhibit growth of A. citrulli but also decreased biofilm formation and reduced swarming motility. Colonization assay demonstrated that B. subtilis 9407 could conlonize on melon roots and leaves in a large population, while ΔsrfAB showed a four- to ten-fold reduction in colonization of melon roots and leaves. Furthermore, a biocontrol assay showed that ΔsrfAB lost the biocontrol efficacy. In summary, our results indicated that surfactin, which consists of C13- to C16-surfactin A was the primary antibacterial compound of B. subtilis 9407, and it played a major role in biofilm formation, swarming motility, colonization and suppressing BFB. We propose that the biocontrol activity of B. subtilis 9407 is the results of the coordinated action of surfactin-mediated antibacterial activity and colonization. This study reveals for the first time that the use of a B. subtilis strain as a potential biological control agent could efficiently control BFB by producing surfactin.

The phosphotransferase system gene ptsI in Bacillus cereus regulates expression of sodA2 and contributes to colonization of wheat roots

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria effectively enhance plant growth and root colonization by the bacteria is a prerequisite during the process. Bacillus cereus 905, a rhizosphere bacterium originally isolated from wheat roots, colonizes the wheat rhizosphere with a large population size. We previously showed that a manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD2), encoded by the sodA2 gene, plays an important role in colonization of the wheat rhizosphere by B. cereus 905. In this study, we identified a gene, ptsI, which positively regulates transcription of sodA2. ptsI encodes Enzyme I of the phosphotransferase system (PTS), a major regulator of carbohydrate uptake in bacteria. Assays of β-galactosidase activity and real-time quantitative PCR showed that loss of ptsI caused a 70% reduction in sodA2 expression. The ΔptsI mutant also showed a 1000-fold reduction in colonization of wheat roots, as well as a reduced growth rate in minimal media with either glucose or succinate as the sole carbon source. Artificial induction of sodA2 in the ΔptsI mutant partially restored root colonizing ability and utilization of succinate, but not glucose. These results suggest that the PTS plays an important role in rhizosphere colonization by both promoting nutrient utilization and regulating sodA2 expression in B. cereus 905.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus cereus 905, a Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacterium of Wheat

Bacillus cereus 905 is a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium, isolated from wheat rhizosphere. The draft genome sequence of this strain is 5.39 Mb and harbors 5,412 coding sequences.

Alternative modes of biofilm formation by plant-associated Bacillus cereus

The ability to form multicellular communities known as biofilms is a widespread adaptive behavior of bacteria. Members of the Bacillus group of bacteria have been found to form biofilms on plant roots, where they protect against pathogens and promote growth. In the case of the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis the genetic pathway controlling biofilm formation and the production of an extracellular matrix is relatively well understood. However, it is unclear whether other members of this genus utilize similar mechanisms. We determined that a plant-associated strain of Bacillus cereus (905) can form biofilms by two seemingly independent pathways. In one mode involving the formation of floating biofilms (pellicles) B. cereus 905 appears to rely on orthologs of many of the genes known to be important for B. subtilis biofilm formation. We report that B. cereus 905 also forms submerged, surface-associated biofilms and in a manner that resembles biofilm formation by the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. This alternative mode, which does not rely on B. subtilis-like genes for pellicle formation, takes place under conditions of glucose fermentation and depends on a drop in the pH of the medium.

Comparison of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase and two water-forming NADH oxidases from Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579

Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) is an ubiquitous facultative anaerobic bacterium, and its growth in aerobic environment correlates to the functions of its oxygen defense system. Water-forming NADH oxidase (nox-2) can catalyze the conversion of oxygen to water with concomitant NADH oxidation in anaerobic microorganisms. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of two annotated nox-2 s (nox-2(444) and nox-2(554)) from B. cereus ATCC 14579 and their comparison with another oxidative stress defense system alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpR) from this microbe, which composed of two enzymes-hydrogen peroxide-forming NADH oxidase (nox-1) and peroxidase. Both nox-2 and AhpR catalyze the same reaction in the presence of oxygen. With the stimulation of exogenously added FAD, the maximum activity of nox-1, nox-2(444), and nox-2(554) could reach 27.7 U/mg, 22.9 U/mg, and 2.4 U/mg, respectively, at pH 7.0, 30 °C. Different from nox-1, both nox-2 s were thermotolerant enzymes and could maintain above 87% of their optimum activity at 80 °C, which was not found in other nox-2 s. As for operational stability, all are turnover-limited. Exogenously added reductive reagent dithiothreitol could dramatically increase the total turnover number of nox-2(444) and nox-2(554) by twofold and threefold, respectively, but had no effect on AhpR or nox-1.

Plant-rhizobacteria interactions alleviate abiotic stress conditions

Root-colonizing non-pathogenic bacteria can increase plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stress factors. Bacterial inoculates have been applied as biofertilizers and can increase the effectiveness of phytoremediation. Inoculating plants with non-pathogenic bacteria can provide 'bioprotection' against biotic stresses, and some root-colonizing bacteria increase tolerance against abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and metal toxicity. Systematic identification of bacterial strains providing cross-protection against multiple stressors would be highly valuable for agricultural production in changing environmental conditions. For bacterial cross-protection to be an effective tool, a better understanding of the underlying morphological, physiological and molecular mechanisms of bacterially mediated stress tolerance, and the phenomenon of cross-protection is critical. Beneficial bacteria-mediated plant gene expression studies under non-stress conditions or during pathogenic rhizobacteria-plant interactions are plentiful, but only few molecular studies on beneficial interactions under abiotic stress situations have been reported. Thus, here we attempt an overview of current knowledge on physiological impacts and modes of action of bacterial mitigation of abiotic stress symptoms in plants. Where available, molecular data will be provided to support physiological or morphological observations. We indicate further research avenues to enable better use of cross-protection capacities of root-colonizing non-pathogenic bacteria in agricultural production systems affected by a changing climate.

Comparison of the stress response of Listeria monocytogenes strains with sprout colonization

Twenty-nine strains of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes were tested for their ability to colonize alfalfa, radish, and broccoli sprouts and their capacity to withstand acid and oxidative stress, two stresses common to the sprouting environment. Wide variation in the ability of different strains to colonize alfalfa sprouts were confirmed, but the variations among radish and broccoli sprouts were not as large. With a few exceptions, strains that were poor colonizers of alfalfa tended to be among the poorer colonizers of radish and broccoli and vice versa. The strains also were variable in their resistance to both acid and oxidative stress. Statistical analysis revealed no correlation between acid stress and sprout colonization, but there was a positive correlation between resistance to oxidative stress and colonization of all three sprout types. Although the response to oxidative stress is important for L. monocytogenes virulence, it also may be important for life outside of a host.