Evaluation of the Staphylococcus aureus class C nonspecific acid phosphatase (SapS) as a reporter for gene expression and protein secretion in gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria

Effect of size continuum from nanoplastics to microplastics on marine mussel Mytilus edulis: Comparison in vitro/in vivo exposure scenarios

For several decades, plastic has been a global threat in terms of pollution. Plastic polymers, when introduce in the aquatic environment, are exposed to fragmentation processes into microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) which could potentially interact with living organisms. The objective of this work was to study the effects of plastic particles representative of those found in the environment, on the marine mussels Mytilus edulis, under two exposure scenarios: in vivo and in vitro. Whole mussels or cultured hemocytes were exposed for 24 h to NPs and MPs generated from macro-sized plastics collected in the field, but also to reference NPs, at concentrations found in the environment: 0.08, 10 μg and 100 μg·L^-1. Results showed that immune response was only activated when mussels were exposed in vivo. However, cytotoxicity (hemocyte mortality) and genotoxicity (DNA damage) parameters were induced after both types of exposure, but in a dose-dependent manner after in vitro hemocyte exposure to all tested plastic conditions. These results indicate that in vitro approaches could be considered as potential predictors of in vivo exposures.

Silicon-Solubilizing Media and Its Implication for Characterization of Bacteria to Mitigate Biotic Stress

Silicon (Si), the second most abundant element on earth, remains unavailable for plants' uptake due to its poor solubility. Microbial interventions to convert it in soluble forms are well documented. However, studies on discrimination of Si and P solubilizing microbes due to common estimation method and sharing of solubilization mechanism are still obscure. A defined differential media, i.e. silicon-solubilizing media (NBRISSM) is developed to screen Si solubilizers. NBRISN13 (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens), a Si solubilizer, exhibiting antagonistic property against Rhizoctonia solani, was further validated for disease resistance. The key finding of the work is that NBRISSM is a novel differential media for screening Si solubilizers, distinct from P solubilizers. Dominance of Pseudomonas and Bacillus spp. for the function of Si solubilization was observed during diversity analysis of Si solubilizers isolated from different rhizospheres. Sphingobacterium sp., a different strain has been identified for silicon solubilization other than Pseudomonas and Bacillus sp. Role of acidic phosphatase during Si solubilization has been firstly reported in our study in addition to other pH dependent phenomenon. Study also showed the combinatorial effect of feldspar and NBRISN13 on elicited immune response through (i) increased Si uptake, (ii) reduced disease severity, (iii) modulation of cell wall degrading and antioxidative enzyme activities, and (iv) induced defense responsive gene expression.

Characterization of a novel thermostable esterase from Thermus scotoductus SA-01: evidence of a new family of lipolytic esterases

An esterase, designated EstTs1, was identified and characterized from a genomic library of Thermus scotoductus SA-01 (ATCC 700910). The library was screened in Escherichia coli for lipolytic activity on tributyrin agar plates. A 1.7-kb DNA fragment from a lipolytic positive clone was sequenced and two open reading frames (ORFs) were identified. A 774-bp ORF, designated EstTs1 with an estimated molecular mass of 28.6 kDa, and a 693-bp ORF, designated EstTs2 with an estimated molecular mass of 25.6 kDa, were identified. These two ORFs appear to form part of an operon. Sequence analysis showed that both proteins contained the G-X-S-X-G signature sequence motif present in most esterases and lipases. The deduced amino sequence of EstTs1 was found to display significant sequence identity with putative hydrolase proteins from both Thermus aquaticus Y51MC23 and Thermus thermophilus HB27. Similarly, EstTs2, also displayed significant homology to a second putative hydrolase protein present in the same two organisms. The cloning and characterization of these two ORFs from T. aquaticus Y51MC23 and T. thermophilus strain HB27 encoding putative hydrolase genes have not been reported. E. coli cells harbouring EstTs1 on a multicopy vector produced a clearing zone on tributyrin agar plates, whereas no enzymatic activity was observed for E. coli harbouring EstTs2 on a multicopy vector. EstTs1 displayed optimum activity at pH 7 and 80 degrees C with a half life of 48 h at 70 degrees C.