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Hallsworth JE. Mars' surface is not universally biocidal. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:3345-3350. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John E. Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences Queen's University Belfast 19 Chlorine Gardens Belfast BT9 7BL UK
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Yan F, Fang J, Cao J, Wei Y, Liu R, Wang L, Xie Z. Halomonas piezotolerans sp. nov., a multiple-stress-tolerant bacterium isolated from a deep-sea sediment sample of the New Britain Trench. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2020; 70:2560-2568. [PMID: 32129736 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A piezotolerant, H2O2-tolerant, heavy-metal-tolerant, slightly halophilic bacterium (strain NBT06E8T) was isolated from a deep-sea sediment sample collected from the New Britain Trench at depth of 8900 m. The strain was aerobic, motile, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, oxidase-positive and catalase-positive. Growth of the strain was observed at 4-45 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 5-11 (optimum, pH 8-9) and in 0.5-21 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3-7 %). The optimum pressure for growth was 0.1-30 MPa with tolerance up to 60 MPa. Under optimum growth conditions, the strain could tolerate 15 mM H2O2. Resuls of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain NBT06E8T is closely related to Halomonas aquamarina DSM 30161T (99.5%), Halomonas meridiana DSM 5425T (99.43%) and Halomonas axialensis Althf1T (99.35%). The digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain NBT06E8T and the three related type strains, H. aquamarina, H. meridiana and H. axialensis, were 30.5±2.4 %, 30.7±2.5% and 31.5±2.5 %, respectively. The average nucleotide identity values between strain NBT06E8T and the three related type strains were 86.26, 86.26 and 83.63 %, respectively. The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c) and C16 : 0. The predominant respiratory quinone detected was ubiquinone-9 (Q-9). Based on its phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, we conclude that strain NBT06E8T represents a novel species of the genus Halomonas, for which the name Halomonas piezotolerans sp. nov. is proposed (type strain NBT06E8T= MCCC 1K04228T=KCTC 72680T).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Yan
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China
| | - Jiasong Fang
- Department of Natural Sciences, Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, PR China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China
| | - Junwei Cao
- National Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China
| | - Yuli Wei
- National Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China
| | - Rulong Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China
| | - Li Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China
| | - Zhe Xie
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, PR China
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Cockell CS, Biller B, Bryce C, Cousins C, Direito S, Forgan D, Fox-Powell M, Harrison J, Landenmark H, Nixon S, Payler SJ, Rice K, Samuels T, Schwendner P, Stevens A, Nicholson N, Wadsworth J. The UK Centre for Astrobiology: A Virtual Astrobiology Centre. Accomplishments and Lessons Learned, 2011-2016. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:224-243. [PMID: 29377716 PMCID: PMC5820684 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2017.1713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The UK Centre for Astrobiology (UKCA) was set up in 2011 as a virtual center to contribute to astrobiology research, education, and outreach. After 5 years, we describe this center and its work in each of these areas. Its research has focused on studying life in extreme environments, the limits of life on Earth, and implications for habitability elsewhere. Among its research infrastructure projects, UKCA has assembled an underground astrobiology laboratory that has hosted a deep subsurface planetary analog program, and it has developed new flow-through systems to study extraterrestrial aqueous environments. UKCA has used this research backdrop to develop education programs in astrobiology, including a massive open online course in astrobiology that has attracted over 120,000 students, a teacher training program, and an initiative to take astrobiology into prisons. In this paper, we review these activities and others with a particular focus on providing lessons to others who may consider setting up an astrobiology center, institute, or science facility. We discuss experience in integrating astrobiology research into teaching and education activities. Key Words: Astrobiology-Centre-Education-Subsurface-Analog research. Astrobiology 18, 224-243.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles S. Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Beth Biller
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Casey Bryce
- Eberhard Karls Universitaet Tuebingen, Center for Applied Geoscience (ZAG), Geomicrobiology, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Claire Cousins
- Centre for Exoplanet Science, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Susana Direito
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Duncan Forgan
- Centre for Exoplanet Science, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Mark Fox-Powell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jesse Harrison
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Research Network “Chemistry Meets Microbiology”, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hanna Landenmark
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sophie Nixon
- Geomicrobiology Research Group, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Samuel J. Payler
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ken Rice
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Toby Samuels
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Petra Schwendner
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Adam Stevens
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Natasha Nicholson
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jennifer Wadsworth
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Raddadi N, Giacomucci L, Totaro G, Fava F. Marinobacter sp. from marine sediments produce highly stable surface-active agents for combatting marine oil spills. Microb Cell Fact 2017; 16:186. [PMID: 29096660 PMCID: PMC5668961 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-017-0797-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The application of chemical dispersants as a response to marine oil spills is raising concerns related to their potential toxicity also towards microbes involved in oil biodegradation. Hence, oil spills occurring under marine environments necessitate the application of biodispersants that are highly active, stable and effective under marine environment context. Biosurfactants from marine bacteria could be good candidates for the development of biodispersant formulations effective in marine environment. This study aimed at establishing a collection of marine bacteria able to produce surface-active compounds and evaluating the activity and stability of the produced compounds under conditions mimicking those found under marine environment context. Results A total of 43 different isolates were obtained from harbor sediments. Twenty-six of them produced mainly bioemulsifiers when glucose was used as carbon source and 16 were biosurfactant/bioemulsifiers producers after growth in the presence of soybean oil. Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene classified most isolates into the genus Marinobacter. The produced emulsions were shown to be stable up to 30 months monitoring period, in the presence of 300 g/l NaCl, at 4 °C and after high temperature treatment (120 °C for 20 min). The partially purified compounds obtained after growth on soybean oil-based media exhibited low toxicity towards V. fischeri and high capability to disperse crude oil on synthetic marine water. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, stability characterization of bioemulsifiers/biosurfactants from the non-pathogenic marine bacterium Marinobacter has not been previously reported. The produced compounds were shown to have potential for different applications including the environmental sector. Indeed, their high stability in the presence of high salt concentration and low temperature, conditions characterizing the marine environment, the capability to disperse crude oil and the low ecotoxicity makes them interesting for the development of biodispersants to be used in combatting marine oil spills. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12934-017-0797-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noura Raddadi
- Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Lucia Giacomucci
- Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Grazia Totaro
- Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Fava
- Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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DNA Backbone Sulfur-Modification Expands Microbial Growth Range under Multiple Stresses by its anti-oxidation function. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3516. [PMID: 28615635 PMCID: PMC5471199 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02445-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA phosphorothioate (PT) modification is a sulfur modification on the backbone of DNA introduced by the proteins DndA-E. It has been detected within many bacteria isolates and metagenomic datasets, including human pathogens, and is considered to be widely distributed in nature. However, little is known about the physiological function of this modification, and thus its evolutionary significance and application potential remains largely a mystery. In this study, we focused on the advantages of DNA PT modification to bacterial cells coping with environmental stresses. We show that the mesophile Escherichia coli and the extremophile Shewanella piezotolerans both expanded their growth ranges following exposure to extreme temperature, salinity, pH, pressure, UV, X-ray and heavy metals as a result of DNA phophorothioation. The phophorothioated DNA reacted to both H2O2 and hydroxyl radicals in vivo, and protected genomic DNA as well as sensitive enzymes from intracellular oxidative damage. We further demonstrate that this process has evolved separate from its associated role in DNA restriction and modification. These findings provide a physiological role for a covalent modification widespread in nature and suggest possible applications in biotechnology and biomedicine.
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Stevenson A, Hamill PG, Medina Á, Kminek G, Rummel JD, Dijksterhuis J, Timson DJ, Magan N, Leong SLL, Hallsworth JE. Glycerol enhances fungal germination at the water-activity limit for life. Environ Microbiol 2017; 19:947-967. [PMID: 27631633 PMCID: PMC5363249 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Revised: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
For the most-extreme fungal xerophiles, metabolic activity and cell division typically halts between 0.700 and 0.640 water activity (approximately 70.0-64.0% relative humidity). Here, we investigate whether glycerol can enhance xerophile germination under acute water-activity regimes, using an experimental system which represents the biophysical limit of Earth's biosphere. Spores from a variety of species, including Aspergillus penicillioides, Eurotium halophilicum, Xerochrysium xerophilum (formerly Chrysosporium xerophilum) and Xeromyces bisporus, were produced by cultures growing on media supplemented with glycerol (and contained up to 189 mg glycerol g dry spores-1 ). The ability of these spores to germinate, and the kinetics of germination, were then determined on a range of media designed to recreate stresses experienced in microbial habitats or anthropogenic systems (with water-activities from 0.765 to 0.575). For A. penicillioides, Eurotium amstelodami, E. halophilicum, X. xerophilum and X. bisporus, germination occurred at lower water-activities than previously recorded (0.640, 0.685, 0.651, 0.664 and 0.637 respectively). In addition, the kinetics of germination at low water-activities were substantially faster than those reported previously. Extrapolations indicated theoretical water-activity minima below these values; as low as 0.570 for A. penicillioides and X. bisporus. Glycerol is present at high concentrations (up to molar levels) in many types of microbial habitat. We discuss the likely role of glycerol in expanding the water-activity limit for microbial cell function in relation to temporal constraints and location of the microbial cell or habitat. The findings reported here have also critical implications for understanding the extremes of Earth's biosphere; for understanding the potency of disease-causing microorganisms; and in biotechnologies that operate at the limits of microbial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Stevenson
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Philip G Hamill
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Ángel Medina
- Applied Mycology Group, Cranfield Soil and AgriFood Institute, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedford, MK43 OAL, UK
| | - Gerhard Kminek
- Independent Safety Office, European Space Agency, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | - John D Rummel
- SETI Institute, Mountain View, California, 94043, USA
| | - Jan Dijksterhuis
- CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Uppsalalaan 8, Utrecht, CT, 3584, The Netherlands
| | - David J Timson
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Huxley Building, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, UK
| | - Naresh Magan
- Applied Mycology Group, Cranfield Soil and AgriFood Institute, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedford, MK43 OAL, UK
| | - Su-Lin L Leong
- Department of Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7025, Uppsala, 75007, Sweden
| | - John E Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
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Harrison JP, Angel R, Cockell CS. Astrobiology as a framework for investigating antibiotic susceptibility: a study of Halomonas hydrothermalis. J R Soc Interface 2017; 14:20160942. [PMID: 28123098 PMCID: PMC5310740 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2016.0942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Physical and chemical boundaries for microbial multiplication on Earth are strongly influenced by interactions between environmental extremes. However, little is known about how interactions between multiple stress parameters affect the sensitivity of microorganisms to antibiotics. Here, we assessed how 12 distinct permutations of salinity, availability of an essential nutrient (iron) and atmospheric composition (aerobic or microaerobic) affect the susceptibility of a polyextremotolerant bacterium, Halomonas hydrothermalis, to ampicillin, kanamycin and ofloxacin. While salinity had a significant impact on sensitivity to all three antibiotics (as shown by turbidimetric analyses), the nature of this impact was modified by iron availability and the ambient gas composition, with differing effects observed for each compound. These two parameters were found to be of particular importance when considered in combination and, in the case of ampicillin, had a stronger combined influence on antibiotic tolerance than salinity. Our data show how investigating microbial responses to multiple extremes, which are more representative of natural habitats than single extremes, can improve our understanding of the effects of antimicrobial compounds and suggest how studies of habitability, motivated by the desire to map the limits of life, can be used to systematically assess the effectiveness of antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse P Harrison
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Research Network 'Chemistry Meets Microbiology', University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Roey Angel
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Research Network 'Chemistry Meets Microbiology', University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
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Kleist S, Ulbrich M, Bill N, Schmidt-Hohagen K, Geffers R, Schomburg D. Dealing with salinity extremes and nitrogen limitation - an unexpected strategy of the marine bacteriumDinoroseobacter shibae. Environ Microbiol 2016; 19:894-908. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kleist
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig; Langer Kamp 19 b D-38106 Braunschweig Germany
| | - Marcus Ulbrich
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig; Langer Kamp 19 b D-38106 Braunschweig Germany
| | - Nelli Bill
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig; Langer Kamp 19 b D-38106 Braunschweig Germany
| | - Kerstin Schmidt-Hohagen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig; Langer Kamp 19 b D-38106 Braunschweig Germany
| | - Robert Geffers
- Department of Molecular Bacteriology; Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI); D-38124 Braunschweig
| | - Dietmar Schomburg
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig; Langer Kamp 19 b D-38106 Braunschweig Germany
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Harrison JP, Dobinson L, Freeman K, McKenzie R, Wyllie D, Nixon SL, Cockell CS. Aerobically respiring prokaryotic strains exhibit a broader temperature-pH-salinity space for cell division than anaerobically respiring and fermentative strains. J R Soc Interface 2016; 12:0658. [PMID: 26354829 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2015.0658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological processes on the Earth operate within a parameter space that is constrained by physical and chemical extremes. Aerobic respiration can result in adenosine triphosphate yields up to over an order of magnitude higher than those attained anaerobically and, under certain conditions, may enable microbial multiplication over a broader range of extremes than other modes of catabolism. We employed growth data published for 241 prokaryotic strains to compare temperature, pH and salinity values for cell division between aerobically and anaerobically metabolizing taxa. Isolates employing oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor exhibited a considerably more extensive three-dimensional phase space for cell division (90% of the total volume) than taxa using other inorganic substrates or organic compounds as the electron acceptor (15% and 28% of the total volume, respectively), with all groups differing in their growth characteristics. Understanding the mechanistic basis of these differences will require integration of research into microbial ecology, physiology and energetics, with a focus on global-scale processes. Critical knowledge gaps include the combined impacts of diverse stress parameters on Gibbs energy yields and rates of microbial activity, interactions between cellular energetics and adaptations to extremes, and relating laboratory-based data to in situ limits for cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse P Harrison
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
| | - Luke Dobinson
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
| | - Kenneth Freeman
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
| | - Ross McKenzie
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
| | - Dale Wyllie
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
| | - Sophie L Nixon
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
| | - Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
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11
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Cray JA, Connor MC, Stevenson A, Houghton JDR, Rangel DEN, Cooke LR, Hallsworth JE. Biocontrol agents promote growth of potato pathogens, depending on environmental conditions. Microb Biotechnol 2016; 9:330-54. [PMID: 26880001 PMCID: PMC4835571 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2015] [Revised: 12/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a pressing need to understand and optimize biological control so as to avoid over‐reliance on the synthetic chemical pesticides that can damage environmental and human health. This study focused on interactions between a novel biocontrol‐strain, Bacillus sp. JC12GB43, and potato‐pathogenic Phytophthora and Fusarium species. In assays carried out in vitro and on the potato tuber, the bacterium was capable of near‐complete inhibition of pathogens. This Bacillus was sufficiently xerotolerant (water activity limit for growth = 0.928) to out‐perform Phytophthora infestans (~0.960) and challenge Fusarium coeruleum (~0.847) and Fusarium sambucinum (~0.860) towards the lower limits of their growth windows. Under some conditions, however, strain JC12GB43 stimulated proliferation of the pathogens: for instance, Fusarium coeruleum growth‐rate was increased under chaotropic conditions in vitro (132 mM urea) by >100% and on tubers (2‐M glycerol) by up to 570%. Culture‐based assays involving macromolecule‐stabilizing (kosmotropic) compatible solutes provided proof‐of‐principle that the Bacillus may provide kosmotropic metabolites to the plant pathogen under conditions that destabilize macromolecular systems of the fungal cell. Whilst unprecedented, this finding is consistent with earlier reports that fungi can utilize metabolites derived from bacterial cells. Unless the antimicrobial activities of candidate biocontrol strains are assayed over a full range of field‐relevant parameters, biocontrol agents may promote plant pathogen infections and thereby reduce crop yields. These findings indicate that biocontrol activity, therefore, ought to be regarded as a mode‐of‐behaviour (dependent on prevailing conditions) rather than an inherent property of a bacterial strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Cray
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Mairéad C Connor
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Andrew Stevenson
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Jonathan D R Houghton
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Drauzio E N Rangel
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-050, Brazil
| | - Louise R Cooke
- Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5PX, Northern Ireland
| | - John E Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
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12
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Bhaganna P, Bielecka A, Molinari G, Hallsworth JE. Protective role of glycerol against benzene stress: insights from the Pseudomonas putida proteome. Curr Genet 2015; 62:419-29. [PMID: 26612269 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-015-0539-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Revised: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Chemical activities of hydrophobic substances can determine the windows of environmental conditions over which microbial systems function and the metabolic inhibition of microorganisms by benzene and other hydrophobes can, paradoxically, be reduced by compounds that protect against cellular water stress (Bhaganna et al. in Microb Biotechnol 3:701-716, 2010; Cray et al. in Curr Opin Biotechnol 33:228-259, 2015a). We hypothesized that this protective effect operates at the macromolecule structure-function level and is facilitated, in part at least, by genome-mediated adaptations. Based on proteome profiling of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida, we present evidence that (1) benzene induces a chaotrope-stress response, whereas (2) cells cultured in media supplemented with benzene plus glycerol were protected against chaotrope stress. Chaotrope-stress response proteins, such as those involved in lipid and compatible-solute metabolism and removal of reactive oxygen species, were increased by up to 15-fold in benzene-stressed cells relative to those of control cultures (no benzene added). By contrast, cells grown in the presence of benzene + glycerol, even though the latter grew more slowly, exhibited only a weak chaotrope-stress response. These findings provide evidence to support the hypothesis that hydrophobic substances induce a chaotropicity-mediated water stress, that cells respond via genome-mediated adaptations, and that glycerol protects the cell's macromolecular systems. We discuss the possibility of using compatible solutes to mitigate hydrocarbon-induced stresses in lignocellulosic biofuel fermentations and for industrial and environmental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashanth Bhaganna
- MBC, School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Agata Bielecka
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
- Molecular Biology Department, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Gabriella Molinari
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - John E Hallsworth
- MBC, School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
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13
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Santos R, de Carvalho CCCR, Stevenson A, Grant IR, Hallsworth JE. Extraordinary solute-stress tolerance contributes to the environmental tenacity of mycobacteria. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2015; 7:746-764. [PMID: 26059202 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Mycobacteria are associated with a number of well-characterized diseases, yet we know little about their stress biology in natural ecosystems. This study focuses on the isolation and characterization of strains from Yellowstone National Park (YNP) and Glacier National Park (GNP; USA), the majority of those identified were Mycobacterium parascrofulaceum, Mycobacterium avium (YNP) or Mycobacterium gordonae (GNP). Generally, their windows for growth spanned a temperature range of > 60 °C; selected isolates grew at super-saturated concentrations of hydrophobic stressors and at levels of osmotic stress and chaotropic activity (up to 13.4 kJ kg(-1) ) similar to, or exceeding, those for the xerophilic fungus Aspergillus wentii and solvent-tolerant bacterium Pseudomonas putida. For example, mycobacteria grew down to 0.800 water activity indicating that they are, with the sole exception of halophiles, more xerotolerant than other bacteria (or any Archaea). Furthermore, the fatty-acid composition of Mycobacterium cells grown over a range of salt concentrations changed less than that of other bacteria, indicating a high level of resilience, regardless of the stress load. Cells of M. parascrofulaceum, M. smegmatis and M. avium resisted the acute, potentially lethal challenges from extremes of pH (< 1; > 13), and saturated MgCl2 solutions (5 M; 212 kJ kg(-1) chaotropicity). Collectively, these findings challenge the paradigm that bacteria have solute tolerances inferior to those of eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Santos
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
- Instituto Superior Técnico, Laboratório de Análises, Lisbon, 1049-001, Portugal
| | - Carla C C R de Carvalho
- iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, Lisbon, 1049-001, Portugal
| | - Andrew Stevenson
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Irene R Grant
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - John E Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
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14
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Concomitant osmotic and chaotropicity-induced stresses in Aspergillus wentii: compatible solutes determine the biotic window. Curr Genet 2015; 61:457-77. [DOI: 10.1007/s00294-015-0496-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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15
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Stevenson A, Cray JA, Williams JP, Santos R, Sahay R, Neuenkirchen N, McClure CD, Grant IR, Houghton JDR, Quinn JP, Timson DJ, Patil SV, Singhal RS, Antón J, Dijksterhuis J, Hocking AD, Lievens B, Rangel DEN, Voytek MA, Gunde-Cimerman N, Oren A, Timmis KN, McGenity TJ, Hallsworth JE. Is there a common water-activity limit for the three domains of life? THE ISME JOURNAL 2015; 9:1333-51. [PMID: 25500507 PMCID: PMC4438321 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2014.219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2014] [Revised: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Archaea and Bacteria constitute a majority of life systems on Earth but have long been considered inferior to Eukarya in terms of solute tolerance. Whereas the most halophilic prokaryotes are known for an ability to multiply at saturated NaCl (water activity (a(w)) 0.755) some xerophilic fungi can germinate, usually at high-sugar concentrations, at values as low as 0.650-0.605 a(w). Here, we present evidence that halophilic prokayotes can grow down to water activities of <0.755 for Halanaerobium lacusrosei (0.748), Halobacterium strain 004.1 (0.728), Halobacterium sp. NRC-1 and Halococcus morrhuae (0.717), Haloquadratum walsbyi (0.709), Halococcus salifodinae (0.693), Halobacterium noricense (0.687), Natrinema pallidum (0.681) and haloarchaeal strains GN-2 and GN-5 (0.635 a(w)). Furthermore, extrapolation of growth curves (prone to giving conservative estimates) indicated theoretical minima down to 0.611 aw for extreme, obligately halophilic Archaea and Bacteria. These were compared with minima for the most solute-tolerant Bacteria in high-sugar (or other non-saline) media (Mycobacterium spp., Tetragenococcus halophilus, Saccharibacter floricola, Staphylococcus aureus and so on) and eukaryotic microbes in saline (Wallemia spp., Basipetospora halophila, Dunaliella spp. and so on) and high-sugar substrates (for example, Xeromyces bisporus, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, Aspergillus and Eurotium spp.). We also manipulated the balance of chaotropic and kosmotropic stressors for the extreme, xerophilic fungi Aspergillus penicilloides and X. bisporus and, via this approach, their established water-activity limits for mycelial growth (∼0.65) were reduced to 0.640. Furthermore, extrapolations indicated theoretical limits of 0.632 and 0.636 a(w) for A. penicilloides and X. bisporus, respectively. Collectively, these findings suggest that there is a common water-activity limit that is determined by physicochemical constraints for the three domains of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Stevenson
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Jonathan A Cray
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Jim P Williams
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Ricardo Santos
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
- Laboratório de Análises, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Richa Sahay
- University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences, Colchester, Essex, UK
| | - Nils Neuenkirchen
- University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences, Colchester, Essex, UK
| | - Colin D McClure
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Irene R Grant
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Jonathan DR Houghton
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - John P Quinn
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - David J Timson
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Satish V Patil
- School of Life Sciences, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rekha S Singhal
- Department of Food Engineering and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India
| | - Josefa Antón
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | | | - Ailsa D Hocking
- CSIRO Food and Nutrition, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bart Lievens
- Microbial Ecology and Biorational Control, Scientia Terrae Research Institute, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - Drauzio E N Rangel
- Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Nina Gunde-Cimerman
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Aharon Oren
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Kenneth N Timmis
- University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences, Colchester, Essex, UK
- Institute of Microbiology, Technical University Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Terry J McGenity
- University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences, Colchester, Essex, UK
| | - John E Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
- University of Essex, School of Biological Sciences, Colchester, Essex, UK
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16
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Cray JA, Stevenson A, Ball P, Bankar SB, Eleutherio ECA, Ezeji TC, Singhal RS, Thevelein JM, Timson DJ, Hallsworth JE. Chaotropicity: a key factor in product tolerance of biofuel-producing microorganisms. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2015; 33:228-59. [PMID: 25841213 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Fermentation products can chaotropically disorder macromolecular systems and induce oxidative stress, thus inhibiting biofuel production. Recently, the chaotropic activities of ethanol, butanol and vanillin have been quantified (5.93, 37.4, 174kJ kg(-1)m(-1) respectively). Use of low temperatures and/or stabilizing (kosmotropic) substances, and other approaches, can reduce, neutralize or circumvent product-chaotropicity. However, there may be limits to the alcohol concentrations that cells can tolerate; e.g. for ethanol tolerance in the most robust Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, these are close to both the solubility limit (<25%, w/v ethanol) and the water-activity limit of the most xerotolerant strains (0.880). Nevertheless, knowledge-based strategies to mitigate or neutralize chaotropicity could lead to major improvements in rates of product formation and yields, and also therefore in the economics of biofuel production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Cray
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Andrew Stevenson
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Philip Ball
- 18 Hillcourt Road, East Dulwich, London SE22 0PE, UK
| | - Sandip B Bankar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune-Satara Road, Pune 411043, India
| | - Elis C A Eleutherio
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Quimica, Programa de Pós-graduação Bioquimica, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Thaddeus C Ezeji
- Department of Animal Sciences and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), The Ohio State University, 305 Gerlaugh Hall, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Rekha S Singhal
- Department of Food Engineering and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, N.P. Marg, Matunga, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400019, India
| | - Johan M Thevelein
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Botany and Microbiology, KU Leuven and Department of Molecular Microbiology, VIB, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, Flanders, Leuven-Heverlee B-3001, Belgium
| | - David J Timson
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - John E Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, MBC, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
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17
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Stress tolerance and virulence of insect-pathogenic fungi are determined by environmental conditions during conidial formation. Curr Genet 2015; 61:383-404. [PMID: 25791499 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-015-0477-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The virulence to insects and tolerance to heat and UV-B radiation of conidia of entomopathogenic fungi are greatly influenced by physical, chemical, and nutritional conditions during mycelial growth. This is evidenced, for example, by the stress phenotypes of Metarhizium robertsii produced on various substrates. Conidia from minimal medium (Czapek's medium without sucrose), complex medium, and insect (Lepidoptera and Coleoptera) cadavers had high, moderate, and poor tolerance to UV-B radiation, respectively. Furthermore, conidia from minimal medium germinated faster and had increased heat tolerance and were more virulent to insects than those from complex medium. Low water-activity or alkaline culture conditions also resulted in production of conidia with high tolerance to heat or UV-B radiation. Conidia produced on complex media exhibited lower stress tolerance, whereas those from complex media supplemented with NaCl or KCl (to reduce water activity) were more tolerant to heat and UV-B than those from the unmodified complex medium. Osmotic and nutritive stresses resulted in production of conidia with a robust stress phenotype, but also were associated with low conidial yield. Physical conditions such as growth under illumination, hypoxic conditions, and heat shock before conidial production also induced both higher UV-B and heat tolerance; but conidial production was not decreased. In conclusion, physical and chemical parameters, as well as nutrition source, can induce great variability in conidial tolerance to stress for entomopathogenic fungi. Implications are discussed in relation to the ecology of entomopathogenic fungi in the field, and to their use for biological control. This review will cover recent technologies on improving stress tolerance of entomopathogenic fungi for biological control of insects.
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