Bacteria

About: Bacteria is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 23676 publications have been published within this topic receiving 715990 citations. The topic is also known as: eubacteria.

Quantitative imaging of nitrogen fixation by individual bacteria within animal cells

Abstract: Biological nitrogen fixation, the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia for biosynthesis, is exclusively performed by a few bacteria and archaea. Despite the essential importance of biological nitrogen fixation, it has been impossible to quantify the incorporation of nitrogen by individual bacteria or to map the fate of fixed nitrogen in host cells. In this study, with multi-isotope imaging mass spectrometry we directly imaged and measured nitrogen fixation by individual bacteria within eukaryotic host cells and demonstrated that fixed nitrogen is used for host metabolism. This approach introduces a powerful way to study microbes and global nutrient cycles.

Evolutionary Genomics of Lactic Acid Bacteria

Abstract: The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) might be the most numerous group of bacteria linked to humans. They are naturally associated with mucosal surfaces, particularly the gastrointestinal tract, and are also indigenous to food-related habitats, including plant (fruits, vegetables, and cereal grains), wine

Starch utilization by the human large intestinal microflora

Abstract: High levels (2-565 units/g) of amylase activity were observed in human faeces. Over 92% of amylase activity in faeces obtained from healthy persons was extracellular, whereas only about 9% of activity was associated with particulate material and washed cells. Bacterial cell-bound amylases were considerably more efficient in breaking down starch, however, than were the soluble enzymes which occurred in cell-free faecal supernatant fluids. Cell population densities of anaerobic starch-hydrolysing bacteria in the stools of ten persons ranged from 1.1 X 10(10) to 3.3 X 10(12)/g of faeces. Identification of 120 starch-hydrolysing colonies isolated from the stools of six subjects showed that the predominant amylolytic bacteria belonged to the genera Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Fusobacterium and Butyrivibrio. Mixed populations of gut bacteria rapidly fermented starch with the production of volatile fatty acids and organic acids. Lactate was observed to be a major, though transient intermediate during starch fermentation by these cultures. Approximately 60% of starch utilized was converted to volatile fatty acids, which in the human colon would be potentially available for absorption.

High diversity of cultivable heterotrophic bacteria in association with cyanobacterial water blooms.

Abstract: Cyanobacterial mass occurrences (water blooms) cause ecological, economic and health problems worldwide. Still, little is known about heterotrophic bacteria associated with cyanobacteria and the interactions between those organisms. We isolated 460 bacterial strains from more than 40 lakes and rivers (151 samples), Baltic Sea (32 samples) and treated drinking water of seven treatment plants (29 samples). The water bodies and the raw water of the treatment plants were frequently dominated by high numbers of cyanobacteria. Various growth media were used to isolate the strains. Analysis of partial 16S rRNA gene fragments (701–905 bp for 358 strains and 413–497 bp for 102 strains) classified the isolated bacteria as Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Deinococcus-Thermus. Some of these isolates represented possible new bacterial orders, families, genera or species. We isolated various potentially pathogenic bacteria, such as Aeromonas, Vibrio, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, that may cause adverse health effects in humans and animals and should be taken into consideration when assessing the risks caused by cyanobacterial blooms. Several strains also inhibited or enhanced the growth of cyanobacteria. Most of such strains had an enhancing effect on the cyanobacterial growth. Other isolates were affiliated with genera such as Sphingomonas or Flavobacterium, which include strains that are capable of degrading cyanobacterial toxins or other recalcitrant and problematic organic compounds. The isolated strains provide a large group of bacteria that could be used in assessing and controlling the harmful effects of cyanobacteria.