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Identification of grass-associated and toluene-degrading diazotrophs, Azoarcus spp., by analyses of partial 16S ribosomal DNA sequences.

ABSTRACT: The genus Azoarcus includes nitrogen-fixing, grass-associated strains as well as denitrying toluene degraders. In order to identify and group members of the genus Azoarcus, phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of 16S rRNA genes (16S rDNAs) is proposed. 16S rRNA-targeted PCR using specific primers to exclude amplification in the majority of other members of the beta subclass of the class Proteobacteria was combined with direct sequencing of the PCR products. Tree inference from comparisons of 446-bp rDNA fragments yielded similar results for the three known Azoarcus spp. sequences and for analysis of the complete 16S rDNA sequence. These three species formed a phylogenetically coherent group with representatives of two other Azoarcus species which were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing in this study. This group was related to Rhodocyclus purpureus and Thauera selenatis. New isolates and also sequences of so far uncultured bacteria from roots of Kallar grass were assigned to the genus Azoarcus as well. Also, strains degrading monoaromatic hydrocarbons anaerobically in the presence of nitrate clustered within this genus, albeit not with grass-associated isolates. All representative members of the five species harboring rhizospheric bacteria were able to form N2O from nitrate and showed anaerobic growth on malic acid with nitrate but not on toluene. In order to visualize different Azoarcus spp. by whole-cell in situ hybridizations, we generated 16S rRNA-targeted, fluorescent probes by in vitro transcription directly from PCR products which spanned the variable region V2. Hybridization was species specific for Azoarcus communis and Azoarcus indigens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

SUBMITTER: Hurek T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC167497 | biostudies-other | 1995 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Identification of grass-associated and toluene-degrading diazotrophs, Azoarcus spp., by analyses of partial 16S ribosomal DNA sequences.

Hurek T T Reinhold-Hurek B B

Applied and environmental microbiology 19950601 6

The genus Azoarcus includes nitrogen-fixing, grass-associated strains as well as denitrying toluene degraders. In order to identify and group members of the genus Azoarcus, phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of 16S rRNA genes (16S rDNAs) is proposed. 16S rRNA-targeted PCR using specific primers to exclude amplification in the majority of other members of the beta subclass of the class Proteobacteria was combined with direct sequencing of the PCR products. Tree inference from compar ...[more]

PMID: 7793946

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Project description:BackgroundThe taxonomic distinctiveness of Ascaris lumbricoides and A. suum, two of the world's most significant nematodes, still represents a much-debated scientific issue. Previous studies have described two different scenarios in transmission patterns, explained by two hypotheses: (1) separated host-specific transmission cycles in highly endemic regions, (2) a single pool of infection shared by humans and pigs in non-endemic regions. Recently, A. suum has been suggested as an important cause of human ascariasis in endemic areas such as China, where cross-infections and hybridization have also been reported. The main aims of the present study were to investigate the molecular epidemiology of human and pig Ascaris from non-endemic regions and, with reference to existing data, to infer the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships among the samples.Methodology151 Ascaris worms from pigs and humans were characterized using PCR-RFLP on nuclear ITS rDNA. Representative geographical sub-samples were also analysed by sequencing a portion of the mitochondrial cox1 gene, to infer the extent of variability at population level. Sequence data were compared to GenBank sequences from endemic and non-endemic regions.Principal findingsNo fixed differences between human and pig Ascaris were evident, with the exception of the Slovak population, which displays significant genetic differentiation. The RFLP analysis confirmed pig as a source of human infection in non-endemic regions and as a corridor for the promulgation of hybrid genotypes. Epidemiology and host-affiliation seem not to be relevant in shaping molecular variance. Phylogenetic and phylogeographical analyses described a complex scenario, involving multiple hosts, sporadic contact between forms and an ancestral taxon referable to A. suum.Conclusions/significanceThese results suggest the existence of homogenizing gene flow between the two taxa, which appear to be variants of a single polytypic species. This conclusion has implications on the systematics, transmission and control programs relating to ascariasis.

Project description:Two consortia (Consortium A and Consortium B) that can use 1,4-dioxane (a groundwater contaminant of emerging concern) as the sole carbon source were enriched from Rice University (Houston, TX, USA) campus soil. Phylogenetic analysis by 16S rRNA sequencing revealed the dominant genus in both of the consortia is Mycobacterium (56% in Consortium A and 49% in Consortium B). The predominance of Mycobacterium spp, in these consortia support the notion that this is an important and commonly encountered genus of dioxane degraders. Among other genera present that make at least 2% of these consortia, only Afipia encompasses a strain (i.e., Afipia sp. D1) that was reported to degrade dioxane as sole carbon and energy source. A nested PCR analysis using two degenerate primers to target the hydroxylase alpha subunit of groups 3 to 6 SDIMOs was performed to gain insights into which enzymes were responsible for dioxane degradation by these consortia. The purified products obtained from the second PCR run were sequenced and compared to genes databases (NCBI) encompassing all of the currently reported SDIMOs. The dominant SDIMO genes in Consortium A corresponded to a group-6 putative propane monooxygenase-like SDIMO (98.8%); while in Consortium B, SDIMO genes from both groups 5 (47.3%) and 6 (51.9%) were observed. In both consortia, the relative abundance of thmA/dxmA gene was negligible (0.03%), which is consistent with the negative amplification of these genes as verified in qPCR. Overall, the high relative abundance of group-6 putative propane monooxygenases in our two consortia suggests the novel finding that group 6-SDIMOs could also play an important role in dioxane degradation. This underscores the need for further research on genes and enzymes involved in dioxane biodegradation to develop novel biomarkers that can be useful for forensic analysis and performance assessment of bioremediation and natural attenuation at dioxane-impacted sites. DNA was extracted from bacteria biomass harvested in exponential growth phase, when half or more of the added dioxane (100 mg/L) was consumed. Total DNA extractions were performed using the UltraClean® Microbial DNA Isolation Kit (MO BIO, Carlsbad, CA, USA) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. The V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR using the forward 515F and reverse 806R primers. Sequencing was performed at MR DNA (www.mrdnalab.com, Shallowater, TX, USA) by Illumina MiSeq paired-end sequencing (approximately 2×300 bp as the read length). Sequence data were processed using MR DNA analysis pipeline. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were defined by clustering at 3% divergence (97% similarity). Final OTUs were taxonomically classified using BLASTn against the RDPII (http://rdp.cme.msu.edu) and NCBI (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) databases.Previously designed degenerate primers NVC57, NVC58, NVC65 and NVC66 to target conserved regions in the soluble di-iron monooxygenases (SDIMO) alpha subunit gene (groups 3 to 6) were used to examine the presence and diversity of SDIMO genes in these two consortia. A nested PCR strategy was used to increase the PCR product yield. In the first run, the PCR mixture contained 1 µL of NVC65 and NVC58 primer mixture (10 µM), 20 ng of the extracted genomic DNA, 12.5 µL of KAPA HiFi HotStart ReadyMix (2X) (KAPA Biosystems, Wilmington, MA, USA), and nuclease-free water to yield a total volume of 25 µL. PCR was performed in a Bio-Rad Thermal Cycler (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA) with the following temperature profile: initial denaturation (94°C, 5 min), then 29 amplification cycles (94°C for 30 s, 55°C for 30 s, 72°C for 1 min per kb) and a final extension (72°C for 5 min). The length of the PCR products in the first run was checked by 1% agarose gel and DNA bands of the correct size (1100 bp) were excised and purified. 20 ng of the purified PCR product was used as the DNA template in the second run, with the second set of primers (NVC57 and NVC66). The purified product (420 bp) from the second PCR was sent to MR DNA (www.mrdnalab.com, Shallowater, TX, USA) for Illumina MiSeq paired-end sequencing (approximately 2×300 bp as the read length). Sequence data were processed using MR DNA analysis pipeline. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were defined by clustering at 3% divergence (97% similarity). A database including all of the currently reported SDIMO genes on NCBI was created and used to taxonomically classify the final OTUs.

Dataset Information

Identification of grass-associated and toluene-degrading diazotrophs, Azoarcus spp., by analyses of partial 16S ribosomal DNA sequences.

Publications

Identification of grass-associated and toluene-degrading diazotrophs, Azoarcus spp., by analyses of partial 16S ribosomal DNA sequences.

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