| 1. |
- Dealtry, Simone, et al.
(författare)
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Cultivation-Independent Screening Revealed Hot Spots of IncP-1, IncP-7 and IncP-9 Plasmid Occurrence in Different Environmental Habitats.
- 2014
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 9:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- IncP-1, IncP-7 and IncP-9 plasmids often carry genes encoding enzymes involved in the degradation of man-made and natural contaminants, thus contributing to bacterial survival in polluted environments. However, the lack of suitable molecular tools often limits the detection of these plasmids in the environment. In this study, PCR followed by Southern blot hybridization detected the presence of plasmid-specific sequences in total community (TC-) DNA or fosmid DNA from samples originating from different environments and geographic regions. A novel primer system targeting IncP-9 plasmids was developed and applied along with established primers for IncP-1 and IncP-7. Screening TC-DNA from biopurification systems (BPS) which are used on farms for the purification of pesticide-contaminated water revealed high abundances of IncP-1 plasmids belonging to different subgroups as well as IncP-7 and IncP-9. The novel IncP-9 primer-system targeting the rep gene of nine IncP-9 subgroups allowed the detection of a high diversity of IncP-9 plasmid specific sequences in environments with different sources of pollution. Thus polluted sites are "hot spots" of plasmids potentially carrying catabolic genes.
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| 2. |
- Engel, Katja, et al.
(författare)
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Meeting Report : 1st International Functional Metagenomics Workshop May 7-8, 2012, St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada
- 2013
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Ingår i: Standards in Genomic Sciences. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1944-3277. ; 8:1, s. 106-111
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This report summarizes the events of the 1st International Functional Metagenomics Workshop. The workshop was held on May 7 and 8, 2012, in St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada and was focused on building an international functional metagenomics community, exploring strategic research areas, and identifying opportunities for future collaboration and funding. The workshop was initiated by researchers at the University of Waterloo with support from the Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the University of Waterloo.
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| 3. |
- Flach, Carl-Fredrik, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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Isolation of novel IncA/C and IncN fluoroquinolone resistance plasmids from an antibiotic-polluted lake
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0305-7453 .- 1460-2091. ; 70:10, s. 2709-2717
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives Antibiotic-polluted environments may function as reservoirs for novel resistance plasmids not yet encountered in pathogens. The aims of this study were to assess the potential of resistance transfer between bacteria from such environments and Escherichia coli, and to characterize the conjugative elements involved. Methods Sediment samples from Kazipally lake and Asanikunta tank, two Indian lakes with a history of severe pollution with fluoroquinolones, were investigated. Proportions of resistant bacteria were determined by selective cultivation, while horizontal gene transfer was studied using a GFP-tagged E. coli as recipient. Retrieved transconjugants were tested for susceptibility by Etest® and captured conjugative resistance elements were characterized by WGS. Results The polluted lakes harboured considerably higher proportions of ciprofloxacin-resistant and sulfamethoxazole-resistant bacteria than did other Indian and Swedish lakes included for comparison (52% versus 2% and 60% versus 7%, respectively). Resistance plasmids were captured from Kazipally lake, but not from any of the other lakes; in the case of Asanikunta tank because of high sediment toxicity. Eight unique IncA/C and IncN resistance plasmids were identified among 11 sequenced transconjugants. Five plasmids were fully assembled, and four of these carried the quinolone resistance gene qnrVC1, which has previously only been found on chromosomes. Acquired resistance genes, in the majority of cases associated with class 1 integrons, could be linked to decreased susceptibility to several different classes of antibiotics. Conclusions Our study shows that environments heavily polluted with antibiotics contain novel multiresistance plasmids transferrable to E. coli.
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| 4. |
- Gaze, William H, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of humans on evolution and mobilization of environmental antibiotic resistome.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Emerging infectious diseases. - : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). - 1080-6059 .- 1080-6040. ; 19:7
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The clinical failure of antimicrobial drugs that were previously effective in controlling infectious disease is a tragedy of increasing magnitude that gravely affects human health. This resistance by pathogens is often the endpoint of an evolutionary process that began billions of years ago in non-disease-causing microorganisms. This environmental resistome, its mobilization, and the conditions that facilitate its entry into human pathogens are at the heart of the current public health crisis in antibiotic resistance. Understanding the origins, evolution, and mechanisms of transfer of resistance elements is vital to our ability to adequately address this public health issue.
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| 5. |
- Hjort, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Chitinase genes revealed and compared in bacterial isolates, DNA extracts and a metagenomic library from a phytopathogen-suppressive soil
- 2010
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Ingår i: FEMS Microbiology Ecology. - United Kingdom : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.. - 0168-6496 .- 1574-6941. ; 71:2, s. 197-207
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Soil that is suppressive to disease caused by fungal pathogens is an interesting source to target for novel chitinases that might be contributing towards disease suppression. In this study, we screened for chitinase genes, in a phytopathogen-suppressive soil in three ways: (1) from a metagenomic library constructed from microbial cells extracted from soil, (2) from directly extracted DNA and (3) from bacterial isolates with antifungal and chitinase activities. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of chitinase genes revealed differences in amplified chitinase genes from the metagenomic library and the directly extracted DNA, but approximately 40% of the identified chitinase terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) were found in both sources. All of the chitinase TRFs from the isolates were matched to TRFs in the directly extracted DNA and the metagenomic library. The most abundant chitinase TRF in the soil DNA and the metagenomic library corresponded to the TRF103 of the isolate Streptomyces mutomycini and/or Streptomyces clavifer. There were good matches between T-RFLP profiles of chitinase gene fragments obtained from different sources of DNA. However, there were also differences in both the chitinase and the 16S rRNA gene T-RFLP patterns depending on the source of DNA, emphasizing the lack of complete coverage of the gene diversity by any of the approaches used.
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| 6. |
- Hjort, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Community structure of actively growing bacterial populations in plant pathogen suppressive soil.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Microbial Ecology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0095-3628 .- 1432-184X. ; 53:3, s. 399-413
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The bacterial community in soil was screened by using various molecular approaches for bacterial populations that were activated upon addition of different supplements. Plasmodiophora brassicae spores, chitin, sodium acetate, and cabbage plants were added to activate specific bacterial populations as an aid in screening for novel antagonists to plant pathogens. DNA from growing bacteria was specifically extracted from the soil by bromodeoxyuridine immunocapture. The captured DNA was fingerprinted by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). The composition of the dominant bacterial community was also analyzed directly by T-RFLP and by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). After chitin addition to the soil, some bacterial populations increased dramatically and became dominant both in the total and in the actively growing community. Some of the emerging bands on DGGE gels from chitin-amended soil were sequenced and found to be similar to known chitin-degrading genera such as Oerskovia, Kitasatospora, and Streptomyces species. Some of these sequences could be matched to specific terminal restriction fragments on the T-RFLP output. After addition of Plasmodiophora spores, an increase in specific Pseudomonads could be observed with Pseudomonas-specific primers for DGGE. These results demonstrate the utility of microbiomics, or a combination of molecular approaches, for investigating the composition of complex microbial communities in soil.
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| 7. |
- Hårdeman, Fredrik
(författare)
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Exploring the metagenome of the Baltic Sea sediment
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Environmental microorganisms are fundamental to ecosystem function, acting as drivers in processes such as primary production, organic matter remineralisation, pollution remediation and global biogeochemical cycling. However, the study of the bacterial communities requires the application of advanced culture-independent methods considering that only a small fraction of the community is otherwise accessed. The goal of this thesis was to investigate the bacterial community structures and functions of Baltic Sea coastal sediments. To assess the distribution and identity of metabolically active bacteria along a vertical redox gradient, a polyphasic method was applied including: reverse transcriptase-PCR (transcription) and bromodeoxyuridine immunocapture (replication) for 16S rRNA gene analyses through both clone library sequence analysis and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). It was demonstrated that the bacterial communities were highly diverse and significantly different at different redox layers. Phylogenetic analysis identified several novel bacterial groups, some with potentially important ecological roles, notably the first genetic evidence of active anammox bacteria, demonstrating that the bacterial community of the Baltic Sea sediment includes several largely unexplored groups. A metagenomic approach was used to access the bacterial diversity. Considering that the Baltic Sea sediment contained a diverse and largely unexplored bacterial community and also represent a permanently cold environment. This community is likely to harbor bacteria with enzymes adapted to low temperatures that would have a potential biotechnological value. The capacity of functional metagenomics for bioprospecting was demonstrated though the construction of a fosmid library of the prokaryotic genomic pool and expression screening, which enabled the identification of several novel lipolytical enzymes. A novel lipase, h1Lip1 (DQ118648) was isolated, overexpressed, purified and characterized for catalytic activity, substrate specificity, apparent temperature optimum and thermo-stability, demonstrating that the enzyme was low temperature active. 3D protein structure modelling of the lipase supported the presence of an alpha/beta-hydrolase fold, a catalytic triad and a lid structure, covering the active site. Comparative structure analyses and site directed-mutagenesis further showed the importance of a region within the N-terminal and lid for substrate affinity and thermal stability. In conclusion, these targeted molecular strategies demonstrate that the Baltic Sea sediments contain a highly diverse and unique bacterial community that also represents a useful source of biotechnologically interesting molecules.
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