Enzymes of microbial origin are of immense importance for organic material decomposition leading to bioremediation of organic waste, bioenergy generation, large-scale industrial bioprocesses, etc. The market demand for microbial cellulase enzyme is growing more rapidly which ultimately becomes the driving force towards research on this biocatalyst, widely used in various industrial activities. The use of novel cellulase genes obtained from various thermophiles through metagenomics and genetic engineering as well as following metabolic engineering pathways would be able to enhance the production of thermophilic cellulase at industrial scale. The present review is mainly focused on thermophilic cellulolytic bacteria, discoveries on cellulase gene, genetically modified cellulase, metabolic engineering, and their various industrial applications. A lot of lacunae are yet to overcome for thermophiles such as metagenome analysis, metabolic pathway modification study, search of heterologous hosts in gene expression system, and improved recombinant strain for better cellulase yield as well as value-added product formation.

Many microorganisms from various sources may be present in ejaculates of bulls. This study identified and isolated bacteria from bull sperm samples in a commercial stud and evaluated their resistance to antibiotics. The number of colony‐forming units was determined in semen samples collected at distinct steps during freezing and thawing. The minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration were determined for four antibiotics commonly used in commercial studs. A total of 135 microorganisms from 25 genera were isolated. After a sensitivity test, all evaluated microorganisms (n = 55) were resistant to penicillin and most of them were resistant to tylosin and lincomycin (n = 54). Resistance to all tested antibiotics was observed in 22% of all isolates, whereas only 3.9% of the isolates were inhibited by the tested antibiotics at the concentrations recommended by the international legislation. As the isolated microorganisms presented high resistance to frequently used antibiotics, sensitivity tests should be periodically conducted in commercial bull semen studs to prevent the use of contaminated semen in artificial insemination.

International audience | Background: Ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TTBP) are a major constraint to livestock production in Pakistan; despite a high prevalence of TTBPs, knowledge on the capacity of Pakistani ticks to carry pathogens and endosymbionts is limited. Furthermore, mixed infections with multiple microorganisms further complicate and limit the detection potential of traditional diagnostic methods. The present study investigated the tick-borne microorganisms in bovine ticks in Pakistan, employing a high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR based technique. Methods: Ticks were collected from clinically healthy cattle (n = 116) and water buffaloes (n = 88) from 30 villages across six districts located in five agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Pakistan from September to November 2017. The microfluidic real-time PCR was used to test the genomic DNA of individual ticks for the presence of 27 bacterial and eight parasitic microorganisms. Phylogenetic methods were used to assess the genetic relationship of DNA sequences determined herein. Results: PCR detected DNA of at least one microorganism in each of 221 ticks tested (94.4%, 221/234). DNA-based detection inferred that single pathogens/endosymbionts were the most common (43.4%, 96/221) followed by double (38.9%, 86/221), triple (14.5%, 32/221), quadruple (2.3%, 5/221) and quintuple (0.9%, 2/221) mixed infections. Piroplasms (Babesia/Theileria spp.) were the most prevalent (31.6%, 74/234), followed by Ehrlichia spp. (20%, 47/234) and Anaplasma marginale (7.7%, 18/234). Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. ovis, A. centrale, Babesia ovis, Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., R. massiliae, Bartonella spp. and Hepatozoon spp. were also detected. Endosymbionts such as Francisella-like (91.5%, 214/234) and Coxiella-like (1.3%, 3/234) organisms were also detected in ticks. The highest diversity of microorganisms was detected in Hyalomma anatolicum ticks (test-positive for 14/14 microorganisms), followed by Rhipicephalus microplus (4/14), Hy. hussaini (3/14) and Rh. annulatus (2/14). Ticks collected from cattle carried significantly more frequently piroplasms (41.2%, 54/131; P < 0.05) than those from buffaloes (19.4%, 20/103). However, the overall prevalence of microorganisms did not vary significantly among ticks from the two host species as well as across different AEZs. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate a wide range of tick-borne microorganisms in bovine ticks using a high-throughput diagnostic method from different AEZs in Pakistan. These findings will aid in establishing the distribution patterns and the control of tick-borne pathogens of bovines in Pakistan.

ABSTRACT Tropical flooded rice production systems require a high input of fertilizers and chemical defensive. The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), a sustainable component of this system, can increase nutrient-use efficiency and lead to significant increases in the grain yield of tropical flooded rice crop. This study aimed to determine the effect of the microorganism BRM 32110 (Bacillus thuringiensis) in combination with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) application rates on the physiological and agronomic performance of tropical flooded rice plants. Trials were performed in the 2016/2017 growing season in Formoso do Araguaia, a city in Tocantins state, Brazil. Three independent experiments (E1, E2, and E3) were performed in a randomized block design in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme with three replications. E1 comprised four N application rates (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha-1) with and without the addition of BRM 32110, E2 comprised four P2O5 application rates (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg P2O5 ha-1) with or without BRM 32110, and E3 comprised four K2O application rates (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg K2O ha-1) with and without BRM 32110. In fertile soil, there were no interactions between the rhizobacterium BRM 32110 and the N, P or K application rates. BRM 32110 improved nutrient uptake and, on average, increased shoot dry matter by 8%, photosynthesis rate by 14% and grain yield by 11% in the flooded rice plants. Our results suggest that the use of multifunctional microorganisms is a good strategy for improving flooded rice grain yield sustainably. | RESUMO Os sistemas tropicais de produção de arroz inundado requerem uma alta entrada de fertilizantes e defensivos químicos. O uso de rizobactérias promotoras de crescimento de plantas (RPCP), um componente sustentável desse sistema, pode aumentar a eficiência do uso de nutrientes e levar a aumentos significativos no rendimento de grãos das culturas tropicais de arroz inundado. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar o efeito do microrganismo BRM 32110 (Bacillus thuringiensis) em combinação com doses aplicaas de nitrogênio (N), fósforo (P) e potássio (K) no desempenho fisiológico e agronômico de plantas de arroz inundadas no ambiente tropical. Os ensaios foram realizados na safra agrícola 2016/2017 em Formoso do Araguaia, cidade no estado do Tocantins, Brasil. Três experimentos independentes (E1, E2 e E3) foram realizados em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4 x 2, com três repetições. E1 compreendeu quatro doses aplicadas de N (0, 40, 80 e 120 kg N ha-1) com e sem a adição de BRM 32110, E2 compreendeu quatro doses aplicadas de P2O5 (0, 40, 80 e 120 kg de P2O5 ha-1) com ou sem BRM 32110, e E3 compreendeu quatro taxas de aplicação de K2O (0, 20, 40 e 60 kg K2O ha-1) com e sem BRM 32110. Em solo fértil, não houve interações entre a rizobacteria BRM 32110 e taxas aplicadas de N, P ou K. O BRM 32110 melhorou a captação de nutrientes e, em média, aumentou a matéria seca da parte aérea em 8%, a taxa de fotossíntese em 14% e a produtividade de grãos em 11% nas plantas de arroz inundadas. Nossos resultados sugerem que o uso de microrganismos multifuncionais é uma boa estratégia para melhorar o rendimento de grãos de arroz inundado de forma sustentável.

Tropical flooded rice production systems require a high input of fertilizers and chemical defensive. The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), a sustainable component of this system, can increase nutrient-use efficiency and lead to significant increases in the grain yield of tropical flooded rice crop. This study aimed to determine the effect of the microorganism BRM 32110 (Bacillus thuringiensis) in combination with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) application rates on the physiological and agronomic performance of tropical flooded rice plants. Trials were performed in the 2016/2017 growing season in Formoso do Araguaia, a city in Tocantins state, Brazil. Three independent experiments (E1, E2, and E3) were performed in a randomized block design in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme with three replications. E1 comprised four N application rates (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha-1) with and without the addition of BRM 32110, E2 comprised four P2O5 application rates (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg P2O5 ha-1) with or without BRM 32110, and E3 comprised four K2O application rates (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg K2O ha-1) with and without BRM 32110. In fertile soil, there were no interactions between the rhizobacterium BRM 32110 and the N, P or K application rates. BRM 32110 improved nutrient uptake and, on average, increased shoot dry matter by 8%, photosynthesis rate by 14% and grain yield by 11% in the flooded rice plants. Our results suggest that the use of multifunctional microorganisms is a good strategy for improving flooded rice grain yield sustainably.

Because of their lifestyles, abundance, and feeding habits, infaunal marine deposit feeders have a significant impact on the ocean floor. As these animals also ingest microorganisms associated with their sediment and seawater diet, their digestive tract usually contains a diverse array of bacteria. However, while most of these microorganisms are transients, some may become part of a resident gut microbiome, in particular when sheltered from the main flow of digesta in specialized gut compartments. Here, we provide an in-depth analysis of the structure and contents of the intestinal caecum (IC), a hindgut diverticulum found exclusively in schizasterid heart urchins (Echinoidea: Spatangoida: Schizasteridae). Based on specimens of Brisaster townsendi, in addition to various other schizasterid taxa, our structural characterization of the IC shows that the organ is a highly specialized gut compartment with unique structural properties. Next generation sequencing shows that the IC contains a microbial population composed predominantly of Bacteroidales, Desulfobacterales, and Spirochaetales. The microbiome of this gut compartment is significantly different in composition and lower in diversity than the microbial population in the sediment-filled main digestive tract. Inferences on the function and evolution of the IC and its microbiome suggest that this symbiosis plays a distinct role in host nutrition and that it evolved at least 66 million years ago during the final phase of the Mesozoic.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes are abundant in stormwater, yet there is no consensus regarding how to assess their public health risks. We systematically reviewed the literature and identified 15 studies that provided quantitative occurrence and/or abundance information that was linked to stormwater. Sampling and data analysis approaches across studies varied widely, emphasizing that standardized approaches are needed to pool data across studies in a risk analysis. The amounts, timing, and intensity of precipitation within the storm sewershed for fate and transport were rarely considered and/or reported in relation to concentrations of resistance determinants among the reviewed studies. Linking hydrologic and sewershed characteristics to microbial community composition and antibiotic resistance determinants may help improve our understanding of risk and improve sampling protocols. Research needs for ARB and ARG quantification and assessment are discussed, with an emphasis on informing quantitative microbial risk assessments.

Ohmic heating (OH) is a novel method of heating various food materials efficiently, instantly and volumetrically. The quick and volumetric heating during OH results in efficient enzyme and microbial inactivation. Thus, OH can be used as an efficient alternative to the conventional thermal processing method.OH has been applied to various food materials, which include fruits and vegetable products, milk, meat, seafood etc. Inactivation of quality degrading enzymes and spoilage causing microbes to a desired safe level is the prime objective of thermal processing of food, which can be easily achieved by OH process. In addition to the thermal effects, OH also has some non-thermal effects on microbial and enzyme activities due to the presence of electric current during heating. However, these non-thermal effects of OH are possible only in enzymes containing prosthetic metallic groups such as, Cu in PPO, Fe in lipoxygenase, Zn and Mg in alkaline phosphatase.Various models such as First order, Bi-phasic and Lumry–Eyring mechanism have been reported in literature for the enzyme inactivation by OH. Enzyme inactivation has been found to increase with increasing electric field strength (V/cm) during the OH process. The spoilage causing microorganisms can also be inactivated efficiently by OH as compared to conventional heating. Higher voltage gradients enhance the non-thermal effects of OH on microbial reduction by resulting in the higher electroporation. The frequency of the electric current also plays an important role in microbial reduction. Various components present in food such as fat, sugar and acid content affect the electrochemical properties of food material, thus affect the performance of OH in reducing the microbial load.

Ammonia oxidizers (ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB)), nitrite oxidizers (e.g., Nitrobacter and Nitrospira) and comammox Nitrospira play important roles in the nitrogen cycle in agroecosystems, yet their activities and abundance in soil microhabitats under environmental disturbances remain unclear. In this study, we collected samples from treatment plots in a field experiment established in 2010 in a lime concretion black soil in central China to investigate the effects of varying inorganic and organic fertilizer managements in a wheat–maize crop rotation, in order to investigate the impacts on the abundance and activities of ammonia and nitrite oxidizers inhabiting different microenvironments in soil, represented by three soil aggregate size fractions. The treatments were: control without fertilizer (CK), chemical fertilization (NPK), NPK and straw (NPKS), NPKS and pig manure (NPKSP) or cow manure (NPKSC). The potential nitrite oxidation activity (PNO) and soil nutrients (soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content) were the highest in the microaggregates, followed by those in the macroaggregates and silt+clay fractions in all the plots. Both the ammonia and nitrite oxidizers were more abundant in the macroaggregates and microaggregates than in the silt+clay fractions. A two‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the soil aggregate size had a significant influence on the abundance of ammonia and nitrite oxidizers and the soil nutrients. We also found a significant positive correlation between PNO and the nitrite oxidizer and AOA abundance. In addition, the abundances of the ammonia oxidizers (AOA and AOB) and nitrite oxidizers (Nitrobacter and Nitrospira) were positively correlated with each other. Overall, the soil aggregates with a higher inorganic nutrient and organic carbon content may provide a better protective microenvironment to guard against environmental disturbances and facilitate the inhabitation of ammonia and nitrite oxidizers, which cooperate in the nitrogen cycling process. HIGHLIGHTS: Nitrifying guilds and their activities were investigated under soil aggregates in a Vertisol. Soil aggregates of different sizes provide spatially heterogeneous habitats for nitrifying guilds. Ammonia‐ and nitrite‐oxidizer abundances and their activities are controlled by soil aggregate size. Soil aggregates with higher nutrients may provide a better protective habitat for nitrifying guilds.

Foodborne diseases can be highlighted as one of the most significant health concerns among the last decades. Probiotic food products can be considered as the promising approaches for modulating of gastrointestinal (GIT) microbiota due to their interactions within the GIT. However, no comprehensive review regarding the involved mechanisms in inhibiting foodborne pathogens in foods by probiotics, besides their interaction is available.The current article provides an overview considering the interactions between probiotics and pathogens in hosts as well as in foods aiming to gain insights regarding relevant properties to be used in further developments of probiotic-based food products.The interaction between probiotics and pathogens in foods and in the hosts and different mechanism of probiotics in control of enteric pathogens colonization were reviewed in the current study. While the mechanisms of action correlated with probiotic strains in the GIT are diverse and well-studied, their interactions with pathogens in foods is overlooked. Revealing how probiotic strains interact with foodborne pathogens in foods is of key relevance in a contemporary context that demand the development of more robust formulations. Although several mechanisms such as production of substances such as organic acids, bacteriocins, and hydrogen peroxide have been suggested regarding probiotics actions in food matrices, still substantial challenges exist concerning the molecular mode of their antimicrobial action. Additionally, it is required to comprehend the appreciate dose, species, and a combination of probiotics in controlling the pathogens.