Transfer of Wautersia numazuensis to the genus Cupriavidus as Cupriavidus numazuensis comb. nov

Comparisons of the Oral Microbiota from Seven Species of Wild Venomous Snakes in Taiwan Using the High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing of the Full-Length 16S rRNA Gene

A venomous snake's oral cavity may harbor pathogenic microorganisms that cause secondary infection at the wound site after being bitten. We collected oral samples from 37 individuals belonging to seven species of wild venomous snakes in Taiwan, including Naja atra (Na), Bungarus multicinctus (Bm), Protobothrops mucrosquamatus (Pm), Trimeresurus stejnegeri (Ts), Daboia siamensis (Ds), Deinagkistrodon acutus (Da), and alpine Trimeresurus gracilis (Tg). Bacterial species were identified using full-length 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis, and this is the first study using this technique to investigate the oral microbiota of multiple Taiwanese snake species. Up to 1064 bacterial species were identified from the snake's oral cavities, with 24 pathogenic and 24 non-pathogenic species among the most abundant ones. The most abundant oral bacterial species detected in our study were different from those found in previous studies, which varied by snake species, collection sites, sampling tissues, culture dependence, and analysis methods. Multivariate analysis revealed that the oral bacterial species compositions in Na, Bm, and Pm each were significantly different from the other species, whereas those among Ts, Ds, Da, and Tg showed fewer differences. Herein, we reveal the microbial diversity in multiple species of wild snakes and provide potential therapeutic implications regarding empiric antibiotic selection for wildlife medicine and snakebite management.

Paraburkholderia lycopersici sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing species isolated from rhizoplane of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. var. Saladette in Mexico

A survey of our in-house bacterial collection identified a group of six strains isolated from the tomato rhizoplane that possessed 16S rRNA gene sequences with 98.2% sequence similarity to Paraburkholderia pallida, suggesting that these strains represented a novel species. Multilocus sequence analysis using gltB, lepA and recA gene sequences showed the clustering of the strains and the BOX-PCR patterns were similar among these strains. The average nucleotide identity and the DNA-DNA virtual hybridization of strain TNe-862^T was <89% and <34%, respectively, to the genomes of any sequenced Paraburkholderia species. The genome of strain TNe-862^T possessed all the genes necessary for nitrogen fixation and biosynthesis of indoleacetic acid and antimicrobials terpenes, phosphonates and bacteriocins. It also contained genes for metal resistance, xenobiotic degradation, and hydrolytic enzymes such as a putative chitinase and isoamylase. Even though the strain contained potential genes for degradation of cellulose and starch, the bacterium was unable to utilize these substrates in culture medium. The genome encoded flagella and pili as well as multiple chemotaxis systems. In addition, genes encoding for the type I, II, IV, V and VI secretion systems were also present. The strains grow up to 42°C and 5% NaCl. The optimum growth pH was 8. The major cellular fatty acids were C_16:0 and C_18:1 ω7c. Based on this polyphasic analysis, these strains represent a novel species in the genus Paraburkholderia, for which the name Paraburkholderia lycopersici sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TNe-862^T (=LMG 26415^T=CIP 110323^T).

Draft genome of five Cupriavidus plantarum strains: agave, maize and sorghum plant-associated bacteria with resistance to metals

Five strains of Cupriavidus plantarum, a metal-resistant, plant-associated bacterium, were selected for genome sequencing through the Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea (GEBA) Phase IV project at the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The genome of the strains was in the size range of 6.2-6.4 Mbp and encoded 5605-5834 proteins; 16.9-23.7% of these genes could not be assigned to a COG-associated functional category. The G + C content was 65.83-65.99%, and the genomes encoded 59-67 stable RNAs. The strains were resistant in vitro to arsenite, arsenate, cobalt, chromium, copper, nickel and zinc, and their genomes possessed the resistance genes for these metals. The genomes also encoded the biosynthesis of potential antimicrobial compounds, such as terpenes, phosphonates, bacteriocins, betalactones, nonribosomal peptides, phenazine and siderophores, as well as the biosynthesis of cellulose and enzymes such as chitinase and trehalase. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and DNA-DNA in silico hybridization of the genomes confirmed that C. plantarum is a single species. Moreover, the strains cluster within a single group upon multilocus sequence analyses with eight genes and a phylogenomic analyses. Noteworthy, the ability of the species to tolerate high concentrations of different metals might prove useful for bioremediation of naturally contaminated environments.

Cupriavidus nantongensis sp. nov., a novel chlorpyrifos-degrading bacterium isolated from sludge

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, coccoid to small rod-shaped bacterium, designated X1T, was isolated from sludge collected from the vicinity of a pesticide manufacturer in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain X1T belonged to the genus Cupriavidus, and was most closely related to Cupriavidus taiwanensis LMG 19424T (99.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Cupriavidus alkaliphilus LMG 26294T (98.9 %). Strain X1T showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 97.2-98.2 % with other species of the genus Cupriavidus. The major cellular fatty acids of strain X1T were C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH (summed feature 3), C18 : 1ω7c and C17 : 0 cyclo, and the major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-8. The major polar lipids of strain X1T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, aminophospholipid, phospholipid and hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content was 66.6 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness values of strain X1T with the five reference strains C. taiwanensis LMG 19424T, C. alkaliphilus LMG 26294T, Cupriavidus necator LMG 8453T, Cupriavidus gilardii LMG 5886T and 'Cupriavidus yeoncheonense' KCTC 42053 were lower than 70 %. The results obtained from phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic characterization and DNA-DNA hybridization indicated that strain X1T should be proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Cupriavidus, for which the name Cupriavidus nantongensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is X1T (=KCTC 42909T=LMG 29218T).

Longitudinal analysis of the lung microbiome in lung transplantation

Lung transplant recipients experience poor long-term survival, largely due to chronic rejection. The pathogenesis of chronic rejection is incompletely understood, but bacterial colonization of the lung is associated with chronic rejection, while antibiotic use slows its progression. The lung harbors a bacterial community, termed the microbiome, which is present both in health and disease. We hypothesize that the lung microbiome will change following transplantation, and these changes may correspond to the development of rejection. Twelve bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were obtained from four patients at three time points after transplantation, and two BALF samples were obtained from healthy, nontransplant controls. The microbiome of each sample was determined by pyrosequencing the 16S rRNA gene hypervariable 3 region. The data were analyzed using mothur, Ribosomal Database Project Classifier, Fast UniFrac, and Metastats. Transplanted lungs contained more bacterial sequences and demonstrated more microbial diversity than did control lungs. Bacteria in the phyla Proteobacteria (class Betaproteobacteria) predominated in the transplant samples. In contrast, the microbiome of the healthy lung consisted of the phyla Proteobacteria (class Gammaproteobacteria) and Firmicutes. The microbiome of the transplanted lung is vastly different from that of healthy lungs, mainly due to the presence of the family Burkholderiaceae in transplant samples.