PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Psychrobacter”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding PspPI methyltransferase from the Antarctic psychrotroph Psychrobacter sp. strain TA137. Predicted interactions with DNA and organization of the variable region.

The gene (pspPIM) encoding the PspPI DNA methyltransferase (MTase) associated with the PspPI restriction-modification (R-M) system (5'-GGNCC-3') of Psychrobacter species TA137 has been cloned and expressed in E. coli, and its nucleotide (nt) sequence has been determined. The coding region was 1248 nt in length and capable of specifying a 46826-Da protein of 416 amino acids (aa). The predicted sequence of the MTase protein displays ten sequence motifs characteristic of all prokaryotic m5C-MTases and shows the highest similarity to other MTases that methylate the GGNCC sequence, namely M . Eco47II and M . Sau96I. All three MTases methylate the internal cytosine within their recognition sequence. Sequence similarities between M . PspPI and its isospecific M . Eco47II and M . Sau96I as well as with four other m5C-MTases that methylate the related GGWCC sequence, namely M . SinI, M . HgiCII, M . HgiBI, M . HgiEI have been also found within the variable region of these proteins. On the basis of structural information from M . HhaI and M . HaeIII, several M . PspPI residues that are expected to interact with DNA can be predicted. Furthermore, an organization of the variable region of m5C-MTases into two segments exhibiting a pattern of conserved residues and a considerable degree of structural homologies is described.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Enzymes from cold-adapted microorganisms. The class C beta-lactamase from the antarctic psychrophile Psychrobacter immobilis A5.

A heat-labile beta-lactamase has been purified from culture supernatants of Psychrobacter immobilis A5 grown at 4 degrees C and the corresponding chromosomal ampC gene has been cloned and sequenced. All structural and kinetic properties clearly relate this enzyme to class C beta-lactamases. The kinetic parameters of P. immobilis beta-lactamase for the hydrolysis of some beta-lactam antibiotics are in the same range as the values recorded for the highly specialized cephalosporinases from pathogenic mesophilic bacteria. By contrast, the enzyme displays a low apparent optimum temperature of activity and a reduced thermal stability. Structural factors responsible for the latter property were analysed from the three-dimensional structure built by homology modelling. The deletion of proline residues in loops, the low number of arginine-mediated H-bonds and aromatic-aromatic interactions, the lower global hydrophobicity and the improved solvent interactions through additional surface acidic residues appear to be the main determinants of the enzyme flexibility.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2001

Molecular characterization of a recombinant replication protein (Rep) from the Antarctic bacterium Psychrobacter sp. TA144.

The Antarctic Gram-negative bacterium Psychrobacter sp. TA144 contains two small cryptic plasmids, called pTAUp and pTADw. pTAUp encodes a replication enzyme (PsyRep) whose activity is responsible for plasmid replication via the rolling circle replication pathway. Several attempts to produce the wild-type biologically active PsyRep in Escherichia coli failed, possibly due to auto-regulation of the protein population. However, the serendipitous occurrence of a frameshift mutation during the preparation of an expression vector resulted in the over-production of a recombinant protein, changed in its last 14 amino acid residues (PsyRep*), that precipitates in insoluble form. The purification of PsyRep* inclusion bodies and the successful refolding of the cold adapted enzyme allowed us to carry out its functional characterization. The mutated protein still displays a double stranded DNA nicking activity, while the change at the C-terminus impairs the enzyme specificity for the pTAUp cognate Ori+ sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

The beta-lactamase secreted by the antarctic psychrophile Psychrobacter immobilis A8.

A class C beta-lactamase has been purified from the culture supernatant of the antarctic psychrophile Psychrobacter immobilis A8. This psychrophilic beta-lactamase displays a low level of thermal stability and a low optimal temperature of activity. In contrast to other cold-adapted enzymes, its level of specific activity is not higher than that of mesophilic class C beta-lactamases.

Acinetobacter↗
PubMed1988

Cultural and chemical characterization of CDC groups EO-2, M-5, and M-6, Moraxella (Moraxella) species, Oligella urethralis, Acinetobacter species, and Psychrobacter immobilis.

We determined phenotypic characteristics, cellular fatty acid composition, and isoprenoid quinone content of representative strains of CDC groups EO-2, M-5, and M-6, Moraxella (Moraxella) species, Oligella urethralis, Acinetobacter species, and Psychrobacter immobilis. All organisms contained ubiquinone with eight isoprene units as the major isoprenolog, but distinct differences were observed in fatty acid composition. Twenty-eight of the original collection of CDC group EO-2 strains were further identified as P. immobilis, EO-2, or EO-3 by distinctive cellular fatty acid profiles, cellular morphology, and pigment production. The cellular fatty acid compositions of M-5 and M-6 were similar but were clearly different from those of other organisms. The genus Acinetobacter was differentiated from other organisms in the study by small amounts of 2-hydroxydodecanoic acid (2-OH-12:0), and P. immobilis was differentiated by small amounts of decanoic acid (10:0) and a branched-chain 17-carbon acid (i-17:0). All Moraxella species were distinguished by small amounts of decanoic acid (10:0) and the absence of i-17:0. M. bovis, M. nonliquefaciens, and some strains of M. lacunata formed a single fatty acid group, while M. osloensis, M. phenylpyruvica, M. atlantae, and other strains of M. lacunata (M. lacunata II) had species-specific fatty acid profiles. O. urethralis differed from Moraxella species by the presence of large amounts (49%) of cis-vaccenic acid (18:1 omega 7c), small amounts (1%) of 3-hydroxyhexadecanoate (3-OH-16:0), and the absence of 10:0 and 3-hydroxydodecanoate (3-OH-12:0). The combined use of chemical data and a small number of conventional tests permitted rapid identification and differentiation of these organisms from each other and from related organisms.

Acinetobacter↗
PubMed1990

Ocular infection caused by Psychrobacter immobilis acquired in the hospital.

The name Psychrobacter immobilis recently has been proposed for a group of chiefly psychrotrophic, aerobic, gram-negative, nonmotile, oxidase-positive coccobacilli commonly found associated with fish, processed meat, and poultry products. This article reports an ocular infection in a 12-day-old newborn who acquired the infection in the hospital, probably because of frequent manipulations in a closed aerated incubator. Also, this report intends to alert microbiologists to opportunistic infections that might be confused with infections caused by unusual oxidase-positive, gram-negative diplococci and to the isolation of P. immobilis from a human infection.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1991

Meningitis caused by Psychrobacter immobilis in an infant.

Psychrobacter immobilis was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood of a 2-day-old infant who appeared well except for a fever and a full anterior fontanelle. The infant was treated with antibiotics intravenously. After 48 h, he became afebrile and CSF and blood cultures were negative; he was then discharged. After 96 h of incubation, CSF and blood cultures yielded a gram-negative organism, P. immobilis. The child was readmitted to the hospital, and the same organism was again isolated from his blood and CSF.

Humans↗
PubMed2003

A Novel H-NS-like protein from an antarctic psychrophilic bacterium reveals a crucial role for the N-terminal domain in thermal stability.

We describe here new members of the H-NS protein family identified in a psychrotrophic Acinetobacter spp. bacterium collected in Siberia and in a psychrophilic Psychrobacter spp. bacterium collected in Antarctica. Both are phylogenetically closely related to the HvrA and SPB Rhodobacter transcriptional regulators. Their amino acid sequence shares 40% identity, and their predicted secondary structure displays a structural and functional organization in two modules similar to that of H-NS in Escherichia coli. Remarkably, the Acinetobacter protein fully restores to the wild-type H-NS-dependent phenotypes, whereas the Psychrobacter protein is no longer able to reverse the effects of H-NS deficiency in an E. coli mutant strain above 30 degrees C. Moreover, in vitro experiments demonstrate that the ability of the Psychrobacter H-NS protein to bind curved DNA and to form dimers is altered at 37 degrees C. The construction of hybrid proteins containing the N- or the C-terminal part of E. coli H-NS fused to the C- or N-terminal part of the Psychrobacter protein demonstrates the role of the N-terminal domain in this process. Finally, circular dichroism analysis of purified H-NS proteins suggests that, as compared with the E. coli and Acinetobacter proteins, the alpha-helical domain displays weaker intermolecular interactions in the Psychrobacter protein, which may account for the low thermal stability observed at 37 degrees C.

Acinetobacter↗
PubMed2006

Molecular microbial diversity of a soil sample and detection of ammonia oxidizers from Cape Evans, Mcmurdo Dry Valley, Antarctica.

The aim of our study was to estimate the uncultured eubacterial diversity of a soil sample collected below a dead seal, Cape Evans, McMurdo, Antarctica by an SSU rDNA gene library approach. Our study by sequencing of clones from SSU rDNA gene library approach revealed high diversity in the soil sample from Antarctica. More than 50% of clones showed homology to Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides group; sequences also belonged to alpha, beta, gamma proteobacteria, Thermus-Deinococcus and high GC gram-positive group; Phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rDNA clones showed the presence of species belonging to Cytophaga spp., Vitellibacter vladivostokensis, Aequorivita lipolytica, Aequorivita crocea, Flavobacterium spp., Flexibacter sp., Subsaxibacter broadyi, Bacteroidetes, Roseobacter sp., Sphingomonas baekryungensis, Nitrosospira sp., Nitrosomonas cryotolerans, Psychrobacter spp., Chromohalobacter sp., Psychrobacter okhotskensis, Psychrobacter fozii, Psychrobacter urativorans, Rubrobacter radiotolerans, Marinobacter sp., Rubrobacteridae, Desulfotomaculum aeronauticum and Deinococcus sp. The presence of ammonia oxidizing bacteria in Antarctica soil was confirmed by the presence of the amoA gene. Phylogenetic analysis revealed grouping of clones with their respective groups.

Ammonia↗
PubMed2004

Molecular and phenotypic characterization of nonmotile Gram-negative bacteria associated with spoilage of freshwater fish.

AIMS: Characterization of nonmotile bacteria associated with freshwater fish spoilage and that phenotypically resembled Psychrobacter spp. METHODS AND RESULTS: A population of 44 nonmotile Gram-negative rods could not be assigned to the genus Psychrobacter on the basis of a definitive test (transformation assay). Conventional and commercial phenotypic systems did not help in identification. A second extensive phenotypic analysis using different temperatures and media confirmed these isolates as nonmotile although electron microscopic examination showed that all but two had one to four polar flagella and other appendages. On the basis of numerical taxonomy, this population was divided into six clusters, one of them consisting of five fluorescent strains. Sequencing of fluorescent and non fluorescent representative strains from each cluster demonstrated that strains from five clusters had between 97.8 and 98.8% sequence homology with Pseudomonas fragi IFO 3458. This and an unknown strain from deep sea were the closest organisms (80.9% sequence homology) to one aflagellated representative strain of the remaining cluster. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidase-positive, nonmotile, nonfermenter Gram-negative rods isolated from freshwater fish can be wrongly ascribed to the genus Psychrobacter. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Molecular methods are necessary for the identification of environmental isolates and species with an incomplete phenotypic description. This work emphasizes the need for a sound description of Ps. fragi based on molecular and phenotypic characterization.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Numerical taxonomy of gram-negative, nonmotile, nonfermentative bacteria isolated during chilled storage of lamb carcasses.

A numerical taxonomic study using 75 characters was performed with 132 strains of gram-negative, nonmotile, nonfermentative bacteria selected on the basis of lack of motility and Gram reaction among 1,200 cultures isolated during aerobic storage of lamb carcasses. At the 80% similarity level (SSM), eight clusters were formed. Strains in clusters 1 to 6 could be identified as members of the family Moraxellaceae and, more specifically, as members of the Psychrobacter-[Moraxella] phenylpyruvica subgroup. Of these strains, clusters 1 and 2 (88 strains) were identified as [Moraxella] phenylpyruvica and cluster 3 (15 strains) was identified as Psychrobacter immobilis. Clusters 4, 5, and 6 were not identifiable with any species. Clusters 7 and 8 consisted of 14 strains considered nonmotile variants of Pseudomonas fragi. The highest separation indices corresponded to acid production from certain carbohydrates (melibiose, L-arabinose, and cellobiose). Although strains of Psychrobacter-Moraxella clusters were relatively frequently identified at the completion of slaughter, very few cultures were detected on spoiled carcasses. It appears, therefore, that this group of organisms has only low spoilage potential.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Limited selection of sodium channel blocking toxin-producing bacteria from paralytic shellfish toxin-contaminated mussels (Aulacomya ater).

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are sodium channel blocking (SCB) toxins, produced by cyanobacteria, as well as by marine dinoflagellates and their associated bacteria, and cause serious health and economic concern worldwide. In a previous study, approximately 70% of the bacteria enriched from PST-contaminated shellfish tissue and isolated on marine agar medium were observed to produce SCB toxins. In the study reported here, the high percentage of cultivable toxigenic bacteria is demonstrated to be obtained through a marked selection on marine agar medium. The cultivable as well as the total bacterial diversity associated with PST-contaminated shellfish collected from the Magallanes region in the south of Chile has been analysed. Approximately 80% of bacterial isolates, analysed by restriction analysis of PCR amplified ribosomal DNA (i.e., ARDRA fingerprinting), were limited to only two genotypic OTUs (operational taxonomic unit). Sequence determination and analysis of the 16S rDNA from representative isolates of both OTUs established them to be closely related to species of the Psychrobacter genus of the gamma-subclass of the Proteobacteria. The total bacterial diversity in the shellfish was further analysed, using a cultivation-independent strategy of extraction of total DNA from contaminated tissue, PCR-amplification of bacterial 16S rRNA genes, cloning of the PCR products and analysis of the cloned 16S rDNA sequence types by fingerprinting and sequencing. Only 2% of the cloned sequence types corresponded to species of the Psychrobacter genus. The 16S rDNA sequence types detected clustered with species of the y-Proteobacteria subclass, the Cytophaga-Flexibacter-Bacteroides (CFB), the Fusobacteria and the Firmicutes phyla. The level of diversity observed within the libraries of cloned 16S rDNA was markedly greater than that observed among isolates obtained through marine agar enrichment cultures from the same shellfish tissue. Additionally the predominant cloned 16S rDNA sequence types detected from samples of the surrounding seawater demonstrated no correlation with those observed in the PST-contaminated mussels.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Phylogeny of the family Moraxellaceae by 16S rDNA sequence analysis, with special emphasis on differentiation of Moraxella species.

Thirty-three strains previously classified into 11 species in the bacterial family Moraxellaceae were subjected to phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences. The family Moraxellaceae formed a distinct clade consisting of four phylogenetic groups as judged from branch lengths, bootstrap values and signature nucleotides. Group I contained the classical moraxellae and strains of the coccal moraxellae, previously known as Branhamella, with 16S rRNA similarity of > or = 95%. A further division of group I into five tentative clusters is discussed. Group II consisted of two strains representing Moraxella atlantae and Moraxella osloensis. These strains were only distantly related to each other (93.4%) and also to the other members of the Moraxellaceae (< or = 93%). Therefore, reasons for reclassification of these species into separate and new genera are discussed. Group III harboured strains of the genus Psychrobacter and strain 752/52 of [Moraxella] phenylpyruvica. This strain of [M.] phenylpyruvica formed an early branch from the group III line of descent. Interestingly, a distant relationship was found between Psychrobacter phenylpyruvicus strain ATCC 23333T (formerly classified as [M.] phenylpyruvica) and [M.] phenylpyruvica strain 752/52, exhibiting less than 96% nucleotide similarity between their 16S rRNA sequences. The establishment of a new genus for [M.] phenylpyruvica strain 752/52 is therefore suggested. Group IV contained only two strains of the genus Acinetobacter. Strategies for the development of diagnostic probes and distinctive sequences for 16S rRNA-based species-specific assays within group I are suggested. Although these findings add to the classificatory placements within the Moraxellaceae, analysis of a more comprehensive selection of strains is still needed to obtain a complete classification system within this family.

DNA Primers↗
PubMed2006

Evaluation of freeze-dried kefir coculture as starter in feta-type cheese production.

The use of freeze-dried kefir coculture as a starter in the production of feta-type cheese was investigated. Maturation of the produced cheese at 4 degrees C was monitored for up to 70 days, and the effects of the starter culture, the salting method, and the ripening process on quality characteristics were studied. The use of kefir coculture as a starter led to increased lactic acid concentrations and decreased pH values in the final product associated with significantly higher conversion rates compared to salted rennet cheese. Determination of bacterial diversity at the end of the ripening process in salted kefir and rennet cheeses by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis technology, based on both DNA and RNA analyses, suggested a potential species-specific inhibition of members of the genera Staphylococcus and Psychrobacter by kefir coculture. The main active microbial associations in salted kefir cheese appeared to be members of the genera Pseudomonas and Lactococcus, while in salted rennet cheese, Oxalobacteraceae, Janthinobacterium, Psychrobacter, and Pseudomonas species were noted. The effect of the starter culture on the production of aroma-related compounds responsible for cheese flavor was also studied by the solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. Kefir coculture also appeared to extend the shelf life of unsalted cheese. Spoilage of kefir cheese was observed on the 9th and 20th days of preservation at 10 and 5 degrees C, respectively, while spoilage in the corresponding rennet cheese was detected on the 7th and 16th days. Microbial counts during preservation of both types of unsalted cheese increased steadily and reached similar levels, with the exception of staphylococci, which were significantly lower in unsalted kefir cheese. All types of cheese produced with kefir as a starter were approved and accepted by the panel during the preliminary sensory evaluation compared to commercial feta-type cheese.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Characterization of potential stress responses in ancient Siberian permafrost psychroactive bacteria.

Past studies of cold-acclimated bacteria have focused primarily on organisms not capable of sub-zero growth. Siberian permafrost isolates Exiguobacterium sp. 255-15 and Psychrobacter sp. 273-4, which grow at subzero temperatures, were used to study cold-acclimated physiology. Changes in membrane composition and exopolysaccharides were defined as a function of growth at 24, 4 and -2.5 degrees C in the presence and absence of 5% NaCl. As expected, there was a decrease in fatty acid saturation and chain length at the colder temperatures and a further decrease in the degree of saturation at higher osmolarity. A shift in carbon source utilization and antibiotic resistance occurred at 4 versus 24 degrees C growth, perhaps due to changes in the membrane transport. Some carbon substrates were used uniquely at 4 degrees C and, in general, increased antibiotic sensitivity was observed at 4 degrees C. All the permafrost strains tested were resistant to long-term freezing (1 year) and were not particularly unique in their UVC tolerance. Most of the tested isolates had moderate ice nucleation activity, and particularly interesting was the fact that the Gram-positive Exiguobacterium showed some soluble ice nucleation activity. In general the features measured suggest that the Siberian organisms have adapted to the conditions of long-term freezing at least for the temperatures of the Kolyma region which are -10 to -12 degrees C where intracellular water is likely not frozen.

Adaptation, Physiological↗