Nuzhat Ahmed

Identification of a gene cluster, czr, involved in cadmium and zinc resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa CMG103 was isolated from a metal-polluted river in Pakistan and displayed a high level of Zn and Cd resistance. An omega-Km transposon mutant of strain CMG103, which showed a substantial decrease in resistance to Zn and Cd, was obtained. A 12.8 kb region determining Zn and Cd resistance in strain CM103 was cloned by complementing the mutant strain, and its nt sequence was determined. Five genes, czrSRCBA, involved in Zn and Cd resistance, were identified. The predicted gene products of czrCBA show a significant similarity with the proteins encoded by the plasmid borne metal resistant determinants czc, cnr and ncc of Ralstonia strains, which determine a chemiosmotic cation-antiporter efflux system. The predicted CzrS and CzrR proteins show a significant similarity to the sensor and regulatory protein, respectively, of two component regulatory systems, such as CopS/CopR and PcoS/PcoR involved in the regulation of plasmid-borne Cu-resistant determinants, and CzcS/CzcR involved in the regulation of czc. The cloned czr region contained downstream of czrCBA additional ORFs whose predicted gene products are similar to proteins involved in catabolism of aromatic compounds. DNA-DNA hybridization indicated strong conservation of czr in other environmental P. aeruginosa isolates and in the P. aeruginosa type strain PAO1, a clinical isolate. This was confirmed by a comparison of the sequence of the CMG103 czr region with the currently available genome sequence of strain PAO1. A high sequence identity (till 99% at the nt level) and organizatory conservation of the czr region of CMG103 was found in PAO1 as well regarding coding sequences as intervening sequences between ORFs. The czr locus was localized between coordinates 2400 and 2550 kb on the physical map of the chromosome of PAO1.

Reduction of chromate by microorganisms isolated from metal contaminated sites of Karachi, Pakistan

Three bacterial strains, two identified as Pseudomonas stutzeri and one as a strain of cucurbit yellow vine disease bacterium, isolated from a foundry soil and a tannery, respectively, in Pakistan, were resistant to up to 1 mM chromate and anaerobically reduced Cr(VI) up to 100 μM. The highest removal was by P. stutzeri CMG463: 88 μmol l−1 (88% of that supplied; specific rate was 3.0 nmol mg−1 protein h−1), while 58 and 76 μmol l−1 (58% and 76%) were removed by P. stutzeri CMG462 and cucurbit yellow vine disease bacterium CMG480, respectively. These isolates were compared to strains isolated from an uncontaminated coastal site in the UK and designated as K2 (Pseudomonas synxantha) K3 (Bacillus sp.), and J3 (unidentified Gram-positive strain). Strain K3 was Cr-sensitive, partially lysed by Cr(VI), but had the highest removal of chromate anaerobically: 92 μmol l−1 (92% of that supplied) at a specific rate of 71 nmol mg−1 protein h−1. Analysis of cell sections using transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis showed intracellular chromium in P. stutzeri but the cucurbit yellow vine disease bacterium and the Bacillus sp. precipitated chromium extracellularly. The isolates from the Cr-contaminated sites did not remove more Cr(VI), overall, than Cr-unstressed bacteria, but their tolerance to Cr(VI) is potentially useful for bioremediation, particularly since other studies have shown that the two P. stutzeri strains can bioaccumulate Cu2+.

Reduction of Cr(VI) and Bioaccumulation of Chromium by Gram Positive and Gram Negative Microorganisms not Previously Exposed to CR-Stress

Resistance to Cr(VI) is usually associated with its cellular exclusion, precluding enrichment techniques for the isolation of organisms accumulating Cr(VI) via bioreduction to insoluble Cr(III). A technique was developed to screen for potential Cr(VI) reduction in approx. 2000 isolates from a coastal environment, based on the non-specific reduction of selenite and tellurite to Se0 and Te0, and reduction of tetrazolium blue to insoluble blue formazan. The most promising strains were further screened in liquid culture, giving three, which were identified by 16S rRNA sequence analysis as Bacillus pumilus, Exiguobacterium aurantiacum and Pseudomonas synxantha, all of which reduced 100 µM Cr(VI) anaerobically, without growth. The respective removal of Cr(VI) was 90% and 80% by B. pumilus and E. aurantiacum after 48 h and 80% and by P. synxantha after 192 h. With the Gram positive strains Cr(VI) promoted loss of flagella and, in the case of B. pumilus, lysis of some cells, but Cr was deposited as an exocellular precipitate which was identified as containing Cr and P using energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDAX). This prompted the testing of Citrobacter sp. N14 (subsequently re-assigned by 16S rRNA sequence analysis and biochemical studies as a strain of Serratia) which bioprecipitates metal cation phosphates via enzymatically-liberated phosphate. This strain reduced Cr(VI) at a rate comparable to that of P. synxantha but Cr(III) was not bioprecipitated where La(III) was removed as LaPO4, even though a similar amount of phosphate was produced in the presence of Cr(III). Since B. pumilus removed most of the Cr(VI), with the formation of cell-bound CrPO4 implicated, this suggests that this strain could have future bioprocess potential.

Cadmium accumulation and DNA homology with metal resistance genes in sulfate-reducing bacteria

ABSTRACT Cadmium resistance (0.1 to 1.0 mM) was studied in four pure and one mixed culture of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). The growth of the bacteria was monitored with respect to carbon source (lactate) oxidation and sulfate reduction in the presence of various concentrations of cadmium chloride. Two strains Desulfovibrio desulfuricans DSM 1926 and Desulfococcus multivorans DSM 2059 showed the highest resistance to cadmium (0.5 mM). Transmission electron microscopy of the two strains showed intracellular and periplasmic accumulation of cadmium. Dot blot DNA hybridization using the probes for the smtAB, cadAC, and cadD genes indicated the presence of similar genetic determinants of heavy metal resistance in the SRB tested. DNA sequencing of the amplified DNA showed strong nucleotide homology in all the SRB strains with the known smtAB genes encoding synechococcal metallothioneins. Protein homology with the known heavy metal-translocating ATPases was also detected in the cloned amplified DNA of Desulfomicrobium norvegicum I1 and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans DSM 1926, suggesting the presence of multiple genetic mechanisms of metal resistance in the two strains.

Characterization of high molecular weight dextran produced by Weissella cibaria CMGDEX3.

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing Weissella cibaria CMGDEX3 was isolated from cabbage on sucrose containing De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar. Dextransucrase activity and dextran yield was found to be 7.1 DSU ml(-1) and 2.4 g dl(-1), respectively. The structural characterization of purified EPS determined by FTIR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that W. cibaria CMGDEX3 synthesized a linear dextran that predominately had α (1→6) glycosidic linkages with only a few (3.4%) α (1→3) linked branches. Molecular mass determination showed that it was a high molecular weight dextran of an average >2,000,000 Da. According to our knowledge this is the first report on isolation of dextran synthesizing Weissella genus from Pakistan.

Biosorption of Copper by a Bacterial Biofilm on a Flexible Polyvinyl Chloride Conduit

ABSTRACT Inexpensive technologies with less-than-optimal efficiencies as a strategy for countering economic restraints to pollution control have been evaluated by using a laboratory-scale biotreatment process for copper-containing effluent. Economizing measures include the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cylinders fashioned from commercially available flexible PVC conduit to support a biofilm that was cultured in an inexpensive medium prepared in wastewater. The biofilm was challenged by aqueous copper solution in a bioreactor and subsequently analyzed under a scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis.

A new antibacterial compound produced by an indigenous marine bacteria — fermentation, isolation, and biological activity

The use of microorganisms for biological purpose has become an effective alternative to control pathogens. A marine bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from Eal fish of Baluchistan coast of Pakistan. This strain produced a bactericidal antibiotic against environmental and clinical isolates. In this study, we purified bactericidal antibiotic from the ethyl acetate extract of the cells of P. aeruginosa and analyzed its chemical structure. Based on spectrometric analysis, this compound 1 is proposed to be 1-methyl-1,4 dihydroquinoline and is active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Vibrio aliginolyticus, Micrococcus luteus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterobacter faecium but it is not active against G streptococci, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger. Minimal inhibitory concentration for Gram-positive bacteria was between 50 and 75 µg mL−1 and for Gram-negative bacteria 75–100 µg mL−1.

Production of biopolymers by Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from marine source

ABSTRACT Two bacterial strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa CMG607w and CMG1421 produce commercially important biopolymers. CMG607w isolated from the sediments of Lyari outfall to Arabian Sea synthesize the mcl-polyhydroxyalkanoates from various carbon sources. The production of PHAs was directly proportional to the incubation periods. Other strain CMG1421, a dry soil isolate, produced high viscous water absorbing extracellular acidic polysaccharide when it was grown aerobically in the minimal medium containing glucose or fructose or sucrose as sole source of carbon. The biopolymer had the ability to absorb water 400 times more than its dry weight. This property was superior to that of currently used non-degradable synthetic water absorbents. It acted as salt filter and had rheological and stabilizing activity as well. Key words: Biopolymers, exopolysaccharides, hydroabsorbent, mcl-polyhydroxyalkanoates, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Sodium gluconate

Effects of Different Physical and Chemical Parameters on Phosphate Solubilization Activity of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria Isolated from Indigenous Soil

The microorganisms play a vital role in fertility of soil and hence favors’ large group of plants. In present study we have successfully isolated certain bacteria from soil including both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and access their ability in phosphate solubilization. Effects of temperature, pH and different carbon sources, on phosphate solubilization, by these isolates were also determined. Low temperature 25 °C, pH between 5-7, and glucose as carbon source were found to be best for phosphate solubilization by most of the isolates. Present study highlights the importance of these plants growth promoting bacteria and their uses for agriculture purposes.

A novel pathogenic nonsense triple-nucleotide mutation in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene and its clinical correlation with familial hypercholesterolemia.

AIM The aim of this study was to determine the genetic basis of familial hypercholesterolemia in a Pakistani family with a history of myocardial infarction and premature coronary artery disease. RESULTS Direct sequencing of the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene resulted in the identification of a novel missense mutation c.264G>C (p.R88S) in exon 3 and a novel nonsense triple-nucleotide polymorphism (TNP) c.887-889GCA>AGC (p.C296X) in exon 6, the latter being probably the disease-causing mutation in this family. Both of these mutations were not present in the probands of 14 familial hypercholesterolemia families, 100 myocardial infarction patients, as well as 150 normolipidemic ethnically matched control individuals. CONCLUSIONS The identification of the novel nonsense TNP is the first report of a nonsense pathogenic TNP in low-density lipoprotein receptor or any other gene and only the fourth report of a pathogenic TNP of any type, which emphasizes the importance of screening for TNPs in patients and in familial studies that might otherwise be missed if only analyzed on single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays.