Metagenomic analysis of biofilm forming bacteria in environmental samples remains challenging due to the non-availability of gene sequences of most of the uncultivable bacteria. Sequences of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1-UW genes involved either directly or indirectly in biofilm formation were analyzed using BLASTn to obtain matching sequences from different strain, species and genus. Conserved regions in the functional domain of the amino acid sequences were used to design common primers for direct PCR analysis of freshwater metagenomes. Seven key genes such as aceA, clpP, typA, cbrA, phoR, rpoS and gacA involved in biofilm formation were validated. The ortholog genes belonged to wide range of Pseudomonas sp. indicating the diversity of biofilm genes and the conservation of protein functional domains. The approach would also help in analyzing the expression of biofilm genes in different bacteria of freshwater systems for monitoring toxic contaminations such as organic or inorganic pollutants. © 2017 Elsevier Inc.

Babu S

Department of Biotechnology

School of Bio Sciences and Technology

Vellore Campus

Amitava Mukherjee

Centre for Nanobiotechnology

Anupama R

Mukherjee A

Fulltext

Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) is a private university located in&nbsp;Tamil Nadu, India. Founded in 1984, as Vellore Engineering College, the institution offers 20 undergraduate, 34 postgraduate, four integrated and four research programs. It has campuses in Vellore, Amravati, Bhopal and Chennai.

VIT is one of the top ranked private universities in India according to NIRF, THE and QS Rankings.&nbsp;Govt. of India has recognized&nbsp;VIT, Vellore as an&nbsp;Institution of Eminence. This has allowed VIT to take independent quality initiatives and move up in world ranking.

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VIT University

Genomics

Abstract: Advancement in proteome analytical techniques and the development of protein databases have been helping to understand the physiology and subtle molecular mechanisms behind biofilm formation in bacteria. This review is to highlight how the evolving proteomic approaches have revealed fundamental molecular processes underlying the formation and regulation of bacterial biofilms. Based on the survey of research reports available on differential expression of proteins in biofilms of bacterial from wide range of environments, four important cellular processes viz. metabolism, motility, transport and stress response that contribute to formation of bacterial biofilms are discussed. This review might answer how proteins related to these cellular processes contribute significantly in stabilizing biofilms of different bacteria in diverse environmental conditions. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2018, Springer Nature B.V.

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

Environmental proteomic studies: closer step to understand bacterial biofilms

There is a persistent need to assess the effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on the aquatic ecosystem owing to their increasing usage in consumer products and risk of environmental release. The current study is focused on TiO2 nanoparticle-induced acute toxicity at sub-ppm level (≤1ppm) on the three different freshwater sediment bacterial isolates and their consortium under two different irradiation (visible light and dark) conditions. The consortium of the bacterial isolates was found to be less affected by the exposure to the nanoparticles compared to the individual cells. The oxidative stress contributed considerably towards the cytotoxicity under both light and dark conditions. A statistically significant increase in membrane permeability was noted under the dark conditions as compared to the light conditions. The optical and fluorescence microscopic images showed aggregation and chain formation of the bacterial cells, when exposed to the nanoparticles. The electron microscopic (SEM, TEM) observations suggested considerable damage of cells and bio-uptake of nanoparticles. The exopolysaccrides (EPS) production and biofilm formation were noted to increase in the presence of the nanoparticles, and expression of the key genes involved in biofilm formation was studied by RT-PCR. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.

Environmental Research

Cytotoxicity of TiO2 nanoparticles towards freshwater sediment microorganisms at low exposure concentrations

Microbiome

Fast and simple protein-alignment-guided assembly of orthologous gene families from microbiome sequencing reads

Journal of Basic Microbiology

Agriculturally important microbial biofilms: Present status and future prospects

PLOS ONE

Microbial Diversity of Source and Point-of-Use Water in Rural Haiti – A Pyrosequencing-Based Metagenomic Survey

Scientific Reports

Design and evaluation of primers targeting genes encoding NO-forming nitrite reductases: implications for ecological inference of denitrifying communities

Gene-centric metegenome analysis reveals diversity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm gene orthologs in fresh water ecosystem

Journal	Data powered by TypesetGenomics
Publisher	Data powered by TypesetElsevier BV
ISSN	0888-7543
Open Access	Yes