Number Of Heterotrophic Bacteria Research Articles

CONTAMINATION OF THE HANDLES AND BASES OF SHOPPING CARTS BY PATHOGENIC AND MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA

Background and Aims: Shopping carts (SCs) are considered as highly contaminated public surfaces, and may play a role in transmission of some harbor heterotrophic bacteria to human being. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the hygienic conditions and presence of heterotrophic bacteria on the surface of the handles and bases of SCs taken from shopping stores in Al-Mafraq city, Jordan. Methods: Five different SCs were selected randomly from four shopping stores (designated as A, B, C and D) during May through June, 2011. Two dry swab samples were taken from each SC, one from the handle and another one from the base. All samples were cultured on nutrient agar as none selective medium and incubated aerobically at 37 °C for 48 hours. The resulting number of colony forming units (CFUs) in each plate was converted to CFU per cm 2 surface area. The species of bacterial isolates were determined by biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequencing. Results: The number of heterotrophic bacteria per SC range between 6 to 133 CFU/cm 2 surface area for the cart handles and between 6 to 300 CFU/cm 2 surface area for the cart bases, indicating higher numbers of heterotrophic bacteria in the cart bases as well as more fluctuations in the number of heterotrophic bacteria at the handles and bases of SCs. These analyses also confirmed the presence of seven coliform and three noncoliform species on the tested surface of the handles and bases of the selected stores. These include E. coli spp., Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Burkholderia cepacia, Yersinia enterocolitica, Tatumeella ptyseas, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonnei, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus pumilus.

Incidence of Legionella and heterotrophic bacteria in household rainwater tanks in Azumino, Nagano prefecture, Japan

Many administrative agencies in Japan are encouraging installation of household rainwater-storage tanks for more effective use of natural rainwater. Water samples were collected periodically from 43 rainwater tanks from 40 households and tested for the presence of Legionella species and the extent of heterotrophic bacteria in Azumino city, Nagano prefecture, Japan. PCR assays indicated the presence of Legionella spp. in 12 (30%) of the 43 tank water samples. Attempts were made to identify correlations between PCR positive samples, topography, pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), atmospheric temperature and the numbers of heterotrophic bacteria. Between June and October, 2012, the numbers of heterotrophic bacteria in rainwater tanks and the values of COD positively correlated with the presence of Legionella species. In most of the Legionella-positive cases, heterotrophic bacterial cell counts were >10(4) CFU/mL. Moreover, Legionella species were less frequently detected when the COD value was >5 mg KMnO(4)/L. Therefore, at least in Azumino, Japan between June and October 2012, both heterotrophic bacterial counts and COD values may be considered index parameters for the presence of Legionella cells in rainwater tanks. Much more accumulation of such data is needed to verify the accuracy of these findings.

Microorganisms in Small Patterned Ground Features and Adjacent Vegetated Soils along Topographic and Climatic Gradients in the High Arctic, Canada

In this study, we determine differences in total biomass of soil microorganisms and community structure (using the most probable number of bacteria (MPN) and the number of fungal genera) in patterned ground features (PGF) and adjacent vegetated soils (AVS) in mesic sites from three High Arctic islands in order to characterize microbial dynamics as affected by cryoturbation, and a broad bioclimatic gradient. We also characterize total biomass of soil microorganisms and the most probable number of bacteria along a topographic gradient within each bioclimatic subzone to evaluate whether differences in topography lead to differences in microbial dynamics at a smaller scale. We found total microbial biomass C, the most probable number of heterotrophic bacteria, and fungal genera vary along this bioclimatic gradient. Microbial biomass C decreased with increasing latitude. Overall, microbial biomass C, MPN and the number of fungal isolates were higher in AVS than in PGFs. The effects which topographic position had on microbial biomass C varied across the bioclimatic gradient as there was no effect of topographic position in Isachsen (subzone A) and Mould Bay (subzone B), when compared to Green Cabin (subzone C, warmer site).There was no effect of topographic position on MPN counts at Mould Bay and Green Cabin. However, in Isachsen, MPN counts were highest in the wet topographic position as compared to the mesic and dry. In conclusion, PGFs seem to decouple the effect climate that might have on the total biomass of soil microorganisms along the bioclimatic gradient; and influence gets ameliorated as latitude increases. Similarly, the effect of topography on the total microbial biomass is significant at the warmest bioclimatic zone of the gradient. Thus, climate and topographic effects on total microbial biomass increase with warmer climate.

Bacterial septicaemia in prerecruit edible crabs, Cancer pagurus L.

Juvenile edible crabs, Cancer pagurus L., were surveyed from Mumbles Head and Oxwich Bay in South Wales, UK, and the number of heterotrophic bacteria and vibrios in the hemolymph was determined. The percentage of crabs with hemolymph containing bacteria was variable over the survey with higher numbers of animals affected in summer than in winter. Post-moult crabs contained significantly higher numbers of heterotrophic bacteria in the hemolymph than pre- and intermoult animals. Crabs with cuticular damage to the gills also had significantly higher numbers of bacteria in the hemolymph. Crabs were found to have a high prevalence of infection by the dinoflagellate, Hematodinium. Such animals had significantly fewer bacteria in the blood in comparison with Hematodinium-free animals. Of the 463 crabs surveyed, only 3 individuals had hemolymph containing 2000 + CFU mL(-1). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, two of these crabs contained a Vibrio pectenicida-like isolate, while the other had a mixed assemblage of vibrios. Although 59% of the crabs surveyed had culturable bacteria in the hemolymph, the majority only had small numbers (<2000 CFU mL(-1) ), suggesting that such infections may be of limited importance to the sustainability of the crab fishery in this region.

ASSESSMENT BIOREMEDIATION OF CONTAMINATED SOILS TO PETROLEUM COMPOUNDS AND ROLE OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS IN THE DECOMPOSITION PROCESS

Today oil removal from contaminated soil by new methods such as bioremediation is necessary. In this paper, the effect of chemical fertilizers and aeration on bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil has been investigated. Also the control group, (bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soil without treatment by chemical fertilizers and aeration treatment was examined. The condition of experiment is as following: those were treated 70 days in glass columns (30×30×30cm dimensions), ambient temperature (25-30 0 C), relative humidity 70%, aeration operation with flow 0.7 lit/min. The total number of heterotrophic bacteria of break down oil and the total of petroleum hydrocarbons were analyzed using gas chromatography analysis. all experiments were replicated three times. The microbial population results for control soil, treated soil by aeration and treated soil by aeration and chemical fertilizers columns are 2.3×10 5 , 1.04×10 10 , and 1.14×10 11 CFU/gr, respectively. The concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons of remaining are 46965, 38124, and 22187 mg kg -1 respectively. The obtained results show that the aeration operation and chemical fertilizers have effective role on degradation of petroleum hydrocarbon by oil degrading bacteria from soil.

Heterotrophic bacterial growth on hoses in a neonatal water distribution system.

After preliminary tests indicated an increased number of heterotrophic bacteria, we investigated possible sources of contamination in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) water distribution system. Scanning electron microscopic examination of flexible metallic hoses associated with the system revealed the presence of a biofilm; partial 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that the biofilm contained Blastomonas natatoria. Purgation of the water system three times a day, reinforced faucet cleaning, decreasing the cold water temperature to 12 degrees , and six repeated chlorinations at concentrations as high as 2 mg/L were not sufficient to eradicate the bacterial contamination. Replacing all of the rubber-interior flexible metallic hoses with teflon-lined hoses followed by heating the water to 70 degrees successfully controlled the bacteria.

Сезонная динамика потребления кислорода и численность гетеротрофного бактериопланктона в районе антарктической станции Академик Вернадский

Seasonal fluctuations of heterotrophic bacteria abundance as well as of oxygen consumption in coastal waters near island Galindez varied by levels of anthropogenic influence were investigated during wintering 2009-2010 at the Ukrainian Antarctic station Academician Vernadsky. The percentage of psychrophilic forms to mesophilic due to casual ingress of allochthonic microflora, mainly from warmblooded animals and human, was changing in a wide range. Its annual average in a relatively pure zone reached 32%, whereas it has reached 5,9 and 19,7% in two points near the station. Daily consumption of oxygen fluctuated within limits of 0,21–0,97 mg/l and it correlated more vastly with of psychrophilic microflora number (+0,835). It is shown experimentally, that the temperature factor influences rates of using oxygen more, than additional enrichment of the water environment by organic matter in areas of increased antropogenic pressure. Nevertheless, seasonal fluctuations of the number of heterotrophic bacteria and of biochemical oxygen consumption are connected to flashes of phytoplankton activity, producing considerable quantity of organic matter.

THE STUDY OF FERTILITY MARINE ECOSYSTEM OF SOUTHEAST SULAWESI BASED ON BACTERIOLOGICAL ASPECT

The study of waters fertilization in Southeast Sulawesi include Flores Sea, Kabaena Strait, Muna Strait, Buton Strait and Tioro Strait based on bacteriological aspect was conducted on April–May 2006, using the Research Vessel Baruna Jaya VII with total stations 25. The aim of investigation was to find out the total numbers and pattern of distribution heterotrophic bacteria and productivity bacteria in the marine ecosystem of Southeast Sulawesi and related with waters fertilization. The analysis of heterotrophic bacteria was determined based on the Total Plate Count method, whereas bacterial productivity with Acridine Orange Direct Count method. The result indicated that the pattern of distribution and total numbers of heterotrophic bacteria at the surface layers varied between (10–10220)CFU x 10-1/ml with an average 940CFU x 10-1/ml. While at the bottom layer varied between (2–488)CFU x 10-1/ml with an average 91CFU x 10-1/ml. For the bacterial productivity in the form of Carbon biomass at the surface layers varied between (1.30– 5.84) x 10–7grC/m3 with an average 3.56 x 10–7grC/m3, at the bottom layer varied between (0.24–1.33) x 10–7grC/m3 with an average 0.64 x 10–7grC/m3. The result of numbers bacteria that in Southeast Sulawesi waters was lower than the Arafura Sea but still higher than the Aceh Sea. The fluctuation of numbers bacteria perhaps due to the factor of monsoon and environmental was influenced on the marine ecosystem. In general this paper conclude that the condition of marine ecosystem Southeast Sulawesi still relatively fertility.Keywords: Fertility, heterotrophic bacteria, productivity bacteria, Southeast Sulawesi waters

THE STUDY OF FERTILITY MARINE ECOSYSTEM OF SOUTHEAST SULAWESI BASED ON BACTERIOLOGICAL ASPECT

&lt;p&gt;The study of waters fertilization in Southeast Sulawesi include Flores Sea, Kabaena Strait, Muna Strait, Buton Strait and Tioro Strait based on bacteriological aspect was conducted on April–May 2006, using the Research Vessel Baruna Jaya VII with total stations 25. The aim of investigation was to find out the total numbers and pattern of distribution heterotrophic bacteria and productivity bacteria in the marine ecosystem of Southeast Sulawesi and related with waters fertilization. The analysis of heterotrophic bacteria was determined based on the Total Plate Count method, whereas bacterial productivity with Acridine Orange Direct Count method. The result indicated that the pattern of distribution and total numbers of heterotrophic bacteria at the surface layers varied between (10–10220)CFU x 10-1/ml with an average 940CFU x 10-1/ml. While at the bottom layer varied between (2–488)CFU x 10-1/ml with an average 91CFU x 10-1/ml. For the bacterial productivity in the form of Carbon biomass at the surface layers varied between (1.30– 5.84) x 10–7grC/m3 with an average 3.56 x 10–7grC/m3, at the bottom layer varied between (0.24–1.33) x 10–7grC/m3 with an average 0.64 x 10–7grC/m3. The result of numbers bacteria that in Southeast Sulawesi waters was lower than the Arafura Sea but still higher than the Aceh Sea. The fluctuation of numbers bacteria perhaps due to the factor of monsoon and environmental was influenced on the marine ecosystem. In general this paper conclude that the condition of marine ecosystem Southeast Sulawesi still relatively fertility.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Keywords: Fertility, heterotrophic bacteria, productivity bacteria, Southeast Sulawesi waters&lt;/p&gt;

Ecological Restoration Index for Evaluation of Artificial Salt Marsh

Abstract Coastal areas of ecological importance, like tidal flats and salt marshes, are gradually decreasing because of large-scale coastal development projects, land reclamation, and so on. The Nakdong estuary is the most developed estuary in South Korea. The development of artificial tidal flats and salt marshes has been promoted as mitigation countermeasures. Previous studies evaluated artificial tidal flats and salt marshes for their degree of restoration of natural sites. In this paper, an in situ pilot plant of a tidal flat and a salt marsh was conducted to monitor and quantify bio-chemical indicators (biodiversity, population, and biomass of macro benthos; survival ratio of reeds; number of heterotrophic bacteria) and physicochemical characteristics. The content of dredged soil was varied to assess the difference and similarity between the natural and dredged soil. The degree of restoration and creation of ecological environmental zones is evaluated quantitatively with the use of a restoration inde...

Effects of two different ozone doses on seawater recirculating systems for black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegeli (Bleeker): Removal of solids and bacteria by foam fractionation

Foam fractionators, with and without additional ozonation, were evaluated for their effect on solids removal (suspended solids, SS; volatile suspended solids, VSS; dissolved organic carbon, DOC), particle size distribution of the foam in seawater recirculating systems during a 44-day experimental period. The effect of ozone on heterotrophic bacteria was also quantified in the entire system. Three separate but identical recirculating systems (4.5m3 system volume) with foam fractionators (300mm in diameter, 3m in height) were used in this study. One system (Control: CS) did not receive ozone, while the other two systems were ozonated at a rate of either 20g ozone/day (T 20) or 40g ozone/day (T 40) per kg of feed applied, respectively. A total of 107kg of black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegeli (Bleeker) with an average weight of 334.5g was stocked into each system. Daily feeding rate was 1% of total body weight. The solids enrichment factor (EF=Cc/Ci, where Cc=concentration in foam condensate, Ci=concentration in inlet water) in T 40 was 10 times more dilute than the factors in CS and T 20. However, due to the higher volume of the foam (>10 times) in T 40, the removal rates of SS, VSS and DOC were the highest in T 40, but were not significantly different from T 20 (P>0.05). The mean particle sizes at the 90% cumulative removal point decreased with ozonation, 71.2±15.9, 57.9±10.2 and 48.0±10.2μm in CS, T 20 and T 40, respectively. The overall mean particle diameter of solids in the foam decreased as ozonation increased, with values of 29.4±4.4, 23.9±3.8 and 20.5±3.7μm in CS, T 20 and T 40. Numbers of heterotrophic bacteria in the inlet were 6.21±4.93×105CFU/mL, 0.29±0.19×105CFU/mL and 0.30±0.29×105CFU/mL in CS, T 20 and T 40, declining sharply with the addition of ozonation. As the number of the bacteria in the inlet decreased, the bacteria in the foam and the removal rate greatly decreased with increasing ozonation. However, EFs in T 20 (76.4) and T 40 (14.5) were higher than that in CS (12.2), and the T 20 showed significantly higher EF (P<0.05). Therefore, based on the EF, ozonation improved the removal efficiency of heterotrophic bacteria, even at the lowest concentration.

Bacterial Microcompartments

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are organelles composed entirely of protein. They promote specific metabolic processes by encapsulating and colocalizing enzymes with their substrates and cofactors, by protecting vulnerable enzymes in a defined microenvironment, and by sequestering toxic or volatile intermediates. Prototypes of the BMCs are the carboxysomes of autotrophic bacteria. However, structures of similar polyhedral shape are being discovered in an ever-increasing number of heterotrophic bacteria, where they participate in the utilization of specialty carbon and energy sources. Comparative genomics reveals that the potential for this type of compartmentalization is widespread across bacterial phyla and suggests that genetic modules encoding BMCs are frequently laterally transferred among bacteria. The diverse functions of these BMCs suggest that they contribute to metabolic innovation in bacteria in a broad range of environments.

Bacterial diversity in cucumber ( Cucumis sativus) rhizosphere in response to salinity, soil pH, and boron

Soil salinity is a major factor relating microbial communities to environmental stress in the microbial selection process as stress can reduce bacterial diversity. In the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California, the problem of increasing salinity and consequently, decreasing crop productivity, due to reuse of saline drainage water are major concerns. An experiment was conducted in a closed, recirculating volumetric lysimeter system (VLS) consisting of 24 experimental plant growth units to determine the interactive effects of salinity, boron and pH on rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere microbial composition of cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L. cv. Seminis Turbo hybrid). Plants in the VLS were irrigated from individual reservoirs containing a modified half-strength Hoagland's nutrient solution combined with salinity, boron (B), and pH treatments. The results indicated that salinity and pH were the most influential factors affecting the growth of plants and the effect of boron on the plant was more severe under slightly acidic conditions. Total bacterial DNA was extracted from rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere samples, and a 236-bp DNA fragment in the V3 region of the small subunit ribosomal RNA genes of eubacteria was amplified. The 16S rRNA and the products were subjected to denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and sequencing. Analyses of bacterial diversity showed that the effects of salinity, boron, and pH were more severe on the rhizosphere bacterial population during the first week of growing cucumber, with decreasing impacts with plant growth. However, there was no salinity–B–pH interaction effects on plant biomass, but the effects were seen in the number of heterotrophic bacteria in the rhizosphere and on species richness and diversity during week seven of the study. These suggest that the effects of salinity–B–pH interactions may influence microorganisms first before plants and may pose long term effects on soil quality.

The occurrence of lipolytic bacteria and the activity of extracellular lipases in a riverine ecosystem

Abstract This study determined the numbers and distribution of heterotophic and lipolytic bacteria and the activity of lipases in the water of the Słupia River, in the section of the river that flows through the city of Słupsk. From spring to fall the mean number of heterotrophic bacteria remained at a relatively constant level (158.3 × 103 cells cm-3-169.4 × 103 cells cm-3), whereas in winter a sudden drop to only 18.3 × 103 cells cm-3 was found. The numbers of heterotrophic bacteria in the whole studied section of the river were similar. The mean number of lipolytic bacteria reached a maximum in spring (12.9 × 103 cells cm-3), was high in summer (10.5 × 103 cells cm-3), and reached a minimum (1.3 × 103 cells cm-3) in winter. Lipolytic bacteria accounted for only 5 to 8% of the total number of heterotrophic bacteria. No marked differences in the numbers of lipolytic bacteria were determined within the section of the river studied. The highest levels of lipase activity were determined in spring (18.9 nM MUF dm-3 h-1) and fall (19.9 nM MUF dm-3 h-1), while the lowest (11.0 nM MUF dm-3 h-1) were noted in winter. There were no differences in the level of activity of lipolytic enzymes among the sites studied.

Evolution of several soil properties following amendment with olive mill wastewater

Occurrences of olive mill wastewater (OMW) amendment on several chemical and biochemical properties of soil were investigated. Compared to the control, soils amended with untreated and treated OMW (by an integrated process based on aerobic fungal pre-treatment using Phanerochaete chrysosporium DSMZ 6909 followed by anaerobic treatment) showed high levels of organic and mineral matters. Soil amended with untreated OMW presented low levels of total and inorganic nitrogen (0.38 and 0.08 mg g −1 dry soil). Treated OMW contained little content of pollutants (COD = 4 g l −1; phenolic compounds = 0.6 g l −1); so, organic matter brought by these residues was rapidly mineralized in the soil. The number of heterotrophic bacteria was increased (from 54 × 10 5 CFU g −1 dry soil in control soil to 123 × 10 5 CFU g −1 dry soil) in response to the OMW amendment, mainly after C/N ratio correction. Untreated OMW application improved the soil carbon content (2.18 times higher), while the specific respiration remained very low. However, the treated OMW application positively affected the soil-specific respiration that increased from 6.1 in control soil to 9.75 in soil amended with treated OMW. This phenomenon was accompanied by an enhancement of nitrifiers number, urease and ammonium oxidases activities.

Bacterial pollution of the riverine surface microlayer and subsurface water

The density and distribution of bacteria indicative of pollution in the surface microlayer and subsurface water of the River Słupia were estimated. The number of heterotrophic bacteria, total coliforms, fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci were higher in the surface microlayer than in the underlying water. The average bacterial enrichment factor (EF) of the parameters studied in the bacterioneuston was 1.7 to 1.8 times higher than in bacterioplankton. During the annual study cycle, bacterial pollution indicators inhabiting the surface microlayer and subsurface water showed considerable monthly changes.

Influence of the Root System of the Common Osier (Salix viminalis L.) on Abundance of Heterotrophic Bacteria in the Willow Sewage Treatment System

The impact of the Common Osier (Salix viminalis L.) root system on number (CFU) of heterotrophic bacteria and their production in a soil-willow filter was examined. The Osier rhizosphere was found to be suitable habitat for growth of the examined microbial group, and the root system stimulated development of heterotrophic bacteria. The rhizosphere bacteria to control soil bacteria (R:C) ratio oscillated between 2.48 and 2.75 depending on the location of sample collection. The highest abundance of bacteria as well as highest bacterial production was observed at location I, near sewage discharge onto the plot. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of heterotrophic bacteria and the bacterial production.

OIL CONTAMINATION AND HETEROTROPHIC MICROBIOTAOF THE ZMIINY ISLAND AQUATORIUM

General and fractional content of carbohydrogens and also spatial distribution and number of heterotrophic bacteria in the coastal zone of the Zmiiny island have been investigated.

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Polymer Surfaces as a Substrate for Bacterial Attachment and Biofilm Formation

Plastic debris causes extensive damage to the marine environment, largely due to its ability to resist degradation. Attachment on plastic surfaces is a key initiation process for their degradation. The tendency of environmental marine bacteria to adhere to poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) plastic surfaces as a model material was investigated. It was found that the overall number of heterotrophic bacteria in a sample of sea water taken from St. Kilda Beach, Melbourne, Australia, was significantly reduced after six months from 4.2-4.7×10(3) cfu mL(-1) to below detectable levels on both full-strength and oligotrophic marine agar plates. The extinction of oligotrophs after six months was detected in all samples. In contrast, the overall bacterial number recovered on full strength marine agar from the sample flasks with PET did not dramatically reduce. Heterotrophic bacteria recovered on full-strength marine agar plates six months after the commencement of the experiment were found to have suitable metabolic activity to survive in sea water while attaching to the PET plastic surface followed by the commencement of biofilm formation.

Biomineralisation of manganese on titanium surfaces exposed to seawater

A 2-year long study was carried out to isolate and characterise various bacterial species present in the biofilm formed on titanium surfaces exposed to seawater and to assess the manganese oxidizing potential of the marine isolates. The amount of manganese present in the biofilm was also measured using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The results showed that titanium was susceptible to biofouling. More than 50% of the culturable marine bacterial isolates were capable of bringing about oxidation of Mn(II). All these manganese oxidizing bacteria were heterotrophic. Autotrophic manganese oxidizing bacteria such as Leptothrix was not isolated in the present study. The AAS results confirmed that the manganese content in the biofilms increased with increasing exposure time. Hence, the study indicates that the titanium surfaces when exposed to seawater were colonised by a large number of heterotrophic bacteria, which have the ability of bringing about biomineralisation of manganese.