Predominant Bacterial Genera Research Articles

Post-Gulf-War assessment of nutrients, heavy metal ions, hydrocarbons, and bacterial pollution levels in the United Arab Emirates coastal waters

A post-Gulf War coastal sea water pollution assessment program was carried out through monitoring the concentrations of major nutrients, heavy metal ions, selected hydrocarbons, and selected bacterial communities counts at different sites along the coasts of the United Arab Emirates on the Arabian Gulf. Abu-Dhabi and Dubai coastal waters had occasional high nutrient levels with some fluctuations and wide spatial and temporal variations, suggesting the presence of anthropogenic sources of pollution creating these conditions near the sampling sites. Sharjah and Ajman Creeks had lower nutrient levels. Bacterial counts had distinct patterns peaking in spring and autumn, and diminishing during summer and winter. Total and faecal coliform counts fluctuated depending on the presence of nearby recreation and commercial areas, and were at no time consistently high. Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, and Alteromonas were the predominant bacterial genera in these waters. Slightly higher hydrocarbon concentrations were detected both in surface waters and sediments, most likely a result of the deliberate release of crude oil into the Gulf waters during the Gulf War.

Bacterial, nutrients and heavy metal ions pollution assessment along the eastern coastal area of the United Arab Emirates

A program to monitor nutrients and heavy metal ions concentrations in addition to selected bacterial communities counts was carried out at three sites along the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates on the Gulf of Oman. Total saprophytic bacteria (TSB), salt tolerant saprophytic bacteria (STSB), Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), total coliform (TC), and faecal coliform bacteria (FC) were enumerated. The concentrations of heavy metal ions including Mn, Fe, Pb, Cd, Zn, Cr, Ni, Co and Cu were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Bacterial counts had a distinct pattern with peaks in mid spring (May) and in autumn (October). The TSB, STSB and the GNB ranges fluctuated between, 3.3 × 104 to 4 × 105, 1.8 × 104 to 2.5 × 105 and 0.7 × 104 to 1.3 × 105 colony forming units (CFU) ml−1, respectively. Total and faecal coliform bacteria fluctuated depending on several factors including the presence of nearby recreation and commercial areas, but were at no time consistently high.Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus and Alteromonas, were the predominant bacterial genera in these waters. Major nutrients and trace heavy metal ions concentrations were within the normal ranges for sea water with occasional sharp fluctuations in some sites. It was generally concluded that the area is slightly polluted.

Microbiological characterization of a regenerative life support system

A Variable Pressure Plant Growth Chamber (VPGC), at the Johnson Space Center's (JSC) ground-based Regenerative Life Support Systems (RLSS) test bed, was used to produce crops of soil-grown lettuce. The crops and chamber were analyzed for microbiological diversity during lettuce growth and after harvest. Bacterial counts for the rhizosphere, spent nutrient medium, heat exchanger condensate, and atmosphere were approximately 10 11 Colony Forming Units (CFU) g −1, 10 5 CFU ml −1, 10 5 CFU ml −1, and 600 CFU m −3, respectively. Pseudomonas was the predominant bacterial genus. Numbers of fungi were about 10 5 CFU g −1 in the rhizosphere, 4–200 CFU ml −1 in thespent nutrient medium, 110 CFU ml −1 in the heat exchanger condensate, and 3 CFU m −3 in the atmosphere. Fusarium and Trichoderma were the predominant fungal genera.

Antitumor effect of normal intestinal microflora on Ehrlich ascites tumor.

In order to investigate the antitumor activity of intestinal microflora, the constitution of normal flora was examined in humans, guinea pigs and mice. It was clarified that Eubacterium, Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides were the predominant bacterial genera in humans. In addition, neither Clostridium nor Enterobacteriaceae was detected in guinea pigs and neither Clostridium nor Bifidobacterium was present in mice. Total bacterial counts in tumor‐bearing mice were reduced in comparison with those in normal mice. Especially, in the ileum of tumor‐bearing mice, the incidence of anaerobic bacterial genera was strikingly decreased. From the bacteria found, 59 living and killed strains isolated from intestinal microflora were examined for antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites tumor. It was observed that 11 of the tested strains had antitumor activity. Four of these were toxic to the host, and in particular, all mice injected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (TYM‐8) died within several days. Eubacterium lentum (TYH‐11), Propionibacterium acnes (TYM‐28), Proteus mirabilis (TYM‐7) and Serratia marcescens (TY‐142), in which anti‐tumor activity was recognized with living and formalin‐killed bacteria, cured the tumor‐bearing mice, and the culture supernatant of 5. marcescens contained apparent antitumor activity.

相模川の好気性従属栄養細菌フローラ

The number and flora of aerobic heterotropic bacteria were studied for running water, Aufwuchs and river bed sediments of the Sagami River, Kanagawa Prefecture. The numbers of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were 104-106 cells/ml in water and 106-107 cells/cm2 in Aufwuchs. In the river water, Flavobacterium was the most predominant bacterial genus which accounted for 31.3-43.8% of the total heterotrophic bacteria, and Acinetobacter and Moraxella were followed as the secondarily predominant bacteria. These three genera comprised 50-75% of the total heterotrophic bacteria. More Flavobacterium was found in periphyton than in water.