Bacillus endoradicis
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Bacillus endoradicis
Classification
Higher order taxa
Domain:Bacteria; Phylum: Firmicutes; Class:Bacilli; Order: Bacillasles; Family: Bacillaceae; Genus:Bacillus; Species: Bacillus endoradicis [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]
Species
Bacillus endoradicis
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Description and significance
The microbe Bacillus endoradicis is a strain of Bacillus bacteria that is gram positive. It was discovered in 2009, and can be found within soybeans, in soil and other vegetation. The microbe is considered a mesophile because it grows ideally at temperatures ranging from 14 and 45°C. The cells are generally motile, with transparent colonies with a slight white pigmentation to them each parent colony has irregular edges. The cells generally occur as a single bacillus, as diplobacilli,and in Streptobacilli form. When analyzed phylogenetically, the 16S rRNA gene showed that the strain of Bacillus endoradicis showed to be most closely related to a strain of Bacillus called Bacillus muralis, Bacillus simplex, and Bacillus subtilis. Each of these have a similarity of approximately ~96.4%, which is enough to make Bacillus endoradicis a separate bacterial species; being lower than the threshold of 97%. The general phenotypic charecterization from the other two Bacillus strains showed similar charecteristics in a sense that they did not hydrolyse casein or starch, but growth within a MacConkey agar (a selective agar and differential culture medium that is for bacteria, and is designed to isolate Gram-negative and enteric bacilli on whether or not they could ferment lactose) was possible. Because of it similarities to Bacillus simplex, and Bacillus endoradicis pathogen suppressing ability observed within the soybeans of Shijiazhuang city, Hebei Province, China, the soil bacteria can be associated with the plants roots, and having a positive effect on the plants growth rate. This is generally done through a plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) such as Bacillus endoradicis or Bacillus simplex. It is the microbes ability to produce dormant, heat and desication-tolerant spores that enable it survive in severe stress in fields. This microbe is found to not be toxic, or harmful to humans, but in turn could be found to prove beneficial by helping increase the protein source found in soybeans by increasing anti oxidation activity and trypsin inhibitors and other antigenic proteins reduced in fermented soybean meal cultures.
Genome structure
The genome of B.endoradicis was sequenced in 2009 and was found to have a linear topology, with a single chromosome. The chromosome, because it was partially sequenced has only found to have a sequence length of 1,398 bp, while relating strains of B. simplex being fairly similar in the ranges of ~96.4%. This makes sense because they are both used as broad antibiotics and plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB). It is because the sequence of Bacillus endoradicis is partially sequenced, but found to share the same characteristics of its similar bacillus family and relating to nearly 97% genomicaly, and anecdotal evidence shows that it doesn't vary far from microbes such as B.subtilis and B.simplex.
Cell and colony structure
Bacillus endoradicis is a gram-positive and rod-shaped bacillus. It can be bacillus, diplobacilli, or Streptobacilli shaped. The cells are generally 0.7-0.9 μm in diameter and 1.9-2.7 μm in length. Each of these cells are motile and flagellated and have the ability to form spores. Bacillus endoradicis' optimum growth temperature is determined to be set at 15-45°C.General cell motility and aerotactic ability found by observing the growth and the spread of cells in a test tube containing semi-solid NA medium. This method was conducted so that the researchers can detect the endospore morphology and to determine which strain was grown in the PCA medium (containing 0.5 % peptone, 0.25 % yeast extract, 0.1 % glucose, 1.5 % agar) at 28°C for 36 hours, and was then stained as described by Bartholomew and Mittwer. Cells of this strain were rods ranging from 0.7–0.9 μm wide and 1.9– 2.7 μm long. The strain of B.endoradicis is motile and aerobic. This was determined by observing the growth extending from an inoculating stab line in the semi-solid NA medium and then ended up gathering at the top of the test tubes assuming to absorb maximal amounts of oxygen which was present. Cells produced ellipsoidal spores located centrally or subterminally in swollen sporangia after being cultivated for more than 24 hours. Phenotypic and biochemical properties of B. muralis, B. simplex and B. asahii were determined. The temperature range for growth was tested at 4, 10, 15, 20, 28, 37, 45 and 55°C. The pH range for growth in the unique nutrient broth was tested in the pH range of 5.5 to 10.0 with increasing increments of 0.5. Through the anecdotal evidence done, it was seen that as the pH units increased the growth of the microbe decreased and almost became non-existent. Catalase activity was determined by assessing bubble production in 3% H2O2. Growth on MacConkey agar also known as (MAC) containing (20.0 g peptone, 10.0 g lactose, 5.0 g sodium chloride, 16.5 g agar, 0.03 g neutral red, 1.0 mg crystal violet, 1 l water) was also tested.
Metabolism
This microbe, because it is closely related to Bacillus endoradicis it seems that it has a decreased capacity for the extensive carbohydrate metabolism. It is also believed that B. endoradicis possesses the genes for the cleavage of extracellular chitin and chitosan, which confirms its close relationship with the insect pathogen B. thuringiensis. Bacilli are rod-shaped, Gram-positive, sporulating, aerobes or facultative anaerobes.
Ecology
The microbe B.endoradicis generally resides within the inner tissues of a healthy soybean roots. The microbe can be used to contribute to plant growth by suppressing pathogens from affecting the host plant the microbe resides in. It is also used as a broad antibiotic. This could be the contributing factor as why it is able to suppress certain pathogens.
Pathology
Does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors.
References
[Sample reference] [http://ijs.sgmjournals.org/content/62/2/330; Sylvie Cousin, Marie-Laure Gulat-Okalla, Laurence Motreff, Catherine Gouyette, Christiane Bouchier, Dominique Clermont, and Chantal Bizet. Lactobacillus gigeriorum sp. nov., isolated from chicken crop. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol February 2012 62:330-334; published ahead of print March 18, 2011.} [doi:10.1099/ijs.0.028217-0.]
Edited by PUT YOUR NAME HERE of Dr. Lisa R. Moore, University of Southern Maine, Department of Biological Sciences, http://www.usm.maine.edu/bio
