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Use of random amplified polymorphic DNA PCR to examine epidemiology of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Achromobacter (Alcaligenes) xylosoxidans from patients with cystic fibrosis.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Achromobacter (Alcaligenes) xylosoxidans have been increasingly recognized as a cause of respiratory tract colonization in cystic fibrosis (CF). Although both organisms have been associated with progressive deterioration of pulmonary function, demonstration of causality is lacking. To examine the molecular epidemiology of S. maltophilia and A. xylosoxidans in CF, isolates from patients monitored for up to 2 years were fingerprinted using a PCR-based randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR) method. Sixty-one of 69 CF centers screened had 183 S. maltophilia culture-positive patients, and 46 centers had 92 A. xylosoxidans-positive patients. At least one isolate from each patient was genotyped, and patients with > or =10 positive cultures (12 S. maltophilia cultures, 15 A. xylosoxidans cultures) had serial isolates genotyped. In addition, centers with multiple culture-positive patients were examined for evidence of shared clones. There were no instances of shared genotypes among different CF centers. Some patients demonstrated isolates with a single genotype throughout the observation period, and others had intervening or sequential genotypes. At the six centers with multiple S. maltophilia culture-positive patients and the seven centers with multiple A. xylosoxidans-positive patients, there were three and five instances of shared genotypes, respectively. The majority of shared isolates were from pairs who were siblings or otherwise epidemiologically linked. These findings suggest RAPD-PCR typing can distinguish unique CF isolates of S. maltophilia and A. xylosoxidans, person-to-person transmission may occur, there are not a small number of clones infecting CF airways, and patients with long-term colonization may either have a persistent organism or may acquire additional organisms over time.

Alcaligenes↗

Ribosomal DNA-directed PCR for identification of Achromobacter (Alcaligenes) xylosoxidans recovered from sputum samples from cystic fibrosis patients.

The opportunistic human pathogen Achromobacter (Alcaligenes) xylosoxidans has been recovered with increasing frequency from respiratory tract culture of persons with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, confusion of this species with other closely related respiratory pathogens has limited studies to better elucidate its epidemiology, natural history, and pathogenic role in CF. Misidentification of A. xylosoxidans as Burkholderia cepacia complex is especially problematic and presents a challenge to effective infection control in CF. To address the problem of accurate identification of A. xylosoxidans, we developed a PCR assay based on a 16S ribosomal DNA sequence. In an analysis of 149 isolates that included 47 A. xylosoxidans and several related glucose-nonfermenting species recovered from CF sputum, the sensitivity and specificity of this PCR assay were determined to be 100 and 97%, respectively. The availability of this assay will enhance identification of A. xylosoxidans, thereby facilitating study of the pathogenic role of this species and improving infection control efforts in CF.

Alcaligenes↗

[Physiological study and taxonomy of Alcaligenes species: A denitrificans, A. odorans and A faecalis].

We have studied 43 strains of the species Alcaligenes dentrificans, A. odorans, and A. faecalis. Twenty-five of them were isolated by enrichment culture on minimal medium containing an organic acid (L-malate, succinate, tartrate, adipate, or itaconate) and N2O as a respiratory electron acceptor. These constitute a single phenon with the A. dentrificans strain type and 9 other strains isolated from clinical specimens. However, strain 4 differs from the other 34 strains in 12 nutritional characters, in its ability to effect a meta cleavage of diphenols, and by the absence of tetrathionate reductase. The percentages of G + C are the following: strains isolated from soil, 66.4 +/- 1.1; collection strains, 67.0 +/- 1.3. The 5 strains of A. odorans differ from the 34 strains of A. denitrificans (not including strain 4) in their inability to denitrify nitrate and use D-saccharate, adipate, pimelate, suberate, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutarate meso-tartrate, azelate, and itaconate. Their percentage of G + C is much lower: 56.1 +/- 0.4. From the nutritional point of view the 3 strains of A. faecalis resemble A. dentrificans. However, they differ from the latter by their inability to grow anaerobically on NO3-, NO2-, N2O, and by a slightly lower percentage of G+ C: 64.3 +/- 0.0. The 43 strains synthesize poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid. None of them is chemolithotrophic.

Alcaligenes↗

Theoretical maximum and observed product yields associated with curdlan production by Alcaligenes faecalis.

As a guide to both strain and process improvement and based on certain assumptions concerning both glucose and energy metabolism of the process organism, Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes, the theoretical "maximum" carbon (glucose) substrate to product conversion efficiency (i.e., product yield) has been estimated for "curdlan-type" beta(1 leads to 3)-glucan exopolysaccharide production in batch fermentations. Under nitrogen limitation, which promotes curdlan biosynthesis (mu = 0), the rate of glucose consumption for cellular maintenance energy (grams of glucose per gram of cells per hour) was approximately five times higher than under carbon limitation. The decrease in the theoretical "maximum" curdlan conversion efficiency of 74% to the average value of 50-56% was due primarily to the high maintenance coefficient of the nitrogen-starved culture.

Alcaligenes↗

Production of curdlan-type polysaccharide by Alcaligenes faecalis in batch and continuous culture.

The biosynthesis of a thermogelable, extracellular homo-beta-(1 leads to 3)-glucan called "curdlan," has been studied in batch and continuous cultures of Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes. Curdlan production is associated with the poststationary phase of a nitrogen-depleted, aerobic batch culture. Exopolymer is not detected in single-stage, carbon-limited continuous cultures but curdlan can be isolated from the effluent of a nitrogen-limited chemostat operating at a dilution rate (D) of less than 0.1 h-1. A spontaneous variant of strain ATCC 21680 was isolated and found to be compatible with long-term, nitrogen-limited chemostat culture. The specific rate of curdlan production is approximately four times higher in poststationary batch cultures than in single-stage continuous fermentations. The product yield (Yp/S) associated with batch processing (nongrowing cultures) is approximately 0.5 g curdlan/g glucose, with CO2 being the only detectable by-product.

Alcaligenes↗

Mutational analysis of genes determining antagonism of Alcaligenes sp. strain MFA1 against the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum.

Alcaligenes sp. strain MFA1 inhibits microconidial germination and germination-tube elongation of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi and reduces the severity of fusarium wilt of carnation, presumably as a result of its production of a siderophore (G.Y. Yuen and M.N. Schroth. 1986. Phytopathology, 76:171-176). Derivative strains of MFA1, deficient in antagonism against F. oxysporum and in iron-limited growth, were obtained by Tn5 mutagenesis. The presence of a single Tn5 insertion in the genomic DNA of each derivative strain was detected by Southern analysis. Marker-exchange mutagenesis of strain MFA1 with DNA fragments, containing Tn5 and flanking sequences cloned from representative mutants, confirmed the association of single Tn5 insertions with the loss of antifungal activity and iron-independent growth of MFA1. These results are consistent with the involvement of siderophore biosynthesis by MFA1 in the inhibition of F. oxysporum.

Alcaligenes↗

The 2,4-dichlorophenol hydroxylase of Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP134 is a homotetramer.

2,4-Dichlorophenol hydroxylase (DCP-hydroxylase) is a key enzyme in the pathway for degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in many bacteria. In Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP134, DCP-hydroxylase was reported to consist of two dissimilar types of subunit of 66 and 45 kDa, a structure which is different from that in other bacteria. Using a different procedure involving affinity purification and ion-exchange chromatography, we have purified active enzyme from JMP134 and show that it has a native molecular mass of approximately 245 kDa and consists of a single type of subunit of 66 kDa, similar to all other flavoprotein monooxygenase enzymes. A 45-kDa polypeptide, found in partially purified enzyme preparations, was not required for enzyme activity but had some serologic and N-terminal amino acid sequence similarity to the 66-kDa enzyme subunit.

Alcaligenes↗

The purification and characterization of a beta-glucosidase from Alcaligenes faecalis.

The beta-glucosidase from Alcaligenes faecalis has been purified to homogeneity (880-fold purification, 11% yield) using a combination of classical techniques and medium pressure ion-exchange chromatography. It is a dimeric enzyme of monomer molecular weight 50,000 and has no specific requirement for divalent metal ions. It has a high specificity for beta-glucosides and hydrolyses a wide variety of different chemical types wit retention of configuration at the anomeric centre. It has no exo-beta-1,4-glucanase activity. It is reversibly inhibited by a variety of sugars which have been shown previously to be very active against glucosidases, suggesting a normal mechanism of action. Measured Km values for cellobiose and p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside are quite low (0.70 and 0.08 mM, respectively), making this a good choice for cocloning into a cellulase system optimized for glucose production.

Alcaligenes↗

CAPD-associated peritonitis caused by Alcaligenes xylosoxidans sp. xylosoxidans.

Alcaligenes xylosoxidans is an uncommon cause of peritonitis in patients on maintenance continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Peritonitis caused by A. xylosoxidans usually carries a poor prognosis because of the pathogen's virulence and its universal resistance to most antimicrobial agents. Even after early Tenckhoff catheter removal, the transport property of the peritoneum is often irreversibly damaged, leading to permanent technique failure. We report 2 patients with CAPD-associated peritonitis due to A. xylosoxidans sp. xylosoxidans who were successfully cured with a combination of piperacillin and tazobactam. One of them subsequently returned uneventfully to CAPD.

Adult↗

Infection by Alcaligenes xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans in neutropenic patients.

Alcaligenes xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans (A. x. xylosoxidans) is a nonfermenting gram-negative peritrichous rod and opportunistic pathogen. The organism is frequently found in an aqueous environment. In the past few years, nosocomial infections caused by A. x. xylosoxidans have become more evident. The literature suggests that systemic infections are severe and often lethal and an optimal antibiotic therapy is not well established. This report describes nosocomial infections in 11 patients of a hematology ward over a 2-month period. Primary infection occurred during the neutropenic phase after cytotoxic chemotherapy. Reinfection spread from central venous catheters that had been implanted before the first infection. The bacteremia was successfully treated by imipenem. None of the 11 patients died from the bacteremia, but 3 died of their underlying diseases. Despite an intensive search for the source, the route of infection remained uncertain. Nosocomial infections by A. x. xylosoxidans are of growing importance in high-risk patients. Although the source of infection often remains unknown, infection seems to originate from contaminated solutions. Treatment with imipenem and the removal of central venous catheter systems successfully eliminated A. x. xylosoxidans, which adheres to plastic material.

Adolescent↗

Post-ERCP bacteremia caused by Alcaligenes xylosoxidans in a patient with pancreas cancer.

Alcaligenes xylosoxidans is an aerobic, motile, oxidase and catalase positive, nonfermentative Gram negative bacillus. This bacterium has been isolated from intestine of humans and from various hospital or environmental water sources. A.xylosoxidans is both waterborne and results from the poor-hygienic conditions healthcare workers are in. In this case report, the bacteremia which appeared in a patient with pancreas cancer after ERCP was described.

Aged↗

Nucleotide sequences of membrane-bound hydrogenase gene in Alcaligenes hydrogenophilus.

The nucleotide sequences of membrane-bound hydrogenase small (hupS) and large (hupL) subunit genes of hydrogen bacterium Alcaligenes hydrogenophilus were determined. The hupS and hupL genes encoded polypeptides of 363 and 619 amino acids, respectively. The hupS was located upstream of hupL with 35bp of intergenic region. The consensus ribosome-binding sequences were identified upstream of the start codons of hupS and hupL. Amino acid sequence of hupS is very similar to that of Rhodobacter capsulatus, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and Azotobacter vinelandii at amino acid levels of 82%, 77%, and 81%, respectively. Similarly, amino acid sequence of HupL is similar to that of R. capsulatus, B. japonicum, and A. vinelandii at amino acid levels of 63%, 65%, and 68%, respectively. Northern hybridization analysis showed that hupS and hupL were co-transcribed, and addition of fructose to the culture medium remarkably decreased the amount of mRNA transcribed from hupS and hupL.

Alcaligenes↗

[Conjugal transfer of chemolithoautotrophically growing ability from hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium Alcaligenes hydrogenophilus to useful material-producing bacteria].

The plasmid genes encoding the ability to grow chemolithoautotrophically with H2 and CO2 from a H2-oxidizing bacterium Alcaligenes hydrogenophilus were in vivo cloned using the broad host range Inc P1 R-plasmid R68.45. The genes of H2-oxidation enzymes were expressed by a novel alternative sigma 54-like factor encoded on the chromosome. The sigma 54-like factor was also in vivo cloned using R68.45. Both R68.45-primes, one carrying plasmid genes and the other carrying chromosome genes, were in vivo recombined and a recombinant plasmid carrying both genes from plasmid and chromosome was obtained. The conjugal transfer of chemolithoautotrophically growing ability was carried out using the resulting recombinant plasmid. Seventeen bacterial strains, including useful material-producing bacteria, grew up to be able to grow with H2 and CO2 as the H2-oxidizing bacteria. Some patent strains registered for the production of antibiotics were ascertained to produce some products which inhibited the growth of the testing-bacteria, under not only heterotrophic conditions but also chemolithoautotrophilic conditions. The results obtained in our studies will be available in the future research for the production of useful material from CO2.

Alcaligenes↗

Characteristics of ammonium removal by heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification by Alcaligenes faecalis No. 4.

Alcaligenes faecalis no. 4 has heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification abilities. By taking the nitrogen balance under different culture conditions, 40-50% of removed NH4+-N was denitrified and about one-half of removed NH4+-N was converted to intracellular nitrogen. The maximum ammonium removal rate of no. 4 (28.9 mg-N/l/h) and its denitrification rate at high-strength NH4+-N of about 1200 ppm in aerated batch experiments at a C/N ratio of 10 were 5-40 times higher than those of other bacteria with the same ability. Only a few percent of the removed ammonium was converted to nitrite, and the main denitrification process was speculated to be via hydroxylamine which was produced by ammonium oxidation.

Aerobiosis↗

Characterization of D-aminoacylase from Alcaligenes denitrificans DA181.

The D-aminoacylase produced by Alcaligenes denitrificans DA181 was a new type of aminoacylase which had both high stereospecificity and specific activity. The molecular weight and isoelectric point of this enzyme were 58,000 and 4.4, respectively. The apparent Km and kcat values of this enzyme for N-acetyl-D-methionine were estimated to be 0.48 mM and 6.24 x 10(4) min-1, respectively. The optimum temperature was 45 degrees C. The enzyme was stable up to 55 degrees C for 1 hr in the presence of 0.2 mg/ml bovine serum albumin. The enzyme was stable in the pH range of 6.0 to 11.0 with an optimum pH of 7.5. This enzyme contained about 2.1 g atom of zinc per mole of enzyme. Enzyme activity was inhibited by incubation with EDTA. The inhibition by EDTA was fully reversed by Co2+ and partially by Zn2+.

Alcaligenes↗

Effects of organic acids on heterotrophic nitrification by Alcaligenes faecalis OKK17.

Factors affecting heterotrophic nitrification by Alcaligenes faecalis OKK17, which was isolated from sewage sludge, were examined. Specific nitrifying activity increased as the pH increased up to 8.5. Most of the nitrogenous compounds (88%) in the culture supernatant were converted to hydroxylamine or nitrite at pH 9 but 87% of them remained as ammonium at pH 7. These results imply that the substrate for heterotrophic nitrification is ammonium and that the organism oxidizes ammonium to lower its toxic effect. Although the addition of acetate to a defined medium increased growth of the bacterium up to C/N = ca. 6, the accumulation of nitrification products almost paralleled the growth and the specific nitrifying activity decreased. Pyruvate and oxaloacetate increased the specific nitrifying activity six- to eightfold compared with the other organic acids examined, but the key enzyme activities in the glyoxylate cycle were not increased. Acetate, glyoxylate, and malonate did not increase the specific nitrifying activity, but they increased the enzyme activities. These results imply that the involvement of acetate metabolism in the heterotrophic nitrification is unlikely.

Acetates↗