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PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative physiological disposition of two nitrofuran anti-microbial agents.

The physiological disposition of two nitrofuran derivatives used as antimicrobial agents for the treatment of acute infectious diarrhoea was evaluated in humans and animals. Upon administration of a single oral dose (600 mg) of nifurzide or nifuroxazide, no unchanged parent drug was detected in human blood or urine. In rats given 14C-nifurzide and 14C-nifuroxazide at a dose of 10 mg kg-1, 5 per cent and 17 per cent of the dose of nifurzide and nifuroxazide, respectively, were excreted in urine over a 48-hour period. None of this radioactivity was present as unchanged drug, indicating that renal excretion of both drugs occurs as metabolites. In the faeces 20 per cent of the radioactivity recovered was associated with unchanged nifuroxazide as compared with 100 per cent for nifurzide. Whole body autoradiography using rats showed that after oral administration of 14C-nifurzide and 14C-nifuroxazide, most of the radioactivity remained in the gastrointestinal lumen.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Physiological implications of microbial digestion in the large intestine of mammals: relation to dietary factors.

The rate of digesta marker passage through the large intestine of the dog, pig, and pony correlated with the relative length and degree of sacculation of the colon. Volatile fatty acids (VFA), the end products of microbial digestion of all forms of carbohydrate, were the major anions present in large intestinal contents of all three species. Total VFA concentration was little affected by the feeding of high-versus low-fiber diets. VFA were rapidly transported across colonic mucosa of all three species. Results of comparative studies indicate that production and absorption of VFA are important to the nutrition of some mammals and to the normal secretory and absorptive functions of the large intestine of most mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Effects of lead contamination on soil enzymatic activities, microbial biomass, and rice physiological indices in soil-lead-rice (Oryza sativa L.) system.

The effect of lead (Pb) treatment on the soil enzymatic activities, soil microbial biomass, rice physiological indices and rice biomass were studied in a greenhouse pot experiment. Six levels of Pb viz. 0(CK), 100, 300, 500, 700, 900 mg/kg soil were applied in two types of paddy soils. The results showed that Pb treatment had a stimulating effect on soil enzymatic activities and microbial biomass carbon (Cmic) at low concentration and an inhibitory influence at higher concentration. The degree of influence on enzymatic activities and Cmic by Pb was related to the clay and organic matter contents of the soils. When the Pb treatment was raised to the level of 500 mg/kg, ecological risk appeared both to soil microorganisms and plants. The results also revealed a consistent trend of increased chlorophyll contents and rice biomass initially, maximum at a certain Pb treatment, and then decreased gradually with the increase in Pb concentration. Pb was effective in inducing proline accumulation and its toxicity causes oxidative stress in rice plants. Therefore, it was concluded that soil enzymatic activities, Cmic and rice physiological indices, could be sensitive indicators to reflect environmental stress in soil-lead-rice system.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed2006

Culture isolation and culture-independent clone libraries reveal new marine Synechococcus ecotypes with distinctive light and N physiologies.

Marine microbial communities often contain multiple closely related phylogenetic clades, but in many cases, it is still unclear what physiological traits differentiate these putative ecotypes. The numerically abundant marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus can be divided into at least 14 clades. In order to better understand ecotype differentiation in this genus, we assessed the diversity of a Synechococcus community from a well-mixed water column in the Sargasso Sea during March 2002, a time of year when this genus typically reaches its annual peak in abundance. Diversity was estimated from water sampled at three depths (approximately 5, 70, and 170 m) using both culture isolation and construction of cyanobacterial 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed sequence clone libraries. Clonal isolates were obtained by enrichment with ammonium, nitrite, or nitrate as the sole N source, followed by pour plating. Each method sampled the in situ diversity differently. The combined methods revealed a total of seven Synechococcus phylotypes including two new putative ecotypes, labeled XV and XVI. Although most other isolates grow on nitrate, clade XV exhibited a reduced efficiency in nitrate utilization, and both clade XV and XVI are capable of chromatic adaptation, demonstrating that this trait is more widely distributed among Synechococcus strains than previously known. Thus, as in its sister genus Prochlorococcus, light and nitrogen utilization are important factors in ecotype differentiation in the marine Synechococcus lineage.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed2006

Effects of lead contamination on soil microbial activity and rice physiological indices in soil-Pb-rice (Oryza sativa L.) system.

The effect of lead (Pb) treatment on the soil microbial activities (soil microbial biomass and soil basal respiration) and rice physiological indices were studied by greenhouse pot experiment. Pb was applied as lead acetate at six different levels in two different paddy soils, namely 0 (control), 100, 300, 500, 700, 900 mg kg-1 soil. The results showed that the application of Pb at lower level (<300 mg kg-1) as lead acetate resulted in a slight increase in soil microbial activities compared with the control, and had an inhibitory influence at high concentration (>500 mg Pb kg-1 soil), which might be the critical concentration of Pb causing a significant decline in the soil microbial activities. However, the degree of influence on soil microbial activities by Pb was related to the clay and organic matter contents of the soils. On the other hand, when the level of Pb treatments increased to 500 mg kg-1, there was ecological risk for both soil microbial activities and plants. The results also revealed that there was a consistent trend that the chlorophyll contents increased initially, and then decreased gradually with increase in Pb concentration. Pb was effective in inducing proline accumulation and its toxicity causes oxidative stress in rice plants. In a word, soil microbial activities and rice physiological indices, therefore, may be sensitive indicators reflecting environmental stress in soil-Pb-rice system.

Biomass↗
PubMed1997

Physiological characterization of a microbial sensor containing the yeast Arxula adeninivorans LS3.

The yeast Arxula adeninivorans LS3 is a suitable organism for use as part of a microbial sensor. In combination with an amperometric oxygen electrode the sensor offered a possibility for the physiological characterization of this yeast. About 300-400 measurements could be carried out with a single Arxula sensor. The microbial sensor was remarkably stable for over 35 days, when kept at 37 degrees C during the operation time and at room temperature overnight. The physiological characteristics of Arxula adeninivorans LS3 obtained with the sensor technique were identical to the data obtained with the conventional techniques. However, the sensor technique makes it additionally possible to quantify the physiological data. So the substrates ribose, citric acid, glycerol, oil and benzoate produced signals lower than 10% in comparison to the glucose signal. Fructose, xylose, sucrose, maltose, gentianose, glucosamine, glutamic acid, tryptophan, butyric acid, lauryl acid and propionic acid reached 10-70%, galactose, alanine, glycine, lysine and methionine signals were similar to the glucose signal whereas acetic acid, ethyl alcohol, capron acid, capryl acid and caproic acid reached the highest signals up to 434%.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1979

[Rhizospheric organism under the influence of environmental pollution. II. Physiologic efficiency of the microbial biocenosis in fungicide containing soil (author's transl)].

Measuring the potential soil respiration according to the incubator method allows the physiological performance of the celluloytic microflora to be determined. Laboratory tests were carried out to analyse catabolic processes after soil samples had been enriched with native cellulose + fungides. As the temporary capacity of mineralization primarily induced by the substrate invariably gives rise to a substrate-specific "change in position" in the microbial biocenosis, the measured values cannot furnish a parameter for microbiological comparisons of the soil content. Preliminary analyses provided information on the processes of depolymerisation of various C-sources and characterized the celluloysis as well as the order of respiration of its monomer. The rising respiration curve markedly drops off after 12 days, because with the CO2 development at its maximum, total and partial respiration alternate, a phenomenon that was verified in soils incubated with glucose 14C (Keefer and Mortensen, 1963; Macura, 1963; Simonart and Mayaudon, 1958). The test results obtained with fungicide-treated soils (dithiocarbamine acid derivatives) allow the conclusion that the fungicides exercise a varying influence: in the cellulolysis the activity of the cellulase systems is reduced depending on the active substance and concentration, but what is surprising is that respiration is stimulated; this applies to amounts of pesticides being 0.75 and 1.5 times the practical quantity applied. Nor have the "dissociation tests" with cellobiose, which is supposed to be the final link of celluloysis, shown any inhibition of the 1.4--glucodimerase or high respiration values comparable with the glucose metabolism. Tests with cellulases (Cx with dimerase function, Messrs. Roehm and Haas, Darmstadt), which are at present being carried out, are expected to support these observations experimentally. Investigations intended to clarify whether an additional administration of Mn2+ and Fe3+ in the presence of Maneb and Ferbam permits interference with possible adsorption and exchange processes have not yet yielded any generally valid results. The results of the open-field investigations also tend to indicate that the mentioned dithio-carbamates determine the magnitude and the extent of the physiological and CO2-ecological processes to a varying degree; it can be seen that a remarkable "capacity fo compensation" is discernible in the succession of the investigated phases of soil-physiological processes which we tried to clarify.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1995

On the use of antibiotics to reduce rhizoplane microbial populations in root physiology and ecology investigations.

No straightforward method exists for separating the proportion of ion exchange and respiration due to rhizoplane microbial organisms from that of root ion exchange and respiration. We examined several antibiotics that might be used for the temporary elimination of rhizoplane bacteria from hydroponically grown wheat roots (Triticum aestivum cv. Veery 10). Each antibiotic was tested for herbicidal activity and plate counts were used to enumerate bacteria and evaluate antibiotic kinetics. Only lactam antibiotics (penicillins and cephalosporins) did not reduce wheat growth rates. Aminoglycosides, the pyrimidine trimethoprim, colistin and rifampicin reduced growth rates substantially. Antibiotics acted slowly, with maximum reductions in rhizoplane bacteria occurring after more than 48 h of exposure. Combinations of nonphytotoxic antibiotics reduced platable rhizoplane bacteria by as much as 98%; however, this was generally a reduction from about 10(9) to 10(6) colony forming units per gram of dry root mass, so that many viable bacteria remained on root surfaces. We present evidence which suggests that insufficient bacterial biomass exists on root surfaces of nonstressed plants grown under well-aerated conditions to quantitatively interfere with root nitrogen absorption measurements.

Aminoglycosides↗
PubMed1988

Analytical and physiological variability of salivary microbial counts.

Quantitation of mutans streptococci (MS) and Lactobacillus has been proposed as a method for the identification of patients at high risk for dental caries. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the analytical and physiological variability of this procedure. Variability due to specimen collection and processing was investigated by repeated sampling studies. Sample stability was investigated over storage periods of up to 72 hr at 5 degrees C, room temperature, and 37 degrees C. Physiological variability was investigated by performance of serial analyses on ten individuals, who collected six samples at intervals on a single day, and rising and noon samples on ten subsequent days. Sample collection, rather than sample processing, was found to be the major factor determining the imprecision of salivary microbial analysis in the majority of cases. However, individual subjects varied considerably in the consistency with which they provided saliva samples. Imprecision due to sample processing was relatively small, with coefficients of variations of 2.3% for MS counts and 2.1% for Lactobacillus counts. Samples were generally stable over a wide temperature range for at least 72 hours, although there was some loss of viability of lactobacilli on prolonged storage at room temperature or 37 degrees C in one experiment. Rising samples yielded higher counts than samples collected after breakfast and toothbrushing. Day-to-day variability was considerable, with 95% confidence limits exceeding 1 log in 28% of data sets for MS count and 39% of data sets for Lactobacillus.

Circadian Rhythm↗
PubMed2000

Physiological Status and Community Composition of Microbial Mats of the Ebro Delta, Spain, by Signature Lipid Biomarkers.

Physiological status of microbial mats of the Ebro Delta (Tarragona, Spain) based on the extraction of lipids considered "signature lipid biomarkers" (SLB) from the cell membranes and walls of microorganisms has been analyzed. Data from a day-night cycle show significant differences in viable cells countings (PLFA cells counts) ranging from 1.5 x 10(10) to 5.0 x 10(10) cells g(-1) of sediment. Minimum values were observed at 18:00 and 6:00, when physicochemical conditions change drastically. The diversity of the microbial community was assessed by GC/MS analysis of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA). The ratio of PLFA, representative of Gram-negative bacteria, comprises 47.8% of the total PLFA of the microbial mat community. The remaining PLFA was representative of Gram-positive (10.0%), anaerobic (5.7%), and eukaryotic microorganisms (5.7%), and other common lipids. Two different approaches were used as a comparative study to assess the physiological status of the microbial mats. Two parameters (cyclopropane fatty acids/omega7c monoenoic fatty acids, and measurement of the trans/cis monoenoic PLFA ratio) showed a minimum at midnight, suggesting the highest microbial activity. Higher values were observed at 18:00 and 6:00, coinciding with lower PLFA cell counts. </hea

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

A rapid microtiter plate method to measure carbon dioxide evolved from carbon substrate amendments so as to determine the physiological profiles of soil microbial communities by using whole soil.

Sole-carbon-source tests (Biolog), designed to identify bacteria, have become very popular for metabolically fingerprinting soil microbial communities, despite disadvantages associated with the use of carbon source profiles that primarily select for fast-growing bacteria. In this paper we describe the use of an alternative method that combines the advantages of the Biolog community-level physiological profile (CLPP) method, in which microtiter-based detection plates are used, with the ability to measure carbon dioxide evolution from whole soil. This method facilitates measurement over short periods of time (4 to 6 h) and does not require the extraction and culturing of organisms. Deep-well microtiter plates are used as test wells into which soil is placed. The apparatus to fill the deep-well plates and interface it with a second removable detection plate is described. Two detection systems, a simple colorimetric reaction in absorbent alkali and scintillation counting with radioactive carbon sources, are described. The methods were compared to the Biolog-CLPP system by using soils under different vegetation types and soil treated with wastewater sludge. We aimed to test the hypothesis that using whole soil would have specific advantages over using extracts in that more immediate responses to substrates could be obtained that would reflect activity rather than growth. The whole-soil method was more rapid and gave earlier detection of C source use. Also, the metabolic fingerprints obtained could discriminate between sludge treatments.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2004

Combined phospholipid biomarker-16S rRNA gene denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of bacterial diversity and physiological status in an intertidal microbial mat.

A combined lipid biomarker-16S rRNA gene denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis was used to monitor changes in the physiological status, biomass, and microbial composition of a microbial mat. In the morning hours, an increase in the biomass of layers containing a high density of phototrophs and a decrease in the growth rate in the deep layers were observed. The combined approach also revealed differences in major groups of microorganisms, including green nonsulfur, gram-positive, and heterotrophic bacteria.

Bacteria↗