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The use of rustic cattle is desirable to face challenges brought on by climate change. Maremmana (MA) and Aubrac (AU) are rustic cattle breeds that can be successfully used for sustainable production. In this study, correlations between two rearing systems (feedlot and grazing) and the rumen microbiota, the lipid composition of rumen liquor (RL), and the growth performance of MA and AU steers were investigated. Bacterial community composition was characterized by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, and the RL lipid composition was determined by measuring fatty acid (FA) and the dimethyl acetal profiles. The main factor influencing bacterial community composition was the cattle breed. Some bacterial groups were positively correlated to average daily weight gain for the two breeds (i.e., Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Fibrobacter and Succiniclasticum in the rumen of MA steers, and Succinivibrionaceae UCG-002 in the rumen of AU steers); despite this, animal performance appeared to be influenced by short chain FAs production pathways and by the presence of H2 sinks that divert the H2 to processes alternative to the methanogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmental contaminants of concern. We previously described biodegradation of two PFAS that represent components and transformation products of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamidoalkyl betaine (6:2 FTAB) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTSA), by Gordonia sp. strain NB4-1Y. To identify genes involved in the breakdown of these compounds, the transcriptomic response of NB4-1Y was examined when grown on 6:2 FTAB, 6:2 FTSA, a non-fluorinated analog of 6:2 FTSA (1-octanesulfonate), or MgSO4, as sole sulfur source. Differentially expressed genes were identified as those with ± 1.5 log2-fold-differences (± 1.5 log2FD) in transcript abundances in pairwise comparisons. Transcriptomes of cells grown on 6:2 FTAB and 6:2 FTSA were most similar (7.9% of genes expressed ± 1.5 log2FD); however, several genes that were expressed in greater abundance in 6:2 FTAB treated cells compared to 6:2 FTSA treated cells were noted for their potential role in carbon–nitrogen bond cleavage in 6:2 FTAB. Responses to sulfur limitation were observed in 6:2 FTAB, 6:2 FTSA, and 1-octanesulfonate treatments, as 20 genes relating to global sulfate stress response were more highly expressed under these conditions compared to the MgSO4 treatment. More highly expressed oxygenase genes in 6:2 FTAB, 6:2 FTSA, and 1-octanesulfonate treatments were found to code for proteins with lower percent sulfur-containing amino acids compared to both the total proteome and to oxygenases showing decreased expression. This work identifies genetic targets for further characterization and will inform studies aimed at evaluating the biodegradation potential of environmental samples through applied genomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of ecosystem restoration following mining could be improved through consideration of the soil microbial community, which forms the foundation of ecosystems. Through sequencing we can assess the response of the microbial community to stresses such as stockpiling, and measure community recovery. We sequenced fungal and bacterial communities associated with intact Banksia woodland reference soils and stockpiled topsoil stored for one to ten years following sand mining in Western Australia. We found that both bacterial and fungal richness declined, but that the fungal community returned to a state similar to reference soils, whereas the bacterial community did not. Notably, Bradyrhizobium was absent from 10-year soils, indicating a possible lack of inoculum available to colonize legumes that are often used for revegetation. Soil fungi and bacteria respond differently to stockpiling and key taxa such as Bradyrhizobium could be lost. In addition, changes in the bacterial community may signal a reduction in plant-available nitrogen and a shift towards more anaerobic conditions consistent with previous studies. These changes in microbial communities support previous findings of reduced plant performance on 10-year stockpiled soils and emphasize the importance of considering soil age during restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria are important resources for use in phytoremediation applications. Yet, for many hydrocarbonoclastic strains the genetic information regarding pollutant degradation and detoxification has not been thoroughly revealed. In this study, hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were isolated from a long-term oil-polluted soil in Bóbrka, Poland. Pseudomonas spp. was the most dominant species. Of all 69 isolated strains tested in the laboratory using qualitative biochemical assays, 61% showed the capability to use diesel as sole carbon source, 33% could produce indole, 19% produced siderophores, 36% produced organic acids, and 54% were capable of producing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)-deaminase. From all morphologically and genetically different strains, two representative Pseudomonas spp., strain VI4.1 and VI4T1, were selected for genome sequencing. Genomic analyses indicated the presence of the full naphthalene dioxygenase operon (plasmid and chromosomal), of genes involved in the degradation of BTEX compounds (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene) and alkanes (alkB gene) as well as the anthranilate degradation pathway (strain VI4T1) and terephthalate dioxygenase protein (strain VI4.1). Proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-TOF-MS) analyses confirmed naphthalene and BTEX degradation within seven days. Motility, resistance to abiotic stresses, high and low temperatures, low pH, and salinity were confirmed at the genetic level and experimentally verified. The presence of multiple degradative and plant growth promotion genes, together with the in vitro experimental evidence, indicates the high value of these two strains and their potential use for sustainable site clean-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here on a high-quality draft genome sequence of Ochrobactrum haematophilum strain P6BS-III (DSM 106071), a Gram negative, non-sporulating bacterium isolated from a pastureland (Buenos Aires province, Argentina) which had been chronically exposed to the herbicide glyphosate. The genome of 5.25 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 56.63% size was estimated to contain 5,291 protein coding genes and 57 RNA genes. Genome analysis revealed the presence of the phn operon, which is involved in the phosphonate degradation pathway, and a class II 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP) that confers tolerance to glyphosate. Genes related to plant growth promotion traits are also present, and include genes for phosphorus metabolism, calcium phosphate and phytate solubilization, siderophore production, organic acid biosynthesis and indole acetic acid (IAA) production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]