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Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) is a lactic acid bacterium that has many excellent traits that meet the needs of industrial production. Genetically modified (GM) Lp590 was obtained from Lp that was modified by the insertion of the gene nisI, which can confer resistance to nisin and play a role as a bio-preservative. Here, explorations were made to assess the safety of GM Lp590 and establish an in vitro evaluation model. The ability of Lp590 to tolerate both environmental stresses (such as temperatures ranging from 52 to 4°C, or exposure to ethanol, oxygen, and osmotic stresses) and gastrointestinal transit was assessed. Lp590 showed a tolerance to 4°C and ethanol (20%) within a period of 240 min that was similar to Lp. Notably, Lp590 can tolerate higher temperature (52°C) and higher levels of HO (2%) and NaCl (4.0 M) than Lp. In contrast, Lp590 has the same gastrointestinal transit tolerance as Lp. In addition, Lp590 can adhere to Caco-2 cells, and it has no adverse effect on the cell membrane in vitro. These results indicate that GM Lp590 has many desirable biological characteristics and has good prospects for industrial applications. A useful and comprehensive exploration has been undertaken to establish a new in vitro evaluation model for genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) are classified as “high-priority pollutants.” Diverse microorganisms are able to degrade PCBs. However, bacterial degradation of PCBs is generally incomplete, leading to the accumulation of chlorobenzoates (CBAs) as dead-end metabolites. To obtain a microorganism able to mineralize PCB congeners, the bph locus of Burkholderia xenovorans LB400, which encodes one of the most effective PCB degradation pathways, was incorporated into the genome of the CBA-degrading bacterium Cupriavidus necator JMP134-X3. The bph genes were transferred into strain JMP134-X3, using the mini-Tn5 transposon system and biparental mating. The genetically modified derivative, C. necator strain JMS34, had only one chromosomal insertion of bph locus, which was stable under nonselective conditions. This modified bacterium was able to grow on biphenyl, 3-CBA and 4-CBA, and degraded 3,5-CBA in the presence of m-toluate. The strain JMS34 mineralized 3-CB, 4-CB, 2,4′-CB, and 3,5-CB, without accumulation of CBAs. Bioaugmentation of PCB-polluted soils with C. necator strain JMS34 and with the native B. xenovorans LB400 was monitored. It is noteworthy that strain JMS34 degraded, in 1 week, 99% of 3-CB and 4-CB and approximately 80% of 2,4′-CB in nonsterile soil, as well as in sterile soil. Additionally, the bacterial count of strain JMS34 increased by almost two orders of magnitude in PCB-polluted nonsterile soil. In contrast, the presence of native microflora reduced the degradation of these PCBs by strain LB400 from 73% (sterile soil) to approximately 50% (nonsterile soil). This study contributes to the development of improved biocatalysts for remediation of PCB-contaminated environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitinolytic activity of the biocontrol bacteriumSerratia marcescensstrain B2 was inhibited by bacteria isolated from rice, even though its growth was not affected. Antifungal activity of the strain againstPyricularia oryzaewas also reduced under the influence of these bacteria. In contrast, the rice-epiphytic bacteriumErwinia ananasNR1, transformed with chitinase genechiAderived from strain B2, had high chitinolytic activity regardless of the presence of the bacteria isolated from rice. Therefore, the introduction of an antagonistic factor gene with a promoter from the recipient into the epiphytic bacteria may prove useful in the development of effective biocontrol agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gene chiA, encoding for the endochitinase ChiA, was cloned from Serratia marcescens strain B2, a tomato epiphytic bacterium, and introduced into the epiphytic bacterium Erwinia ananas NR-1, isolated from rice phylloplane. The gene chiA was introduced under the control of two types of promoter into a broad-host-range plasmid vector. The vector contained various fragments with promoter activity isolated from E. ananas chromosomal DNA. The constructed vectors were designated pchiA-V1pcf9 and pchiA-V1pcf53 for their respective promoters. E. ananas NR-1 transformed with either of these vectors produced and secreted ChiA. The antifungal activity of ChiA produced by transformed E. ananas NR-1 was demonstrated in vitro by the inhibition of Pyricularia oryzae germ tube elongation such as bursting of the hyphal tip. Transformed E. ananas NR-1 suppressed the incidence of rice blast caused by P. oryzae under greenhouse conditions; however, the magnitude of the suppressive effect depended on which promoter was used. Both transformants and the nontransformant E. ananas NR-1 survived on rice phylloplane. It is expected that the rice epiphytic bacterium E. ananas NR-1 carrying a chitinolytic enzyme gene is an efficient biological control agent against rice blast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]