Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive anaerobic, spore-forming bacillus that is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrhoea worldwide. We demonstrate that C. difficile aggregates and forms biofilms in vitro on abiotic surfaces. These polymicrobial aggregates are attached to each other and to an abiotic surface by an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). The EPS matrix provides the scaffold ...

Abstract Aims The carnivorous Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae) has an anatomically simple and seemingly rootless vegetative body. It occupies a variety of wetlands inland waters shows broad range life forms. Here, we aimed to elucidate structural functional traits in various hydric conditions. Furthermore, intended evaluate morpho-anatomical adaptations correlation with Methods Morpho-anatomical ...

L-phase variants and small colony (G-phase) variants derived from penicillinase-producing Staphylococcus aureus strains were tested for penicillinase (beta lactamase) production. A refined variation of the modified Gots test for penicillinase was used to demonstrate penicillinase synthesis. Penicillinase synthesis was reduced in L-phase variants and G-phase variants when compared to parental st...

Multiple forms of phospholipase D (PLD) were activated in response to wounding, and the expressions of PLDalpha, PLDbeta, and PLDgamma differed in wounded Arabidopsis leaves. Antisense abrogation of the common plant PLD, PLDalpha, decreased the wound induction of phosphatidic acid, jasmonic acid (JA), and a JA-regulated gene for vegetative storage protein. Examination of the genes involved in t...

Geographical analysis has shown that Sparganium hyperboreum is most widespread in the forest-tundra and subarctic tundra subzone. In Western Siberia, this species grows low slightly mineralized acidic/neutral/slightly alkaline cool waters with fluctuating water level. It forms both monodominant communities (Sparganietum hyperborei purum association), which it an edificator. southern tundra, S. ...

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is a highly pathogenic Gram-positive soil bacterium that is also considered a serious threat as a potential bioterrorism agent. Like other bacilli, B. anthracis forms protective spores upon starvation. The spores are the main pathogenic agents, easily spread and highly resistant to environmental stress. When the spores enter a mammalian host, ...

The honeybee disease known as American foulbrood is a serious economic problem for beekeepers. It is caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae (formerly Bacillus larvae) (9). Honeybee larvae become infected by swallowing spores of P. larvae larvae that contaminate their food. After spores germinate in the midgut of a larva, the vegetative forms penetrate the tissue of the intes...

Reports from a number of laboratories describe the presence of a family of proteins (the major intrinsic protein family) in a variety of organisms. These proteins are postulated to form channels that function in metabolite transport. In plants, this family is represented by the product of NOD26, a nodulation gene in soybean that encodes a protein of the peribacteroid membrane, and tonoplast int...