Indian Journal of Microbiology Research

1-6

Authors: Anita Devi K

Indian Journal of Microbiology Research aims to publish all the latest and outstanding research articles, reviews and letters in all areas of major importance to techniques of microbiology and applied research. It publishes high quality research and review papers on novel aspects of microbiology, including environmental, food, agricultural, medical, pharmaceutical, veterinary, soil, water and biodeterioration.

14-19

Authors: Sheetal Shirodkar

Background: Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 is a gram negative facultative anaerobe that uses soluble and insoluble terminal electron acceptors for respiration. These include Fe(III) oxides, DMSO, fumarate, elemental sulfur, and sulfite. Previous work on sulfite reduction have identified SirA as a terminal sulfite reductase in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. However not much is known about other genes that contribute to sulfite reduction process. In this study we isolated transposon mutants in twin arginine transocation system and identified their role in sulfite reduction process. Objective: To identify the role of twin arginine secretion system in sulfite reduction of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Methods: Transposon mutagenesis of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 with pMini Himar RB1 was used to isolate mutants deficient in sulfite reduction. These consisted of mutants deficient in twin arginine transport (tatC, tatA) .Further the wild type and the mutant’s strains were analyzed by qualitative and quantitative sulfite reduction assay. Result: The wildtype strain of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 reduced 10 mM of sulfite within 3 days with resultant production of H2S. Sulfite reduction was also coupled to growth as indicated by increase in total protein content from 38 to 703 ugs by the end of 72 hrs of incubation. On the other hand the tatA and tatC mutant strains were completely deficient in sulfite utilization and they did not produce any detectable amount of H2S. Conclusion: This study suggest that the terminal sulfite reductase (or components of the sulfide reduction system) may be transported to the periplasmic space through the twin arginine transport system. Based on sequence analysis it may be involved in transport of SirC protein. Additional studies are required to confirm the secretion of SirC protein by twin arginine translocation system and its role in sulfite reduction in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1.

27-29

Authors: Asima Banu, Eswari. L, Zahid Fazal. A

Introduction: Nucleic acid analysis has been the most reliable diagnostic technique for detecting HIV infection in the neonates because of the presence of maternal antibodies in infants less than 6 months. As this is an expensive test, Direct Blood spot was used to detect HIV infection in early infanthood to prove the technical and economical advantage over the whole blood assays. Methodology: 115 infants of HIV seropositive mothers were subjected to DBS test and subsequently to Antibody and whole blood PCR analysis. The results of the DBS sample titres were compared with the standard whole blood analysis reports. Results: Of the 115 infants who underwent the diagnostic tests, 10 children were found to be HIV positive of which 50%were found positive with the HIV antibody tests and the rest were DBS positive. The sensitivity and specificity of DBS was found to be 100% compared to the whole blood PCR analysis.

40-45

Authors: R. Ravishankar, P. Sindhu, M. Gnanadesigan, N. Manivannan

Background: Microbes are effective in control of pollution due to effluent. It has remarkable power to degrade and utilize complex organic substances and changing it to less toxic and simpler compounds. Objective: The present work is done to analyze the effectiveness of the microbes that occur naturally in the tannery effluent in its possible biological treatment. Methods: Tannery samples were serial diluted and spread plated on the nutrient agar media. From that colonies were identified using standard protocols. The effluent treatment was carried out with the microbial consortia (105 cells/ml equal proportion of all the three isolates) of various effluent concentrations (ranging from 50% to 1.565%) by observing O.D and pH values for 12 days. The physio-chemical parameters were carried out with 6.25% diluted effluent of the 10th day, which was the optimum one. Results: The isolated organisms were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, Thiocapsa roseopersicina and Enterococcus fecalis. The microbial consortia decreases the pH of effluent from high (8.3) towards neutral (7.17) and changing the turbidity from 0.88 to 0.56 (O.D) for 50% concentration of effluent. The Physio-Chemical parameters of the treatment was found to be within the limit of Indian effluent water standard. Conclusion: The present work reveals that the microbial consortia could be used effectively in treating the tannery effluent and could be recommended after checking for its biosafety.

50-54

Authors: Meena Dias, Anusha Leah Dias

Melioidosis, also called Whitmore's disease, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. It is reported from tropical countries, especially in Southeast Asia and northern Australia where it is widespread. The bacterium is found mainly in water and soil. Humans and animals acquire the infection by inhalation, ingestion and contact with surface water and contaminated soil, especially through skin abrasions. Meliodiosis has protean clinical manifestations from acute febrile illness, lacalised acute or chronic suppurative infections to fatal septicaemia. However, it is important to note that melioidosis has a wide range of signs and symptoms that can be mistaken for other diseases such as tuberculosis or more common forms of pneumonia. Meliodiosis which was once considered exotic in our country has been reported frequently from many areas especially from coastal areas. In some cases it is missed due to ignorance of the bacteria among microbiologists and treating physicians. Creating awareness about the disease is the need of the hour. This is very important due to the fact that, following diagnosis of melioidosis, appropriate antimicrobial treatment should be commenced to prevent mortality and recurrence.

60-63

Authors: Varjani Sunita and Patel Kinjal

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction aims to support transparent and credible calculation as well as reporting of GHG emission reduction in a comprehensive and consistent manner. Decrease in GHG emission from the atmosphere is relative to the baseline emission. The GHG reduction project consist of more than one activity and overall net reduction is sum of GHG reductions from each individual activity. GHG reduction project is a set of activities that reduce global GHG emissions, increase storage of carbon or enhance GHG removal from the atmosphere.

72-75

Authors: Sodani Sadhna, Hawaldar Ranjana

Background: Cryptococcus laurentii is one of the several non neoformans Cryptococci that has rarely been associated with human infection. However in recent years, there has been an increase in incidence of opportunistic infections with Cryptococcus laurentii Cryptococci are a saprophytic fungi present in soil contaminated with bird droppings mainly pigeons, roosting sites and decaying vegetables. Cryptococcus species is now recognized as a potential pathogen which can cause superficial as well as systemic disease,the most common presentation being meningitis, but can cause lung disease, pneumonia or respiratory failure. Here we report a case of55 year old male patient who presentedwith fever, cough, chest pain and expectoration for 3 days. There was no history of hypertension, Diabetes mellitus or CAD. The patient gave a history of asthma on corticosteroid treatment for last 5 years. BAL fluid received in the lab in sterile container was cultured on Blood and MacConkey agar plates. On the basis of colony morphology, gram staining, Yeast panel was selected for identification and sensitivity of the microorganism on Vitec II,Fully automated microbiology analyser (Biomerieux) The growth of gram positive budding yeast cells was identified as Cryptococcus laurentii by Vitec II Susceptible to Amphotericin B. Conclusion: In the present case report the patient was an asthmatic patient on prolonged corticosteroid therapy but was otherwise immunocompetent as his HIV status was negative. Recent report on the outbreak of Cryptococcus infections should be considered as an alarming signal. Generally, immuno compromised patients are at risk of Cryptococcal infection, but infection in immunocompetent patients cannot be ruled out. The infection is easy to miss, so a high degree of clinical suspicion, improved culture methods and identification techniques like Vitec II can contribute to the diagnosis of unusual fungal infections. Previous report have suggested that HIV negative patients ( 30-70 )% suffer from pulmonary cryptococcosis more frequently as comparedto AIDS (2%) patients who suffer from disseminated Cryptococcal disease.