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A Methylobacterium ‐like organism from algal crusts covering silicone rubber electric insulators in Africa
Author(s) -
Zarnowski R.,
Felske A.,
Ellis R.J.,
Geuns J.M.C.,
Pietr S.J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2002.01781.x
Subject(s) - methylobacterium , bacteria , biology , botany , bioremediation , microorganism , 16s ribosomal rna , genetics
Aims: The primary goals of this study were to isolate, identify and characterize culturable bacteria living in a close association with microalgae within green crusts covering silicone rubber electric insulators in Tanzania. Methods and Results: Twenty‐four bacterial colonies were isolated from an Apatococcus crust. Characterization by statistical analyses of total cellular protein profiles demonstrated that they were highly similar to one another. Final identification was achieved using 16S rDNA sequencing and fatty acid methyl ester profiling. These analyses revealed the presence of microbes with high similarity to Methylobacterium radiotolerans . The selected isolate, A1, displayed strong inhibitory activity against Rhizoctonia solani and was found to be resistant to relatively high concentrations of zinc in the growth medium. Conclusions: This study revealed the presence of M. radiotolerans bacteria in a novel environment—within algal crusts formed on electrical insulators in Africa. Moreover, this bacterium was found to be a predominant culturable species within those complex algal–microbial associations. The isolate also shared some traits of biotechnological importance with other members of the Methylobacterium genus. Significance and Impact of the Study: The data presented provide a valuable contribution concerning the formation and function of associations between green microalgae and bacteria. This study also provides some information about the utility of bacteria from the genus Methylobacterium in biotechnological applications, such as biocontrol of rhizoctoniosis and bioremediation of heavy metal‐contaminated soils.