MicrobiologyOpen

The term “open” has two meanings: first, MicrobiologyOpen is an open access journal, but, more importantly, it also means that it is open to all aspects of microbiology. Together we aim at reaching a level of excellence for MicrobiologyOpen, which means that only manuscripts of high scientific interest and value will be accepted.

A new Saccharophagus species Myt-1 was isolated from Toyama Bay, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. Myt-1 produces a variety of enzymes capable of effectively decomposing different kinds of seaweed and their component polysaccharides.

Streptomyces sp. strain K30 induces the formation of an extracellular Lcp (latex clearing protein) during poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) degradation. In this study, we show a system optimized for the expression of recombinant Lcp/active Lcp in the supernatant and the microbial degradation of rubber by different Streptomyces strains.

We found that a cosmid clone containing both an alcohol dehydrogenase and an aldehyde dehydrogenase from Acetobacter pasteurianus conferred an important production of acetic acid in E. coli, leading to the degradation of casein.

Xylella fastidiosa Temecula1 is the causative agent of Pierce's disease of grapevine. Here, we examine the localization and the genetic and biochemical properties of the AT-1 autotransporter protein XatA. XatA mutants show a significant decrease in Pierce's disease symptoms when infected into grapevines and are not transmitted as efficiently by the insect vector, indicating the importance of XatA in X. fastidiosa virulence.

This study reports the molecular mechanisms by which the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus haemolyticus is inactivated by metallic copper. These findings support a model of the cellular targets of metallic copper-toxicity in bacteria which suggests that metallic copper is not genotoxic and does not kill via DNA-damage. In contrast, membranes constitute the likely Achilles' heel of copper surface-exposed cells

The effects of temperature on the abundance and diversity of magnetotactic cocci have been investigated. Our results have revealed that elevated temperature can influence both abundance and diversity of magnetotactic cocci from Lake Miyun. These linkages may help us to better understand the dynamics of MTB communities in response to the climate change, and perhaps further provide useful clues for the paleo-environmental temperature reconstruction based on the fossil magnetosomes.

The two most widely used strains of Pichia stipitis (CBS 5773 anf CBS 6054) were used in a direct comparison of xylose conversion into ethanol under anaerobic and micro-aerobic reaction conditions. Ethanol yields of ∼ 0.41 g/g were independent of strain and conditions used.

TssL is an essential component of Type VI secretion systems. TssL is anchored to the inner membrane through a C-terminal transmembrane segment. TssL insertion requires YidC.