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Studying the Life Cycle of Aerobic Endospore-forming Bacteria in Soil

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Endospore-forming Soil Bacteria

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 27))

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Abstract

Members of the genus Bacillus are commonly isolated from soils, with members of the Bacillus cereus group being prevalent. Our knowledge of the ecology of B. cereus and other aerobic spore-forming bacteria in soil is far from complete. We have developed an in terra approach to study soil-associated aerobes, using filter-sterilized soil extracted soluble organic matter (SESOM). B. cereus is able to germinate, grow and then sporulate when inoculated into SESOM, or in artificial soil microcosms (ASM). Furthermore, B. cereus switches from single-celled growth to form chains that coalesce to form clumps when cultured in SESOM. Data indicate that the switch to form bundles of chains in soil contributed to translocation of the population through soil by a process termed sliding. Methods for preparing SESOM and ASM are outlined, as are approaches to proteomic analysis and screening transposon mutant libraries for genes contributing to the multicellular phenotype.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, SNP252B, Rotunda Lane, 2140D, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA

    Volker S. Brözel

  2. Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

    Yun Luo

  3. Laboratoire de Biotechnologie des Protéines Recombinantes à Visée Santé (EA4135), ESTBB, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, 33076, Bordeaux cedex, France

    Sebastien Vilain

Authors
  1. Volker S. Brözel
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  2. Yun Luo
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  3. Sebastien Vilain
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Correspondence to Volker S. Brözel .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road 70, Glasgow, G4 0BA, United Kingdom

    Niall A. Logan

  2. Lab. Microbiology, University of Gent, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, Gent, 9000, Belgium

    Paul Vos

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Brözel, V.S., Luo, Y., Vilain, S. (2011). Studying the Life Cycle of Aerobic Endospore-forming Bacteria in Soil. In: Logan, N., Vos, P. (eds) Endospore-forming Soil Bacteria. Soil Biology, vol 27. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19577-8_6

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