TY - JOUR A1 - Noack-Schönmann, Steffi A1 - Bus, T. A1 - Banasiak, Ronald A1 - Knabe, Nicole A1 - Broughton, William J. A1 - Dulk-Ras, H.D. A1 - Hooykaas, P.J.J. A1 - Gorbushina, Anna T1 - Genetic transformation of Knufia petricola A95 - a model organism for biofilm-material interactions JF - AMB express N2 - We established a protoplast-based system to transfer DNA to Knufia petricola strain A95, a melanised rock-inhabiting microcolonial fungus that is also a component of a model sub-aerial biofilm (SAB) system. To test whether the desiccation resistant, highly melanised cell walls would hinder protoplast formation, we treated a melanin-minus mutant of A95 as well as the type-strain with a variety of cell-degrading enzymes. Of the different enzymes tested, lysing enzymes from Trichoderma harzianum were most effective in producing protoplasts. This mixture was equally effective on the melanin-minus mutant and the type-strain. Protoplasts produced using lysing enzymes were mixed with polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and plasmid pCB1004 which contains the hygromycin B (HmB) phosphotransferase (hph) gene under the control of the Aspergillus nidulans trpC. Integration and expression of hph into the A95 genome conferred hygromycin resistance upon the transformants. Two weeks after plating out on selective agar containing HmB, the protoplasts developed cell-walls and formed colonies. Transformation frequencies were in the range 36 to 87 transformants per 10 µg of vector DNA and 106 protoplasts. Stability of transformation was confirmed by sub-culturing the putative transformants on selective agar containing HmB as well as by PCR-detection of the hph gene in the colonies. The hph gene was stably integrated as shown by five subsequent passages with and without selection pressure. KW - DNA transfer KW - Fungal cell-walls KW - Protoplasts KW - Hygromycin resistance KW - Black yeast KW - Sub-aerial biofilms KW - Stress-protective morphology KW - Ancestor of opportunistic pathogens & lichens PY - 2014 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-320840 UR - http://www.amb-express.com/content/4/1/80 DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-014-0080-5 SN - 2191-0855 VL - 4 SP - 80, 1 EP - 6 PB - Springer CY - Heidelberg AN - OPUS4-32084 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Shirakawa, M.A. A1 - Zilles, R. A1 - Mocelin, A. A1 - Gaylarde, C.C. A1 - Gorbushina, Anna A1 - Heidrich, Gabriele A1 - Giudice, M.C. A1 - Del Negro, G.M.B. A1 - John, V.M. T1 - Microbial colonization affects the efficiency of photovoltaic panels in a tropical environment JF - Journal of environmental management N2 - Sub-aerial biofilm (SAB) development on solar panels was studied in São Paulo. After 6, 12 and 18 months' exposure, photovoltaic panels were covered by increasing proportions of organic matter (42%, 53% and 58%, respectively). Fungi were an important component of these biofilms; very few phototrophs were found. Major microorganisms detected were melanised meristematic ascomycetes and pigmented bacterial genera Arthrobacter and Tetracoccus. While diverse algae, cyanobacteria and bacteria were identified in biofilms at 6 and 12 months, diversity at a later stage was reduced to that typical for SAB: the only fungal group detected in 18 month biofilm was the meristematic Dothideomycetes and the only phototrophs Ulothrix and Chlorella. Photovoltaic modules showed significant power reductions after 6, 12 (both 7%) and 18 (11%) months. The lack of difference in power reduction between 6 and 12 months reflects the dual nature of soiling, which can result from the deposition of particulates as well as from SAB fouling. Although 12-month old SAB demonstrated an almost 10-fold increase in fungal colonization and a higher organic content, the larger non-microbial particles (above 10 µm), which were important for efficiency reduction of lightly-biofilmed panels, were removed by high rainfall just before the 12-month sampling. KW - Sub-aerial biofilms KW - Energy production KW - Phototrophs KW - Fungi KW - Solar panels KW - Fouling KW - Biofilms KW - Photovoltaic module PY - 2015 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.03.050 SN - 0301-4797 SN - 1095-8630 VL - 157 SP - 160 EP - 167 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-33107 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -