The bacterial light-dependent energy metabolism can be divided into two types: oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis. Bacterial oxygenic photosynthesis is similar to plants and is characteristic for cyanobacteria. Bacterial anoxygenic photosynthesis is performed by anoxygenic phototrophs, especially green sulfur bacteria (GSB; family Chlorobiaceae) and purple sulfur bacteria (PSB; family Chromatiaceae). In anoxygenic photosynthesis, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is used as the main electron donor, which differs from plants or cyanobacteria where water is the main source of electrons. This review mainly focuses on the microbiology of GSB, which may be found in water or soil ecosystems where H2S is abundant. GSB oxidize H2S to elemental sulfur. GSB possess special structures-chlorosomes-wherein photosynthetic pigments are located. Chlorosomes are vesicles that are surrounded by a lipid monolayer that serve as light-collecting antennas. The carbon source of GSB is carbon dioxide, which is assimilated through the reverse tricarboxylic acid cycle. Our review provides a thorough introduction to the comparative eco-physiology of GSB and discusses selected application possibilities of anoxygenic phototrophs in the fields of environmental management, bioremediation, and biotechnology.

• Klíčová slova
• anaerobes, anoxygenic bacteria, bacterial photosynthesis, bacterial physiology, biotechnology, microbiology,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

The cultivation and investigation of strictly anaerobic microorganisms belong to the fields of anaerobic microbial physiology, microbiology, and biotechnology. Anaerobic cultivation methods differ from classic microbiological techniques in several aspects. The requirement for special instruments, which are designed to prevent the contact of the specimen with air/molecular oxygen by different means of manipulation, makes this field more challenging for general research compared to working with aerobic microorganisms. Anaerobic microbiological methods are required for many purposes, such as for the isolation and characterization of new species and their physiological examination, as well as for anaerobic biotechnological applications or medical indications. This review presents the historical development of methods for the cultivation of strictly anaerobic microorganisms focusing on methanogenic archaea, anaerobic cultivation methods that are still widely used today, novel methods for anaerobic cultivation, and almost forgotten, but still relevant, techniques.

• Klíčová slova
• anaerobes, biogas, cultivation methods, methane, methanogens,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Meta-analysis is a statistical process summarizing comparable data from a number of scientific papers. The use of meta-analysis in microbiology allows decision-making that has an impact on public health policy. It can happen that the primary researches come to different conclusions, although these are targeted with the same research question. It is, therefore, inevitable to have the means to systematically evaluate information and compare research results. Ulcerative colitis together with Crohn's disease are among the two main inflammatory bowel diseases. This chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract, with an as yet unclear etiology, is presented by an uncontrolled inflammatory immune response in genetically predisposed individuals to as yet undefined environmental factors in interaction with the intestinal microbiota itself. In patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), changes in the composition and relative abundance of microorganisms could be observed. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), which commonly occur in the large intestine as part of the commensal microbiota of animals and humans involved in the pathogenesis of the disease, have been shown to occur. SRB are anaerobic organisms affecting short-chain fatty acid metabolism. This work outlines the perspectives of the use of meta-analysis for UC and changes in the representation of intestinal organisms in these patients.

• Klíčová slova
• hydrogen sulfide, inflammatory bowel diseases, intestinal microbiome, meta-analysis, sulfate-reducing bacteria, ulcerative colitis,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH