5-Hydroxylation of benzimidazole by micromycetes I. Strains selection

Summary The ability of 610 strains of micromycetes to introduce a hydroxy-group into benzimidazole substrate has been investigated. Among them, 232 micromycetes have been selected and cultivated in a liquid synthetic medium. Convenient hydroxylation of benzimidazole was obtained with 78 fungi. Finally, 8 strains of micromycetes have been chosen for further investigation and optimization of this bioconversion.     

氨基酸酯水解酶产生菌的筛选及其合成头孢立新的研究

From ten genera and 146 bacterial strains, 22 strains producing alpha-amino acid ester hydrolase were selected. Among them, AS 1.586 and 41-2 were the best. The optimal conditions for synthesis of cephalexin by pseudomonas aeruginosa 1.204 were investigated. The optimal pH and temperature for enzymatic synthesis reaction was pH 6.8 and 25 degrees C, respectively. By using 1% 7-ADCA, 3% PGME and 4% biomass, about 70% of 7-ADCA was converted to cephalexin under the mentioned conditions.     

脱落酸产生菌的遗传育种

从南京蔬菜研究所植物致病株中分离到3株脱落酸（ABA）产量较高菌株,经初步鉴定均为灰葡萄孢（BolrytiscinereaPers．）。分别命名为A23,A101,A160通过紫外诱变及菌株生长状况比较,选出一株菌A101作为出发菌,经紫外,硫酸二乙酯多次诱变,在ANA合成代谢关键酶抑制剂平板上定向选育出一株ANA高产菌UUD－1,该菌固体发酵可产生ABA374μg／ml,是出发菌株产量的14倍,且其产量连续培养5代稳定。     

Screening of microbial esterases for asymmetric hydrolysis of 2-ethylhexyl butyrate

Summary A pH indicator agar plate method was used to screen for esterase activities for hydrolysis of 2-ethylhexyl butyrate. Seven hundred and fifty-seven selected microbial cultures, including 325 bacteria, and 432 yeasts and actinomycetes from the ARS Culture, Collection, were screened. Among them, 62 cultures hydrolyzed 2-ethylhexyl butyrate. Of these strains only 17 showed lipase activity on a rhodamine B lipase screen. The reaction products, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol andn-butyric acid were confirmed by gas-liquid chromatography (GC) and GC/MS analyses. The yield of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol varied depending on the strains of the microorganisms, with the highest yield at 79.1% by a strain ofPseudomonas myxogenes Product analyses with a cyclodextrin GC chiral column showed that two strains ofPseudomonas produced, greater than 80% enantiomeric excess of S(+)-2-ethyl-1-hexanol.     

Production of D-phenylglycine from racemic (D,L)-phenylglycine via isoelectrically-trapped penicillin G acylase

Solvent selection for extractive fermentation for propionic acid was conducted with three systems: Alamine 304-1 (trilaurylamine) in 2-octanol, 1-dodecanol, and Witcohol 85 NF (oleyl alcohol). Among them, the solvent containing 2-octanol exhibited the highest partition coefficient in acid extraction, but it was also toxic to propionibacteria. The most solvent-resistant strain among five strains of the microorganism was selected. Solvent toxicity was eliminated via two strategies: entrapment of dissolved toxic solvent in the culture growth medium with vegetable oils such as corn, olive, or soybean oils; or replacement of the toxic 2-octanol with nontoxic Witcohol 85 NF. The complete recovery of acids from the Alamine 304-1/Witcohol 85 NF was also realized with vacuum distillation.     

Selection of mutants of Aspergillus niger showing enhanced productivity of citric acid from starch in shaking culture

Mutants with enhanced citric acid production from soluble starch were induced from Aspergillus niger WU-2223L. After UV-irradiation of a conidial suspension of strain WU-2223L, mutants were selected on modified starch-methyl red agar plates on the basis of higher amylolytic activity and acid productivity. The 8 mutants selected showed enhanced citric acid production from soluble starch in shaking culture. Among them, a representative mutant strain, 2M-43, produced 48.0gg/l of citric acid from 120 g/l of soluble starch in 9 d of cultivation in shaking culture, whereas strain WU-2223L produced 35.1 g/l. Glucoamylase activities in the culture filtrates of strains 2M-43 and WU-2223L reached maximum levels of 3.62 U/ml and 2.11 U/ml, respectively, both at 3 d of cultivation, and thereafter decreased.     

Original properties of ropy strains of Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from the sour cassava starch fermentation

C. FIGUEROA, A.M. DAVILA AND J. POURQUIÉ 1997. Sour cassava starch is the result of a lactic fermentation of raw cassava starch followed by sun drying. Lactobacillus plantarum strains are commonly isolated from this fermentation. Among them, a particular group of strains has been characterized by a strong ropy phenotype, the production of a thickening factor under submerged cultures conditions, a low nutritional requirement for organic nitrogen and an absence of amylolytic activity. However, these strains have been shown to thrive on starch, through commensalistic interactions with amylolytic lactic acid bacteria. These results explain the frequent occurrence of ropy, non-amylolytic strains in sour starch fermentation, and support the hypothesis of exopolysaccharides production during this fermentation.     

Reactivity of human convalescent sera with influenza virus hemagglutinin protein mutants at antigenic site A

How the antibodies of individual convalescent human sera bind to each amino acid residue at the antigenic sites of hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza viruses, and how the antigenic drift strains of influenza viruses are selected by human sera, is not well understood. In our previous study, it was found by a binding assay with a chimeric HA between A/Kamata/14/91 (Ka/91) and A/Aichi/2/68 that convalescent human sera, following Ka/91 like (H3N2) virus infection, bind to antigenic site A of Ka/91 HA. Here using chimeric HAs possessing single amino acid substitutions at site A, it was determined how those human sera recognize each amino acid residue at antigenic site A. It was found that the capacity of human sera to recognize amino acid substitutions at site A differs from one person to another and that some amino acid substitutions result in all convalescent human sera losing their binding capacity. Among these amino acid substitutions, certain ones might be selected by chance, thus creating successive antigenic drift. Phylogenetic analysis of the drift strains of Ka/91 showed amino acid substitutions at positions 133, 135 and 145 were on the main stream of the phylogenetic tree. Indeed, all of the investigated convalescent sera failed to recognize one of them.     

Systematic Separation and Identification of 13 Carbamate Pesticides in Their Mixture

About 2700 strains of various kinds of microorganisms isolated from soil were tested for phospholipase D activity. All of the 200 selected strains were actinomycetes which were divided into two groups on the basis of the isomeric form of diaminopimelic acid (A₂pm) present in the cell wall. Among 18 strains containing meso-A₂pm, two strains were selected on the basis of taxonomical characteristics and productivity of phospholipase D. These two strains were examined for microbiological characteristics and found to belong to the genera Actinomadura and Nocardiopsis.     

Lactic acid bacterial cell factories for gamma-aminobutyric acid

Gamma-aminobutyric acid is a non-protein amino acid that is widely present in organisms. Several important physiological functions of gamma-aminobutyric acid have been characterized, such as neurotransmission, induction of hypotension, diuretic effects, and tranquilizer effects. Many microorganisms can produce gamma-aminobutyric acid including bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Among them, gamma-aminobutyric acid-producing lactic acid bacteria have been a focus of research in recent years, because lactic acid bacteria possess special physiological activities and are generally regarded as safe. They have been extensively used in food industry. The production of lactic acid bacterial gamma-aminobutyric acid is safe and eco-friendly, and this provides the possibility of production of new naturally fermented health-oriented products enriched in gamma-aminobutyric acid. The gamma-aminobutyric acid-producing species of lactic acid bacteria and their isolation sources, the methods for screening of the strains and increasing their production, the enzymatic properties of glutamate decarboxylases and the relative fundamental research are reviewed in this article. And the potential applications of gamma-aminobutyric acid-producing lactic acid bacteria were also referred to.     

Occurrence of chromium resistant thermotolerant coliforms in tannery effluent

Twenty six thermotolerant strains resistant to high levels of chromium (50-250 microg/ml) were isolated from treated tannery effluent. They were also found resistant to multiple heavy metals and antibiotics. Majority of them were resistant to copper and bacitracin. Nine strains representing different resistance patterns were selected for plasmid profile and conjugation studies. Agarose gel electrophoresis results revealed that 6 strains harboured a single plasmid, whereas 3 strains exhibited 2 plasmid bands. Among antimicrobials, co-trimazole and bacitracin and among metals, Cu2+, Cd2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+ resistance were transferred most frequently at variable rates. However, chromium resistance was transferred in 6 strains with a frequency ranging 19-49x10(-2). Resistance to Co2+ and Hg2+ did not transfer under environmental conditions. Among the nine strains, three were found predominantly uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) serotype 04, whereas two strains were untypable. In addition, 4 transconjugants also showed a positive result after serotyping.     

新生儿颊粘膜定植菌株的拮抗性研究

本文分离在新生儿颊粘膜上皮细胞表面形成微菌落、且初代培养时菌落较纯的１５株ａ溶血细菌,进行对Ｂ链球菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、绿脓杆菌、大肠杆菌４种共７株菌的体外拮抗实验。１５株菌中包括８株ａＳｔｒｅｐ．,其中Ｓｔｒｅｐ．ｍｉｔｉｓ４株,Ｓｔｒｅｐ．ｏｒａｌｉｓ２株、Ｓｔｒｅｐ．Ｓａｌｉｖ．Ｓａｌｉｖａｒｉｕｓ１株、Ｓｔｒｅｐ．ｉｎｔｅｒｍｅｄｉｕｓ１株;ＬＣ．ｌａｃｔｉｓ．ｃｒｅｍｏｒｉｓ５株、Ｇｅｍｅｌａｍｏｒｂｉｌｏｒｕｍ１株、Ｇｅｍｅｌａｈａｅｍｏｌｙｓａｎｓ１株。结果约６０％（９／１５）的颊粘膜定植株对两株及两株以上的病原菌株或阴性杆菌株有拮抗作用,只对１株菌有损坏抗作用的ａ溶血菌４株,完全无拮抗作用的菌株２株;ａＳｔｒｅｐ．、ＬＣ．ｌａｃｔｉｓ．ｃｒｅｍｏｒｉｓ的拮抗作用较强;拮抗作用的有无、强弱有很强的菌株特异性     

Optimization of the fermentation of whey by Lactobacillus casei

Optimization studies have been carried out for the production of L-lactic acid from the fermentation of whey by Lactobacillus casei. Two Statistical Designs, a full 2⁴ Factorial Design and a full 3² Factorial Design, have been used to determine the most suitable values of the operational variables for obtaining the maximum lactic acid production rate. The variables selected for study were temperature, pH, lactose concentration, and inoculum concentration. Among them only temperature and pH were found to affect the response significantly. A second-order polynomial empirical model relating both the response (lactic acid production rate) and the variables was formulated. The maximum acid production rate was found when the values of pH and temperature were 5.4 and 38°C, respectively. All conclusions are restricted to the experimental range studied.     

抗动物病原菌芽孢杆菌的筛选、初步鉴定和抗菌活性

从鸡肠道分离、挑选的18株芽孢杆菌经培养特征、形态观察、生理生化实验,初步被鉴定为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilus)、地衣芽孢杆菌(Bacillus licheniformis)、蜡状芽孢杆菌(Bacillus cereus)、巨大芽孢杆菌(Bacillus megaterium)和凝结芽孢杆菌(Bacillus coagulans)。同时测定了它们对5种常见动物病原菌大肠杆菌(E.coli)、金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)、肠炎沙门氏菌(Salmonella typhimurium)、猪链球菌(Streptococcus suis)、奇异变形杆菌(Proteus mirabilis)的抑菌活性,其中有4株芽孢杆菌对5种病原菌都有抑制作用。还分别测定了它们产木聚糖酶(从0.895 U1到3.239 U1)和纤维素酶活性(分别为0.391 U2和0.465 U2)。结果表明,芽孢杆菌分离株BC17、BC32、BC106、BC228、BC247和BC261具有作为益生菌的开发潜力。     

Lactic acid bacteria isolated from fermented flour of finger millet,its probiotic attributes and bioactive properties

This study aims to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria from fermented flour of selected finger millet varieties grown in Sri Lanka and to evaluate their probiotic attributes and bioactive properties in vitro. Fifteen lactic acid bacteria were isolated from three varieties of fermented finger millet flour namely ravi, raavana and oshadha. These isolates were screened for phenotypical and biochemical characteristics. The selected isolates were identified by 16 S rRNA sequencing as Bacillus cereus (five strains), Streptococcus lutetiensis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum (two strains), Brevibacillus borstelensis, Paenibacillus species, Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis, Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Enterococcus lactis, and their partial sequences were deposited in GenBank. Among them, five isolates including two isolates, L. plantarum MF405176.1 and L. fermentum MF033346.1 isolated from ravi; two isolates, L. lactis MF480428.1 and E. faecium MF480431.1 isolated from raavana; and P. acidilactici MF480434.1 isolated from oshadha varieties respectively, exhibited in vitro safety attributes and could tolerate acid, gastric juice, bile, salt, phenol, and temperature under simulated gastric conditions, and also were susceptible to antibiotics tested. Further, they demonstrated bactericidal activity against both drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant pathogens. Among the selected isolates, L. plantarum MF405176.1 demonstrated highest hydrophobicity and adhesion to both colon colorectal adenocarcinoma and colon colorectal carcinoma cell lines. L. lactis subspecies lactis MF480428.1 exhibited the highest auto-aggregation and 2, 2, diphenyl-1-pricrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity. P. acidilactici MF480434.1 demonstrated the lowest IC50 values against HCT-116 and HT-29 cells. None of the LAB isolates could assimilate > 10% cholesterol in vitro.     

The isolation and preliminary characterisation of auxotrophic and analogue resistant mutants of the moss, Physcomitrella patens

Summary Eighteen nutritional mutants have been isolated in the haploid, monoecious moss, Physcomitrella patens: five nicotinic acid auxotrophs, four p-aminobenzoic acid auxotrophs, four adenine auxotrophs, two amino acid requiring mutants and three nitrate non-utilising mutants. Seventeen of them were obtained using total isolation; one was isolated selectively. Strains resistant to the amino acid analogues, D-serine and p-fluorophenyl-alanine, and the purine analogue, 8-azaguanine, have been selected. Many of the auxotrophs are self-sterile. Crosses between auxotrophic strains have been effected and the progeny analysed. No linkage has been detected. Nicotinic acid auxotrophy has resulted from mutation in at least two genes. Self-sterility segregates as a pleiotropic effect of four mutations which produce nutritional dependence. A diploid strain has been obtained by aposporus regeneration from a hybrid sporophyte and the phenotypes of progeny resulting from the self-fertilisation of this strain have been analysed.     

Degradation of Ferric Chelate of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid by Bacterium Isolated from Deep-Sea Stalked Barnacle

Twenty strains of marine bacteria that degrade ferric chelate of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Fe-EDTA) were isolated from among 117 strains collected from a marine environment. Among them strain 02-N-2, which was isolated from stalked barnacle collected from the deep sea in the Indian Ocean, had the highest Fe-EDTA degradation ability and was selected for further study. The strain showed high Fe-EDTA degradation ability at different seawater concentrations. In addition, the intact cells of this strain had the ability to degrade such metal-EDTAs as Ca, Cu, and Mg. The strain was an aerobic, gram-variable, rod-shaped organism. The results of various taxonomic studies revealed that the strain had significant similarity to Bacillus jeotgali JCM 10885^T, which was isolated from a Korean traditional fermented seafood, Jeotgal.     

Proteome analysis of sorbitol fermentation specific protein in Vibrio cholerae by 2-DE and MS

Vibrio cholerae can be differentiated into epidemic and non-epidemic strains by sorbitol fermentation speed, but little research has been done on its mechanisms. In this study, we investigated differential protein expression of the two strains in response to sorbitol metabolism. V. cholerae strains were cultured in media with and without sorbitol, respectively. Proteins were separated by 2-DE, and those that showed different expression in the two media were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Fifteen proteins in epidemic strains and 11 proteins in non-epidemic strains showed a different expression in sorbitol medium. Among them, 4 proteins were common to epidemic and non-epidemic strains. Gene sequence analysis showed that some mutations occurred in these proteins between the two strains. Potential functions of these proteins included sugar uptake, amino acid uptake, electron transport, sulfate and thiosulfate transport.     

Bacteriocinogenic highly antagonistic strains of lactobacilli

Ability to secrete bacteriocines and microcines was studied in 25 cultures of lactobacilli isolated from intestine of healthy children. Sixteen (64%) of them produced microcines with wide spectrum of antagonistic activity. Susceptibility of microcines-secreting cultures to antibacterial preparations, different dilutions of hydrochloric acid and bile was studied along with their acid-producing ability. Five strains without DNA-se, RNA-se, gelatinase, lecitinase and caseinolytic activity were selected from Sixteen microcines-producing cultures. Three of the selected strains carried plasmid DNA and two didn't have plasmids. Bacteria were characterized by tolerance to hydrochloric acid and bile - minimal inhibitory concentrations for them were 1,25 and 10% respectively. Strains without plasmids were susceptible to majority of wide-spectrum antibiotics and resistant to fluorochinolones. Microcines-producing lactobacilli with wide spectrum of antagonistic activity against pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microorganisms and tolerance to physiological concentrations of hydrochloric acid and bile have a potential to be used in manufacturing of probiotics.     

水产源芽胞杆菌的分离鉴定及生物学功能分析

筛选具有较好生物学功能的芽胞杆菌(Bacillus),用以改善池塘养殖过程饲料等有机物降解、抑制水体中的病原菌,对从健康养殖鱼虾塘水体中分离的菌株,进行生化试验和16S rDNA序列分子鉴定;通过产酶、耐酸、耐高温试验,抑菌试验以及安全性试验研究分离菌株的生物学功能。试验共筛选出8株细菌,经生化试验及16S rDNA序列的分子鉴定,确定菌株ZHX17、ZHX18、ZHX31为贝莱斯芽胞杆菌（Bacillus velezensis）,菌株ZHX14、ZHX15为地衣芽胞杆菌（Bacillus licheniformis）、菌株NSX4、NSX7、NSX9为枯草芽胞杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）。试验结果表明,8株芽胞杆菌均具有较强的耐酸、耐高温特性,其中3株贝莱斯芽胞杆菌具有较强的分泌淀粉酶、纤维素酶、蛋白酶的能力,抑菌效果好于其他5株芽胞杆菌。安全性试验结果表明,8株芽胞杆菌对草鱼、罗非鱼相对安全。8株芽胞杆菌同时具备分泌淀粉酶、纤维素酶和蛋白酶3种胞外酶的能力,其中贝莱斯芽胞杆菌具有较强的病原菌抑菌能力,可以作为病原拮抗益生菌做进一步研究。