Chlorxanthomycin, a Fluorescent, Chlorinated, Pentacyclic Pyrene from a Bacillus sp.

A gram-positive Bacillus sp. that fluoresces yellow under long-wavelength UV light on several common culture media was isolated from soil samples. On the basis of carbon source utilization studies, fatty acid methyl ester analysis, and 16S ribosomal DNA analysis, this bacterium was most similar to Bacillus megaterium. Chemical extraction yielded a yellow-orange fluorescent pigment, which was characterized by X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The fluorescent compound, chlorxanthomycin, is a pentacyclic, chlorinated molecule with the molecular formula C₂₂H₁₅O₆Cl and a molecular weight of 409.7865. Chlorxanthomycin appears to be located in the cytoplasm, does not diffuse out of the cells into the culture medium, and has selective antibiotic activity.     

Characterization, N-terminal sequencing and classification of cerein MRX1, a novel bacteriocin purified from a newly isolated bacterium: Bacillus cereus MRX1

AIM: To purify and characterize the bacteriocin produced by strain MRX1. METHODS AND RESULTS: A bacteriocin-producing strain was isolated and identified as Bacillus cereus. The bacteriocin, called cerein MRX1, was purified from the culture supernatant using hydrophobic interaction, cation-exchange chromatography and RP-HPLC. It could also be purified in abundance from the cell surfaces of the producer strain. Mass spectrometry revealed its molecular mass of 3137.93 Da. Sequencing of chemically modified bacteriocin identified its partial sequence: DWTCWSCLVCAACSVELL. Amino acid analysis, confirmed by (1)H-NMR, suggested cerein MRX1 to be a class II bacteriocin. This bacteriocin was remarkably hydrophobic, heat-stable and could withstand a wide range of pH. It exhibited a bactericidal mode of action against Bacillus coagulans JCM 2257(T). Cerein MRX1 was especially active against spoilage bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and Listeria innocua (MICs in the 1 microg ml(-1) range). In contrast, lactic acid bacteria were resistant or required higher concentrations to be inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: Cerein MRX1 is similar by its N-terminal sequence to thuricin 17 recently isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis NEB17. However, the two bacteriocins are different by their molecular masses and amino acid compositions. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Chemical stability of cerein MRX1 and its ability to inhibit a large number of undesirable bacteria may give an advantage to its food or clinical application as an antibacterial agent.     

Development of a membrane dialysis bioreactor and its application to a large-scale culture of a symbiotic bacterium,Symbiobacterium thermophilum

A simple membrane dialysis bioreactor was developed for a large-scale axenic culture of Symbiobacterium thermophilum, a symbiotic thermophile that requires co-cultivation with an associating thermophilic Bacillus strain S for normal growth. The bioreactor consisted of an outer- and an inner-coaxial cylindrical compartment bordered across a dialyzing membrane, which enabled a 1 l-scale dialysis culture with exchange of low molecular metabolites between the two compartments to be performed. Using the bioreactor, growth characteristics of S. thermophilum and Bacillus strain S were assessed under two medium conditions. The growth of S. thermophilum was measured by quantitative PCR because the bacterium formed no visible colonies and gave abnormally low turbidity. In medium containing 2% tryptone peptone, S. thermophilum proliferated up to 4x10(7) cells/ml, and strict dependence on the co-culture with Bacillus strain S was observed. On the other hand, medium containing 0.5% yeast extract not only facilitated the growth of S. thermophilum in the co-culture (6x10(7) cells/ml), but also allowed limited pure growth independent of Bacillus strain S (1x10(7) cells/ml), implying that some component of yeast extract can partially replace the growth requirement of S. thermophilum supplied by Bacillus strain S. Both the oxidative redox potential values and the cell morphology in the independently growing culture suggested the occurrence of marked unbalanced growth possibly caused by significant metabolic changes. The bioreactor is applicable to the analyses of culturing characteristics in symbiotic systems between free-living microorganisms.     

脂肽的分离纯化与结构研究

采用酸沉淀分离、有机溶剂提取、分级沉淀、脱色吸附及制备薄板的方法,从枯草芽孢杆菌HSO121的培养液中分离得到一种脂肽类化合物。茚三酮试验、红外光谱分析表明该脂肽具有环状结构,电喷雾离子化质谱结果显示,该脂肽是分子量为1,022D和1,036D的两个同系物,氨基酸分析及串联质谱分析表明,脂肽的肽链结构为Leu-Leu-Asp-Val-Leu-Leu-Glu,说明它是Surfactin的结构类似物。     

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus: improved purification, amino acid composition, and amino-terminal sequence

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C was purified in a 27% yield from the culture medium of Bacillus cereus by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion-exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The purified enzyme was free of other phospholipase C-type activities and exhibited a high specific activity of approximately 1,300 units/mg. Amino acid composition analysis and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated a molecular weight of about 35 kDa. The sequence of the first 29 N-terminal amino acids was also determined.     

Purification and characterization of a fibrinolytic enzyme produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DC-4 screened from douchi,a traditional Chinese soybean food

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DC-4, which produces a strongly fibrinolytic enzyme, was isolated from douchi, a traditional Chinese soybean-fermented food. A fibrinolytic enzyme (subtilisin DFE) was purified from the supernatant of B. amyloliquefaciens DC-4 culture broth and displayed thermophilic, hydrophilic and strong fibrinolytic activity. Subtilisin DFE was demonstrated to be homogeneous by SDS-PAGE and isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, and has molecular mass of 28000 Da and a pI of 8.0. The optimal reaction pH value and temperature were 9.0 and 48 degrees C, respectively. Subtilisin DFE not only hydrolyzed fibrin but also several synthetic substrates, particularly Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA, and phenylmethylsulfony fluoride can completely inhibit its fibrinolytic activity. These results indicated that subtilisin DFE is a subtilisin-family serine protease, similar to nattokinase from Bacillus natto. The first 24 amino acid residues of the N-terminal sequence of subtilisin DFE were AQSVPYGVSQIKAPALHSQGFTGS, which is identical to that of subtilisin K-54, and different from that of NK and CK. Results from subtilisin DFE gene sequence analysis showed that subtilisin DFE is a novel fibrinolytic enzyme.     

培养和非培养法分析冷藏鸡肉胴体中的细菌多样性

运用纯培养和非培养法对冷藏鸡肉胴体上细菌多样性进行了对比研究。采用培养法从鸡肉胴体中初步分离到45株细菌菌株,16S rDNA-ARDRA分析得到9株代表性细菌,其16S rDNA序列系统发育分析表明,这些菌株隶属于Bacillus sp.、Shigella sp.、Pseudomonas sp.、Citrobacter sp.、Klebsiella sp.和Escherichia sp.6个属。16S rDNA-ARDRA联合PAGE和16S rDNA全序列分析的非培养法结果表明,冷藏鸡肉中细菌主要属于Acinetobacter sp.、Bacillus sp.、Acidovorax sp.、Brochothrix thermosphacta、Lactococcus garvieae和Leuconostoc lactis等16个属。非培养法揭示的细菌多样性比培养法丰富,但二者结合使用能让肉品中微生物多样性得到更全面的展示。     

The Self-Assembly of a Cyclic Lipopeptides Mixture Secreted by a B. megaterium Strain and Its Implications on Activity against a Sensitive Bacillus Species

Cyclic lipopeptides are produced by a soil Bacillus megaterium strain and several other Bacillus species. In this work, they are detected both in the Bacillus intact cells and the cells culture medium by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The cyclic lipopeptides self-assemble in water media producing negatively charged and large aggregates (300–800 nm of mean hydrodynamic radius) as evaluated by dynamic light scattering and zeta-potential analysis. The aggregate size depends on pH and ionic strength. However, it is not affected by changes in the osmolarity of the outer medium suggesting the absence of an internal aqueous compartment despite the occurrence of low molecular weight phospholipids in their composition as determined from inorganic phosphorus analysis. The activity against a sensitive Bacillus cereus strain was evaluated from inhibition halos and B. cereus lysis. Essential features determining the antibiotic activity on susceptible Bacillus cereus cells are the preserved cyclic moiety conferring cyclic lipopeptides resistance to proteases and the medium pH. The aggregates are inactive per se at the pH of the culture medium which is around 6 or below. The knock out of the sensitive cells only takes place when the aggregates are disassembled due to a high negative charge at pH above 6.     

Characterization of the cellulolytic activity of a Bacillus isolate

A group I Bacillus strain, DLG, was isolated and characterized as being most closely related to Bacillus subtilis. When grown on any of a variety of sugars, the culture supernatant of this isolate was found to possess cellulolytic activity, as demonstrated by degradation of trinitrophenyl-carboxymethyl cellulose. Growth in medium containing cellobiose or glucose resulted in the greatest production of cellulolytic activity. The cellulolytic activity was not produced until the stationary phase of growth, and the addition of glucose or cellobiose to a culture in this phase had no apparent effect on enzyme production. Fractionation of the culture supernatant showed that the molecular weight of the enzymatic activity was less than 100,000. Maximum cellulolytic activity in assays was observed at pH 4.8 and at 58C, although maximum thermal stability of the activity. Kinetic experiments suggested that more than one enzyme was acting upon trinitrophenyl-carboxymethyl cellulose. Exocellular protein produced by this Bacillus isolate showed roughly one-fifth the cellulolytic activity displayed by Trichoderma reesei C30 on noncrystalline, cellulosic substrates. In contrast to T. reesei cellulase, the Bacillus enzymatic activity showed no ability to degrade crystalline forms of cellulose, nor was cellobiase activity detectable.     

Identification of a novel anti-ice-nucleating polysaccharide from Bacillus thuringiensis YY529

Strain YY529, capable of producing some anti-ice-nucleating materials (ANM), was isolated from the surface of a camphor leaf. Strain YY529 was identified as Bacillus thuringiensis from its characteristics and taxonomy; the optimum temperature and pH for producing these ANMs were 30 degrees C and 7.0, respectively. One of the ANM with the highest activities among them was purified from the culture. The molecular weight of the ANM was approximately 130 kDa based on a gel filtration analysis. We confirmed that this ANM was a polysaccharide based on the results of the treatment with a mannosidase and the molish reaction. In addition, the LCMS analysis showed that this anti-ice-nucleating polysaccharide (ANPS) had the polyacetyl-D-glucosamine moiety in its structure. Furthermore, this ANPS showed its ability as a non-freeze agent in a preservative solution for the cryopreservation of cock liver. This is the first report of ANPS as a novel ANM from Bacillus thuringiensis YY529.     

Characterization of the cellulolytic activity of a Bacillus isolate.

A group I Bacillus strain, DLG, was isolated and characterized as being most closely related to Bacillus subtilis. When grown on any of a variety of sugars, the culture supernatant of this isolate was found to possess cellulolytic activity, as demonstrated by degradation of trinitrophenyl-carboxymethyl cellulose. Growth in medium containing cellobiose or glucose resulted in the greatest production of cellulolytic activity. The cellulolytic activity was not produced until the stationary phase of growth, and the addition of glucose or cellobiose to a culture in this phase had no apparent effect on enzyme production. Fractionation of the culture supernatant showed that the molecular weight of the enzymatic activity was less than 100,000. Maximum cellulolytic activity in assays was observed at pH 4.8 and at 58C, although maximum thermal stability of the activity. Kinetic experiments suggested that more than one enzyme was acting upon trinitrophenyl-carboxymethyl cellulose. Exocellular protein produced by this Bacillus isolate showed roughly one-fifth the cellulolytic activity displayed by Trichoderma reesei C30 on noncrystalline, cellulosic substrates. In contrast to T. reesei cellulase, the Bacillus enzymatic activity showed no ability to degrade crystalline forms of cellulose, nor was cellobiase activity detectable.     

Purification, amino acid sequence and characterization of Bacthuricin F4, a new bacteriocin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis

AIMS: Purification and characterization of a new bacteriocin, Bacthuricin F4 of Bacillus thuringiensis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A newly isolated B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain BUPM4, was shown to produce a novel bacteriocin named Bacthuricin F4. The highest bacteriocin activity was found in the growth medium and evidenced in the late exponential growth phase. Bacthuricin F4 could be purified by a two-step procedure: ammonium sulphate precipitation of protein from culture supernatant followed by a reverse phase chromatography. Upon purification, the specific activity was increased 100-fold. This bacteriocin was heat-stable up to 70 degrees C and resisted up to pH 3.0. Bacthuricin F4 was sensitive to proteases demonstrating its proteinaceous nature. Its molecular mass, determined by mass spectrometry was 3160.05 Da. Direct N-terminal sequencing of Bacthuricin F4 revealed the following sequence: DWTXWSXL. The latter was unique in the databases. Bacthuricin F4 was active against Bacillus species while it had little or no effect on Gram-negative bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: A strain BUPM4 of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, was shown to produce a new bacteriocin named Bacthuricin F4 of both new molecular mass (3160.05 Da) and new amino acid terminal sequence. This is, to our knowledge, the first bacteriocin exhibiting such characteristics reported to be produced by B. thuringiensis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The bacteriocin produced by the B. thuringiensis strain BUPM4 respond to both criteria of thermostability and stability to low pHs. Thus, it could be used for the control of the related species of Bacillus harmful for agricultural products.     

Characterization of a bacteriocin, Thermophilin 1277, produced by Streptococcus thermophilus SBT1277

AIMS: To assess the inhibitory activity and the influence of culture condition on the growth and bacteriocin, Thermophilin 1277, production by Streptococcus thermophilus SBT1277. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thermophilin 1277, which was produced by S. thermophilus SBT1277, showed an antimicrobial activity against several lactic acid bacteria and food spoilage bacteria including Clostridium butylicum, C. sprogenes and Bacillus cereus. Thermophilin 1277 was inactivated by proteinase K. Heating treatment did not affect the antimicrobial activity. The partially purified Thermophilin 1277 had an apparent molecular mass of 3.7 kDa. N-terminal sequence analysis revealed 15 amino acid residues that correspond with amino acid sequence of the lantibiotics bovicin HJ50 produced by Streptococcus bovis HJ50. The effects of culture condition for the bacteriocin production by S. thermophilus SBT1277 were studied. During the batch fermentation, Thermophilin 1277 was produced in M17 broth, but no bacteriocin production occurred in the sucrose-tryptone (ST) broth. Bacteriocin production was detected in pH controlled ST broth at pH values of 5.5-6.5. CONCLUSIONS: Thermophilin 1277 production from S. thermophilus strain depended on the culture conditions. Some characters and N-terminal amino acid sequence of Thermophilin 1277 differed from bacteriocins produced by S. thermophilus reported previously. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Streptococcus thermophilus SBT1277 or its bacteriocin which has a wide inhibitory spectrum has a potential use as a biopreservative in dairy products.     

Macrolactin N, a new peptide deformylase inhibitor produced by Bacillus subtilis

A new 24-membered ring lactone, macrolactin N, was isolated from a culture broth of Bacillus subtilis and its structure was established by various spectral analysis. Macrolactin N inhibited Staphylococcus aureus peptide deformylase with an IC50 value of 7.5 microM and also showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and S. aureus.     

SAMY, a novel mammalian reporter gene derived from Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase

The Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase (amyS) is a heat-stable monomeric exoenzyme which catalyses random hydrolysis of 1,4-alpha-glucosidic linkages in polyglucosans. The Bacillus alpha-amylase was engineered for use as an intracellular (AmyS(Delta S)) as well as a secreted reporter protein (SAMY; secreted alpha-amylase) in mammalian cells. The 5' end of amyS containing the prokaryotic secretion signal was either deleted (amyS(Delta S)) or replaced by a murine immunoglobulin secretion signal. SAMY was cloned under control of the cytomegalovirus promoter (P(CMV)) in a mammalian expression vector or the promoter of the human elongation factor 1 alpha (P(EF1 alpha)) in a lentiviral expression context. A variety of mammalian and human cell lines growing as monolayers, in suspension or as three-dimensional spheroids were transfected/transduced with SAMY- or amyS(Delta S)-encoding expression/lentiviral vectors and alpha-amylase activity was measured in cell lysates and culture supernatants. These experiments showed that SAMY and AmyS(Delta S) were either secreted or remained intracellular as highly sensitive reporter enzymes. SAMY expression and detection was fully compatible with established SEAP (human secreted alkaline phosphatase) and u-PA(LMW) (low molecular weight urokinase-type plasminogen activator) reporter systems and could be used to quantify expression of up to three independent genes in one culture supernatant.     

Detection and characterization of cerein 7, a new bacteriocin produced by Bacillus cereus with a broad spectrum of activity

A bacteriocin-producing strain of Bacillus cereus was identified and isolated from a soil sample. The bacteriocin could be purified by a two-step procedure: ammonium sulfate precipitation of culture supernatants followed by a butanol extraction step, the antibiotic was recovered from the organic phase. The peptidic nature of the bacteriocin was proven by its sensitivity to proteolytic enzymes; its molecular mass, determined by mass spectrometry, was 3940 Da; and its amino-terminal sequence (GWGDVL) is unique in the databases. The compound was active against most Gram-positive but not Gram-negative bacteria. This is to our knowledge the first bacteriocin with these characteristics reported to be produced by B. cereus.     

Subtilisin like protease secreted in Bacillus pumilus KMM 62 on different growth stages

A protease secreted in Bacillus pumilus KMM 62 culture liquid on different growth stages was isolated using ion-exchange chromatography. On the basis of pattern of specific chromogenic substrates hydrolysis and inhibitory analysis the protease was classified as subtilisin like serine protease. The molecular weight ofprotease is 31 kDa. Proteolytic activity towards Z-Ala-Ala-Leu-pNa substrate was maximal at pH 8-8.5. The optimal temperature for proteolytic activity was observed at a temperature of 30 degrees C, and the protein was stable within the pH range of 7.5-10.0. Bacillus pumilus KMM 62 subtilisin like serine protease was shown to have thrombolytic activity.     

Subtilosin A, a new antibiotic peptide produced by Bacillus subtilis 168: isolation, structural analysis, and biogenesis

Subtilosin A, a new antibiotic produced by Bacillus subtilis 168, was extracted from culture medium with n-butanol and purified to homogeneity by a combination of gel filtration and thin-layer chromatography. The yield was 5.5 mg from a liter of culture. It had bacteriocidal activity against some gram-positive bacteria. Amino acid analysis and mass spectrometry showed that it was a peptide with a molecular weight of 3398.9, consisting of 32 usual amino acid and some non-amino acid residues. Its amino- and carboxyl-termini were blocked. By analysis of the fragments obtained by partial acid hydrolysis, as well as by chymotryptic and thermolysin digestions of reduced and S-carboxymethylated samples and Achromobacter protease I digestion of performic acid-oxidized samples, the amino acid sequence was determined to be as follows: X-Gly-Leu-Gly-Leu-Trp-Gly-Asn-Lys-Gly-Cys-Ala-Thr-Cys-Ser-(sequence; see text) Ile-Gly-Ala-Ala-Cys-Leu-Val-Asp-Gly-Pro-Ile-Pro-Asp-Glx-Ile-Ala-Gly-Ala. The analyses of cross-linking structures revealed that there were linkages between the amino- and carboxyl-termini and between the Cys-19 and the Glx-28 residues through an unknown residue with a residue weight of 163. Consequently, subtilosin A was deduced to be a cyclic peptide antibiotic with a novel cross-linking structure. The production of subtilosin A begins at the end of vegetative growth and finishes before spore formation. Studies on the correlation between the production of subtilosin A and spore formation with decoyinine in the original strain and in asporogenous mutants of B. subtilis 168 suggested that there was no close correlation between the two phenomena. The production of subtilosin A was repressed by inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis in contrast to that of many other antibiotic peptides, suggesting that it is synthesized by the mechanism of usual protein synthesis.     

Establishing the independent culture of a strictly symbiotic bacterium Symbiobacterium thermophilum from its supporting Bacillus strain.

Symbiobacterium thermophilum is a strictly symbiotic thermophile, the growth of which is dependent on the coexistence of an associating thermophilic Bacillus sp., strain S. S. thermophilum grows only in mixed culture with the Bacillus strain in liquid media, and does not form visible colonies on solid media. To measure the growth of this symbiotic bacterium and to analyze its growth requirements, we developed a quantitative PCR method by using its specific sequences in a putative membrane translocator gene tnaT as primers. According to this method, independent growth of S. thermophilum was first confirmed in a dialyzing culture physically separated from Bacillus strain S with a cellulose membrane. Independent growth of S. thermophilum was also managed by adding conditioned medium prepared from the culture filtrate of the Bacillus strain, but the growth in the conditioned medium stopped at a very limited extent with appearance of filamentous cells, suggesting the uncoupling of cellular growth and cell division. Formation of micro-colonies of S. thermophilum was observed on the conditioned agar medium under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, but the colony-forming efficiencies remained below 1%. Several other bacterial species, such as Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Thermus thermophilus, and even Escherichia coli, were also found to support the growth of S. thermophilum. These results indicate that S. thermophilum essentially requires some ubiquitous metabolite(s) of low molecular weight produced by various bacterial species as growth factor(s) but coexistence of the living partner cells is still required, probably to maintain an effective level of the putative factor(s) in the medium.     

解磷菌株B25的筛选、鉴定及其解磷能力

从安徽省铜陵市铜官山尾矿库木贼根际分离筛选出多株解磷细菌,经过多次筛选纯化获得一株解磷能力较好的菌株B25.采用透射电镜观察和DNA分子技术,确定此菌株属于芽孢杆菌属.研究了解磷菌株B25在培养168 h内的解磷能力、溶液pH值以及菌株生长量的变化情况,并比较了B25在不同条件下的解磷能力.结果表明：解磷菌株B25的解磷能力与溶液pH值之间存在微弱的相关性,在碳源为葡萄糖、初始pH值为7.0、培养温度为30 ℃时解磷效果较好.