利用五碳糖产高纯度L-乳酸的大肠杆菌基因工程菌的构建

[目的]本研究以已敲除多个产杂酸酶基因的大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)乙醇工程菌SZ470(△frdBC △ldhA △ackA △focA-pflB △pdhR::pflBp6-pflBrbs-aceEF-lpd)为起始菌株,进一步敲除其乙醇脱氢酶(alcohol dehydrogenase,ADH)基因,同时插入带有自身启动子的乳酸片球菌(Pediococcus acidilactici)的L-乳酸脱氢酶(L-lactate dehydrogenase,LLDH)基因,构建可利用五碳糖同型发酵L-乳酸重组大肠杆菌.[方法]利用λ噬菌体Red重组系统构建乙醇脱氢酶基因(adhE)缺失菌株Escherichia coli JH01,并克隆P.acidilactici的ldhL基因,利用染色体插入技术将其整合到JH01基因组,构建产L-乳酸大肠杆菌基因工程菌Escherichia coli JH12,利用无氧发酵15 L发酵罐测定重组菌株L-乳酸产量.[结果]工程菌JH12在15 L发酵罐中以6％的葡萄糖为碳源进行发酵,发酵到36 h的过程中葡萄糖的消耗速率为1.46 g/(L·h),乳酸生产强度为1.14 g/(L·h),乳酸的产量达到41.13 g/L.发酵产物中未检测到琥珀酸、甲酸的生成,仅有少量乙酸生成,L-乳酸纯度达95.69％(L-乳酸在总发酵产物的比率).工程菌JH12以6％的木糖为碳源进行发酵,发酵到36 h的过程中葡萄糖的消耗速率为0.88 g/(L·h),乳酸生产强度为0.60 g/(L·h),乳酸的产量达到34.73 g/L.发酵产物中杂酸少,乳酸的纯度高达98％.[结论]本研究通过基因敲除、染色体插入及无氧进化筛选获得一株产L-乳酸的大肠杆菌工程菌JH12,该菌株不需利用外源质粒,稳定性好,可利用五碳糖进行发酵,发酵产物中杂酸少,L-乳酸的纯度高.本研究为L-乳酸大肠杆菌工程菌的构建提供一定的技术支持,同时也为大肠杆菌L-乳酸的工业化生产提供了参考依据.     

Sigma B对单核细胞增生李斯特菌耐受抗生素作用的影响

单核细胞增生李斯特菌是重要的革兰阳性食源性致病菌。近年来的报道显示出该菌耐受抗生素的能力有不断增强的趋势,为了探讨其耐药机制,对Sigma B（σB,李斯特菌中应对环境胁迫的主要调控因子）在抗生素耐受性中的作用进行了初步研究。检测和比较单核细胞增生李斯特菌标准菌株EGDe和其σB缺失突变菌株EGDeΔsigB对盘尼西林青霉素、氨苄西林青霉素、利福平、硫酸庆大霉素、四环素盐酸和红霉素6种抗生素的最小抑菌浓度（MIC）;在测定的MIC的基础上,利用MTT（噻唑蓝活体染色法）法比较EGDe和EGDeΔsigB在1×MIC、2×MIC和8×MIC的氨苄西林青霉素、红霉素和利福平3种抗生素中的生长活性。EGDe对盘尼西林青霉素（0.16μg/mL）、四环素盐酸（0.25μg/mL）和硫酸庆大霉素（0.5μg/mL）的MIC高于EGDeΔsigB（分别为0.08、0.125和0.125μg/mL）;而对氨苄西林青霉素、红霉素和利福平的MIC 2种菌株没有差别,分别为0.19、0.125和0.032μg/mL;与EGDe相比,EGDeΔsigB在氨苄西林青霉素、红霉素和利福平培养基中的生长活性较差,对抗生素的抑制更为敏感,而且随着这3种抗生素浓度的增加,其抑制程度也随之增强。Sigma B在单核细胞增生李斯特菌对抗生素的耐受中起到重要调节作用。     

响应面法优化苦丁茶熊果酸提取工艺及其抑菌活性研究

为优化苦丁茶熊果酸的提取工艺,并探讨其抑菌活性。在单因素试验基础上,通过响应面分析法,研究了液料比、提取温度、乙醇浓度对苦丁茶熊果酸得率的影响。以金黄色葡萄球菌、枯草芽孢杆菌、生孢梭菌、铜绿假单胞菌、大肠杆菌、白色念珠菌、黑曲霉为供试菌,探究了苦丁茶熊果酸的抑菌活性及最小抑菌浓度(Minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)。结果表明,最优提取工艺为:液料比为17∶1(mL/g)、乙醇浓度为83%、提取温度83℃;抑菌实验表明,苦丁茶熊果酸对7种菌均有一定的抑制效果,对大肠杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌的MIC为6. 25 mg/mL,对生孢梭菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、枯草芽孢杆菌的MIC为12. 5 mg/mL,对白色念珠菌、黑曲霉的MIC为25 mg/mL。     

特比萘芬对24株黑酵母样真菌的体外药敏试验研究

目的 评价特比萘芬对7个属24株刺盾霉目（Chaetothyriales）黑酵母样真菌体外敏感性.方法 应用美国国家临床和实验室标准研究所（CLSI）的M38-A2方案.菌悬液终浓度为（0.4 ～5）＆#215;104 CFU/mL,30℃孵育5～7d,测定最低有效浓度（MEC）和最低抑菌浓度（MIC）.结果 特比萘芬对24株黑酵母样真菌MEC范围：0.125 ～4μg/mL,MEC90∶2μg/mL,MEC50∶0.25 μg/mL,GM∶0.392 9 μg/mL,特比萘芬对5株暗色真菌100％生长抑制,MIC范围：1～4 μg/mL,MIC50∶2μg/mL,MIC90∶4μg/mL.结论 特比萘芬对刺盾霉目（Chaetothyriales）中的黑酵母样真菌有较强的抑制作用,50％抑菌作用明显.     

三种抗生素对B型和Q型烟粉虱内共生菌的去除效果比较研究

利用烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)内共生菌特异性引物,研究了内共生菌在B、Q型烟粉虱种群中的分布和感染率,同时评价了3种不同的抗生素利福平、氨苄青霉素和硫酸卡那霉素分别在3种不同的浓度下(100.0、50.0及25.0μg/mL)对烟粉虱内共生菌的去除效果。结果表明:B、Q型烟粉虱原生内共生细菌Portiera的带菌率均为100.0%;B、Q型烟粉虱次生内共生菌Hamiltonella的带菌率分别为91.7%和100.0%;B型烟粉虱次生内共生菌Rickettsia的带菌率为87.5%,Q型为0;其它次生内共生菌在B、Q型烟粉虱中均未检测到。利福平、氨苄青霉素和硫酸卡那霉素在3种不同的浓度下均不能去除B、Q型烟粉虱Portiera;利福平、氨苄青霉素在3种不同的浓度下均能完全去除B型烟粉虱Rickettsia,硫酸卡那霉素在不同浓度下去除Rickettsia的效果不同;3种抗生素去除Hamiltonella的能力受抗生素种类以及浓度的影响。同一抗生素在不同浓度下去除Hamiltonella的效果均是100.0μg/mL>50.0μg/mL>25.0μg/mL;不同浓度的抗生素去除Hamiltonella的效果均是利福平>氨苄青霉素>硫酸卡那霉素,各浓度与各抗生素之间的去除Hamiltonella的效果均具有显著性差异。     

坛紫菜叶状体的无菌化培养及其应用

对坛紫菜叶状体的无菌处理方法进行了优化,并利用紫菜外生菌对无菌处理后的紫菜叶片进行了人工感染。经0.7%KI和0.1%(w/v)氨苄青霉素对紫菜叶片进行预处理后,利用氨苄青霉素、硫酸链霉素、新霉素、庆大霉素及卡那霉素等5种抗生素及其不同组合对紫菜叶片进行处理,筛选出最佳抗生素组合、浓度和培养条件。结果表明:氨苄青霉素(终浓度300μg/mL)、卡那霉素(终浓度100μg/mL)与庆大霉素(终浓度100μg/mL)3种抗生素组合对坛紫菜叶状体进行无菌处理18 h,对紫菜细胞的毒害较小,并且3种抗生素合用对89.5%紫菜外生细菌的抑菌率达80%以上;外生菌感染结果研究表明:用105/mL真菌孢子液和细菌菌液回染紫菜,培养22 d后,实验组紫菜生长状况较对照组好,对照组紫菜出现褪色。用108/mL真菌孢子液分别回染健康紫菜、穿刺紫菜(用灭菌刀片在紫菜表面划1～2 mm的伤口),分别在18℃、28℃和35℃条件下培养。实验结果表明28℃和35℃高温和穿刺均会影响无菌紫菜健康生长,且加菌紫菜在高温和穿刺条件下,则会出现明显病斑,而18℃培养的加菌紫菜则生长良好。     

pta基因敲除对L-色氨酸发酵的影响

[目的]探究pta基因缺失对大肠杆菌发酵生产L-色氨酸的影响.[方法]运用Red重组技术敲除pta基因,构建pta缺失株E.coli TRTH△pta.利用30 L发酵罐进行分批补料发酵试验,考察重组菌E.coliTRTHApta发酵0生产L-色氨酸过程中生物量、L-色氨酸产量、有机酸含量、发酵液中NH4+浓度及变化....     

一种抗菌肽和aFGF融合蛋白的构建和表达

利用PCR技术扩增出带有凝血酶Xa因子切割位点的天蚕素蜂毒素杂合肽和aFGF的融合基因,插入大肠杆菌表达载体pET-3c中,构建出表达质粒pET-aF-CM,并转化至大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）中,氨苄青霉素抗性筛选重组转化子。IPTG诱导4h后,以包涵体形式表达的融合蛋白约占菌体总蛋白的17%。将包涵体溶解后透析复性,并利用肝素亲和层析纯化,得到电泳纯的融合蛋白。Western blot分析表明,该蛋白能与aFGF抗体产生免疫反应。MTT法检测显示,融合蛋白具有促3T3Bal/b细胞分裂活性,其比活为1.471×106IU/mg。利用凝血酶Xa因子裂解融合蛋白,可以获得抗菌肽和含凝血酶Xa因子裂解序列的aFGF蛋白。分子筛回收含杂合抗菌肽,抑菌活性检测表明其对大肠杆菌K12D31具有明显抑菌活性。微量稀释法检测结果表明,回收的抗菌肽对大肠杆菌DH5α、大肠杆菌K12D31、沙门氏菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、枯草芽孢杆菌和绿脓杆菌的MIC分别达6.25μg/ml、10μg/ml、2.5μg/ml、1.25μg/ml、0.625μg/ml和5μg/ml。     

高致病性2型猪链球菌Ⅳ型样分泌系统virB1-89K基因的敲除及其对毒力的影响

[目的]构建高致病性2型猪链球菌Ⅳ型样分泌系统vir B1-89K基因的敲除株和互补株,研究vir B1-89K基因缺失对细菌毒力的影响.[方法]通过同源重组技术敲除vir B1-89K基因,多重PCR筛选敲除株并测序鉴定.再将virB1-89K基因克隆到穿梭质粒pSET1后转入vir B1-89K敲除株中,构建互补株.比较野生株05ZYH33、突变株△virB1-89K和互补株CvirB1-89K三者基本生物学特性的差异,小鼠实验分析virB1-89K基因敲除后对细菌毒力的影响.[结果]成功构建突变株△vir B1-89K和互补株CvirB1-89K,在基本生物学性状无明显改变的情况下,敲除株的毒性降低到野生株的30％,互补株可恢复其毒性.[结论]virB1-89K基因作为2型猪链球菌高致病性菌株05ZYH33的Ⅳ样分泌系统的重要组分,与其高致病性密切相关.     

大蒜中生理活性物质对致病细菌的体外抑制作用

目的：从鲜蒜中提取蒜氨酸、蒜氨酸酶和蒜素,测定了蒜氨酸、蒜氨酸酶、蒜氨酸＋蒜氨酸酶、蒜素和蒜汁对10种致病细菌的抑菌作用及最低抑菌浓度。方法：采用平板打孔法和液体2倍稀释法。结果：蒜氨酸酶、蒜氨酸＋蒜氨酸酶、蒜素和蒜汁对金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠杆菌、鲍曼不动杆菌等10种菌株的抑菌环直径均大于7mm。蒜氨酸＋蒜氨酸酶对鲍曼不动杆菌的抑菌作用是50mg／mL氨苄青霉素的1．5倍。蒜氨酸＋蒜氨酸酶对金黄色葡萄球菌、类产碱假单胞菌和福氏志贺氏菌的MIC为0．19mg/mL。结论：蒜氨酸酶、蒜氨酸＋蒜氨酸酶、蒜素和蒜汁在体外具有明显的抑菌作用。     

大肠杆菌外膜蛋白OmpW的克隆及在外膜上高表达

目的: 利用表达载体pLLP-OmpA实现大肠杆菌K12外膜蛋白OmpW在外膜上高表达。方法: PCR扩增ompW基因,构建重组表达载体pLLP-OmpA-ompW,然后转化大肠杆菌K12,得到在外膜上高表达的菌株。提取该菌外膜蛋白,利用免疫小鼠制备得到的抗血清进行Western blot分析验证高表达的OmpW是否定位于外膜。结果: 成功构建了重组表达载体,经转化后成功筛选到高表达菌株,并经Western blot证实高表达的OmpW定位在外膜上。结论: 首次成功获得OmpW在外膜上的高表达,该高表达菌株可为深入研究OmpW在细菌致病机制中的作用及其它功能提供研究基础。     

脑膜炎大肠杆菌K1株ppk1基因致病机制初探

【目的】构建脑膜炎大肠杆菌K1(Escherichia coli,E.coli K1)株E44的聚磷酸盐激酶1(Polyphosphate kinase 1,PPK1)基因敲除株,并对其生物学功能进行初步研究,为明确ppk1基因在E.coli K1株致脑膜炎机制中的作用奠定基础。【方法】利用自杀质粒pCVD442及基因同源重组技术敲除E.coli K1株E44中的ppk1基因,构建ppk1缺失突变株Δppk1;体外比较野生株和突变株在低营养及氧化压力情况下的生存能力;考察二者对人脑微血管内皮细胞(Human brain microvascular endothelial cells,HBMEC)的黏附能力;通过测定乳酸脱氢酶(Lactic dehydrogenase,LDH)释放活性,比较野生株和突变株对HBMEC的损伤效应。【结果】PCR及序列分析证实,突变株缺失全长ppk1基因。与野生株E44相比,ppk1突变株Δppk1在低营养环境中和氧化刺激条件下的生存能力明显降低。相对于E44,Δppk1对HBMEC的黏附能力减弱。与HBMEC孵育后,突变株孵育组HBMEC的LDH释放活性明显低于野生株孵育组。【结论】ppk1对E.coli K1株E44在低营养环境中的生存、抵抗氧化压力,以及黏附HBMEC和对细胞的毒性损伤有重要作用。     

Analysis of outer membrane proteome of Escherichia coli related to resistance to ampicillin and tetracycline

The elucidation of the molecular details of antibiotic resistance will lead to improvements in extending the efficacy of current antimicrobials. In the current study, proteomic methodologies were applied to characterize functional outer membrane proteins (Omps) of E. coli K-12 responded to tetracycline and ampicillin resistance for understanding of universal pathways that form barriers for antimicrobial agents. For this purpose, E. coli K-12 expressional outer membrane proteome was characterized and identified with the use of 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/MS methods. Then, differential Omps due to tetracycline or ampcilin resistance were determined by comparison between tetracycline minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)10, ampicillin MIC10, control0 and control10, showing 9 proteins with 11 spots for tetracycline and 8 protein with 9 spots for ampicillin, showing a difference in only 1 protein (decreased LamB in tetracyclin) between the two antibiotics. Among the proteins, 3 were known as antibiotic-resistant proteins, including TolC, OmpC and YhiU, while FimD precursor, LamB, Tsx, YfiO, OmpW, NlpB were first reported here to be antibiotic-resistance-related proteins. Our findings will be helpful for further understanding of antibiotic-resistant mechanism(s). This study also shows that the combination of Omp purification methods certainly contributes the sensitivity of Omp detection.     

山东省某地区奶牛源大肠埃希菌的血清型、耐药特性及分子特性

【目的】旨在对从山东省某地区4个健康奶牛养殖场分离到的大肠埃希菌进行优势血清型、耐药特性、Ⅰ类整合子基因盒携带情况以及系统进化群分析。【方法】采集194份来自山东省某地区4个规模化奶牛场奶牛新鲜粪便样品,进行大肠埃希菌分离和鉴定,利用常用大肠埃希菌诊断血清进行血清型鉴定;利用10%的绵羊血平板检测溶血性;利用K-B法检测对14种常规抗菌药物的敏感性;利用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)检测革兰阴性菌常见的6大类24种耐药基因、Ⅰ类整合子基因盒结构并对目的条带测序分析;利用细菌多位点序列分型(Multilocus sequence typing,MLST)技术分析大肠埃希菌的ST型并使用eBURST v3软件分析菌株之间的克隆关系。【结果】从194份新鲜粪便样品中分离到171株大肠埃希菌,其中主要为致病性(19.9%)和侵袭性大肠埃希菌(17.0%),优势血清型分别为O128:K67(12/171)和O143:K7(12/171)。另外,具有溶血性的大肠埃希菌阳性率为9.4%(16/171);药敏试验结果显示多重耐药菌株的比率为22.2%,其中对氨苄西林耐药率最高为33.9%,四环素次之,为24.0%;PCR检测耐药基因和整合子结果显示,59.1%的菌株携带β-内酰胺类耐药基因blaTEM,59.1%的菌株携带氨基糖苷类耐药基因ant(2′),未检测到四环素耐药基因tetA和tetB;Ⅰ类整合子的阳性率为4.1%(7/171),dfrA12-aadA2-sul1为优势基因盒结构(4/171);MLST将大肠埃希菌分为8种ST型,其中,ST155(10/171)和ST58(45/171)形成一个克隆复合物且没有发现新的ST型。【结论】本研究证实,从该地区规模化健康奶牛场新鲜粪便中分离到的大肠埃希菌优势血清型为O128:K67和O143:K7;少部分大肠埃希菌具有溶血性;仅对氨苄西林、四环素等具有较高的耐药率;优势基因盒结构为dfrA12-aadA2-sul1;MLST分型显示不同奶牛场分离出亲缘关系较近的菌株,其分布具有多态性,血清型与ST型之间无相关性。本研究表明源自表观健康的奶牛的大肠埃希菌存在多重耐药现象,具有食品公共卫生安全隐患,该研究对于提升规模化奶牛场奶制品的安全生产与质量评估具有一定的理论指导意义。     

Cloning and expression of an outer membrane protein OmpW of Aeromonas hydrophila and study of its distribution in Aeromonas spp.

Aims:  The main aims of this study were to clone and express an outer membrane protein (OMP), OmpW, of Aeromonas hydrophila and to study its distribution in Aeromonas spp.
Methods and Results:  The gene encoding OmpW in A. hydrophila has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli . Primers were designed for amplification of full-length ompW gene and used for identification of this gene in different Aeromonas spp. Of the 42 Aeromonas strains tested, all the isolates were positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) except one strain of Aeromonas veronii biovar veronii (VTE338). None of the other gram-negative bacteria were positive by PCR with primers specific to ompW gene of A. hydrophila . Polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbit against the purified recombinant protein and the reaction of these antibodies was confirmed by western blotting using the purified recombinant protein and 42 Aeromonas cultures grown at various salt concentrations.
Conclusions:  The ompW -based PCR method developed in this study was found to be 100% specific and 97% sensitive. Expression of OmpW protein of Aeromonas was found to be salt-dependant. Recombinant OmpW protein was found to be highly immunogenic in fish.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  To our knowledge, this is the first report on cloning and expression of OmpW protein of A. hydrophila . Full-length ompW gene amplification by PCR can be used for the detection of Aeromonas . Recombinant OmpW protein can be useful for vaccination of fish against Aeromonas spp.     

Synergistic effects between silibinin and antibiotics on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical specimens

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a dangerous microorganism, and creates serious medical problems. It causes many types of infections in humans and often acquires multi-drug resistance. In this study, silibinin was evaluated against 20 clinical isolates of MRSA, either alone or in combination with ampicillin or oxacillin, using a checkerboard assay. The silibinin exhibited good activity against isolates of MRSA, and MRSA ATCC33952 and MSSA ATCC25923, with minimum inhibitory concentrations/minimum bactericidal concentrations (MICs/MBCs) ranging between 2-8/4-16 μg/mL, for ampicillin 2-1024/2-2048 μg/mL, and for oxacillin 0.25-32/0.5-64 μg/mL. The range of MIC(50) and MIC(90) were 0.5-4 μg/mL and 2-8 μg/mL, respectively. The MICs/MBCs for the combination of silibinin plus oxacillin or ampicillin were reduced by ≥4-fold against the MRSA isolates tested, demonstrating a synergistic effect, as defined by a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of ≤0.5. Furthermore, a time-kill study evaluating the growth of the tested bacteria showed that growth was completely attenuated after 2-5 h of treatment with the 1/2 MIC of silibinin, regardless of whether it was administered alone or with oxacillin (1/2 MIC) or ampicillin (1/2 MIC). In conclusion, silibinin exerted synergistic effects when administered with oxacillin or ampicillin and the antibacterial activity and resistant regulation of silibinin against clinical isolates of MRSA might be useful in controlling MRSA infections.     

黑大蒜提取物联合抗生素对金黄色葡萄球菌和肠埃希菌的体外抗菌作用研究

评价黑大蒜提取物分别与头孢唑林或庆大霉素联合应用,对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希菌的体外抗菌效应。采用液体稀释法分别测定黑大蒜提取物对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希菌的最低抑菌浓度（MIC）。采用棋盘法设计,微量肉汤稀释法测定黑大蒜提取物联合头孢唑林或庆大霉素对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希菌的MIC,并计算部分抑菌浓度（FIC指数）。测定黑大蒜提取物对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希菌的时间-杀菌曲线。黑大蒜提取物对金黄色葡萄球菌的MIC为256μg/mL,黑大蒜提取物对大肠埃希菌的MIC为256μg/mL。时间-杀菌曲线结果显示黑大蒜提取物对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希菌的抑菌作用呈现较强的浓度依赖性。黑大蒜提取物联合头孢唑林后对金黄色葡萄球菌的FIC指数为0.75;黑大蒜提取物联合庆大霉素后对大肠埃希菌的FIC指数为0.5。黑大蒜提取物与头孢唑林或庆大霉素联合用药,可明显降低抗生素对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希菌的MIC,表现为相加和协同效应。     

Expression, characterization and immunogenicity of a major outer membrane protein from Vibrio alginolyticus

Vibrio alginolyticus is one of the Vibrio pathogens common to humans and marine animals.During infection and induction of the host immune response,outer membrane proteins of bacteria play animportant role.In this study,an outer membrane protein gene(ompW)was cloned from V.alginolyticus andexpressed in Escherichia coli.The 645 bp open reading frame(ORF)encodes a protein of 214 amino acidresidues with a predicted molecular weight of 23.3 kDa.The amino acid sequence showed a high identitywith that of Photobacterium damselae(96.2%)and Vibrio parahaemolyticus(94.4%).The alignment analy-sis indicated that OmpW was highly conserved.Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresisshowed that the gene was over-expressed in E.coli BL21(DE3).Western blot analysis revealed that theexpressed protein had immunoreactivity.The recombinant protein was purified by affinity chromatographyon Ni-NTA Superflow resin.Large yellow croaker vaccinated with the purified OmpW showed significantlyincreased antibody to OmpW,which could resist the infection by V.alginolyticus.A specific antibody wasdetected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.This study suggested that the conserved OmpW could bean effective vaccine candidate against infection by V.alginolyticus.     

Molecular weight and pH effects of aminoethyl modified chitosan on antibacterial activity in vitro

Aminoethyl modified chitosan derivatives (AEMCSs) with different molecular weight (Mw) were synthesized by grafting aminoethyl group on different molecular weight chitosans and chitooligosaccharide. FTIR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, elemental analysis and potentiometric titration results showed that branched polyethylimine chitosan was synthesized. Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) protocols were used to determine MIC for Gram-negative strain of Escherichia coli under different pH. The antibacterial activity of the derivatives was significantly improved compared with original chitosans, with MIC values against E. coli varying from 4 to 64 μg/mL depending on different Mw and pH. High molecular weight seems to be in favor of stronger antibacterial activity. At pH 7.4, derivatives with Mw above 27 kDa exhibited equivalent antibacterial activity (16 μg/mL), while oligosaccharide chitosan derivative with lower Mw (~1.4 kDa) showed decreased MIC of 64 μg/mL. The effect of pH on antibacterial activity is more complicated. An optimal pH for HAEMCS was found around 6.5 to give MIC as low as 4 μg/mL, while higher or lower pH compromised the activity. Cell integrity assay and SEM images showed evident cell disruption, indicating membrane disruption may be one possible mechanism for antibacterial activity.