Peptones from diverse sources: pivotal determinants of bacterial growth dynamics

Aims: In view of the major problems encountered by microbiologists in obtaining reproducible data on growth dynamics in complex media, we studied the effects of different peptones made from different biological sources and produced by numerous manufacturers. Methods and Results: Peptones (including casein, gelatin, meat, soy and yeast) were assessed as a constituent of the pre‐enrichment broth buffered peptone water (BPW). Generation times (g) and yields of Salmonella serovar Typhimurium were significantly affected by the type of peptone employed with yeast peptones generating yields of 7·04 × 10⁹ CFU ml^?1 and gelatin peptones producing 0·81 × 10⁹ CFU ml^?1. Medium sterilization was also found to have significant effects (P = 0·000) upon subsequent bacterial growth. Filter sterilization of BPW media produced lower generation times compared with those obtained after sterilization by autoclaving. Finally, it was observed that some peptones which produced good growth when inoculated with healthy organisms, showed relatively poor growth when inocula were sublethally injured by heating. Conclusions: Variation in peptone as a constituent of BPW has a significant effect on growth and enumeration of bacteria. Significance and Impact of the Study: Increased consideration with respect to culture media may significantly improve bacterial growth and experimental reproducibility.     

Evaluation of waste chicken feathers as peptone source for bacterial growth

Aims: Peptones are one of the most expensive constituents of microbial media. This study was undertaken to prepare the peptone from waste chicken feathers through a new process. Methods and Results: The chemical analysis of chicken feather peptone (CFP) was performed. The ability of CFP to support the growth of the three test bacteria in liquid and agar media was comparable to those of three commercial peptones [tryptone peptone (TP), fish peptone and protease peptone (PP)]. Conclusions: CFP was found to be rich in ash (42·1 g 100 g^?1), protein (55·8 g 100 g^?1) and mineral contents. The maximum biomass yield (3·13 g l^?1) and colony number (83 × 10⁸ CFU ml^?1) for bacterium Bacillus subtilis were attained with CFP. The maximum biomass yields and colony numbers for Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Escherichia coli were reached in TP medium. Second high biomass yield (2·64 g l^?1) and colony number (75 × 10⁸ CFU ml^?1) for E. coli were achieved using CFP. Third high biomass yield (1·29 g l^?1) and colony number (90 × 10⁷ CFU ml^?1) for Lact. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus were obtained in CFP medium. Significance and Impact of the Study: Usability of waste chicken feathers as substrate for bacteria was investigated for the first time in the present study. The peptone may be used in industrial fermentations for production of antibiotics, organic acids, enzymes and biopolymer. It may be also used in clinical microbiology. A new chemical process was developed for peptone preparation. This process may be also employed for peptone preparation from other organic materials, especially fibrose protein‐containing materials.     

Crude peptones from cowtail ray (Trygon sephen) viscera as microbial growth media

In the processing of cowtail ray (Trygon sephen) in Indonesia, viscera (up to 20% body weight) is wasted together with the head, frame and skin. A series of studies have been carried out to investigate the utilization of the viscera, and the present paper reports the conversion of the viscera into microbiological peptones. Ensilation using 3% (v/w) mixture of propionic and formic acids (1:1, v/v), followed by vacuum evaporation, has been used to prepare crude liquid peptones from cowtail ray viscera. These peptones were compared to three commercial peptones in supporting the growth of microorganisms. Mixed populations of microorganisms from foods (beef, egg and milk) and selected pure microorganisms (Aspergillus flavus, Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) were grown on liquid media containing 0.5 g test peptones/100 ml and the optical densities were monitored. The biomass produced was measured at the end of incubation period. The results show that crude peptones from cowtail ray viscera performed similar to or even better than commercial peptones as nitrogen sources for microorganisms growth. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Direct Bio-Utilization of Untreated Rapeseed Meal for Effective Iturin A Production by Bacillus subtilis in Submerged Fermentation

The feasibility of using untreated rapeseed meal as a nitrogen source for iturin A production by Bacillus subtilis 3–10 in submerged fermentation was first evaluated by comparison with two different commercial nitrogen sources of peptone and ammonium nitrate. A significant promoting effect of rapeseed meal on iturin A production was observed and the maximum iturin A concentration of 0.60 g/L was reached at 70 h, which was 20% and 8.0 fold higher than that produced from peptone and ammonium nitrate media, respectively. It was shown that rapeseed meal had a positive induction effect on protease secretion, contributing to the release of soluble protein from low water solubility solid rapeseed meal for an effective supply of available nitrogen during fermentation. Moreover, compared to raw rapeseed meal, the remaining residue following fermentation could be used as a more suitable supplementary protein source for animal feed because of the great decrease of major anti-nutritional components including sinapine, glucosinolate and its degradation products of isothiocyanate and oxazolidine thione. The results obtained from this study demonstrate the potential of direct utilization of low cost rapeseed meal as a nitrogen source for commercial production of iturin A and other secondary metabolites by Bacillus subtilis.     

The non-nutritional performance characteristics of peptones made from rendered protein

Economic considerations require the use of inexpensive feedstocks for the fermentative production of moderate-value products. Our previous work has shown that peptones capable of supporting the growth of various microorganisms can be produced from inexpensive animal proteins, including meat and bone meal, feather meal, and blood meal, through alkaline or enzymatic hydrolysis. In this work, we explore how these experimental peptones compare to commercial peptones in terms of performance characteristics other than chemical make-up; these characteristics can impact fermentation operating cost. It is shown that experimental peptone powders produced through enzymatic hydrolysis are highly hygroscopic and that their physical form is not stable to humid storage conditions; those produced through alkaline hydrolysis and commercial peptones are less hygroscopic. When used in growth medium, all peptones contribute haze to the solution; experiments show that the source of haze is different when using enzyme- versus alkali-hydrolyzed peptones. Alkali-hydrolyzed peptones and all peptones made from blood meal are stronger promoters of media foaming than the commercial peptones; some enzyme-hydrolyzed peptones support very little foam formation and are superior to the commercial peptones in this sense. Alkali-hydrolyzed peptones are roughly equivalent to commercial peptones in the coloration they contribute to media, while enzyme-hydrolyzed peptones contribute intense coloration to media. No peptone caused a significant change in the viscosity of media. The experimental peptones studied here may be acceptable low-cost substitutes for commercial peptones, but none is equivalent to the commercial products in all respects.     

Growth of Lactobacillus plantarum in media containing hydrolysates of fish viscera

AIMS: To compare growth of Lactobacillus plantarum on media containing hydrolysates (peptones) from cod viscera with growth on commercial media. METHODS AND RESULTS: Growth of Lact. plantarum on various fish peptones and commercial peptones/extracts was evaluated using both a Bioscreen apparatus (microtiter plates, no pH control) and fermentors (with pH control). Generally, the performance of the fish peptones was good and only beaten by the performance of yeast extract. Replacement of the 22 g l(-1) complex nitrogen source in standard MRS medium with only 5 g l(-1) fish peptone reduced the biomass yield with only 10%, whereas replacement with a mixture of 2.5 g l(-1) fish peptone and 2.5 g l(-1) yeast extract increased the biomass yield by 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Peptones derived from cod viscera support excellent growth of Lact. plantarum. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: We show that peptones derived from cod viscera are promising constituents of growth media for fastidious food bacteria such as lactobacilli. Media containing these peptones show excellent performance while problems associated with the use of meat-derived peptones (BSE, kosher status) or plant-derived peptones (genetically modified organisms) are avoided.     

Ram horn peptone as a source of citric acid production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis>, with a process

The present study deals with the production of citric acid from a ram horn peptone (RHP) by Aspergillus niger NRRL 330. A medium from RHP and a control medium (CM) were compared for citric acid production using A. niger in a batch culture. For this purpose, first, RHP was produced. Ram horns were hydrolyzed by treatment with acids (6 N H₂SO₄, 6 N HCl) and neutralizing solutions. The amounts of protein, nitrogen, ash, some minerals, total sugars, total lipids and amino acids of the RHP were determined. RHP was compared with peptones with a bacto-tryptone from casein and other peptones. The results from RHP were similar to those of standard peptones. The optimal concentration of RHP for the production of citric acid was found to be 4% (w/w). A medium prepared from 4% RHP was termed ram horn peptone medium (RHPM). In comparison with CM, the content of citric acid in RHPM broth (84 g/l) over 6 days was 35% higher than that in CM broth (62 g/l). These results show that citric acid can be produced efficiently by A. niger from ram horn.     

Use of hydrolysates from Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) viscera as a complex nitrogen source for lactic acid bacteria

Hydrolysates of cod viscera were tested as an alternative to commonly used complex nitrogen sources (peptones and/or extracts) for the type strains of the lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus sakei and Pediococcus pentosaceus. Comparative studies with MRS-like media containing different nitrogen sources showed that all the fish hydrolysates performed equally well or better than commercial extracts/peptones for all selected lactic acid bacteria.     

Schwellenkonzentrationen verschiedener Stickstoffquellen für die Vermehrung einiger Bakterien aus nährstoffarmen Gewässern

Summary Minimal growth-limiting concentrations of different nitrogen sources were tested in liquid cultures of Flavobacterium aquatile, Aerobacter aerogenes, and Bacillus subtilis in population densities of approximately 5000 cells/ml. Evidence of multiplication was given by plate counts and microscopic counts on membrane filters. The lowest nitrogen concentrations at which multiplication occured (threshold concentrations) ranged from <1 to 500 /l and depended upon both the kind of nitrogen source and the organism used (Table3). A. aerogenes proved to require larger concentrations of nitrogen than the two other organisms. Nitrogen of ammonia and of hydrolysed peptone showed lower threshold concentrations than nitrogen of nitrate and untreated peptone, respectively. Microscopic measurement of the cell size indicated formation of cell material of B. subtilis at concentrations of ammonia-nitrogen lower than those necessary for multiplication.

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Herrn Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. A. Rippel zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.

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Contribution from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, New Series.     

The effect of various peptones on the production of cephalosporin C byPaecilomyces persicinus P-10 M1

Summary A microfermentation procedure was employed to determine the effects of peptones on the growth ofPaecilomyces persicinus P-10 M1 and its synthesis of cephalosporin C. Of the peptones tested only papain digest of soy peptone supported the production of cephalosporin C byP. persicinus P-10 M1.     

微生态制剂对海水养殖系统硝化功能建立过程的影响

比较分析投加不同微生态制剂的海水养殖系统硝化功能建立的过程,为实际应用提供依据。利用海水素构建4个海水养殖系统,通过投加硝化细菌、光合细菌、枯草芽胞杆菌3种微生态制剂以及纤维毛球作为生物膜载体,比较分析不同养殖系统硝化功能的建立过程及硝化强度差异。投加硝化细菌+光合细菌和硝化细菌+枯草芽胞杆菌系统硝化功能建立时间分别为108 h和96 h,氨氮初始质量浓度为6 mg/L时,氨氧化强度分别为1.69 mg/(L·d)和1.36 mg/(L·d);添加纤维毛球的生物膜系统与生物絮团系统硝化功能建立时间分别为96 h和120 h,氨氮初始质量浓度为6 mg/L时,氨氧化强度分别为1.36 mg/(L·d)和0.98 mg/(L·d);投加碳源系统和对照系统硝化功能建立时间分别为84 h和96 h,氨氮初始质量浓度为6 mg/L时,氨氧化强度分别为1.18 mg/(L·d)和1.36 mg/(L·d)。硝化细菌+枯草芽胞杆菌系统硝化功能建立时间更短,但系统硝化强度低于硝化细菌+光合细菌系统;生物膜系统硝化强度高于生物絮团系统且硝化功能建立更快;添加碳源能够加快系统硝化功能建立过程,但降低了硝化细菌+枯草芽胞杆菌系统的硝化强度。     

Production of Bacillus sphaericus larvicide on industrial peptones

Summary A range of industrial peptones in combination with other carbon and nitrogen sources were investigated in order to define a medium for production of insecticide from Bacillus sphaericus, strain 2362. Industrial protein hydrolysates with an average peptide chain length above 30 were found to be poor substrates. Fermentation of B. sphaericus on protein-based media supplemented with glycerol resulted in production of 4–5x10³ units of larvicide per ml fermentation broth, and toxicity of the larvicide up to 10⁴ units per mg. Equally high larvicide production was obtained, when peptone was substituted with 30 mM l-glutamate and 2 mM proline. Addition of 2 mM l-arginine to this medium prevented sporulation and larvicide production.     

1株四环素降解菌的分离鉴定及降解特性研究

应用微生物降解四环素具有经济有效和环境友好特点,已成为当前研究的热点。采用选择性培养基,从鸡粪中分离出1株能以四环素作为唯一碳源生长的菌株TC-1,培养7 d降解率为56.2%,初步鉴定为蜡状芽胞杆菌(Bacillus cereus)。从碳氮源组合、培养基初始pH、Na Cl浓度和装液量四方面研究了TC-1降解四环素的特性。结果表明,TC-1在以葡萄糖和酵母粉为碳、氮源生长时效果最优,培养7 d时OD600达2.17;但最优降解率出现在蔗糖和大豆蛋白胨的碳氮源组合中,为46.8%。当培养基初始pH为7时,菌株TC-1生长最好,OD600为0.44,四环素降解率为92.3%。当培养基中Na Cl浓度达15 g/L时,TC-1生长受到抑制,降解率仅为28.6%;培养基装液量为40%时降解率最高,为56.2%。     

A low-cost medium for mannitol production by Lactobacillus intermedius NRRL B-3693

The production of mannitol by Lactobacillus intermedius NNRL B-3693 using molasses as an inexpensive carbon source was evaluated. The bacterium produced mannitol (104 g/l) from molasses and fructose syrups (1:1; total sugars, 150 g/l; fructose:glucose 4:1) in 16 h. Several kinds of inexpensive organic and inorganic nitrogen sources and corn steep liquor were evaluated for their potential to replace more expensive nitrogen sources derived from Bacto-peptone and yeast extract. Soy peptone D (5 g/l) and corn steep liquor (50 g/l) were found to be suitable substitutes for Bacto-peptone (5 g/l) and Bacto-yeast extract (5 g/l), respectively. The bacterium produced 105 g mannitol per liter from the molasses and fructose syrup (1:1, total sugars 150 g/l; fructose:glucose 4:1) in 22 h using a combination of soy peptone D (5 g/l) and corn steep liquor (50 g/l). This is the first report on the production of mannitol by fermentation using molasses and corn steep liquor.Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.     

Hydrolysates from Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) viscera as components of microbial growth media

Three hydrolysates made from cod viscera by different enzymatic hydrolysis procedures were tested as a combined source for nitrogen, amino acids and vitamins in microbial growth media. Using a panel of five different microbes: Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus sakei, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger, the performance of these viscera hydrolysates was compared to the performance of common commercial peptones in an automated growth analyzer (Bioscreen C). The results show that the fish hydrolysates in general are promising alternatives to currently available commercial nitrogen sources of other origins. In the case of the food-grade and nutritionally fastidious L. sakei, two of the fish hydrolysates were clearly superior to all tested commercial peptones. For several microbes, the choice of the proteolytic enzymes used to produce the fish hydrolysate had considerable impact on performance of the resulting hydrolysate, both in terms of maximum growth rate and biomass production. In terms of hydrolysate performance, the generally best enzyme for production of a fish peptone from cod viscera was found to be Alcalase.     

Effect of nutritional conditions on dye removal from textile effluent by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus lentulus</Emphasis>

The nutritional conditions supporting growth and maximum dye removal by Aspergillus lentulus have been investigated. Initially a composite media containing yeast extract, glucose and mineral components was used and the effect of various components on dye removal was studied. For maximum dye removal (≈100%), ≥0.5% (w/v) glucose and ≥0.25% (w/v) yeast extract were essential. While glucose played an important role in pellet formation, which in turn was important for dye removal, yeast extract contributed towards higher biomass production. Mineral components (except NH₄NO₃) did not affect dye removal significantly. Next the alternate sources of carbon (molasses, jaggery, starch and sodium acetate) and nitrogen (peptone, urea, ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate and ammonium chloride) were tested. Among carbon sources, all the sources produced almost complete dye removal in 48 h (more than 97% in 24 h), except sodium acetate (64% in 48 h). All the tested nitrogen sources resulted in >90% dye removal in 48 h. Yeast extract and peptone gave best results with high dye removal rate (9.8 and 8.1 mg/l/h, respectively). However, among the low cost alternates, urea and NH₄Cl came out to be suitable sources due to the high uptake capacity of the biomass produced coupled with high dye removal rate in case of NH₄Cl. Therefore, a combination of urea and NH₄Cl was tested, which produced complete dye removal with a high dye removal rate (10 mg/l/h). Finally the modified composite media containing urea and NH₄Cl as nitrogen sources and glucose as carbon source was utilized for effluent treatment. Results indicated that performance of modified composite media was at par with composite media for supporting growth of A. lentulus and dye removal from the textile effluent.     

Production of the postharvest biocontrol agent Bacillus subtilis CPA-8 using low cost commercial products and by-products

The aim of this research was to identify a low cost medium based on commercial products and by-products that provided maximum Bacillus subtilis CPA-8 growth and maintained biocontrol efficacy. Low cost media combining economical nitrogen and carbon sources such as yeast extract, peptone, soy products, sucrose, maltose and molasses were tested. Tests were carried out in 250-ml flasks containing 50 ml of each tested medium. Maximum cell growth (>3 × 10⁹ CFU ml^?1) was obtained in defatted soy flour 44% combined with sucrose or molasses media. Second, CPA-8 production was scaled up in a 5-l fermenter and CPA-8 population dynamics, pH and oxygen consumption in the optimized medium (defatted soy flour 44% – molasses) was recorded. In these tests, there was a 5-h lag phase before growth, after which exponential growth occurred and maximum production was 3 × 10⁹ CFU ml^?1 after 20 h. Fruit trials with cells and cell free supernatants from CPA-8 grown in optimized medium maintained biocontrol efficacy against Monilinia fructicola on peaches, resulting in disease reductions up to 95%. CPA-8 populations survived in wounds on inoculated peaches, regardless of the culture media used. The results show that B. subtilis CPA-8 can be produced in a low cost medium combining inexpensive nitrogen and carbon sources (40 g l^?1 defatted soy flour 44%, 5 g l^?1 molasses plus mineral trace supplements) in shake flasks and a laboratory fermenter (5 l). The results could be used to provide a reliable basis for scaling up the fermentation process to an industrial level.     

Antibacterial effect of essential oils and interaction with food components

The antibacterial effect of essential oils (EOs) derived from Citrus lemon, Juniperus communis, Origanum majorana, and Salvia sclarea, was investigated either alone or in combination, on 2 food related bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli). The influence of food ingredients — hydrolyzed proteins originating from animal and plant (meat extract and soy peptone) and sucrose — on the antibacterial effect of EOs was also tested. The most effective antibacterial activities were obtained with marjoram and clary sage oil, alone and in combination. High concentration of meat extract protected the bacteria from the growth inhibiting effect of marjoram oil, while soy peptone had no such effect. Sucrose intensified the lag phase lengthening by marjoram oil in a dose-independent manner.     

Inhibitory effects of enterococci on the production of hydrogen sulfide by hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria in raw meat

Aims: Applying competitive exclusion micro‐organisms to control hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas produced by hydrogen sulfide–producing bacteria (SPB) in chicken meat. Methods and Results: Five SPB strains, isolated from animal by‐products, were used for screening lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that can inhibit the production of H₂S by SPB in trypticase soy broth supplemented with l ‐cysteine (TSB‐l ‐cys). A sensitive and accurate test strip method was developed for H₂S determination in real time. One LAB strain, isolate L86, from cheese whey, demonstrated the highest inhibitory activity against the production of H₂S by SPB. The isolate L86 was confirmed as Enterococcus faecium that does not possess genes encoding for vancomycin resistance based on PCR analysis. Enterococcus faecium strain L86 reduced (P < 0·05) the yield of H₂S upto 51·2% in 10 h at 35°C in TSB‐l ‐cys medium. In fresh chicken meat, the yield of H₂S produced by the artificially inoculated SPB was reduced (P < 0·05) by 48·6, 49·7 and 69·8% in 10 h at 35, 30 and 25°C, respectively. Enterococcus faecium strain L86 also reduced (P < 0·05) by 53·8% on the yield of H₂S produced by the indigenous SPB in partially spoiled chicken meat at 35°C for 10 h. Conclusions: Enterococcus faecium strain L86 is effective on inhibiting the production of H₂S by SPB. Significance and Impact of the Study: The application of this biological agent to raw animal by‐products will provide a safer working environment in rendering processing plants and produce higher‐quality rendered products.     

Is an organic nitrogen source needed for cellulase production by Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30?

The effect of organic and inorganic nitrogen sources on Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30 cellulase production was investigated in submerged cultivations. Stirred tank bioreactors and shake flasks, with and without pH control, respectively, were employed. The experimental design involved the addition of individual organic nitrogen sources (soy peptone, glutamate, glycine and alanine) within a basal medium containing Avicel (i.e. micro crystalline cellulose) and ammonium sulphate. It was found that in the shake flask experiments, the highest cellulase activities (~0.1 ± 0.02 FPU ml^?1) were obtained with media containing soy peptone (3–6 g l^?1) and glutamate (3.6 g l^?1). However, these improvements in the cellulase titers in the presence of the organic nitrogen sources appeared to be related to smaller changes in the pH of the medium. This was confirmed using stirred tank bioreactors with pH control. No significant differences were observed in the highest cellulase titers and the protein pattern (according to the SDS-PAGE) of supernatants from pH controlled stirred tank bioreactor cultivations, when different nitrogen sources were used in the medium. Here the cellulase activities (~1.0 ± 0.2 FPU ml^?1) were also much greater (8–150 times) than in shake flask cultivation. Consequently, the addition of ammonium sulphate as sole nitrogen source to Avicel basal medium is recommended when performing cultivations in stirred tank bioreactors with strict pH controlled conditions.