Comparative Volatile Profiles in Soy Sauce According to Inoculated Microorganisms

We compared the volatile profiles in soy sauce according to inoculation with Tetragenococcus halophilus and/or Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. Totals of 107 and 81 volatiles were respectively identified by using solid-phase microextraction and solvent extraction. The various volatile compounds identified included acids, aldehydes, esters, ketones, furans and furan derivatives, and phenols. The major volatiles in the samples treated with T. halophilus were acetic acid, formic acid, benzaldehyde, methyl acetate, ethyl 2-hydroxypropanoate, 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one, and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, while those in the samples inoculated with Z. rouxii were mainly ethanol, acetaldehyde, ethyl propanoate, 2/3-methylbutanol, 1-butanol, 2-phenylethanol, ethyl 2-methylpropanoate, and 4-hydroxy-2-ethyl-5-methyl-3(2H)-furanone. The results indicate that T. halophilus produced significant acid compounds and could affect the Z. rouxii activity, supporting the notion that yeasts and lactic acid bacteria respectively have different metabolic pathways of alcoholic fermentation and lactic acid fermentation, and produce different dominant volatile compounds in soy sauce.     

具有乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制活性的蛇足石杉内生真菌分子鉴定

在马铃薯葡萄糖液体培养基(PDB)、沙氏液体培养基(SDB)和查氏液体培养基(CDB)中发酵培养蛇足石杉内生真菌菌株SF88和LF52,乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)抑制活性检测结果表明,菌株SF88和LF52在PDB、SDB和CDB发酵后菌体总生物碱对AChE活性的抑制率分别为45.6%和56.7%、56.3%和68.5%、40.8%和48.3%。对这两株不产孢内生真菌的DNA ITS、18S rDNA、28S rDNA、TUB和RPB进行了测序,系统发育分析表明,SF88和LF52为Phaeosphaeriaceae科中一未知种,为开发生物碱类乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制剂(AChEI)药物提供了新的潜在菌种资源。     

By-product inhibition effects on ethanolic fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Inhibition by secondary fermentation products may limit the ultimate productivity of new glucose to ethanol fermentation processes. New processes are under development whereby ethanol is selectively removed from the fermenting broth to eliminate ethanol inhibition effects. These processes can concentrate minor secondary products to the point where they become toxic to the yeast. Vacuum fermentation selectively concentrates nonvolatile products in the fermentation broth. Membrane fermentation systems may concentrate large molecules which are sterically blocked from membrane transport. Extractive fermentation systems, employing nonpolar solvents, may concentrate small organic acids. By-product production rates and inhibition levels in continuous fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been determined for acetaldehyde, glycerol, formic, lactic, and acetic acids, 1-propanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, and 2,3-butanediol to assess the potential effects of these by-products on new fermentation processes. Mechanisms are proposed for the various inhibition effects observed.     

Engineering <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> for isobutanol production by heterologous Ehrlich pathway construction and the biosynthetic 2-ketoisovalerate precursor pathway overexpression

In the present work, Bacillus subtilis was engineered as the cell factory for isobutanol production due to its high tolerance to isobutanol. Initially, an efficient heterologous Ehrlich pathway controlled by the promoter P₄₃ was introduced into B. subtilis for the isobutanol biosynthesis. Further, investigation of acetolactate synthase of B. subtilis, ketol-acid reductoisomerase, and dihydroxy-acid dehydratase of Corynebacterium glutamicum responsible for 2-ketoisovalerate precursor biosynthesis showed that acetolactate synthase played an important role in isobutanol biosynthesis. The overexpression of acetolactate synthase led to a 2.8-fold isobutanol production compared with the control. Apart from isobutanol, alcoholic profile analysis also confirmed the existence of 1.21 g/L ethanol, 1.06 g/L 2-phenylethanol, as well as traces of 2-methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol in the fermentation broth. Under microaerobic condition, the engineered B. subtilis produced up to 2.62 g/L isobutanol in shake-flask fed-batch fermentation, which was 21.3% higher than that in batch fermentation.     

Tandem mass spectrometry for on-line fermentation monitoring

Summary Membrane introduction mass spectrometry has been employed for on-line determination of the major products and volatile metabolites ofBacillus polymyxa fermentation. Samples were introduced into the mass spectrometer via a direct insertion membrane probe in which the aqueous solution flowed past a membrane located in the ion source of the mass spectrometer. Concentrations of the products 2,3-butanediol, acetoin, ethanol and acetic acid in fermentation broth were measured by tandem mass spectrometry after permeation through the membrane and ionization by chemical ionization. External standards were employed for quantification and a large linear response range was available for each of the major products observed. Dissolved CO₂ and O₂, as well as CO₂ in the off gases, were also monitored on-line by mass spectrometry. The use of tandem mass spectrometry has allowed the identification of products that were not previously known to be present in measurable amounts.     

Evaluation of the tolerance of acetic acid and 2-furaldehyde on the growth of Pichia stipitis and its respiratory deficient

The use of lignocellulosic residues for ethanol production is limited by toxic compounds in fermenting yeasts present in diluted acid hydrolysates like acetic acid and 2-furaldehyde. The respiratory deficient phenotype gives the cell the ability to resist several toxic compounds. So the aim of this work was to evaluate the tolerance to toxic compounds present in lignocellulosic hydrolysates like acetic acid and 2-furaldehyde in Pichia stipitis and its respiratory deficient strains. The respiratory deficient phenotype was induced by exposure to chemical agents such as acriflavine, acrylamide and rhodamine; 23 strains were obtained. The selection criterion was based on increasing specific ethanol yield (g ethanol g^?1 biomass) with acetic acid and furaldehyde tolerance. The screening showed that P. stipitis NRRL Y-7124 ACL 2-1RD (lacking cytochrome c), obtained using acrylamide, presented the highest specific ethanol production rate (1.82 g g^?1 h^?1). Meanwhile, the ACF8-3RD strain showed the highest acetic acid tolerance (7.80 g L^?1) and the RHO2-3RD strain was able to tolerate up to 1.5 g L^?1 2-furaldehyde with a growth and ethanol production inhibition of 23 and 22 %, respectively. The use of respiratory deficient yeast phenotype is a strategy for ethanol production improvement in a medium with toxic compounds such as hydrolysed sugarcane bagasse amongst others.     

Optimization of Culturing Conditions of a Strain of Phytophthora capsici Pathogenic to Habanero Pepper (Capsicum chinense)

Phytophthora capsici is an oomycete known as the causal agent of wilting disease in Capsicum spp., which causes rotting of roots, crowns, stems, leaves and fruits. To date, little is known about the production of phytotoxic metabolites by P. capsici or their role in the infection process. As part of a project directed towards the isolation and identification of phytotoxins produced by a strain of P. capsici pathogenic to habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense), we have evaluated the effect of factors such as aeration, light and culture medium on the production of mycelium and phytotoxic metabolites by P. capsici. The results showed that culturing P. capsici in potato dextrose broth (PDB) containing habanero pepper leaf infusion, in the dark and under still conditions, results in a high production of mycelium and a high phytotoxicity of the culture filtrate, in the shortest period of time.     

Effect of Dephosphorylation on the Self-association and the Precipitation of β-Casein

The pyrolyzate of the nondialyzable melanoidin prepared from glucose-ammonia reaction system (kept in pH 5.3~6.0 during the reaction) was fractionated to volatile fraction and nonvolatile fraction. Among the volatile components, two pyridines and four alkylpyrazines were identified. On the other hand, one imidazole compound and two β-hydroxypyridines isolated from the nonvolatile fraction were identified as 4(5)-methylimidazole, 3-hydroxypyridine and 2-methyl-5-hydroxypyridine, respectively. It is inferred that these compounds are not produced by the fission of the main skeleton in the melanoidin molecule, but formed by pyrolysis of the heterocyclic compounds present as a small moiety in the melanoidin.     

Characterization of Antimicrobial Activity in Kombucha Fermentation

Fermented tea drink, Kombucha, can inhibit the growth of Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium. Several metabolites were analyzed every two days during a 14‐day Kombucha fermentation. Levels of acetic acid and gluconic acid were found to increase with fermentation time. No lactic acid or ethanol was detected. Systematic investigation of the antimicrobial activity in Kombucha revealed the presence of antimicrobial compounds other than organic acids or proteins (enzymes) produced during fermentation or the tannins originally present in the tea broth.     

Identification of volatile compounds from fungus-infected date fruit that stimulate upwind flight in femaleEctomyelois ceratoniae

Four volatile compounds emitted from fungus-infected date fruit,Phoenix dactylifera L., were identified using coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic recordings, coupled gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis, electroantennographic assays of synthetic standards, and wind tunnel bioassays. These compounds were ethyl hexanoate, ethanol, acetaldehyde, and 2-phenylethanol. Wind tunnel bioassays showed that ethyl hexanoate was capable of stimulating upwind flight and landing on the source by mated female carob moths,Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller). Addition of both ethanol and acetaldehyde to ethyl hexanoate resulted in an increase in attraction to a level similar to that found for date fruits. No such effect was noted for additions of 2-phenylethanol at the dosages tested. In this study, it appears that ethyl hexanoate is a dominant olfactory stimulant and attractant for mated female carob moths, and represents a novel compound with regard to previously identified lepidopteran host odor attractants.     

Plasma-mediated enhancement of enzyme secretion in Aspergillus oryzae

Technical bottlenecks in protein production and secretion often limit the efficient and robust industrial use of microbial enzymes. The potential of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma to overcome these technical barriers was examined. Spores of the fermenting fungus Aspergillus oryzae (A. oryzae) were submerged in potato dextrose broth (PDB) (5 × 10⁶ per ml) and treated with micro dielectric barrier discharge plasma at an input voltage of 1.2 kV and current of 50 to 63 mA using nitrogen as the feed gas. The specific activity of α-amylase in the broth was increased by 7.4 to 9.3% after 24 and 48 h of plasma treatment. Long-lived species, such as NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻, generated in PDB after plasma treatment may have contributed to the elevated secretion of α-amylase. Observations after 24 h of plasma treatment also included increased accumulation of vesicles at the hyphal tip, hyphal membrane depolarization and higher intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. These results suggest that long-lived nitrogen species generated in PDB after plasma treatment can enhance the secretion of α-amylase from fungal hyphae by depolarizing the cell membrane and activating Ca²⁺ influx into hyphal cells, eventually leading to the accumulation of secretory vesicles near the hyphal tips.     

Isolation and identification of an anticancer drug,taxol from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllosticta tabernaemontanae</Emphasis>, a leaf spot fungus of an angiosperm, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Wrightia tinctoria</Emphasis>

Phyllosticta tabernaemontanae, a leaf spot fungus isolated from the diseased leaves of Wrightia tinctoria, showed the production of taxol, an anticancer drug, on modified liquid medium (MID) and potato dextrose broth (PDB) medium in culture for the first time. The presence of taxol was confirmed by spectroscopic and chromatographic methods of analysis. The amount of taxol produced by this fungus was quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The maximum amount of taxol production was recorded in the fungus grown on MID medium (461 μg/L) followed by PDB medium (150 μg/L). The production rate was increased to 9.2 × 10³ fold than that found in the culture broth of earlier reported fungus, Taxomyces andreanae. The results designate that P. tabernaemontanae is an excellent candidate for taxol production. The fungal taxol extracted also showed a strong cytotoxic activity in the in vitro culture of tested human cancer cells by apoptotic assay.     

中华羊茅内生真菌Epichlo? sp.挥发性物质的抑菌活性及成分分析

为测定中华羊茅内生真菌Epichloe sp.挥发性物质的抑菌活性和成分,依次采用挥发油提取器和乙酸乙酯萃取Epichloe sp.菌株的发酵产物,再采用琼脂扩散法、悬滴法和滤纸片扩散法测定其抑菌活性;基于顶空固相微萃取和气相质谱联用法分析挥发性物质成分。结果表明:挥发性物质、乙酸乙酯提取物、水相部分和发酵液可以抑制小麦根腐离蠕孢(Bipolaris sorokiniana)、新月弯孢(Curvularia lunata)和黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)菌丝生长。高浓度的挥发性物质对四种真菌孢子萌发和芽管长度抑制效果显著高于低浓度(P<0.05)。结果表明,随着挥发性物质浓度的增加对金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)和大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)的抑菌作用增强,同一挥发性物质浓度对金黄色葡萄球菌的抑制作用强于大肠杆菌。此外,从挥发性物质中鉴定出32种具有较高质谱匹配度的化合物,其中主要成分包括异山梨醇(16.26%)、甲基叔丁基醚(8.18%)、二氢甘露醇(3.75%)、羟基丙酮(2.99%)、乙酸(1.22%)、己醇(1.20%)、3-糠醛(0.92%)、5-羟甲基二氢呋喃-2-酮(0.86%)、5-羟基戊酸-2,4-二叔丁基苯酯(0.86%)和棕榈酸甲酯(0.85%)。总之,中华羊茅内生真菌Epichlosp.挥发性物质具有拮抗细菌和真菌的作用。     

Comparison of coal solubilization by bacteria and fungi

Coal-solubilizing agents produced byTrametes versicolor, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Aspergillus sp., a bacterial consortium, and a bacterial isolate,Arthrobacter sp., from that consortium were compared in terms of pH dependence, thermostability, molecular mass, mechanism of action, and product diversity. The thermostability and low molecular weights exhibited by the coal-solubilizing agents indicated a non-enzymatic mechanism of action. Competition studies using cupric copper indicated that coal solubilization by these agents involved metal chelation. Results demonstrated that oxalate could account for some but not all of the coal solubilization observed forT.versicolor andP.chrysosporium. The very low levels of oxalate detected inAspergillus sp. and the bacterial cultures indicated that oxalate is not an important factor in coal solubilization by these microbes. When subjected to gel permeation chromatography, the soluble coal products generated by each microbial coal-solubilizing agent yielded unique molecular mass profiles suggesting substantial product diversity. Such diversity increases the possibility of identifying potentially valuable compounds and extending the commercial utilization of coal.Abbreviations A₄₅₀, A₂₆₀ absorbances respectively at 450 nm and 260 nm - CSA coal-solubilizing agent - CSU coal-solubilizing unit - GPC gel permeation chromatography - MEA malt extract agar - PDA potato dextrose agar - SDA Sabouraud dextrose agar - SDB Sabouraud dextrose broth - SEM standard error of the mean - Tris tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane - TSA trypticase soy agar - TSB trypticase soy broth     

Identification of volatile flavour compounds obtained in culture of Kluyveromyces marxianus

When Kluyveromyces marxianus was cultivated on a defined medium, flavour volatile compounds accumulated in the broth. Besides superior alcohols and aldehydes, acids and fruit esters could be analyzed by gas chromatography and coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The predominant components are isoamyl alcohol, 2-phenylethyl alcohol and isobutyric acid with 180 mg/L, 400 mg/L and 290 mg/L broth, respectively.     

Metabolism of 4,4′-dichlorobiphenyl by white-rot fungi Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Phanerochaete sp. MZ142

Degradation experiment of model polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compound 4,4′-dichlorobiphenyl (4,4′-DCB) and its metabolites by the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium and newly isolated 4,4′-DCB-degrading white-rot fungus strain MZ142 was carried out. Although P. chrysosporium showed higher degradation of 4,4′-DCB in low-nitrogen (LN) medium than that in potato dextrose broth (PDB) medium, Phanerochaete sp. MZ142 showed higher degradation of 4,4′-DCB under PDB medium condition than that in LN medium. The metabolic pathway of 4,4′-DCB was elucidated by the identification of metabolites upon addition of 4,4′-DCB and its metabolic intermediates. 4,4′-DCB was initially metabolized to 2-hydroxy-4,4′-DCB and 3-hydroxy-4,4′-DCB by Phanerochaete sp. MZ142. On the other hand, P. chrysosporium transformed 4,4′-DCB to 3-hydroxy-4,4′-DCB and 4-hydroxy-3,4′-DCB produced via a National Institutes of Health shift of 4-chlorine. 3-Hydroxy-4,4′-DCB was transformed to 3-methoxy-4,4′-DCB; 4-chlorobenzoic acid; 4-chlorobenzaldehyde; and 4-chlorobenzyl alcohol in the culture with Phanerochaete sp. MZ142 or P. chrysosporium. LN medium condition was needed to form 4-chlorobenzoic acid, 4-chlorobenzaldehyde, and 4-chlorobenzyl alcohol from 3-hydroxy-4,4′-DCB, indicating the involvement of secondary metabolism. 2-Hydroxy-4,4′-DCB was not methylated. In this paper, we proved for the first time by characterization of intermediate that hydroxylation of PCB was a key step in the PCB degradation process by white-rot fungi.     

不同碳源和生长因子条件下粒毛盘菌代谢产物初步研究

采用GC-MS法对一种粒毛盘菌(Lachnum sp.)在不同碳源、生长因子条件下发酵代谢产物的挥发性成分组成与差异进行分析。结果显示,不同碳源和生长因子条件下产生的代谢产物不同,主要包括有机酸、胺类、烷烃类、酯类、醇类、吡咯等物质。分别以20 g/L的葡萄糖、蔗糖、淀粉为碳源的发酵液中检测到的挥发性代谢产物为7、7、10种;添加1 mg/L的V_C、V_(B1)、甘氨酸、色氨酸作为不同生长因子的发酵液中检测到的挥发性代谢产物分别为6、7、7、12种。结果显示粒毛盘菌YM406发酵代谢产物具有丰富的多样性,并且在不同的培养条件下产生的代谢产物存在一定的差异。     

Growth and Protein Content in Colletotrichum circinans, Fusarium solani and Rhizoctonia solani in Liquid Culture

The phytopathogenic fungi Colletotrichum circinans, Fusarium solani, and Rhizoctonia solani were incubated in aerated (0, 0.5, 1 dm³ min^–1) potato dextrose broth (PDB) or Czapek-Dox broth (CDB), under 0-, 12- or 24-h photoperiods. Greater dry mass was produced in PDB. Higher air flows improved dry mass of F. solani and R. solani. The 24-h photoperiod improved F. solani dry mass. Except for F. solani, which was not affected, incubation in PDB increased protein content. The no air treatment increased protein content in F. solani, 0.5 dm³ min^–1 produced the highest protein content in R. solani, but air flow-rate did not affect C. circinans. Incubation in the dark produced the lowest protein content in C. circinans, the highest under the 24-h photoperiod for R. solani, and photoperiod did not affect protein content in F. solani. Protein content in R. solani, incubated in CDB, was lowest at the 0 dm³ min^–1 air flow at all photoperiods. Molecular masses of most proteins were under 30 kDa, and numbers of bands in SDS-PAGE gels varied with air flow. In CDB, especially under 12- or 24-h photoperiods, proteins in F. solani were between 1.6 and 310 kDa. For R. solani in PDB, at 0.5 dm³ min^–1 air flow and 12-h light, proteins were between 6 and 81 kDa.     

Bacterial iturins mediate biocontrol activity of Bacillus sp. against postharvest pear fruit‐rotting fungi

A potential antagonist, Bacillus sp. LYLB4 isolated from pear fruits, was tested for its antifungal activity against postharvest pear pathogens. LYLB4 had a remarkable antifungal effect on Botryosphaeria dothidea. Although it showed a weak inhibition effect on the growth of Rhizopus stolonifer on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates, LYLB4 almost completely destroyed R. stolonifer during direct contact in potato dextrose broth (PDB). LYLB4 treatment was able to significantly reduce disease incidence (by 68.9% and 100%, respectively) and lesion diameter (by 68.7% and 100%, respectively) of ring rot caused by B. dothidea and soft rot caused by R. stolonifer in pears. LYLB4 also suppressed several other phytopathogens in vitro, suggesting a broad‐spectrum antagonistic activity against fungal pathogens. 16S rRNA and gyrA sequence analysis indicated that LYLB4 is closely related to B. velezensis. Genome mining indicated that LYLB4 had 11 secondary metabolites encoding clusters, but that the surfactin and fengycin gene clusters may not be functional because of a large deletion. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization‐time of flight mass spectra (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) demonstrated that iturins were the major lipopeptides, and that C₁₆/C₁₇ Bacillomycin D synthesis was stimulated when LYLB4 was co‐cultured with B. dothidea compared to the control. Overall, these results demonstrate that the main biocontrol mechanism adopted by LYLB4 could be through the production of toxic metabolites and direct contact with pathogens.     

Ethanol utilization for metabolite production by Candida utilis strains in liquid medium

Ethanol has been reported to be a gaseous pollutant, originating from the agricultural industry. Interest in its biodegradation has increased over the last two decades. Most of the current studies have focused on its elimination by mixed cultures. This study is part of a broader project intended to utilize Candida utilis strains for gaseous ethanol elimination and to eventually bioconvert them into biomass and/or volatile metabolites. We present here the study of six strains (one from the ATCC and five from the ICIDCA collection) cultivated in a liquid medium, with initial ethanol concentrations of 16 g/l and 32 g/l. At 16 g/l, a maximum ethanol elimination rate of 0.13 g/l × h was obtained in four of the six strains (ATCC 9950, L/375–1, L/375–5 and L/375–10). This rate increased to 0.21 g/l × h with an initial ethanol concentration of 32 g/l. The L/375–5 strain was the best biomass producer (3.3 g/l) at 32 g/l, while the highest ethyl acetate production (0.80 g/l) was obtained with the L/375–1 strain. The L/375–25 and L/375–26 strains which showed very low ethyl acetate production were, by way of contrast, efficient acetaldehyde producers, with 0.54 g/l and 0.66 g/l measured in the broth. While biomass production reached its maximum after two days of culture, the production of acetic acid and ethyl acetate continued during the third day. The results for biomass and metabolite production obtained with the ICIDCA collection strains (L/375–1, L/375–5 and L/375–10) were better than those obtained with the ATCC 9950 strain, although the latter often has been reported to be particularly suitable for metabolite production.