Decolourisation of synthetic and spentwash melanoidins using the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium JAG-40

Phanerochaete chrysosporium JAG-40 was isolated from the soil samples saturated with spilled molasses collected from a sugar mill. This isolate decolourised synthetic and natural melanoidins present in spentwash in liquid fermentation; up to 80% in 6 days at 30 degrees C under aerobic conditions. A large inoculum size stimulated fungal biomass production, but this gave less decolourisation of pigment; 5% w/v (dry weight) mycelial suspension was found optimum for maximum decolourisation in melanoidin medium supplemented with glucose and peptone. Gel-filtration chromatography showed that larger molecular weight fractions of melanoidin were decolourised more rapidly than small molecular weight fractions.     

Biocatalytic decolourisation of molasses by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Bioremediation potential of Phanerochaete chrysosporium strains NCIM 1073, NCIM 1106 and NCIM 1197 to decolourise molasses in solid and liquid molasses media was studied. Strains varied in the pattern of molasses decolourisation on solid medium by Giant colony method. Under submerged cultivation conditions, strain NCIM 1073 did not decolourise molasses while, strains NCIM 1106 and NCIM 1197 could decolourise molasses up to 82% and 76%, respectively. Under stationary cultivation conditions, none of the strains could decolourise molasses. This was overcome by increasing the surface area of the culture in flat bottom glass bottles under stationary cultivation conditions. Under submerged cultivation conditions, growth was more or less same in all strains. However, the lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase activities were significantly less in the strain NCIM 1073. Under stationary cultivation conditions, none of the strains could produce enzymes lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase. However, all of them could produce lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase when cultivated in flat bottom glass bottles under stationary cultivation conditions.     

The role of riboflavin in decolourisation of Congo red and bioelectricity production using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Shewanella oneidensis</Emphasis>-MR1 under MFC and non-MFC conditions

Dissimilatory metal reducing bacteria can exchange electrons extracellularly and hold great promise for their use in simultaneous wastewater treatment and electricity production. This study investigated the role of riboflavin, an electron carrier, in the decolourisation of Congo red in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 as a model organism. The contribution of the membrane-bound protein MtrC to the decolourisation process was also investigated. Within the range of riboflavin concentrations tested, 20 µM was found to be the best with >95% of the dye (initial concentration 200 mg/L) decolourised in MFCs within 50 h compared to 90% in the case where no riboflavin was added. The corresponding maximum power density was 45 mW/m². There was no significant difference in the overall decolourisation efficiencies of Shewanela oneidensis MR-1 ΔMtrC mutants compared to the wild type. However, in terms of power production the mutant produced more power (P_max 76 mW/m²) compared to the wild type (P_max 46 mW/m²) which was attributed to higher levels of riboflavin secreted in solution. Decolourisation efficiencies in non-MFC systems (anaerobic bottles) were similar to those under MFC systems indicating that electricity generation in MFCs does not impair dye decolourisation efficiencies. The results suggest that riboflavin enhances both decolourisation of dyes and simultaneous electricity production in MFCs.     

Decolourisation of the textile dye Astrazon Red FBL by Funalia trogii pellets.

The effects of various conditions such as initial pH, dye concentrations, amount of pellet, temperature and agitation on decolourising activity of Funalia trogii were investigated. These, except initial pH, were all found to be important for dye decolourising activity of F. trogii. The decolourisation of the dye involved adsorption of the dye compound by fungal pellets at the initial stage, followed by the decolourisation through microbial metabolism. Heat-killed pellets were also tested for their ability to decolourise Astrazon Red dye. These pellets adsorbed the dye and 55% decolourisation was obtained in 24 h. But at the second cycle there was only 24% decolourisation. Our observation showed that Astrazon Red dye decolourisation by heat-killed pellets was mainly due to biosorption. The longevity of the decolourisation activity of F. trogii pellets was also investigated in repeated batch mode. Variations in the amount of pellet increased % decolourisation and stability of pellets.     

The diversity of Escherichia coli serotypes and biotypes in cattle faeces

AIM: To study the diversity of commensal Escherichia coli populations shed in faeces of cattle fed on different diets. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty Brahman-cross steers were initially fed a high grain (80%) diet and then randomly allocated into three dietary treatment groups, fed 80% grain, roughage, or roughage + 50% molasses. Up to eight different E. coli isolates were selected from primary isolation plates of faecal samples from each animal. Fifty-two distinct serotypes, including nine different VTEC strains, were identified from a total of 474 E. coli isolates. Cattle fed a roughage + molasses diet had greater serotype diversity (30 serotypes identified) than cattle fed roughage or grain (21 and 17 serotypes identified respectively). Cluster analysis showed that serotypes isolated from cattle fed roughage and roughage + molasses diets were more closely associated than serotypes isolated from cattle fed grain. Resistance to one or more of 11 antimicrobial agents was detected among isolates from 20 different serotypes. Whilst only 2.3% of E. coli isolates produced enterohaemolysin, 25% were found to produce alpha-haemolysin. CONCLUSIONS: Diverse non-VTEC populations of E. coli serotypes are shed in cattle faeces and diet may affect population diversity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides new information on the serotype diversity and phenotypic traits of predominant E. coli populations in cattle faeces, which could be sources of environmental contamination.     

Determining specific biomass activity in anaerobic wastewater treatment processes

An experimental method for the measurement of specific gas production rate was developed and tested with biomass samples taken from anaerobic fluidized bed reactors, operating with a variety of carriers with molasses, condensate from cellulose production and brewery wastewater as feeds. The method is based on reactor sampling and offline gas volume measurement during a known time interval. Important factors are biomass and liquid sampling under oxygen-free conditions, using the liquid from the reactor as substrate, providing sufficient mixing and maintaining the physical integrity of the biomass. The method was developed in such a way that small samples (20 ml) were taken under anaerobic conditions (poising agent) for short-term (2–3 min.) gas rate measurements in a small fluidized bed (25 ml) batch reactor with U-tube. Biomass content was measured by an instrumental nitrogen method (Dumas), followed by weight determination of the carrier. The gas rates measured with the test system, and their dependence on substrate concentration, were in good agreement with those directly measured from the continuous fluidized bed reactor. Additions of molasses and acetate to the sample proved that the influence of concentration on the biomass activity can be obtained only by operating the continuous reactor at the concentration levels of interest. Comparison between the reactors showed large differences in the specific activity and the total reactor activity. It was found when comparing two reactors, that the values of the specific and the total activities permitted the calculation of the relative biomass quantities. In this way the influence of the carrier-type could be evaluated.     

Effect of Different Carbon Sources on Decolourisation of an Industrial Textile Dye Under Alkaline–Saline Conditions

White-rot fungal strains of Trametes versicolor and Phanerochaete chrysosporium were selected to study the decolourisation of the textile dye, Reactive Black 5, under alkaline–saline conditions. Free and immobilised T. versicolor cells showed 100 % decolourisation in the growth medium supplemented with 15 g l^?1 NaCl, pH 9.5 at 30 °C in liquid batch culture. Continuous culture experiments were performed in a fixed-bed reactor using free and immobilised T. versicolor cells and allowed 85–100 % dye decolourisation. The immobilisation conditions for the biomass and the additional supply of carbon sources improved the decolourisation performance during a long-term trial of 40 days. Lignin peroxidase, laccase and glyoxal oxidase activities were detected during the experiments. The laccase activity varied depending on carbon source utilized and glycerol-enhanced laccase activity compared to sucrose during extended growth.     

Biodegradation of organic compounds of molasses melanoidin (MM) from biomethanated distillery spent wash (BMDS) during the decolourisation by a potential bacterial consortium

Molasses melanoidin (MM) is a major pollutant in biomethanated distillery spent wash (BMDS) due to its recalcitrant properties. The 75% colour and 71% COD of MM (1,000?ppm) were reduced with developed bacterial consortium comprising Proteus mirabilis (IITRM5; FJ581028), Bacillus sp. (IITRM7; FJ581030), Raoultella planticola (IITRM15; GU329705) and Enterobacter sakazakii (IITRM16, FJ581031) in the ratio of 4:3:2:1 within 10?days at optimized nutrient. Bacterial consortium showed manganese peroxidase and laccase activity during MM decolourisation. The dominant growth of R. planticola and E. sakazakii was noted in consortium during MM decolourisation. The comparative GC-MS analysis of extracted compounds of control and degraded samples showed that most of the compounds present in control were completely utilized by bacterial consortium along with production of some metabolites. The developed bacterial consortium could be a tool for the decolourisation and degradation of melanoidin containing BMDS.     

Decolourisation of effluent from the textile industry by a microbial consortium

Summary A microbial consortium, PDW, was isolated capable of the rapid decolourisation of commercially important textile dyes under anaerobic conditions. Decolourisation was dependent upon the presence of a carbon and energy source in addition to the textile dyes. PDW was capable of dye decolourisation when utilising cheap and readily available carbon sources such lactose, starch and distillery waste. PDW removed 76% of colour from textile plant effluent after 3 days.     

Isolation and characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis for acid red 119 dye decolourisation

Studies were carried out to isolate Acid red 119 (AR-119) resistant and decolourising bacteria from dye contaminated soil and water samples. Six morphologically distinct bacterial isolates resistant to 100 ppm AR-119 dye were isolated directly from the soil and waste contaminated with azo dyes. The most efficient isolate, which showed decolourisation zone of 44 mm on 100 ppm AR-119 containing plate was identified as Bacillus thuringiensis SRDD. Gradual adaptation increased the efficiency of the isolate and within 7h of incubation it showed decolourisation up to 1000 ppm of AR-119 dye in liquid medium. Addition of 300 ppm of AR-119 in each step in ongoing dye decolourisation flask gave more than 90% decolourisation of 300 ppm AR-119 in time as short as 1.25 h. The developed B. thuringiensis showed 50-60% decolourisation of 5000 ppm AR-119 in 7d of incubation. This organism was also able to remove more than 98%, 92%, 95% and 95% colour of C.I. Acid brown 14, C.I. Acid black 210, C.I. Acid violet 90 and C.I. Acid yellow 42 azo dyes at 100 ppm concentration in 24h, respectively. When the developed isolate was studied for bioremediation of actual azo dye contaminated waste it removed 70% colour from the waste in 24h. The developed B. thuringiensis exhibited excellent resistance and decolourisation ability to AR-119 and other acid azo dyes.     

Overlap of laccases/cellobiose dehydrogenase activities during the decolourisation of anthraquinonic dyes with close chemical structures by Pycnoporus strains

Pycnoporus strains were used as model to understand the role of laccases in the in vivo decolourisation of three anthraquinonic dyes. The decolourisation capability of Pycnoporus sanguineus MUCL 41582 (PS7), which produces laccases as the main oxidative enzyme, was assayed and compared with the decolourisation capability of a control strain, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus MUCL 39533 (PC330) described as laccase-deficient strain. In absence of dye, laccase activity was observed during the trophophase and the idiophase with PS7, while no laccase activity was observed with PC330. Acid Blue 62 (ABu62), Acid Blue 281 (ABu281) and Reactive Blue 19 (RBu19) caused an increase in laccase activity and surprisingly laccase activity was detected with PC330. In vitro, oxidation of all three anthraquinones by a laccase preparation was obtained to a lesser extent than the whole cell process; suggesting that other factor(s) could be required for a complete decolourisation. As the time space of laccase production in the tested fungi was not perfectly coincidental with the decolourisation process, the activity of cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) was monitored. Present early in the broth during the growth of the fungi, CDH displayed in vitro a synergism with laccases in the decolourisation of ABu62, and an antagonism with laccases in the decolourisation of ABu281 and RBu19.     

Proximate chemical analysis of final cane molasses and effect of feeding 30% molasses on intestinal sucrase and maltase activities in the rat

The final cane molasses used contained, on an air dry basis, 18.5% moisture, 62.1% alcohol-soluble sugars, 32.2% sucrose, 8.6% glucose and 15% fructose. The nitrogen content was particularly low (0.58%, out of which scarcely half was present as amino acids). The effect of molasses on growth rate and on the activities of intestinal disaccharidases was investigated using three groups of nine weanling rats fed for 21 days on diets containing 30% of either final molasses, sucrose, or maize starch, respectively. Growth rate and food intake were similar in all groups; feed/gain was similar for molasses and maize starch based diets and significantly lower for sucrose. Molasses significantly increased the weight of intestinal tissue and the protein content of intestine. No difference in the total and specific activity of intestinal maltase was found between the treatments. On the contrary, a considerable increase (P < 0.01) in both total and specific activity of sucrase occurred in rats fed on molasses compared with those fed on sucrose or maize starch. Present data suggest that sucrose comprising 30% of the diet does not induce intestinal sucrase adaptation, in contrast to a similar level of molasses. Conclusions about the use of molasses for feeding monogastric animals are drawn.     

A method for the preparation of coimmobilizates by adhesion using polyethylenimine.

A method has been described for obtaining coimmobilizates by the simultaneous binding of glucose oxidase to the cell and the enzyme-bound cell to cotton thread through adhesion using polyethylenimine (PEI). Glucose oxidase was found to adsorb onto PEI-coated yeast cells from a water suspension. The desorption observed at higher ionic strength could be obviated by cross-linking with 2% glutaraldehyde for 2 min. The enzyme-bound yeast cells could then be immobilized by adhesion on cotton thread. The coimmobilizate could be reused for over 10 batches without appreciable loss in activity.     

A packed-bed fungal bioreactor for the continuous decolourisation of azo-dyes (Orange II)

The degradation of an azo dye, Orange II, by immobilised Phanerochaete chrysosporium in a continuous packed bed bioreactor for periods longer than 30 days has been carried out. Nearly complete decolourisation (>95%) was achieved when working at a high dye load rate of 0.2 g l⁻¹ d⁻¹, a temperature of 37 °C, a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 24 h and applying oxygen gas in a pulsed flow. These conditions allowed Manganese peroxidase (MnP) production and the subsequently Orange II decolourisation. A correlation between residual MnP activity in the effluent and decolourisation was established. Apparently, for decolourisation to be effective, a minimum MnP activity was required, no substantial increase in efficiency at MnP activities higher than 10 U 1 ⁻¹ was observed. The treatment caused, the breakdown of the chromophoric group as well as the cleavage of the aromatic ring.     

The 76 kD cell-adhesion factor from crayfish haemocytes promotes encapsulation in vitro

Summary Semigranular cells from the crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, were separated by Percoll gradient centrifugation and were used to study the encapsulation of foreign particles. The semigranular cells were found strongly to encapsulate glass beads coated with haemocyte lysate in which the prophenoloxidase-activating system had been activated with laminarin or with a low concentration of calcium ions. The granular cells only weakly encapsulated these particles. The encapsulationpromoting factor was purified from haemocyte lysates and found to be a 76 kD protein which was recognized by an antiserum to the previously described 76 kD cell-adhesion factor. After the last step in purification (Con A-Sepharose chromatography), the flowthrough consisted of several proteins, which had some, but less, encapsulation-promoting activity and contained a 30 kD band that was also recognized by the antiserum to the 76 kD cell-adhesion factor. If the haemocyte lysate prepared in low [Ca²⁺] was incubated with a -1,3-glucan prior to purification, no 76 kD protein could be isolated but only a 30 kD protein. The 30 kD protein thus seems to be a degradation product of the 76 kD cell-adhesion factor. We conclude that the 76 kD protein which is released from degranulating haemocytes, and to a lesser extent its 30 kD fragment, can promote encapsulation. Phenoloxidase did not have any encapsulation-promoting activity.     

Preparation and characterization of antigen and antibody absorbents covalently coupled to an inorganic carrier

Immunoadsorbents were prepared by the use of an inorganic carrier. The proteins were covalently coupled to the carrier through a silane coupling agent. An immunoadsorbent prepared with human gamma-globulin was found to complex with specific antibodies. These antibodies could be recovered in high yield and purity from the adsorbent. Similarly, insolubilized antibodies to l-asparaginase were used to isolate and purify the enzyme from crude extracts. These insolubilized antibodies are extremely stable with time and may be reused many times.     

Single-pot conversion of cephalosporin C to 7-aminocephalosporanic acid in the absence of hydrogen peroxide

In this study, d-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) and catalase (CAT) in the permeabilized recombinant Pichia pastori cells were well investigated. It appeared that their thermal stability was negatively correlated with the apparent enzymatic activities. The frozen-melted cells presented the best stability and the lowest apparent activities of DAAO and CAT, whereas the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) permeabilized cells displayed the weakest stability and the highest apparent activities of the two enzymes. Simultaneous action of DAAO and CAT in the CTAB-permeabilized cells and glutaryl-7-aminocephalosporanic acid acylase (GA) immobilized on carrier contributed to the conversion of cephalosporin C (CPC) to 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) with a yield of 76.2%. During such a reaction cycle, no visible activity loss occurred at the immobilized GA, whereas the loss rates of DAAO and CAT activities were about 0.029 and 1.13 U min⁻¹, respectively. Nevertheless, this problem could be easily solved by continuous feeding of the new permeabilized cell suspension at the rate of 6 ml h⁻¹ to the reactor. Following such a fed-batch strategy, these permeabilized cells and the immobilized GA could be efficiently reused for 6 and 15 reaction cycles, respectively, yielding around 76% 7-ACA at each reaction cycle.     

Treatment of molasses wastewater by acetogenic bacteria BP103 in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system

Acetogenic bacteria BP103 cells could be used as the absorbent for melanoidin pigment (MP) and molasses wastewater (MWW). The maximum MP adsorption yield of this strain observed from the dead (autoclaved) cell. It was two times higher than that with resting cells. However, the MP adsorption yield of the strain was 50-60% decreased by acclimatization with the media containing MP. The deteriorated cells (MP-adsorbed cells) could be recovered by washing with 0.1% SDS, 0.1% Tween 80 and 0.1 mol/L NaOH solutions. Among them, 0.1 mol/L NaOH solution was most suitable according to highest elution ability and no-effect to the MP adsorption capacity (The adsorption yield of deteriorated cell was reduced only 10% after washing three times with 0.1 mol/L NaOH solution). In SBR system, the strain showed very low MP removal yield with both molasses wastewater (MWW) from the anaerobic pond (An-MWW) and stillage from an alcohol factory (U-MWW). However, the MP removal yield was increased by supplementation with carbon sources (glucose). Also, the MP removal efficiency was increased with the increase of supplemented-glucose concentration. The highest COD, BOD(5), TKN and MP removal efficiencies of the SBR system with 10 times-diluted An-MWW solution containing 30 g/L glucose under HRT of seven days were 65.2+/-2.5%, 82.8+/-3.4%, 32.1+/-0.8% and 50.2+/-3.7%, respectively. The large molecular weight fraction of MP in both U-MWW and An-MWW solutions were rapidly removed by acetogenic bacteria BP103, while the small molecular weight fractions of MP still remained in the effluent.     

DA-F127水凝胶包埋固定化含腈水合酶细胞

腈水合酶是一类可催化腈类化合物转化生成相应酰胺类物质的酶。含腈水合酶的游离细胞催化水合反应存在酶容易失活、细胞无法重复利用、分离纯化困难等缺陷,细胞固定化技术可有效解决这些问题。为探索合适的固定化方法,以含腈水合酶的重组E.coli细胞为研究对象,以固定化酶活回收率和批次反应情况为评价指标,筛选比较了几种常用的包埋固定化方法。结果表明,DA-F127水凝胶包埋固定化细胞不仅具有较高的酶活回收率,而且稳定性也很好。对该方法进行了固定化条件和操作稳定性优化,当DA-F127浓度为15%、UV光源距离为20cm、光照时间为6min、菌体含量为20mg/g 固定化细胞时,酶活回收率为89.74%,并且可以催化9批次150g/L的3-氰基吡啶完成转化,第九批次转化率可达98.26%。与游离细胞催化过程相比,单位质量游离细胞的烟酰胺产量提高了12倍,具有良好的工业应用前景。     

金属螯合载体定向固定化木瓜蛋白酶的研究

以磁性金属螯合琼脂糖微球为载体,利用金属螯合配体（IDACu²⁺）与蛋白质表面供电子氨基酸相互作用的原理,定向固定了木瓜蛋白酶。固定化最适条件为Cu²⁺1.5×10^-2mol/g载体、固定化时间4h、固定化pH7.0、给酶量30mg/g载体。固定化酶的最适反应温度70℃、最适反应pH8.0,固定化酶的热稳定性明显高于溶液酶,固定化酶活力回收为68.4％,且有较好的操作稳定性,载体重复使用5次后固定化酶酶活为首次固定化酶79.71%。