A note on hydrolytic enzymes of Corynebacterium equi

One hundred and five strains of Corynebacterium equi from various sources were examined for the production of 11 extracellular enzymes. Only lipase and phosphatase activity were detected in all strains. A small number of strains produced deoxyribonuclease but these strains were not confined to any one source. It seems likely that C. equi does not rely on a powerful array of extracellular enzymes to induce pathology.     

Characterization of production of cholesterol oxidases in three Rhodococcus strains

The production of cholesterol oxidase in two strains of Rhodococcus equi No. 23 from butter, and Rhodococcus sp. No. 33 from bacon, which had properties on biochemical and physiological tests almost similar to the strains of R. equi, was compared with that of the type strain (ATCC 6939) of R. equi. The intensity of cholesterol oxidase activity, both extracellular and membrane-bound, from the three strains was in the order No. 23, ATCC 6939 and No. 33. More extracellular enzyme was produced by strain No. 23 than by the other two strains. Halo formation on the agar medium containing cholesterol depended on the conversion of cholesterol to 4-cholesten-3-one by the extracellular cholesterol oxidase.     

Characterization of production of cholesterol oxidases in three Rhodococcus strains

The production of cholesterol oxidase in two strains of Rhodococcus equi No. 23 from butter, and Rhodococcus sp. No. 33 from bacon, which had properties on biochemical and physiological tests almost similar to the strains of R. equi , was compared with that of the type strain (ATCC 6939) of R. equi. The intensity of cholesterol oxidase activity, both extracellular and membrane-bound, from the three strains was in the order No. 23, ATCC 6939 and No. 33. More extracellular enzyme was produced by strain No. 23 than by the other two strains. Halo formation on the agar medium containing cholesterol depended on the conversion of cholesterol to 4-cholesten-3-one by the extracellular cholesterol oxidase.     

Associations between the ecology of virulent Rhodococcus equi and the epidemiology of R. equi pneumonia on Australian thoroughbred farms

The ecology of virulent strains of Rhodococcus equi on horse farms is likely to influence the prevalence and severity of R. equi pneumonia in foals. This study examined the association between the ecology of virulent R. equi and the epidemiology of R. equi pneumonia by collecting air and soil samples over two breeding seasons (28 farm-year combinations) on Thoroughbred breeding farms with different reported prevalences of R. equi pneumonia. Colony blotting and DNA hybridization were used to detect and measure concentrations of virulent R. equi. The prevalence of R. equi pneumonia was associated with the airborne burden of virulent R. equi (both the concentration and the proportion of R. equi bacteria that were virulent) but was not associated with the burden of virulent R. equi in the soil. Univariable screening and multivariable model building were used to evaluate the effect of environmental and management factors on virulent R. equi burdens. Lower soil moisture concentrations and lower pasture heights were significantly associated with elevated airborne concentrations of virulent R. equi, as were the holding pens and lanes, which typically were sandy, dry, and devoid of pasture cover. Few variables appeared to influence concentrations of virulent R. equi in soil. Acidic soil conditions may have contributed to an elevated proportion of virulent strains within the R. equi population. Environmental management strategies that aim to reduce the level of exposure of susceptible foals to airborne virulent R. equi are most likely to reduce the impact of R. equi pneumonia on endemically affected farms.     

Numerical classification of Rhodococcus equi and related actinomycetes

Eighty-three strains received as Corynebacterium or Rhodococcus equi and marker cultures of Corynebacterium and Rhodococcus species were subjected to numerical phenetic analyses using 112 unit characters. The data were examined using the simple matching ( S _SM) and Jaccard ( S _J) coefficients and clustering was achieved using the average linkage algorithm. Cluster composition was not markedly affected by the coefficient used or by test error, estimated at 2.9%. Most of the strains received as R. (C.) equi formed a distinct and homogeneous cluster in the aggregate Rhodococcus taxon, the strains of which were sharply separated from marker cultures of C. pseudotuberculosis and C. renale. The taxon R. equi was redescribed and Nocardia calcarea Metcalf & Brown reduced to a subjective synonym of R. erythropolis (Gray & Thornton) Goodfellow & Alderson.     

Phosphodiesterase and phosphotriesterase in Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium strains and their roles in the degradation of organophosphorus pesticides

Of 13 Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium strains investigated for the production of cellular and extracellular phosphodiesterase and phosphotriesterase, all were found to produce both enzymes. Phosphodiesterase was produced at a much higher level than phosphotriesterase. Rhizobium meliloti TAL 1373 was the most productive. The extracellular enzymes were activated by inclusion in the assay mixture of Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺. The enzymes were inhibited by Zn²⁺ but not significantly affected by Cu²⁺, Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺. Both hydrolases were inhibited by dithiothreitol but not by thiol-directed inhibitors, suggesting that sulphydryl groups are not directly involved in catalysis. The enzymes have the ability to hydrolyse some organophosphorus compounds, suggesting that Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium strains play an important role in the degradation of organophosphorus pesticides.     

Production,characterization and gene cloning of the extracellular enzymes from the marine-derived yeasts and their potential applications

In this review article, the extracellular enzymes production, their properties and cloning of the genes encoding the enzymes from marine yeasts are overviewed. Several yeast strains which could produce different kinds of extracellular enzymes were selected from the culture collection of marine yeasts available in this laboratory. The strains selected belong to different genera such as Yarrowia, Aureobasidium, Pichia, Metschnikowia and Cryptococcus. The extracellular enzymes include cellulase, alkaline protease, aspartic protease, amylase, inulinase, lipase and phytase, as well as killer toxin. The conditions and media for the enzyme production by the marine yeasts have been optimized and the enzymes have been purified and characterized. Some genes encoding the extracellular enzymes from the marine yeast strains have been cloned, sequenced and expressed. It was found that some properties of the enzymes from the marine yeasts are unique compared to those of the homologous enzymes from terrestrial yeasts and the genes encoding the enzymes in marine yeasts are different from those in terrestrial yeasts. Therefore, it is of very importance to further study the enzymes and their genes from the marine yeasts. This is the first review on the extracellular enzymes and their genes from the marine yeasts.     

Interaction of virulent and non-virulent Rhodococcus equi human isolates with phagocytes, fibroblast- and epithelial-derived cells

Abstract Rhodococcus equi is a facultative, intracellular, Gram-positive coccobacillus, increasingly reported in pneumonia of AIDS-infected patients. We investigated killing resistance properties of human R. equi virulent and avirulent human strains. Avirulent β-lactam-susceptible strains had lower intracellular colony forming units after 45 min incubation in murine macrophages J774 and human monocyte-macrophage TPH-1 than those of virulent strains. Only virulent β-lactam-resistant strains persisted within macrophages for at least 18 min only. A β-lactam-resistant mutant was obtained from a β-lactam-susceptible strain after selection in a penicillin G-containing culture medium. This mutant strain, like the natural virulent strains, persisted within macrophages, harboured cell-associated appendages, produced phage-like particles and induced, after its intravenous inoculation, a chronic infection in BALB/c nude mice. Supernatant culture of virulent strains transferred partial macrophage-killing resistance properties to avirulent strains. The same supernatant was toxic for L-929, HeLa and Vero cell cultures. These supernatant effects were heat-inactivated, trypsin-inactivated and did not seem to be linked to phage-like particle presence. These data argue that virulence, β-lactam-resistance, and macrophage-killing resistance are associated in human R. equi isolates. Moreover, only virulent strains produced uncharacterized toxic factors.     

四株昭通乌天麻共生蜜环菌的生理生化特征及其分子鉴定

目的对4株昭通乌天麻(Gastrodia elata)共生蜜环菌(Armillaria mella)的生理生化活性进行研究,并鉴定其分类地位。方法通过测定不同碳源和氮源对蜜环菌生长以及胞外酶活性的影响,掌握该蜜环菌生理生化特性,再结合rDNA-IGS序列分析方法进行鉴定。结果不同蜜环菌需要不同的碳源、氮源。3种胞外酶中木聚糖酶活性最大,其次是羧甲基纤维素酶,漆酶活性最小。供试蜜环菌与云南、贵州地区天麻共生蜜环菌以及猪苓共生蜜环菌的亲缘关系比较远。结论蜜环菌能否作为天麻共生菌与其分类地位无关。     

湛江沿海潮间带产胞外纤溶活性酶类海洋真菌的生物多样性分析

【目的】研究湛江沿海硇洲岛和徐闻珊瑚礁自然保护区潮间带产胞外纤溶酶样酶和纤溶酶原激活物海洋真菌的生物多样性,为发掘新型溶栓药物奠定基础。【方法】采用马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂(PDA)和酵母膏蛋白胨葡萄糖(YPD)培养基分离培养海洋真菌,采用真菌r DNA转录间隔区1-5.8S r DNA-转录间隔区2(ITS1-5.8S-ITS2)片段的序列分析及其系统进化树构建的方法鉴定分离培养的海洋真菌,采用脱脂牛奶马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂(SM-PDA)培养基培养法筛选产胞外蛋白酶的海洋真菌,采用海水纤维蛋白马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂(FN-PDA)培养基培养法筛选产胞外纤溶酶样酶和/或纤溶酶原激活物的海洋真菌。【结果】从湛江沿海的硇洲岛和徐闻珊瑚礁自然保护区潮间带分离、培养和鉴定了海洋真菌446株,含真菌的98个种,分布于真菌域子囊菌门(Ascomycota)和担子菌门(Basidiomycota)的6个纲、18个目、46个科、65个属;其中产胞外蛋白酶的海洋真菌有265株,61个种,分布于41个属;产胞外纤溶酶样酶的海洋真菌有67株,22个种,分布于14个属;产胞外纤溶酶原激活物的海洋真菌有84株,23种,分布于13个属;优势属为曲霉属(Aspergillus),其次为青霉属(Penicillium)。【结论】湛江沿海潮间带可分离培养的产胞外纤溶酶样酶和纤溶酶原激活物的海洋真菌物种丰富多样,是发掘新型溶栓药的丰富资源。     

Molecular characterization of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi isolated from an Ethiopian camel by ribotyping and PCR-ribotyping.

The aim of this study was to characterize a S. equi subspecies equi strain isolated from an Ethiopian camel by different molecular techniques (Ribotyping and PCR-Ribotyping). We compared the results obtained with those generated from two strains of the Pasteur Collection. The ribotyping showed the highest power of differentiation, distinguishing between the strains analyzed, whereas PCR-Ribotyping was able only to differentiate the camel isolate but not the strains from the Pasteur Collection. The application of this technique will be very useful to establish a clonal relationship among equine and camelids strains and help the prevention and cure of the equine and camel pathology.     

Two novel IgG endopeptidases of Streptococcus equi

Streptococcus equi ssp. equi causes strangles, a highly contagious and serious disease in the upper respiratory tract of horses. Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus , another subspecies of this genus, is regarded as an opportunistic commensal in horses. The present study describes the characterization of two novel immunoglobulin G (IgG) endopeptidases of these subspecies, IdeE2 and IdeZ2. Both enzymes display sequence similarities with two previously characterized IgG endopeptidases, IdeE of S. equi ssp. equi and IdeZ of S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus . IdeE2 and IdeZ2 display high substrate-specificity in comparison with IdeE and IdeZ, as they both completely cleave horse IgG, while the activity against IgG from mouse, rabbit, cat, cow, sheep and goat is low or absent. The potential use of IdeE and IdeE2 as vaccine components was studied in a mouse infection model. In this vaccination and challenge study, both enzymes induced protection against S. equi ssp. equi infection.     

秦岭地区野生细鳞鲑肠道微生物多样性及产酶活性分析

为探究秦岭地区野生细鳞鲑(Brachymystax lenok)肠道细菌组成多样性,筛选出产胞外酶菌株,利用传统分离培养并分子鉴定的方法和基于16S r RNA基因克隆的现代分子生物技术相结合测定秦岭野生细鳞鲑肠道细菌菌群多样性并构建系统发育树,利用淀粉酶、蛋白酶、纤维素酶及脂肪酶4种胞外酶筛选培养基筛选出产上述酶的细菌。细菌传统分离培养并分子鉴定法从细鳞鲑肠道获得18个属的细菌类群,分别归属于变形菌门、拟杆菌门和厚壁菌门,其中,气单胞菌属(Aeromonas)为优势菌群。基于16S r RNA基因克隆的现代分子方法获得22个属的细菌类群,分别归属于变形菌门、拟杆菌门、厚壁菌门和放线菌门,其中,鞘氨醇杆菌属(Sphingomonas)为优势菌群。4种胞外酶筛选获得53株细菌产胞外酶,其中21株可在低温(10℃)环境下产胞外酶。结果表明,传统分离培养法与基于16S r RNA基因克隆的现代分子生物技术相结合能够更有效全面地分析细鳞鲑鱼肠道微生物的多样性,并且细鳞鲑肠道微生物具有一定的产酶活性。     

48株爱德华氏菌糖酵解持家酶的胞外分泌

【背景】病原菌的糖酵解持家酶能分泌到胞外或定位在细胞膜表面,在病原菌的侵染和细胞粘附方面发挥着重要作用,爱德华氏菌是重要的鱼类致病菌,研究其糖酵解持家酶的胞外分泌有助于该病原的致病机制研究和疫苗开发。【目的】探究爱德华氏菌中糖酵解持家酶的胞外分泌。【方法】通过ELISA方法考察48种不同来源的爱德华氏菌中5种糖酵持家酶的胞外分泌。【结果】48种不同来源的爱德华氏菌中糖酵解持家酶蛋白均能分泌到胞外。【结论】爱德华氏菌中糖酵解持家酶的胞外分泌是普遍现象。     

Differences in extracellular enzymatic activity between Candida dubliniensis and Candida albicans isolates

Twenty-six Candida dubliniensis and 27 Candida albicans oral strains isolated from patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were tested for germ tube production and 21 extracellular enzymatic activities. Assessment of the enzymatic profile was performed by using the API-ZYM commercial kit system (bioMerieux, France), which tests 19 different enzymes. Protease activity was expressed during the first days of incubation by 100% of the strains studied and resulted higher than phospholipase activity in the C. dubliniensis and C. albicans strains tested. The API-ZYM profile of the C. dubliniensis and C. albicans strains differs with respect to the number and percentage of the enzymes considered, as well as with the intensity of the substrate metabolized by the strains, in particular for the enzymes n 8 (cystine-arylamidase), n 12 (naphtol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase) and n 16 (alpha-glucosidase). These enzymes may be useful to differentiate C. dubliniensis and C. albicans together with other phenotypic characteristics proposed in the literature. No relationship among protease, phospholipase and other extracellular enzymatic activities was observed in C. dubliniensis. The average percentage of strains filamentation after 4 h was between 32 and 42%.     

Evaluation ofKluyveromyces marxianus for the production of lactase simultaneously to pectinase or inulinase

Summary Five strains ofK. marxianus were evaluated for the production of intracellular lactase, intra and extracellular pectinase and intra and extracellular inulinase. The strain NRRL-Y-1109 showed the highest lactase activity, but the strain CDBB-L-278 produced notably higher activities of inulinase and pectinase than the rest of the strains tested. The strain CDBB-L-278 was selected for the simultaneous production of two enzymes. Two enzymes fermentations were achieved with productions of 44% lactase and 53% pectinase, or 26% lactase and 47% inulinase compared to the single enzyme levels.     

Physiological and biochemical contributions to the taxonomy of the genera Ankistrodesmus and Scenedesmus

The 17 Ankistrodesmus strains studied do not produce extracellular amylolytic enzymes. 20 out of 28 Scenedesmus strains, however, are able to hydrolyse starch.The groups of strains previously characterized physiologically and biochemically were assigned to established species of the genera Ankistrodesmus (including Monoraphidium) and Scenedesmus.Abbreviation GC Guanine + cytosine     

Mycolic acid-containing glycolipid as a possible virulence factor of Rhodococcus equi for mice

By the use of various Rhodococcus equi strains differing in the length of carbon chains of glycolipid, we examined whether the glycolipid, glucose monomycolate, was contributing to the virulence of R. equi for mice. R. equi strains with longer carbon chain mycolic acid showed a higher virulence as determined by lethality and granuloma formation in mice than those with shorter ones. When purified glycolipid was injected into mice, granuloma formation and liver damage were most prominent with the glycolipid having longer carbon chain mycolic acid. Only a representative strain with longer carbon chain mycolic acid persisted in the spleen of mice after intravenous injection, while a strain with shorter carbon chain mycolic acid was readily eliminated. These results suggested that glycolipid was at least one of the virulence factors of R. equi and that the carbon chain length of mycolic acid might be critical in the expression of virulence.     

In vitro water activity and pH dependence of mycelial growth and extracellular enzyme activities of Trichoderma strains with biocontrol potential

AIMS: Water activity (aw) and pH are probably the most important environmental parameters affecting the activities of mycoparasitic Trichoderma strains. Therefore it is important to collect information on the effects of these factors on mycelial growth and on the in vitro activities of extracellular enzymes involved in nutrient competition (e.g. beta-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase and beta-xylosidase) and mycoparasitism (e.g. N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, trypsin-like protease and chymotrypsin-like protease) of Trichoderma strains with biocontrol potential. METHODS AND RESULTS: Water activity and pH dependence of the linear mycelial growth of five examined Trichoderma strains belonging to three different species groups was examined on yeast extract and soil extract media. Maximal growth rates were observed at aw 0.997 and pH 4.0 in the case of all strains. The activities of the examined extracellular enzymes at different aw and pH values were determined spectrophotometrically after incubation with chromogenic p-nitrophenyl and p-nitroaniline substrates. Maximal enzyme activities were measured at aw 0.950 for beta-glucosidase, trypsin-like protease and chymotrypsin-like protease, at 0.910 for cellobiohydrolase and at 0.993 for beta-xylosidase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase enzymes. Optimal pH values are suggested to be at 5.0 for beta-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, at 3.0 for beta-xylosidase, at 6.0 for trypsin-like protease and between 6.0 and 7.0 for chymotrypsin-like protease activities, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Extracellular enzymes of the examined mycoparasitic Trichoderma strains are able to display activities under a wider range of aw and pH values than those allowing mycelial growth. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Data about the effects of aw and pH on mycelial growth and extracellular enzyme activities of Trichoderma reveal useful information about the applicability of biocontrol strains in agricultural soils with specific water and pH relations.     

云南高原湖泊抚仙湖和星云湖的酵母菌胞外酶活性

【背景】高原湖泊因其海拔高、气压低、辐射强、氧气含量低,是一类特殊环境,而其中的微生物是高原湖泊生态系统物质循环与能量流动的重要参与者,其胞外酶活性的表现决定其适应这一特殊环境的方式与能力。【目的】对分离自云南高原湖泊抚仙湖和星云湖湖水的酵母菌进行产胞外酶活性的筛选,以期获得具有潜在应用价值的活性菌株。【方法】在5°C和25°C培养温度下,采用平板筛选法对两个湖泊酵母菌进行产胞外蛋白酶、纤维素酶、淀粉酶、脂肪酶、几丁质酶、木聚糖酶、植酸酶、菊粉酶、漆酶、锰依赖过氧化物酶和木质素过氧化物酶活性的筛选。【结果】抚仙湖和星云湖的所有测试酵母菌菌株至少都能产1种胞外酶,且主要产植酸酶、菊粉酶和淀粉酶;其次为脂肪酶、纤维素酶、木聚糖酶、锰依赖过氧化物酶和木质素过氧化物酶;产几丁质酶、蛋白酶和漆酶的酵母菌很少,星云湖酵母菌都不产漆酶。培养温度为5°C时,抚仙湖和星云湖的酵母菌产5种及5种以上胞外酶的活性菌株数均多于25°C。【结论】抚仙湖和星云湖的酵母菌产胞外酶菌株多样性丰富,胞外酶种类多样,产酶酵母菌可能参与高原湖泊生态系统的物质循环;筛选得到的产胞外酶菌株为开发与利用高原湖泊酶资源提供了良好的种质资源,具有进一步研究的价值。