Estimation of cell volume and biomass of penicillium chrysogenum using image analysis

A methodology for the estimation of biomass for the penicillin fermentation using image analysis is presented. Two regions of hyphae are defined to describe the growth of mycelia during fermentation: (1) the cytoplasmic region, and (2) the degenerated region including large vacuoles. The volume occupied by each of these regions in a fixed volume of sample is estimated from area measurements using image analysis. Areas are converted to volumes by treating the hyphae as solid cylinders with the hyphal diameter as the cylinder diameter. The volumes of the cytoplasmic and degenerated regions are converted into dry weight estimations using hyphal density values available from the literature. The image analysis technique is able to estimate biomass even in the presence of nondissolved solids of a concentration of up to 30 gL(-1). It is shown to estimate successfully concentrations of mycelia from 0.03 to 38 gL(-1). Although the technique has been developed for the penicillin fermentation, it should be applicable to other (nonpellected) fungal fermentations.     

Role of hydrolytic enzymes and oxidative stress in autolysis and morphology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Blakeslea trispora</Emphasis> during β-carotene production in submerged fermentation

The role of hydrolytic enzymes (proteases and chitinase) and oxidative stress in the autolysis and morphology of Blakeslea trispora during β-carotene production from a chemically defined medium in shake flask culture was investigated. The process of cellular autolysis was studied by measuring the changes in biomass dry weight, pH, concentration of β-carotene, specific activity of the hydrolytic enzymes and micromorphology of the fungus using a computerized image analysis system. In addition, the phenomenon of autolysis was associated with high concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The accumulation of ROS produced during fermentation causes oxidative stress in B. trispora. Oxidative stress was examined in terms of the activities of two key defensive enzymes: catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The profile of the specific activities of the above enzymes appeared to correlate with the oxidative stress of the fungus. The high activities of CAT and SOD showed that B. trispora is found under oxidative stress during β-carotene production. The culture began to show signs of autolysis nearly in the growth phase and autolysis increased significantly during the production phase. The morphological differentiation of the fungus was a result of the degradation of the cell membrane by hydrolytic enzymes and oxidative stress. Increased β-carotene production is correlated with intense autolysis of clumps, which has as a consequence the increase of the freely dispersed mycelia.     

Oil and air dispersion in a simulated fermentation broth as a function of mycelial morphology

The culture conditions of a multiphase fermentation involving morphologically complex mycelia were simulated in order to investigate the influence of mycelial morphology (Trichoderma harzianum) on castor oil and air dispersion. Measurements of oil drops and air bubbles were obtained using an image analysis system coupled to a mixing tank. Complex interactions of the phases involved could be clearly observed. The Sauter diameter and the size distributions of drops and bubbles were affected by the morphological type of biomass (pellets or dispersed mycelia) added to the system. Larger oil drop sizes were obtained with dispersed mycelia than with pellets, as a result of the high apparent viscosity of the broth, which caused a drop in the power drawn, reducing oil drop break-up. Unexpectedly, bubble sizes observed with dispersed mycelia were smaller than with pellets, a phenomenon which can be explained by the segregation occurring at high biomass concentrations with the dispersed mycelia. Very complex oil drops were produced, containing air bubbles and a high number of structures likely consisting of small water droplets. Bubble location was influenced by biomass morphology. The percentage (in volume) of oil-trapped bubbles increased (from 32 to 80%) as dispersed mycelia concentration increased. A practically constant (32%) percentage of oil-trapped bubbles was observed with pelleted morphology at all biomass concentrations. The results evidenced the high complexity of phases interactions and the importance of mycelial morphology in such processes.     

Control of the production of individual fusicoccins at different dissolved oxygen concentrations

The regulatory effect of different concentrations of dissolved oxygen on the production of fusicoccins by the fungus Fusicoccum amygdali Del. was studied. The maximum output of total fusicoccins was obtained by using a profiled dissolved oxygen tension (DOT) regime, in which the DOT was maintained at 15–20% during the biomass growth phase and at 5–8% during the fusicoccins production phase. In comparison with the profiled regime, the maintenance of DOT at 15–20% during the whole fermentation shortened the fusicoccins production phase. The fermentation performance at a low DOT (5–8%) inhibited both the accumulation of biomass and the production of fusicoccins. At high DOT (40–50%), an accelerated accumulation of the biomass with an expressed autolysis of mycelia took place, and the production of fusicoccins was lowered. The qualitative composition of individual fusicoccins varied substantially at different DOTs. Fusicoccins, A, C, D, J, H, 16-O-demethyl-J, detretpentenylfusicoccin and some minor fusicoccin metabolites were found in the fermentation broth using the method of liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry. It was established that the profiled DOT regime (15–20% to 5–8%) provided both the maximum concentration of fusicoccins and an enhanced accumulation of the main metabolite – fusicoccin A (FC A). The performance of the fermentation at a DOT of 15–20% decreased the content of FC A by 2–6% in comparison with the profiled DOT regime, and increased the content of fusicoccin C to 14–20% of the total fusicoccins. Fermentation at DOT of 5–8% was characterized by the highest content of the precursors of FC A, the less oxidized fusicoccins H and J, the contents of which were in range 7–12% and 16–17% of total fusicoccins, respectively.     

Characterisation of percentage viability of Streptomyces clavuligerus using image analysis

A staining procedure has been developed to identify the different physiological states of Streptomyces clavuligerus using the fluorescent, bacterial viability stain BacLight. An image analysis method was used to quantify the extent of the differently stained regions, and therefore to measure the percentage viability. In a batch fermentation, the viability of the mycelia decreased to 64% during the rapid growth phase. Following a period of fragmentation, the viability was approximately constant at 75% until late in the fermentation, when it increased to 93%.     

Measurement of autolysis in submerged batch cultures of Penicillium chrysogenum

The process of cellular autolysis was studied in an industrial strain of Penicillium chrysogenum by a range of methods, including assessment of biomass decline, NH+4 release, changes in culture apparent viscosity, and by means of a quantitative assessment of changes in micromorphology using a computerized image analysis system. The pattern of total intracellular proteolytic and beta-1, 3-glucanolytic activity in the culture was also examined. The overall aim was to identify a suitable method, or methods, for examining the extent of autolysis in fungal cultures. Autolysis was studied in submerged batch processes, where DOT was maintained above 40% saturation (non-O2-limited), and, under O2-limited conditions. Both N and O2 limitation promoted extensive culture autolysis. Image analysis techniques were perhaps the most sensitive method of assessing the progress of autolysis in the culture. Autolytic regions within some hyphae were apparent even during growth phase, but became much more widespread as the process proceeded. The early stages of autolysis involved continued energy source consumption, increased carbon dioxide evolution rate, degradation of penicillin, and decreased broth filterability. Later stages involved widespread mycelial fragmentation, with some regrowth (cryptic growth) occurring in non-O2-limited cultures. Intracellular proteolytic activity showed two peaks, one during the growth phase, and the other during autolysis. Autolysis was also associated with a distinct peak in beta-1,3-glucanolytic activity, indicating that degradation of cell wall matrix polymers may be occurring during autolysis in this strain of P. chrysogenum.     

Effect of phenylacetic acid feeding on the process of cellular autolysis in submerged batch cultures of Penicillium chrysogenum.

The effects of feeding the 'toxic' penicillin precursor, phenylacetic acid (PAA) at varying rates, upon the process of cellular autolysis, was assessed in batch bioreactor cultures of an industrial strain of Penicillium chrysogenum. Five processes were fed at rates which resulted in extracellular concentrations of PAA ranging from zero (the control) to approximately ten times levels said to be optimal for penicillin biosynthesis. The culture response was assessed chemically and morphologically, using computerised image analysis. High concentrations of PAA reduced biomass and penicillin production, and were associated with increased cellular autolysis. However, the values of classical morphological indices (branch length, main hyphal length and hyphal growth unit) varied little in cultures which showed extensive autolysis and biomass loss. Lower precursor concentrations (0.01 to 1.0 g l-1) had little effect on biomass, penicillin, or upon the levels of autolysis compared with the control process. Therefore, precursor concentration controlled within the optimal range for penicillin production, has little impact upon differentiation or degradation within an industrial culture of P. chrysogenum. By contrast, exploitation of the toxicity of PAA is proposed as a means to bring forward or enhance autolysis, providing a reliable method of 'induction' with which to study the phenomenon in P. chrysogenum.     

Autolysis of Blakeslea trispora during carotene production from cheese whey in an airlift reactor

The phenomenon of autolysis in Blakeslea trispora during carotene production from deproteinized hydrolyzed whey in an airlift reactor was investigated. The process of cellular autolysis was studied by measuring the changes in carotene concentration, dry biomass, residual sugars, pH, intracellular protein, specific activity of the hydrolytic enzymes (proteases, chitinase), and micromorphology of the fungus using a computerized image analysis system. All these parameters were useful indicators of autolysis, but image analysis was found to be the most useful indicator of the onset and progress of autolysis in the culture. Autolysis of B. trispora began early in the growth phase, continued during the stationary phase, and increased significantly in the decline phase. The morphological differentiation of the fungus was a result of the degradation of the cell membrane by hydrolytic enzymes. The biosynthesis of carotenes was carried out in the exponential phase, where the phenomenon of autolysis was not intense.     

蝙蝠蛾拟青霉液体发酵工艺优化及菌丝体腺苷含量的检测

通过摇瓶液体培养的方法,以菌丝体生物量为主要考察指标,筛选蝙蝠蛾拟青霉PH-2菌株液体发酵的培养基成分和条件。进一步采用正交试验,以菌丝体生物量和腺苷含量为联合指标,确定PH-2菌株液体发酵高产菌丝体和腺苷的培养基配方。通过试验获得的最佳配方为：玉米淀粉40g/L,葡萄糖5g/L,玉米浆25g/L,硫酸镁·7H₂O 1g/L,磷酸二氢钾1g/L,硫酸锌1.5g/L,维生素B1 25mg/L;培养条件为：初始pH 6.0,装液量150mL/500mL,接种量8%（V/V）,温度26℃,转速120r/min,培养7d。在该工艺下,菌丝体生物量达到25.2g/L。应用高效液相色谱（HPLC）法,检测到菌丝体中腺苷含量为2.76mg/g。该方法简便、快速、准确,可作为蝙蝠蛾拟青霉菌丝体或其相关产品中腺苷的检测手段。本工艺的优化试验获得了较高的菌丝体收率,菌丝体质量良好。     

枯草芽孢杆菌基因修饰生产核黄素

【目的】研究枯草芽孢杆菌核黄素合成途径、木糖代谢相关基因修饰对核黄素合成的影响。【方法】单独过表达或共同过表达核黄素操纵子中的基因、过表达木糖代谢相关基因构建相应的重组菌株。通过测定和比较重组菌株摇瓶发酵的核黄素产量和生物量,表征各个基因修饰的效应。采用摇瓶和5 L罐发酵,考察木糖作为主要碳源以及木糖与蔗糖共代谢对核黄素发酵的影响。【结果】ribA基因单独过表达,使核黄素产量提高99%,但生物量降低30%,出现细胞自溶现象。ribA-ribH基因共表达,使核黄素产量提高280%,并且无细胞自溶和生物量下降现象。1.5%蔗糖与6.5%木糖作为碳源,5 L发酵罐发酵70 h,核黄素产量达到3.6 g/L,与8%蔗糖为碳源的发酵相比,核黄素产量提高80%。木糖代谢相关基因过表达,均明显降低核黄素产量。【结论】与ribA基因单独过表达相比,ribA-ribH基因共表达可有效避免细胞自溶现象,并能进一步提高核黄素产量。蔗糖与木糖共代谢,能够改善前体物供给,有利于提高核黄素产量。     

Effect of shear on morphology and erythromycin production in Saccharopolyspora erythraea fermentations

A complex medium was used to investigate the effects of shear on the S. erythraea fermentation at 7-l scale. Maximum biomass was 11.1 - 0.5 g l^у at 1250 rpm (tip speed = 4.45 ms^у), whereas it was 12.7 - 0.2 g l^у at 350 rpm (tip speed = 1.07 ms^у). Specific erythromycin production was not stirrer speed dependent in the range of 350 to 1000 rpm and decreased by 10% at stirrer speed of 1250 rpm. Morphological measurements using image analysis showed that the major axis of the mycelia (both freely dispersed and clumps) decreased after the end of the rapid growth phase to a relatively constant value (equilibrium size) dependent on the stirrer speed. The mechanical properties of the cell wall were examined by disruption of fermentation broth in homogeniser and it was shown that mechanical strength of the cell wall increased in a large extent during deceleration phase.     

Studies on the Autolysis of Aspergillus oryzae

The conditions of autolysis of washed mycelia of Aspergillus oryzae were systematically examined as for temperature, pH, aeration, energy supply, and chemicals which stimulate autolysis. Below 45°C, the higher the temperature the faster was the rate of autolysis. Optimum pH of autolysis with special reference to the excretion of nucleic acid components and amino acids was 5. With the optimum conditions of autolysis settled by us, 90 to 100% of nucleic acids, 75% of protein, and 20% of sugars in the mycelia were excreted into the medium within three days.

In the presence of lipophilic compounds such as toluene and sodium salts of fatty acids, autolysis occurred much faster than in distilled water. Autolysis was inhibited by the addition of glucose and aeration.

Mycelia of Aspergillus oryzae were autolyzed in distilled water, in toluene-saturated water, or in acetate buffer, pH 5.4, at 30°C. The cytoplasmic materials disappeared from cells during autolysis, but the cell wall retained its shape even after autolysis. The disappearance of the cytoplasmic materials started from the inner part under an aerobic condition and from the outer part under an anaerobic condition. During the autolysis, 15% of the cellular proteins was excreted as free amino acids (60%) and peptides (15%). Glucose, ribose, glucosamine, and three unidentified sugars were found in autolyzate. After eighteen hours of autolysis stimulated by toluene, 81% of the cellular nucleic acids was excreted as uridine (28%), xanthine (24%), hypoxanthine (17%), and two other nucleosides or bases.     

Viability, strength, and fragmentation of Saccharopolyspora erythraea in submerged fermentation.

Two fermentations of the commercially important erythromycin-producing filamentous bacterium Saccharopolyspora erythraea were conducted in defined media. One was glucose-limited and the other nitrate-limited. The viability of the hyphae was determined using the fluorescent stain BacLight (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR). Also, the force required to strain hyphae to breakage was determined using micromanipulation and a sensitive force transducer. In both fermentations, fragmentation coincided with the appearance of regions in the mycelia with permeabilised membranes (considered nonviable). Under glucose-limitation, hyphal breaking force rose to 1,050 +/- 130 nN at the end of the growth phase and fell to an undetectable value as a result of glucose exhaustion. Under nitrate-limitation, hyphal breaking force fell from 900 +/- 160 nN during the growth phase to 550 +/- 40 nN in the stationary phase. In both cases image analysis showed that the dimensions of mycelia were of the same order, suggesting that the major factor influencing fragmentation was the appearance of nonviable regions (assumed to be weak). The location in which nonviable regions first appear within hyphae could not be determined because of their appearance coinciding with fragmentation.     

甘蔗纤维固定灵芝菌丝及其在液体发酵中的应用

以甘蔗纤维作为灵芝菌丝固定载体,通过扫描电子显微镜观察确定载体固定时间,通过液体发酵灵芝菌丝球大小形态、生物量、胞外多糖和胞外三萜含量确定载体形状、大小与数量。结果表明,灵芝菌丝在载体上固定时间为7d,载体为1.5cm×1.5cm（直径×高度）的圆柱体小块（Y1.5）,接种数量6块,可连续稳定发酵7代。以甘蔗纤维固定发酵制备灵芝液体发酵种子,发酵后菌丝球大小均一,生物量、胞外多糖含量和三萜含量分别提高78%、84%和60%。     

巴西蘑菇菌体深层发酵培养条件的优化及成分分析*

对巴西蘑菇深层发酵条件进行了详细的研究,确定了巴西蘑菇菌体发酵的最优方案是:7%葡萄糖,1.5%酵母膏,0.3%磷酸氢二钾,0.1%硫酸镁,VB1 10mg/100ml,自然pH,接种量为15%,装液量为100ml/250ml三角瓶,150r/min,25℃恒温培养9天,菌丝干重达到1.8g每100ml发酵液。通过对巴西蘑菇子实体与深层培养菌丝体中蛋白质营养成分及多糖含量进行了分析比较,发现它们均是极好的营养食品之源。     

假蜜环菌发酵工艺的优化研究

目前,国内普遍采用亮菌固体发酵工艺生产亮菌制剂。采用小型发酵罐液体深层发酵和液体静置发酵对亮菌发酵工艺进行优化研究。液体深层发酵采用28℃,200 r/min,通气量1∶1 v/v·m,培养7 d,亮菌干重为16.55g/L,其中菌丝体中多糖含量为5.42%,蛋白含量为1.75%;液体静置发酵采用500 mL三角瓶,28℃,150 r/min,摇瓶3 d后静置发酵14 d,亮菌干重可达10.69 g/L,发酵液中多糖含量为1.016 g/L,蛋白含量为0.320 g/L。对液体静置发酵进一步研究发现其发酵液中亮菌甲素含量可达3.118 mg/L。由此可见,两种发酵方式在保证生物量和活性成分的前提下,缩短了发酵周期,均优于传统的固体发酵工艺,值得工业生产借鉴。     

响应面法优化蛹虫草与厚朴双向液体发酵工艺

为提高蛹虫草液体发酵胞外多糖含量和菌丝体生物量,以厚朴为药性基质,对蛹虫草进行双向液体发酵。在单因素实验的基础上,应用Box-Behnken实验设计,对发酵过程关键影响因素进行优化。结果表明,在厚朴添加量5g、接种量15.5mL、发酵温度25℃的条件下发酵9d,蛹虫草双向液体发酵产物中胞外多糖含量为3.11mg/mL,菌丝体生物量为18.81mg/mL。各发酵因素中,发酵液胞外多糖含量受接种量影响最大,菌丝体生物量则主要受发酵温度影响。优化所得发酵工艺可行性高、周期短、生产过程可控,为进一步提高人工培育蛹虫草质量、增加其关键活性产物的产量提供了参考。     

Enhanced ethanol and chitosan production from wheat straw by Mucor indicus with minimal nutrient consumption

Recently, Mucor indicus was introduced as a promising ethanol producing microorganism for fermentation of lignocellulosic hydrolysates, showing a number of advantages over Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, high nutrient requirement is the main drawback of the fungus in efficient ethanol production from lignocelluloses. In this study, application of fungal extract as a potential nutrient source replacing all required nutrients in fermentation of wheat straw by M. indicus was investigated. Wheat straw was pretreated with N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) at 120 °C for 1–5 h prior to enzymatic hydrolysis. Hydrolysis yield was improved at least by 6-fold for 3 h pretreated straw compared with that of untreated one. A fungal extract was produced by autolysis of M. indicus biomass, an unavoidable byproduct of fermentation. Maximum free amino nitrogen (2.04 g/L), phosphorus (1.50 g/L), and total nitrogen (4.47 g/L) as well as potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the fungal extract were obtained by autolysis of the biomass at 50 °C and pH 5.0. The fungal extract as a nutrient-rich supplement substituted yeast extract and all other required minerals in fermentation and enhanced the ethanol yield up to 92.1% of the theoretical yield. Besides, appreciate amounts of chitosan were produced as another valuable product of the autolysis.     

乳牛肝菌液态发酵生长条件的优化

采用响应曲面法对乳牛肝菌发酵培养基及发酵条件进行优化,以麦芽糖、蛋白胨和装液量3个因素为变量,分析乳牛肝菌液态发酵产菌丝体的最佳条件。实验结果表明,乳牛肝菌发酵的关键因子值分别为麦芽糖33．03g/L,蛋白胨6．95g/L,装液量为102．21mL／250mL时,可得到最大菌丝体生物量23．44g/L（干重）。     

影响被孢霉产生含γ-亚麻酸油脂的几种因素

对培养条件,如氮源种类、C／N比率、pH、种子种龄与接种量对被孢霉(Mortierellasp.)M14菌株的细胞生长和油脂形成的影响作了研究。结果表明,二级发酵优于一级发酵。M14菌株二级发酵时,种子种龄以49h为适,接种量宜大(30％)。无机氮源有利于不饱和脂肪酸的产生,有机氮源有利于细胞的增殖。低C／N比率有利于菌丝体产量的提高,提高C／N比率则能促进菌体细胞内的油脂合成。pH对菌体生长、油脂产生以及γ-亚麻酸含量都有显著的影响。