Ontogenesis of intestine morphology and intestinal disaccharidases in chickens (Gallus gallus) fed contrasting purified diets

Two groups of growing posthatching Cornish x Rock cross chickens were fed with either a carbohydrate-containing (52.5%) or a carbohydrate-free diet. At 36 days after hatching some of the chicks in each group were shifted to the opposite diet. Chickens fed on a carbohydrate-containing diet grew faster and achieved higher asymptotic masses than chickens fed on a carbohydrate-free diet. Chickens fed on a carbohydrate-free diet had longer intestines and larger intestinal areas than chickens of the same mass fed on a carbohydrate-containing diet. In both groups sucrase and maltase activity (standardized by either intestinal area or mass) increased from day 1 to approximately day 17. After day 17, chickens fed on a carbohydrate-containing diet exhibited 1.8 and 1.9 times higher sucrase and maltase activities per unit intestinal area, respectively, than chickens fed on a carbohydrate-free diet. Analysis of covariance was used to estimate the contribution of sucrase and the sucrase-independent maltases to maltase activity, and to estimate the effect of diet on the sucrase-independent maltases. Sucrase contributed 80% and 75% of the maltase activity in carbohydrate and carbohydrate-free fed chickens, respectively. Chickens shifted from a carbohydrate-free to a carbohydrate diet converged in gross intestinal morphology and intestinal sucrase and maltase levels with carbohydrate-fed chickens within 8 days. Chickens shifted from carbohydrate to carbohydrate-free diets, in contrast, did not show appreciable changes in intestinal length and after 8 days had not reduced levels of sucrase and maltase to those of chickens fed on the carbohydrate-free diet. A comparison of integrated maltase intestinal activity with published data on glucose uptake showed that the ratio of maltose hydrolysis to glucose uptake seemed to be about 7 and to remain relatively invariant during ontogeny. Because so little is known about the interaction between hydrolysis and uptake in vivo, it is difficult to determine if this relatively high ratio represents excess hydrolytic capacity or if it is needed to provide high lumenal glucose concentrations that maximize uptake.Abbreviations m body mass - K _m Michaelis constant - K _m ^* apparent Michaelis constant - GI gastro-intestinal     

The effect of acetate on the production of citric acid by Aspergillus niger in submerged fermentation

Summary Two strains of Aspergillus niger showed a 57% and 40% reduction in growth in a shaken mineral medium with 5% glucose, at the initial pH 6.5–6.0 where ammonium acetate (0.25% and 0.2%) was a source of nitrogen. Uptake of glucose was not inhibited and mycelium kept its acid-forming activity. Growth inhibition was abolished in the presence of 12% glucose or increased content of ammonium and sodium acetate up to 765 mg acetate anion per 100 cm³.This work was a part of Project MR II, 17, topic no. 2.3.2.     

P-31 in-vivo NMR investigation on the function of polyphosphates as phosphate-and energysource during the regreening of the green alga Chlorella fusca

The green alga Chlorella fusca accumulates polyphosphates under conditions of nitrogen starvation while deassembling the photosynthetic apparatus. The polyphosphate content of cells regreening after resupply with nitrate under different culture conditions was investigated by P-31 in-vivo NMR spectroscopy. Neither phosphate deficiency nor anaerobiosis during the first hours of regreening inhibited the recovery of the cells. Polyphosphates were degraded during regeening. Differences in the amount of polyphosphates of phosphate supplied and deficient cells occurred only after more then 8 h. After 16 h phosphate deficient cells had still 75% of the polyphosphate content of phosphate suppled cells. In cells kept under anaerobic conditions polyphosphate degradation was much higher than in oxygen supplied cells. After 8 h they contained less than 50% of the polyphosphate content of oxygen supplied cells. These data suggest that polyphosphates serve as obligatory phosphate source during regreening and may be used as an energy source.Non standard abbreviations EDTA Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid - FID Free induction decay - MOPSO 3-(N-morpholine)-2-hydroxy-propanesulfonic acid - NMR Nuclear magnetic resonance - PP Polyphosphates - PP₄ central phosphate groups of polyphosphates     

Doubling potential, calendar time, and senescence of human diploid cells in culture

Human diploid cells (CF-1) derived from newborn foreskin tissue were maintained in a non-mitotic state for as long as 177 days by reducing the serum concentration of the incubation medium to 0.5%. The cells could be returned to the proliferative state by subcultivation with normal growth medium containing 10% serum. Cells treated in such a manner reached passage levels equivalent to controls that had been continuously cultured on growth medium, but they took a proportionately longer calendar time to achieve the equivalent passage levels. Also, by using ³H-thymidine incorporation, cells held in the non-mitotic conditions showed a longer ‘predictable life span’ than control cultures. During 21-day maintenance periods there was a 10–20% cell loss and ca 30% loss of protein per cell. The finite life span of these human diploid cells was clearly related to the number of cumulative population doublings rather than to the total calendar time in vitro.     

Pathogenicity of Five Strains of Toxoplasma gondii from Different Animals to Chickens

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with a broad range of intermediate hosts. Chickens as important food-producing animals can also serve as intermediate hosts. To date, experimental studies on the pathogenicity of T. gondii in broiler chickens were rarely reported. The objective of the present study was to compare the pathogenicity of 5 different T. gondii strains (RH, CN, JS, CAT2, and CAT3) from various host species origin in 10-day-old chickens. Each group of chickens was infected intraperitoneally with 5×10⁸, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁷, and 1×10⁶ tachyzoites of the 5 strains, respectively. The negative control group was mockly inoculated with PBS alone. After infection, clinical symptoms and rectal temperatures of all the chickens were checked daily. Dead chickens during acute phage of the infection were checked for T. gondii tachyzoites by microscope, while living cases were checked for T. gondii infection at day 53 post-inoculation (PI) by PCR method. Histopathological sections were used to observe the pathological changes in the dead chickens and the living animals at day 53 PI. No significant differences were found in survival periods, histopathological findings, and clinical symptoms among the chickens infected with the RH, CN, CAT2, and CAT3 strains. Histopathological findings and clinical symptoms of the JS (chicken origin) group were similar to the others. However, average survival times of infected chickens of the JS group inoculated with 5×10⁸ and 1×10⁸ tachyzoites were 30.0 and 188.4 hr, respectively, significantly shorter than those of the other 4 mammalian isolates. Chickens exposed to 10⁸ of T. gondii tachyzoites and higher showed acute signs of toxoplasmosis, and the lesions were relatively more severe than those exposed to lower doses. The results indicated that the pathogenicity of JS strain was comparatively stronger to the chicken, and the pathogenicity was dose-dependent.     

Evaluation of plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria for their efficiency to promote growth and induce systemic resistance in pearl millet against downy mildew disease

Six strains of Plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) were tested for their ability to promote growth and induce resistance in pearl millet against downy mildew disease. All the PGRP strains showed a significant (P < 0.01) increase in growth promotion in laboratory as well as greenhouse conditions. Only two strains of Pseudomonas spp., UOM ISR 17 and UOM ISR 23, were capable of protecting pearl millet against downy mildew significantly. Pseudomonas UOM ISR 17 and UOM ISR 23 were able to offer 56.3 and 47.5%, respectively against downy mildew disease. When tested for the time gap needed to offer maximum protection, it was found that both the strains needed four days to offer maximum protection of 73.3% and 59.7%, respectively. While both the Acetobacter strains UOM Ab9 and Ab11 and Azospirillum strain UOM Az3 were able to promote growth and offered disease protection of 39.2, 22.3 and 17.40% respectively, they were not as efficient as the two Pseudomonas strains in protecting pearl millet against downy mildew. Maximum growth promotion was recorded by Pseudomonas spp. UOM ISR 17 with 33.9 cm height which was 44, 45, 42 and 46.8% more in height, fresh weight, dry weight and leaf area over the control which recorded 27 cm height, 8.1 g fresh weight, 2.1 g dry weight and 29 cm² leaf area, respectively.     

Adaptation of model genetically engineered microorganisms to lake water: growth rate enhancements and plasmid loss.

When a genetically engineered microorganism (GEM) is released into a natural ecosystem, its survival, and hence its potential environmental impact, depends on its genetic stability and potential for growth under highly oligotrophic conditions. In this study, we compared plasmid stability and potential for growth on low concentrations of organic nutrients of strains of Pseudomonas putida serving as model GEMs. Plasmid-free and plasmid-bearing (NAH7) prototrophic isogenic strains and two amino-acid auxotrophs, all containing antibiotic resistance markers, were held physically separate from but in chemical contact with lake water containing the natural bacterium-sized microbial populations. Cells were reisolated at intervals over a 2-month period to determine the percent retaining the plasmid and the specific growth rate on various media. Plasmid stability in lake water was strongly strain specific; the NAH7 plasmid was stably maintained by the prototrophic strain for the duration of the test but was lost within 24 h by both of the auxotrophs. Specific growth rates of reisolates, compared with those of the corresponding non-lake water-exposed strains (i.e., parental strains), were not different when measured in rich medium (Luria-Bertani broth). However, specific growth rates were 42, 55, and 63% higher in reisolates of auxotrophs and the plasmid-free prototroph, respectively, when measured in 10-fold-diluted medium after exposure of 15 days or longer to lake water. Moreover, lake water-exposed strains grew actively when reintroduced into sterile lake water (28- to 33-fold increase in numbers over 7 days), while the corresponding unadapted parental strains exhibited no growth over the same period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Adaptation of model genetically engineered microorganisms to lake water: growth rate enhancements and plasmid loss.

When a genetically engineered microorganism (GEM) is released into a natural ecosystem, its survival, and hence its potential environmental impact, depends on its genetic stability and potential for growth under highly oligotrophic conditions. In this study, we compared plasmid stability and potential for growth on low concentrations of organic nutrients of strains of Pseudomonas putida serving as model GEMs. Plasmid-free and plasmid-bearing (NAH7) prototrophic isogenic strains and two amino-acid auxotrophs, all containing antibiotic resistance markers, were held physically separate from but in chemical contact with lake water containing the natural bacterium-sized microbial populations. Cells were reisolated at intervals over a 2-month period to determine the percent retaining the plasmid and the specific growth rate on various media. Plasmid stability in lake water was strongly strain specific; the NAH7 plasmid was stably maintained by the prototrophic strain for the duration of the test but was lost within 24 h by both of the auxotrophs. Specific growth rates of reisolates, compared with those of the corresponding non-lake water-exposed strains (i.e., parental strains), were not different when measured in rich medium (Luria-Bertani broth). However, specific growth rates were 42, 55, and 63% higher in reisolates of auxotrophs and the plasmid-free prototroph, respectively, when measured in 10-fold-diluted medium after exposure of 15 days or longer to lake water. Moreover, lake water-exposed strains grew actively when reintroduced into sterile lake water (28- to 33-fold increase in numbers over 7 days), while the corresponding unadapted parental strains exhibited no growth over the same period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Polyphosphates as an energy source for growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae with a low content of polyphosphates (polyP) are characterized by disturbance of growth in medium with 0.5% glucose. The parent strain with polyP level reduced by phosphate starvation had a longer lag phase. The growth rate of strains with genetically determined low content of polyP due to their enhanced hydrolysis (CRN/pMB1_PPN1 Sc is a superproducer of exopolyphosphatase PPN1) or reduced synthesis (the BY4741 vma2Δ mutant with impaired vacuolar membrane energization) was lower in the exponential phase. The growth of cells with high content of polyP was accompanied by polyP consumption. In cells of strains with low content of polyP, CRN/pMB1_PPN1 Sc and BY4741 vma2Δ, their consumption was insignificant. These findings provide more evidence indicating the use of polyP as an extra energy source for maintaining high growth rate.     

Accumulation of inorganic polyphosphates in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> under nitrogen deprivation: Stimulation by magnesium ions and peculiarities of localization

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was shown to have a high potential as a phosphate-accumulating organism under growth suppression by nitrogen limitation. The cells took up over 40% of phosphate from the medium containing 30 mM glucose and 5 mM potassium phosphate and over 80% of phosphate on addition of 5 mM magnesium sulfate. The major part of accumulated Pi was reserved as polyphosphates. The content of polyphosphates was ∼57 and ∼75% of the phosphate accumulated by the cells in the absence and presence of magnesium ions, respectively. The content of long-chain polyphosphates increased in the presence of magnesium ions, 5-fold for polymers with the average length of ∼45 phosphate residues, 3.7-fold for polymers with the average chain length of ∼75 residues, and more than 10-fold for polymers with the average chain length of ∼200 residues. On the contrary, the content of polyphosphates with the average chain length of ∼15 phosphate residues decreased threefold. According to the data of electron and confocal microscopy and X-ray microanalysis, the accumulated polyphosphates were localized in the cytoplasm and vacuoles. The cytoplasm of the cells accumulating polyphosphates in the presence of magnesium ions had numerous small phosphorus-containing inclusions; some of them were associated with large electron-transparent inclusions and the cytoplasmic membrane.     

DNA plasmid production in different host strains of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

We compared plasmid DNA production in 13 strains of Escherichia coli in shake flasks using media containing glucose or glycerol. DNA yield from either carbon source showed small correlation with maximum growth rate. Three strains, SCS1-L, BL21 and MC4100, were selected for a controlled exponential fed-batch process at a growth rate of 0.14 h⁻¹ to an optical density of about 70, followed by a four-hour heat treatment. Prior to heat treatment, SCS1-L generated 15.4 mg DNA/g, BL21 generated 11.0 mg DNA/g and MC4100 generated 7.9 mg DNA/g, while after heat treatment the strains attained DNA yields, respectively, of 18.0, 15.0 and 6.8 mg/g. The strains also varied in their percentage of supercoiled DNA after heat treatment, with SCS1-L averaging 66% supercoiled, BL21 17% and MC4100 40%. We further investigated the two strains that yielded the highest percentage of supercoiled DNA (SCS1-L and MC4100) at a higher growth rate of 0.28 h⁻¹. At this condition, a slightly lower DNA yield was generated faster, and the percentage of supercoiled DNA increased. Heat treatment improved DNA yield, and surprisingly did so to a greater extent at the higher growth rate. As a consequence of these factors, higher growth rates might be advantageous for DNA production.     

Utilization of Ammonia Nitrogen by Intestinal Bacteria Isolated from Pigs

In a medium containing ammonia, proteose peptone, and cysteine as nitrogen sources, 17 of 24 Bacteroidaceae strains, 3 of Selenomonas strains, 1 of 7 curved rods, 3 of 7 Spirochaetaceae strains, 8 of 20 Eubacterium strains, 8 of 13 Peptococcaceae strains, 3 of 4 Clostridium strains, 19 of 20 Enterobacteriaceae strains, and 1 of 8 Streptococcus strains utilized ammonia nitrogen preferentially to proteose peptone nitrogen. To determine the ability of intestinal microbes to synthesize amino acids from ammonia, ammonia utilization by Bacteroides ruminicola strain 9 was studied in defined media containing ammonia and other nitrogen sources. In another medium containing ammonia, proteose peptone, and cysteine as nitrogen sources, ammonia was preferentially utilized even when the proteose peptone nitrogen content was eight times greater than that of ammonia nitrogen. In a medium containing ammonia, an amino acid, and cysteine, the lowest uptake of ammonia nitrogen was observed when the medium contained aspartic acid, glutamic acid, threonine, or alanine; but ammonia was utilized more effectively than any of the amino acids. Incorporation of ¹⁵N from [¹⁵N]ammonia into bacterial amino acids was studied. ¹⁵N was incorporated into every amino acid of B. ruminicola strain 9, and the highest uptake was observed in aspartic acid and alanine.     

Description of two nitrogen-fixing bacteria,Geomonas fuzhouensis sp. nov. and Geomonas agri sp. nov., isolated from paddy soils

Two strictly anaerobic nitrogen-fixing strains, designated RG17^T and RG53^T, were isolated from paddy soils in China. Strains RG17^T and RG53^T showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to the type strain Geomonas paludis (97.9–98.4%). Phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that two strains clustered with members of the genus Geomonas. Growth of strain RG17^T was observed at 20–42 °C, pH 5.5–8.5 and 0–0.3% (w/v) NaCl while strain RG53^T growth was observed at 20–42 °C, pH 5.5–9.5 and 0–0.7% (w/v) NaCl. Strains RG17^T and RG53^T contained MK-8 as main menaquinone and C_15:1 ω6c, iso-C_15:0, and Summed Feature 3 as the major fatty acids. The genomic DNA G?+?C content of strains RG17^T and RG53^T were 61.6 and 60.7%, respectively. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between the isolated strains and the closely related Geomonas species were lower than the cut-off value (dDDH 70% and ANI 95–96%) for prokaryotic species delineation. Both strains possessed nif genes nifHDK and nitrogenase activities. Based on the above results, the two strains represent two novel species of the genus Geomonas, for which the names Geomonas fuzhouensis sp. nov. and Geomonas agri sp. nov., are proposed. The type strains are RG17^T (=?GDMCC 1.2687^T?=?KTCC 25332^T) and RG53^T (=?GDMCC 1.2630^T?=?KCTC 25331^T), respectively.

     

Distribution of polyphosphates in cell-compartments of Chlorella fusca as measured by 31P-NMR-spectroscopy

In suspensions of the green alga Chlorella fusca the influence of high pH and high ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid concentrations in the external medium, of French-press and perchloric acid extraction of the cells and of alkalization of the intracellular pH on the polyphosphate signal in ³¹P-nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P NMR) spectra was investigated.The results show that part of the polyphosphates of asynchronous Chlorella cells are located outside the cytoplasmic membrane and complexed with divalent metal-ions. These polyphosphates are tightly bound to the cell wall and/or the cytoplasmic membrane and are not susceptible to hydrolyzation by strong acid at room temperature, in contrast to the intracytoplasmic polyphosphates.Upon alkalization of the internal pH of Chlorella cells, polyphosphates, previously not visible in the spectra become detectable by ³¹P-NMR-spectroscopy. ³¹P-NMR spectroscopic monitoring of polyphosphates during gradual alkalization of the extra-and intracellular space is proposed as a quick method for the estimation of the cellular polyphosphate content and distribution.Abbreviations CCCP Carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenyl-hydrazone - NTP/NDP Nucleotide triphosphate/-diphosphate - PCA Perchloric acid - ³¹P-NMR ³¹P-nuclear magnetic resonance - PolyP polyphosphates - PP₁, PP₂, PP₃ terminal, second and third phosphate residue of polyphosphates, respectively - PP₄ core phosphate residues of polyphosphates     

Sequential Growth of Bacteria on Crude Oil

By modification of the enrichment culture procedure three bacterial strains capable of degrading crude oil in sea water were isolated in pure culture, UP-2, UP-3, and UP-4. Strain UP-2 appears to be highly specialized for growth on crude oil in sea water since it showed strong preference for oil or oil degradation products as substrates for growth, converted 66% of the oil into a form no longer extractable by organic solvents, quantitatively degraded the paraffinic fraction (gas chromatographic analysis), emulsified the oil during exponential growth, and produced 1.6 × 10⁸ cells per mg of oil. After exhaustive growth of UP-2 on crude oil the residual oil supported the growth of UP-3 and UP-4, but not a previously isolated oil-degrading bacterium, RAG-1. Strains UP-2, UP-3, and UP-4 grew on RAG-1-degraded oil (specifically depleted of n-alkanes). The growth of UP-3 and UP-4 on UP-2 and RAG-1-degraded oil resulted in the production of new paraffinic compounds as revealed by gas chromatography. When the four strains were grown either together in a mixed culture or sequentially, there was over 75% oil conversion. By plating on selective media, growth of the individual strains was measured kinetically in the reconstituted mixed culture, revealing competition for common growth substances (UP-2 and RAG-1), enhanced die-off (UP-2), and stabilization (UP-4) during the stationary phase.     

Formation of N-Carboxymethyl Amino Acid from the Reaction of α-Amino Acid with Glyoxal

Enrichment cultures in a medium containing 0.1% methanol and 0.1% bicarbonate at pH 7.0 under anaerobic conditions in the light became mainly green in color. Forty-four enrichment cultures, which showed abundant growth, were obtained from 46 different sources and found to contain cells of methanol-utilizing bacteria and green algae as predominant members. From these enrichment cultures, two strains of bacteria and two strains of algae were isolated. The microorganisms isolated were designated as bacterium No. 7, bacterium No. 8, Chlorella sp. A-1 and Chlorella sp. B-1, respectively. Stable mixed cultures were easily formed by mixing the isolated cultures of bacteria and algae. Both methanol and bicarbonate were necessary for the growth of the mixed cultures under anaerobic-light conditions. Growth behavior of the mixed cultures was examined on a medium containing 0.1% methanol and 0.1 % bicarbonate at 30°C in the light (about 6000 lx). The maximum specific growth rate for the cultures, µ_max, was 0.092 hr^?1 (doubling time, 7.5 hr). The maximum cell yield was 0.87 g dry-cell weight per g of methanol used. The protein content of the biomass was 65%.     

PHOSPHATE METABOLISM IN BLUE-GREEN ALGAE. II. CHANGES IN PHOSPHATE DISTRIBUTION DURING STARVATION AND THE “POLYPHOSPHATE OVERPLUS” PHENOMENON IN PLECTONEMA BORYANUM

Physiological aspects of phosphate utilization by the blue-green alga Plectonema boryanum were studied. It was found that the external phosphate concentration influenced the distribution of phosphorus-containing compounds in the cell. Culturing the alga in concentrations of 10, 100, and 1000 mg PO₄/l resulted in increases in the level of acid-soluble and acid-insoluble polyphosphates. The values reported for 100 and 1000 mg PO₄/l were the same, indicating that the cells were able to assimilate and utilize only fixed amounts of phosphates. The total phosphorus value for these cells was calculated to be 6.5 μg P per 10⁶ cells. Culturing the alga in 1 mg PO₄/l led to a decrease in phosphate concentration of all cell fractions. Cells grown in the absence of phosphate for 5 days had total cell phosphorus levels of 0.76 μg P per 10⁶ cells. Cells in culture for two months or longer were found to have total cell phosphorus levels of 0.73 μg P per 10⁶ cells. This was determined to be the minimum cell phosphorus level limiting growth. Transfer of cells from either culture condition to a medium containing phosphate led to an “overplus” phenomenon. This overplus phenomenon was characterized by increases in all cellular phosphorus fractions. The most dramatic increase was found in both the acid-soluble and acid-insoluble polyphosphates. These fractions often increased by more than an order of magnitude. The greatest phosphate uptake occurred within 1 hr of transfer of phosphate-starved cells into a medium containing a known amount of phosphate and is essentially complete at 4 hr. The total cell phosphorus levels for uptake never increased beyond 18.9 μg per 10⁶ cells.     

Bacterial Standing Stock, Activity, and Carbon Production during Formation and Growth of Sea Ice in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Bacterial response to formation and growth of sea ice was investigated during autumn in the northeastern Weddell Sea. Changes in standing stock, activity, and carbon production of bacteria were determined in successive stages of ice development. During initial ice formation, concentrations of bacterial cells, in the order of 1 × 10⁸ to 3 × 10⁸ liter^-1, were not enhanced within the ice matrix. This suggests that physical enrichment of bacteria by ice crystals is not effective. Due to low concentrations of phytoplankton in the water column during freezing, incorporation of bacteria into newly formed ice via attachment to algal cells or aggregates was not recorded in this study. As soon as the ice had formed, the general metabolic activity of bacterial populations was strongly suppressed. Furthermore, the ratio of [³H]leucine incorporation into proteins to [³H]thymidine incorporation into DNA changed during ice growth. In thick pack ice, bacterial activity recovered and growth rates up to 0.6 day^-1 indicated actively dividing populations. However, biomass-specific utilization of organic compounds remained lower than in open water. Bacterial concentrations of up to 2.8 × 10⁹ cells liter^-1 along with considerably enlarged cell volumes accumulated within thick pack ice, suggesting reduced mortality rates of bacteria within the small brine pores. In the course of ice development, bacterial carbon production increased from about 0.01 to 0.4 μg of C liter^-1 h^-1. In thick ice, bacterial secondary production exceeded primary production of microalgae.     

Effect of pH and Oxygen Tension on Staphylococcal Growth and Enterotoxin Formation in Fermented Sausage

Commercial fermented 0sausages that contained significant numbers of viable coagulase-positive staphylococci were found to have the growth localized in the outermost areas of the sausage where oxygen tension was highest. Staphylococci were found to be more acid-tolerant aerobically than anaerobically. With chemical acidulation of sausage, growth could be controlled both aerobically and anaerobically with approximately 1.5% glucono delta lactone. Biological acidulation with a high inoculum of Pediococcus cerevisiae inhibited anaerobic staphylococcal growth but failed to suppress aerobic growth completely. A staphylococcal count of approximately 4 × 10⁷ cells/g of sausage appeared to be necessary to produce detectable enterotoxin A within 24 hr in sausage. A minor difference existed in the relative rates of production of the different types of enterotoxin. Detectable enterotoxin A was produced in 24 hr in sausage held in atmospheres containing 10, 15, and 20% oxygen. In an atmosphere containing 5% oxygen, toxin was detected after 48 hr of incubation. No toxin was detected after 120 hr under anaerobic conditions. Most staphylococcal strains tested initiated growth and produced detectable enterotoxin aerobically at a pH of 5.1 in broth media. Anaerobically, however, most strains failed to produce detectable enterotoxin below pH 5.7.     

溶磷性大豆根瘤内生菌的筛选、抗性及系统发育和促生

对采自河南省不同地区的大豆根瘤进行内生菌分离纯化、溶磷性筛选试验。根据能否产生溶磷圈及溶磷圈直径(D)、菌落直径(d)和D/d值大小确定菌株溶磷能力,采用钼锑抗比色法测定培养液中有效磷含量;平板筛选法对筛选菌株进行耐盐性、耐酸碱、重金属等抗性测定,并对筛选菌株进行理化特性、16S r DNA、rec A序列和系统发育分析。结果表明,从分离纯化的324株内生菌中筛选出36株具有溶磷特性,其中20株有较强溶磷性。菌株DD291发酵液中可溶性磷含量最高(452 mg/L),发酵液p H与对照相比均有不同程度下降,最大降幅达2.92。大部分溶磷性内生菌具有较强耐盐碱性,对Pb2+、Cr6+和Cu2+有较高耐受性,对Ni2+和Hg2+抗性较弱。结合细胞形态、生理生化、16S r DNA、rec A序列和系统发育分析结果,菌株确定为Bacillus cereus,Enterobacter cancerogenus,E.cloacae和Pseudomonas putida。部分溶磷菌株对大豆的生长有促进作用,显示出潜在的应用前景。