Transfection of Lactobacillus bulgaricus protoplasts by bacteriophage DNA

A protoplast transfection system has been developed for Lactobacillus bulgaricus. The procedure involves a polyethylene glycol-mediated fusion of bacteriophage DNA encapsulated in liposomes into mutanolysin-treated cells. With L. bulgaricus B004 and DNA isolated from the phage phi c5004, transfection reached a maximum when at least 95% of the cells were osmotically fragile. The incorporation of phage DNA into liposomes was essential; no transfectants were detected in the absence of liposomes. The largest number of transfectants was observed after longer periods (20 min) of fusion of mutanolysin-treated cells and liposomes with polyethylene glycol. The maximum efficiency of 5 x 10(7) PFU/microgram of DNA was reached after a 24-h incubation in growth media prior to plating transfected cells in an agar overlay to detect the appearance of plaques. A minimum of 4 h of incubation in growth medium after fusion was required to detect the production and release of virions. The possibility that the high frequencies observed were due to bursting of transfected cells and subsequent infection of additional cells was found not to be a factor. The number of transfectants observed was directly proportional to the quantity of DNA added. These results define conditions appropriate for the introduction of DNA into L. bulgaricus.     

Transfection of Bacillus subtilis protoplasts by bacteriophage phi do7 DNA.

DNA from the Bacillus subtilis temperate bacteriophage phi do7 was found to efficiently transfect B. subtilis protoplasts; protoplast transfection was more efficient than competent cell transfection by a magnitude of 10(3). Unlike competent cell transfection, protoplast transfection did not require primary recombination, suggesting that phi do7 DNA enters the protoplast as double-stranded molecules.     

保加利亚乳杆菌原生质体的制备与回复研究

目的:通过对保加利亚乳杆菌的原生质体的制备和回复的方法学探讨,为乳杆菌的基因操作和其相关研究提供技术思路和实验条件.方法:用酶浓度分别为1 μg/ml、4 μg/ml、10μg/ml Mutanolysin(变溶菌素)对保加利亚乳杆菌进行处理,脱去细胞壁以探讨其原生质体形成与时间和酶浓度的关系;并选用较为适宜的酶浓度制备其原生质体,在自制的双层再生培养基上观察其原生质体在普通培养、CO2培养、厌氧培养时的回复生长情况.结果:保加利亚乳杆菌对Mutanolysin较敏感,酶浓度为1 μg/ml时只需40min大部分菌体形成原生质体.经1μg/ml Mutanolysin处理后制得的保加利亚乳杆菌原生质体倾入自制的双层再生培养基中,置于CO2和厌氧环境条件下培养能很好的回复生长.结论:本文的研究为乳杆菌的基因工程方面的研究提供了相关的技术条件和实验基础.     

Transfection of Streptococcus pneumoniae with bacteriophage DNA.

It was possible to transfect Streptococcus pneumoniae with DNA obtained from a newly isolated bacteriophage, diplophage-4 (Dp-4). Optimal frequency of transfection (0.9%) required the use of a nuclease-defective mutant; with wild-type bacteria, the transfection frequency was about 100-fold lower. Transfection requires physiological conditions that appear to be similar to the competent state needed for genetic transformation (A. Tomasz, J. Bacteriol. 91:1050--1061, 1966).     

Transfection of Vibrio cholerae by bacteriophage phi 149 DNA

DNA isolated from Choleraphage ø149 of Group IV was infectious when mixed with competent $\text{V.}\text{cholerae}$ cells. The cells were competent during mid-log phase of growth. The infectivity of phage DNA was destroyed by deoxyribonuclease but not by ribonuclease or pronase. About 5 min is required for the establishment of the DNase resistant state. The dose response curve for transfection suggested that 2 to 3 molecules of DNA are required to produce one infections center. An infectivity of 5 × 10⁴ infectious center per μg of DNA was obtained.     

Preparation and regeneration of bacteriophage PL-1 enzyme-induced Lactobacillus casei protoplasts.

Lactobacillus casei ATCC 27092 protoplasts were obtained by treatment with a bacteriolytic enzyme, which was produced in the PL-1 phage lysates of this bacterium, at 37 degrees C for 1.5 h in 50 mM Tris hydrochloride buffer (pH 7.2) containing 20% sucrose and 10 mM MgSO4. The protoplasts lacked the cell wall layer but retained the ability to transport L-[3H]glutamine. The frequency of regeneration was about 1%, whereas about 99% of the cells were osmotically sensitive.     

Polymer production by Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus

A polymer-forming strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus was grown under differing conditions. It was found that at higher temperatures and slower growth the production of the polymer per cell was greater. Polymer-producing ability seems to be unstable with cells losing the phenotype faster at 48 than at 40°C. Specific production of polymer was increased in the presence of hydrolysed casein early in the growth phase when growing in milk, but production of polymer in MRS broth + lactose was reduced compared with milk. Furthermore, addition of hydrolysed casein to MRS did not increase specific production of polymer. Preliminary results suggest that the polymer is a glycoprotein, although the protein may be loosely associated with the carbohydrate.     

Preparation and regeneration of bacteriophage PL-1 enzyme-induced Lactobacillus casei protoplasts

Lactobacillus casei ATCC 27092 protoplasts were obtained by treatment with a bacteriolytic enzyme, which was produced in the PL-1 phage lysates of this bacterium, at 37 degrees C for 1.5 h in 50 mM Tris hydrochloride buffer (pH 7.2) containing 20% sucrose and 10 mM MgSO4. The protoplasts lacked the cell wall layer but retained the ability to transport L-[3H]glutamine. The frequency of regeneration was about 1%, whereas about 99% of the cells were osmotically sensitive.     

Transfection ofBrevibacterium flavum with bacteriophage BFB10 DNA

The virulent bacteriophageBFB10 is infective toBrevibacterium flavum Its DNA (about 48 kilobase pairs) was used for optimization of the DNA transfer intoB. flavum cells treated with lysozyme. Efficiencies of transfection up to 60 transfectants per ng DNA were obtained The described procedure can also be used for transformation ofB. flavum with plasmid DNA.     

Inhibition of Growth of Lactobacillus bulgaricus by Purine Deoxyribonucleotides.

Morris, George K. (University of Georgia, Athens), and William L. Williams. Inhibition of growth of Lactobacillus bulgaricus by purine deoxyribonucleotides. J. Bacteriol. 90:715-719. 1965.-An inhibition of growth of Lactobacillus bulgaricus GS was observed with deoxyadenylic acid and deoxyguanylic acid. Deoxynucleotides of cytosine, thymine, and uracil, and the deoxynucleosides of adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine were inactive as inhibitors. The inhibition was reversed by liver extract (a crude source of two unidentified growth factors for this organism). With suboptimal concentrations of liver extract, the inhibition was reversed by nucleotides of adenine, guanine, uracil, cytosine, and thymine. When the medium contained partially purified sources of the two growth factors rather than crude liver extract, fewer compounds reversed the inhibition. Adenylic acid and guanylic acid reversed the action of either inhibitor. Inosinic acid reversed inhibition caused by deoxyguanylic acid, but not that caused by deoxyadenylic acid. Thymidylic acid reversed inhibition caused by deoxyadenylic acid better than that caused by deoxyguanylic acid. Uridylic acid and cytidylic acid were no longer effective in reversing the inhibitions. This organism preferentially responded to monophosphorylated compounds as inhibitors and as reversers of inhibitions. Studies on the acid-soluble nucleotide pool revealed an accumulation of adenosine triphosphate, guanosine triphosphate, and an unidentified compound which resembled a nucleotide in its physical properties. These data cannot be explained by known metabolic pathways of nucleic acid biosynthesis. This organism responds differently from other related organisms to nucleic acid derivatives; therefore, it may be a new useful tool for studying nucleic acid metabolism and biosynthesis.     

保加利亚乳杆菌微胶囊化工艺研究

目的制备保加利亚乳杆菌微胶囊,提高菌株的酸、热耐受性及降低菌体的分离成本。方法以保加利亚乳杆菌(Lactobacillus bulgaricus)为研究对象,海藻酸钠(SA)为壳材、CaCl2为固化剂,制备保加利亚乳杆菌微胶囊;包埋率、颗粒平均化程度、机械强度等为考核指标,研究保加利亚乳杆菌微胶囊化的工艺。结果当海藻酸钠浓度为0.75%、CaCl2浓度为3%、电压为600V、泵速为1.96mL/min、震动频率为80Hz时,微胶囊化包埋效果最佳,经固定化后的菌微胶囊保持了良好的保加利亚乳杆菌的活性,微囊化保加利亚乳杆菌经过2次连续发酵后的产酸量分别达到59.4g/L和55.8g/L。结论本研究为工业化生产乳酸提供了一条具有经济价值的途径。     

Transfection of Escherichia coli spheroplasts. VI. Transfection of nonpermissive spheroplasts by T5 and BF23 bacteriophage DNA carrying amber mutations in DNA transfer genes.

DNA was extracted from T5 and BF23 phage carrying amber mutations in genes A2, A1, or D9 and tested for its ability to transfect su minus spheroplasts. DNA from T5 am231, defective in gene A2, transfects Escherichia coli su minus recB minus spheroplasts with an efficiency of 16% of that of wild-type T5 DNA, whereas DNA from T5 am16d or BF23 am57, both defective in gene A1 or its equivalent, transfects E. coli su minus recB minus spheroplasts with an efficiency of 1.4% of that of wild-type T5 DNA, provided E. coli su+ bacteria is used as the indicator in all cases. More than 95% of the progeny from the am231, am16d, and am57 DNA that transfects su minus recB minus spheroplasts is still amber mutant. From these efficiencies of transfection we conclude that the product of gene A2 functions mainly in the mechanism of transfer of phage DNA to intact host cells, and that this function is not essential for transfection of spheroplasts. We also conclude that gene A1 controls functions in addition to DNA transfer, in agreement with previous studies which show that mutations in gene A1 have a pleiotropic effect. Apparently, the absence of these additional functions controlled by gene A1 leads to a high frequency of abortive infection. DNA from amber mutants defective in either gene A1 or A2 does not appreciably transfect su minus rec+ spheroplasts, indicating that the products of these two genes may both be needed to protect T5 DNA from the very active rec BC nuclease in spheroplasts.     

Transfection of Corynebacterium lilium protoplasts

A protoplast transfection system has been developed for a lysine-producing bacterium, Corynebacterium lilium, using the DNA of phage CL31. Phage CL31 is lytic and specific to C. lilium and has a genome of approximately 48 kb. The transfection procedure involves a polyethylene-glycol-mediated introduction of the DNA into lysozyme-treated cells and has a maximum efficiency of 3 X 10(4) transfectants per microgram DNA.     

Semi-continuous lactic fermentation of whey by Lactobacillus bulgaricus

Semi-continuous tests of lactic fermentation of whey by Lactobacillus buigaricus were carried out using a mixture of hydrolysed milk and vitamins. The volume of the Inoculum varied from 20% to 50% of the reactor working volume. A Monod-like equation correlates the lactic acid productivity and the volume fraction of inoculum.The authors are with the Centro de Desenvolvimento Biotecnológico de Santa Catarina (Biotechnological Development Centre of Santa Catarina), R. Princesa isabel, 114, 89200, Joinville, SC, Brazil. CDEB. L.A. Kulay was an undergraduate student, in 1989, of the Escola de Engenharia Mauá (Mauá Engineering School), São Caetano do Sul, SP, Brazil. W. Borzani is the corresponding author.     

Semicontinuous lactic fermentation of whey by Lactobacillus bulgaricus. II. Mathematical model

Summary A mathematical model is proposed to explain the empirical Monod-like equation that correlates the lactic acid productivity and the volume fraction of inoculum in semicontinuous fermentation of whey byLactobacillus bulgaricus.