Enhancement of population densities of fluorescent pseudomonads in the rhizosphere of tomato plants by addition of acibenzolar-S-methyl

Fluorescent pseudomonad isolates G309 and CW2, in combination with the resistance inducer acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), improved control of fungal and bacterial diseases on tomato plants. The interactions of the bacteria in the presence of ASM showed that in vitro growth of Pseudomonas fluorescens G309 and Pseudomonas sp. strain CW2 was not affected in King's B broth supplemented with 10 and 20 microM ASM. Also, the bacterial cells were not able to utilize ASM as a nutrient source. In vitro production of the two antimicrobial secondary metabolites phenazine-1-carboxylic acid and 2-OH-phenazine by the isolate CW2 was not affected within 3 days from incubation. In contrary, addition of ASM at a concentration of 20 microM to King's B liquid medium significantly increased production of salicylic acid by isolate G309. When roots of tomato plants were treated with G309 or CW2 cell suspensions containing 20 microM ASM, the number of bacterial cells recovered from the rhizosphere was significantly higher in the combined treatments than in the single applications 5, 10, and 15 days after inoculation. However, ASM at a higher concentration (50 microM) did not appreciably enhance the population sizes of either bacterial isolate in the rhizosphere. Enhanced bacterial cell densities in the rhizosphere of tomato plants were also determined following simultaneous treatments of tomato roots with 10 and 20 microM ASM in combination with the transformed isolate G309-384 (mini-Tn5gfp), which encodes the green fluorescent protein.     

Optimization of culture conditions of probiotic bifidobacteria for maximal adhesion to hexadecane

Culture growth conditions were optimized for adhesion to hexadecane of the probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum HI 39 and HI 48. Among three growth media used, MILS lactose broth was the best medium to obtain maximum cell adhesion, followed by MRS and TPY lactose broth for B. bifidum HI 39 and HI 48. Increasing the incubation time from 6 to 18 h resulted in a gradual increase in percentage adhesion at 37 °C of both organisms in MILS, MRS and TPY media. Thereafter, incubation up to 48 h showed a marked reduction in adhesion of B. bifidum HI 39 and B. bifidum HI 48. When the test cultures were grown at pH values from 5.0 to 8.0 in MILS lactose broth at 37 °C for 18 h, there was a gradual enhancement in cell adhesion up to pH 7.0; but higher pH values retarded the bacterial adhesion. The study showed that the optimum conditions for adhesion to hexadecane of the selected bifidobacterial strains were pH 7.0 and incubation at 37 °C for 18 h in MILS broth.     

Stability of protein and ribonucleic acid in Bacillus stearothermophilus.

The turnover of protein in a prototrophic strain of Bacillus stearothermophilus during exponential growth in a salts medium with glucose or succinate as carbon source was about 4 %/h and in a richer nutrient broth medium about 23 %/h. Protein degradation under non-growing conditions conformed to a similar pattern. The turnover of RNA (non-messenger) was about 1 %/h in salts medium and about 9 %/h in nutrient broth. The turnover of protein and RNA in the thermophile is thus moderate rather than massive. This conclusion was confirmed by measurement of the decay of a specific enzyme, isocitrate lyase, in the prototroph and of the overall protein turnover in a non-prototrophic strain of B. stearothermophilus. The half-lives of a number of enzyme systems in intact cells of the prototrophic thermophile at its optimum growth temperature showed some variation but indicated a significant rate of inactivation. Such decay of protein in vivo apparently accounts for the moderate protein turnover observed during growth.     

Influence of growth medium on cometabolic degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphingomonas</Emphasis> sp. strain PheB4

The influence of growth medium on cometabolic degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was investigated when Sphingomonas sp. strain PheB4 isolated from surface mangrove sediments was grown in either phenanthrene-containing mineral salts medium (PMSM) or nutrient broth (NB). The NB-grown culture exhibited a more rapid cometabolic degradation of single and mixed non-growth substrate PAHs compared to the PMSM-grown culture. The concentrations of PAH metabolites were also lower in NB-grown culture than in PMSM-grown culture, suggesting that NB-grown culture removed metabolites at a faster rate, particularly, for metabolites produced from cometabolic degradation of a binary mixture of PAHs. Cometabolic pathways of single PAH (anthracene, fluorene, or fluoranthene) in NB-grown culture showed similarity to that in PMSM-grown culture. However, cometabolic pathways of mixed PAHs were more diverse in NB-grown culture than that in PMSM-grown culture. These results indicated that nutrient rich medium was effective in enhancing cometabolic degradation of mixed PAHs concomitant with a rapid removal of metabolites, which could be useful for the bioremediation of mixed PAHs contaminated sites using Sphingomonas sp. strain PheB4.     

Effect of medium composition, agitation and the presence of EDTA on the antimicrobial activity of cryptolepine

The antimicrobial activity of cryptolepine is influenced by the type of medium employed, agitation and the presence of non-inhibitory concentrations of EDTA. The use of Mueller–Hinton broth (MHB), iso-sensitest broth and tryptone soya broth (TSB) produced lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for some of the test organisms compared with nutrient broth or yeast dextrose broth (YDB). For example, a fourfold drop in MIC was recorded for Saccharomyces cerevisiae in MHB compared with the same organism tested in YDB. Agitation of the broths during incubation nearly always produced lower MICs for the bacteria, an eightfold decrease in MIC being recorded for Escherichia coli cultured in nutrient broth with agitation compared with a statically maintained culture. A non-inhibitory concentration (10⁻³ mol l⁻¹) of disodium EDTA enhanced the antimicrobial activity of cryptolepine. Against E. coli NCTC 11560, an eightfold decrease in MIC and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was recorded when tested in the presence of EDTA.     

Benzeneboronic acid selectively inhibits sporulation of Bacillis subtilis.

m-Aminobenzeneboronic acid at levels of 0.2 mM in nutrient broth medium selectively inhibited sporulation without appreciably altering vegetative growth. Significant inhibitory effects were seen even when it was added as late as 6 h after the end of logarithmic growth. The pH changes associated with growth and sporulation of Bacillus subtilis in nutrient broth were not significantly altered by the inhibitor. When it was present in cultures of actively growing cells, its inhibitory effect could not be reversed by simple dilution. The compound caused extensive clumping, of cells, which appeared not to be related to the ability of boronates to esterify to diols.     

Nutritional Studies on Xanthan Production by Xanthomonas campestris NRRL B1459

The nutritional requirements of Xanthomonas campestris NRRL B1459 for optimal xanthan production were studied in a chemically defined medium. Of the carbon sources tested, a 4% sucrose or glucose medium yielded the highest xanthan titers. The further addition of certain organic acids, such as succinate, pyruvate, and α-ketoglutarate, stimulated xanthan production; excess concentrations of these organic acids inhibited xanthan formation. Certain amino acids (e.g., glutamate) and nitrate salts were superior to ammonium salts for xanthan production. Concentrations of these nitrogen sources higher than the optimal levels inhibited xanthan production while stimulating growth. Xanthan production was also sensitive to high concentrations of inorganic phosphate. High xanthan potencies, up to 30 g/kg of broth, were achieved in these shake-flask studies, in which completely defined media were used.     

Influence of rhizobacterial culture media on plant growth and oninhibition of fungal pathogens

The type of culture media significantly influenced thegrowth-promoting or growth-inhibiting effect of sevenPseudomonas spp. isolates on cucumber, as didthe type of bacterial isolate. All the bacterialisolates also inhibited fungal growth, in vitroand the degree of inhibition depended on the growthmedium of the two cultures. The degree of inhibitionwas affected by the growth-rate of the fungalpathogen. Proteolytic activity was detected in thesupernatants of the cultures of six out of sevenbacterial isolates and was media-dependent. Highproteolytic activity was measured in supernatants ofbacteria grown in two organic-based media, Tryptic SoyBroth and SNB nutrient broth, and/or in a Mineralmedium. In contrast, proteolytic activity was almost undetectable after growth in King's B medium. Proteolytic activity was significantly increased when the concentration ofproteose peptone in King's B medium was reduced by 50and 75 percent.     

L-pyroglutamate spontaneously formed from L-glutamate inhibits growth of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

Identification of physiological and environmental factors that limit efficient growth of hyperthermophiles is important for practical application of these organisms to the production of useful enzymes or metabolites. During fed-batch cultivation of Sulfolobus solfataricus in medium containing L-glutamate, we observed formation of L-pyroglutamic acid (PGA). PGA formed spontaneously from L-glutamate under culture conditions (78 degrees C and pH 3.0), and the PGA formation rate was much higher at an acidic or alkaline pH than at neutral pH. It was also found that PGA is a potent inhibitor of S. solfataricus growth. The cell growth rate was reduced by one-half by the presence of 5.1 mM PGA, and no growth was observed in the presence of 15.5 mM PGA. On the other hand, the inhibitory effect of PGA on cell growth was alleviated by addition of L-glutamate or L-aspartate to the medium. PGA was also produced from the L-glutamate in yeast extract; the PGA content increased to 8.5% (wt/wt) after 80 h of incubation of a yeast extract solution at 78 degrees C and pH 3.0. In medium supplemented with yeast extract, cell growth was optimal in the presence of 3.0 g of yeast extract per liter, and higher yeast extract concentrations resulted in reduced cell yields. The extents of cell growth inhibition at yeast extract concentrations above the optimal concentration were correlated with the PGA concentration in the culture broth. Although other structural analogues of L-glutamate, such as L-methionine sulfoxide, glutaric acid, succinic acid, and L-glutamic acid gamma-methyl ester, also inhibited the growth of S. solfataricus, the greatest cell growth inhibition was observed with PGA. We also observed that unlike other glutamate analogues, N-acetyl-L-glutamate enhanced the growth of S. solfataricus. This compound was stable under cell culture conditions, and replacement of L-glutamate with N-acetyl-L-glutamate in the medium resulted in increased cell density.     

Biodegradation of Green HE4B: Co-substrate effect,biotransformation enzymes and metabolite toxicity analysis

A high exhaust reactive dye, Green HE4B (GHE4B) was 98% degraded in nutrient medium by Pseudomonas desmolyticum NCIM 2112 (pd2112) within 72 h at static condition. Decolorization time in synthetic 10 g/l molasses. Addition of 5 g/l peptone to NaCl medium had reduced decolorization time from 108 to 72 h. Beef extract do not contribute more to the inducing effect of peptone, however it is a good co-substrate in sucrose or urea containing NaCl medium. Intracellular lignin peroxidase (Lip), laccase and tyrosinase activities were induced by 150, 355 and 212%, respectively till maximum dye removal took place. Aminopyrine N-demethylase (AND) and dichlorophenol indophenol reductase (DCIP-reductase) activities in pd2112 were induced by 130 and 20%, respectively at 72 h of incubation during GHE4B decolorization. By high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, 4-hydroxybenzene sulfonic acid and 4-amino, 6-hydroxynaphthalene 2-sulfonic acids were identified as metabolites formed during 24–72 h incubation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis supports the formation of these aromatic amines. pd2112, aerobically degraded GHE4B metabolites (formed at static condition) showing stationary phase of 6 days. There was no germination inhibition of Sorghum bicolor and Triticum aestivum by GHE4B metabolites at 3,000 ppm concentration however untreated dye showed germination inhibition at the same concentration. GHE4B metabolites did not show any microbial toxicity at 10,000 ppm concentration.     

Effects of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide on bacterial growth

The effects of low concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on actively dividing cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus roseus, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus cereus were studied. Fresh cultures of each organism were incubated for 24 h at 25 degrees C on both nutrient agar and mineral salts glucose agar plates under atmospheres containing various low concentrations of NO in air (0 to 1.9 ppm [0 to 2.0 micrograms/g of air]), NO2 in air (0 to 5.5 ppm [0 to 8.8 micrograms/g of air]), or NO and NO2 in air. Bacteria grown under air only were used as controls. After incubation, the colonies that developed on the plates were counted. None of the bacteria tested was affected by NO or NO2 at the indicated concentrations while growing on nutrient agar. Serratia marcescens, B. circulans, B. subtilis, B. megaterium, and B. cereus grown on mineral salts glucose agar were not significantly affected by NO or NO2. Low concentrations (0 to 1.9 ppm) of NO were bacteriostatic to log-phase cultures of M. roseus, M. luteus, and Staphylococcus aureus grown on mineral salts glucose agar. Bacteriostatic activity over a 24-h interval was maximal at an initial NO concentration of 1 ppm. Appreciable amounts of NO2 were produced in 24 h at initial NO concentrations greater than 1 ppm. These results suggest that NO2 may reduce the bacteriostatic activity of NO. Low concentrations (0 to 5.5 ppm) of NO2 in air did not affect any of the bacteria tested. At these low concentrations, NO affected bacterial growth, although NO2, NO2-, and NO3- did not. In addition, it was determined that the bacteriostatic activity observed in this study was not due to an increase in the acidity of the medium.     

Effects of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide on bacterial growth.

The effects of low concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on actively dividing cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus roseus, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus cereus were studied. Fresh cultures of each organism were incubated for 24 h at 25 degrees C on both nutrient agar and mineral salts glucose agar plates under atmospheres containing various low concentrations of NO in air (0 to 1.9 ppm [0 to 2.0 micrograms/g of air]), NO2 in air (0 to 5.5 ppm [0 to 8.8 micrograms/g of air]), or NO and NO2 in air. Bacteria grown under air only were used as controls. After incubation, the colonies that developed on the plates were counted. None of the bacteria tested was affected by NO or NO2 at the indicated concentrations while growing on nutrient agar. Serratia marcescens, B. circulans, B. subtilis, B. megaterium, and B. cereus grown on mineral salts glucose agar were not significantly affected by NO or NO2. Low concentrations (0 to 1.9 ppm) of NO were bacteriostatic to log-phase cultures of M. roseus, M. luteus, and Staphylococcus aureus grown on mineral salts glucose agar. Bacteriostatic activity over a 24-h interval was maximal at an initial NO concentration of 1 ppm. Appreciable amounts of NO2 were produced in 24 h at initial NO concentrations greater than 1 ppm. These results suggest that NO2 may reduce the bacteriostatic activity of NO. Low concentrations (0 to 5.5 ppm) of NO2 in air did not affect any of the bacteria tested. At these low concentrations, NO affected bacterial growth, although NO2, NO2-, and NO3- did not. In addition, it was determined that the bacteriostatic activity observed in this study was not due to an increase in the acidity of the medium.     

响应面法优化波赛链霉菌JMC 06001发酵培养基

采用响应面法对产生抑菌活性物质的波赛链霉菌（Streptomyces peucetius）菌株JMC 06001的发酵培养基进行优化。首先采用Minnimum Run Equireplicated Res IV设计对初始发酵培养基的8个营养因素进行筛选,获得影响产生抑菌活性物质的3个主要影响因素：葡萄糖、大豆粉和NaCI;然后用最陡爬坡实验快速逼近最大响应区域;最后,结合Box-Behnken设计及响应面分析,确定主要影响因素的最佳浓度,得出该菌株产抑菌活性物质的最优发酵培养基配方为：葡萄糖1．2％,麦芽糖0．7％,蛋白胨0．9％,大豆粉1．4％,NaCl3．7％,CaCO3 0．1％,复合盐A液2．0％,复合盐B液0．1％,起始pH值7．0。用优化后的培养基发酵所得发酵液对敏感指示菌藤黄八叠球菌的抑菌圈直径达31．5mm,与预测值的相对偏差仅为1．59％,与用初始发酵培养基发酵所得发酵液的抑菌效果（抑菌圈直径26．5mm）相比提高了18．9％。     

In vitro evaluation of antagonistic properties of Pseudomonas corrugata

Pseudomonas corrugata, a soil bacterium originally isolated from a temperate site of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is examined for its antagonistic activities against two phytopathogenic fungi, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium oxysporum. Although the bacterium did not show inhibition zones due to production of diffusible antifungal metabolites, a reduction in growth between 58% and 49% in both test fungi, A. alternata and F. oxysporum, was observed in sealed Petri plates after 120 h of incubation due to production of volatile antifungal metabolites. Reduction in biomass of A. alternata (93.8%) and F. oxysporum (76.9%) in Kings B broth was recorded after 48 h of incubation in dual culture. The antagonism was observed to be affected by growth medium, pH and temperature. The reduction in fungal biomass due to antagonism of bacteria was recorded maximum in the middle of the stationary phase after 21 h of inoculation. The production of siderophore, ammonia, lipase and chitinase in growth medium by P. corrugata were considered contributing to the antagonistic activities of the bacterium.     

Fermentation of 12% (w/v) Glucose to 1.2 m Lactate by Escherichia coli Strain SZ194 using Mineral Salts Medium

A non-recombinant mutant of Escherichia coli B, strain SZ194, was developed that produces over 1 m d-lactate from glucose (or sucrose) in 72 h using mineral salts medium supplemented with 1 mm betaine in simple anaerobic fermentations. Rates and yields were highest at pH 7.5. Yields approached the theoretical maximum with only trace amounts of co-products. Chiral purity of d-lactate was estimated to be 95%. Specific and volumetric productivities for SZ194 in mineral salts medium (pH 7.5) with betaine were equivalent to those in Luria broth. Revisions requested 17 January 2006; Revisions received 7 February 2006     

The influence of sodium chloride and pH on the growth of Salmonella enteritidis PT4

Sodium or potassium chlorides at concentrations of ca 2.0% (w/v) stimulated the growth of Salmonella enteritidis PT4 and PT6 but not PT8 in nutrient broth acidified to ≤5.5 with acetic but not with citric, propionic or hydrochloric acids. Stimulation was noted also with an acidified defined medium. The most pronounced stimulation occurred with incubation at 37°C. Supplementation of acidified nutrient broth with sucrose or glycerol had no effect on the growth of salmonellas.     

Comparison of the WST-8 colorimetric method and the CLSI broth microdilution method for susceptibility testing against drug-resistant bacteria

The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) obtained from the susceptibility testing of various bacteria to antibiotics were determined by a colorimetric microbial viability assay based on reduction of a tetrazolium salt {2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, monosodium salt (WST-8)} via 2-methyl-1,4-napthoquinone as an electron mediator and compared with those obtained by the broth microdilution methods approved by the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). Especially for drug-resistant bacteria, the CLSI method at an incubation time of 24h tended to give lower MICs. The extension of incubation time was necessary to obtain consistent MICs for drug-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococi (VRE) and multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRP) in the broth microdilution method. There was excellent agreement between the MICs determined after 24h using the WST-8 colorimetric method and those obtained after 48-96 h using the broth microdilution method. The results suggest that the WST-8 colorimetric assay is a useful method for rapid determination of consistent MICs for drug-resistant bacteria.     

Effects of salts on the lethality of paraquat.

Escherichia coli suffered 95 to 100% lethality when exposed to 1.0 mM paraquat for 30 min at 37 degrees C in aerobic nutrient broth medium but did not lose viability when the exposure was done in Vogel Bonner or tryptic soy yeast extract medium. Paraquat was, however, bacteriostatic in all of these media. Salts, added to the nutrient broth medium, protected against the lethality of paraquat, whereas sucrose did not. Salts of divalent cations were much more effective than salts of monovalent cations. Paraquat increases cyanide-resistant respiration by E. coli; salts added before, but not after, the paraquat diminished this effect. 2,4-Dinitrophenol similarly decreased the cyanide-resistant respiration when added before, but not after, the paraquat. The lethality imposed by paraquat correlated with the rate of cyanide-resistant respiration whether this respiration was modulated by varying salt concentration at a fixed concentration of paraquat or by varying paraquat concentration at a fixed concentration of salt. We conclude that salts or 2,4-dinitrophenol interferes with the active uptake of paraquat by E. coli and thus prevents its lethal effect. The salt concentrations found in a number of commonly used microbiological media are sufficient to exert this effect.     

Optimization of culture medium and growth conditions for production of L-arabinose isomerase and D-xylose isomerase by Lactobacillus bifermentans

Lactobacillus bifermentans was used to produce the intracellular enzymes L-arabinose isomerase and D-xylose isomerase. Various factors of cultivation (temperature, pH, or incubation period) and culture medium composition (mineral salts, carbon and nitrogen source) were studied to select the conditions that maximize production of these enzymes. Arabinose isomerase and xylose isomerase activities were 9.4 and 7.24 U/ml, respectively. They were highest at 9 h of cultivation in the optimized medium, 1.6 times higher than that in the basic MRS broth. The optimal medium composition and cultivation conditions were determined. On the other hand, the strain required for growth Tween 80 (1 g/l) and a source of inorganic nitrogen (e.g. ammonium citrate). The bacterium had no requirement for sodium acetate for both growth and production of isomerases. The production rate of enzymes was increased when metal ions were added and mainly manganese (2.5 mM).     

Techniques for the optimum recovery of cold injured Campylobacter jejuni from milk or water

When broth was inoculated with cells of Campylobacter jejuni that had been injured by chilling there was a fall in the viable population of up to 90%. It was greater at 43 degrees than 37 degrees C and in the presence of certain antibiotics and in some cases resulted in a surviving population that was below the minimum inoculum for subsequent growth. A technique of pre-enrichment in non-selective culture broth at 37 degrees C for 2 h before the addition of antibiotics and incubation at 43 degrees C was found to significantly reduce the fall in numbers and to improve the detection of C. jejuni in samples of raw milk and water.