Geosmin and Related Volatiles in Bioreactor-Cultured Streptomyces citreus CBS 109.60

Streptomyces citreus CBS 109.60 produced geosmin and a complex pattern of other volatile compounds during cultivation in a 2.5-liter laboratory bioreactor. Volatiles were isolated from disrupted cells, from the culture medium, and from the waste air of the bioreactor by adsorption on Lewatit OC 1064MD. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out using capillary gas chromatography and coupled gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. S. citreus produced 56 volatile compounds, which were mainly terpenoids but also included aliphatic ketones, alcohols, esters, pyrazines, furan(on)es, and aromatic types during the growth phase. The major components were geosmin and a germacradienol. A biosynthetic pathway for geosmin including eudesmanolides is proposed.     

Evaluation of pentachlorophenol-degrading potentiality of Pseudomonas sp. in a soil microcosm

Pseudomonas sp. strain IST103 obtained from a stable consortium was capable of degrading pentachlorophenol (PCP) as sole carbon and energy source. The PCP-degrading potentiality of the strain was determined by growth of bacteria in culture medium, utilization of PCP by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), chloride release and ring cleavage. The strain was applied in two set of soil microcosms containing 20 and 40% moisture, each having different concentrations, 0, 10, 100, 500, and 1000 mg/l, of PCP. The result showed significant utilization of PCP (77% in 45 days) and higher growth of bacterial strain when PCP was applied in 100 mg/l concentration at 40% moisture. Inhibitory effects on the growth of bacterial strain were seen in 500 and 1000 mg/l concentration.     

Aerobic degradation of toluene in a closed chemostat with and without a head space outlet

The present paper describes the continuous aerobic cultivation of a Pseudomonas strain with toluene as the substrate in a closed chemostat with oxygen or air as the gas phase. Due to the constant supply of a nitrogen-saturated aqueous medium, nitrogen passes from the liquid phase of the chemostat into the gas phase (head space). This results in an increasing nitrogen content (asymptotic approach to 100%). The concomitant decrease in the partial pressure of the oxygen in the gas phase finally leads to an oxygen limitation for the bacteria in the medium and an incomplete toluene degradation. The critical nitrogen content of the gas phase at which oxygen limitation begins depends on the toluene concentration in the incoming medium. However, when the gas is continuously removed from the head space, the nitrogen content reaches a steady-state value of less than 100%, depending on the flow rate of the outgoing gas. The oxygen limitation and the associated incomplete toluene degradation can be prevented in this way. The method of gas removal from the head space to avoid oxygen limitation is also applicable when the reactor is supplied with air instead of oxygen. Waste waters contaminated with highly volatile pollutants can thus be biologically decontaminated under aerobic conditions, without shifting the pollution problem from the liquid to the gas phase.     

A novel pathway for the biodegradation of gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane by a Xanthomonas sp. strain ICH12

AIM: To isolate gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-degrading bacteria from contaminated soil and characterize the metabolites formed and the genes involved in the degradation pathway. METHODS AND RESULTS: A bacterial strain Xanthomonas sp. ICH12, capable of biodegrading gamma- HCH was isolated from HCH-contaminated soil. DNA-colony hybridization method was employed to detect bacterial populations containing specific gene sequences of the gamma-HCH degradation pathway. linA (dehydrodehalogenase), linB (hydrolytic dehalogenase) and linC (dehydrogenase) from a Sphingomonas paucimobilis UT26, reportedly possessing gamma-HCH degradation activity, were used as gene probes against isolated colonies. The isolate was found to grow and utilize gamma-HCH as the sole carbon and energy source. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence of the isolate resulted in its identification as a Xanthomonas species, and we designated it as strain ICH12. During the degradation of gamma-HCH by ICH12, formation of two intermediates, gamma-2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorocyclohexene (gamma-PCCH), and 2,5-dichlorobenzoquinone (2,5-DCBQ), were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. While gamma-PCCH was reported previously, 2,5-dichlorohydroquinone was a novel metabolite from HCH degradation. CONCLUSIONS: A Xanthomonas sp. for gamma-HCH degradation from a contaminated soil was isolated. gamma-HCH was utilized as sole source of carbon and energy, and the degradation proceeds by successive dechlorination. Two degradation products gamma-PCCH and 2,5-DCBQ were characterized, and the latter metabolite was not known in contrasts with the previous studies. The present work, for the first time, demonstrates the potential of a Xanthomonas species to degrade a recalcitrant and widespread pollutant like gamma-HCH. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study demonstrates the isolation and characterization of a novel HCH-degrading bacterium. Further results provide an insight into the novel degradation pathway which may exist in diverse HCH-degrading bacteria in contaminated soils leading to bioremediation of gamma-HCH.     

A novel antimicrobial function for a ribosomal peptide from rainbow trout skin

An antimicrobial peptide was purified from skin secretions and epithelial cells of rainbow trout by cation exchange and reversed phase chromatography. Partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified peptide revealed 100% identity with the first 11 residues of a 40S ribosomal peptide from medaka fish. Its molecular mass, determined by matrix-associated laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry, was found to be 6676.6Da. These results indicate that this antimicrobial peptide is likely to be the 40S ribosomal protein S30. It is active at submicromolar concentrations, with an effective 50% reduction concentration of 0.02-0.04 microM against Planococcus citreus. Thus, in addition to its conventional function in the cell as part of the small ribosomal subunit, this peptide may play a role in protection against intracellular or extracellular pathogens.     

一株可溶性有机磷去除菌的分离及其生物学特性

以甘油磷酸钠(Sodium Glycerophosphate,以下简称NaGly)作为外源可溶性有机磷,从富营养化的养殖池污泥中分离到5株可溶性有机磷去除菌株,通过除磷率比较,筛选出一株最为高效的菌株D2,其对初始浓度为5mg/L甘油磷酸盐磷(Phosphorus Glycerophosphate,以下简称GP-P)的去除率可达99.0%。此外,对其进行了16SrRNA基因序列测定,并进一步研究了其生长特性与除磷特性。试验结果表明,菌株D2为肠球菌(Enterococcus sp.),与屎肠球菌(Enterococcus faecium)菌株KT4S13(登录号:AB481104)和CICC6078(登录号:DQ672262)的16SrRNA基因序列相似性近100%;其生长周期为:0-4h为生长迟缓期,4-8h为对数生长期,8-28h为稳定期,28h以后为衰亡期;且在15°C-40°C、pH4.0-9.0以及5-40mg/LGP-P条件下均能够生长,其中菌株D2最适生长的温度范围和pH范围分别为30°C-35°C、6.0-7.0,而且20-30mg/LGP-P能显著促进菌株D2生长。此外,菌株D2在进入衰亡期之前随着作用时间的延长,对20mg/LGP-P的除磷率逐渐升高,在进入衰亡期后的28-32h内对20mg/LGP-P的除磷效果趋于稳定,其在15°C-40°C、pH4.0-9.0以及5-40mg/LGP-P条件下均具有除磷作用,其最适除磷温度范围、pH范围和GP-P浓度范围分别为25°C-35°C、6.0-7.0和5-10mg/L。     

The effect of citric acid on growth of proteolytic strains of Clostridium botulinum

In strictly anaerobic conditions in a culture medium adjusted to pH 5.2 with HCl and incubated at 30 degrees C, inocula containing less than 10 vegetative bacteria of Clostridium botulinum ZK3 (type A) multiplied to give greater than 10(8) bacteria per ml in 3 d. Growth from an inoculum of between 10 and 100 spores occurred after a delay of 10-20 weeks. Citric acid concentrations of 10-50 mmol/l at pH 5.2 inhibited growth from both vegetative bacteria and spore inocula, a concentration of 50 mmol/l increasing the number of vegetative bacteria or of spores required to produce growth by a factor of approximately 10(6). The citric acid also reduced the concentration of free Ca2+ in the medium. The inhibitory effect of citric acid on vegetative bacteria at pH 5.2 could be prevented by the addition of Ca2+ or Mg2+ and greatly reduced by Fe2+ and Mn2+. The addition of Ca2+, but not of the remaining divalent metal ions, restored the concentration of free Ca2+ in the medium to that in the citrate-free medium. The inhibitory effect of citric acid on growth from a spore inoculum was only partially prevented by Ca2+. Citric acid (50 mmol/l) did not inhibit growth of strain ZK3 at pH 6 despite the greater chelating activity of citrate at pH 6 than at pH 5.2. The effect of citric acid and Ca2+ at pH 5.2 on vegetative bacteria of strains VL1 (type A) and 2346 and B6 (proteolytic type B) was similar to that on strain ZK3.     

Apparent degradation of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) by a Cladosporium sp.

Cladosporium sp. strain AJR³18,501 was isolated from DDT-contaminated soil by its ability to decolourise the polymeric dye, Poly R-478. When inoculated into potato/dextrose broth containing 100 mg of DDT l^–1, a 21% decrease in DDT concentration was observed 12 days after its addition, however, no transformation products were detected by gas chromatography. TLC of culture medium and mycelia extracts revealed 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane and five unknown transformation products associated with the mycelia.     

Autocides produced by Myxococcus xanthus.

Ethanol extracts of Myxococcus xanthus contained several substances, referred to as autocides, which were bactericidal to the producing strain but showed no activity against other bacteria. The autocides were produced by growing cells and remained largely cell bound throughout the growth cycle; ca. 5% of the autocidal activity was found in the supernatant fluid at the time cell lysis began. The autocides were separated by sequential-column and thin-layer chromatography into five active fractions (AM I through AM V). Each of the fractions was at least 20 times more active against M. xanthus than against the other gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria tested. AM I, AM IV, and AM V were inactive against yeasts, whereas a mixture of fractions AM II and AM III was active against Rhodotorula sp. At low concentrations, AM I reversibly inhibited the growth of M. xanthus; at higher concentrations of AM I, the cells lysed within 1 h. The lowest concentration of AM IV that showed any activity caused rapid cell death and lysis. The mode of action of the major autocide, AM V, was different from that of AM I and AM IV. During the initial 2 h of treatment, the viable count of M. xanthus cells remained constant; during the next few hours killing occurred without lysis; within 24 h lysis was complete. The autocidal activity of each of the fractions was expressed when the cells were suspended in buffer, as well as in growth medium. The possible role of autocides in developmental lysis of M. xanthus is discussed.     

一株红景天内生细菌的筛选及初步研究

【目的】从红景天根部筛选并鉴定一株产酪醇的细菌,初步研究其产酪醇特性,为寻找红景天替代资源提供新途径。【方法】用NA培养基从大花红景天根部中分离内生细菌,通过薄层层析(TLC)、高效液相色谱(HPLC)、气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)筛选出产量最大的菌株,经菌落形态分析、革兰氏染色分析及16S rRNA基因序列分析其分类学地位。单因素实验确定初始pH、培养温度、发酵时间及接种量对菌株产酪醇活力的影响。【结果】从大花红景天根部分离出14株内生细菌,其中8株能产酪醇,筛选出酪醇产量最大的菌株B3,经菌落形态分析、革兰氏染色分析及16S rRNA基因序列分析初步鉴定为水生拉恩氏菌(Rahnella aquatilis)。研究其发酵条件,其最适pH为6.0,最适温度为32 °C,最佳发酵时间为42 h,最佳接种量为15%。在最适发酵条件下,用改良NA培养基发酵,B3菌株酪醇的产量为15.68 mg/L。【结论】B3菌株是一株具有产酪醇能力的细菌,在最适发酵条件下酪醇产量达到15.68 mg/L,具有潜在的开发价值。     

Studies on gramicidin S synthetase. Purification of the heavy enzyme obtained from some mutants of Bacillus brevis.

The heavy enzyme of gramicidin S synthetase was purified to an almost homogeneous state by a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation, ornithine-Sepharose 4B chromatography, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and Ultrogel AcA 22 chromatography. The enzyme was proved to be essentially homogeneous by ultracentrifugation and polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. The heavy enzymes of gramicidin S synthetase from various groups of mutant strains lacking the ability to form gramicidin S were also purified to a similar extent. The sedimentation rates of the purified enzymes from a wild strain and the mutant strains (BI-3, BII-3, BI-9) were studied by analytical centrifugation and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The enzymes from the wild strain and these mutant strains were all found to have an S20,W value of 12.2 at a protein concentration of 2.5 mg per ml. These results strongly suggest that the failure of specific amino acid activation in the heavy enzyme of these gramicidin-lacking mutants might be due to some modification at the active center of the corresponding amino acid-activating enzyme rather than to a complete absence of the amino acid-activating enzyme protein in the heavy enzyme.     

Positive selection of allelic exchange mutants in Mycobacterium bovis BCG

Abstract A resistant mutant with vancomycin MIC of 100 μg/ml was isolated relatively easily through step pressure in the laboratory from a Staphylococcus aureus strain with initial MIC of 1.5 μg/ml for the antibiotic. Upon addition of vancomycin (50 μg/ml) to the growth medium mass increase of the culture and peptidoglycan synthesis continued but cell division (daughter cell separation), cell wall turnover and autolysis were inhibited, resulting in the production of multicellular clumps of bacteria. Parallel with the increase of culture density, the concentration of vancomycin measured both by biological activity and by HPLC gradually declined in the culture medium. Cell division and wall turnover of the culture resumed with the production of cells of normal morphology at the time when the concentration of the drug in the medium decreased below 0.5–1.0 μg/ml. There was no detectable change in the antibiotic concentration in the culture medium during growth of a vancomycin-resistant ( vanA -positive) strain of Enterococcus faecium and an intrinsically vancomycin-resistant strain of Leuconostoc . The vancomycin-resistant staphylococcal mutant gave no signal with the vanA or vanB DNA probes and contained no detectable d-lactate terminating cell wall precursors. The biochemical mechanism and clinical significance of such glycopeptide-resistant mutants remains to be established.     

Response of Azospirillum brasilense Cd to Sodium Chloride Stress

Growth of Azospirillum brasilense Cd in the presence of different NaCl concentrations showed that it tolerates up to 200 mM NaCl in the medium, without appreciable decline in growth rate. At 300 mM NaCl, a decrease of 66% in growth was observed at 24 h of culture. At 48 h of culture, bacteria in the presence of 300 mM NaCl reached the maximum optical density value that was attained at 12 h by control cultures. This investigation was designed to elucidate the effect of saline stress on Azospirillum brasilense Cd and the physiologic mechanism involved in its possible salinity tolerance. For this reason, studies of other osmolytes, as well as of putrescine metabolism and protein patterns were done with bacteria grown with this NaCl concentration in the medium, at 24 and at 48 hours. A. brasilense responded to saline stress elevating the intracellular concentration of glutamate at 24 h, and of K⁺at 48 h. Glucan pattern, putrescine metabolism, and total and periplasmic protein patterns of the treated group showed several changes with respect to the control. In spite of the several cellular functions affected by saline stress, the results imply that A. brasilense Cd shows salinity tolerance in these experimental conditions.     

Biosurfactant production and growth kinetics of bacteria in a designer marine medium: improved physiochemical properties

A combinatorial screening strategy was adopted for the development of a suitable medium for enhanced biosurfactant production by a marine strain. As a result, a modified marine medium (MMM) was developed, which contained urea and strontium chloride besides other salts important for the growth of marine bacteria. This medium supported growth, evident from a higher maximum growth rate value of 0.42 h(-1) and an enhanced biosurfactant production of 2.58 g/L. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was determined for the biosurfactants obtained from all tested media combinations. The biosurfactant produced with this medium was stable at high temperature (100 °C), a wide range of pH (5-11) and salt concentration of 5-35%. The emulsifying activity and stability of the biosurfactant obtained using MMM was better than the biosurfactant obtained using conventional media. This biosurfactant with improved physiochemical properties is suitable for a wide range of applications in industry and for marine environmental cleaning.     

Growth of Gram-negative bacteria in the presence of organic solvents

The growth behavior of Gram-negative bacteria when exposed to high concentrations (50% v/v) of water-insoluble organic solvents was investigated. The solvents were chosen according to their polarity values as denoted by a logarithmically expressed parameter log P, where P is the partition coefficient of a given solvent in an equimolar mixture of octanol and water. The cell growth was measured by the number of colonies developed on a solid agar medium in direct contact with the solvents. All 31 strains tested showed characteristic growth patterns. The survival and subsequent growth of bacteria increased with the increase in the log P value and was found to be strain specific. For all the strains, 100% cell growth was reached from 0% within 0.1–0.4 log P units. Log P₅₀ values, defined as the log P values at which 50% of the cells form colonies, were determined for each bacterial strain. On the whole, Pseudomonas strains were found to be more resistant to apolar solvents than all other bacteria tested. This resistance was dependent not only on the polarities but also on the toxic nature of different organic solvents, the cell membrane components, and to a limited extent, the growth medium. A tenfold increase in the Mg²⁺ concentration in the growth medium enhanced the solvent resistance of E. coli but had no such effect on Pseudomonads. In general, different growth temperatures had no impact on the solvent resistance of the Gram-negative bacteria tested.     

Dynamics and functions of exometabolites in the process of the growth of Escherichia coli M-17 periodical culture

The concentrations of metabolites altered immediately after culture inoculation into fresh medium and depended on the their dilution (in small dilutions metabolites were released into the medium, and, on the contrary, in great dilutions they were adsorbed). Acetate was the main exometabolite. The growth of culture started only when the acetate concentration reached the threshold value. At the stage of growth deceleration an intensive release of acetate and other exometabolites occurred. The process had the explosive character of chemical chain reaction. It could be initiated by high local concentrations of metabolites around bacteria, most sensitive to changes in growth conditions. At a high concentration of such cells the signal could be transmitted from one bacteria to another, otherwise the reaction chain was quickly broken and no mass release of metabolites occurred. At the stationary phase succinate, valine and lactate were consumed by bacteria with lactate concentration dropping practically to 0. At the same time acetate and citrate concentrations oscillated about some constant value. The release of growth inhibitors, formiate and alanine, continued to the end of cultivation, which was, seemingly, one of the factors of growth cessation. The specific features of the dymamics of metabolites were indicative of the fact that they had their individual regulatory functions. The problem of the self-synchronization of the bacterial culture is discussed.     

Zinc ion-dependent protein in boar semen. II. Effects on sperm motility and antibacterial properties

New functions of a zinc ion-dependent protein isolated from boar seminal plasma are presented. The results of studies suggest that plasma proteins in boar semen are arranged specifically and control the motility of the spermatozoa. The zinc ion-dependent protein seems to be a factor inactivating the plasmatic inhibitor of spermatozoa motility. The protein exhibited a regulating activity in the pH range 7.3–8.2, and at a quantitative protein ratio of 13:1, in favour of the inhibitor.This protein also inhibited the growth of bacteria, especially Gram-positive species. At a concentration of 4 mg/ml of the medium, the protein or its fractions totally inhibited the growth of bacteria of the genus Micrococcus after 6 h of incubation. As regards other strains of bacteria, total inhibition of growth was observed after 24–48 h. Antibacterial activity of the protein did not change after a short period of heating at 100°C, nor after freezing/thawing.     

Manganese toxicity to chlorophyll synthesis in tobacco callus

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) pith explants were grown on manganese containing medium. At moderate concentration (10 millimolar), manganese selectively inhibited chlorophyll synthesis, resulting initially in growth of white callus. Several weeks later the white callus turned brown due to the accumulation of a pigment identified as protoporphyrin IX by its elution profile using high performance liquid chromatography, by its absorption spectrum, and by its fluorescence properties. At a concentration of 100 millimolar manganese the pigment accumulated without growth of the explant.     

产多聚唾液酸的菌种筛选及产酸条件

通过对40株大肠杆菌进行产多聚唾液酸的筛选,得到一株高产多聚唾液酸菌株C-8,对该菌的一系列培养条件进行了研究。最佳培养基为：山梨醇2.5％,硫酸铵0.5％,磷酸氢二钾90mmol／L,胰蛋白陈1.5％,硫酸镁0.04％,pH7．8。在37℃,250r／min摇床培养65h,可使菌体在每毫升培养液中产多聚唾液酸1200μg。     

A phosphatidylinositol-containing derivative of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 7469

A derivative of Lactobaccillus casei ATCC 7469, characterized by limited growth in liquid media and an unusual phospholipid composition, has been isolated. Grown to early stationary phase on a lipid-free and inositol-free medium, the organism produces phosphatidylinositol phosphatidylglycerol, and diphosphatidylglycerol. The phosphatidylinositol was identified by thin-layer, paper, and gas chromatography, and by mass spectrometry. In agreement with published data, the conventional strain produced phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and lysylphosphatidylglycerol, but no phosphatidylinositol. The phospholipid/glycolipid molar ratio, calculated on the basis of published glycolipid analyses, is 1.3 : 1 for the derivative and 1.5 : 1 for the conventional strain.