Taxonomic distribution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces</Emphasis> species capable of producing bioactive compounds among strains preserved at NITE/NBRC

The taxonomic distribution of Streptomyces species capable of producing bioactive compounds was investigated. Nine hundred and six strains were tested for the following four biological activities: antimicrobial, anti-tyrosinase, antioxidant, and hemolytic. Approximately 30% of strains tested showed antimicrobial activities, except for anti-Escherichia coli activity, which was present in only a few strains, while the rates of positivity for the anti-tyrosinase, antioxidant, and hemolytic activities were much lower. The distribution of Streptomyces strains capable of producing bioactive compounds was analyzed by the taxonomy based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Moreover, the strains of Streptomyces hygroscopicus tested were divided into two clades in the phylogenetic tree, and all of the strains belonging to one clade showed antibacterial and antifungal activities. For detection of polyenes, the UV-visible spectra of metabolic extracts in the strains showing antifungal activities were measured. It was suggested that Streptomyces strains produce universal active compounds under different growth conditions. Further information on the relationship between the microbial taxonomy and the bioactive compounds produced would be useful for the utilization of industrial microorganisms.     

Variations in the spectra of biological activities of actinomycetes isolated from different soils

Actinomycetes were isolated from 10 soil samples, three representing sediments or shoreline of a pulp mill effluent polluted marsh pond and the rest topsoil from Finnish coniferous woodland. After a preliminary screen, 32 isolates exhibiting antifungal, antibacterial or genotoxic activities were obtained. The high incidence of strains with genotoxic properties (12 in this screen) was an unexpected finding. The majority (14) of the 19 antifungal isolates produced antibiotics of polyene type.     

Phosphomannose isomerase and phosphomannomutase gene disruptions in Streptomyces nodosus: impact on amphotericin biosynthesis and implications for glycosylation engineering

Streptomycetes synthesise several bioactive natural products that are modified with sugar residues derived from GDP-mannose. These include the antifungal polyenes, the antibacterial antibiotics hygromycin A and mannopeptimycins, and the anticancer agent bleomycin. Three enzymes function in biosynthesis of GDP-mannose from the glycolytic intermediate fructose 6-phosphate: phosphomannose isomerase (PMI), phosphomannomutase (PMM) and GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMPP). Synthesis of GDP-mannose from exogenous mannose requires hexokinase or phosphotransferase enzymes together with PMM and GMPP. In this study, a region containing genes for PMI, PMM and GMPP was cloned from Streptomyces nodosus, producer of the polyenes amphotericins A and B. Inactivation of the manA gene for PMI resulted in production of amphotericins and their aglycones, 8-deoxyamphoteronolides. A double mutant lacking the PMI and PMM genes produced 8-deoxyamphoteronolides in good yields along with trace levels of glycosylated amphotericins. With further genetic engineering these mutants may activate alternative hexoses as GDP-sugars for transfer to aglycones in vivo.     

Antibiotic production by submerged culture ofMelanconis flavovirens (Otth) Wehm.

The pyrenomyceteMelanconis flavovirens under submerged cultivation produced antibiotics active against both bacteria and fungi. Glucose and corn-steep liquor were the best and N sources for the antibiotic production, respectively. Supplementation with Tween-80 and ethylene glycol stimulated both antifungal and antibacterial antibiotic production, whereas oleic acid only the antifungal one. Addition of K₂HPO₄ also showed a positive effect. The optimal conditions for fermentation of the antifungal component are given.     

具有抗哈维氏弧菌活性共生真菌HLZ-3菌株的筛选、鉴定及其培养条件

【背景】目前,海水养殖业中主要利用抗生素来防治哈维氏弧菌等病原菌,但抗生素的长期使用或滥用会对环境和人体健康带来危害,因此既环保又有效的生物防治方法具有广阔的应用前景。【目的】从海水产品共生微生物中筛选具有抗菌活性的菌株,对活性菌株进行鉴定并确定其合成抗菌活性物质的培养条件。【方法】利用沙氏和2216E培养基,以稀释涂布平板法从海水养殖动物中分离真菌和细菌;利用牛津杯法测定微生物发酵液抗水产病原哈维氏弧菌的活性;通过菌株的培养特征、形态特征和ITS序列分析对抗菌活性菌株进行鉴定;通过筛选发酵培养基的种类及盐度确定培养条件。【结果】从海蚌、白虾、海蛎子等9种样品中分离出微生物52株,其中真菌30株、细菌22株;筛选得到2株具有抗哈维氏弧菌活性的真菌菌株;其中一株活性菌株HLZ-3被鉴定为塔宾曲霉;菌株HLZ-3合成抗菌活性物质的培养条件为4%NaCl的大米培养基,28°C静置培养2周。【结论】实验结果为进一步分离纯化菌株HLZ-3所产抗菌活性次生代谢产物提供了基础。     

海南东寨港真红树植物内生放线菌多样性及其抗菌活性

【目的】勘探海南东寨港真红树植物内生放线菌多样性,为发现放线菌新物种和新抗生素奠定基础。【方法】样品经表面消毒后粉碎,用10种不同培养基分离放线菌;通过PCR扩增、测定并比对16S r RNA基因序列,开展放线菌多样性分析;通过发酵、萃取等处理方法得到四类样品,包括发酵原液、乙酸乙酯提取液及水层和菌体的丙酮浸泡提取液;采用纸片扩散法对样品进行抗菌活性筛选;基于PCR的基因筛选技术探测活性菌株可能存在的NRPS、PKS I、PKS II抗生素生物合成基因。【结果】经形态特征排重,从14种真红树植物样品中共得到放线菌146株,16S r RNA基因序列比对表明它们分布于13个科18个属,其中链霉菌属为优势菌属,菌株S3Cf-2和S3Af-1的16S r RNA基因序列分别与有效发表菌株Couchioplanes caeruleus DSM44103T(X93202)和Microlunatus terrae BS6T(JF806519)的相似率最高,分别为97.45%和97.43%,可能为新物种。对其中46株放线菌发酵样品的抗菌活性检测表明,40株具有抗菌活性,总阳性率为86.96%;活性菌株中,38株菌存在至少一种所探测的生物合成基因簇,阳性率为95%,其中14株同时具有所探测的3种抗生素生物合成基因簇。【结论】海南东寨港真红树植物中存在多样性丰富的药用放线菌资源,具有从中发现放线菌新物种及新抗生素的潜力。     

Isolation of putative polyene-producing actinomycetes strains via PCR-based genome screening for polyene-specific hydroxylase genes

Polyene antibiotics, which include nystatin, pimaricin, amphotericin and candicidin, include a family of very promising antifungal polyketide compounds that are typically produced by soil actinomycetes. The presence of similar cytochrome P450 hydroxylase (CYP) genes in the biosynthetic gene clusters for these polyenes have been previously reported. Using this polyene, more than 200 independently isolated actinomycetes strains were screened by CYP-specific PCR. Four strains were isolated based on the presence of the expected size of the PCR-amplified DNA fragment in the chromosome. The nucleotide sequencing of the PCR-amplified DNA fragments showed that each of the four actinomycetes strains contained a highly homologous polyene-specific CYP gene. Each of the culture extracts from these four strains showed a typical polyene-like high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) chromatogram profile, and strong antifungal activity against Candida albicans. This suggests that the polyene-specific PCR-guided genome screening approach is an efficient method for isolating potentially valuable polyene-producing actinomycetes.     

Antibiotics Against Plant Disease: VIII. Screening for Nonpolyenic Antifungal Antibiotics Produced by Streptomycetes

In a survey of Streptomyces species, methods were designed and followed that would specifically select strains capable of producing heat-stable, nonpolyenic, antifungal antibiotics. Of 500 strains grown in shaken flasks, 240 of the culture liquors contained active factors as demonstrated by paper-disc assay against Mucor ramannianus. Culture filtrates and mycelial extracts of the active strains were examined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry; 166 were nonpolyenic as determined by absorption spectra. Heat-stability tests of the nonpolyenic antibiotics over a broad pH range revealed that 15 were stable under all test conditions, 70 moderately stable, and 81 unstable. Culture liquors containing stable, nonpolyenic antifungal agents were chromatographed with eight solvent systems in an attempt to identify the antibiotics. The producing cultures were studied by cross-antagonism tests to discover similarities with producers of known antibacterial antibiotics. Two of the antibiotics produced by promising strains were identified as cycloheximide and musarin. Six antibiotics, presumably new, were detected.     

The iturin-like lipopeptides are essential components in the biological control arsenal of Bacillus subtilis against bacterial diseases of cucurbits

The antibacterial potential of four strains of Bacillus subtilis, UMAF6614, UMAF6619, UMAF6639, and UMAF8561, previously selected on the basis of their antifungal activity and efficacy against cucurbit powdery mildew, was examined. Among these strains, UMAF6614 and UMAF6639 showed the highest antibacterial activity in vitro, especially against Xanthomonas campestris pv. cucurbitae and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. These strains produced the three families of lipopeptide antibiotics known in Bacillus spp.: surfactins, iturins, and fengycins. Using thin-layer chromatography analysis and direct bioautography, the antibacterial activity could be associated with iturin lipopeptides. This result was confirmed by mutagenesis analysis using lipopeptide-defective mutants. The antibacterial activity was practically abolished in iturin-deficient mutants, whereas the fengycin mutants retained certain inhibitory capabilities. Analyses by fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy revealed the cytotoxic effect of these compounds at the bacterial plasma membrane level. Finally, biological control assays on detached melon leaves demonstrated the ability of UMAF6614 and UMAF6639 to suppress bacterial leaf spot and soft rot; accordingly, the biocontrol activity was practically abolished in mutants deficient in iturin biosynthesis. Taken together, our results highlight the potential of these B. subtilis strains as biocontrol agents against fungal and bacterial diseases of cucurbits and the versatility of iturins as antifungal and antibacterial compounds.     

影响多粘类芽胞杆菌发酵液抑菌活性因素的研究

目的以点青霉菌作为指示菌,研究影响植物内生多粘芽胞杆菌发酵液抑菌活性的部分因素,为鉴定发酵液的抑菌物质提供基础研究。方法通过对多粘类芽胞杆菌发酵液进行不同处理（改变pH、加热、乙醇处理和蛋白酶酶解）,采用牛津杯法观察处理后发酵液对点青霉菌抑菌活性的变化。结果多粘类芽胞杆菌发酵液的抑菌效果在酸性条件下稳定,抑菌效果明显;而在中性和碱性范围内不稳定,抑菌效果不明显;多粘类芽胞杆菌发酵液中的有些抑菌物质具备良好的热稳定性;80％乙醇处理的发酵上清液有抑菌作用;经蛋白酶酶解后发酵液的抑菌活性变化不大。结论多粘类芽胞杆菌产生的乙醇沉淀物具有抑菌作用;发酵液中可能含有类细菌素的抑菌物质。     

Bacterial diversity from benthic mats of Antarctic lakes as a source of new bioactive metabolites

During the MICROMAT project, the bacterial diversity of microbial mats growing in the benthic environment of Antarctic lakes was accessed for the discovery of novel antibiotics. In all, 723 Antarctic heterotrophic bacteria belonging to novel and/or endemic taxa in the α-, β- and γ-subclasses of the Proteobacteria, the Bacteroidetes branch, and of the high and low percentage G+C Gram-positives, were isolated, cultivated in different media and at different temperatures, and then screened for the production of antimicrobial activities. A total of 6348 extracts were prepared by solid phase extraction of the culture broths or by biomass solvent extraction. 122 bacteria showed antibacterial activity against the Gram-positives Staphylococcus aureus and to a lower extent Enterococcus faecium, and versus the Gram-negative Escherichia coli. Few of these strains showed also some antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus and to a lower extent Candida albicans. LC–MS fractionation of extracts from a subset of strains (hits) that exhibited relatively potent antibacterial activities evidenced a chemical novelty that was further investigated. Two strains of Arthrobacter agilis produced potent antibacterial compounds with activity against Gram-positives and possibly related to novel cyclic thiazolyl peptides. To our knowledge, this is the first report of new antibiotics produced by bacteria from benthic microbial mats from Antarctic lakes. With no doubts these microbial assemblages represent an extremely rich source for the isolation of new strains producing novel bioactive metabolites with the potential to be developed as antibiotic compounds.     

Enhancement of antibiotic and secondary metabolite detection from filamentous fungi by growth on nutritional arrays

Aims: We asked to what extent does the application of the OSMAC (one strain, many compounds) approach lead to enhanced detection of antibiotics and secondary metabolites in fungi? Protocols for bacterial microfermentations were adapted to grow fungi in nutritional arrays. Methods and Results: Protocols for microfermentations of non‐sporulating fungi were validated using known antifungal‐producing fungi. Detection of antifungal activity was often medium dependent. The effects of medium arrays and numbers of strains on detection of antifungal signals were modelled by interpolation of rarefaction curves derived from matrices of positive and negative extracts. Increasing the number of fermentation media for any given strain increased the probability of detection of growth inhibition of Candida albicans. Increasing biodiversity increased detection of antifungal phenotypes, however, nutritional arrays could partly compensate for lost antibiotic phenotypes when biodiversity was limiting. Conclusions: Growth and extraction in microtiter plates can enable a discovery strategy emphasizing low‐cost medium arrays that can better exploit the metabolic potential of strains. Significance and Impact of the Study: Increasing fermentation parameters raise the probability of detecting bioactive metabolites from strains. The protocols can be used to pre‐select strains and their growth conditions for scale up that will most likely yield antibiotics and secondary metabolites.     

秦岭链霉菌的原生质体再生与诱变育种

在秦岭链霉菌(Streptomyces qinlingensis sp. nov.)的菌种改良中, 应用原生质体再生并结合物理化学诱变能够得到产量较高、稳定性较好的菌株。筛选实验表明：秦岭链霉菌原生质体再生菌株R-72、诱变菌株NTG-1和H30-7对枯草芽孢杆菌的抗菌活性均提高了20%以上, 并且连续培养10代, 其遗传性状均比较稳定。进一步的生测实验表明菌株R-72、NTG-1和H30-7对5种病原细菌和5种植物病原真菌的抗菌活性相比原始菌株有显著提高。     

秦岭链霉菌的原生质体再生与诱变育种

在秦岭链霉菌(Streptomyces qinlingensis sp.nov.)的菌种改良中,应用原生质体再生并结合物理化学诱变能够得到产量较高、稳定性较好的菌株.筛选实验表明:秦岭链霉菌原生质体再生菌株R-72、诱变菌株NTG-1和H30-7对枯草芽孢杆菌的抗菌活性均提高了20%以上,并且连续培养10代,其遗传性状均比较稳定.进一步的生测实验表明菌株R-72,NTG-1和H30-7对5种病原细菌和5种植物病原真菌的抗菌活性相比原始菌株有显著提高.     

Production of Chlorflavonin, an Antifungal Metabolite of Aspergillus candidus

Production of chlorflavonin, a new antifungal antibiotic, by strains of Aspergillus candidus is described. Two wild strains of the fungus had distinctly different chlorflavonin-producing capabilities. One strain produced 25 mug of chlorflavonin per ml per 4 to 5 days in a pilot scale fermentor with stirring, using a medium containing corn steep liquor and glucose. Production of antibiotic was favored by high rates of agitation-aeration. Crude chlorflavonin was extracted from the whole brew with a hydrocarbon solvent and then purified by recrystallization from benzene and petroleum ether. The overall yield from fermentation brew to pure product was 50%.     

Screening of nonpolyenic antifungal metabolites produced by clinical isolates of actinomycetes

The purpose of this work was to screen clinical isolates of actinomycetes producing nonpolyenic antifungals. This choice was made to limit the problem of rediscovery of well-known antifungal families, especially polyenic antifungals. One hundred and ten strains were tested, using two diffusion methods and two test media, against three yeast species and three filamentous fungi. Among 54 strains (49%) showing antifungal activity, five strains belonging to the genus Streptomyces were active against all test organisms and appeared promising. These results indicate that clinical and environmental isolates of actinomycetes could be an interesting source of antifungal bioactive substances. The production of nonpolyenic antifungal substances by these five active isolates was investigated using several criteria: antibacterial activity, ergosterol inhibition, and UV-visible spectra of active extracts. One active strain responded to all three selection criteria and produced potentially nonpolyenic antifungal metabolites. This strain was retained for further investigation, in particular, purification, structure elucidation, and mechanism of action of the active product.     

从海蜇中筛选抗真菌活性的海洋细菌菌株

从中国北部湾海域采集的海蜇样品中分离到577株海洋细菌,以条件致病真菌白色念珠菌(Candida albicans)作为敏感测试菌株,采用琼脂块法测定了577株海洋细菌的抗真菌活性,结果表明有119株具有抗白色念珠菌活性,占总数的20.6%。对其中的40株高活性菌株进行抗真菌和抗细菌活性研究,结果表明,有21株海洋细菌对3种或3种以上的真菌有抑制活性,23株对细菌有不同程度的抑制作用,其中1株海洋细菌I0s4-18具有广谱的抗菌作用,对革兰氏阴性细菌、革兰氏阳性细菌、酵母菌及丝状真菌均具有抑制作用。海蜇共附生的微生物中能产生抗真菌活性的微生物的比例是很高的,I0s4-18菌株具有良好的开发前景。     

Studies on a chlorogenic acid-producing endophytic fungi isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucommia ulmoides</Emphasis> Oliver

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver is a traditional medicinal plant of China, and it is one of the main sources of chlorogenic acid. Chlorogenic acid is an ester of caffeic acid, quinic acid, and a phenolic compound that has antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and antitumor activities. The purpose of this study was to determine whether endophytic fungi isolated from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver had the same ability to produce chlorogenic acid. Primary screening was done by antibacterial and antifungal reactions, and the strain reselection was done with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to identify the fermentation products of the selected strains. Extracts of the leaf and cortex of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver were also deteted by HPLC, then positive results of HPLC were analyzed by GC-MS and LC-MS. In this study, 29 strains were isolated from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver. Most of them had antibacterial activity, and a few of them had antifungal activity. One ingredient of the B5 extract had a retention time identical to that of authentic chlorogenic acid. With GC-MS, other ingredients, isocoumarin and p-chlorocinnamide, were found. With LC-MS, chlorogenic acid and geniposide related to Eucommia ulmoides Oliver were found. The strain B5 was identified as Sordariomycete sp. Thus, endophytic fungi may produce the bioactive compound chlorogenic acid, as their host plant does, and could be used for the production of chlorogenic acid by fermentation in the future.     

Isolation and characterization of endophytic Streptomyces strains from surface-sterilized tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) roots

AIMS: To isolate endophytic Streptomyces strains from tomato and examine their antimicrobial activity. METHODS: Endophytic Streptomyces strains were isolated using surface-sterilization methods and identified by morphological characteristics. Antimicrobial activities were measured by the agar plate sensitivity method. Antifungal activity in vivo was measured by seedling mortality in infested soils. RESULTS: Twenty-one per cent of endophytic streptomycete isolates produced antibacterial metabolites and 41% produced antifungal metabolites in S medium. Sixty-five per cent of the most frequently isolated strains inhibited the growth of Rhizoctonia solani by the antibiosis assay but only 32% produced metabolites active against R. solani in S medium. Growth promotion and enhanced disease resistance of seedlings inoculated with Streptomyces sp. strain S30 were observed in tomato but not in cucumber seedlings. CONCLUSIONS: Endophytic Streptomyces spp. strains were successfully isolated using stringent methods and strain S30 promoted growth and enhanced resistance to R. solani in tomato seedlings. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Endophytic streptomycetes showing antifungal activity in vitro and in vivo may indicate the potential for their use as biocontrol agents particularly of R. solani disease of tomato seedlings.     

Polyene antibiotics in the membrane environment.

The cytotoxic activity of the polyene antibiotics mainly depends on the appearance of the drug species which arises from drug-sterol complexation. The unsaturation and intact macrolide ring of the polyenes are the requirements for the biological activity. All the polyene antibiotics can form the complex with the sterol having 3 beta-OH group, and planar ring and a hydrophobic side chain. Aromatic polyene antibiotics with positively charged head group have been considered as most potential antifungal agents.