Fractional makeup of the lipids of some yeast species]

The fractional composition of lipids was studied in 32 yeast strains belonging to the genera of Rhodotorula Harrison, Lipomyces Lodder et Kreger van Rij and Cryptococcus Kutz. The effect of C/N ratio in the growth medium on the content of various lipid fractions was studied. Lipids of the most studied cultures were found to contain di- and triglycerides, waxes, free fatty acids, sterines, their esters, and phospholipids. The fraction of monoglycerides was also detected in Rhodotorula and three species of Cryptococcus, but not in Lipomyces and Cr. laurentii. If C/N ratio equals 10, the predominant lipid component in Lipomyces is triglycerides, and in Rhodoturula and Cryptococcus phospholipids. The fraction of triglycerides prevailed in all cultures at C/N ratio of 100. The content of phospholipids decreased with an increase of C/N ratio in the medium from 10 to 100.     

Nature of Pseudomonas pseudomallei antigens common to some species of microorganisms

An antigen, common for the infective agents of glanders , tularemia, plague, pseudotuberculosis, cholera and brucellosis, has been obtained from the aqueous saline extract of P. pseudomallei by means of affinity chromatography on antibody sorbent. The isolated antigen has proved to be of a protein-polysaccharide-lipid nature, to have insignificant cathode mobility and to constitute a component of O-antigen. It has also been found to be antigenically related to the tissues of melioidosis-sensitive animals and localized in the surface structure of the bacterial cell.     

Ornithine-containing lipids stimulate CD14-dependent TNF-alpha production from murine macrophage-like J774.1 and RAW 264.7 cells

The ornithine-containing lipids (OL)-induced cytokine production pattern in macrophage-like J774.1 and RAW 264.7 cells was different from that in the peritoneal macrophages previously reported. OLs, as well as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli, strongly induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha but not interleukin (IL)-1beta in J774.1 cells. In the RAW cells, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and prostaglandin E(2) were strongly induced by the OLs and LPS. OL- and serine-glycine-containing lipid (SGL)-induced TNF-alpha production in J774.1 and RAW 264.7 cells required serum. However, in CD14-deficient LR-9 cells, TNF-alpha was not induced by the OLs in the presence or absence of serum. OLs and a SGL almost completely inhibited the binding of (125)I-LPS to J774.1 cells. These results suggested that OLs and SGL activate macrophages via the CD14-dependent pathway.     

Comparative-biochemical analysis of lipids of blood serum lipoproteins of human and some animal species

Lipid composition of blood serum and total lipids of low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL₂ and HDL₃) were studied in human (donors, patients with ischemic heart disease, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive bronchitis, as well as with a combined pathology), in mammals predisposed to atherosclerosis (pig, rabbit) and resistant to atherosclerosis (rat, mink, Arctic fox), in birds (hen, pigeon), in teleost fish (white fish, pike-perch, pike, bream, burbot) and cartilaginous fish (sturgeon, housen). It has been established that the most enriched in lipids is the blood serum of animals, particularly of cartilaginous fish. Twice lower is the lipid content in blood serum of donors than of animals. However, in the vascular, bronchopulmonary, and combined human pathologies the lipid level rises statistically significantly. In human and in animals predisposed to atherosclerosis the main mass of lipid is located in LDL, whereas in animals resistant to this disease—in HDL. The ratio of the human lipid content in LDL/HDL increases from 1.4 (in donors) to 2.7 in pathological states—in ischemic heart disease and its combination with chronic obstructive disease. In animals, a decrease of this ratio is noted from 1.0 to 0.2 in cartilaginous fish. By the example of one taxon (fish) there is established a regularity that indicates that evolution of lipoproteins occurred with an increase of the lipid amount in the “younger” LDL and with a decrease of concentration of the “older” HDL.     

Inhibitory effect of lead ions on cells of some strains of Pseudomonas species bacteria

The inhibition effect of ionic lead on membrane ATPase activity, transmembrane potential (delta psi) and permeability level of the Pb-sensitive P. fluorescens B894 and Pb-resistant P. fluorescens B4252 bacteria cells have been studied. It have been shown that decreasing ATPase activity and transmembrane potential values and the increasing of permeability by lead are higher for Pb-sensitive strain then for Pb-resistant. It is suggested that mechanism of the ionic lead toxic effect deals with plasma membrane biochemical parameters (ATPase activity, value of delta psi) alterations and interruption of it barrier function.     

Inducible surface proteins from some strains of Pseudomonas species bacteria while adapting to cobalt

The possibility of increasing resistance of some Pseudomonas strains to cobalt at adaptation to monotonous increasing its concentration was studied. Strains Pseudomonas fluorescens B5242 and Pseudomonas fluorescens B894 are capable to increase its resistance in such conditions via inducible synthesis of protective surface proteins. The molecular masses of such proteins were 55.0; 45.0 and 33.0 kDa for P. fluorescens B5242 strain.     

Ornithine-containing lipid of Bordetella pertussis that carries hemagglutinating activity

The proposed structure of the ornithine-containing lipid of Bordetella pertussis is 3-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid amide-linked to ornithine and esterified to the second hexadecanoic acid. The aminolipid strongly agglutinates type A and B human erythrocytes.     

Isolation of an Ornithine-containing Lipid from Thiobacillus thiooxidans

The ornithine-containing lipid was separated from the other lipids of Thiobacillus thiooxidans by thin-layer chromatography. The aminolipid possesses both amide and ester linkages.     

Differential impact of some Aspergillus species on Meloidogyne javanica biocontrol by Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CHA0

AIMS: The aim was to determine the influence of some Aspergillus species on the production of nematicidal agent(s) in vitro and biocontrol of Meloidogyne javanica in tomato by Pseudomonas fluorescens strains CHA0 and CHA0/pME3424. METHODS AND RESULTS: Six species of Aspergillus, isolated from the rhizosphere of certain crops, produced a variety of secondary metabolites in vitro. Culture filtrate (CF) obtained from Ps. fluorescens strain CHA0 and its2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol overproducing mutant CHA0/pME3424 grown in King's B liquid medium caused significant mortality of M. javanica juveniles in vitro. Bacterial growth medium amended with CF of A. niger enhanced nematicidal and beta-galactosidase activities of fluorescent pseudomonads while A. quadrilineatus repressed such activities. Methanol or ethyl acetate extracts of the CF of A. niger markedly optimized bacterial efficacy to cause nematode deaths while hexane extract of the fungus had no influence on the nematicidal activity of the bacterial strains. A. niger applied alone or in conjunction with the bacterial inoculants inhibited root-knot nematode galling in tomato. On the other hand, A. quadrilineatus used alone or together with CHA0 did not inhibit nematode galling but when used in combination with strain CHA0/pME3424 did reduce galling intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Aspergillus niger enhances the production of nematicidal compounds by Ps. fluorescensin vitro and improves biocontrol potential of the bacterial inoculants in tomato while A. quadrilineatus reduces bacterial performance to suppress root-knot nematodes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Rhizosphere harbours a variety of micro-organisms including bacteria, fungi and viruses. Aspergillus species are ubiquitous in most agricultural soils and generally produce a variety of secondary metabolites. Such metabolites synthesized by Aspergillus species may influence the production of nematicidal agents and subsequent biocontrol performance of the bacterial inoculants against plant-parasitic nematodes. This fact needs to be taken into consideration when using biocontrol strains in an agriculture system.     

L-arginine utilization by Pseudomonas species

The utilization of arginine was studied in several different Pseudomonas species. The arginine decarboxylase and agmatine deiminase pathways were found to be characteristic of Pseudomonas species of group I as defined by Palleroni et al. (1974). Pseudomonas putida strains had three distinct arginine catabolic pathways initiated by arginine decarboxylase, arginine deiminase and arginine oxidase, respectively. The two former routes were also present in P. fluorescens and P. mendocina and in P. aeruginosa which also used arginine by a further unknown pathway. None of these pathways occurred in P. cepacia strains; agmatine catabolism seemed to follow an unusual route involving guanidinobutyrate as intermediate.     

Composition of lipids produced by some strains ofCandida species. Production of single-cell oil in a chemostat culture

Fatty acid composition of the lipids produced by four strains ofCandida species was studied. Oleic acid was the principal fatty acid. Cellular lipids ofCandida sp. andC. pulcherima were rich in palmitic acid. Lipids fromC. lipolytica contained a significant amount of palmitoleic acid, whereasC. farinosa produced oil rich in stearis and α-linolenic acid. Analysis of cellular lipids ofCandida sp. andC. pulcherima during growth on a nitrogen-limited medium showed that oils accumulated in the exponential growth phase were more unsaturated than those accumulated in the decelerating and stationary phases. In a chemostat culture,Candida sp. accumulated about 40% of lipid. The specific rate of lipid formation, at a dilution rate ofD=0.09/h, was 35 mg of lipid per g of biomass per h and the yield of lipid on glucose was 11.4%.     

Biodegradation of propoxur by Pseudomonas species

A bacterium capable of degrading propoxur (2-isopropoxyphenyl-N-methylcarbamate) was isolated from soil by enrichment cultures and was identified as a Pseudomonas species. The organism grew on propoxur at 2 g/l as sole source of carbon and nitrogen, and accumulated 2-isopropoxyphenol as metabolite in the culture medium. The cell free extract of Pseudomonas sp. grown on propoxur contained the activity of propoxur hydrolase. The results suggest that the organism degraded propoxur by hydrolysis to yield 2-isopropoxyphenol and methylamine, which was further utilized as carbon source.