Determination of rifamycin B activity in culture liquids and in preparations with varying degrees of purity]

A possibility of using the biological method of rifamycin B activity determination in the fermentation broth and dry preparations of various purity levels was studied. It was found that the biological method was useful only for determination of rifamycin B activity in preparations containing not less than 850 gamma/mg of the main product. When the activity of rifamycin B was determined in the fermentation broth and crude preparations containing less than 800 gamma/mg of the main product, the results of the biological assay were always higher as compared to those of spectrophotometrical estimation. It was accounted for the effect of other rifamycin types possessing high biological activity.     

Stability of rifamycin B in aqueous solutions

Stability of rifamycin B in aqueous solutions at various values of pH and temperature was studied. It was shown that inactivation of the antibiotic in neutral and alkaline solutions proceeded according to the first order equation. In acid solutions rifamycin B was oxidized with air oxygen to form rifamycin O.     

土壤拮抗放线菌的分离筛选及其抑菌物质特性的研究

目的从土壤中筛选拮抗能力强且抑菌特性稳定的放线菌菌株。方法采用双层琼脂法筛选出4株拮抗放线菌菌株,然后采用杯碟法测这4株菌株发酵液提取物的抗菌谱、最小抑菌浓度、热稳定性和酸碱稳定性。结果 4株菌株发酵液提取物都能抑制金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠埃希菌、铜绿假单胞菌和白色念珠菌的生长。以金黄色葡萄球菌为指示菌测发酵液提取物的最小抑制浓度,6#和9#拮抗作用较强,发酵液提取物稀释0.125mg/ml仍有抑菌作用。6#菌株在100℃处理30min后仍有40%的抑菌活性。6#菌株发酵液提取物在碱性环境条件下比在酸性环境条件下稳定。结论 4株菌株中6#菌株发酵液提取物具有拮抗能力强、最小抑菌浓度低和在碱性条件下活性较稳定的特点。     

Distribution of oleandomycin between the native broth and butylacetate depending on the biosynthesis conditions]

Distribution of the active substance contained in the fermentation broth of Act. antibioticus between the acqueous phase and butylacetate depended on the fermentation conditions and the procedure for the fermentation broth treatment before filtration. Increase in pH values during the fermentation process resulted in lower antibiotic distribution coefficients which may be explained by the presence of oleandomycin-X, a biologically active substance in the fermentation broth filtrates. This substance differed from oleandomycin and did not pass into butylacetate from the acqueous alkaline solution. For transference of oleandomycin-X into oleandomycin exposition of the fermentation broth filtrate at pH 5.0--5.5 is required.     

Production of acetone butanol ethanol (ABE) by a hyper-producing mutant strain of Clostridium beijerinckii BA101 and recovery by pervaporation.

A silicone membrane was used to study butanol separation from model butanol solutions and fermentation broth. Depending upon the butanol feed concentration in the model solution and pervaporation conditions, butanol selectivities of 20.88-68.32 and flux values of 158.7-215.4 g m(-)(2) h(-)(1) were achieved. Higher flux values (400 g m(-)(2) h(-)(1)) were obtained at higher butanol concentrations using air as sweep gas. In an integrated process of butanol fermentation-recovery, solvent productivities were improved to 200% of the control batch fermentation productivities. In a batch reactor the hyper-butanol-producing mutant strain C. beijerinckii BA101 utilized 57.3 g/L glucose and produced 24.2 g/L total solvents, while in the integrated process it produced 51.5 g/L (culture volume) total solvents. Concentrated glucose medium was also fermented. The C. beijerinckii BA101 mutant strain was not negatively affected by the pervaporative conditions. In the integrated experiment, acids were not produced. With the active fermentation broth, butanol selectivity was reduced by a factor of 2-3. However, the membrane flux was not affected by the active fermentation broth. The butanol permeate concentration ranged from 26.4 to 95.4 g/L, depending upon butanol concentration in the fermentation broth. Since the permeate of most membranes contains acetone, butanol, and ethanol (and small concentrations of acids), it is suggested that distillation be used for further purification.     

Rifamycin in B distribution between aqueous and organic phases]

Dependence of the coefficient of rifamycin B distribution in the system of butyl acetate-buffer solution on pH of the equilibrium acqueous phase, antibiotic concentration in the solution and temperature was studied. It was shown that the coefficient value did not depend on the antibiotic concentration within 1000-2000 gamma/ml and temperature.     

Effect of amphotericin B added to one side of a membrane

Amphotericin B which was added to the one side of a membrane in aqueous solutions with low pH 3.0 sharply increases the membrane conductance by the mechanism of channel forming. Long living ionic channels (20 sec) with large conductance dispersion (2-20 Ps) were found at the concentration 2 X 10(-8) M. Amphotericin B concentration which is necessary for obtaining single channels does not depend on cholesterol concentration in the membrane-forming solution in the range from 2 to 10 mg/ml. The effect of amphotericin B on the membrane depends on the phospholipid concentration in the membrane. The one-side selective permeability is the same as one under the symmetric action of the antibiotic. It is assumed that amphotericin B induced the membrane conductance by the mechanism of half-pores formation.     

In situ extractive fermentation of acetone and butanol

The productivity of the acetone-butanol fermentation was increased by continuously removing acetone and butanol from the fermentation broth during fed-batch culture. Whole broth containing viable cells of Clostridium acetobutylicum was cycled to a Karr reciprocating plate extraction column in which acetone and butanol were extracted into oleyl alcohol flowing counter-currently through the column. By continuously removing these toxic metabolites from the broth, end product inhibition was reduced, and a concentrated feed solution containing 300 g/L glucose was fermented at an overall butanol productivity of 1.0 g/L h, 70% higher than the productivity of normal batch fermentation. The continuous extraction process provides flexible operation and lends itself to process scale-up.     

Anti-tumour components of the culture filtrates from Tricholoma sp.

The anti-tumour component (Fraction A) found in the culture filtrates of a local mushroom, Tricholoma sp. (strain STC20-T1), was purified using DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography and Sepharose CL-4B gel filtration. Of its two purified sub-fractions, A-1 and A-2, only the latter showed anti-tumor activity. When Fraction A-2 was treated with cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide and chloroform/butanol (24:1, v/v), it behaved as a proteinbound polysaccharide, with a molecular mass estimated to be 154 kDa by gel filtration. It contained 40% polysaccharide, which consisted of fucose, galactose, glucose, arabinose and mannose, and 30.5% protein, the amino-acid composition of which was determined. Fraction A-2 could inhibit the growth of Sarcoma-180 implanted in mice intraperitoneally and subcutaneously, with no sign of toxicity, at a dose of 20 mg/kg.day for 10 days.     

Rate of benyzylpenicillin inactivation in native solutions during extraction]

The constants of benzylpenicillin inactivation in acidified fermentation broth filtrates were different in various filtrate batches. Marked inactivation of the antibiotic in the filtrates immediately after their acidification was observed. Possible losses of the antibiotic due to inactivation under conditions of extraction were estimated.     

Studies on fermentative production of rifamycin using Amycolatopsis mediterranei

The fermentative production of rifamycin by Amycolatopsis mediterranei (MTCC17) has been studied. Both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the fermentation were determined by optimizing cultural conditions and medium design to improve the production of rifamycin. A pH value of 7.0, a temperature of 26°C, an aeration rate of 250rev/min for a 50ml volume, a level of inoculum of 10% grown aeration for 48h and a fermentation period of 11days were found to be optimum. Among the nitrogen sources, and culture conditions, peanut meal and aeration were found to be critical for rifamycin production respectively. The above mentioned exercise increased the yields of rifamycin from 350mg/l to 2000mg/l.     

Kinetics of thermal inactivation of oleandomycin in aqueous and native alkaline solutions

The process of oleandomycin inactivation in aqueous alkaline solutions with their heating was studied by using the microbiological method of the antibiotic content assay. The initial specific rate of inactivation of crystalline oleandomycin in buffer solutions and oleandomycin in the fermentation broth filtrate was evaluated. It was shown that the inactivation was retarded by the reaction products and the components of the fermentation broth filtrate. The production rate of oleandomycin anhydro derivatives amounting to 3-40 per cent of the total mass of the inactivation product was estimated by UV spectrophotometry.     

Some environmental factors affect growth and antibiotic production by the mycoparasite Coniothyrium minitans

The effects of temperature and pH on growth and antibiotic production by three isolates of Coniothyrium minitans (Conio, Contans and IVT1), known to produce the macrolide antibiotic macrosphelide A, were examined in modified Czapek Dox broth (MCD). Antibiotic production was determined by incorporating heated (60°C for 5 min) C. minitans spent culture filtrates of MCD (10%, v/v) into potato dextrose broth and assessing the ability of the filtrates to inhibit growth of S. sclerotiorum. All isolates grew over the temperature range of 10–30°C, with the optimum at approximately 15–20°C. Antibiotics were produced by all isolates at 10–30°C. Culture filtrates of MCD from all isolates incorporated into PDB inhibited growth of S. sclerotiorum by >50%, whereas there was a reduction in inhibition at 30°C for Conio and IVT1 but not Contans. All three isolates grew over the pH range of 3–7, with greater biomass production in buffered pH 3–5 than the unbuffered control (pH 4.8) media. Antibiotics were produced by all isolates at pH 3–5. Culture filtrates of MCD from all three isolates grown at pH 3–5 inhibited growth of S. sclerotiorum, with the greatest effect on inhibition observed at pH 3. There were no differences in growth inhibition between isolates at pH 3 and 4, but culture filtrates from Conio grown at pH 5 inhibited S. sclerotiorum more than those of IVT1 grown at the same pH. The significance of these results for biocontrol and optimizing antibiotic production by C. minitans is discussed.     

Characterization of recombinant strains of the Clostridium acetobutylicum butyrate kinase inactivation mutant: need for new phenomenological models for solventogenesis and butanol inhibition?

Two metabolic engineering tools, namely gene inactivation and gene overexpression, were employed to examine the effects of two genetic modifications on the fermentation characteristics of Clostridium acetobutylicum. Inactivation of the butyrate kinase gene (buk) was examined using strain PJC4BK, while the combined effect of buk inactivation and overexpression of the aad gene-encoding the alcohol aldehyde dehydrogense (AAD) used in butanol formation-was examined using strain PJC4BK(pTAAD). The two strains were characterized in controlled pH > or = 5.0 fermentations, and by a recently enhanced method of metabolic flux analysis. Strain PJC4BK was previously genetically characterized, and fermentation experiments at pH > or = 5.5 demonstrated good, but not exceptional, solvent-production capabilities. Here, we show that this strain is a solvent superproducer in pH > or = 5.0 fermentations producing 225 mM (16.7 g/L) of butanol, 76 mM of acetone (4.4 g/L), and 57 mM (2.6 g/L) of ethanol. Strain PJC4BK(pTAAD) produced similar amounts of butanol and acetone but 98 mM (4.5 g/L) of ethanol. Both strains overcame the 180 mM (13 g/L) butanol toxicity limit, without any selection for butanol tolerance. Work with strain PJC4BK(pTAAD) is the first reported use of dual antibiotic selection in C. acetobutylicum. One antibiotic was used for selection of strain PJC4BK while the second antibiotic selected for the pTAAD presence. Overexpression of aad from pTAAD resulted in increased ethanol production but did not increase butanol titers, thus indicating that AAD did not limit butanol production under these fermentation conditions. Metabolic flux analysis showed a decrease in butyrate formation fluxes by up to 75% and an increase in acetate formation fluxes of up to 100% during early growth. The mean specific butanol and ethanol formation fluxes increased significantly in these recombinant strains, up to 300% and 400%, respectively. Onset of solvent production occurred during the exponential-growth phase when the culture optical density was very low and when total and undissociated butyric acid levels were <1 mM. Butyrate levels were low throughout all fermentations, never exceeding 20 mM. Thus, threshold butyrate concentrations are not necessary for solvent production in these stains, suggesting the need for a new phenomenological model to explain solvent formation.     

Nisin inactivation in a culture of the producer Streptococcus lactis strain MGU

The intensive biosynthesis of nizin on the glucose-yeast medium is observed during the logarithmic and early lag phases of the staphylococcal growth. The ratio of nizin in the fermentation broth (free nazin) and that bound with the cells depended on pH of the medium. When pH was maintained at 6.6-6.8, the amount of nazin in the cells during and growth logarithmic phase was equal to its amount in the fermentation broth filtrate. During the lag phase marked inactivation of nizin was noted. periodical feeding of casein prevented the nizin inactivation. The preliminary data are indicative of the enzymatic nature of the antibiotic.     

Purification of antibiotic solutions of finely dispersed admixtures]

A possibility of complete separation of fine disperse admixtures from antibiotic fermentation broth filtrates by filtration with the use of special additives was shown. The purity of the filtrates and filtration rate depended on the procedure of addition, amount and average size of the particles of the filtration material.     

Comparative evaluation of stability of benzylpenicillin in acid media of natural solutions and in culture fluid]

Inactivation of benzylpenicillin in real media i.e. fermentation broths and their filtrates was studied in comparison with the published data on inactivation of commercial benzylpenicillin in aqueous solutions as dependent on the medium pH and temperature. The lowest constant of benzylpenicillin inactivation was shown to be in the fermentation broths.     

Improvement of rifamycin B production using mutant strains of Amycolatopsis mediterranei

Two mutant strains of Amycolatopsis mediterranei VA17 and VA18 were isolated using physical (UV) and chemical (NTG) mutagens gave high rifamycin B than the parent type when grown in the same fermentation medium with a pH of 7.2, temperature 32v°C for a period of 12 days. The cultural conditions of both mutant strains are similar to the parent strain except temperature which was higher by 4v°C. By this mutation and selection study, rifamycin B production was improved from 1400 mg/l to 2450 mg/l.     

Butanol Production by a Butanol-Tolerant Strain of Clostridium acetobutylicum in Extruded Corn Broth

By employing serial enrichment, a derivative of Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 was obtained which grew at concentrations of butanol that prevented growth of the wild-type strain. The parent strain demonstrated a negative growth rate at 15 g of butanol/liter, whereas the SA-1 mutant was still able to grow at a rate which was 66% of the uninhibited control. SA-1 produced consistently higher concentrations of butanol (from 5 to 14%) and lower concentrations of acetone (12.5 to 40%) than the wild-type strain in 4 to 20% extruded corn broth (ECB). Although the highest concentration of butanol was produced by SA-1 and the wild-type strain in 14% ECB, the best solvent ratio with respect to optimizing butanol and decreasing acetone occurred between 4 and 8% ECB for SA-1. SA-1 demonstrated higher conversion efficiency to butanol than the wild-type strain at every concentration of ECB tested. Characterization of the wild-type and SA-1 strain in 6% ECB demonstrated the superiority of the latter in terms of growth rate, time of onset of butanol production, carbohydrate utilization, pH resistance, and final butanol concentration in the fermentation broth.     

果糖及葡萄糖混合物为底物的丙酮丁醇发酵

旨在以果糖和葡萄糖混合物模拟能源作物菊芋块茎水解液发酵生产丁醇。在培养基初始pH 5.5,发酵过程不控制pH的混合糖发酵中,出现了发酵提前终止现象,终点残糖浓度达23.26 g/L,而丁醇产量仅5.51 g/L。进一步对比混合糖及葡萄糖、果糖不控制pH的发酵结果表明,导致这一现象的原因可能是有机酸毒性太大和pH太低。全程控制pH的混合糖发酵结果表明,高pH条件有利于提高糖利用率,但产酸多,丁醇产量较低;而低pH条件下发酵残糖较多,但丁醇产量相对较高。基于此,文中采用阶段性pH调控策略,即将发酵初期的pH控