Growth of Bacteroides fragilis in Continuous Culture and in Batch Cultures at Controlled pH

Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343 has been grown in continuous cultures with glucose as growth-limiting factor. At pH 7.0 and at a dilution rate of 0.07 per h, glucose limited growth in concentrations up to 0.6%. Maximal cell yield and productivity were obtained with 0.87% glucose in the inflowing medium. A pH of 7.0 was optimal for growth. With 0.6% glucose in the fresh medium and at pH 7.0, cell yield and productivity were highest at a dilution rate of 0.07 per h and 0.11 per h, respectively. At dilution rates higher than 0.07 per h, glucose was no longer growth limiting, and at dilution rates above 0.11 per h, another compound seemed to have replaced glucose also as energy source. When grown in batch cultures at pH 7.0, the best yields of B. fragilis was achieved with 0.6% glucose in the fresh medium. The highest specific growth rate (mum) determined from viable counts was 0.45, corresponding to a mean generation time of 92 min.     

Volatile Fatty Acids and the Inhibition of Escherichia coli Growth by Rumen Fluid

Concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFA) normally found in bovine rumen fluid inhibited growth of Escherichia coli in Antibiotic Medium 3. Acetic, propionic, and butyric acids each produced growth inhibition which was markedly pH-dependent. Little inhibition was observed at pH 7.0, and inhibition increased with decreasing pH. A combination of 60 mumoles of acetate, 20 mumoles of propionate, and 15 mumoles of butyrate per ml gave 96, 69, and 2% inhibition at pH 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0, respectively. Rumen fluid (50%) gave 89 and 48% inhibition at pH 6.0 and 6.5, respectively, and growth stimulation (22%) at pH 7.0. Rumen fluid inhibitory activity was heat-stable, was not precipitated by 63% ethyl alcohol, and was lost by dialysis and by treatment with anion-exchange resins but not with cation-exchange resins. These results are consistent with the idea that VFA are the inhibitory substances in rumen fluid. Previous results which indicated that rumen fluid VFA did not inhibit E. coli growth were due to lack of careful control of the final pH of the growth medium. The E. coli strain used does not grow in rumen fluid alone at pH 7.0.     

Cultural Estimation of Yeasts on Seaweeds

Five per cent suspensions of freshly harvested seaweeds were used as an inoculum to develop a selective medium for epiphytic yeasts. Conditions for satisfactory yeast growth and visualization as red colonies on membrane filters were obtained by supplementing a basal glucose-Trypticase-yeast extract-agar at pH 7.0 with 100 mg each of chloramphenicol and 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride per liter. Maximal counts were obtained by triturating the algae in prechilled (4 C) seawater with a blender for 2 to 5 min. Inhibitory phenolic materials released from phaeophytes during this process were removed with a modified Cholodny filtration. A preliminary survey indicated that yeasts were epiphytic on all nine species of seaweeds and that maximal populations occurred on the chlorophytes and rhodophytes especially during the periods of warmer water.     

Effect of lysozyme on mycobacteria

The effect of lysozyme on the growth of several strains of mycobacteria was examined at pH 5.0-7.0 in Dubos medium containing various concentrations of lysozyme (100-2,000 microgram/ml). Mycobacterium smegmatis and M. phlei were susceptible to lysozyme at pH 5.0-7.0. The effect of lysozyme was marked between pH 6.0 and 7.0 and the colony counts were reduced to approximately 0.1-10% after incubation with 100 micrograms of lysozyme per ml for 48 hr. At pH 5.0, 10-40% of the organisms survived treatment with 1,000 micrograms of lysozyme per ml for 48 hr. M. bovis strain BCG, M. tuberculosis, and M. fortuitum appeared to be more resistant to lysozyme than M. smegmatis and M. phlei. M. smegmatis and M. phlei did not contain detectable amounts of poly-L-glutamic acid, although the susceptibility of the mycobacteria to lysozyme did not correlate with the amounts of the polymer in the cell walls. The role of lysozyme in animal infections with so-called saprophytic mycobacteria is discussed.     

Relationship between pH and Medium Dissolved Solids in Terms of Growth and Metabolism of Lactobacilli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae during Ethanol Production

The specific growth rates of four species of lactobacilli decreased linearly with increases in the concentration of dissolved solids (sugars) in liquid growth medium. This was most likely due to the osmotic stress exerted by the sugars on the bacteria. The reduction in growth rates corresponded to decreased lactic acid production. Medium pH was another factor studied. As the medium pH decreased from 5.5 to 4.0, there was a reduction in the specific growth rate of lactobacilli and a corresponding decrease in the lactic acid produced. In contrast, medium pH did not have any significant effect on the specific growth rate of yeast at any particular concentration of dissolved solids in the medium. However, medium pH had a significant (P < 0.001) effect on ethanol production. A medium pH of 5.5 resulted in maximal ethanol production in all media with different concentrations of dissolved solids. When the data were analyzed as a 4 (pH levels) by 4 (concentrations of dissolved solids) factorial experiment, there was no synergistic effect (P > 0.2923) observed between pH of the medium and concentration of dissolved solids of the medium in reducing bacterial growth and metabolism. The data suggest that reduction of initial medium pH to 4.0 for the control of lactobacilli during ethanol production is not a good practice as there is a reduction (P < 0.001) in the ethanol produced by the yeast at pH 4.0. Setting the mash (medium) with ≥30% (wt/vol) dissolved solids at a pH of 5.0 to 5.5 will minimize the effects of bacterial contamination and maximize ethanol production by yeast.     

Quantitative procedure for enumeration of bifidobacteria.

A membrane filter technique has been developed for the enumeration of bifidobacteria in natural aquatic environments. The technique is quantitative, selective, and differential. The medium (YN-6) contains: yeast extract, 2.0 g; agar, 1.5 g; polypeptone peptone, 1.0 g; vitamin-free Casamino Acids, 0.8 g; sodium chloride, 0.32 g; and L-cysteine hydrochloride, 0.003 g; in 100 ml of deionized water. The medium is adjusted to pH 7.0 before autoclaving. Nalidixic acid (80 micrograms/ml), neomycin sulfate (2.5 micrograms/ml), and bromcresol green (300 micrograms/ml) are included as selective and differential agents. After incubation for 48 h at 37 degrees C in an anaerobic environment, Gram-stained smears from green, glistening, smooth entire colonies are examined microscopically for typical bifidobacterial morphology. No significant difference in recoveries was observed when YN-6 was compared with reinforced clostridial agar, using bifidobacteria freshly isolated from feces and raw sewage. Using this technique with aquatic and fecal samples, less than 9% false-positive and 8% false-negative isolates were observed. These results indicated that the medium was able to satisfactorily recover organisms from a variety of situations.     

Growth and development of extreme-thermophilic bacteria at 70 degrees]

Nine cultures of non-sporeforming gram-negative extreme-thermophilic bacterium Thermus flavus have been isolated from hot springs of Kamchatka. Their optimal growth temperature on a solid potato medium was 70 to 76 degrees C, and on a liquid medium (20 per cent potato broth containing 0.5 per cent peptone and 0.1 per cent yeast extract) 70 degrees C. The minimum time of generation of the bacterium, strain 71, growing on the liquid medium at 70 degrees C, was 52 minutes. Other extreme-thermophilic cultures differ from the strain 71 by a lower growth rate. The maximum biomass yield was 1.96 g per litre of the medium after 6 to 9 hours of growth. The extreme-thermophilic bacteria of Kamchatka are similar to those from the hot springs of Japan.     

Effects of pH and magnetic material on immunomagnetic separation of Cryptosporidium oocysts from concentrated water samples

In this study, we examined the effect that magnetic materials and pH have on the recoveries of Cryptosporidium oocysts by immunomagnetic separation (IMS). We determined that particles that were concentrated on a magnet during bead separation have no influence on oocyst recovery; however, removal of these particles did influence pH values. The optimal pH of the IMS was determined to be 7.0. The numbers of oocysts recovered from deionized water at pH 7.0 were 26.3% higher than those recovered from samples that were not at optimal pH. The results indicate that the buffers in the IMS kit did not adequately maintain an optimum pH in some water samples. By adjusting the pH of concentrated environmental water samples to 7.0, recoveries of oocysts increased by 26.4% compared to recoveries from samples where the pH was not adjusted.     

Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxin B Release (Excretion) Under Controlled Conditions of Fermentation

Release of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) into the culture medium was initiated during the mid-log phase of growth. A medium consisting of 4% N-Z Amine A (Sheffield), 0.2% dextrose, and 1% yeast extract supported maximum production of SEB. Although pH of the medium during cultivation did not significantly affect the growth curve of the organism, the time required for detectable excretion was affected, as was the final yield. Optimal conditions for SEB production were achieved with pH control at 7.0; alkaline control (pH 8.0) produced only minimal amounts of toxin, whereas acid control (pH 6.0) resulted in 50% reduction in yield. Slightly less SEB was produced when there was no extrinsic pH control, and cultures were buffered only by media constituents and by-products of growth. With pH control at 7.0, deletion of 0.2% dextrose from the medium resulted in 40% reduction in the 8-h yield. There was also a delay in production during early stages of fermentation.     

尖顶羊肚菌液体培养基质与条件的研究

通过对尖顶羊肚菌液体培养基质与条件的研究,明确其菌丝生长的最适pH值、最适温度、适宜光照条件、适宜葡萄糖和蛋白胨浓度、适宜培养基,以便应用于尖顶羊肚菌液体菌种的生产和工业发酵。结果表明:菌丝的最适生长温度为2 5℃;最适生长pH值为6 ;葡萄糖和蛋白胨最适浓度分别为2 0 0g/L和10g/L ;菌丝在黑暗环境下生长良好,光照对菌丝生长具有抑制作用;用胡萝卜酵母膏培养基振荡培养形成的菌丝球多,菌丝生长量大;菌丝球在不同培养基中生长,可引起培养液pH值的上升或者下降;菌丝球可利用培养基内的氨基酸,使氨基酸降解,在胡萝卜酵母膏培养基中振荡培养8d的菌液总氨基酸含量较原液减少了36 71% ,亮氨酸、异亮氨酸和甲硫氨酸含量的下降幅度最大     

Selection of the seeding media and the age and quantity of mycelia providing simultaneous biosynthesis of an antibiotic and pigment by the fungus Hypomyces rosellus

The authors observed maximum simultaneous biosynthesis of antibiotic and pigment in the microphilic fungus with using 48-hour seed mycelium having the specific growth rate of 0.008-0.011 h-1 in an amount of 5-7 per cent (v). The Balling 4 degrees wart and Chapek medium with 1 per cent of soybean flower and 1 per cent of corn steep liquor may be used for growing the seed mycelium. No significant effect of the seed medium composition and seed mycelium age on the pigment production was observed.     

Effects of pH and Magnetic Material on Immunomagnetic Separation of Cryptosporidium Oocysts from Concentrated Water Samples

In this study, we examined the effect that magnetic materials and pH have on the recoveries of Cryptosporidium oocysts by immunomagnetic separation (IMS). We determined that particles that were concentrated on a magnet during bead separation have no influence on oocyst recovery; however, removal of these particles did influence pH values. The optimal pH of the IMS was determined to be 7.0. The numbers of oocysts recovered from deionized water at pH 7.0 were 26.3% higher than those recovered from samples that were not at optimal pH. The results indicate that the buffers in the IMS kit did not adequately maintain an optimum pH in some water samples. By adjusting the pH of concentrated environmental water samples to 7.0, recoveries of oocysts increased by 26.4% compared to recoveries from samples where the pH was not adjusted.     

The Effects of Sugar and Potassium on Extension Growth in the Root

1. A new technique for studying extension growth in the root isdescribed which is based on excising a zone which extends 1·5–3·0mm. from the tip. Large numbers of these segments are culturedwith different nutrient fluids in the dark at 25° C. withcontinual shaking.
2. The effects of a large number of nutrientson the growth ofthe segments have been studied, but only two,sugar and potassiumions, have been found to have stimulatingeffects.
3. The effects of water, three concentrations of sugar,and oneof potassium in air, and with an atmosphere containing5 percent. oxygen have been studied in detail in connexionwith lengthincrease, sugar absorption, content of free sugar,cellulosecontent, dry weight, and respiration.
4. It has beenshown that with increasing concentration of sugarin the medium,the rate of growth, the time during which growthproceeds, theinternal concentration, respiration, dry weight,and celluloseformation all increase. Also that potassium stimulatesthe rateof growth and respiration, and that with per cent,oxygen allthe aspects studied are depressed.
5. It is suggested that thestimulation due to sugar may be attributedto an accelerationof water absorption with a complementaryincrease in celluloseformation. It is further suggested thatsugar accelerates waterabsorption by accumulating in the vacuoleand thus sustainingthe osmotic pressure of the vacuolar sap.It is further suggestedthat potassium stimulates growth byincreasing water absorptionthrough an effect on respiration.The effect of respirationin this connexion may be to promotethe transport of water directlyto enhance the osmotic pressureof the sap by inducing an accumulationof inorganic ions inthe vacuole.

     

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.     

Inhibition of type A and type B (proteolytic) Clostridium botulinum by sorbic acid

The effect of sorbic acid in the pH range 4.9 to 7.0 on the probability P of growth of a single vegetative bacterium of proteolytic strains of Clostridium botulinum has been determined by comparison of the most probable number count of the bacteria in media at pH 4.9 to 7.0 containing a series of concentrations of potassium sorbate and in a nutrient medium at pH 6.8 to 7.0. The media were maintained under strictly anaerobic conditions at a redox potential equivalent to lower than -350 mV at pH 7. In medium adjusted to the required pH with HCl, P for strain ZK3 (type A) at pH 5.1 or 5.5 after 2 days at 30 degrees C was similar to that at pH 6.8 to 7.0 but was slightly lower at pH 4.9. Potassium sorbate inhibited growth, the inhibition being a function of the concentration of undissociated sorbic acid. A calculated undissociated sorbic acid concentration of 156 mg/liter delayed growth of strain ZK3 (type A) but did not result in a significant decrease in P after an incubation time of 14 days. Higher concentrations of undissociated sorbic acid caused longer delays before maximum most probable number counts developed, and a calculated undissociated sorbic acid concentration of 282 mg/liter decreased log P for strain ZK3 after an incubation time of 14 days by a factor of 5.5 to 7.5. Four additional type A strains and five type B strains were inhibited to an extent comparable to inhibition of strain ZK3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibition of type A and type B (proteolytic) Clostridium botulinum by sorbic acid.

The effect of sorbic acid in the pH range 4.9 to 7.0 on the probability P of growth of a single vegetative bacterium of proteolytic strains of Clostridium botulinum has been determined by comparison of the most probable number count of the bacteria in media at pH 4.9 to 7.0 containing a series of concentrations of potassium sorbate and in a nutrient medium at pH 6.8 to 7.0. The media were maintained under strictly anaerobic conditions at a redox potential equivalent to lower than -350 mV at pH 7. In medium adjusted to the required pH with HCl, P for strain ZK3 (type A) at pH 5.1 or 5.5 after 2 days at 30 degrees C was similar to that at pH 6.8 to 7.0 but was slightly lower at pH 4.9. Potassium sorbate inhibited growth, the inhibition being a function of the concentration of undissociated sorbic acid. A calculated undissociated sorbic acid concentration of 156 mg/liter delayed growth of strain ZK3 (type A) but did not result in a significant decrease in P after an incubation time of 14 days. Higher concentrations of undissociated sorbic acid caused longer delays before maximum most probable number counts developed, and a calculated undissociated sorbic acid concentration of 282 mg/liter decreased log P for strain ZK3 after an incubation time of 14 days by a factor of 5.5 to 7.5. Four additional type A strains and five type B strains were inhibited to an extent comparable to inhibition of strain ZK3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

pH dependency of cell attachment and growth at both clonal and subculture densities of cultured lepidopteran cells

Summary TN-368 cells were seeded at 10⁶ per flask in TNM-FH medium adjusted to a variety of pH levels which ranged from approximately 5.9 to 6.8. In general, growth was similar from pH 6.2 to nearly 6.7. The medium pH increased with time in culture to a maximum near 7.0 for all pH levels. Similar results for growth and pH increase were also obtained when the cells were plated at densities of 10⁴ and 10⁵ per flask. Both the fraction of attached cells and the relative intensity of attachment increased with seeding pH. Cells seeded near pH 6.7 or above frequently required vigrrous procedures such as trypsinization to detach them. DNA synthesis was measured and found to be similar for cells seeded in medium between pH 6.2 and 6.7. Colony forming efficiency increased from approximately 27% at pH 5.9 to 39% at 6.2, remained in the region of 40% between 6.2 and 6.7 with a peak of 48% at 6.6, and plunged abruptly to a few percent just above 6.7 and was near zero above 6.8. Colony morphology was optimal near pH 6.6. This work was supported by USPHS grant R01 CA34158, awarded by the National Cancer Institute, DHHS, Bethesda, MD.     

High frequency axillary bud multiplication and ex vitro rooting of Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr.--a medicinal plant

An efficient protocol was achieved for rapid propagation of Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. through axillary bud proliferation and ex vitro rooting. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with benzyladenine (BA; 8.87 microM) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA; 2.46 microM) was optimal for axillary bud proliferation, which developed a mean of 8.3 shoots/node. Excision and culture of node segments from in vitro shoots on medium supplemented with the same concentration of growth regulators developed more than 30 shoots within 40 days. Excision and culture of nodes in succession enhanced the number of shoots. Shoot multiplication did not exhibit decrease in the number of shoots even at 10th subculture. Nevertheless, the shoots exhibited a tendency towards stunted nature. But reduction of BA to 4.44 or 2.22 microM resumed normal growth of shoots. Half strength MS medium fortified with IBA (2.46 microM) induced the highest number of roots. All in vitro rooted shoots survived in field. Dipping of the basal end of shoots collected from multiplication medium in IBA (2.46 microM) solution for 7 days induced roots and its transfer to small pots facilitated the survival of all rooted shoots (100%). Rooting ex vitro by direct transfer of shoots from multiplication medium exhibited 89.2 per cent survival. Use of commercial sugar and tap water and also the omission of in vitro rooting reduce the propagation cost 50-70 per cent. The protocol enables to harvest more than 50,000 plantlets within 150 days starting from a single node explant.     

An Examination of the Factors affecting Variability in the Growth of the Mesocotyl and Coleoptile of Etiolated Avena Seedlings

Experiments were carried out on the effect of rate of air-flowand of humidity on the growth of Avena seedlings. The experimentalmethods used are described in some detail. The effect of air-flow on mesocoryl growth was considerablewhen unsaturated air was used, but with saturated air growthwas independent of air-flow. The effect must therefore be dueto variation in transpiration rate. A 10 per cent, variationin relative humidity, at a constant rate of flow, caused a 30per cent, variation in mesocotyl length. The coleoptiles showedless pronounced effects, but even in saturated air variabilitywas not eliminated. Under the conditions used a difference of 2·3 mm. inmesocotyl length (per 50 plants), i.e. 8 per cent., was significantat P = 0·05; for the coleoptiles a difference of 1 mm.(8 per cent.) was significant at this level.     

Growth of Bacillus methanolicus in seawater-based media

Bacillus methanolicus has been proposed as a biocatalyst for the low cost production of commodity chemicals. The organism can use methanol as sole carbon and energy source, and it grows aerobically at elevated temperatures. Methanol can be made available from off-shore conversion of natural gas to methanol, through gas-to-liquid technology. Growth of the organism in seawater-based medium would further reduce the costs of chemical production performed near an off-shore natural gas source. The growth of strain PB1 (ATCC 51375) in shake flask experiments with trypticase soy broth medium showed minimal salt-inhibition at the concentration of NaCl in seawater. The ability of B. methanolicus PB1 to grow in Pacific Ocean water using methanol as a carbon and energy source was also tested. Following a simple adaptation procedure, PB1 was able to grow on methanol in semi-defined medium with 100% seawater with good growth yields and similar growth rates compared with those achieved on media prepared in deionized water.