Antibacterial activity of resin based coatings containing marine microbial extracts

Bioactive agents produced by marine surface‐associated bacteria have been incorporated into experimental antifouling coatings. It was found that coating formulation can affect the action spectra of bacterial extracts involved. Little work has been done on the effect of permeability on the leaching of bioactive compounds from antifouling coatings. The formulations with 1.5% and 1.0% alginate produced significantly larger zones (p < 0.05) than with 0.5% alginate. Test formulations continued to leach active compounds after continuous immersion in seawater for 120 h. The bacterial strains used to produce the active compounds were identified by biochemical tests and/or the analysis of the DNA from a 500 bp section of the gene coding for the 16S rRNA subunit. Strains used were tentatively identified as Planococcus citreus, seven Bacillus strains (including three Bacillus pumilus and three Bacillus lautus strains), Cytophaga fucicola, Cytophaga uliginosa and a Pseudoalteromonas spp.     

Organic solvent and pH induced alteration of product specificity of CGTase

Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase [CGTase, E.C.2.4.1.19] is an extracellular enzyme, which catalyzes the formation of α−, β−, γ− CDs from starch. Their proportions of formations depend on enzyme sources and reaction conditions. To understand what determines the product specificity of CGTases, we examined the alteration of product specificity of CGTase fromBacillus macerans by organic solvents and pH. At acidic pH range less than pH 6 where the enzyme was unstable, the ratio of α−/β-CD production was increased 4 times more than that at neutral pH range. As we increased the concentration of 2-butanol, α−/β-CD ratio was proportionally increased but/ratio remained constant. The α−/β-CD ratio of products was increased in the reaction media which yielded low products.     

Accumulation and utilization of polysaccharide by hot-spring phototrophs during a light-dark transition

Abstract One hundred and sixty-four strains of myxobacteria were isolated from soil collected in the British Isles and tested for their antimicrobial activity. The organisms were indentified as belonging to the genera Corallococcus, Cystobacter and Myxococcus with smaller numbers of Archangium, Sorangium and Stigmatella . The majority of the isolates showed antimicrobial activity when overlaid with agar inoculated with test organisms and 77% inhibited Micrococcus luteus and 23% Botrytis cinerea . The activity was shown to be due to antibiotics excreted into the medium and soluble in chloroform. The results are discussed in relation to the importance of myxobacteria in soil ecology.     

New method of immobilization of microbial cells by capture on the surface of insoluble pyridinium-type resin

A new method for the immobilization of microbial cells has been developed. Whole cells of Escherichia coli with aspartase activity were immobilized by capture on the surface of cross-linked poly(N-benzyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) containing styrene (BVPS resin), an insoluble pyridinium-type resin. When a suspension of the bacterial cells in buffer solution was passed through a glass column containing beads of BVPS resin, the cells were captured on the resin surface and formed an immobilized cell system. A fixed-bed column reactor containing 300 mg of the bacterial cells immobilized by capture on 10 g of BVPS resin beads was used for the preparation of L-aspartic acid from ammonium fumarate. Continuous operation of tne bioreactor produced L-aspartic acid in a quantitative yield when the influent substrate concentration was 0.1M and the flow rate was 0.41-0.83 bed volumes per hour at pH 7.4-7.7 at 30 degrees C.     

Characterization of microbial communities in anaerobic bioreactors using molecular probes

The microbial community structure of twenty-one single-phase and one two-phase full-scale anaerobic sewage sludge digesters was evaluated using oligonucleotide probes complementary to conserved tracts of the 16S rRNAs of phylogenetically defined groups of methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria. These probe results were interpreted in combination with results from traditional chemical analyses and metabolic activity assays. It was determined that methanogens in healthy mesophilic, single-phase sewage sludge digesters accounted for approximately 8–12% of the total community and thatMethanosarcinales andMethanomicrobiales constituted the majority of the total methanogen population.Methanobacteriales andMethanococcales played a relatively minor role in the digesters. Phylogenetic groups of mesophilic, Gram-negative sulfate-reducing bacteria were consistently present at significant levels:Desulfovibrio andDesulfobulbus spp. were the dominant sulfate-reducing populations,Desulfobacter andDesulfobacterium spp. were present at lower levels, andDesulfosarcina, Desulfococcus, andDesulfobotulus spp. were absent. Sulfate reduction by one or more of these populations played a significant role in all digesters evaluated in this study. In addition, sulfate-reducing bacteria played a role in favoring methanogenesis by providing their substrates. The analysis of the two-phase digester indicated that true phase separation was not accomplished: significant levels of active methanogens were present in the first phase. It was determined that the dominant populations in the second phase were different from those in the single-phase digesters.     

Effects of encapsulation of microorganisms on product formation during microbial fermentations

This paper reviews the latest developments in microbial products by encapsulated microorganisms in a liquid core surrounded by natural or synthetic membranes. Cells can be encapsulated in one or several steps using liquid droplet formation, pregel dissolving, coacervation, and interfacial polymerization. The use of encapsulated yeast and bacteria for fermentative production of ethanol, lactic acid, biogas, l-phenylacetylcarbinol, 1,3-propanediol, and riboflavin has been investigated. Encapsulated cells have furthermore been used for the biocatalytic conversion of chemicals. Fermentation, using encapsulated cells, offers various advantages compared to traditional cultivations, e.g., higher cell density, faster fermentation, improved tolerance of the cells to toxic media and high temperatures, and selective exclusion of toxic hydrophobic substances. However, mass transfer through the capsule membrane as well as the robustness of the capsules still challenge the utilization of encapsulated cells. The history and the current state of applying microbial encapsulation for production processes, along with the benefits and drawbacks concerning productivity and general physiology of the encapsulated cells, are discussed.     

Increases in the intracellular concentration of glycerol during development in Myxococcus xanthus S. Courtney Frasch

Abstract The role of glycerol as a natural morphogen of myxospore formation in Myxococcus xanthus was examined. Glycerol was extracted from cells undergoing development and analyzed by gas chromatography. Glycerol is present in cells, and the intracellular level undergoes a series of transient increases during development. The data suggest a role for glycerol in myxosporulation and fruiting body morphogenesis supporting the notion that this chemical induction of sporulation may represent a physiological pathway in development.     

海洋真菌Xylaria sp.(No.2508)生产xyloketal B的发酵优化

对海洋真菌Xylariasp．（No．2508）生产xyloketa]B的摇瓶发酵过程进行了初步优化。结果表明,Xylariasp．（No．2508）在培养120h时xyloketalB产量最高,当培养168h后菌体进入衰亡期且xyloketalB迅速降解,因此Xylariasp．（No．2508）生产xyloketalB的最适发酵周期为120h;Xylariasp．（No．2508）合成xyloketalB的过程及用乙酸乙酯萃取xyloketalB的过程对pH非常敏感,其中最适xyloketalB生产的发酵液初始pH为5．7,利用乙酸乙酯萃取xyloketalB时的发酵液最适pH为3。0;最适接种量为10％（v／v）;接种前发酵液中加入10g／L的大孔树脂XAD-16可以降低某些代谢产物对xyloketalB合成的抑制作用,从而使产量提高2倍左右,而菌体进入稳定期以后加入大孔树脂XAD-16对产物产量没有影响。     

Transition of microbial communities during the adaption to anaerobic digestion of carrot waste

In this study a microbial community suitable for anaerobic digestion of carrot pomace was developed from inocula obtained from natural environmental sources. The changes along the process were monitored using pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. As the community adapted from a diverse natural community to a community with a definite function, diversity decreased drastically. Major bacterial groups remaining after enrichment were Bacilli (31-45.3%), Porphyromonadaceae (12.1-24.8%) and Spirochaetes (12.5-18.5%). The archaeal population was even less diverse and mainly represented by a single OTU that was 99.7% similar to Methanosarcina mazei. One enrichment which failed to produce large amounts of methane had shifts in the bacterial populations and loss of methanogenic archaea.     

Site-saturation mutagenesis of proline 176 in Cyclodextrin Glucosyltransferase from Bacillus sp. Y112 effects product specificity and enzymatic properties

Based on the analysis of amino acid sequence and simulated structure, saturation mutagenesis was performed to explore the role of the site p176 of cyclodextrin glucosytransferase (CGTase) from Bacillus sp. Y112. Compared to the wild-type, mutant P176G showed 10.4 % improvement in conversion from starch to cyclodextrins (CDs), whose β-CD yield increased by 6% and α-CD yield decreased by 8%. Mutants P176L and P176I were increased by 7.9 % and 9.4 % on CDs production, indicating replacement of hydrophobic amino acids significantly improved in cyclization activity. Kinetics studies indicated the substrate affinity of P176G and P176K were increase by 13 % and 14 %, and the catalytic efficiency of P176K was increase by 14 %. In addition, the optimal temperature of mutants transformed from 50℃ to 40℃ and the optimal pH shifted from 10.0 to 8.0. These results indicate that the site P176 plays a critical role in catalytic activity, product specificity and enzymatic properties of CGTase.     

乳腺生物反应器表达产物层析分离过程中介质的污染机理及其再生策略

考察了磺酸基离子交换层析介质 (SP Sepharose FF) 在分离表达人乳铁蛋白的重组牛乳过程中的污染机理及其再生策略。通过层析原料及流分中各组分含量的检测分析,发现牛乳中的脂类通过堵塞效应或疏水相互作用残留在层析柱上,造成层析运行压力升高;部分酪蛋白通过静电相互作用占据介质的配基位点,导致介质的交换容量降低;乳糖与介质之间无直接相互作用。连续层析运行次数的增加以及层析-再生时间间隔的延长,均能导致残留组分和介质之间的相互作用逐渐增强,最终影响介质的再生效率。使用NaOH进行及时清洗,可以有效地清除柱上残留的脂类和蛋白,恢复离子交换介质的层析性能和微观形态。     

Characterization of microbial communities during anode biofilm reformation in a two-chambered microbial electrolysis cell (MEC)

GeoChip (II) and single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) were used to characterize anode microbial communities of a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). Biofilm communities, enriched in a two-chamber MEC (R1, 0.6 V applied) having a coulombic efficiency (CE) of 35±4% and a hydrogen yield (Y(H?))of 31±3%, were used as the inoculum for a new reactor (R2). After three months R2 achieved stable performance with CE=38±4% and (Y(H?)). Few changes in the predominant populations were observed from R1 to R2. Unlike sludge inoculation process in R1 in the beginning, little further elimination was aroused by community competitions in anode biofilm reformation in R2. Functional genes detection of biofilm indicated that cytochrome genes enriched soon in new reactor R2, and four genera (Desulfovibrio, Rhodopseudomonas, Shewanella and Geobacter) were likely to contribute to exoelectrogenic activity. This work also implied that symbiosis of microbial communities (exoelectrogens and others) contribute to system performance and stability.     

Kinetic mechanism and product characterization of the enzymatic peroxidation of pterostilbene as model of the detoxification process of stilbene-type phytoalexins

The enzymatic peroxidation of pterostilbene, a strong antifungal belonging to the stilbene family, by peroxidase (POX), is reported for the first time as a model of phytoalexin detoxification carried out by the enzymatic pool of pathogens. Kinetic characterization of the pterostilbene oxidation reaction pointed to an optimum pH of 7.0, at which value the thermal stability of POX was studied. Moreover, the data showed that pterostilbene inhibits POX activity at high concentrations of substrate. Several kinetic parameters, including V_max, K_m and K_I, were calculated and values of 0.16 ΔAbs min⁻¹, 14.61 μM, and 31.41 μM were reported. To understand the possible physiological role of this reaction in the phytoalexin detoxification process, the products of pterostilbene oxidation were identified using HPLC-MS and a radical-radical coupling reaction mechanism was proposed. Three main products with a high molecular weight and pronounced hydrophobicity were identified: pterostilbene cis dehydromer, pterostilbene trans dehydromer and pterostilbene open dimer. The dimeric structures of these molecules indicate that the pterostilbene oxidation reaction took place at the 4′-OH position of the hydroxystilbenic moieties and the three above mentioned dimeric products were found, due to the ability of electron-delocalized radicals to couple at various sites. Finally, the capacity of cyclodextrins (CDs) as starch model molecules in plants to complex both the substrate and the products of the oxidation reaction was evaluated. The inhibition process of POX activity was modified at high pterostilbene concentrations due to sequestering of the substrate reaction and to the different affinity of the reaction products for CDs.     

Illumina-based analysis of microbial community diversity

Microbes commonly exist in milieus of varying complexity and diversity. Although cultivation-based techniques have been unable to accurately capture the true diversity within microbial communities, these deficiencies have been overcome by applying molecular approaches that target the universally conserved 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The recent application of 454 pyrosequencing to simultaneously sequence thousands of 16S rDNA sequences (pyrotags) has revolutionized the characterization of complex microbial communities. To date, studies based on 454 pyrotags have dominated the field, but sequencing platforms that generate many more sequence reads at much lower costs have been developed. Here, we use the Illumina sequencing platform to design a strategy for 16S amplicon analysis (iTags), and assess its generality, practicality and potential complications. We fabricated and sequenced paired-end libraries of amplified hyper-variable 16S rDNA fragments from sets of samples that varied in their contents, ranging from a single bacterium to highly complex communities. We adopted an approach that allowed us to evaluate several potential sources of errors, including sequencing artifacts, amplification biases, non-corresponding paired-end reads and mistakes in taxonomic classification. By considering each source of error, we delineate ways to make biologically relevant and robust conclusions from the millions of sequencing reads that can be readily generated by this technology.     

不同甜叶菊品种叶中绿原酸类成分的比较研究

该文以14个扦插培育的甜叶菊品种叶为材料,从8种不同型号的树脂中筛选出一种合适的大孔吸附树脂对甜叶菊叶中绿原酸类成分进行纯化前处理,采用HPLC法对不同甜叶菊品种叶中所含绿原酸类成分进行比较分析。结果表明:(1)在8种不同型号的树脂中,XAD^-16对甜叶菊叶中绿原酸类成分吸附-解析性能最佳。(2)经优化,上样液浓度1.20 mg·mL^-1、样品溶液pH 3、解析液乙醇体积分数70%时XAD^-16树脂对甜叶菊叶中绿原酸类成分具有较好的纯化效果。(3) HPLC检测分析表明,在14个品种中共检测出新绿原酸、绿原酸、隐绿原酸、异绿原酸B、异绿原酸A、异绿原酸C六种绿原酸类成分,其中主要成分均为异绿原酸A、绿原酸、异绿原酸C,而在品种3、5、13、14中没有检测出异绿原酸B。(4) 14个品种中6个绿原酸类成分的含量分别为异绿原酸A 20.55⁵4.3 mg·g^-1、绿原酸17.96³2.93 mg·g^-1、异绿原酸C 4.15^1<...     

Characterization of the depth-related changes in the microbial communities in Lake Hovsgol sediment by 16S rRNA gene-based approaches

The undisturbed sediment of Lake Hovsgol (Mongolia) is scientifically important because it represents a record of the environmental changes that took place between the Holocene (the present age) and Pleistocene (the last ice age; 12,000 14C years before present day). Here, we investigated how the current microbial communities change as the depth increases by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of the 16S rRNA genes of the microbial communities. The microbial diversity, as estimated by the Shannon index, decreased as the depth increased. In particular, significant changes in archaeal diversity were observed in the middle depth (at 39-42 cm depth of total 60 cm depth) that marks the border between the Holocene and Pleistocene. Phylotype belonging to Beta-and Gamma-Proteobacteria were the predominant bacteria and most of these persisted throughout the depth examined. However, as the depth increased, some bacteria (some genera belonging to Beta-Proteobacteria, Nitrospira, and OP8-9) were not detectable while others (some genera belonging to Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma-Proteobacteria) newly detected by DGGE. Crenarchaea were the predominant archaea and only one phylotype belonging to Euryarchaea was found. Both the archaeal and bacterial profiles revealed by the DGGE band patterns could be grouped into four and three subsets, respectively, subsets that were largely divided by the border between the Holocene and Pleistocene. Thus, the diversity of the current microbial communities in Lake Hovsgol sediments decreases with increasing depth. These changes probably relate to the environmental conditions in the sediments, which were shaped by the paleoclimatic events taking place between the Holocene and Pleistocene.     

大孔树脂固定化磷脂酶D

磷脂酶D(PhospholipaseD,EC3.1.4.4,PLD)是催化磷酸酯键水解和碱基交换反应的一类酶的总称.利用PLD的转碱基作用是目前催化合成磷脂酰丝氨酸(PS)的最佳途径.本实验以5种大孔树脂为载体固定化磷脂酶D(PLD)进行了研究.以酶回收率为主要指标,选择了最佳载体和优化了固定化条件.结果表明:非极性阳离子交换树脂H103是最佳固定化载体;其最优固定化条件:加酶液量1.2 mL,固定时间80 min,pH 6.0柠檬酸-柠檬酸钠的缓冲液浓度为10 mmol/L.最佳固定化条件下,固定化之后的PLD比游离PLD酶活提高了三倍.