Isolating samples in the chamber of a steam-formaldehyde sterilizer

The construction and use of an electrically operated closure device, together with a control system, for securing samples from a non-inflammable atmosphere is described. An outline of the device for use with a low temperature steam-formaldehyde (LTSF) sterilizer is given.     

Microbiological analysis of a mummy from the archeological museum in Zagreb

In this paper we report the results of the microbiological analysis of the samples taken from the mummy from the collection of the Archaeological museum in Zagreb, Croatia. Samples were taken from specific places such as oral, orbital, abdominal cavity and bandages surrounding the mummy, and analyzed in Department of Microbiology and Hospital Infections in University Hospital "Dubrava" in Zagreb and in National Reference Laboratory for systemic mycoses of Croatian National Institute of Public Health in Zagreb. The analysis indicated that all of the found organisms were non-primary pathogenic and are not harmful for healthy humans. Isolated microorganisms mainly belonged to the group of saprophytic fungi as listed: Monilia spp., Penicillium spp., Alternaria spp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus nidulans, Rhizopus spp. and Chrysosporium spp. and to the genus of saprophytic bacteria, Bacillus spp.     

Variability in Microbiological Data from a Stratified Eutrophic Lake

A survey of a stratified eutrophic lake was undertaken to determine the degree of variability in direct counts of bacteria, electron transport system activity, ATP concentration, chlorophyll a concentration and chemiluminescence, in the water column and the sediment. Heterogeneity in the horizontal and vertical dimension was studied in detail and the scale of variability was compared with within-sample and between-sample errors, and with seasonal fluctuations. Variability was greater in the sediment samples, and the coefficient of variation of samples taken at a single site was often as large as that between sites in a transect across the lake. Although this was not an exhaustive survey, the values provided should allow rough estimates to be made of the number of samples required to achieve a given level of precision in future investigations.     

Microbiological transformations of nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid.

A screening program was conducted to find microorganisms that modify the synthetic cannabinoid nabilone. After purification, the products from three cultures were analyzed by spectral methods to determine their chemical structures. An optically active 9S-hydroxy-6aR,10aR-trans cannabinoid was isolated from a culture of an unidentified soil bacterium designated A24007. From Bacillus cereus cultures were isolated a 9S,6'-dihydroxy-6aR,10aR-trans cannabinoid, a 9S-hydroxy-6'-keto-6aR,10aR-trans cannabinoid, a 9-keto-6'-hydroxy-6aS,10aS-trans cannabinoid, and a 6',9-diketo-6aS,10aS-trans cannabinoid. All of these products were optically active, as was a 9S-hydroxy-6aS,10AS-trans cannabinoid also isolated from B. cereus cultures. A series of acidic products were isolated from cultures of Nocardia salmonicolor. All of these products contained a carboxylic acid group at the terminal end of three-position alkyl side chains having varying numbers of carbon atoms. Two of the acidic products contained a 9-keto group, whereas all other carboxylic acid products were 9-hydroxy cannabinoids. The array of products obtained from incubation of nabilone indicates the usefulness of microbial transformations in the preparation of new cannabinoids.     

Microbiological profile in water-supply conduits from a clogged well

This article presents the results of an investigation involving bacterioflora in a water well clogged for the presence of biomass. The water well, placed in a zone near Rome, showed some problems about the water quality and about the extraction of water. The examination of the interior of the pipes showed the presence of biomass. The biomass was examined microscopically and bacteriological analyses were carried out on it. Heterotrophic bacteria were enumerated with three different media by direct count, Pseudomonas sp., yeasts and fungi also by spread plate method. The anaerobic Sulphate Reducing Bacteria were investigated by "Most Probable Number" technique. The results of the analyses showed the presence of protozoa and algae. Moreover high quantity of bacterial flora as heterotrophic bacteria and Pseudomonas sp. were revealed. Sulphate Reducing Bacteria were enumerated in low quantities. Sphaerotilus natans, Actinomyces and Rhodotorula were identified. The clogging problems arose from the presence of filamentous microorganisms as Sphaeroilus natans and Actinomyces sp. When microorganisms of this kind are present in aquifers they can multiply massively if the conditions are favorable.     

一株分离自胡杨的赖氨酸芽孢杆菌(Lysinibacillus)ML-64的微生物学特性

摘要:【目的】从胡杨茎秆液中分离得到的一株菌株ML-64,对其进行微生物学特性的分析。【方法】通过细菌培养和染色的方法进行了形态和培养特征的检测,使用多相分类学方法测定菌株的各项生理生化指标,脂肪酸组分、醌组分、极性脂类型、16S rRNA基因系统发育分析、(G+C)mol%含量的测定和DNA-DNA杂交分析。【结果】菌株ML-64为革兰氏阳性菌,杆状,产生芽孢。菌落为圆形,淡黄色,表面光滑。菌株生长温度范围为10－45℃(最适37℃),pH范围为7.0－9.0(最适pH7.0),NaCl浓度范围为0－6%(W/V) (最适0－2%)。菌株ML-64 的类脂酯酶,精氨酸双水解酶,脲酶活性和VP-实验为阳性。在API 50CH酶活性检测实验中菌株不能发酵任何糖类。可利用的碳源有: L-丝氨酸,丙酮酸甲酯,α-酮-丁酸,乙酰乙酸。对多粘菌素B(30 μg)、新生霉素(30 μg)、青霉素G(10 U)不敏感。16S rRNA基因序列分析结果表明,菌株ML-64T与ysinibacillus chungkukjangi 2RL3-2T,Lysinibacillus sinduriensis BLB-1T有密切亲缘关系。相似率分别为100%和99.1%。菌株ML-64与Lysinibacillus chungkukjangi 2RL3-2T和Lysinibacillus massiliensis CIP108446T之间的杂交率分别为82%和50.9%。基因组DNA(G+C)mol%含量为36.8%。菌株ML-64优势脂肪酸类型为iso-C15:0(55.05%)和anteiso-C15:0(20.70%),醌组分类型是MK-7。【结论】基于表型特征、遗传型特征和系统发育分析,将菌株定为Lysinibacillus chungkukjangi的新变种,获得序列注册号为KC609752。胡杨内生菌ML-64的基因组结构已与最近源菌株L．chungkukjangi产生了较大的分化,选择性地适应了胡杨内生环境。     

Microbiological profiles of the Viking spacecraft.

Planetary quarantine requirements associated with the launch of two Viking spacecraft necessitated microbiological assessment during assembly and testing at Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. Samples were collected from selected surface of the Viking Lander Capsules (VLC), Orbiters, (VO), and Shrouds at predetermined intervals during assembly and testing. Approximately 7,000 samples were assayed. Levels of bacterial spores per square meter on the VLC-1 and VLC-2 were 1.6 x 10(2) and 9.7 x 10(1), respectively, prior to dry-heat sterilization. The ranges of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms detected on the VO-1 and VO-2 at various sampling events were 4.2 x 10(2) to 4.3 x 10(3) and 2.3 x 10(2) to 8.9 x 10(3)/m2, respectively. Approximately 1,300 colonies were picked from culture plates, identified, lypholipized, and stored for future reference. About 75% of all isolates were microorganisms considered indigenous to humans; the remaining isolates were associated with soil and dust in the environment. The percentage of microorganisms of human origin was consistent with results obtained with previous automated spacecraft but slightly lower than those observed for manned (Apollo) spacecraft.     

Microbiological transformations of delta6a10a-tetrahydrocannabinol.

A screening program was conducted to find microorganisms that catalyze transformation reactions with cannabinoids. Three hundred fifty-eight cultures, consisting of 97 bacteria, 175 actinomycetes, and 86 molds, were incubated in media containing 0.5 mg of Delta(6a,10a)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(6a,10a)-THC) per ml. After 120 h of cultivation, ethyl acetate extracts of the cultures were examined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for transformation products. About 18% of the cultures modified Delta(6a,10a)-THC. The ability to modify the substrate did not predominate among any particular group of microorganisms. After purification, the products from three cultures were analyzed by high-resolution mass spectrometry, 100-mHz proton magnetic resonance spectrometry, ultraviolet spectrometry, and infrared spectrometry. These spectral data indicated that a Mycobacterium sp. oxidized Delta(6a,10a)-THC to cannabinol and a diastereomeric pair of 6a-hydroxy-Delta(10,10a)-THC isomers; a Streptomyces sp. and a Bacillus sp. oxidized Delta(6a,10a)-THC to 7-keto-Delta(6a,10a)-THC and 4'-hydroxy-Delta(6a,10a)-THC, respectively. The occurrence of these products and the presence of others that have not yet been isolated or identified indicate that microbial transformation may be a useful tool for the preparation of new cannabinoids that have desirable pharmacological properties.     

Microbiological hydroxylation of norethisterone.

Hydroxylation of norethisterone by a large number of fungi has been investigated. 1alpha-Hydroxy-, 6beta-hydroxy-, 10beta-hydroxy-, 10beta,11beta-dihydroxy-15alpha-and 15beta-hydroxy-derivatives were formed from norethisterone. The microbiological dehydrogenation of 10beta-hydroxy-norethisterone resulting in 10beta,17beta-dihydroxy-17-ethynyl-1,4-estradien-3-one was also observed. The structure of transformation products was established by chemical and spectroscopical methods.     

Microbiological degradation of diazepam.

In studying the transformation of diazepam (7-chloro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one) by fungi isolated from soil. N1-demethylation and cleavage of the diazepine ring were observed. Three metabolites: 7-chloro-5-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one, 2-acetamido-2"-benzoyl-4"-chloroacetanilide and 2-acetamido-2"-benzoyl-4"-chloro-N-methylacetanilide were isolated and identified.     

Microbiological removal of pentachlorophenol from soil using a Flavobacterium

Experiments reported here show that it is possible to remove pentachlorophenol (PCP) from a variety of contaminated soils, including actual waste-dump soils, by inoculating such soils with cells of a PCP-degrading Flavobacterium. However, soil conditions such as temperature, water content, PCP concentration and density of bacterial cells must be maintained within optimum ranges. Manipulation of the natural microflora so that it degrades PCP may be the preferred decontamination method in many instances. Very highly contaminated soils are so toxic that methods such as soil leaching followed by decontamination of the leachate may be required, as direct inoculation or self-purification are ineffective.     

Microbiological Transformations 15. The Enantioselective Microbiological Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation of Alpha-Substituted Cyclopentanones

Two strains of Acinetobacteria have been studied in order to perform enantioselective Baeyer-Villiger-type oxidations of racemic alpha-substituted cyclopentanones. This allows a one-step synthesis of various delta-lactones showing optical purities up to 97%, using whole-cell procedures. Tetraethylpyrophosphate and 1,2-cyclohexanediol have been used in order to enhance the yields of the bioconversion. The obtained (S)-lactones are of high interest as readily accessible chirons as well as to the flavor industry.     

Microbiological Transformations 15. The Enantioselective Microbiological Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation of Alpha-Substituted Cyclopentanones

Two strains of Acinetobacteria have been studied in order to perform enantioselective Baeyer-Villiger-type oxidations of racemic alpha-substituted cyclopentanones. This allows a one-step synthesis of various delta-lactones showing optical purities up to 97%, using whole-cell procedures. Tetraethylpyrophosphate and 1,2-cyclohexanediol have been used in order to enhance the yields of the bioconversion. The obtained (S)-lactones are of high interest as readily accessible chirons as well as to the flavor industry.