Characteristic gamma-lactone odor production of the genus Pityrosporum

Mass spectrometric-gas chromatographic analysis of culture headspaces revealed that members of the genous Pityrosporum produce volatile gamma-lactones during growth on lipid-containing media. Representative members of other yeast genera found on humans failed to produce these compounds. Addition of lecithin, oleic acids, triolein, or human sebum to the culture media stimulated gamma-lactone production by Pityrosporum species. All yeasts tested produced isopentanol and phenylethanol. Production of gamma-lactones may serve as a valuable characteristic in the identification of organisms of the genus Pityrosporum.     

Variation in the abillties of different strains of Drosophila melanogaster to utilize diverse carbon sources

In several experiments, flies of different geographic origins have been tested for their abilities to produce adult progeny on culture media containing primarily one or the other of several sugars. Flies of different origins differ in their abilities to produce progeny on a given sugar; flies of a single origin differ on different sugars. The data reveal a strong strain-sugar interaction as well. Strains of flies maintained for two or more years by mass transfer on culture media containing one or the other of several sugars, including xylose and lactose, adapt to that culture medium. Hybrid flies-either between lines within localities or between localities-are best able to produce offspring on xylose-containing medium.     

Serologic analysis of the extractable carbohydrate antigens of Pityrosporum ovale

Antigens soluble in hot trichloracetic acid from eighteen strains of Pityrosporum ovale were studied using rabbit antiserum to American Type Culture Collection strains 24027, 12078, and 14521. These strains were found to share two antigens, both of which were present in cells of Pityrosporum orbiculare and one of which was present in cells of Pityrosporum pachydermatis, Pityrosporum canus, Candida albicans and Rhodotorula rubrum.     

Production of IGF-II-related peptide by an anaplastic cells line (AT-3) established from the dunning prostatic carcinoma of rats

Summary AT-3 cells, one of anaplastic cell lines established from the Dunning prostatic carcinoma of rats, were able to grow under serum-free conditions in a state of suspension detached from a substratum. Radioimmunoassays using monoclonal antibody against rat insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) revealed the presence of IGF-II-related peptide in acid-ethanol extracts extracsts of lyophilized serum-free media conditioned by AT-3 cell. The peptide contents in the culture media increased with increase in cell number; 71 ng at 3.0 × 10⁶ cells and 449 ng at 4.6 × 10⁷ cells. IGF-II-related peptide was hardly detectable in acid-ethanol extracts of AT-3 cells harvested after 13-days culture. These results indicate that AT-3 cells produce IGF-II-related peptide ana may release it into the culture media. Editor's statement One or more members of the insulin-like growth factor family have been established previously as mitogen for isolated prostate cells. This report suggests that IGF-II member of the family may be involved in autocrine support of cells from highly malignant prostate tumors.     

云芝深层培养生产木质素降解酶的研究

木质索降解本质上是氧化反应,参与木质素降解的酶都是非专一性的,目前人们认识到的参与木质素降解的酶主要有多酚氧化酶(Polyphenol oxidase)、锰过氧化物酶(Maganese peroxidase)和木质素酶(Ligninase)。后者是近来新发现在木质素降解过程中起作用的过氧化物酶。本文研究一种对木质素降解能力很强的云芝(Polyporus versicolor)在摇瓶培养条件下,培养方式、营养条件以及添加诱导剂藜芦醇和表面活性剂Tween80等因素对木质素降解酶生产的影响。     

Malassezia pityrosporum pachydermatis (Weidman) Dodge 1935

Priority of the name Malassezia pachydermatis (Weidman) Dodge 1935 is indicated for the microorganism which has been called Pityrosporum pachydermatis Weidman 1925 and P. canis Gustafson 1955. M. pachydermatis is here further characterized in culture with information drawn from 2 recent isolates, in particular the presence of spiral grooves on the inner surface of the cell wall, good growth on Mycosel agar, rapid production of urease, and assimilation of glucose by the Wickerham method.     

Chromogenesis mirabilis in Streptomyces griseus

A number of chromogenic Streptomyces, producing diffusible melanoid pigment on complex organic media, fail to form melanin pigment on conventionally used synthetic tyrosine agar. By means of our new melanin formation test, almost all the chromogenic streptomyces can now be detected in chemically defined medium. In contrast to ordinary chromogenic streptomyces, two streptomyces species of the International Streptomyces Project, S. griseus ISP 5236 and S. ornatus ISP 5307, produce melanin pigment only on synthetic tyrosine agar, without showing chromogenicity on complex organic media. From the results obtained with S. griseus ISP 5236 and S. phaeochromogenes ISP 5073, it was revealed that melanin formation by Streptomyces, in general, is inhibited by L-cysteine present in organic nitrogen sources incorporated into natural media. Most chromogenic species of streptomyces produce a higher level of tyrosinase and rapidly utilize L-cysteine in the culture media which result in the manifestation of good chromogenicity on natural media. Peculiarity of chromogenicity of S. griseus and S. ornatus might be due to the lower ability to produce tyrosinase and to utilize L-cysteine in the culture medium.     

Liquid serial dilution is inferior to solid media for isolation of cultures representative of the phylum-level diversity of soil bacteria

Representatives of only four well-characterized bacterial phyla were isolated from a pasture soil by using liquid serial dilution culture. In contrast, members of Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Gemmatimonadetes and of other poorly represented bacterial lineages were isolated in earlier experiments with solidified versions of the same media. We conclude that, contrary to expectation, liquid serial dilution culture is inferior to culturing on solid media for isolating representatives of many bacterial phyla from soil.     

Hydrolytic enzymes and surfactants of bacterial isolates from lubricant-contaminated wastewater

Fifteen bacterial monocultures were isolated from lubricant-contaminated wastewater of an electric power station in Sofia. Six isolates showed best growth in liquid media with 1.5% hexadecane, and on mineral salt agar plates supplemented with one of the following hydrocarbons: n-hexadecane, paraffin, kerosene and samples of wastewater. The ability of all isolates to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes and surface-active glycolipids was assessed on the basis of their growth on hydrocarbons. The study of this relatively closed micro-ecosystem revealed the existence of well-balanced microbial consortium where different members have their own role and support each other. On this basis, an alternative approach is proposed for bioaugmented clean up of wastewater contaminated with hydrocarbons and organic polymers using a mixed culture of indigenous bacteria that combines the best producers of glycolipids and hydrolytic enzymes.     

Differentiation of embryonic mouse GH cells and ACTH cells in vitro

The ability of cells that produce growth hormone (GH) and cells that produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to differentiate in various culture media was analyzed by means of ultrastructural immunocytochemistry on 13-day embryonic mouse pituitaries that were maintained in organ culture for 3-11 days. At the time of culture, relatively undifferentiated nongranulated or poorly granulated cells that were unreactive with anti-growth-hormone serum (anti-GH) and anti-adrenocorticotropic-hormone serum (anti-ACTH) were present in the pituitary. After 10-11 days in culture, immunoreactive GH cells were obtained only in media that were supplemented with cortisol, whereas ACTH cells were obtained in all media tested, including Medium 199 alone. In cortisol-supplemented media, the GH cells showed ultrastructural features typical of those that occur in vivo, and anti-GH immunoreactivity was obtained after as little as 3 days in culture, i.e., at a stage comparable to that which occurs in vivo. The results indicate that mouse GH cells are capable of differentiating in Medium 199 supplemented only with cortisol, without the addition of fetal calf serum or insulin; cortisol therefore appears to be an essential component of the embryonic milieu for the production of GH-secretory granules.     

红豆杉组织培养及其产物紫杉醇研究进展

该文对红豆杉组织培养过程中外植体的选择、培养基、培养方法等方面研究进展进行了综述。获取抗癌药物紫杉醇主要途径有:红豆杉组织培养途径、人工种植途径、化学合成及微生物生产途径等。     

A study of the fatty acid metabolism of the yeast Pityrosporum ovale

The yeast Pityrosporum ovale, a skin saprophyte, will only grow if fatty acids of chain length greater than C(10) are added to the culture medium. 9-Hydroxypalmitic acid is the major product of metabolism of even-carbon-number fatty acids; 9-hydroxystearic acid is also found. The optimum pH for this conversion is pH4.5. The hydroxy fatty acids produced are found bound in a polar form in the aqueous phase of the culture medium. Growth of the organisms is facilitated by presentation of the substrate as a two-phase liquid system.     

Liquid Serial Dilution Is Inferior to Solid Media for Isolation of Cultures Representative of the Phylum-Level Diversity of Soil Bacteria

Representatives of only four well-characterized bacterial phyla were isolated from a pasture soil by using liquid serial dilution culture. In contrast, members of Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Gemmatimonadetes and of other poorly represented bacterial lineages were isolated in earlier experiments with solidified versions of the same media. We conclude that, contrary to expectation, liquid serial dilution culture is inferior to culturing on solid media for isolating representatives of many bacterial phyla from soil.     

Growth and phage production of lysogenic B. megatherium

Cell multiplication and phage formation of lysogenic B. megatherium cultures have been determined under various conditions and in various culture media. 1. In general, the more rapid the growth of the culture, the more phage is produced. No conditions or culture media could be found which resulted in phage production without cell growth. 2. Cultures which produce phage grow normally, provided they are shaken. If they are allowed to stand, those which are producing phage undergo lysis. Less phage is produced by these cultures than by the ones which continue to grow. 3. Cells plated from such phage-producing cultures in liquid yeast extract medium grow normally on veal infusion broth agar or tryptose phosphate broth agar, which does not support phage formation, but will not grow on yeast extract agar. 4. Any amino acid except glycine, tyrosine, valine, leucine, and lysine can serve as a nitrogen source. Aspartic acid gives the most rapid cell growth. 5. The ribose nucleic acid content is higher in those cells which produce phage. 6. The organism requires higher concentrations of Mg, Ca, Sr, or Mn to produce phage than for growth. 7. The lysogenic culture can be grown indefinitely in media containing high phosphate concentrations. No phage is produced under these conditions, but the cells produce phage again in a short time after the addition of Mg. The potential ability to produce phage, therefore, is transmitted through cell division. 8. Colonies developed from spores which have been heated to 100°C. for 5 minutes produce phage and hence, infected cells must divide. 9. No phage can be detected after lysis of the cells by lysozyme.     

Riboflavin formation by mould fungi cultivated on hydrocarbon-containing media

The potentiality of some mould fungi, isolated from petroleum sludge to produce riboflavin when grown on hydrocarbon-containing media was tested. Aspergillus terreus was found to be distinguished by its capacity to produce riboflavin when cultivated on the different culture media tested. It was able to grow more luxuriantly and produce good riboflavin output on solar-containing medium. A solar concentration of 5% v/v favoured high riboflavin productivity. The maximal vitamin B2 yields were achieved after 20 days incubation at 30 degrees C. An initial pH value of 5.5-6.0 was found to be the optimum for growth of A. terreus and for riboflavin production.     

VOLATILE ORGANIC SULFIDES FROM FRESHWATER ALGAE1

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) was found to be the principle biogenic sulfur compound in a freshwater environment. Endemic and non-endemic algae were cultured under axenic and nonaxenic conditions in defined media. Sulfur gas analysis of culture fluids indicated that members of the Cyanophyta were probable sources of DMS whereas representatives of the divisions Chlorophyta, Xanthophyta and Bacillariophyta apparently did not produce this compound. Comparison of gaseous contents of young and old nonaxenic cultures of filamentous algae in the divisions Chlorophyta and Xanthophyta showed DMS occurred only in aged cultures and was probably produced by bacteria utilizing substances from senescent algal cells. Data suggest that the composition of the algal community determines whether DMS is algal and/or bacterial in origin.     

Use of G1.2/G2.2 media for commercial bovine embryo culture: equivalent development and pregnancy rates compared to co-culture

The expanded application of commercial bovine IVM, IVF, and IVC systems is dependent on the ability to produce embryos in culture that are capable of producing normal pregnancies. Because serum containing culture systems can induce neonatal and fetal problems there exists a definite need for a serum-free culture system that produces viable blastocysts. This study demonstrated that the physiological sequential media system G1.2/G2.2 could produce bovine blastocysts at rates equivalent to co-culture. Additionally, these blastocysts had equivalent or increased cell numbers and inner cell mass development. Blastocysts produced in the G1.2/G2.2 culture system produced pregnancies following both fresh transfer and cryopreservation at equivalent rates to co-culture. Finally, this study demonstrated that the media system G1.2/G2.2 could be used in a commercial OPU transfer program without any loss in the numbers of blastocysts produced or the numbers of pregnancies resulting following transfer from either fresh or cryopreserved blastocysts.     

Production of antibacterial activities by members of the family Pseudonocardiaceae: influence of nutrients

The production of antibacterial substances under different nutritive conditions has been studied in members of the Pseudonocardiaceae family. The results show that media with low nitrogen content stimulate the production of antibacterial substances in the genera Amycolatopsis, Saccharomonospora and Saccharopolyspora, while strains from the genus Pseudonocardia produce these metabolites in media with moderate or high nitrogen content.     

Contrasting effects of estradiol-17 beta and 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol-17 beta on cultured whole embryos

Estradiol-17 beta (E2) and 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol-17 beta (EE) were compared in terms of their relative capacities to alter growth and developmental patterns of cultured whole embryos during the early stages of organogenesis. Embryos exhibited a notable differential susceptibility to the embryotoxic effects of parents E2 vs EE when these estrogens were added directly to the media at the onset of the culture period. At initial concentrations of 0.1 mM, E2 failed to produce statistically significant effects whereas EE elicited marked embryotoxicity. Inclusion of a P-450-dependent biotransformation system in the culture media resulted in a significant attenuation of the embryotoxic effects of parent E2 vs EE when these estrogens were added directly to the media at the onset of the culture period. At initial concentrations of 0.1 mM, E2 failed to produce statistically embryotoxicity by hepatic S9. The divergent results produced by the two steroids could not be attributed to differences in rates of catecholestrogen generation in the culture medium or by the conceptuses. The results demonstrate definitive dissimilarities between the effects of two steroidal estrogens on developmental parameters and document marked differences in the effects of biotransformation on their embryotoxic potential. The data strongly suggest that the embryotoxicity of these steroids is not mediated via interactions with estrogen receptors. Additionally, the data show that the differential capacity of these two steroids to produce embryotoxic effects is diametrically opposite to earlier reported patterns of their carcinogenic potential in the Syrian hamster kidney.     

Callus Induction and Protoplast Isolation from Tissues of Cucumis Sativus L. and C. Melo L. Seedlings

Hypocotyls, cotyledons and true leaves of in vitro seedlings of 10 cucumber and melon genotypes resistant to downy and powdery mildew were cultured on several combinations of initiation and multiplication media to produce callus and subsequently cell suspensions as suitable sources for isolation and culture of protoplasts. Cotyledons of both species were shown to be the most responsive to variation in culture media. However, calli and cell suspensions derived from hypocotyls generally provided higher number of protoplasts by treatment with several enzymatic solutions. The protoplasts formed new cell walls after 12 h of culture in liquid culture medium and first cell division was observed 2 d later with more frequent divisions after one week of culture. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.