Desulfurization of light gas oil in immobilized-cell systems of Gordona sp. CYKS1 and Nocardia sp. CYKS2

Desulfurizations of a model oil (hexadecane containing dibenzothiophene (DBT)) and a diesel oil by immobilized DBT-desulfurizing bacterial strains, Gordona sp. CYKS1 and Nocardia sp. CYKS2, were carried out. Celite bead was used as a biosupport for cell immobilization. Seven-eight cycles of repeated-batch desulfurization were conducted for each strain. Each batch reaction was carried out for 24 h. In the case of model oil treatment with strain CYKS1, about 4.0 mM of DBT in hexadecane (0.13 g sulfur l(oil)(-1)) was desulfurized during the first batch, while 0.25 g sulfur l(oil)(-1) during the final eighth batch. The mean desulfurization rate increased from 0.24 for the first batch to 0.48 mg sulfur l(dispersion)(-1) h(-1) for the final batch. The sulfur content in the light gas oil was decreased from 3 to 2.1 g l(oil)(-1) by strain CYKS1 in the first batch. The mean desulfurization rate was 1.81 mg sulfur l(dispersion)(-1) h(-1), which decreased slightly when the batch reaction was repeated. No significant changes in desulfurization rate were observed with strain CYKS2 when the batch reaction was repeated. When the immobilized cells were stored at 4 degrees C in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) for 10 days, the residual desulfurization activity was about 50 approximately 70% of the initial value.     

Epoxidation of propylene utilizing Nocardia corallina immobilized by gel entrapment or adsorption

Nocardia corallina B-276 cells are capable of catalysing the direct epoxidation of propylene to propylene oxide, through a monooxygenase enzyme system. The present work was undertaken to see how immobilization of the whole cells by adsorption or entrapment on solid supports would influence the rate and duration of the epoxidation activity. With immobilization by adsorption, the propylene oxide forming activity was highest on hydrophobic supports, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Under certain conditions the activity was three times that of the free control cells. However, the duration of epoxidation activity was considerably less for the adsorbed cells. The cell loading by adsorption, determined with¹⁴C-labelled cells was 1.0–2.8 mg dry cell weight g^?1of support. The cells, whether immobilized or not (controls), were tested using a continuous gas flow packed-bed or bubble-type reactor. Immobilization of the cells by entrapment in calcium alginate beads gave about the same propylene oxide forming activity and stability as with control cells, provided the reactor was operated at low temperature (30°C) and low oxygen content (20%) of the feed stream. The results suggest that entrapment in a hydrophobic matrix might be a more favourable system; although additional investigation of the rate limiting steps as well as the cause of the activity loss with time is needed.     

Comparison of PCR and culture for detection of Nocardia asteroides in brain specimens from experimentally infected BALB/c mice

Systemic infection of BALB/c mice with Nocardia asteroides strain GUH-2 results in widespread replication of the organism in the brain, followed by its immune-mediated clearance. The present study compared the sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to bacterial culture for detection of cerebral nocardial infection in this experimental system. Mice (n=4/time point) were administered N. asteroides by intravenous injection, and brain specimens were evaluated for Nocardia by PCR and culture at post-infection days 2, 7, 14 and 21. Nocardia was detected by PCR in all infected animals on post-infection days 2, 7, and 14, and in one of four mice on post-infection day 21; in contrast, the organism was detected by culture only on post-infection days 2 and 7. These findings suggest that PCR may be more sensitive than culture for the detection of low numbers of Nocardia in the brain.     

IgM but not IgG monoclonal anti-Nocardia brasiliensis antibodies confer protection against experimental actinomycetoma in BALB/c mice

Nocardia brasiliensis is a facultative intracellular microorganism that produces a human chronic infection known as actinomycetoma. Human and mouse anti- N. brasiliensis antibody response identify P24, P26 and P61 immunodominant antigens. In this work, we generated immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to immunodominant P61 antigen. The monoclonal IgM (NbM1) and IgG2a (NbG1) antibodies were assessed for their in vitro bactericidal activity, in vivo protective effect and ability to block catalase activity. These mAbs specifically recognized P61, but they did not inhibit its enzyme activity. The in vitro bactericidal effect of NbG1 was higher than the killing ability of the IgM mAb. In vivo experiments with a murine model of experimental infection with N. brasiliensis injected into rear footpads was used to test the effect of NbM1 and NbG1. The negative untreated group developed a chronic actinomycetoma within 4 weeks. IgM mAbs conferred protection to BALB/c mice infected with N. brasiliensis . IgG mAb lacked this protective effect. IgM mAb showed a dose–response correlation between antibody concentration and lesion size. These results demonstrate that humoral immune response mediated by antigen-specific IgM antibody protects against an intracellular bacterial infection.     

固定化诺卡氏菌细胞生产L(+)酒石酸的研究

用明胶包埋酒石酸诺卡氏菌(Nocardia tartaricans SWl3—57)得到顺式环氧琥珀酸开环水解酶活力较高的固定化细胞。固定化细胞的最适温度为30～45℃,而游离细胞的最适温度为35～45℃。两者的最适pH均为8．0～9．0,固定化细胞的表观米氏常数Km为0．256mol／L,而游离细胞有底物抑制作用,在底物浓度小于0．45mol／L时Km为0．246mol／L。用固定化细胞装柱(y=100ml),pH8．S,温度37℃,稀释速率D=0．25h^-1,以0．5mol／L浓度顺式环氧琥珀酸钠溶液为底物,连续运转53d,平均产L(+)酒石酸66．95g／L,克分子转化率为92．09％,反应器生产能力达到16．58g／L·h。     

Nocardia asteroides in the Soil of Kuwait

A pilot study was undertaken to determine the occurrence and distribution of pathogenic nocardiae in Kuwaiti soil. A total of 102 soil samples collected from two localities were investigated by the paraffin bait technique. Nocardia asteroides was the only species isolated from 42 (41%) soil samples. None of the isolates fulfilled the criteria required for identification of N. farcinica or N. nova. Thirty one (73.8%) isolates showed equivalent growth at 45 °C and 35 °C, 17 (40.4%) isolates utilized acetamide for carbon and nitrogen requirements and 3 (7.1%) isolates showed delayed arylsulphatase activity. Only a solitary isolate was resistant to cefamandole. Soil samples originating from the Kuwait University Campus Shuwaikh, which were rich in humus/organic matter, were more productive for N. asteroides (67%) than the samples which were devoid of it but were mixed with crude oil (39%). Sand samples that lacked organic matter and crude oil samples were least productive of N. asteroides. These preliminary findings do not suggest that massive oil contamination of soil in the Ahmadi oil field area during the Gulf war promoted the natural occurrence of N. asteroides. However, isolation of N. asteroides in as many as 41% of the soil sample is a significant observation warranting further epidemiologic studies including its possible role in the operation desert storm sickness syndrome. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of N. asteroides in Kuwait. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Coordinately elevated pyrimidine biosynthetic enzymes in fluorouracil resistant mutants ofNocardia lactamdurans

Summary Nocardia lactamdurans, which produces the antibiotics efrotomycin and cephamycin C, exhibits essentially unregulated pyrimidine synthesis. Neither the first nor the second step is subject to feedback regulation. In a series of strains, comprising the original soil isolate, a set of spontaneous fluorouracil-resistant (FUR) mutants and the first improved efrotomycin producer, three of the pyrimidine biosynthetic enzymes were found to be coordinately regulated over a tenfold range. This amplification of enzyme activity accounts for the pyrimidine-related properties but not, at present, for their improved efrotomycin capacity.     

Preparation of (1S)-verbenone, aromatic and alicyclic carboxylic acids by oxidation of aldehydes, primary and secondary alcohols with Nocardia corallina

(lS)-Verbenone, (S)-perillyl acid, cinnamic acid, meta-nitrocinnamic acid, veratric acid and 2-naphthoic acid were prepared, at 1 mM scale, from the corresponding alcohols or aldehydes with whole cells of Nocardia corallina B-276, in yields from 19 to 71% (w/w). Similar microbiological oxidations gave poor yields with the heterocyclic alcohols: 3-pyridylmethanol, 4-flavanol and 4-chromanol.     

Properties of a partially purified acid phosphatase from pathogenic Nocardia brasiliensis

Like many other bacteria, Nocardia sp. possess acid phosphatase activity. In N. brasiliensis, a human and animal pathogen, this activity was resolved into two enzyme forms by native gel electrophoresis. One (isozyme I) was partially purified and characterized. It exhibited an estimated molecular weight on SDS-PAGE of 50 kDa, a pH optimum of 5.2, and a Km value of 1.25 mM for p-nitrophenylphosphate. The N. brasiliensis enzyme was stable at 4 °C for at least 24 h, but readily inactivated at 60 °C. Ammonium molybdate, sodium fluoride and L-(+)-tartrate were found to be potent inhibitors of the enzyme. Although its function is presently unknown, by analogy to other bacterial systems it could be envisioned to play an important role in the physiology and pathogenicity of the microorganism.