Effects and statistical optimization of fermentation conditions on growth and poly (vinyl alcohol)-degrading enzyme production of Streptomyces venezuelae GY1

The effects of environmental conditions, including temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen, on growth and production of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-degrading enzymes of the newly-isolated strain Streptomyces venezuelae GY1 were investigated. The medium composition for strain GY1 was studied first by single factorial design and then optimized using a central composite design. PVA with high saponification is better for growth of, and PVA-degrading enzyme production by S. venezuelae GY1 compared with PVA with low saponification, in contrast with the characteristics of other bacteria producing PVA-degrading enzymes. The optimal temperature and initial pH for production of PVA-degrading enzyme by strain GY1 was 30°C and 7.0, respectively. The optimal medium composition for PVA-degrading enzyme production is: 1.01 g L^?1 of PVA1799, 0.307 g L^?1 of NaNO₃ and 0.512 g L^?1 of MgSO₄?7H₂O.     

Bone Load Estimation for the Proximal Femur Using Single Energy Quantitative CT Data

A density-based load estimation method was applied to determine femoral load patterns. Two-dimensional finite element models were constructed using single energy quantitative computed tomography (QCT) data from two femora. basic load cases included parabolic pressure joint loads and constant tractions on the greater trochanter. An optimization procedure adjusted magnitudes of the basic load cases, such that the applied mechanical stimulus approached the ideal stimulus throughout each model. Dominant estimated load directions were generally consistent with published experimental data for gait. Other estimated loads suggested that loads at extreme joint orientations may be important to maintenance of bone structure. Remodeling simulations with the estimated loads produced density distributions qualitatively similar to the QCT data sets. Average nodal density errors between QCT data and predictions were 0·24 g/cm³ and 0·28 g/cm³. The results indicate that density-based load estimation could improve understanding of loading patterns on bones.     

CODON OPTIMIZATION INCREASES HUMAN KALLISTATIN EXPRESSION IN Escherichia coli

A unique serpin, kallistatin, displays vasodilatory, antiangiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity. Difficulty and low efficacy of obtaining recombinant kallistatin limit the wide investigation of its biological and pathological function. The present study employed a codon optimization algorithm to redesign the kallistatin gene and achieved a high yield of recombinant kallistatin protein. The kallistatin codons were redesigned for a more suitable Escherichia coli host without altering amino acids. Base composition and GC% content were compared between synthetic optimized kallistatin (opti-kallistatin) and wild-type kallistatin (wt-kallistatin). Both opti-kallistatin and wt-kallistatin were purified using Ni-NTA His-binding resins through fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). The identity and purity of kallistatin were confirmed by Coomassie blue staining, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and Western blot analysis. The output of opti-kallistatin protein was ～2-fold increase (2.09 ± 0.23 mg/L) compared to wt-kallistatin (1.05 ± 0.2 mg/L). These results suggest that more common codon optimization in the E. coli host significantly increases the yield of heterologous human protein yields. This approach will remarkably facilitate the further investigation of kallistatin in vitro and in vivo.     

MODEL DEVELOPMENT AND PROCESS OPTIMIZATION FOR SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF POLYPHENOLS FROM RED GRAPES USING BOX–BEHNKEN DESIGN

The objective of the present study is to find out the optimum extraction conditions for extraction of polyphenols from red grapes using Box–Behnken design. Red grapes polyphenols were extracted using acid–ethanol solvent at various extraction temperature (40–60°C), extraction time (20–100 min) and different solid–liquid ratio (1:5–1:15 g:ml). The effect (main and interactive) of extraction conditions on total anthocyanin, phenolic and flavonoid content were studied using Box–Behnken design (three factors at three levels). The results showed that the contribution of the quadratic model was significant for all the responses. Second-order mathematical regression models were developed and were found to fit well with observed data. Derringer's desirability function methodology was performed to find out the optimal conditions based on both individual and combinations of all responses (extraction temperature: 57°C, time: 61 min, and solid–liquid ratio: 1:8.7 g:ml) were established. At this optimal condition, the anthocyanin yield, total phenolic and flavonoid content were 73.92 mg/100 g, 221.4 mg GAE/100 g, and 79.08 mg CE/100 g, respectively. A desirability value of 0.902 was achieved at this point.     

A New Method for the Preparation of Minicells for Physiological Studies

A procedure has been developed for preparing minicells that does not rely on sucrose gradients in a rate-zone centrifuge. In the presence of low levels (10 units/ml) of penicillin, the contaminating bacteria present in minicell cultures after low-speed differential centrifugation are turned into long filamentous cells and can be killed by sonic treatment. An additional low-speed centrifugation (2, 000 g for 5 min) yields purified minicells with less than one contaminating cell per 10 minicells.     

STATISTICAL MEDIA OPTIMIZATION FOR THE BIOMASS PRODUCTION OF POSTHARVEST BIOCONTROL YEAST Rhodosporidium paludigenum

A cane molasses-based medium for the biomass production of biocontrol agent Rhodosporidium paludigenum was statistically optimized. Molasses concentration (after pretreatment), yeast extract, and initial pH were identified by the Plackett–Burman design to show significant influence on the biomass production. The three factors were further optimized by central composite design and response-surface methodology. The statistical analysis indicated the optimum values of the variables were 89.98 g/L for cane molasses, 2.35 g/L for yeast extract and an initial pH of 8.48. The biomass yield at the optimal culture achieved 15.89 g/L in flask fermentation, which was 2.1 times higher than that at the initial NYDB medium. In a 10-L fermenter, 18.97 g/L of biomass was obtained after 36 hr of cultivation. Moreover, the biocontrol efficacy of the yeast was investigated after culture optimization. The results showed the yeast harvested in the optimal medium maintained its initial biocontrol properties by reducing the percentage of decayed apples to below 20%.     

Chitin and chitosan biopolymer production from the Iranian medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum: Optimization and characterization

Abstract

Chitin and chitosan with unique properties and numerous applications can be produced from fungus. The production of chitin and chitosan from the mycelia of an Iranian Ganoderma lucidum was studied to improve cell growth and chitin productivity. Inoculum size and initial pH as two effective variables on the growth of G. lucidum and chitin production were optimized using response surface method (RSM) by central composite design (CCD). The results verified the significant effect of these two variables on the cell growth and chitin production. In optimum conditions, including pH?=?5.7 and inoculum size of 7.4%, the cell dry weight was 5.91?g/L and the amount of chitin production was 1.08?g/L with the productivity of 0.083?g/(L day). The produced chitin and chitosan were characterized using XRD and FTIR. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the produced chitosan was investigated and compared with the commercial chitosan. The results showed that the produced chitin and chitosan had suitable quality and the Iranian G. lucidum would be a great source for safe and high-quality chitin and chitosan production.     

EFFECT OF FERMENTATION PARAMETERS ON BIO-ALCOHOLS PRODUCTION FROM GLYCEROL USING IMMOBILIZED Clostridium pasteurianum: AN OPTIMIZATION STUDY

This article addresses the issue of effect of fermentation parameters for conversion of glycerol (in both pure and crude form) into three value-added products, namely, ethanol, butanol, and 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO), by immobilized Clostridium pasteurianum and thereby addresses the statistical optimization of this process. The analysis of effect of different process parameters such as agitation rate, fermentation temperature, medium pH, and initial glycerol concentration indicated that medium pH was the most critical factor for total alcohols production in case of pure glycerol as fermentation substrate. On the other hand, initial glycerol concentration was the most significant factor for fermentation with crude glycerol. An interesting observation was that the optimized set of fermentation parameters was found to be independent of the type of glycerol (either pure or crude) used. At optimum conditions of agitation rate (200 rpm), initial glycerol concentration (25 g/L), fermentation temperature (30°C), and medium pH (7.0), the total alcohols production was almost equal in anaerobic shake flasks and 2-L bioreactor. This essentially means that at optimum process parameters, the scale of operation does not affect the output of the process. The immobilized cells could be reused for multiple cycles for both pure and crude glycerol fermentation.     

Optimization of the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic residues by using radial basis functions modeling and particle swarm optimization

The concentrations of glucose and total reducing sugars obtained by chemical hydrolysis of three different lignocellulosic feedstocks were maximized. Two response surface methodologies were applied to model the amount of sugars produced: (1) classical quadratic least-squares fit (QLS), and (2) artificial neural networks based on radial basis functions (RBF). The results obtained by applying RBF were more reliable and better statistical parameters were obtained. Depending on the type of biomass, different results were obtained. Improvements in fit between 35% and 55% were obtained when comparing the coefficients of determination (R²) computed for both QLS and RBF methods. Coupling the obtained RBF models with particle swarm optimization to calculate the global desirability function, allowed to perform multiple response optimization. The predicted optimal conditions were confirmed by carrying out independent experiments.