Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2001 Apr, 94(1), 41 - 9 Fermentation and costs of fuel ethanol from corn with Quick-Germ process; Taylor F et al.; The Quick-Germ process developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a way to obtain corn oil, but with lower capital costs than the traditional wet-milling process . Quick-Germ has the potential to increase the coproduct credits and profitability of the existing dry-grind fuel ethanol process, but the fermentability of the corn remaining after oil recovery has not been tested . Therefore, a series of pilot scale (50 L) fermentations was carefully controlled and monitored with unique methods for standard inoculation and automatic sampling . It was found that the concentration of suspended solids was significantly reduced in the Quick-Germ fermentations . When compared at the same concentration of fermentable sugars, the fermentation rate and yield were not statistically different from controls . When Quick-Germ was integrated into a state-of-the-art dry-grind fuel ethanol process, computer simulation and cost models indicated savings of approx $0.01/L of ethanol ($0.04/gal) with the Quick-Germ process . Additional savings associated with the lower suspended solids could not be quantified and were not included . However, the savings are sensitive to the price of corn oil. Mikrobiol Z, 2001 Jan-Feb, 63(1), 10 - 4 {Optimization of the process of culturing yeast in the presence of the dispersed mineral palygorskite}; Podgorskii VS et al.; A positive effect from introduction of the highly dispersed mineral palygorskite in the nutrient medium for aerobic batch cultivation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Kyivsky strain, used in production of champagne has been established experimentally . An adequate mathematical model describing the process of growth has been constructed . Optimal cultivation conditions have been determined which provided for the achievement of such yeast cell concentration in the culture fluid as 116 mln/ml, palygorskite concentration in the nutrient medium being 0.37 g/l and sucrose 2.0 +/- 0.2% . The yeast obtained possess higher fermentation activity. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 2001 Jan, 79(1), 97 - 105 Analysis of yeasts derived from natural fermentation in a Tokaj winery; Sipiczk M et al.; The diversity of yeast flora was investigated in a spontaneously fermenting sweet white wine in a Tokaj winery . The non-Saccharomyces yeasts dominating the first phase of fermentation were soon replaced by a heterogeneous Saccharomyces population, which then became dominated by Saccharomyces bayanus . Three Saccharomyces sensu stricto strains isolated from various phases of fermentation were tested for genetic stability, optimum growth temperature, tolerance to sulphur dioxide, copper and ethanol as well as for the ability to produce hydrogen sulphide and various secondary metabolites known to affect the organoleptic properties of wines . The analysis of the single-spore cultures derived from spores of dissected asci revealed high stability of electrophoretic karyotypes and various degrees of heterozygosity for mating-types, the fermentation of galactose and the production of metabolic by-products . The production levels of the by-products did not segregate in a 2:2 fashion, suggesting that the synthesis of these compounds is under polygenic control. Evolution Int J Org Evolution, 2001 Apr, 55(4), 840 - 5 Adult female Drosophila pseudoobscura survive and carry fertile sperm through long periods in the cold: populations are unlikely to suffer substantial bottlenecks in overwintering; Collett JI et al.; To assess whether, while overwintering, natural populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura are likely to experience substantial bottlenecks in their numbers and genotypes, laboratory tests of the cold sensitivities of each stage of the life history and reproduction were undertaken . Three genetically distinctive lineages established from flies caught at high elevation were used for testing in temperatures likely to persist in protected pockets of fermenting deciduous leaf fall in overwintering sites . Sensitivities to cold of each stage in development were measured as frequencies of survival to adulthood following a period in 5 degrees C in a particular stage . The cold sensitivity of adults was measured as the survival in and following cold stays in adulthood . It was found that cold sensitivity decreases as development progresses, but that only adults (females more than males) are able to withstand long periods in the cold . The cold sensitivity of reproductive capacity of males was scored as their success in mating following a two-month cold stay, and of females as the numbers laying fertile eggs following periods of months in the cold . Both males and females maintain reproductive capacity . Of particular significance, however, is that even after six months in the cold females are able to restart production of eggs and these eggs may be fertilized by the sperm of matings prior to their cold stay . Thus, a substantial proportion of overwintering genomes must be those of adult females and those of the sperm carried by females from matings in the previous summer . This simple finding strongly suggests that populations are not likely to suffer substantial bottlenecks while overwintering . Further, it indicates how arrays of genetic variation may be maintained through winters and largely avoid winter selective pressures . Frequent migration between populations is therefore not required to maintain the variation commonly found in populations throughout the species range. Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 2001 Jun, 33(Pt 3), 153 - 9 Studies on lipase-affinity adsorption using response-surface analysis; Kamimura ES et al.; Lipases are widely distributed enzymes that can be obtained from animals, plants and micro-organisms . Coupling lipases with a wide range of substrates allows the opportunity for synthesis of optically pure pharmaceutical preparations, flavour compounds and other food additives . Affinity chromatography owes its power as a purification method to specific biological interactions . Response-surface analysis was chosen to study column efficiency . This method allows the understanding of interactions between variables with advantages over conventional methods, which involve changing one variable while fixing others at certain levels . The aim of this work was to study the influence of the ratio bed height/column diameter (L/D) and superficial velocity (V) on the column efficiency . The experimental design involved the two variables, L/D (2-10) and v (1-2 cm/min), at five levels . Lipase was obtained from Geotrichum sp . culture in a complex medium composed of 5% corn-steep liquor, 0.5% NH(4)NO(3) and 1% olive oil at 30 degrees C, with 1VVM (air volume/medium volume per min) aeration and 400 rev./min agitation . Maximum lipase activity was 19 units/ml after almost 9 h of fermentation . This lipase could potentially be used in esterification reactions to increase the content of gamma-linolenic acid and to produce bioaromas for food industries . The adsorption assays were carried out in a fixed-bed column with an affinity adsorbent, which was obtained by reaction of a gel with oleic acid as ligand . Breakthrough curves were obtained for all experiments . It has been shown that the lower the values of both L/D and v, the higher the column efficiency (maximum 65.43%) . Also, it was observed from the response surface that the efficiency reached a minimum at an L/D of around 8. Org Lett, 2001 May 17, 3(10), 1443 - 5 Investigations into the production and interconversion of phomoidrides A-D; Spencer P et al.; {structure: see text} Fermentation of ATCC 74256 led to the isolation and identification of C7 epimers of phomoidride A (CP-225,917) and phomoidride B (CP-263,114) . We suggest the names phomoidrides C and D for these new fermentation products . Studies on the effect of pH on the distribution of phomoidrides A-D suggest phomoidride B (CP-263,114) is the first-formed secondary metabolite and the source of the remaining three phomoidrides. Protein Expr Purif, 2001 Jun, 22(1), 120 - 7 Overexpression, rapid isolation, and biochemical characterization of Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein; Ehn M et al.; Escherichia coli (E . coli) single-stranded binding protein (SSB) is a valuable protein for various biotechnical applications, such as PCR and DNA sequencing . Here we describe an efficient expression and purification scheme where the tendency of SSB to aggregate at low salt concentration and high protein concentration is avoided . The method contains fewer steps of purification and results in high protein yield, compared to previous published protocols . In our protocol, cells are harvested after cultivation overnight and SSB is isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by anion-exchange chromatography . The yield from a 2-liter fed-batch fermentor is 2 g protein, which is higher than all production methods for SSB earlier reported . Moreover, the two classical isolation steps combined in the purification scheme are robust, cost-efficient, and suitable for scaling up . The resulting SSB is pure and a correctly folded tetramer with an apparent binding to single-stranded DNA with a K(D) of 10(-8) M, as determined by surface plasmon resonance . J Biol Chem, 2001 Aug 3, 276(31), 28710 - 8 Epub 2001 May 31. Archaeal fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolases constitute a new family of archaeal type class I aldolase; Siebers B et al.; Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) aldolase activity has been detected previously in several Archaea . However, no obvious orthologs of the bacterial and eucaryal Class I and II FBP aldolases have yet been identified in sequenced archaeal genomes . Based on a recently described novel type of bacterial aldolase, we report on the identification and molecular characterization of the first archaeal FBP aldolases . We have analyzed the FBP aldolases of two hyperthermophilic Archaea, the facultatively heterotrophic Crenarchaeon Thermoproteus tenax and the obligately heterotrophic Euryarchaeon Pyrococcus furiosus . For enzymatic studies the fba genes of T . tenax and P . furiosus were expressed in Escherichia coli . The recombinant FBP aldolases show preferred substrate specificity for FBP in the catabolic direction and exhibit metal-independent Class I FBP aldolase activity via a Schiff-base mechanism . Transcript analyses reveal that the expression of both archaeal genes is induced during sugar fermentation . Remarkably, the fbp gene of T . tenax is co-transcribed with the pfp gene that codes for the reversible PP(i)-dependent phosphofructokinase . As revealed by phylogenetic analyses, orthologs of the T . tenax and P . furiosus enzyme appear to be present in almost all sequenced archaeal genomes, as well as in some bacterial genomes, strongly suggesting that this new enzyme family represents the typical archaeal FBP aldolase . Because this new family shows no significant sequence similarity to classical Class I and II enzymes, a new name is proposed, archaeal type Class I FBP aldolases (FBP aldolase Class IA). Biotechnol Prog, 2001 May-Jun, 17(3), 474 - 80 Characterization of dicarboxylic acids for cellulose hydrolysis; Mosier NS et al.; In this paper, we show that dilute maleic acid, a dicarboxylic acid, hydrolyzes cellobiose, the repeat unit of cellulose, and the microcrystalline cellulose Avicel as effectively as dilute sulfuric acid but with minimal glucose degradation . Maleic acid, superior to other carboxylic acids reported in this paper, gives higher yields of glucose that is more easily fermented as a result of lower concentrations of degradation products . These results are especially significant because maleic acid, in the form of maleic anhydride, is widely available and produced in large quantities annually. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 2000 Dec, 78(3-4), 385 - 90 A cluster of genes for the biosynthesis of spinosyns, novel macrolide insect control agents produced by Saccharopolyspora spinosa; Waldron C et al.; Spinosyns A and D are the active ingredients in a family of insect control agents produced by fermentation of Saccharopolyspora spinosa . Spinosyns are 21-carbon tetracyclic lactones to which are attached two deoxysugars . Most of the genes involved in spinosyn biosynthesis are clustered in an 74 kb region of the S . spinosa genome . This region has been characterized by DNA sequence analysis and by targeted gene disruptions . The spinosyn biosynthetic gene cluster contains five large genes encoding a type I polyketide synthase, and 14 genes involved in modification of the macrolactone, or in the synthesis, modification and attachment of the deoxysugars . Four genes required for rhamnose biosynthesis (two of which are also required for forosamine biosynthesis) are not present in the cluster . A pathway for the biosynthesis of spinosyns is proposed. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 2000 Dec, 78(3-4), 307 - 13 Microbial growth and production kinetics of Streptomyces antibioticus Tü 6040; Theobald U et al.; Streptomyces antibioticus Tu 6040 is the producer of simocyclinones, which belong to a novel family of angucyclinone antibiotics some of which show antitumor activities . Growth and antibiotic production is dependent on the medium composition, especially on the carbon and nitrogen source, and on the fermentation conditions . The best results with respect to antibiotic productivity were achieved using a chemically defined medium with glycerol and L-lysine as carbon and nitrogen source, respectively, in an airlift fermenter with minimised shear stress at low gas flow rates withour oxygen limitation . These conditions led to a homogeneous formation of pellets of 1-2 mm in diameter and guaranteed reproducible product yields of the main compound, simocyclinone D8, in the range of 300 mg/l. Water Sci Technol, 2001, 43(7), 1 - 8 Hybrid neural modelling of an anaerobic digester with respect to biological constraints; Karama A et al.; A hybrid model for an anaerobic digestion process is proposed . The fermentation is assumed to be performed in two steps, acidogenesis and methanogenesis, by two bacterial populations . The model is based on mass balance equations, and the bacterial growth rates are represented by neural networks . In order to guarantee the biological meaning of the hybrid model (positivity of the concentrations, boundedness, saturation or inhibition of the growth rates) outside the training data set, a method that imposes constraints in the neural network is proposed . The method is applied to experimental data from a fixed bed reactor. J Dairy Sci, 2001 May, 84(5), 1109 - 17 Development of a simple in vitro assay for estimating net rumen acid load from diet ingredients; Wadhwa D et al.; The objective of these experiments was to develop a simple in vitro technique for evaluating the production and neutralization of acid as feeds ferment in the rumen . An in vitro approach was adopted to eliminate animal factors . The procedure was based on the method of Tilley and Terry, with some modifications developed in this project . Residual acidity (acidogenicity value) was determined by the dissolution of Ca from CaCO3 powder added to the media at the end of 24-h incubations . Acidogenicity values (AV) were higher when 20% strength buffer was used, while lowering buffer pH increased values, equally across all feeds . There was no effect of donor animal diet, but considerable day-to-day variation in the fermentation activity of rumen fluid . This variation likely reflected the substrate preferences of differing microbial populations, so that several standard feeds may be required to account for this effect . A series of 28 diverse feed ingredients was evaluated for AV using a mixture design, with 85 combinations of ingredients: 100% of each ingredient (n = 28); 50% of each ingredient and an equal mixture of all others (n = 28); equal mixture of all ingredients, excluding one (n = 28); and an equal mixture of all ingredients (n = 1) . The effects of most ingredients on AV were essentially linear, though some extreme ingredients showed nonlinear effects . Protein sources had low AV, forages intermediate AV and starchy feeds high AV . Calcium contained within feeds contributed to AV, particularly for legumes, sugar beet pulp, and citrus pulp, and must be accounted for. Water Sci Technol, 2000, 41(3), 43 - 50 Two-particle model of anaerobic solid state fermentation; Kalyuzhnyi S et al.; A structured mathematical model of anaerobic solid state fermentation (ASSF) has been developed . Since a stable ASSF requires addition of significant quantities of methanogenic seed sludge and mass-transfer limitation becomes important, the model postulates the existence of two different types of particles inside the fermenting solid mass--so-called "seed" particles with low biodegradability and high methanogenic activity and so-called "waste" particles with high biodegradability and low methanogenic activity . Any particle is assumed to be a completely mixed reactor and mass transfer of solutes between the particles is brought about by diffusion . The model includes multiple-reaction stoichiometry, microbial growth kinetics, material balances, liquid-gas interactions and liquid phase equilibrium chemistry . The theoretical model agrees on the qualitative level with existing experimental studies of ASSF . Hypothetical computer simulations are presented to illustrate the influence of biodegradability and mass transfer intensity on the stability of ASSF . On this basis, possible measures are proposed to prevent accumulation of volatile fatty acids inside the "seed" particles beyond their assimilative methanogenic capacity. Water Sci Technol, 2000, 41(3), 291 - 7 Determinant impact of waste collection and composition on anaerobic digestion performance: industrial results; Saint-Joly C et al.; The performance of the anaerobic digestion process depends deeply on the quality of the waste to be treated . This has been already demonstrated at the lab-scale . The objective of this study is to confirm this result at the industrial scale, with very long representative period and with the same process, the Valorga process . According to the waste quality and the collection type and even with the same conditions of fermentation, the biogas yield can vary by a factor of 1.5 when it is expressed (under normal conditions of pressure and temperature) in m3 biogas/t fresh waste, and by a factor of 2 when it is expressed in m3 CH4/t volatile solids . So, the biogas performance does not characterise a process since it is deeply governed by waste composition . This biogas productivity becomes a pertinent parameter only with consistent and relevant hypothesis and/or analytical results on the waste composition which depends on the collection procedure, the site characteristics and the season. Water Sci Technol, 2000, 41(3), 25 - 32 Biological hydrogen potential of materials characteristic of the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes; Okamoto M et al.; The purpose of this study is to investigate the biological hydrogen production potential of individual organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (OFMSW) by batch experiments . Seven varieties of typical organic solid wastes including rice, cabbage, carrot, egg, lean meat, fat and chicken skin were selected to estimate the hydrogen production potential . Among the OFMSW, carbohydrate produced the most hydrogen through biological hydrogen fermentation compared with proteins or lipids . Subsequently, the biological hydrogen production potentials of some individual carbohydrate were measured: cabbage, 26.3-61.7 mL/g-VS; carrot, 44.9-70.7 mL/g-VS; and rice, 19.3-96.0 mL/g-VS . The hydrogen percentages of the total biogas produced from cabbage, carrot and rice were 33.9-55.1%, 27.7-46.8% and 44.0-45.6%, respectively. Water Sci Technol, 2000, 41(3), 181 - 7 Thermal hydrolysis (TDH) as a pretreatment method for the digestion of organic waste; Schieder D et al.; The recycling concept under consideration is based on the process of Thermal Hydrolysis (TDH) followed by an anaerobic digestion . By increasing pressure and temperature the organic part of the waste is split up in a first step into short-chain fragments that are biologically well suited for microorganisms . The following fermentation runs much faster and more complete than in conventional digestion processes and the biogas yield is increased . Left is just a small amount of a solid residue that can be easily dewatered and utilized as surrogate fuel for incineration or as compost additive . The thermal hydrolysis process allows a complete energy recovery from organic waste . During the total procedure more energy sources are produced than are needed for running the plant . The procedure is especially suited for wet organic waste and biosolids that are difficult to compost, such as food scraps, biological waste from compact residential areas and sewage sludge . As a complete disinfection is granted due to the process temperatures the procedure is also suited for carcasses. Water Sci Technol, 2001, 43(3), 257 - 64 Modelling biological phosphorus removal from a cheese factory effluent by an SBR; Ky RC et al.; A mathematical model, named A3DX, based on ASM3(A3) for C and N removal, on the bio-P metabolic model of the Technological University of Delft (D), and on extra processes (X) for chemical and biological phosphorus removal, was developed and used to simulate the treatment of a fermented cheese factory effluent by a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) . Experimental data obtained from a pilot-scale SBR were used to calibrate the model . The model calibration was performed by changing a minimal number (four) of default values for parameters, and by introducing a Monod function to account for magnesium limitation . This study suggests that the value of stoichiometric and kinetic model parameters determined with municipal effluents or enriched bio-P cultures can be reasonably used with some agro-industrial effluents with minimal parameter adjustment for calibration. Ann Chim, 2001 Mar-Apr, 91(3-4), 221 - 8 Innovation in sodium erythorbate production: the use of membrane-reactors; Spigno G et al.; Isoascorbic or erythorbic acid is a stereoisomer of ascorbic acid acting as a preservative against oxidation and decoloration, recently approved for food use also in the European Market . Actually erythorbate is produced by means of a complex and long process after bio-fermentation of dextrose . In order to simplify and improve this process a membrane system was conceived able to induce acid 2-ketogluconic diffusion from fermentation broth directly into methanol where it esterificates . Acid 2-ketogluconic methyl ester is the intermediate for erythorbic acid . The principal problem was to perfectly separate water from methanol to avoid saponification instead of esterification. Genes Cells, 2001 May, 6(5), 403 - 10 Involvement of RNase G in in vivo mRNA metabolism in Escherichia coli; Umitsuki G et al.; BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli rng gene (previously called cafA) encodes a novel RNase, named RNase G, which is involved in the 5' end-processing of 16S rRNA . In rng mutant cells, a precursor form of 16S rRNA, 16.3S rRNA, is accumulated . Here we report a role of RNase G in the in vivo mRNA metabolism . RESULTS: We found that rng:cat mutant strains overproduced a protein of about 100 kDa . N-terminal amino acid sequencing of this protein showed that it was identical to the fermentative alcohol dehydrogenase, the product of the adhE gene located at 28 min on the E . coli genetic map . The level of adhE mRNA was significantly higher in the rng:cat mutant strain than that in its parental strain, while such differences were not seen in other genes we examined . A rifampicin-chase experiment revealed that the half-life of adhE mRNA was 2.5-fold longer in the rng:cat disruptant than in the wild-type . CONCLUSION: These results indicate that, in addition to rRNA processing, RNase G is involved in in vivo mRNA degradation in E . coli. Water Sci Technol, 2001, 43(2), 43 - 50 Development of hexachlorobenzene-dechlorinating mixed cultures using polysorbate surfactants as a carbon source; Yeh DH et al.; The use of three nonionic polysorbate surfactants--Tween 60, 61 or 65--as the sole carbon source to sustain methanogenesis and dechlorination, as well as the effect of long-term exposure of enriched cultures to these surfactants, was investigated through the development of three sediment-derived cultures . Over a one-year period, the carbon source in these cultures was gradually switched from glucose and methanol to surfactant only, while the surfactant concentration was increased from an initial concentration of 100 mg/L to 400 mg/L . In each feeding cycle, the surfactants were partially degraded and converted to methane . Transition from glucose to Tween surfactants as the electron donor did not affect the rate, extent, and pathway of HCB transformation . These surfactants sustained the reductive dechlorination of HCB even after one year of continuous addition to the enriched cultures . This study demonstrated that reductive dechlorination of HCB sustained by the fermentation of Tween surfactants is feasible . The results support the use of anaerobically degradable Tween surfactants for the biotransformation of polychlorinated organic compounds . In principle, these surfactants could be used to simultaneously increase the bioavailability of subsurface contaminants while serving as the carbon and electron source for microbial reductive dechlorination. Water Sci Technol, 2001, 43(5), 129 - 36 Sulfide production and wastewater quality--investigations in a pilot plant pressure sewer; Tanaka N et al.; The relationship linking sulfide production rate and wastewater quality in terms of its biodegradability was studied using a pilot plant pressure sewer (inner diameter: 102 mm, length: 47 m) . Furthermore, anaerobic transformations of wastewater organic matter were investigated . Wastewater characterization based on oxygen utilization rate (OUR) measurements and VFA analyses was employed . As wastewater quality parameters essential for the sulfide production, COD components and dissolved carbohydrate were focused on . Readily biodegradable substrate and fermentable, readily biodegradable substrate were better parameters than traditional dissolved COD for the prediction of sulfide production rates in a pressure sewer . From the results obtained, it was possible to integrate the sulfide production process with the transformation processes of wastewater organic matter in pressure sewers. Curr Opin Drug Discov Devel, 2001 Mar, 4(2), 229 - 36 Recent advances in the biosynthetic studies of lovastatin; Sutherland A et al.; The fungal metabolite lovastatin and its derivatives are widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs that act as potent inhibitors of (3S)-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) . These drugs and a number of analogs that have been approved for use in humans are manufactured by fermentation in combination with subsequent chemical or microbial modification . This review highlights early work done in the elucidation of lovastatin biosynthesis involving the use of labeled precursors and the incubation of putative intermediates with cell-free extracts from various fungal sources . A series of more contemporary papers are also reviewed, describing the use of gene cloning to identify the various functions of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of lovastatin . In particular, overexpression, purification and the subsequent investigation of the various roles of lovastatin nonaketide synthase (LNKS) during lovastatin biosynthesis are discussed. Eur J Clin Nutr, 2001 May, 55(5), 327 - 33 Mechanisms of action of beta-glucan in postprandial glucose metabolism in healthy men; Battilana P et al.; OBJECTIVE: To assess whether beta-glucan (which is fermented in the colon) lowers postprandial glucose concentrations through mechanisms distinct from a delayed carbohydrate absorption and inhibits de novo lipogenesis . DESIGN: Administration of frequent small meals each hour over 9 h allows a rate of intestinal absorption to be reached which is independent of a delayed absorption . A group of 10 healthy men received either an isoenergetic diet containing 8.9 g/day beta-glucan or without beta-glucan for 3 days . On the third day, the diet was administered as fractioned meals ingested every hour for 9 h . SETTING: Laboratory for human metabolic investigations . SUBJECTS: Ten healthy male volunteers . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, glucose kinetics, glucose oxidation, de novo lipogenesis . RESULTS: On the third day, plasma glucose and free fatty acid concentrations, carbohydrate and lipid oxidation, and energy expenditure were identical with beta-glucan and cellulose . Plasma insulin concentrations were, however, 26% lower with beta-glucan during the last 2 h of the 9 h meal ingestion . Glucose rate of appearance at steady state was 12% lower with beta-glucan . This corresponded to a 21% reduction in the systemic appearance rate of exogenous carbohydrate with beta-glucan, while endogenous glucose production was similar with both diets . De novo lipogenesis was similar with and without beta-glucan . CONCLUSION: Administration of frequent meals with or without beta-glucan results in similar carbohydrate and lipid metabolism . This suggests that the lowered postprandial glucose concentrations which are observed after ingestion of a single meal containing beta-glucan are essentially due to a delayed and somewhat reduced carbohydrate absorption from the gut and do not result from the effects of fermentation products in the colon. Curr Opin Microbiol, 2001 Jun, 4(3), 324 - 9 Ethanol production from biomass: technology and commercialization status; Mielenz JR; Owing to technical improvements in the processes used to produce ethanol from biomass, construction of at least two waste-to-ethanol production plants in the United States is expected to start this year . Although there are a number of robust fermentation microorganisms available, initial pretreatment of the biomass and costly cellulase enzymes remain critical targets for process and cost improvements . A highly efficient, very low-acid pretreatment process is approaching pilot testing, while research on cellulases for ethanol production is expanding at both enzyme and organism level. Carbohydr Res, 2001 Jun 4, 332(3), 305 - 16 Concurrent production of chitin from shrimp shells and fungi; Teng WL et al.; Crustacean shells constitute the traditional and current commercial source of chitin . Conversely, the control of fungal fermentation processes to produce quality chitin makes fungal mycelia an attractive alternative source . Therefore, the exploitation of both of these sources to produce chitin in a concurrent process should be advantageous and is reported here . Three proteolytic Aspergillus niger (strains 0576, 0307 and 0474) were selected from a screening for protease activity from among 34 zygomycete and deuteromycete strains . When fungi and shrimp shell powder were combined in a single reactor, the release of protease by the fungi facilitated the deproteinization of shrimp-shell powder and the release of hydrolyzed proteins . The hydrolyzed proteins in turn were utilized as a nitrogen source for fungal growth, leading to a lowering of the pH of the fermentation medium, thereby further enhancing the demineralization of the shrimp-shell powder . The shrimp-shell powders and fungal mycelia were separated after fermentation and extracted for chitin with 5% LiCl/DMAc solvent . Chitin isolates from the shells were found to have a protein content of less than 5%, while chitin isolates from the three fungal mycelia strains had protein content in the range of 10-15% . The relative molecular weights as estimated by GPC for all chitin samples were in the 10(5) dalton range . All samples displayed characteristic profiles for chitin in their FTIR and solid-state NMR spectra . All chitin samples evaluated with MTT and Neutral Red assays with three commercial cell lines did not display cytotoxic effects. J Clin Microbiol, 2001 Jun, 39(6), 2356 - 7 Bacteremia by Dermabacter hominis, a rare pathogen; Gomez-Garces JL et al.; Dermabacter hominis is a gram-positive, catalase-positive, glucose-fermenting rod, which, as it grows forms small greyish-white colonies with a characteristic pungent odor . Previously known as coryneform Centers for Disease Control and Prevention groups 3 and 5, it was catalogued as D . hominis in 1994 . Various strains isolated in blood cultures, abscesses, or wounds in the 1970s were retrospectively characterized in referral centers as D . hominis . In this report we describe two patients with severe underlying pathology who developed bacteremias by D . hominis within the context of their clinical pictures. J Anim Sci, 2001 May, 79(5), 1305 - 12 Ruminal peptide concentration required to optimize microbial growth and efficiency; Fu CJ et al.; Experimentation, with a single-phase continuous culture system operated at fractional dilution rates of 0.03 and 0.09 per hour and four cannulated crossbred steers (260 +/- 20 kg) used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design, was conducted to determine the level of ruminally degradable protein (RDP) that maximized microbial efficiency (MOEFF), microbial nitrogen flow, and nutrient digestibility in the rumen . Treatments consisted of increasing diet RDP levels (from 3.5 to 17.5% RDP on a DM basis) . The basal diet was corn with casein or soybean meal used as the source of RDP in the continuous culture experiment and animal study, respectively . Dietary nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) ranged from 52 to 75% on a dry matter basis . Urea was added to ensure an adequate ammonia nitrogen source for microbial growth . The RDP levels did not affect true digestibility of dry matter and organic matter, ruminal pH, particulate passage rate, or liquid passage rate in the animal study . As RDP increased, bacterial nitrogen production increased linearly (P < 0.05) only for the 0.09/h dilution rate . Microbial efficiency was not influenced by RDP level . Ruminal peptide and NH3 N concentration increased linearly (P < 0.05) as RDP increased . Based on this experimentation, 1.8 mM peptide maximized MOEFF when ammonia nitrogen was not limiting (> 2 mg/dL) . We concluded from this research that the RDP requirement of NSC-fermenting bacteria was lower than that currently fed in many diets. J Anim Sci, 2001 May, 79(5), 1288 - 94 Effect of ruminal microflora on the biotransformation of netobimin, albendazole, albendazole sulfoxide, and albendazole sulfoxide enantiomers in an artificial rumen; Capece BP et al.; The effect of ruminal flora on the disposition of benzimidazole anthelmintic drugs was studied in dual-flow continuous-culture fermenters (artificial rumens) . Six 1,320-mL artificial rumens were inoculated with ruminal fluid and fermentation conditions were maintained constant at 39 degrees C, pH 6.4, solid dilution rate of 5%/h, and liquid dilution rate of 10%/h to simulate standard ruminal fermentation conditions . The study was repeated in two consecutive periods . Two hours after the inoculation of rumen fluid, the fermenters were fed 30 g of a 60:40 forage:concentrate ration . Within each period two fermenters per treatment were immediately dosed with 104 mg of netobimin, 52 mg of albendazole, or 39 mg of albendazole sulfoxide . Concentrations of netobimin, albendazole, albendazole sulfoxide and its enantiomers, and albendazole sulfone were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after dosage . Reductive metabolism by the ruminal bacteria was observed, favoring the production of albendazole, the most potent anthelmintic molecule . No differences in the production or consumption of albendazole sulfoxide enantiomers were observed, indicating that the ruminal bacteria metabolism was not enantioselective . Because benzimidazole anthelmintic drugs are generally administered orally, the ruminal flora play an important role in the bioavailability of these drugs . In our study, increased concentrations of albendazole in the three treatments, due to reductive ruminal biotransformation, suggests that ruminal biotransformation may improve the efficacy of orally administered netobimin, albendazole, and albendazole sulfoxide. J Forensic Sci, 2001 May, 46(3), 604 - 8 Seasonality of insect succession and pig carcass decomposition in a natural forest area in southeastern Brazil; Lopes de Carvalho LM et al.; In this study, successional patterns, relative abundance of larvae and adults of sarcosaprophagous insects, carcass decay, diversity and seasonality of species, and their potential as forensic indicators were studied . Four experiments were carried out in each season in a natural area of southeastern Brazil . Two pigs (Sus scrofa L.) were used in each experiment and were exposed to sunlight and shade, respectively . The Calliphoridae outnumbered the Sarcophagidae in specimens collected and reared from the carcasses . More insects were collected from carcasses exposed to the sun, while a larger number of specimens were reared from those in the shade . Temperature and rainfall influenced the stages of carcass decay and insect activity and abundance . Chrysomya albiceps was the most abundant species in all four experiments . The carcasses were used as a protein source and substratum for oviposition . The dark putrefaction and fermentation stages yielded more flies than the other stages . These results show that flies are important in carcass decay and are, therefore, also of forensic importance . Seven species can be considered valuable forensic indicators in Southeastern Brazil . However, only three species were useful as forensic indicators in wooded areas: P . intermutans, H . segmentaria, and H . semidiaphana. Z Naturforsch {C}, 2001 Mar-Apr, 56(3-4), 223 - 7 Microbial epoxidation of the tricyclic sesquiterpene presilphiperfolane angelate ester; Orabi KY; Microbial transformation studies on 2beta-angeloyloxy-5beta,8beta-dihydroxypresilphiperfolane have revealed that it was metabolized by a number of microorganisms . Using a standard two-stage fermentation technique, Mucor ramannianus (ATCC 9628) produced three metabolites . One of them was characterized as the novel metabolite (2'R,3'R)-(+)-2beta-(2',3'-epoxyangeloyloxy)-5beta,8beta-dihydroxypresilphiperfolane on the basis of spectral data . The absolute configuration at both oxirane carbons was confirmed by spectral and optical activity data of the hydrolysis product of the novel metabolite which is (2R,3R)-(+)-2,3-epoxyangelic acid. Biotechnol Bioeng, 2001 Jul 20, 74(2), 125 - 35 Process monitoring of an industrial fed-batch fermentation; Lennox B et al.; Market demand places great emphasis in industry on product quality . Consequently, process monitoring and control have become important aspects of systems engineering . In this article we detail the results of a 2-year study focusing on the development of a condition monitoring system for a fed-batch fermentation system operated by Biochemie Gmbh in Austria . We also demonstrate the suitability and limitations of current state of the art technologies in this field and suggest novel modifications and configurations to improve their suitability for application to a fed-batch fermentation system . Nutrition, 2001 Apr, 17(4), 315 - 21 Japanese fermented soybean food as the major determinant of the large geographic difference in circulating levels of vitamin K2: possible implications for hip-fracture risk; Kaneki M et al.; Increasing evidence indicates a significant role for vitamin K in bone metabolism and osteoporosis . In this study, we found a large geographic difference in serum vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7; MK-7) levels in postmenopausal women . Serum MK-7 concentrations were 5.26 +/- 6.13 ng/mL (mean +/- SD) in Japanese women in Tokyo, 1.22 +/- 1.85 in Japanese women in Hiroshima, and 0.37 +/- 0.20 in British women . We investigated the effect of Japanese fermented soybean food, natto, on serum vitamin K levels . Natto contains a large amount of MK-7 and is eaten frequently in eastern (Tokyo) but seldom in western (Hiroshima) Japan . Serum concentrations of MK-7 were significantly higher in frequent natto eaters, and natto intake resulted in a marked, sustained increase in serum MK-7 concentration . We analyzed the relation between the regional difference in natto intake and fracture incidence . A statistically significant inverse correlation was found between incidence of hip fractures in women and natto consumption in each prefecture throughout Japan . These findings indicate that the large geographic difference in MK-7 levels may be ascribed, at least in part, to natto intake and suggest the possibility that higher MK-7 level resulting from natto consumption may contribute to the relatively lower fracture risk in Japanese women. J Agric Food Chem, 2001 May, 49(5), 2663 - 8 Dietary modulation of bacterial fermentative capacity by edible seaweeds in rats; Goni I et al.; The effect of edible seaweeds {nori (Porphyra tenera) and wakame (Undaria pinnatifida)} on the modulation of colonic microbiota was studied in adult male Wistar rats . Each alga was fed to rats as the only source of dietary fiber and compared with cellulose . After 12 days, animals were sacrificed and cecal contents used as inoculum to ferment lactulose, citrus pectin, cellulose, nori, and wakame in vitro . Dietary treatment did not affect food intake or food efficiency, yet alga caused a significant increase in cecal weight . Nori and wakame were poorly fermented by the cellulose inoculum, with intermediate substrate degradation (76 and 57% for nori and wakame, respectively) and low metabolism to short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) (30% fermentability compared with lactulose) . Cecal contents from rats fed nori and wakame showed a reduced ability to ferment all of the studied substrates compared with the cellulose inoculum, causing a reduction in SCFA production and dry matter disappearance . Only nori induced a bacterial adaptation that brought about a higher fermentation of this substrate . The different behaviors of the two algae could be due to their distinct chemical compositions . In conclusion, nondigestible components of edible seaweeds modified the metabolic activity of intestinal microflora, leading to a reduction of its fermentative capacity. Reprod Nutr Dev, 2001 Jan-Feb, 41(1), 57 - 68 Establishment of cellulolytic bacteria and development of fermentative activities in the rumen of gnotobiotically-reared lambs receiving the microbial additive Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077; Chaucheyras-Durand F et al.; We studied the effects of a yeast additive used in ruminant nutrition on the establishment of cellulolytic bacteria, on plant cell wall degradation and on digestive functions in the rumen of gnotobiotically-reared lambs . Cellulolytic bacteria inoculated to the lambs tended to become established earlier in the presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 (SC) . In addition, their population was maintained at a higher level, when the physico-chemical conditions of the biotope were altered . In these lambs, specific activities of fibrolytic enzymes were greater, and in sacco degradation of wheat straw tended to increase . In the presence of SC there was a decrease in ruminal ammonia concentration and a higher volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration when lambs were 20 to 50 days old . These data suggest that this yeast strain may stimulate the development of cellulolytic microflora and enhance microbial activity in the rumen of young ruminants . Such activity could be beneficial in preventing microbial imbalance and a reduction of rumen function efficiency in the case of nutritional transitions . Further studies with conventional animals will soon be performed in order to verify these dings. Arch Biochem Biophys, 2001 Apr 15, 388(2), 276 - 80 Enhanced expression of cytochrome P450s from lac-based plasmids using lactose as the inducer; Woyski D et al.; The cytochrome P450 expression systems used in Escherichia coli are highly regulated and involve the use of the lac repressor to control expression . Induction in these systems utilizes the nonmetabolizable analog of lactose, isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), which is the most expensive compound required for an E . coli expression system . To determine if the natural inducer lactose could be used to induce cytochrome P450 expression we examined the expression of three P450 enzymes in E . coli using two different expression systems, pTrc99A and the T7-based PET22b vector . For both systems lactose was found to induce expression of active P450 to concentrations that exceeded the levels achieved with IPTG . A 20-liter fermentation of a P450 expression system in the pTrc plasmid in which lactose was used as the inducer resulted in 2.4 micromol P450/liter, with a total yield of 2 g of cytochrome P450 . The use of lactose for protein expression in E . coli should be broadly useful for the inexpensive, large-scale production of heterologous proteins in E . coli. Nucleic Acids Res, 2001 May 15, 29(10), 2181 - 90 Phenotypic analysis of genes encoding yeast zinc cluster proteins; Akache B et al.; Zinc cluster proteins (or binuclear cluster proteins) possess zinc fingers of the Zn(II)2Cys6-type involved in DNA recognition as exemplified by the well-characterized protein Gal4p . These fungal proteins are transcriptional regulators of genes involved in a wide variety of cellular processes including metabolism of compounds such as amino acids and sugars, as well as control of meiosis, multi-drug resistance etc . The yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) sequencing project has allowed the identification of additional zinc cluster proteins for a total of 54 . However, the role of many of these putative zinc cluster proteins is unknown . We have performed phenotypic analysis of 33 genes encoding (putative) zinc cluster proteins . Only two members of the GAL4 family are essential genes . Our results show that deletion of eight different zinc cluster genes impairs growth on non-fermentable carbon sources . The same strains are also hypersensitive to the antifungal calcofluor white suggesting a role for these genes in cell wall integrity . In addition, one of these strains (YFL052W) is also heat sensitive on rich (but not minimal) plates . Thus, deletion of YFL052W results in sensitivity to a combination of low osmolarity and high temperature . In addition, six strains are hypersensitive to caffeine, an inhibitor of the MAP kinase pathway and phosphodiesterase of the cAMP pathway . In conclusion, our analysis assigns phenotypes to a number of genes and provides a basis to better understand the role of these transcriptional regulators. Sidahora . 1995 Oct-Nov;:34-5. {The Kombucha mushroom: two different opinions}; Gamundi R et al.; AIDS: Positive and negative views of the Kombucha mushroom, a popular remedy in Asia, are expressed . The Kombucha mushroom, used for centuries, is believed to have antibiotic tendencies and to strengthen the immune and metabolic systems . Studies show that the tea, made from fermented fungus, has high levels of B vitamins . Caution should be used during fermentation because exposing the fungus to sunlight may adversely affect the process . The mold in which the fungus grows may contain aspergillus, a fungal infection which may be fatal to HIV-positive persons . The tea is being commercialized as a stimulant of the immune system but is unpopular in the U.S . due to its toxicity risks . Public awareness messages must convey the danger of overstimulating the immune system of HIV-positive patients, whose immune systems are already overstimulated . Furthermore, the process of fermentation may encourage the growth of other organisms which produce medical complications in HIV-positive patients . J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol, 2001 Jul, 3(3), 445 - 56 Gluconobacter oxydans: its biotechnological applications; Gupta A et al.; Gluconobacter oxydans is a gram-negative bacterium belonging to the family Acetobacteraceae . G . oxydans is an obligate aerobe, having a respiratory type of metabolism using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor . Gluconobacter strains flourish in sugary niches e.g . ripe grapes, apples, dates, garden soil, baker's soil, honeybees, fruit, cider, beer, wine . Gluconobacter strains are non-pathogenic towards man and other animals but are capable of causing bacterial rot of apples and pears accompanied by various shades of browning . Several soluble and particulate polyol dehydrogenases have been described . The organism brings about the incomplete oxidation of sugars, alcohols and acids . Incomplete oxidation leads to nearly quantitative yields of the oxidation products making G . oxydans important for industrial use . Gluconobacter strains can be used industrially to produce L-sorbose from D-sorbitol; D-gluconic acid, 5-keto- and 2-ketogluconic acids from D-glucose; and dihydroxyacetone from glycerol . It is primarily known as a ketogenic bacterium due to 2,5-diketogluconic acid formation from D-glucose . Extensive fermentation studies have been performed to characterize its direct glucose oxidation, sorbitol oxidation, and glycerol oxidation . The enzymes involved have been purified and characterized, and molecular studies have been performed to understand these processes at the molecular level . Its possible application in biosensor technology has also been worked out . Several workers have explained its basic and applied aspects . In the present paper, its different biotechnological applications, basic biochemistry and molecular biology studies are reviewed. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol, 2001 Jan, 26(1/2), 15 - 21 Intracellular PHB conversion in a Type II methanotroph studied by (13)C NMR; Vecherskaya M et al.; Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) formation under aerobic conditions via incorporation of {(13)C-2}acetate as a cosubstrate and its intracellular degradation under anaerobic conditions in a Type II methanotroph was studied by (13)C NMR . During PHB synthesis in the presence of labelled acetate, low levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate, butyrate, acetone, isopropanol, 2,3-butanediol and succinate were observed . Subsequent anaerobic PHB breakdown showed enhanced levels of these products at the expense of PHB . Fermentative metabolism occurring during anaerobic PHB degradation was confirmed in experiments with fully (13)C-enriched cells, which were grown on (13)C-labelled methane . beta-hydroxybutyrate, butyrate, acetate, acetone, isopropanol, 2,3-butanediol and succinate were detected as multiple (13)C-labelled compounds in the culture medium . Our results suggest that intracellular PHB degradation can be used as a reserve energy source by methanotrophs under anoxic conditions. Eur J Biochem, 2001 May, 268(10), 3062 - 8 Genetic and biochemical characterization of a short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus; van der Oost J et al.; The gene encoding a short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase, AdhA, has been identified in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus, as part of an operon that encodes two glycosyl hydrolases, the beta-glucosidase CelB and the endoglucanase LamA . The adhA gene was functionally expressed in Escherichia coli, and AdhA was subsequently purified to homogeneity . The quaternary structure of AdhA is a dimer of identical 26-kDa subunits . AdhA is an NADPH-dependent oxidoreductase that converts alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes/ketones and vice versa, with a rather broad substrate specificity . Maximal specific activities were observed with 2-pentanol (46 U x mg(-1)) and pyruvaldehyde (32 U x mg(-1)) in the oxidative and reductive reaction, respectively . AdhA has an optimal activity at 90 degrees C, at which temperature it has a half life of 22.5 h . The expression of the adhA gene in P . furiosus was demonstrated by activity measurements and immunoblot analysis of cell extracts . A role of this novel type of archaeal alcohol dehydrogenase in carbohydrate fermentation is discussed. J Chromatogr A, 2001 Apr 20, 914(1-2), 67 - 76 Recovery of actinorhodin from fermentation broth; Guzeltunc E et al.; In the present work, a new method of purification for actinorhodin was developed using an expanded bed chromatography technique in which antibiotic capture, feedstock clarification, centrifugation, dialysis and concentration are done in one step . The cation-exchanger (P-11) resulted in 26% adsorption and 2% recovery whereas the anion-exchanger (DE-52) resulted in 99% adsorption and 56% recovery of adsorbed antibiotic using methanol buffer and 2 M NH4Cl as eluting agent . Streamline DEAE anion-exchanger, which is especially designed for EBA applications, yields 82% adsorption and 50% elution of actinorhodin fed into the chromatography column directly from the fermentation broth . Isocratic elution resulted in extremely efficient yield compared to linear gradient elution, i.e . 13.5-fold more recovery in the column with an aspect ratio (L:D) of 4 . Expansion by 150% of settled bed resulted in the best recovery of actinorhodin among 100 and 200% expansions . A comparison of breakthrough profiles in packed and expanded bed adsorption showed that the performance of the expanded bed is better (by 33%) at allowing more volume of the fermentation broth to pass through the chromatography column. Can J Microbiol, 2001 Apr, 47(4), 315 - 21 Quantification of autolysis in Penicillium chrysogenum by semiautomated image analysis; McIntyre M et al.; An image analysis method is described for the characterization of empty (autolyzed and inactive) regions within the mycelia of filamentous fungi . It extends a previous method that characterized only regions filled with cytoplasm or vacuoles (i.e., the active biomass) . The method is semiautomatic, requiring some manual editing before automated measurements . When the method was used for samples from a batch fermentation of an industrial strain of Penicillium chrysogenum, the empty regions were observed to constitute up to 15% (by projected area) of the biomass during the growth phase . After nutrient exhaustion, however, the proportion of empty regions rose rapidly, eventually representing more than 50% of the biomass by the end of fermentation . The increase in the percentage of empty regions coincided with a decrease in biomass (as measured by dry cell weight) and a fall in penicillin titre . Further morphological analysis revealed that fragmentation of mycelia, particularly clumps, coincided with increases in the levels of empty regions . This new image analysis method gave additional information on hyphal differentiation and a measure of autolysis . It was also a useful indicator of the processes leading to autolysis. Int J Toxicol, 2001, 20 Suppl 1, 47 - 55 Final report on the safety assessment of Malic Acid and Sodium Malate; Fiume Z; Malic Acid functions in cosmetic formulations as a pH adjuster, and Sodium Malate functions as a skin conditioning agent-humectant . Malic Acid is reportedly used in almost 50 cosmetic formulations across a range of product types at low concentrations, whereas Sodium Malate is used in only one . As a pH adjuster, Malic Acid is used at low concentrations . One commercial method of preparing Malic Acid is hydration of fumaric acid or maleic acid, and then purified to limit the amount of the starting material present . Because Malic Acid is a component of the Kreb's cycle, another method is fermentation . Malic Acid was relatively nontoxic in acute toxicity studies using animals . In a chronic oral study, feeding Malic Acid to rats resulted only in weight gain changes and changes in feed consumption . Malic Acid did not cause reproductive toxicity in mice, rats, or rabbits . Malic Acid was a moderate to strong skin irritatant in animal tests, and was a strong ocular irritant . Malic Acid was not mutagenic across a range of genotoxicity tests . Malic Acid was irritating in clinical tests, with less irritation seen as pH of the applied material increased . Patients patch tested with Malic Acid, placed on a diet that avoided foods containing Malic or citric acid, and then challenged with a diet high in Malic and citric acid had both immediate urticarial and delayed contact dermatitis reactions . These data were considered sufficient to determine that Malic Acid and Sodium Malate would be safe at the low concentrations at which these ingredients would be used to adjust pH (even though Sodium Malate is not currently used for that purpose) . The data, however, were insufficient to determine the safety of these ingredients when used in cosmetics as other than pH adjusters and specifically, the data are insufficient to determine the safety of Sodium Malate when used as a skin conditioning agent-humectant . The types of data required for the Expert Panel to determine the safety of Sodium Malate as a skin-conditioning agent are: concentration of use data; dermal irritation and sensitization data; and ocular irritation data, if available . The data needed to assess the safety of Malic Acid or Sodium Malate for some function other than as a skin-conditioning agent cannot be specified without knowing the intended function . Were these ingredients to be used as exfoliants, for example, data similar to that included in the Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessment of Glycolic Acid would be needed . Until these data are available, it is concluded that the available data are insufficient to support the safety of these ingredients in cosmetic formulations for functions other than use as a pH adjuster. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 2001 Apr, 75(4), 291 - 9 {Development of chromogenic agar medium for isolation of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O26}; Ikedo M et al.; Agar media for isolation of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) have been developed primarily for E . coli O157, because this bacterium has most frequently caused EHEC infection . However, there have been few studies for isolation of other serotypes of EHEC, and media appropriate for isolation of such organisms, especially from food samples, are not yet available . Among such serotypes, E . coli O26 has often been isolated from clinical specimens from patients and animals, but not from food samples in outbreaks, because of lack of an appropriate method for isolation . In this study, we tried to develop a new chromogenic agar medium for selective isolation of E . coli O26 using the characteristics of E . coli O26 . Fifteen strains of E . coli O26, 11 strains of E . coli O157 and 36 strains of other sero-types E . coli were tested for fermentation of rhamnose, cellobiose, dulcitol, salicin, raffinose, sorbitol, sucrose, lactose, mannitol, arabinose, maltose, xylose and glucose . Rhamnose was fermented by all E . coli strains except for E . coli O26 . The other substrates were not effective for differentiating E . coli O26 from the other strains of E . coli . Thus the medium containing rhamnose and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, which is a substrate of beta-galactosidase specific to coliforms, produced a color of E . coli O26 colonies different from colors of the other bacteria . Furthermore, cefixime and sodium tellulite were added to the composition of the medium for gaining higher selectivity. Dev Dyn, 2001 May, 221(1), 92 - 105 An SNF2 factor involved in mammalian development and cellular proliferation; Raabe EH et al.; Members of the SNF2 (Sucrose Non-Fermenter) family of chromatin-remodeling proteins function in processes ranging from DNA repair to transcription to methylation . Using differential display, we recently identified a novel member of the SNF2 family that is highly expressed at the mRNA level in proliferating cells and is down-regulated during apoptosis . We have named this gene PASG (Proliferation-Associated SNF2-like Gene) . Northern blot analysis of adult mouse tissues shows PASG to be highly expressed in proliferating organs such as thymus, bone marrow, and testis and absent from nonproliferative tissues such as brain and heart . In situ hybridization analysis of mouse embryos shows that PASG is differentially expressed during development, with highest expression in developing face, limbs, skeletal muscle, heart, and tail . In vitro, PASG expression correlates with a shift from a quiescent to a proliferative state . Mice null for PASG (also known as LSH or Hells) are reported to die perinatally, although the mechanism for lethality is unclear (Geiman and Muegge, 2000) . To test the hypothesis that PASG functions in cell proliferation, we compared 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation in C33A cells transiently transfected with PASG versus empty vector and found that PASG transfected cells showed a significant decrease in the amount of BrdU incorporation . These findings suggest that PASG plays a role in cell proliferation and may function in the development of multiple cell lineages during murine embryogenesis . FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2001 May 15, 199(1), 137 - 41 The phosphocholine motif in membranes of Mycoplasma fermentans strains; Ben-Menachem G et al.; Mycoplasma fermentans strains differ in the profile of choline-containing phosphoglycolipids (PGL) present in their cell membrane . MfGL-II {Zahringer et al . (1997) J . Biol . Chem . 272, 26262-26270} was found to be the major PGL in most strains tested . However, in the pulmonary isolates, M52 and M39 the major choline-containing PGLs were MfGL-I {Matsuda et al . (1994) J . Biol . Chem . 269, 33123-33129} and MfEL, a unique choline-containing ether lipid recently identified by us {Wagner et al . (2000) Eur . J . Biochem . 267, 6276-6286} . MfGL-I, MfGL-II and MfEL were metabolically labeled by growing the cells with radioactive choline but only MfGL-I and MfGL-II {corrected} reacted with antiphosphocholine antibodies . All tested strains fused with Molt-3 cells at almost the same rate and to about the same extent and in all the strains membrane proteins that reacted with anti-phosphocholine antibodies were detected, indicating that some membrane proteins are decorated with phosphocholine moieties. Biotechnol Bioeng, 2001 Jul 5, 74(1), 49 - 61 Technical evaluation of the potential for streamlining of equipment validation for fermentation applications; Junker B; The purpose of this article is to provide a few concrete examples of the potential to acceptably reduce the scope of validation and qualification testing based on scientific justification for the specific area of microbial fermentation . The key areas explored include: autoclave operational qualification (OQ) testing, autoclave load pattern testing, vessel sterilize-in-place testing, spore strip use and failure investigation, grouping of D-values for media and concentrated nutrients, influence of temperature on D-values, and equipment clean-in-place cleaning agent/recovery studies . Suggestions are offered based on technical data and engineering analysis of the procedures involved . Methodologies are described for how to evaluate the systems being tested relative to processing requirements to determine which testing might be minimized and which testing might warrant expansion . The ultimate risk to quality then must be evaluated by the designated quality control groups within the organization for the specific process and equipment in use . J Dairy Sci, 2001 Apr, 84(4), 848 - 59 Initial pH as a determinant of cellulose digestion rate by mixed ruminal microorganisms in vitro; Mourino F et al.; In vitro fermentations of pure cellulose by mixed ruminal microorganisms were conducted under conditions in which pH declined within ranges similar to those observed in the rumen . At low cellulose concentrations (12.5 g/L), the first-order rate constants (k) of cellulose disappearance were successively lower at initial pH values of 6.86, 6.56, and 6.02, but in each case the value of k was maintained over a pH range of 0.3 to 1.2 units, as the fermentation progressed . Plots of k versus initial pH were linear, and k displayed a relative decrease of approximately 7% per 0.1 unit decrease in pH . At high cellulose concentration (50 g/L) and an initial pH of 6.8, cellulose digestion was initially zero order, the absolute rate of digestion declined with pH and digestion essentially ceased at pH 5.3 after only 30% of the added cellulose was digested . Further incubation resulted in a loss of bound N and P, suggesting that at low pH cells lysed or detached from the undigested fibers . Pure cultures of ruminal cellulolytic bacteria also were able to ferment cellulose to a minimum pH of 5.1 to 5.3, but the extent of fermentation was increased by coculture with noncellulolytic bacteria . A model is proposed in which the first-order rate constant of cellulose digestion is determined by the pH at which the fermentation is initiated, and end product ratios reflect greater activity of the noncellulolytic population as pH declines. Biomed Environ Sci, 2000 Dec, 13(4), 293 - 9 Subacute (90 days) oral toxicity studies of Kombucha tea; Vijayaraghavan R et al.; Kombucha tea (KT) is a popular health beverage and is used as an alternative therapy . KT is prepared by placing the kombucha culture in solution of tea and sugar and allowing to ferment . The inoculum is a fungus consisting of symbiotic colony of yeast and bacteria . KT is consumed in several countries and is believed to have prophylactic and therapeutic benefits in a wide variety of ailments, viz., intestinal disorders, arthritis, ageing and stimulation of immunological system . Though KT is used in several parts of the world its beneficial effects and adverse effects have not been scientifically evaluated . Since there are no animal toxicological data on KT, subacute oral toxicity study was carried out . Five groups of rats were maintained: (a) control group given tap water orally, (b) KT given 2 ml/kg orally, (c) plain tea (PT) given 2 ml/kg orally, (d) KT given in drinking water, 1% (v/v) and (e) PT given in drinking water, 1% (v/v) . The rats were given this treatment daily for a period of 90 days . Weekly records of weight, feed intake, water intake and general behaviour were monitored . There was no significant difference in the growth of the animals as evidenced by the progressive body weight change . The organ to body weight ratio and histological evaluation did not show any toxic signs . The haematological and biochemical variables were within the clinical limits . The study indicates that rats fed KT for 90 days showed no toxic effects. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 2000, 45(4), 335 - 8 Changes in the yeast metabolism at very high-gravity wort fermentation; Patkova J et al.; The rate of ethanol production increased with increasing wort gravity up to the initial wort concentration of 24%, reaching the maximum ethanol concentration of 6.2%, but its attenuation reached only 49% . The intracellular trehalose accumulation was proportional to the initial wort gravity, at 24 or 30% wort fermentation increased 3 or 4.5 times, respectively, compared to 12% wort fermentation . Trehalose accumulation began after exhaustion of glucose, ceased after uptake of approximately 65% reducing saccharides, despite of increasing ethanol or remaining saccharide concentration in the environment. Environ Technol, 2001 Mar, 22(3), 281 - 7 Prediction of a membrane-coupled anaerobic VFA fermenter efficiency using an empirical model; Kim JO et al.; An empirical model based on some statistical analysis for predicting produced volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration was developed to establish reliable design conditions of a membrane-coupled anaerobic VFA fermenter (MCAVF) and assess its performance with influent organics concentration (Ci), membrane filtration ratio (phi) and hydraulic loading rate (HLR) . The empirical model followed the same trend as the experimental data, which showed the effectiveness of the model . The relationship involving these three independent variables explained more than 90% of the variation in the dependent variable . A model explains that the produced VFA concentration is more sensitive to changes in influent organics concentration (Ci) and membrane filtration ratio (phi) than hydraulic loading rate (HLR) . This empirical model can predict the optimum values of operation parameters on many scenarios . Due to its simplicity, the empirical model can be used to design and operate a membrane-coupled anaerobic VFAs fermenter. Environ Technol, 2001 Mar, 22(3), 271 - 9 Multi-step sequential batch two-phase anaerobic composting of food waste; Shin HS et al.; This study was conducted to evaluate the newly devised process, called MUlti-step Sequential batch Two-phase Anaerobic Composting (MUSTAC) . The MUSTAC process consisted of several leaching beds for hydrolysis, acidification and post-treatment, and a UASB reactor for methane recovery . This process to treat food waste was developed with a high-rate anaerobic composting technique based on the rate-limiting step approach . Rumen microorganisms were inoculated to improve the low efficiency of acidogenic fermentation . Both two-phase anaerobic digestion and sequential batch operation were used to control environmental constraints in anaerobic degradation . The MUSTAC process demonstrated excellent performance as it resulted in a large reduction in volatile solids (VS) (84.7%) and high methane conversion efficiency (84.4%) at high organic loading rates (10.8 kg VS m(-3) d(-1)) in a short SRT (10 days) . Methane yield was 0.27 m3 kg(-1) VS, while methane gas production rate was 2.27 m3 m(-3) d(-1) . The output from the post-treatment could be used as a soil amendment, which was produced at the same acidogenic fermenter without troublesome moving . The main advantages of the MUSTAC process were simple operation and high efficiency . The MUSTAC process proved stable, reliable and effective in resource recovery as well as waste stabilization. Biotechnol Bioeng, 2001 Jun 20, 73(6), 458 - 64 Metabolic flux modeling of detoxification of acetic acid by Ralstonia eutropha at slightly alkaline pH levels; Yu J et al.; Ralstonia eutropha grows on and produces polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from fermentation acids . Acetic acid, one major organic acid from acidogenesis of organic wastes, has an inhibitory effect on the bacterium at slightly alkaline pH (6 g HAc/L at pH 8) . The tolerance of R . eutropha to acetate, however, was increased significantly up to 15 g/L at the slightly alkaline pH level with high cell mass concentration . A metabolic cell model with five fluxes is proposed to depict the detoxification mechanism including mass transfer and acetyl-CoA formation of acetic acid and the formation of three final metabolic products, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), active biomass, and CO(2) . The fluxes were measured under different conditions such as cell mass concentration, acetic acid concentration, and medium composition . The experimental results indicate that the acetate detoxification by high cell mass concentration is attributed to the increased fluxes at high extracellular acetate concentrations . The fluxes could be doubled to reduce and hence detoxify the accumulated intracellular acetate anions . Int J Neuropsychopharmacol, 1998 Jul, 1(1), 1 - 2 The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology; Lerer B et al.; Almost half a century ago, a series of remarkable therapeutic developments occurred and were soon recognised as milestones in the history of medicine . The introduction of lithium, chlorpromazine, imipramine and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors, within a few years of each other, radically altered the prospects for treating serious psychiatric disorders . Until then, electroconvulsive therapy had been the only definitive treatment available . Research on pharmacological agents that alleviate disturbances of mood, cognition and behaviour, was given an impetus that led to quantum expansion in the ensuing years . It has become customary to recount the history of neuropsychopharmacology from that time . Although this is an understandable bias, it ignores much fundamental research in neurophysiology, neurochemistry and pharmacology and clinical experimentation with psychoactive agents that laid the foundations for what was to follow . Nevertheless, neuropsychopharmacology is still a very young discipline . This manifests not only in chronology but in the ferment, rapid shifts in priorities and fluidity of fundamental concepts that are hallmarks of youth . The critical observer cannot but concede the likelihood that tenets held basic to contemporary neuropsychopharmacology could turn out to be substantially overemphasised, unacceptably simplistic or even incorrect, in the relatively near future . Perusal of major papers in the field, published no more than one or two decades ago, confirms this impression . Rather than detracting from the discipline, these attributes are what give neuropsychopharmacology its remarkable allure . There is the distinct feeling that much of what can be known has yet to be discovered . Steps equal to or greater in impact than those of half a century ago, wait to be taken. Bioresour Technol, 2001 Jul, 78(3), 309 - 12 Beneficial effects of Rhizopus oligosporus fermentation on reduction of glucosinolates, fibre and phytic acid in rapeseed (Brassica napus) meal; Vig AP et al.; Solid state fermentation was employed using Rhizopus oligosporus to develop a fermented product from rapeseed meal (RSM) . The contents of glucosinolates, thiooxazolidones, phytic acid and crude fibre declined by 43.1%, 34%, 42.4% and 25.5%, respectively, following inoculation with R . oligosporus . Fermentation also increased nitrogen and protein contents of the meal . This study may open a new prospective for a simple and cost effective technique for reduction of toxicants in RSM. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2001 Apr, 55(3), 333 - 40 HO gene polymorphism in Saccharomyces industrial yeasts and application of novel HO genes to convert homothallism to heterothallism in combination with the mating-type detection cassette; Tamai Y et al.; Southern blot analysis of industrial yeasts showed that all top-fermenting yeasts, distiller's yeasts and a proportion of wine yeasts tested in the present study produced a hybridization signal (approximately 7 kb), corresponding to a Saccharomyces cerevisiae-type HO gene (Sc-HO) . It also showed that bottom-fermenting yeasts gave rise to 7-kb and 4-kb hybridization signals, corresponding to the Sc-HO gene and the lager yeast HO gene (Lg-HO), respectively . Two wine yeasts produced a 4-kb hybridization signal, corresponding to Lg-HO; and one wine yeast produced 2.5-kb and 1.5-kb hybridization bands, corresponding to a S . uvarum-type HO gene (Uv-HO) . Partial nucleotide sequences of HO genes amplified from these wine yeasts perfectly matched those of Lg-HO and Uv-HO, respectively . HO disruption vectors were constructed by inserting a dominant selective marker PGK1p-neo and the mating-type detection cassette MFalpha1p-PHO5 within the Lg-HO or Uv-HO gene . From transformants carrying a single-disrupted ho gene, mating-competent progenies were easily obtained through meiosis . Moreover, mating-competent derivatives appearing at very low frequency could be obtained from a double-disrupted ho transformant without meiosis (even from a wine yeast lacking sporulation ability), because the sensitive phosphatase-staining method allowed detection of the Pho+ mating-competent derivatives from confluent colonies by the random spore method . Our study describes a rapid and convenient method for isolating mating-competent clones from industrial yeasts. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2001 Apr, 55(3), 296 - 300 Involvement of branched-chain amino acid aminotransferases in the production of fusel alcohols during fermentation in yeast; Eden A et al.; Organoleptic compounds produced by yeast during the fermentation of wort have a great impact on beer smell and taste . Among them, fusel alcohols are the major abundant volatile compounds . The availability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants in which the genes coding for the two branched-chain amino acid aminotransferases have been deleted offers the possibility of further defining the role of these enzymes in the formation of higher alcohols . Comparing the production profiles of different strains, it is clear that they are not all influenced in the same way by branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase mutations . First of all, as propanol is synthesised from alpha-ketobutyrate, the first metabolic intermediate in the anabolic pathway of isoleucine, neither the eca39 nor eca40 mutations have any effect on the production of this higher alcohol . On the other hand, it can be concluded that the eca40 mutation has a drastic effect on the production of isobutanol . To a certain extent, the same conclusion can be made for the production of active amyl alcohol and isoamyl alcohol, although the results suggest that another route could lead to the formation of these two higher alcohols. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2001 Apr, 55(3), 284 - 9 Solid-state fermentation: a promising microbial technology for secondary metabolite production; Robinson T et al.; Solid state (substrate) fermentation (SSF) has been used successfully for the production of enzymes and secondary metabolites . These products are associated with the stationary phase of microbial growth and are produced on an industrial scale for use in agriculture and the treatment of disease . Many of these secondary metabolites are still produced by submerged liquid fermentations (SmF) even though production by this method has been shown to be less efficient than SSF . As large-scale production increases further, so do the costs and energy demands . SSF has been shown to produce a more stable product, requiring less energy, in smaller fermenters, with easier downstream processing measures . In this article we review an important area of biotechnology, since the recent evidence indicates that bacteria and fungi, growing under SSF conditions, are more than capable of supplying the growing global demand for secondary metabolites. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2001 Apr, 55(3), 263 - 83 Metabolic engineering; Nielsen J; Metabolic engineering has developed as a very powerful approach to optimising industrial fermentation processes through the introduction of directed genetic changes using recombinant DNA technology . Successful metabolic engineering starts with a careful analysis of cellular function; based on the results of this analysis, an improved strain is designed and subsequently constructed by genetic engineering . In recent years some very powerful tools have been developed, both for analysing cellular function and for introducing directed genetic changes . In this paper, some of these tools are reviewed and many examples of metabolic engineering are presented to illustrate the power of the technology . The examples are categorised according to the approach taken or the aim: (1) heterologous protein production, (2) extension of substrate range, (3) pathways leading to new products, (4) pathways for degradation of xenobiotics, (5) improvement of overall cellular physiology, (6) elimination or reduction of by-product formation, and (7) improvement of yield or productivity. Enzyme Microb Technol, 2001 May 7, 28(7-8), 625 - 631 The potential application of aqueous two-phase systems for in situ recovery of 6-pentyl-infinity-pyrone produced by Trichoderma harzianum; Rito-Palomares M et al.; Commercial production of aroma compounds by de novo microbial biosynthesis has been principally limited by the low productivity so far achieved . Production of 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone (6PP), a coconut-like aroma compound, by Trichoderma harzianum has been limited by the toxic effect that occurs even at low concentration (<100 ppm) . This work evaluated the feasibility of the use of aqueous-two phase systems (ATPS), as in situ extraction systems, in order to overcome the toxic effects of 6PP and to improve culture productivity . The partition behaviour of 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone and Trichoderma harzianum mycelium in polyethylene glycol (PEG)-salt and PEG-dextran two-phase systems was investigated and it is reported for the first time . The evaluation of system parameters such as PEG molecular mass, concentration of PEG as well as salt, volume ratio (Vr) and dextran molecular mass, was carried out to determine under which conditions the 6PP partitions to the opposite phase that mycelium does . PEG-dextran systems proved to be unsuitable for the in situ recovery of 6PP because either 6PP and biomass partitioned to the same phase or a large extraction phase was required for the process . ATPS extraction comprising Vr = 0.26, PEG 1450 (7.2% w/w) and sulphate (16.6% w/w) provided the best conditions for the maximum accumulation of the biomass into the bottom phase and concentrated the 6PP in the opposite phase (i.e . 86% of biomass and 56% of 6PP of the total amount loaded from the fermentation extract into the ATPS) for ex situ bioseparation . However, this system caused complete inhibition of the growth of the microorganism during the in situ bioseparation, probably as a consequence of the high ionic strength resulting from the salt concentration . Consequently, two ATPS PEG 8000-sulphate (12%/7% and 6%/14%) were evaluated and proved to be more suitable in the potential application for the in situ recovery of 6PP. Enzyme Microb Technol, 2001 May 7, 28(7-8), 606 - 610 Thermostable, alkalophilic and cellulase free xylanase production by Thermoactinomyces thalophilus subgroup C; Kohli U et al.; Thermoactinomyces thalophilus produced cellulase free extracellular endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) at 50 degrees C and pH 8.5 . Maximum xylanase production was achieved in fermentation medium using birchwood xylan as substrate after 96 h of growth at 50 degrees C . Other agricultural substrates such as wheat bran, wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse and cornstover produced less xylanase . The crude enzyme preparation from mutant T . thalophilus P2 grown under optimised fermentation conditions showed no cellulase contamination and maximum xylanase activity of 42 U/ml at 65%deg;C and pH 8.5-9.0 . This enzyme with initial xylanase activity of 42 U/ml was found thermostable up to 65 degrees C and retaining 50% of its activity after its incubation for 125 min at 65 degrees C. Anal Chem, 2001 Apr 15, 73(8), 1862 - 8 Determination of substrate and product concentrations in lactic acid bacterial fermentations by proton NMR using the ERETIC method; Silvestre V et al.; A 1H NMR method is described for the determination of the concentration of a chemically diverse group of metabolites over a wide concentration range in fermentation medium . The method employs the use of the ERETIC signal, which produces a pseudo-FID acquired with the FID derived from the sample components . It is shown that this signal, once calibrated against an external standard solution, can be used to determine accurately the concentration of all components present in the medium . The method is rapid, reliable, and applicable to a wide range of biological fluids . Problems such as the invisibility of certain components in the spectrum are overcome by a simple regulation of the pH. J Biomater Appl, 2001 Apr, 15(4), 321 - 43 Gellan film as an implant for insulin delivery; Li J et al.; Gellan gum is an anionic polysaccharide produced by the aerobic fermentation of Pseudomonas elodea in batch culture . Gellan undergoes calcium-induced cross-linking to form a three-dimensional network, and this property makes it particularly attractive for the incorporation of biological moieties such as proteins . In this study, a procedure for the preparation of gellan films was developed and optimized, and the characteristics of these films were investigated . In addition, the effects of the concentration of each ingredient in gellan films and in vitro release behavior of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran from these films was examined . This film device was implanted for insulin delivery in diabetic rats . The blood glucose levels of the diabetic rats implanted with insulin-loaded films were about half of those implanted with blank films, and this therapeutic effect of insulin could last for one week . Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that the gellan film could be an ideal candidate in the development of protein delivery systems. Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao, 2001 Jan, 17(1), 24 - 8 {The effects of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin expression on growth and antibiotic production in Streptomyces cinnamonensis}; Wen Y et al.; Streptomyces cinnamonensis A-10 is a monensin \ producing strain . pHZ1252 is an E . coli-Streptomyces shuttle vector for expressing VHb, in which vhb structural gene is controlled by thiostrepton-inducible promoter PtipA . pHZ1252 was unstable in S . cinnamonensis, occurring deletion recombination . The deletion DNA fragment of pHZ1252 included not only part of E . coli plasmid but also vhb gene . However, plasmid pHZ1252 isolated from S . avermitilis transformants, which lost part of E . coli plasmid but still contained vhb gene and PtipA was stable in S . cinnamonensis and expressed VHb with biological activity after thiostrepton induction . Shake flask fermentation experiments showed that the presence of VHb in S . cinnamonensis efficiently enhanced cell growth and improved antibiotic production under aeration-poor conditions. J Biotechnol, 2001 May 18, 87(3), 273 - 7 Bioadsorption of lead(II) from aqueous solution by fungal biomass of Aspergillus niger; Jianlong W et al.; The removal of lead by waste fungal biomass of Aspergillus niger, originated from citric acid fermentation industry, was investigated . The experimental results indicated that the bioadsorption achieved equilibrium within 4 h . The kinetic analysis of lead adsorption onto the fungal biomass revealed that the bioadsorption process followed the first-order reaction kinetics . The adsorption isotherm can be simulated by Freundlich model, which gave a correlation coefficient equal to 0.93 . The lead-loaded biomass can be effectively regenerated by 0.1 M nitric acid . This research demonstrated that the waste biomass of A . niger is a potential bioadsorbent for the removal of lead from aqueous solution. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 2001 Mar, 65(3), 651 - 3 Inhibition of telomerase activity by fungus metabolites, CRM646-A and thielavin B; Togashi K et al.; We performed a screening program to identify telomerase inhibitors from our drug source obtained from fungus fermentations, and found that two compounds, CRM646-A and thielavin B, inhibited telomerase activity at doses of 3.2 and 32 microM, respectively . These compounds also inhibited the activity of viral reverse transcriptase at almost the same dose levels which inhibited telomerase activity. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 2001 Mar, 65(3), 527 - 33 Purification and characterization of an beta-D-xylosidase from Candida utilis IFO 0639; Yanai T et al.; An intracellular beta-D-xylosidase from Candida utilis IFO 0639 was purified to homogeneity through four chromatographic steps . The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 92 kDa by SDS-PAGE . The enzyme had an isoelectric point at 5.6, and was most active at pH 6.0 and at around 40 degrees C . Ethanol at an optimal concentration (10%, v/v) stimulated the initial enzyme activity by 57% . D-Xylose, the product of the beta-D-xylosidase, has no effect on the enzyme activity at 300 mM . The beta-D-xylosidase was highly specific to the beta-D-xylopyranoside configuration . The enzyme hydrolyzed beta-1,4-linked xylo-oligosaccharides with chain lengths from 2 to 5 by releasing xylose from the non-reducing end . It showed no activity against xylan . The enzyme efficiently released monoterpenols from an aroma precursor extracted from Muscat grape juice . The fermentation of Muscat juice coupled with the enzyme addition produced a small increase in the concentration of monoterpenols. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 2001 Mar, 65(3), 516 - 21 Natto mucilage containing poly-gamma-glutamic acid increases soluble calcium in the rat small intestine; Tanimoto H et al.; We prepared natto (fermented soybeans) mucilage containing poly-gamma-glutamic acid (gamma-PGA) from commercial natto . The effect of natto mucilage on calcium (Ca) solubility in vitro and in vivo was investigated . Ca solubility in vitro increased with an increase in the amount of natto mucilage, due to inhibition of the formation of an insoluble complex of Ca with phosphate by natto mucilage . Rats were fed with 5 g of soybean protein isolate, natto, mucilage-free natto, or natto mucilage diet for 1.5 h . Small intestinal contents were collected 2.5 h after ingestion . In the lower half of the small intestine, both the amount and the percentage of soluble Ca of intestinal contents were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in rats fed with natto mucilage diet than in those fed with the other diets . Natto mucilage also increased Ca solubility in vivo . These results suggested that gamma-PGA is responsible for the increasing effect of natto mucilage on Ca solubility. Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao, 2001 Jan, 17(1), 101 - 4 {Studies on lipase production from Candida rugosa}; Song QX et al.; We studied some factors affecting the lipase production from candida rugosa, they mainly included medium compositions and culture condition . The result showed that the optimal medium compositions for lipase production are 0.1% glucose 4.0% olive oil (carbon source), 0.3% NH4NO3(nitrogen source), 1.2% K2HPO4 and 0.4% MgSO4.7H2O . And the optimal culture condition is initial pH6.5, temperature 30 degrees C, agitation 180 r/min and time 60 h . As a result, and the lipase activity could reach 19.5 u/mL . Meanwhile we found that the surfactant could be helpful to the lipase production, and the optimal surfactant concentration was 0.03% GPE . The lipase activity was improved by more than 170% after we optimized the medium compositions and culture condition . While in a 5L fermentator, the lipase activity of fermentation broth could reach 33.5 u/mL within 48 hours. Water Res, 2001 May, 35(7), 1817 - 27 Anaerobic codigestion of municipal solid waste and biosolids under various mixing conditions--II: Microbial population dynamics; McMahon KD et al.; Microbial population dynamics were evaluated in anaerobic codigesters treating municipal solid waste and sewage sludge . Ribosomal RNA based oligonucleotide probes were used to characterize changes in population abundance of syntrophic volatile fatty acid degrading bacteria and methanogens . Changes in community structure were linked to traditional performance parameters during the recovery of previously unstable codigesters induced by a reduction in mixing levels . Methanosarcina spp . were the most abundant aceticlastic methanogens in unstable codigesters with high acetate concentrations, while Methanosaeta concilii was dominant in stable systems with low levels of acetate . Growth of Syntrophobacter wolinii was enhanced during stabilization of a codigester with a well-developed population of Methanobacteriaceae, possibly because the presence of adequate numbers of these hydrogenotrophic methanogens encouraged the syntrophic oxidation of propionate . Mesophilic saturated fatty acid beta-oxidizing syntrophs were most abundant in previously unstable codigesters . One minimally mixed reactor became unstable after switching to continuously mixed conditions . After the switch, total archaeal abundance decreased sharply, though Methanobacteriaceae and Methanosarcina spp . levels increased as the fermentation became unbalanced . Based on the results presented here, mixing appears to inhibit the syntrophic oxidation of volatile fatty acids, possibly by disrupting the spatial juxtaposition of syntrophic bacteria and their methanogenic partners. Yeast, 2001 May, 18(7), 585 - 95 Carnitine-dependent metabolic activities in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: three carnitine acetyltransferases are essential in a carnitine-dependent strain; Swiegers JH et al.; L-carnitine is required for the transfer of activated acyl-groups across intracellular membranes in eukaryotic organisms . In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, peroxisomal membranes are impermeable to acetyl-CoA, which is produced in the peroxisome when cells are grown on fatty acids as carbon source . In a reversible reaction catalysed by carnitine acetyltransferases (CATs), activated acetyl groups are transferred to carnitine to form acetylcarnitine which can be shuttled across membranes . Here we describe a mutant selection strategy that specifically selects for mutants affected in carnitine-dependent metabolic activities . Complementation of three of these mutants resulted in the cloning of three CAT encoding genes: CAT2, coding for the carnitine acetyltransferase associated with the peroxisomes and the mitochondria; YAT1, coding for the carnitine acetyltransferase, which is presumably associated with the outer mitochondrial membrane, and YER024w (YAT2), which encodes a third, previously unidentified carnitine acetyltransferase . The data also show that (a) L-carnitine and all three CATs are essential for growth on non-fermentable carbon sources in a strain with a disrupted CIT2 gene; (b) Yat2p contributes significantly to total CAT activity when cells are grown on ethanol; and that (c) the carnitine-dependent transfer of activated acetyl groups plays a more important role in cellular processes than previously realised . J Altern Complement Med, 2001 Apr, 7(2), 133 - 9 An analysis of nine proprietary Chinese red yeast rice dietary supplements: implications of variability in chemical profile and contents; Heber D et al.; OBJECTIVES: Some strains of Chinese red yeast rice, when prepared by solid fermentation, produce compounds called monacolins that inhibit cholesterol production . When used as a dietary supplement to achieve and maintain healthy cholesterol levels, Chinese red yeast rice has significant potential to reduce health care costs and contribute to public health by reducing heart disease risk in individuals with moderate elevations of circulating cholesterol levels . Whereas one proprietary strain of Chinese red yeast rice has been demonstrated to lower cholesterol levels significantly in clinical trials, other strains being sold as Chinese red yeast rice dietary supplements have not undergone similar evaluation . In order to determine whether the results of a clinical trial conducted with one strain of Chinese red yeast rice could be generalized to other preparations of Chinese red yeast rice, nine different commercially available dietary supplements were purchased tested for chemical constituents . DESIGN: Monacolins were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) that separates the various monacolins in Chinese red yeast rice . Citrinin concentration, a toxic fermentation byproduct, was measured by radioimmunoassay . RESULTS: Total monacolin content varied from 0% to 0.58% w/w and only 1 of 9 preparations had the full complement of 10 monacolin compounds . Citrinin was found at measurable concentrations in 7 of the 9 preparations . CONCLUSIONS: The findings from clinical trials demonstrating significant and clinically relevant cholesterol reduction using a defined Chinese red yeast rice preparation containing 10 different monacolins cannot be generalized to preparations that do not contain the same levels and profile of monacolins . Standardized manufacturing practices should be established for Chinese red yeast rice sold as a dietary supplement in order ensure equivalence of content of active ingredients in preparations being sold to the public and to limit the production of unwanted byproducts of fermentation such as citrinin . In common with other botanical dietary supplements, the full potential of this product will not be realized until standards for production and labeling of Chinese red yeast rice are further developed. J Anim Sci, 2001 Apr, 79(4), 1052 - 8 The effect of season and monensin sodium on the digestive characteristics of autumn and spring pasture fed to sheep; Maas JA et al.; The effects of season of growth and monensin treatment on ruminal digestion of fresh-cut autumn and spring pasture were measured in a single group of ruminally fistulated castrated male sheep, housed indoors in metabolism crates . Responses were assessed in terms of ruminal volatile fatty acid molar proportions, ammonia concentration, pH, apparent digestibility of the pasture, and nitrogen balance of the animals . Blood plasma concentrations of insulin, glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, urea, and NEFA were also evaluated . Autumn pasture contained significantly lower proportions of water-soluble carbohydrate (P < 0.05), cellulose (P < 0.05), and lignin (P < 0.05) and increased pectin (P < 0.05), hemicellulose (P < 0.05), and crude protein (P < 0.10) concentrations when compared with spring pasture . Voluntary DMI by sheep of autumn pasture was lower (P < 0.01) than that of spring pasture and was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced by monensin treatment . Monensin treatment significantly decreased the ruminal molar proportions of acetic acid (P < 0.10) and butyric acid (P < 0.001) and increased the molar proportions of propionic acid (P < 0.001) and minor VFA (P < 0.01) . Nitrogen retention of the sheep was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced by monensin treatment . Plasma glucose levels were increased (P < 0.10) by monensin treatment during the fourth 5-d collection period in both seasons . Chemical analysis suggested that the composition of autumn pasture was different from that of spring pasture and that this was manifested in vivo by increased DMI and digestibility of spring vs autumn pasture . Ruminal fermentation of autumn pasture also had an increased acetate-to-propionate ratio compared with spring pasture . Monensin treatment acted consistently across seasons by increasing the proportion of propionate and decreasing the proportion of acetate in ruminal fluid. J Anim Sci, 2001 Apr, 79(4), 1041 - 51 Effects of supplement type on animal performance, forage intake, digestion, and ruminal measurements of growing beef cattle; Bodine TN et al.; Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of supplement type on the rate of gain by heifers grazing bermudagrass and on the intake, apparent total-tract OM digestibility, ruminal fermentation, digesta kinetics, in situ DM digestibility, and forage protein degradation by steers fed prairie hay . In Exp . 1, 45 heifers (284+/-24 kg) grazed a bermudagrass pasture for 91 d in the late summer to determine the effects of no supplement (CON), or one of four individually fed monensin-containing (150 mg/{heifer x d}) supplements (MINCS; 0.1 kg of mineral mix with 0.2 kg {DM} of cottonseed hulls as a carrier/{heifer x d}), a pelleted protein supplement (PROT; 1 kg of DM, 242 g of degradable intake protein {DIP}/{heifer x d}), or high-fiber (HF) and high-grain (HG) (2 kg of DM, 243 and 257 g of DIP, respectively/{heifer x d}) pelleted energy supplements . In Exp . 2, four ruminally cannulated steers (311+/-22 kg) with ad libitum access to low-quality (4% DIP, 73% NDF, 40% ADF) prairie hay were individually fed monensin-containing (200 mg/{steer x d}) treatments consisting of 1) mineral mix + corn (MINCR; 0.1 kg of mineral and 0.4 kg of cracked corn {DM} as a carrier, 19 g of DIP/{steer x d}), 2) PROT (1.4 kg of DM, 335 g of DIP/{steer x d}), 3) HF, or 4) HG (2.9 kg of DM, 340 and 360 g of DIP, respectively/{steer x d}) in a 4 x 4 Latin square with 14-d adaptation and 6-d sampling periods . In Exp . 1, the HF-, HG-, and PROT-supplemented heifers had greater (P < 0.01) rates of gain than CON heifers, and the HF- and HG-supplemented heifers tended (P < 0.11) to gain more weight than those fed PROT . In Exp . 2, steers fed PROT consumed more (P < 0.05) hay OM than HF and HG, or MINCR . Total OM intake was greater (P < 0.01) by supplemented steers than MINCR-fed cattle . Hay OM digestibility was not affected (P = 0.19) by treatment, but total diet OM digestibility was greater (P < 0.01) for HF- and HG- than for MINCR- or PROT-fed steers . The rate of in situ DM digestibility was greater (P < 0.01) for HF, HG, and PROT than for MINCR . Results from these studies indicate that feeding milo- vs fiber-based energy supplements formulated to provide adequate DIP did not result in different forage intake, OM digestibility, or in situ DM digestibility, whereas both increased ADG in heifers consuming low-quality forages compared with unsupplemented or mineral- or protein-supplemented cattle . An adequate DIP:TDN balance decreased the negative associative effects often observed when large quantities of high-starch supplements are fed with low-quality hay. J AOAC Int, 2001 Mar-Apr, 84(2), 407 - 15 Rapid methods to enumerate Escherichia coli in foods using 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide; Ekholm DF et al.; Three methods to enumerate Escherichia coli in food were compared . They were based on AOAC methods using lauryl tryptose broth (LST) medium, LST-4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide (MUG) medium, and a proposed method using regular LST in combination with E . coli (EC)-MUG medium . An efficacious and cost-effective method is needed that can detect E . coli and does not produce false presumptive positives . We tested 170 cheeses, 40 frozen processed seafood samples, 210 tree nuts, and 40 other samples . The method of choice for enumerating E . coli depends on the commodity itself . For a product, such as hard cheese or processed seafood, with a history of being negative for E . coli and other lactose-fermenting organisms, the proposed method using regular LST/EC-MUG is a good choice . These samples were seldom presumptive positive in the primary LST medium . If gas was produced, EC-MUG was an effective secondary medium . No false positives (fluorescence) or negatives were detected in EC-MUG medium . For a product with a history of being positive for E . coli and/or other lactose fermenting organisms, such as tree nutmeats or cheeses that are ripened by bacteria or mold, the method using LST-MUG is the method of choice . A presumptive positive in the LST-MUG medium was highly correlative with the biochemical tests that confirmed a sample contain E . coli . For samples spiked with E . coli, the results from each of these 3 methods were identical, and were consistent in enumerating E . coli. Int J Food Microbiol, 2001 Apr 11, 65(1-2), 1 - 10 A Chinese fermented soybean food; Han BZ et al.; Sufu or furu is a fermented soybean product originating in China . It is a cheese-like product with a spreadable creamy consistency and a pronounced flavour . Sufu is a popular side dish consumed mainly with breakfast rice or steamed bread . It has a long history and written records date back to the Wei Dynasty (220-265 AD) . Sufu is made by fungal solid state fermentation of tofu (soybean curd) followed by aging in brine containing salt and alcohol . The present review is based on scientific data published in Chinese and international sources . Several types of sufu can be distinguished, according to processing method or according to colour and flavour . Choice of processing can result in mould fermented sufu, naturally fermented sufu, bacterial fermented sufu, or enzymatically ripened sufu . Depending on the choice of dressing mixture, red, white or grey sufu may be obtained . The stages of the process are discussed and include the preparation of tofu, the preparation of pehtze, salting and ripening . Fungal starters include Actinomucor spp., Mucor spp . and Rhizopus spp . The chemical composition is discussed with particular reference to the proximate composition, the amino acid content and profile, as well as the volatile flavour components of various types of sufu. Environ Microbiol, 2001 Feb, 3(2), 92 - 9 Coexistence of a sulphate-reducing Desulfovibrio species and the dehalorespiring Desulfitobacterium frappieri TCE1 in defined chemostat cultures grown with various combinations of sulfate and tetrachloroethene; Drzyzga O et al.; A two-member co-culture consisting of the dehalorespiring Desulfitobacterium frappieri TCE1 and the sulphate-reducing Desulfovibrio sp . strain SULF1 was obtained via anaerobic enrichment from soil contaminated with tetrachloroethene (PCE) . In this co-culture, PCE dechlorination to cis-dichloroethene was due to the activity of the dehalorespiring bacterium only . Chemostat experiments with lactate as the primary electron donor for both strains along with varying sulphate and PCE concentrations showed that the sulphate-reducing strain outnumbered the dehalogenating strain at relatively high ratios of sulphate/PCE . Stable co-cultures with both organisms present at similar cell densities were observed when both electron acceptors were supplied in the reservoir medium in nearly equimolar amounts . In the presence of low sulphate/PCE ratios, the Desulfitobacterium sp . became the numerically dominant strain within the chemostat co-culture . Surprisingly, in the absence of sulphate, strain SULF1 did not disappear completely from the co-culture despite the fact that there was no electron acceptor provided with the medium to be used by this sulphate reducer . Therefore, we propose a syntrophic association between the sulphate-reducing and the dehalorespiring bacteria via interspecies hydrogen transfer . The sulphate reducer was able to sustain growth in the chemostat co-culture by fermenting lactate and using the dehalogenating bacterium as a 'biological electron acceptor' . This is the first report describing growth of a sulphate-reducing bacterium in a defined two-member continuous culture by syntrophically coupling the electron and hydrogen transfer to a dehalorespiring bacterium. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc, 2000, 23(2-4), 113 - 7 Dietary antioxidative potential in arteries; Rilantono LI et al.; Many researches show that traditional Indonesian diet is good for physical health . The present study examines the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic potentials of aqueous extract of tempe (fermented soya-beans) and Curcuma domestica in an experimental photochemical thrombogenesis model using rat femoral artery . A total of 15 male Wistar rats weighing 250 g were used, and divided into three groups: control (group-1, n = 5), animals, treated orally with 0.25 ml aqueous extracts of 50 g tempe (fermented soybean cake) once daily for 7 consecutive days (group-2, n = 5) and animals treated orally with 0.25 ml aqueous extracts of 10 g roots of Curcuma domestica once daily for 5 consecutive days (group-3, n = 5) . All animals were anesthetized, and Sn-pyrophosphate and Tc99m solutions were injected intravenously for in vivo red cell radioactive labeling . Femoral arterial occlusion was observed, using a gamma camera . Induction of femoral arterial thrombosis was effected following an endothelial injury by free radicals produced by green light-irradiated Rose Bengal (10 mg/kg) . The results showed that in the control group arterial total flow occlusion was seen in 15 min of irradiation . The results of MDA absorbency was 0.3700 +/- 1.7 nmol/ml in control group-1, 0.0520 +/- 0.025 in group-2 (significant p < 0.05 in comparison to control group) and 0.2780 +/- 0.027 in group-3 (non-significant) . Interleukin-1alpha plasma level was 14.44 +/- 2.3 in control group-1, 8.93 +/- 2.4 in group-2 (significant p < 0.05), and 6.21 +/- 2.5 in group-3 (significant p < 0.05) . Plasma thromboxane B2 plasma level was 20.31 +/- 2.4 in control group-1, 14.32 +/- 2.2 in group-2 (significant p < 0.05), and 19.41 +/- 2.1 in group-3 (significant) . This study suggests the potential antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effect that the dietary aqueous extracts has in rat femoral artery. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2001 Mar, 51(Pt 2), 489 - 93 Methanobacterium congolense sp . nov., from a methanogenic fermentation of cassava peel; Cuzin N et al.; Strain CT, a non-motile, mesophilic, hydrogenotrophic, methanogenic bacterium, was isolated from an anaerobic digester used for the treatment of raw cassava-peel waste in Congo . The cells were rods, 0.4-0.5 x 2-10 microm in size, and stained Gram-positive . Hydrogen and carbon dioxide were the only substrates that supported growth and methane production . Methane production, but not growth, occurred with CO2 in the presence of either 2-propanol, 2-butanol or cyclopentanol as hydrogen donors . The temperature range for growth was 25-50 degrees C, the optimum being between 37 and 42 degrees C . The optimum pH for growth was 7.2; consistent growth and methane production were not observed below pH 5.9 or above pH 8.2 . The doubling time under optimal growth conditions was 7.5 h . The DNA base composition was 39.5 mol% G+C . On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and phenotypic characteristics, the isolate is proposed as a new species of the genus Methanobacterium, namely Methanobacterium congolense sp . nov . The type strain is strain CT (= DSM 7095T = OCM 779T). Br J Nutr, 2001 Mar, 85 Suppl 1, S17 - 21 Tolerance to low-digestible carbohydrates: symptomatology and methods; Marteau P et al.; Low-digestible carbohydrates (LDCs) are incompletely or not absorbed in the small bowel and fermented in the colon . They are usually well tolerated but may also have some dose-related undesirable effects due to their natural osmotic potential and/or excessive fermentation: borborygmi, excessive flatus, bloating, abdominal cramps and eventually diarrhoea . There is an important intersubject variability in the tolerance to LDCs because of differences in absorption capacity, motility pattern, colonic response and intestinal sensitivity . There is also a great intrasubject variability, depending on the type of LDC, dosage and type of consumption . Absorption of LDC in the small intestine can be assessed using hydrogen breath test or intubation techniques or analysis of ileostomy effluents . Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are required to assess the subjective symptoms of intolerance, and the experimental conditions may influence the results. Ann R Coll Surg Engl, 2001 Mar, 83(2), 75 - 80 The role of the colonic flora in maintaining a healthy large bowel mucosa; Chapman MA; This work explores the intricate relationships between bacterial products of fermentation, the short chain fatty acids and the effect that these have on the colonic epithelium and the immune system . It confirms that butyrate is a major energy source for the colonic epithelium and there may be a minor epithelial abnormality in the metabolism of butyrate in patients with ulcerative colitis . Immunological studies suggest that butyrate has an effect on lymphocyte activation and inhibits cell proliferation . Possibly, butyrate induces anergy in lymphocytes via an effect on the TCR receptor . This may represent a mechanism whereby colonic bacteria are able to regulate the host immune response . An abnormal response to butyrate may upset the homeostasis between the gut immune system and the colonising bacteria resulting in epithelial unrest and inflammation. Biotechnol Bioeng, 2001 Jun 5, 73(5), 370 - 8 Strength of mid-logarithmic and stationary phase Saccharopolyspora erythraea hyphae during a batch fermentation in defined nitrate-limited medium; Stocks SM et al.; A method for measuring mechanical properties of Saccharopolyspora erythraea is reported with data from a batch fermentation . Briefly, hyphae were glued to the end of a tungsten filament mounted horizontally on a sensitive force transducer . Free ends of hyphae were trapped against a flat surface by a second probe . The force transducer and tungsten filament were then moved at a fixed rate, the hypha were strained, and the force resisting motion recorded . From these data the maximum force resisting motion is taken as the force at which breakage occurs . Hyphae from the mid-logarithmic phase of a simple batch fermentation on defined medium were found to have a breaking force of 890 +/- 160 nN (95% confidence), while stationary phase hyphae were weaker at 580 +/- 150 nN . Video recordings of the experiments allowed an approximation of breaking strain, which did not differ significantly between samples at 0.18 +/- 0.03 . Electron microscopy was used