Fermentations

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1988 Oct 31, 156(2), 695 - 700
Mutation affecting peptide bond formation in nikkomycin biosynthesis; Engel P et al.; Nikkomycin, a nucleoside-peptide analog of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, is a potent chitin synthase inhibitor produced by the bacterium Streptomyces tendae . The HPLC profile of fermentation products in culture broths of a non-producing mutant, Nik 15, was compared with nikkomycin standards . Nikkomycin C and D, the glycone and aglycone moieties, respectively, of nikkomycin Z accumulated . This indicates the mutation affects the capacity to form a peptide bond between nikkomycin C and D, which is here proposed to be the terminal step in the synthesis of the biologically active nikkomycin Z . This is also the first documented case of a mutation affecting a specific step in nikkomycin biosynthesis.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1988 Oct 31, 156(2), 733 - 9
Control of misincorporation of de novo synthesized norleucine into recombinant interleukin-2 in E . coli; Tsai LB et al.; Interleukin-2 produced from a recombinant E . coli was found to contain as much as 19% norleucine in place of methionine in a minimal medium fermentation . Medium supplementation experiments and use of a leucine-requiring mutant host strain indicated the origin of norleucine to be de novo biosynthesis by reactions involving the enzymes of the leucine biosynthetic pathway . The misincorporation was highly suppressed by addition of either L-leucine or L-methionine to the fermentation and completely suppressed by adding both amino acids.

J Chromatogr, 1988 Oct 19, 450(1), 115 - 9
Isolation of gentamicin C compounds from culture filtrates of Micromonospora purpurea; Jork H et al.; A liquid chromatographic method was developed for the isolation of gentamicin C compounds from commercial fermentation products in order to monitor health hazards (oto- and nephrotoxicity) . Chromatography was carried out on silica gel 60 (15-40 microns) with a medium-pressure chromatographic system, employing methanol-25% ammonia solution (85:15, v/v) and methanol-chloroform-25% ammonia solution (20:10:5, v/v) as mobile phases . The eluted fractions were neutralized with 1.0 M hydrochloric acid, concentrated in vacuo and desalted by gel filtration . It was possible to demonstrate by 1H NMR spectroscopy and high-performance liquid and thin-layer chromatography that the separated fractions contained components C1, C1a and C2 in purities of more than 95%.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Oct, 54(10), 2510 - 4
Comparisons of ruminal fermentation characteristics and microbial populations in bison and cattle; Towne G et al.; Ruminal microbial populations, fermentation characteristics, digestibility, and liquid flow rates in two ruminally cannulated bison and two ruminally cannulated Hereford steers fed a prairie hay diet were compared . No significant differences in anaerobic bacterial counts, volatile fatty acid concentrations, or ruminal pHs were evident between bison and cattle . Also, no significant differences in neutral detergent fiber digestibility, indigestible fiber retention time, or intake were detected between bison and cattle, although cattle had higher levels (P less than 0.08) of ruminal dry matter and indigestible fiber than bison . Bison had a smaller (P = .02) ruminoreticular volume, faster liquid dilution rates, and faster liquid turnover times than cattle . The average ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration was higher (P = 0.02) in bison (1.17 mg/dl) than in cattle (0.79 mg/dl) . Total ciliate protozoal counts and cell volume were greater (P = 0.07) in bison (32.8 x 10(4)/g and 407.1 x 10(-4) ml/g, respectively) than in cattle (15.7 x 10(4)/g and 162.2 x 10(-4) ml/g, respectively) . Bison harbored higher (P less than 0.02) numbers of Dasytricha spp., Eudiplodinium maggii, Eudiplodinium bursa, and Epidinium spp . than cattle and possessed a type B protozoan population . The cattle possessed a mixed type A-type B population that was characterized by Ophryoscolex spp . and Polyplastron spp . in association with low concentrations of Epidinium spp . and Eudiplodinium maggii.

Pharmazie, 1988 Oct, 43(10), 717 - 9
{Griseochelin methyl ester, a new polyether derivative with antiviral activity}; Tonew E et al.; The methylester of griseochelin (1) is a new chemically-made antiviral derivate of the antibiotic griseochelin isolated from fermentations of Streptomyces griseus . It belongs to the polyether group and possesses antiviral activity against enveloped RNA and DNA viruses cultivated in chicken embryo cells (CEC), namely influenzavirus A/WSN, vesicularstomatitis virus (Indiana), vaccinia virus (Lister) and herpes simplex hominis virus type 1 (Kupka) . The methylester of griseochelin failed to show virucidal effects on extracellular influenza vacciniavirus particles or to influence virus adsorption and penetration processes . The antibiotic in concentrations of 125-15 micrograms/ml inhibited the virus-induced cytopathic effect of the above mentioned viruses and caused over 90 per cent plaque reduction . Addition of 1 during a one-step growth cycle of influenzavirus A at 4 and 6 h p.i . resulted in complete suppression of virus multiplication at the control niveau of the virus yield accumulated to the same time point . A partial reversibility of the antiviral action against influenzavirus A could be achieved . Coxsackie A9 virus growth in human fibroblast cells was not affected by the inhibitor . Electron-optical observations showed a failure of the formation of the viral capside proteins of HSV type 1 at the second halftime of the replication cycle in CEC-infected and 1-treated cultures.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Oct, 41(10), 1300 - 15
Phenelfamycins, a novel complex of elfamycin-type antibiotics . II . Isolation and structure determination; Hochlowski JE et al.; A novel complex of elfamycin-type antibiotics has been isolated from submerged fermentation of either Streptomyces violaceoniger AB 999F-80 or Streptomyces violaceoniger AB 1047T-33 . Antibiotics were extracted from the fermentation broth with ethyl acetate and from the mycelia with acetone . Purification of individual components was achieved by a combination of solvent partitions, Sephadex LH-20 exclusion, C18 bonded-phase silica gel adsorption, diol partition and liquid-liquid countercurrent chromatographies . Seven closely related components were separated and assigned structures 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 16 to phenelfamycins A to F respectively and structure 17 to unphenelfamycin . These structures were elucidated employing a variety of spectroscopic techniques, including extensive use of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.

J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Oct, 26(10), 2213 - 5
Dysgonic fermenter 3 bacteremia in a neutropenic patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia; Aronson NE et al.; Persistent dysgonic fermenter 3 bacteremia occurred in a granulocytopenic leukemic patient on broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy . This is the first reported case of bacteremia with this fastidious gram-negative rod . Characteristic microbiology and antibiotic susceptibility testing are reviewed . Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy eliminated the bacteremia.

Curr Genet, 1988 Oct, 14(4), 319 - 23
The MAL63 gene of Saccharomyces encodes a cysteine-zinc finger protein; Kim J et al.; Inducible maltose fermentation by Saccharomyces carlesbergensis requires the product of the MAL63 gene of the MAL6 locus . It has been suggested that this gene product is an activator protein controlling the expression of the structural genes encoding the maltose fermentative enzymes perhaps by binding to DNA sequences upstream of these genes . We report the sequence of the MAL63 gene . A single open reading frame is seen capable of encoding a protein of 470 amino acid residues . The deduced sequence of this protein indicates that it is a cysteine-zinc finger protein supporting the hypothesis that the MAL63 gene product is a DNA binding protein.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Oct, 41(10), 1358 - 65
Enhanced production of the minor components of glidobactins in Polyangium brachysporum; Numata K et al.; Polyangium brachysporum sp . nov . strain ATCC 53080 produces a novel type of antifungal and antitumor antibiotic complex, glidobactins A, B and C . Enhanced production of minor components, glidobactins B and C, was achieved by medium modification . The addition of soybean oil or corn oil, which are rich in unsaturated C18 fatty acids, to the fermentation medium led to an increased production of components B and C . Productivity of component C was selectively enhanced by the addition of oleic acid-rich oils, olive oil and Tween 80 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate) . Furthermore, precursing palmitoleate, linoleate and oleate permitted the direct biosynthesis of components A, B and C, respectively . The fermentation with 3% addition of an appropriate oil at initial time provided an optimal production of component B or C.

Am J Clin Nutr, 1988 Oct, 48(4 Suppl), 1079 - 159
The acceptability of milk and milk products in populations with a high prevalence of lactose intolerance; Scrimshaw NS et al.; 1) Most humans, like other mammals, gradually lose the intestinal enzyme lactase after infancy and with it the ability to digest lactose, the principle sugar in milk . At some point in prehistory, a genetic mutation occurred and lactase activity persisted in a majority of the adult population of Northern and Central Europe . 2) Persistence of intestinal lactase, the uncommon trait worldwide, is inherited as a highly penetrant autosomal-dominant characteristic . Both types of progeny are almost equally common when one parent is a lactose maldigester and the other a lactose digester . 3) The incidence of lactose maldigestion is usually determined in adults by the administration in the fasting state of a 50-g dose of lactose in water, the equivalent of that in 1 L of milk . Measurement is made of either the subsequent rise in blood glucose or the appearance of additional hydrogen in the breath . It is also sometimes identified by measuring lactase activity directly in a biopsy sample from the jejunum . For children the test dose is reduced according to weight . Depending on the severity of the lactase deficiency and other factors, the test dose may result in abdominal distention, pain, and diarrhea . 4) The frequency of lactose maldigestion varies widely among populations but is high in nearly all but those of European origin . In North American adults lactose maldigestion is found in approximately 79% of Native Americans, 75% of blacks, 51% of Hispanics, and 21% of Caucasians . In Africa, Asia, and Latin America prevalence rates range from 15-100% depending on the population studied . 5) Whenever the lactose ingested exceeds the capacity of the intestinal lactase to split it into the simple sugars glucose and galactose, which are absorbed directly, it passes undigested to the large intestine . There it is fermented by the colonic flora, with short-chain fatty acids and hydrogen gas as major products . The gas produced can cause abdominal distention and pain and diarrhea may also result from the fermentation products . 6) Among individuals with incomplete lactose digestion, there is considerable variation in awareness of lactose intolerance and in the quantity of lactose that can be ingested without symptoms . A positive standard lactose test is not a reliable predictor of the ability of an individual to consume moderate amounts of milk and milk products without symptoms . In usual situations the quantity of lactose ingested at any one time is much less than in the lactose-tolerance test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Int J Food Microbiol, 1988 Oct, 7(2), 135 - 45
Evaluation of simplified and commercial systems for identification of foodborne yeasts; Deak T et al.; Commercial identification kits (API 20C, API Yeast-Ident and API-Zym) were compared with a conventional but simplified identification method (SIM) for identifying seventy-two yeast isolates from fresh sweet corn . SIM failed to provide identification of two isolates . Of the twenty species identified, only eleven were included in the API 20C profile index . Three isolates were identified at the species level and three were identified at the genus level with 100% accuracy . The enzyme kit (Yeast-Ident) gave rather unreliable results, in that identification of only four isolates with 75 to 85% of appropriate reactions was made . The API 20C kit could be used to identify non-clinical yeasts, provided they were included in its database and a few additional tests (urease reaction, nitrate assimilation and glucose fermentation) were also performed.

J Biol Stand, 1988 Oct, 16(4), 259 - 67
The production of mycobacterial antigens by homogeneous culture in a fermentor; Nyabenda J et al.; Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG, substrain 1173P2, has been grown in homogeneous culture in classical synthetic Sauton medium without supplementary ingredients . The culture conditions are described . The protein release in the culture medium and the tuberculin yield after 2% trichloroacetic acid precipitation were significantly improved . The antigenicity of the tuberculin has been successfully assayed on specifically sensitized guinea-pigs . It is concluded that homogeneous mycobacterium culture in a fermentor using synthetic medium is a suitable method for the large scale production of antigen.

Am J Vet Res, 1988 Oct, 49(10), 1669 - 72
Isolation and identification of mycoplasmas from the nasal cavity of sheep; Brogden KA et al.; Mycoplasmas isolated from the nasal cavity of sheep in a ram test station were examined to determine their identity and prevalence . Specimens were obtained for mycoplasmal culture in 1980, 1982, and 1983 from 558 sheep, and mycoplasmas were isolated from 630 specimens from 320 sheep (57.3%) . The isolates were characterized and differentiated into groups on the basis of sensitivity to digitonin, fermentation of glucose, and hydrolysis of arginine . Isolates in some groups were further characterized by use of additional diagnostic media, and their identity was confirmed by agglutination or growth inhibition with antiserum prepared from reference mycoplasmas . Of the 320 sheep with mycoplasmas, 293 had Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, 12 had M arginini, and 1 had M capricolum . Two sheep had Acholeplasma spp, and 3 sheep had unidentified Mycoplasma spp . The remaining 9 sheep had M ovipneumoniae in combination with Acholeplasma spp (n = 3), M arginini (n = 3), M capricolum (n = 2), and an unidentified Mycoplasma spp (n = 1) . The biochemical reactions of the M ovipneumoniae from the 293 sheep were similar, but varied in the degree of growth and fermentation in the basal medium containing glucose . The high prevalence of M ovipneumoniae indicated that it may be commensal in the upper respiratory tract of healthy sheep.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Oct, 170(10), 4437 - 44
Influence of nar (nitrate reductase) genes on nitrate inhibition of formate-hydrogen lyase and fumarate reductase gene expression in Escherichia coli K-12; Stewart V et al.; In Escherichia coli, aerobiosis inhibits the synthesis of enzymes for anaerobic respiration (e.g., nitrate reductase and fumarate reductase) and for fermentation (e.g., formate-hydrogen lyase) . Anaerobically, nitrate induces nitrate reductase synthesis and inhibits the formation of both fumarate reductase and formate-hydrogen lyase . Previous work has shown that narL+ is required for the effects of nitrate on synthesis of both nitrate reductase and fumarate reductase . Another gene, narK (whose function is unknown), has no observable effect on formation of these enzymes . We report here our studies on the role of nar genes in fumarate reductase and formate-hydrogen lyase gene expression . We observed that insertions in narX (also of unknown function) significantly relieved nitrate inhibition of fumarate reductase gene expression . This phenotype was distinct from that of narL insertions, which abolished this nitrate effect under certain growth conditions . In contrast, insertion mutations in narK and narGHJI (the structural genes for the nitrate reductase enzyme complex) significantly relieved nitrate inhibition of formate-hydrogen lyase gene expression . Insertions in narL had a lesser effect, and insertions in narX had no effect . We conclude that nitrate affects formate-hydrogen lyase synthesis by a pathway distinct from that for nitrate reductase and fumarate reductase.

Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 1988 Oct, 10(5), 408 - 13
Acylphosphatase increases the rate of ethanol production from glucose in cell-free extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Ramponi G et al.; Addition of acylphosphatase exerted a stimulating effect on the alcoholic fermentation of glucose by Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The rates of glucose degradation and ethanol production by cell-free extracts of the S-288C strain were measured in the absence and in the presence of various levels of this enzyme . Two acylphosphatase isoenzymes were used; one was purified from horse skeletal muscle and the other from human erythrocytes . Both increased the rate of alcoholic fermentation, but that from erythrocytes proved to be the more efficient . This stimulating action is probably due to an "uncoupling effect" of acylphosphatase on the fermentative process, through hydrolysis of 3-phosphoglyceroyl phosphate . This was demonstrated by the fact that alcoholic fermentation was stimulated considerably by a mixture of ADP and inorganic phosphate and by arsenate as well . The possibility of improving the fermentative capacity of microorganisms may have important biotechnological applications.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1988 Sep 16, 971(2), 223 - 6
The high-affinity glucose uptake system is not required for induction of the RAS-mediated cAMP signal by glucose in cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Mbonyi K et al.; Addition of glucose or related fermentable sugars to yeast cells grown on non-fermentable carbon sources, triggers a RAS-protein mediated cAMP signal which induces a protein phosphorylation cascade . The high-affinity glucose uptake system in yeast cells is known to be glucose-repressible and only functional in strains containing at least one active kinase . In strains containing point or disruption mutations in the SNF3 gene, which codes for the high-affinity glucose carrier, the glucose-induced cAMP signal is still present . This indicates that the previously demonstrated requirement of a functional kinase for the induction of the cAMP signal, does not reflect requirement of high-affinity sugar transport . It also indicates that the unknown glucose-repressible protein in the induction sequence of the RAS-mediated cAMP signal is not the high-affinity sugar carrier.

J Med Chem, 1988 Sep, 31(9), 1687 - 94
Cyclopentenylcytosine . A carbocyclic nucleoside with antitumor and antiviral properties; Marquez VE et al.; Cyclopentenylcytosine (CPE-C, 2), a pyrimidine analogue of the fermentation derived carbocyclic nucleoside neplanocin A, has been synthesized from the optically active cyclopentenylamine 3b by two synthetic routes . CPE-C demonstrates significant antitumor activity against both the sensitive and ara-C resistant lines of L1210 leukemia in vivo . Multiple long term survivors are produced in both tumor models . The compound also gives 100% growth inhibition of the solid human A549 lung and MX-1 mammary tumor xenografts grown in athymic mice . Good activity is also observed against a third human tumor xenograft model, metastatic LOX melanoma . CPE-C has significant activity against both DNA and RNA viruses in vitro . Potent activity is observed against HSV-1 (TK+ and TK-), HSV-2, vaccinia, cytomegalovirus, and varicella-zoster virus . Good activity is also found against a strain of influenza virus (Hong Kong flu), vesicular stomatitis virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and Punta Toro virus.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Sep, 170(9), 3996 - 4000
Regulation of carbon and electron flow in Propionispira arboris: relationship of catabolic enzyme levels to carbon substrates fermented during propionate formation via the methylmalonyl coenzyme A pathway; Thompson TE et al.; A detailed study of the glucose fermentation pathway and the modulation of catabolic oxidoreductase activities by energy sources (i.e., glucose versus lactate or fumarate) in Propionispira arboris was performed . 14C radiotracer data show the CO2 produced from pyruvate oxidation comes exclusively from the C-3 and C-4 positions of glucose . Significant specific activities of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase were detected, which substantiates the utilization of the Embden-Meyerhoff-Parnas path for glucose metabolism . The methylmalonyl coenzyme A pathway for pyruvate reduction to propionate was established by detection of significant activities (greater than 16 nmol/min per mg of protein) of methylmalonyl coenzyme A transcarboxylase, malate dehydrogenase, and fumarate reductase in cell-free extracts and by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic demonstration of randomization of label from {2-13C}pyruvate into positions 2 and 3 of propionate . The specific activity of pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase, malate dehydrogenase, fumarate reductase, and transcarboxylase varied significantly in cells grown on different energy sources . D-Lactate dehydrogenase (non-NADH linked) was present in cells of P . arboris grown on lactate but not in cells grown on glucose or fumarate . These results indicate that growth substrates regulate synthesis of enzymes specific for the methylmalonyl coenzyme A path and initial substrate transformation.

Cancer Lett, 1988 Sep-Oct, 42(1-2), 113 - 8
The occurrence of N-nitrosocompounds {corrected} in zarda tobacco; Tricker AR et al.; The levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA), N-nitrosodiethanolamine, volatile and non-volatile N-nitroso compounds in zarda, a partially fermented Indian tobacco product are presented . Total identified N-nitroso compound concentrations ranged from 1.6 to 240 mg/kg fresh weight tobacco, TSNA accounted for 76-91% of the total N-nitroso compound burden . Preformed N-nitrosoethylmethylamine as well as the non-volatile compounds N-nitrososarcosine, N-nitrosoazetidine-4-carboxylic acid and N-nitrosothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid were identified for the first time in tobacco products . The high levels of N-nitroso compounds present in zarda tobacco indicate that zarda chewing communities are exposed to a considerable exogenic burden of potentially carcinogenic compounds, in particular TSNA.

Zh Vyssh Nerv Deiat Im I P Pavlova, 1988 Sep-Oct, 38(5), 958 - 62
{The adenylic system in the brain structures of rats with experimental myocardial infarct}; Stupnitskii IuI et al.; In rats experimental myocardial infarction, whether it was reproduced after a preliminary stress or in its absence, a reduction was found of ATP content initially appearing in the neocortex at the second day of the experiment . The deficit of providing of the energy in brain structures in a traditional variant of infarction reproduction increased still greater, and in the case of preliminary stressing the ATP content was reduced . Parallelly a characteristic change took place in the concentration of products of the fermentative ATP hydrolysis in the brain structures.

Br J Nutr, 1988 Sep, 60(2), 307 - 19
The effect of date of cut and barley substitution on gain and on the efficiency of utilization of grass silage by growing cattle . 2 . Nutrient supply and energy partition; Beever DE et al.; 1 . The effect of harvesting date of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) on the nutritive value of the resultant silage and the effect of substitution of late-cut silage with barley was examined in growing cattle . The diets comprised early-cut (H) and late-cut (L) silage offered alone or with 280 (LC1) or 560 (LC2) g rolled barley/kg total dry matter (DM) substituted for late-cut silage . 2 . Both silages were prepared with the addition of formic acid (850 milligram; 2.4 litres/t fresh weight) to a partially wilted crop, and were judged to be well fermented (pH 3.9, 3.8) with lactic acid contents of 108 and 73 g/kg DM, total nitrogen contents of 24.6 and 18.4 g/kg DM and ammonia-N contents of 121 and 124 g/kg total N (values for early- and late-cut silages respectively) . 3 . Two experiments were conducted to measure duodenal non-NH3-N (NAN) supply in relation to N intake on the four diets (feeding level 18 g DM/kg live weight (LW} and to examine the partition of the metabolizable energy (ME) supply from the four diets using open-circuit indirect calorimetry (three feeding levels, 14, 17 and 20 g DM/kg LW) . The experiments were undertaken with eight and nine Friesian male castrates respectively with a mean starting weight of 300 kg and age 12 months . The animals used in Expt 1 had been previously fitted with cannulas into the dorsal rumen and the proximal duodenum . 4 . NAN supply was significantly higher on diet H than all other diets which were similar irrespective of the level of barley inclusion . Mean ME contents (MJ/kg DM) of the two silages differed markedly (H 11.9, L 9.7) and barley addition (LC1 and LC2) restored values to 10.7 and 11.1 MJ/kg DM respectively . Estimated NAN absorption in relation to energy supply was significantly higher for diet H (1.47 g/MJ ME) than for all other diets (mean 1.25 g/MJ ME) . 5 . Partition of ME supply using conventional linear analysis indicated dietary differences with respect to estimated ME for maintenance (L greater than H, LC1 and LC2) and efficiency of utilization of ME supplied above maintenance (L greater than H, LC1 and LC2), but difficulties in biological interpretation of these findings led to the use of exponential curve analysis . This provided an improved description of the findings, and whilst dietary differences were apparent, none were statistically significant . It was concluded that a single exponential equation could be used satisfactorily to describe all values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Sep, 41(9), 1170 - 7
16-Deethylindanomycin (A83094A), a novel pyrrole-ether antibiotic produced by a strain of Streptomyces setonii . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and characterization; Larsen SH et al.; 16-Deethylindanomycin (A83094A) is a novel pyrrole-ether antibiotic produced by a strain of Streptomyces setonii . The antibiotic, which is structurally similar to indanomycin (X-14547A), is active in vitro against Gram-positive bacteria as well as coccidia.

Arch Latinoam Nutr, 1988 Sep, 38(3), 543 - 67
{Lactose tolerance and milk consumption: myths and realities}; Scrimshaw NS et al.; The disaccharide lactose, the principal carbohydrate of animal milks, requires the enzyme lactase to split it to glucose and galactose . Undigested lactose passes to the colon where fermentation produces hydrogen and short-chain fatty acids that can cause abdominal distention, pain and sometimes diarrhea . Persistence of intestinal lactase after early childhood, is inherited as a highly-penetrant autosomal dominant genetic characteristic . On the basis of a review of over 560 references, all available data on the primary loss of intestinal lactase in Latin American populations are presented in tabular form . Prevalence of lactose non-digesters in Latin American populations ranges from 45% to 100% . However, this is not a reliable predictor of the acceptability of milk and milk products containing lactose . Milk is being used successfully for the supplementary feeding of children worldwide, and most lactose non-digesters can tolerate at least 240 ml of milk or the lactose equivalent in other products . Lactose maldigestion does not interfere with the absorption of the protein and essential micronutrients in milk . Information is provided on the lactose content of milk and milk products, on the usual milk consumption of Latin American populations, and on worldwide experimental and field observations of milk acceptability . Both adaptation to continued use of milk and milk products and relationships of milk use to various disease states in which intestinal lactase activity may be reduced are discussed . Some types of yoghurts are better tolerated because of the lactase activity of the bacteria used in their fermentation . For unusually intolerant individuals commercial enzyme preparations are available for addition to milk products but for most persons the additional cost is unnecessary.

Mol Biol Evol, 1988 Sep, 5(5), 469 - 85
Fitness effects of amino acid replacements in the beta-galactosidase of Escherichia coli; Dean AM et al.; Two genetic procedures were used to obtain amino acid replacements in the lacZ-encoded beta-galactosidase in Escherichia coli . Amino acid replacements could be obtained without regard to their effects on lactase activity by selecting spontaneous mutations that relieved the strong polarity of six nonsense mutations . When streaked on MacConkey-lactose indicator plates, approximately 75% of these mutants gave strong red lactose-fermenting colonies, and 25% gave white nonfermenting colonies . Mutants from 11 other nonsense codons were isolated directly using MacConkey-lactose indicator plates, on which positive color indication requires only 0.5% of the wildtype lactase activity . Among the total of 17 codons, 25 variant beta-galactosidases were identified using electrophoresis and thermal denaturation studies . The fitness effects of these variant beta-galactosidases were determined using competition experiments conducted with lactose as the sole nutrient limiting the growth rate in chemostat cultures . Three of the replacements were deleterious, one was selectively advantageous, and the selective effects of the remaining 21 were undetectable under conditions in which the smallest detectable selection coefficient was approximately 0.4%/generation.

Q J Med, 1988 Sep, 68(257), 741 - 52
Dysgonic Fermenter-type 2: an emerging zoonosis . Report of two cases and review; Zumla A et al.; We report Dysgonic Fermenter-type 2 septicaemia presenting in two previously healthy individuals, and review 52 cases of infection with Dysgonic Fermenter-type 2 reported in the English language literature . This zoonosis is usually acquired through contact with dogs and cats . Infection often presents with little warning to patient or physician and carries a high mortality . The immunosuppressed patient, those without a spleen, alcoholics and those with chronic disease appear to be most susceptible, although the healthy individual is also prone to infection . The infection is probably underdiagnosed due to difficulties in isolating Dysgonic Fermenter-type 2 by conventional blood culture techniques . Clinical and microbiological awareness is of prime importance in the early diagnosis of this potentially lethal infection.

J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Sep, 134 ( Pt 9), 2507 - 11
Balance of production and consumption of ATP in ammonium-starved Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Lagunas R et al.; To establish a balance between the ATP produced in catabolism and the ATP consumed in net biosynthesis of cellular components the energy metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae utilizing glucose in the absence of a nitrogen source (resting cells) was studied . The following results were obtained . (i) Cell number and biomass increased 2- and 2.5-fold, respectively, during the first 8 h of ammonium starvation . After this period, both values remained constant . (ii) The rate of sugar consumption and ATP production decreased with the duration of starvation to about 20% of the original in 24 h . (iii) About 60% of the sugar consumed was fermented to ethanol and about 10% assimilated as cellular material . Of the assimilated sugar, as much as 80% was accumulated as carbohydrate . (iv) Only 15% of the total ATP produced in catabolism seems to be consumed in net biosynthesis and maintenance of intracellular pH . The fate of the remaining 85% is unknown.

Curr Genet, 1988 Sep, 14(3), 201 - 9
MAL63 codes for a positive regulator of maltose fermentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Chang YS et al.; Genetic analysis of the MAL6 locus has previously yielded mal6 mutants which fall into a single complementation group and which are noninducible for maltase and maltose permease . However, the strains used in these studies contained additional partially functional copies of MAL1 (referred to as MAL1g) and MAL3 (referred to as MAL3g) . Using a strain lacking MALg genes, we have isolated two classes of mutants and these classes correspond to mutations in MAL63 and MAL61, two genes of the MAL6 complex . Disruptions of MAL63 are noninducible for maltase and maltose permease and for their corresponding mRNAs . The mal6 mutants are shown to map to MAL63 . Inducer exclusion as a cause of the noninducible phenotype of the mal63 mutations has been eliminated by constructing a mal63 mutant in a strain constitutive for maltose permease; the strain remains noninducible . These results rigorously demonstrate that MAL63 is a regulatory gene which plays a positive role in the regulation of maltose fermentation.

Br J Nutr, 1988 Sep, 60(2), 197 - 207
Intestinal microflora and gastrointestinal adaptation in the rat in response to non-digestible dietary polysaccharides; Wyatt GM et al.; 1 . A comparison was made of the effect of a fibre-free diet and diets containing non-digestible polysaccharides on rat caecal and colonic physiology and microflora . 2 . All polysaccharide-containing diets led to enlargement of the caecum and colon, associated with increased weight of contents, and of tissue . Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) had the most marked effect and animals given this also had watery faeces . 3 . The density of bacteria in the caecum and colon varied significantly with diet and the proportion of aerobic bacteria in the flora was increased by the CMC diet . 4 . In vitro, CMC and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose were poorly fermented . 5 . There was a high correlation (caecum r 0.93; colon r 0.94) between tissue weight and wet weight of organ contents but no correlation with bacterial density, number of bacteria per organ, moisture content or short-chain fatty acid content . 6 . It is concluded that caecal and colonic enlargement is due to tissue hypertrophy in response to increased bulk of contents, irrespective of the nature of that bulk which varies with diet; it is unlikely that short-chain fatty acids or other microbial metabolites are the stimulus for the trophic response seen when non-digestible dietary polysaccharides are fed to rats.

Am J Clin Nutr, 1988 Sep, 48(3 Suppl), 762 - 7
Meat, starch, and nonstarch polysaccharides and large bowel cancer; Bingham SA; Starch and nonstarch polysaccharides enter the large gut where they are available for fermentation by the bacterial flora . The effect of fermentation on nitrogen metabolism, the supply of nutrients to the mucosa, and the carcinogen production is discussed in relation to epidemiological associations between dietary intake and large bowel cancer incidence.

Arch Tierernahr, 1988 Sep, 38(9), 817 - 23
{The occurrence of Fusarium varieties and their mycotoxins in silo corn . 3 . The effect of silaging on the zearalenone content of CCM corn}; Lepom P et al.; The influence of silaging on zearalenone already formed and on the growth of Fusarium culmorum in naturally contaminated CCM maize was studied . The zearalenone content remained approximately constant (13.35 +/- 2.94 mg/kg, n = 59) over the whole test period (12 weeks), whereas Fusarium culmorum could not longer be detected after 11 days . Thus the hypothesis that zearalenone survives the silaging process unchanged is experimentally strongly supported . The study confirms the view that zearalenone detected in maize silages is probably already formed in the field or during intermediate storing . Relations between the fermentation process and the toxin content of the silage could not be ascertained.

Parazitologiia, 1988 Sep-Oct, 22(5), 394 - 7
{Effect of nitroammofoska on the aldolase activity of the normal hemolymph in the mollusk Planorbarius banaticus and in trematode invasion}; Stadnichenko AP et al.; The infection of Planorbarius banaticus with sporocysts of Cotylurus cornutus is accompanied by an increase in aldolase activity of molluscs' haemolymph of 1.2 fold . In solutions of nitroammofoska (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/1) the activity of this ferment in infected individuals increases much higher than in non-infected ones . This results in fast carbohydrate expenditures by molluscs, intermediate hosts of trematodes, and their death from exhaustion.

Genetics, 1988 Sep, 120(1), 83 - 93
The naturally occurring alleles of MAL1 in Saccharomyces species evolved by various mutagenic processes including chromosomal rearrangement; Charron MJ et al.; In order for a yeast strain to ferment maltose it must contain any one of the five dominant MAL loci . Each dominant MAL locus thus far analyzed contains three genes: GENE 1, encoding maltose permease, GENE 2 encoding maltase and GENE 3 encoding a positive trans-acting regulatory protein . In addition to these dominant MAL loci, several naturally occurring, partially functional alleles of MAL1 and MAL3 have been identified . Here, we present genetic and molecular analysis of the three partially functional alleles of MAL1: the MAL1p allele which can express only the MAL activator; the MAL1 g allele which can express both a maltose permease and maltase; and the mal1(0) allele which can express only maltase . Based on our results, we propose that the MAL1p, MAL1g and mal1(0) alleles evolved from the dominant MAL1 locus by a series of rearrangements and/or deletions of this yeast telomere-associated locus as well as by other mutagenic processes of gene inactivation . One surprising finding is that the MAL1g-encoded maltose permease exhibits little sequence homology to the MAL1-encoded maltose permease though they appear to be functionally homologous.

Med Hypotheses, 1988 Sep, 27(1), 85 - 7
Dietary fibre and health: the role of hydrogen production; Neale RJ; The biological basis for the epidemiological association between high dietary fibre intakes and reduced disease incidence in Man is not fully understood . It is proposed that molecular hydrogen, produced in quite large amounts as a by-product of colonic fermentation of dietary fibre and unabsorbed carbohydrate may play an important role . Hydrogen in the tissues may act as a powerful reducing agent (antioxidant) of potentially damaging free radical species (e.g . singlet oxygen) and in so doing, along with other antioxidants would help in the control of these potentially damaging species and their known involvement in disease causation.

J Natl Cancer Inst, 1988 Aug 17, 80(12), 962 - 6
Microtiter assay useful for screening of cell-differentiation agents; Catino JJ et al.; Promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells induced to differentiate along the granulocytic and monocytic pathways respond to stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate by producing superoxide radicals . The amount of superoxide radical generation can be monitored by spectrophotometric measurement of cytochrome c reduction . We have developed a microtiter assay that assesses differentiation of HL-60 cells on the basis of cytochrome c reduction . HL-60 cells were incubated with known standards or unknown samples, including crude fermentation broths, for 6 days; then cytochrome c reduction was quantified as a function of increasing absorbance at 550 nm on a microtiter plate reader . HL-60 cells induced to differentiate showed up to a 10-fold increase in absorbance over that of control cells . Differentiation was confirmed by morphological assessment and by flow cytometric analysis of the DNA cell-cycle distribution and the cell-surface transferrin receptor . Analysis of 198 crude fermentation broth samples confirmed the feasibility of using this assay for large-scale drug screening.

J Anim Sci, 1988 Aug, 66(8), 2071 - 83
Effects of forage source on ruminal microbial nitrogen metabolism and carbohydrate digestion in continuous culture; Dahlberg EM et al.; Eight single-flow, continuous culture fermentors were used in Exp . 1 to study the effects of forage source on ruminal bacterial N metabolism and carbohydrate digestion . Forages included alfalfa, cicer milkvetch, birdsfoot trefoil and sainfoin with respective CP concentrations of 26.0, 28.7, 26.3 and 20.0% . Each forage provided 100% of the substrate for microbial metabolism and supplied 2.6 g N/d . Ammonia-N, protein degradation and efficiency of ruminal bacterial protein synthesis were lowest (P less than .05) for sainfoin . Protein degradation and efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis were higher (P less than .05) for birdsfoot trefoil than for alfalfa . Effluent flow of amino acids was highest (P less than .05) for sainfoin . Total nonstructural carbohydrate digestion tended to be highest for sainfoin and birdsfoot trefoil, whereas structural carbohydrate digestion was highest (P less than .05) for alfalfa and cicer milkvetch . In Exp . 2, mixed diets were supplied to dual-flow, continuous culture fermentors with alfalfa, cicer milkvetch, birdsfoot trefoil and sainfoin contributing 85% of the total dietary CP . Each diet contained approximately 12.9% CP . Ammonia-N concentration in the effluent and CP degradation tended to be lowest with the sainfoin diet and highest with the birdsfoot trefoil diet . Effluent flow of amino acids tended to be highest with the cicer milkvetch diet and lowest with the alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil diet . Total structural and nonstructural carbohydrate digestion was not different (P greater than .05) among forages . Results from these experiments indicate that bacterial degradation of protein was lower for sainfoin than for alfalfa . Birdsfoot trefoil and cicer milkvetch appear to be comparable to alfalfa with regard to metabolism of N and carbohydrates by ruminal bacteria.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Aug, 54(8), 2031 - 6
Relationship between nitrogen-fixing sulfate reducers and fermenters in salt marsh sediments and roots of Spartina alterniflora; Gandy EL et al.; A combination of inhibitors and carbon substrates was used to determine the relative contribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and fermenting bacteria to nitrogen fixation in a salt marsh sediment and on the roots of Spartina alterniflora . Because a lag period precedes acetylene-reducing activity (ARA) in amended sediments, an extensive analysis was done to be sure that this activity was due to the activation of dormant cells, not simply to cell proliferation . Since ARA was not affected by metabolic inhibitors such as rifampin, nalidixic acid, or methionine sulfoximine, it appeared that cell growth was not responsible for this activity . Instead, dormant cells were being activated by the added energy source . Molybdate inhibition studies with glucose-amended sediment slurries indicated that ARA in the upper 5 cm of the salt marsh was due primarily (70%) to SRB and that below that level (5 to 10 cm) it was due primarily (greater than 90%) to fermenting bacteria . ARA associated with washed roots of intact S . alterniflora plants was not inhibited by molybdate, which indicates that bacteria other than SRB were responsible . However, when the roots were excised from the plant, the activity (per unit of root mass) was 10-fold higher and was severely inhibited by molybdate . While this high activity is probably an artifact, due to the release of oxidizable substrates from the excised roots, it indicates that SRB are present in high numbers on Spartina roots.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Aug, 41(8), 999 - 1008
FR65814, a novel immunosuppressant isolated from a Penicillium strain . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical and biological characteristics and structure assignment; Hatanaka H et al.; FR65814, a novel immunosuppressant, was isolated from the cultured broth of Penicillium jensenii F-2883 . The structure was assigned to be 5,6-dihydroxy-4-(1,2-epoxy-1,5-dimethyl-4-hexenyl)-1-oxaspiro++ +{2,5}octane by spectroscopic analyses . The compound suppressed the immune response at low concentration . In addition, a structually related component fumagillol, a known carcinolytic agent, was also isolated and found to show immunosuppressive activity.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Aug, 41(8), 1009 - 14
Benadrostin, new inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase, produced by actinomycetes . I . Taxonomy, production, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological activities; Aoyagi T et al.; Benadrostin, a new inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase was discovered in the fermentation broth of Streptomyces flavovirens MH499-O'F1 . It was purified by chromatography followed by solvent extraction and then isolated as colorless prisms . Benadrostin has the molecular formula of C8H5NO4 . It was competitive with the substrate, and the inhibition constant (Ki) was 34 microM.

Behring Inst Mitt, 1988 Aug, (83), 1 - 7
Production of recombinant human colony stimulating factors in yeast; Gillis S et al.; Efficient yeast expression and purification systems for production of recombinant human GM-CSF, IL-3 and G-CSF have been established . Though yeast-derived production of recombinant CSFs (through the use of secretion based system) allows for generation of native molecules which can then be readily separated from fermentation broth, in many instances, natural cDNAs have had to be altered to allow for efficient expression, as well as production of a less heterogeneous product . In the case of CSFs described herein, beneficial mutations (made through site-directed mutagenesis) have included elimination of potential N-linked glycosylation sites, removal of KexII protease recognition sites (notably alterations in dibasic sequences) and elimination of extraneous cysteine residues which might complicate isolation of a homogeneous product due to intermolecular disulfide bonding.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Aug, 170(8), 3443 - 7
A deficiency in cyclic AMP results in pH-sensitive growth of Escherichia coli K-12; Ahmad D et al.; Mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 deficient in adenyl cyclase (cya) and catabolite activator protein (crp) have been shown to grow more slowly than their parent strains in glucose-minimal medium . Their growth rate decreased markedly with increasing pH between 6 and 7.8 . We have shown that this pH sensitivity is a direct consequence of the cya mutation, because a mutation to pH resistance also restored ability to ferment a variety of sugars . The proton motive force-dependent uptake of proline and glutamate was also reduced and sensitive to pH in the cya mutant . The membrane-bound ATPase activity was normal . The rate of oxygen uptake by cells, although reduced, was pH insensitive . We suggest several explanations for this phenotype, including a possible defect in energy transduction.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Aug, 41(8), 993 - 8
Saframycin Mx1, a new natural saframycin isolated from a myxobacterium; Irschik H et al.; A new natural saframycin was discovered in the culture broth of the myxobacterium, Myxococcus xanthus strain Mx x48 . The fermentation and isolation of the antibiotic are described . The name, saframycin Mx1, is proposed . The compound appears to interact with cellular DNA.

Gene, 1988 Jul 30, 67(2), 247 - 57
Molecular characterization of yeast regulatory gene CAT3 necessary for glucose derepression and nuclear localization of its product; Schuller HJ et al.; The yeast regulatory gene CAT3 has an essential function for the depression of several glucose-repressible enzymes . Therefore, cat3 mutants are unable to grow on maltose or on non-fermentable carbon sources . Unlike the point mutants isolated previously, cat3 null allele strains also failed to utilize raffinose or galactose as sole carbon sources . Sequencing of an 1.6-kb HindIII-BglII fragment complementing cat3 mutations revealed an open reading frame of 322 codons, size of which is in good agreement with the 1.3-kb size of mRNA . No significant similarities with previously sequenced genes could be detected . CAT3-lacZ fusions confirmed the proposed reading frame . A CAT3-lacZ fusion encoding 307 amino acids of CAT3 was able to complement the growth defects of cat3 point mutants and null allele strains . Assay of beta-galactosidase activity under different growth conditions indicated a constitutive expression of the CAT3 gene product . Cellular fractionation studies showed the nuclear localization of the CAT3 protein.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1988 Jul 11, 16(13), 5797 - 811
Demarcation of a sequence involved in mediating catabolite repression of the gene for the 11 kDa subunit VIII of ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Maarse AC et al.; A regulatory element has been identified in the promoter region of the gene encoding the 11 kDa subunit VIII of the ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The element, which is approximately 40 bp long and situated 185 bp upstream of the initiator ATG, is essential for induction of gene expression during growth in the presence of non-fermentable carbon sources . This is shown by the regulated synthesis of beta-galactosidase in yeast cells harbouring a CYC1-lacZ fusion gene, in which the CYC1 UAS's had been replaced by a 43 bp subunit VIII gene promoter fragment . In addition two DNA-binding activities, which may represent either separate factors or different forms of a single factor, have been detected . Both factors are abundant and they bind in a mutually exclusive fashion to a DNA sequence just upstream of the regulatory element . Although it is unlikely that these factors are directly involved in the response of the subunit VIII gene to catabolite repression, the position of their binding sites relative to the UAS and to the 3'-terminus of a gene located only 361 bp upstream suggest that they are important in modulating transcriptional activity of this region.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1988 Jul-Aug, 71(4), 721 - 4
Liquid chromatographic method for determination of citreoviridin in corn and rice; Stubblefield RD et al.; Citreoviridin, a neurotoxic mycotoxin, has been found as a natural contaminant in corn left unharvested in the southeastern United States and in rice of several Asian countries, including Japan . A reliable analytical method for the quantitative determination of citreoviridin in corn and rice is described . Corn or rice is extracted with dichloromethane, and the extract is partially purified on silica and amino solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns . The extract is analyzed for citreoviridin by normal-phase liquid chromatography, using a mobile phase of ethyl acetate-hexane (75 + 25) at 1.5 mL/min and a fluorescence detector to measure the yellow fluorescence (388 nm excitation, 480 nm emission) . With a 100 microL injection loop, the relationship between concentration and injection volume is linear for 20-60 microL injections . Recoveries of citreoviridin added to yellow corn at 10-50 ng/g were 91.0-96.9%; recoveries from white corn (10-50 ng/g added) were 96.8-102.8% . Recoveries of 5000 ng/g added to white corn were 89.0%, indicating that heavily contaminated samples can be assayed by the method . Minimum detection limits were 10 ng for citreoviridin standard and 2 ng/g for citreoviridin added to corn . White rice fermented with Penicillium citreo-viride (1524 ppm) was mixed with and serially diluted with uncontaminated ground corn to obtain citreoviridin-contaminated corn (ca 25 ppb) . When the samples were assayed by the method, a mean level of 24.4 +/- 1.65 ppb (6.5% coefficient of variation) was obtained . Four fermented rice food samples and 3 commercial rice samples were investigated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jul, 41(7), 899 - 907
Mutagenesis of OA-6129 carbapenem-producing blocked mutants and the biosynthesis of carbapenems; Kojima I et al.; Streptomyces fulvoviridis A933 17M9 1501 is an A933 acylase-defective mutant derived from S . fulvoviridis A933 17M9 and thus produces the OA-6129 group of carbapenems and carbapenams . By further mutation of mutant 1501, 4 types of mutants (OA-6129 A + B1 + B2 producers; OA-6129 A + B2 producers; an OA-6129 A producer; non-producers) were obtained . The second type of mutant strains 4N 3607, 5NA 3949-40 and 5NE 252 proved useful for the fermentative production of carbapenem OA-6129 B2 . These results of mutagenesis demonstrated that the sequence of carbapenem bioconversion in the horizontal route was hydroxylation at C-8----isomerization at C-6----sulfation at C-8 hydroxyl.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jul, 41(7), 875 - 7
Novel cholecystokinin antagonists from Aspergillus alliaceus . I . Fermentation, isolation, and biological properties; Goetz MA et al.; The discovery and biological properties of four novel cholecystokinin antagonists produced by Aspergillus alliaceus is described . One of these was seven times more potent than the previously reported asperlicin.

Jikken Dobutsu, 1988 Jul, 37(3), 339 - 40
Isolation of mycoplasmas from house musk shrews (Suncus murinus); Ito M et al.; Mycoplasmas were isolated from various sites of experimental and wild house musk shrews (Suncus murinus) . The oral cavity was the most prominent site to harbor mycoplasmas (15/18; 83%), followed by the nasal cavity (9/18; 50%) . All of the isolated strains required serum for their growth and all fermented glucose . They were found to be serologically homogeneous by growth inhibition test but did not cross-react with several type strains of mycoplasma or reference strains of murine, feline, canine, porcine, bovine and equine origins.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 Jul, 71(7), 1860 - 7
In vivo digestibility of corn and sunflower intercropped as a silage crop; Valdez FR et al.; Six nonlactating Holstein cows in a 3 x 3 Latin square total collection digestion trial were used to evaluate three low DM (less than 26%) silage types: 1) corn; 2) corn and sunflower intercropped and 3) sunflower . Feeding periods consisted of a 7-d adjustment followed by a 5-d collection period . Dry matter intake was similar for the three treatments; 12.5, 12.1, and 12.0 kg, respectively . Percent apparent digestibilities for DM, NDF, and N for corn and corn-sunflower were similar and greater than for sunflower: DM (69.6, 68.2, 57.4); NDF (68.1, 61.5, 51.6); and N (66.3, 66.5, 63.6) . No differences were observed for digestibilities of ADF, hemicellulose, starch, or for N retention . Percent ether extract digestibility was greatest for corn-sunflower and sunflower silage when compared with digestibility of corn silage (82.5, 77.9, vs . 66.3) . Major changes in rumen fermentation patterns were not observed as evidenced by rumen molar proportions of propionate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, valerate, or acetate to propionate ratios . No difference was observed for rumen NH3 N (2.7, 3.2, 4.1 mg/dl, respectively) . Corn and sunflower intercropped silage had intermediate concentrations of fat, fiber, and protein when compared with those of corn or sunflower silages.

Food Addit Contam, 1988 Jul-Sep, 5(3), 343 - 51
The problem of methanol concentration admissible in distilled fruit spirits; Bindler F et al.; Some distilled fruit spirits contain, normally, high quantities of methanol . After a brief summary of the process of methanol formation during fermentation and of the toxicological data, methanol concentrations of some distilled fruit spirits are indicated . Then, maximal amounts of methanol in spirits fixed by some countries are discussed as well as the problems which are generated by legislation.

Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis, 1988 Jul-Oct, 65(3-4), 279 - 91
{Comparative study of the growth of Trichoderma reesei and Penicillium occitanie}; Mosrati R et al.; During the last years, a great deal of research on the production of energetic substances was directed to the use of cellulosic by-products . A technique of special interest is the production of fermentissible sugars by the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose . Mandels and Reese (1960) showed that a fungi strain of Trichoderma reesei is the best performant microorganism in the production of cellulolytic enzymes . Nevertheless, recent investigation indicated that the rate and the yield of conversion of cellulose to glucose of this strain are limited by its poor beta-glucosidase activity . In order to increase the efficiency of the hydrolytic power of the cellulasic complex two approaches can be considered . Beta-glucosidase enrichment of Trichoderma reesei enzymes . The selection and use of strains with a better performance . In our laboratory, we chose the second approach using Penicillium occitanie comparing it to Trichoderma reesei.

Can J Physiol Pharmacol, 1988 Jul, 66(7), 895 - 900
The effect of 3-methylindole on the quantity and functional quality of lung surfactant; Kirkland JB et al.; Acute bovine pulmonary edema is a naturally occurring lung disease caused by 3-methylindole (3MI), a ruminal fermentation product of tryptophan . Morphological and in vitro studies have suggested that 3MI causes abnormalities in phospholipid synthesis . The present study was designed to investigate the effect of 3MI on the quantity and functional quality of surfactant using the goat as an experimental model . Following intravenous infusion of 3MI, goats were killed at 6-, 18-, and 30-h intervals . The lungs were removed and intracellular surfactant, in the form of lamellar bodies, and extracellular surfactant from alveolar lavage were quantified . 3MI treatment did cause modest changes in the lamellar body phospholipid pools, decreasing the quantity of phosphatidylcholine and the proportion of palmitate in this fraction . The quantity of lavage phospholipids was not significantly affected . There was an increase in the protein content of the lavage, reflecting the presence of edema . The functional quality of the surfactant isolated from the lavage fraction was tested in vitro using a pulsating bubble surfactometer . 3MI infusion decreased the ability of surfactant to lower the surface tension of an air bubble at maximum radius and during compression.

Mikrobiologiia, 1988 Jul-Aug, 57(4), 695 - 7
{Characteristics of the methane fermentation of waste of animal husbandry complexes with respect to the biomass of microorganisms and volatile fatty acids}; Vedenina IIa et al.; The content of microbial biomass and the concentration of volatile fatty acids were comparatively studied in the tanks where the waste products of three stock farms were subjected to methane fermentation . The biomass content was shown to vary from 19 to 30% of the dry matter weight and the concentration of volatile fatty acids from 0 to 4.5 g per litre . The low concentrations of acetic and propionic acids together with the high biomass content were indicative of an active balanced microbial association . The parameters can be used to assess the operation of methane fermentation tanks.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Jul, 33(7), 493 - 6
{Effect of the quality of the inoculation material on cephalosporin C biosynthesis}; Losev VA et al.; Parameters providing qualitative estimation of the cephalosporin C-producing organism seed material were studied . Before inoculation of the fermentation medium the seed material should have the maximum respiration intensity, maximum specific growth rate and not less than 15 per cent of the biomass.

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 1988 Jul, 338(1), 74 - 81
Effects of alpha-tocopherol, its carboxylic acid chromane compound and two novel antioxidant isoflavanones on prostaglandin H synthase activity and autodeactivation; Seeger W et al.; The natural antioxidant alpha-tocopherol has repeatedly been described to inhibit platelet aggregation and thromboxane formation, whereas its influence on prostaglandin H synthase in vivo and in vitro is a matter of controversy . In the present study the effects of different antioxidative compounds on ram vesicular gland microsomal prostaglandin H synthase activity were investigated in vitro: d,l-alpha-tocopherol, its carboxylic acid chromane compound (Trolox), phytol, alpha-tocopherol-acetate and two novel antioxidative isoflavanones, obtained by methylation and/or hydrogenation of naturally occurring isoflavones from fermented soybeans (6,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavanone and 6,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavanone) . Alpha-tocopherol, -acetate and phytol revealed no significant influence on the enzyme activity when applied in concentrations up to 1 mM . Trolox (100-1000 mu mumol/l) and the two isoflavanones (5-50 and 10-100 mumol/l) dose-dependently augmented the initial rate of oxygen consumption and the total oxygen uptake during prostaglandin H synthase incubation with arachidonic acid (AA) . In parallel, these compounds increased the formation of prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha from 14C-labelled AA, and they markedly protected the prostaglandin H synthase from rapid autodeactivation as revealed by repetitive application of AA in small doses . We suggest that these compounds serve as cosubstrates to which the oxidizing equivalents are transferred which arise during the hydroperoxidase reaction of the enzyme.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Jul, 33(7), 491 - 3
{The saccharide components of wood hydrolysates--a constituent part of the fermentation media for the biosynthesis of beta-lactam antibiotics}; Velvard L et al.; Spruce and ash wood were subjected to acid hydrolysis . The hydrolysates were paper chromatographed for the presence of saccharides . The following monosaccharides were detected: D-xylose, D-mannose, D-glucose, D-galactose and L-arabinose . The monosaccharides and L-rhamnose in addition in the form of concentrated solutions were used as part of lactose in production of penicillin V . Similarly, the whole amounts of D-glucose and saccharose were substituted in biosynthesis of cephalosporin C . With regard to the results it follows that hydrolysates of the conifers and especially of the hardwood can substitute part of the fermentation medium components in production of penicillin V and cephalosporin C.

J Forensic Sci, 1988 Jul, 33(4), 899 - 909
Medical evaluation of the victims of the 1986 Lake Nyos disaster; Wagner GN et al.; A cloud of carbon dioxide gas, with an estimated volume of 1 km3 was released from Lake Nyos, a volcanic crater lake in Cameroon, Africa, causing 1700 to 2000 human fatalities as well as killing thousands of livestock and wild animals . At the request of the Cameroonian Government, the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S . Department of State sent a multidisciplinary team which included 2 forensic pathologists to assist the Government of Cameroon in investigating this natural disaster . The medical evaluation was concentrated in 3 areas: the autopsy of human and animal fatalities, examination and interview of survivors, and examination of the scene of the disaster . Toxicologic specimens were obtained at autopsy, and numerous samples of lake water were collected . The autopsy findings were consistent with asphyxia . The results of chemical analyses excluded many volatiles but not carbon dioxide as the toxic agent . The exact source of this gas continues to be a subject of a heated geologic debate, but fermentation of organic materials in the lake water has been eliminated on the basis of C14 isotope studies . This investigation underlines the value of forensic pathologists in epidemiological studies and in the examination of living persons.

J Chromatogr, 1988 Jul 1, 444, 293 - 302
Large-scale chromatography of recombinant proteins; Hochuli E; When recombinant proteins are expressed in bacterial cells and subsequently grown in fermentation tanks, there remains the problem of recovering the product in pure form . The empirical knowledge gained upon recovery of recombinant proteins indicates that a one-step purification process is very unlikely to succeed . However, combinations of modern techniques, such as immunoaffinity chromatography or immobilized-metal affinity chromatography, with classical techniques, such as ion-exchange chromatography, seem to be suitable for large-scale recovery of recombinant proteins.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Jul, 33(7), 508 - 12
{Transformation of anthracycline antibiotics and their semisynthetic derivatives as affected by the liver aldo-keto reductase of rats}; Reznikova MI et al.; Formation of 13-dihydro derivatives of rubomycin (daunorubicin), carminomycin, doxorubicin and some of their semisynthetic derivatives under the effect of pure aldo-keto reductase from the rat liver was studied . Attachment of an oxy group to C-14 markedly retarded formation of the 13-dihydro derivatives while attachment of the bulky radicals to the same position prevented their formation . Binding of the anthracycline antibiotics to human serum albumin had no impact on the fermentative reaction rate . Rubomycin, carminomycin and doxorubicin significantly differed in their lipophilic properties and capacity for binding to serum albumin.

Virologie, 1988 Jul-Sep, 39(3), 199 - 205
Bovine leukemia virus . VII . In vitro replication of virus in bat lung cell culture NBL BLV 2; Patrascu IV; Bat lung cell culture NBL 12 Tb 1 Lu chronically infected with cell free bovine leukemia virus (BLV), designed by NBL BLV 2, produces virus proteins and showed the presence of cells with the BLV antigens as well as BLV-induced syncytia for more than 11 years . Virus replication was abundant and increased with passage in NBL BLV 2 cell line and was moderate but decreased with passage in fetal lamb splenic cell line chronically infected with BLV (FLS NI 1228) . The amount of virus proteins released in culture fluid by NBL BLV 2 cultures growing on roller bottle was 32.6-37.5 micrograms/ml, 42.7 micrograms/ml at passage 16-19 and 24-28, respectively . Studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that the virus protein production of NBL BLV cultures was 12.5 micrograms/ml in Falcon flasks (static), 26.3-52.8 micrograms/ml in roller bottle (rolling), 60.2 micrograms/ml in roller bottle with microcarriers and 9.82 microcarriers suspension (fermentor) as monolayer cell culture systems . On the monolayer cultures tested NBL BLV 2 cell line showed a progressive increase of virus production that reached high levels, for over 8 years and continues to release large amounts of virus . NBL BLV 2 cell line is also free of adventitious agents, it is easy to maintain and contains only small amount of cell debris, it provides a suitable source of cell free and cell associated bovine leukemia virus for research and production purposes.

J Nutr, 1988 Jul, 118(7), 840 - 5
Long-term effects of fermentable fibers on rat colonic pH and epithelial cell cycle; Lupton JR et al.; The long-term effects of fermentable fibers on colonic luminal pH and the epithelial cell cycle were compared in 50 male Sprague-Dawley rats fed either a defined basal fiber-free diet or the basal diet supplemented with 10% pectin, cellulose or guar or with 20% oat bran . After 8 mo, in vivo pH measurements revealed that acidification of luminal contents occurred in the cecum and in mid and distal colons of rats fed fiber-supplemented diets when compared with the fiber-free controls (P less than 0.05) . Pectin and guar produced the greatest acidification of luminal contents, the largest increase in cecal surface area and the highest percentage of colonic cells in S-phase, as measured by flow cytometry . In the proximal colon of the pectin group 9.2 +/- 0.5% of cells were in S-phase (6.3 +/- 0.8% with the fiber-free group) (P less than 0.05) and in the distal colon of the guar group 10.9 +/- 1.4% were in S-phase (7.1 +/- 0.5% with the fiber-free group) (P less than 0.05) . Even though the most fermentable fibers produced the greatest mitogenic response, there was no site-specific correlation between pH and mucosal cell growth except in the cecum . This suggests that fibers may act as colon cell growth factors by some mechanism other than extracellular pH changes.

Eur J Biochem, 1988 Jul 1, 174(4), 611 - 20
Regulation of manganese superoxide dismutase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The role of respiratory chain activity; Westerbeek-Marres CA et al.; The importance of respiratory chain activity in the induction of manganese superoxide dismutase biosynthesis was examined in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by immunological measurement of the level of manganese superoxide dismutase and comparison with copper/zinc superoxide dismutase and two subunits of respiratory chain proteins, cytochrome c1 and core 2, under conditions of growth in which respiratory chain activity was varied . Oxygen consumption by the yeast was also monitored during growth . These comparative studies indicated that under normoxic conditions, glucose repression of the respiratory chain subunits resulted in a parallel repression of the level of manganese superoxide dismutase protein . The increase in the protein levels of manganese superoxide dismutase and core 2 protein under derepressing growth conditions reflected an increase in the level of the mRNA for each protein; thus regulation is, at least in part, at the level of transcription . The following observations support the conclusion that under normoxic conditions manganese superoxide dismutase biosynthesis is primarily regulated by the same means as the respiratory chain components; that is, by glucose (catabolite) repression rather than by oxygen metabolites . 1) When yeast cells were transferred from repressing to derepressing growth conditions in normoxia, manganese superoxide dismutase biosynthesis increased at a rate parallel to that of core 2, and occurred approximately 5 h in advance of increased oxygen consumption by the yeast . 2) When an important site of mitochondrial superoxide radical generation, the cytochrome bc1 complex, was inactivated by deletion of the gene coding for one of its subunits, the level of manganese superoxide dismutase protein was not changed in the mutant compared with the parental strain . However, regulation of manganese superoxide dismutase can be separated from regulation of the respiratory chain proteins in certain instances . During the transition from the logarithmic growth phase to the stationary phase in non-fermentable carbon sources, the level of manganese superoxide dismutase decreased by approximately 50%, whereas the levels of cytochrome c1 and core 2 remained unchanged . Furthermore, yeast grown in hyperoxia of 70-80% oxygen utilizing either repressing or depressing carbon sources, contained significantly higher levels of manganese superoxide dismutase and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase compared to yeast grown in normoxia, whereas the levels of respiratory chain proteins were not affected by hyperoxia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Cancer Res, 1988 Jun 15, 48(12), 3518 - 23
Diet and high risk of stomach cancer in Shandong, China; You WC et al.; A case-control investigation involving interviews with 564 stomach cancer patients and 1131 population-based controls was conducted to evaluate reasons for the exceptionally high rates of stomach cancer in Linqu, a rural county in Shandong Province in northeast China . Daily consumption of sour pancakes, a fermented indigenous staple, was associated with a 30% increase in risk . Risks of stomach cancer were also increased by 2- to 3-fold among persons with prior chronic gastritis or gastric ulcer, by 80% among those with stomach cancer in a family member, by 50% among men who smoked one or more packs of cigarettes/day, by 40% among those who preferred salty foods, and by 50% among families with moldy grain supplies . In contrast, risks tended to decrease in proportion to increasing consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits . This protective effect was more pronounced for vegetables, with those in the highest quartile of intake at less than one-half the risk of those in the lowest . Stomach cancer risks also declined with increasing dietary intake of carotene, vitamin C, and calcium, but not retinol . These findings provide leads to dietary factors that contribute to the high rates in Linqu, where stomach cancer is the leading cause of cancer and has not yet begun to decline as in other parts of the world.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Jun, 33(6), 411 - 5
{Use of an aerodynamic foam quencher in the stab cultivation of mycelial fungi}; Losev VA et al.; A scheme for automatic impulse foam breaking during biosynthesis of cephalosporin C in 0.63 m3 pilot plant fermenters was developed and tested . It was shown that the use of an aerodynamic foam breaker did not limit the antibiotic biosynthesis by oxygen and promoted stabilization of the foam level in the apparatus without chemical antifoamers and increased air supply.

Br Poult Sci, 1988 Jun, 29(2), 379 - 93
Digestibility of pentose sugars and uronic acids and their effect on chick weight gain and caecal size; Longstaff MA et al.; 1 . In the first experiment D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-galacturonic and D-glucuronic acids were fed ad libitum to young chicks for 2 weeks at 200 g/kg of diet and weight gains and food consumption were recorded . 2 . L-arabinose and D-xylose did not depress food consumption in the first week but prolonged feeding caused food consumption to decrease and weight gain to be adversely affected . 3 . D-galacturonic acid and D-glucuronic acid caused severe growth retardation as early as the first week of feeding, primarily because of voluntary starvation . 4 . Apparent metabolisable energy values for the diets were obtained when chicks were 19 to 21 d of age and were 14.04 +/- 0.52, 12.03 +/- 0.61, 11.77 +/- 1.21, 11.68 +/- 0.34 and 11.66 +/- 0.45 KJ/g for the basal diet with glucose, xylose, arabinose, galacturonic and glucuronic acids respectively . 5 . True metabolisable energy values for the diets were obtained from adult cockerels and were 15.07 +/- 0.16, 13.45 +/- 0.16, 13.12 +/- 0.37, 12.29 +/- 0.26 and 12.69 +/- 0.23 KJ/g for basal diet with glucose, xylose, arabinose, galacturonic and glucuronic acids respectively . 6 . In the second experiment D-galactose, D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-galacturonic and D-glucuronic acid were fed ad libitum to young chicks for 3 weeks at 50 g/kg of diet and weight gains and food consumption were recorded . 7 . Chicks grew and ate well on all diets . 8 . The digestibilities of sugars and uronic acids were obtained by measurement of these constituents in diets and digesta using titanium dioxide as a marker . The digestibilities were 1.000 +/- 0.0, 0.997 +/- 0.002, 0.936 +/- 0.041, 0.628 +/- 0.103, 0.588 +/- 0.059, and 0.645 +/- 0.089 for D-glucose, D-galactose, D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-galacturonic and D-glucuronic acids respectively . 9 . Both at 200 and 50 g/kg dietary inclusion there was noticeable caecal fermentation from L-arabinose, D-galacturonic and D-glucuronic acid . Only at 200 g/kg dietary inclusion did D-xylose produce significant evidence of caecal fermentation.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jun, 41(6), 751 - 8
Methylenolactocin, a novel antitumor antibiotic from Penicillium sp; Park BK et al.; A novel antitumor antibiotic, methylenolactocin, was isolated from the culture filtrate of a new isolate of fungus identified as Penicillium sp . The fermentation yield reached about 100 mg per liter of the broth . Methylenolactocin has the molecular formula of C11H16O4 and possess an exomethylene lactone structure . Its structure was determined to be 3-carboxy-2-methylene-4-nonanolide by spectroscopic data . It is active against some Gram-positive bacteria and it prolongs the life span of mice inoculated with Ehrlich carcinoma.

Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 1988 Jun, 10(3), 301 - 4
Evaluation of protein hydrolysates using the fermentation activity of immobilized yeast cells; Tchorbanov B et al.; A rapid, easy, and reproducible method for evaluation of protein hydrolysates has been developed using the ethanol fermentation of immobilized yeast cells as a monitoring system . The method is sensitive to the origin, concentration, and degree of hydrolysis of the hydrolysates.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Jun, 170(6), 2770 - 4
Disappearance of plasmalogen-containing phospholipids in Megasphaera elsdenii; Kaufman AE et al.; The plasmalogen content of phospholipids isolated from Megasphaera elsdenii ATCC 17752 decreased markedly in cultures passed serially at intervals of 3 to 6 weeks . From the wild-type ratio of vinyl ether to lipid phosphorus of 0.8, clones were isolated with ratios less than 0.05 . Clonal analysis, as well as the reproducibility of the phenomenon and the long time course, suggest that the loss of plasmalogens is an adaptive process . Although small variations in cell morphology and ratios of end products of fermentation were detected, plasmalogen-rich and -deficient cells were virtually indistinguishable with respect to growth rates, range of fermentable carbohydrates, activities of selected enzymes, and electrophoretic patterns in both membrane and soluble proteins . Large decreases in saturated fatty acid production accompanied the decline of plasmalogens.

J Med Virol, 1988 Jun, 25(2), 123 - 40
Hepatitis B vaccine produced in yeast; Bitter GA et al.; A gene encoding the 226 amino acid hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), subtype adw, was cloned into a generalized vector for the expression of heterologous genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The 5' end of the genomic HBsAg gene was replaced with a chemically synthesized DNA segment that conserved the amino acid sequence of the protein but utilized DNA sequences that optimize translation initiation in yeast . High-cell-density fermentations of laboratory strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been developed in which HBsAg production increases linearly with respect to cell mass . The HBsAg is present as a lipoprotein particle in cell lysates and has been purified to homogeneity . The evidence presented indicates that the HBsAg particles may be formed during lysis of the yeast cells . The purified HBsAg particles have a morphology similar to that of the 22 nm particles present in the serum of human chronic carriers of hepatitis B . The reactivity of the yeast-derived HBsAg particles with a series of monoclonal antibodies is essentially identical to that of human plasma HBsAg . By this analysis, therefore, the structure of the HBsAg protein is similar in yeast and in human particles . The purified yeast HBsAg particles were formulated with alum adjuvant and subsequently were shown to confer immunity in chimpanzees to challenge with two heterologous serotypes (adr, ayw) of hepatitis B virus.

Infect Immun, 1988 Jun, 56(6), 1442 - 8
Biotype, serotype, and pathogenicity of attaching and effacing enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic commercial rabbits; Peeters JE et al.; A total of 568 strains of Escherichia coli isolated from healthy and diarrheic rabbits were separated into 11 different biotypes according to the fermentation patterns of four carbohydrates . Strains belonging to biotypes 1 to 3, 6, and 8 induced lesions characteristic for attaching and effacing E . coli (AEEC) . They attached to the intestinal epithelium of the terminal small intestine and the large intestine of 5-week-old rabbits after experimental infection and caused effacement of the microvillous brush border . However, pathogenicity for weaned rabbits, as judged by diarrhea score, anorexia, and reduced weight gain, varied according to the biotypes of the strains . Strains belonging to biotypes 1 and 6 produced only discrete clinical signs, strains belonging to biotypes 2 and 3+ (motile) induced diarrhea and growth depression, whereas strains belonging to biotypes 3- (immotile) and 8 caused severe clinical signs and high mortality . This confirms evidence from the field . Biotypes 3- and 8, accounting for 35.5 and 7.1% of AEEC strains in weaned diarrheic rabbits, respectively, were not detected in weaned healthy rabbits, while biotype 2 was the predominant strain in weaned healthy rabbits (62.3%) . Finally, serotyping showed a close relationship between biotype and serotype of the AEEC examined . Most strains of biotypes 1+ and 2+ tested were O109:K-:H2 and O132:K-:H2, respectively, whereas all strains tested of biotype 3- were O15:K-:H- and those of biotype 8 were O103:K-:H2 . These data indicate that specific clones of AEEC might be involved in juvenile rabbit enteritis . It was concluded that determination of biotypes allows the screening of highly pathogenic AEEC in weaned rabbits (biotypes 3- and 8).

Biomed Environ Sci, 1988 Jun, 1(1), 101 - 4
Studies on fermented corn flour poisoning in rural areas of China . I . Epidemiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Pathology; Meng Z et al.; An outbreak of a new type of fatal food poisoning has been reported in different parts of the People's Republic of China . Liver, kidney, heart, and brain were the main target organs, and the overall fatality of intoxicated individuals was 38.2% . Evidence obtained from epidemiological studies and animal tests indicates that the food poisoning was caused by the consumption of homemade fermented corn flour products.

Arch Tierernahr, 1988 Jun, 38(6), 535 - 45
{The effect of sugar beets in the ration on metabolism in the forestomach of 11 to 20-week-old calves}; Keusenhoff R et al.; The influence of the replacement of cereals by sugar beet in the rations was tested with 6 calves supplied with re-entrant duodenal or ruminal cannulae in 4 measuring periods between their 11th and 17th weeks of life . The control ration (A) consisted of 60% mixed feed, 20% hay and 20% wilted silage, the test ration (B) consisted of 30% mixed feed, 33% sugar beet, 20% hay and 17% wilted silage . A contained 15% crude protein, 32% starch and 2% sugar, B in the same sequence 14, 12 and 24% (amounts in % of DM) . The following results were achieved: The functional development of the rumen is largely completed three weeks after weaning . There were no qualitative changes between the 11th and 17th weeks of life . The fermentation of organic matter in the rumen (50...52%) and bacterial protein yield (2.4...2.6 g N per 100 g digestible organic matter) corresponded to that of adult ruminants . The partial replacement of cereals by sugar beet resulted in a significant increase of the molar butyric acid quota to 20.8% (B) in comparison to 13% (A) with the same level of total volatile fatty acids in the rumen, the decrease of the quota of acetic acid to 61.4% (B) in contrast to 73.5% (A) and the reduction of the ruminal NH3 concentration after feeding . The feeding of sugar beets had a positive influence on the passage of starch in the duodenum . The DM-degradation of straw in polyamide bags was also positively influenced . 62.6% (A) and 73.9% (B) of the feed N were degraded in the forestomachs . Per kg DM intake 29.8 g (A) and 28.0 g (B) non-ammonia-N (NAN) were detected at the duodenum . 54% (A) and 64% (B) of NAN consisted of bacteria N . In contrast to adult ruminants at nutrition level 1 (maintenance) a considerable net influx of endogenous N into the rumen was to be observed at a crude protein concentration in the feed of 14 to 15% (in the DM) in both groups . Accordingly, the minimum protein content of the ration (in the DM) should be above 15% in the rearing range studied.

Vet Microbiol, 1988 Jun, 17(2), 151 - 8
Isolation of anaerobic mollicutes from the intestine of swine; Binder A et al.; Anaerobic mollicutes were isolated from the intestinal content and the epithelium of the caecum and colon of 4 of 8 swine . All of the isolates belonged to the same species . This species was resistant to digitonin and polyanethol sulfonate and was able to ferment glucose, hemolyse erythrocytes and lyse horse serum . For testing the cholesterol requirement the strain 4 A 11 was selected which was independent of cholesterol . The agent was different in the immunofluorescence test from the mollicutes reported previously in swine and quite different in its nutritional requirements from cholesterol-independent mollicutes isolated from the rumen of cattle and sheep . Thus the isolated mollicutes seem to represent a new species.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jun, 41(6), 788 - 93
Biosynthesis of anthracyclinones: isolation of a new early cyclization product aklaviketone; Eckardt K et al.; Five metabolites were isolated from fermentations of a mutant strain S 383 of Streptomyces galilaeus . Components S 383-O and S 383-A were identified as known derivatives of anthraquinone and naphthacenequinone, respectively, previously isolated from cultures of other blocked mutants of S . galilaeus strains . Component S 383-X was identical with 7-deoxyaklavinone . Compound S 383-Y (aklaviketone) was found to be a new metabolite . Its chemical structure has been determined by physico-chemical methods including mass spectrometry and NMR spectral studies . The compound (7-dehydro-7-deoxy-7-oxoaklavinone) is most likely the first cyclization product along the metabolic chain possessing the tetracyclic carbon skeleton of anthracyclinones . A proposed pathway is discussed.

Oralprophylaxe, 1988 Jun, 10(2), 68 - 73
{Significance of artificial sweeteners in caries prevention}; Strubig W; Sugar substitutes are substances containing calories which taste sweet, but which are not fermented by the microorganisms in the mouth, or are fermented only slightly . Sugar substitutes can reduce the risk of tooth decay above all when contained in sweets consumed between main meals.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1988 Jun, 38(6), 855 - 62
Validation of biotechnological production processes; Werner RG et al.; Due to the biological synthesis of biotechnologically produced pharmaceuticals the product quality and safety of the drug is influenced by various factors . The correct nucleotide sequence and stability of the host cell/vector system provide the corresponding amino acid sequence of the protein . The posttranslational processing of the protein requires a well characterized production cell line . Suitable equipment for fermentation allowing a sterile production of the producing monoculture and consistent conditions are the basic requirements for the validation of the fermentation process . A constant specific productivity is one of the major criteria for the reproducibility of the production . For the validation of recovery and purification it is necessary to examine yield after each process step, product quality before and after each single process step and purification factors for removal of contaminating proteins, nucleic acids and potential viruses . In addition to the validation of the entire production process, reproducibility of quality of the formulated product has to be determined by a number of protein analytical, immunological and biochemical test methods concerning the identity, purity, safety and potency of the drug.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Jun, 54(6), 1595 - 601
National field evaluation of a defined substrate method for the simultaneous enumeration of total coliforms and Escherichia coli from drinking water: comparison with the standard multiple tube fermentation method; Edberg SC et al.; A defined substrate method was developed to simultaneously enumerate total coliforms and Escherichia coli from drinking waters without the need for confirmatory or completed tests . It is a new method based on technology that uses a hydrolyzable substrate as a specific indicator-nutrient for the target microbes . No equipment other than a 35 degrees C incubator and long-wavelength (366-nm) light is necessary . To perform the test, one only has to add water to the powdered ingredients in a tube or flask . If total coliforms are present in the water sample, the solution will change from its normal colorless state (no target microbes present) to yellow . The specific presence of E . coli will cause the same tube to fluoresce under a longwave (366-nm) UV lamp . The test, called Autoanalysis Colilert (AC), was compared with Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater 10-tube multiple tube fermentation (MTF) in a national evaluation . Five utilities, representing six U.S . Environmental Protection Agency regions, participated . All water samples came from distribution systems . Split samples from a wide variety of water sources were analyzed for the MPN-versus-MPN comparison . A total of 1,086 tubes were positive by MTF, and 1,279 were positive by AC . There was no statistical difference between MTF and AC . Species identifications from positive tubes confirmed the sensitivity of the AC . A national evaluation of the AC test showed that it: (i) was as sensitive as Standard Methods MTF, (ii) specifically enumerated 1 total coliform per 100 ml, in a maximum of 24 h, (iii) simultaneously enumerated 1 E . coli per 100 ml in the same analysis, (iv) was not subject to false-positive or false-negative results by heterotrophic bacteria, (v) did not require confirmatory tests, (vi) grew injured coliforms, (vii) was easy to inoculate, and (viii) was very easy to interpret.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 Jun, 71(6), 1556 - 65
Impact of forage fiber content on digestion and digesta passage in lactating dairy cows; Shaver RD et al.; Five Holstein cows (5 wk postpartum) were used in a Latin square design (15-d periods) to determine rumen fill and fractional rates of ruminal digestion and passage . Treatments consisted of prebloom, midbloom, and full bloom alfalfa hay, mature bromegrass hay, and corn silage fed in diets containing forage: concentrate in a 60:40 ratio (DM basis) formulated to be isonitrogenous . Intake of DM averaged 4.0% of body weight for prebloom alfalfa and corn silage . Milk yield and DM intake were lower for full bloom alfalfa and bromegrass than for prebloom alfalfa . Digestibility of organic matter was 7.5 percentage units lower for full bloom than for prebloom alfalfa . Weight of DM in the rumen was higher for midbloom and full bloom alfalfa and bromegrass than with prebloom alfalfa . Ruminal retention time of Yb applied to forage was longer for bromegrass than for prebloom alfalfa . Fractional rates of in situ NDF digestion were slower for full bloom alfalfa and bromegrass than for prebloom alfalfa . Results suggest that the point of limitation of feed intake due to gut fill is dependent on forage quality as well as energy demand of the animal . Dry matter fill of the rumen was more closely related to rates of ruminal digestion and passage than to total tract digestibility or maximum digestibility after lengthy in situ fermentation.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 Jun, 71(6), 1526 - 35
Influence of forage type on ruminal bacterial populations and subsequent in vitro fiber digestion; Jung HG et al.; Adaptation of the rumen fibrolytic bacteria to legume, C3 grass, and C4 grass forages was examined in a 3 X 3 Latin square . Fistulated steers were fed alfalfa, smooth bromegrass, and switchgrass hays for 6 wk at 1.8% of body weight . Rumen samples were collected weekly after an overnight fast . Bacterial counts were conducted on rumen samples and all rumen samples were used in an in vitro fiber digestion study with three stages of maturity each for alfalfa, smooth bromegrass, and switchgrass as the substrates . Consumption of alfalfa hay resulted in the highest total viable counts of rumen bacteria but a lower proportion of fibrolytic counts than seen on the grass diets . Use of filter paper as the isolation substrate gave higher fibrolytic counts than seen with NDF of the forage fed as the isolation substrate . Fifty percent or more of the fibrolytic bacteria were Bacteriodes succinogenes, and the switchgrass diet resulted in higher proportions of this organism in the fibrolytic population than seen for alfalfa and smooth bromegrass hays . The rumen inoculum from animals fed alfalfa degraded the fiber fractions of all substrate forages best . Improved in vitro digestibility of a forage was not observed due to feeding the same forage to the donor animals . Volatile fatty acid concentrations and proportions in the in vitro fermentations were related more to forage substrate than diet source . The results indicate that adaptation of the rumen population to diet forage composition occurred, but in vitro digestibility was unrelated to fibrolytic bacterial numbers or proportions.

J Chromatogr, 1988 May 20, 439(2), 341 - 51
Displacement chromatography of biomolecules; Subramanian G et al.; Displacement chromatography was used for the preparative-scale separation of peptides, antibiotics, and proteins . The feed components were both purified and concentrated during the separation processes . The components of a peptide mixture were separated on a reverse-phase analytical column using 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol as the displacer . The use of organic modifiers in the carrier along with an elevated column temperature of 45 degrees C enabled the efficient separation of relatively hydrophobic peptides by displacement chromatography . In addition, the throughput of the process was significantly increased by carrying out the separation at an elevated flow-rate with no adverse effect on product purity . The antibiotic cephalosporin C was isolated from impurities in a fermentation broth using 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol as the displacer along with a step change in column temperature . The proteins cytochrome c and lysozyme were purified on a weak cation-exchanger column using cationic polymers as the displacers . While polymers of 60 and 20 kilodaltons were both found to be good displacers for these proteins, only the lower molecular weight polymer was readily removed from the column by standard regeneration techniques.

Biochemistry, 1988 May 17, 27(10), 3776 - 84
Heterologous expression of the bifunctional thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase from Leishmania major; Grumont R et al.; The bifunctional thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase (TS-DHFR) of Leishmania major has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The strategy involved placing the entire 1560-bp coding sequence into a parent cloning plasmid that was designed to permit introduction of unique restriction sites at the 5'- and 3'-ends . In this manner, the entire coding sequence could be easily subcloned into a variety of expression vectors . High levels of TS-DHFR gene expression were driven by tac, pL and T7 RNA pol promoters in E . coli, and the GAPDH-ADH-2 promoter in S . cerevisiae . L . major TS-DHFR also complemented TS deficiency in E . coli . In E . coli, the protein accumulated to very high levels, but most was present as inactive inclusion bodies . Nevertheless, substantial amounts were soluble; up to 2% of the soluble protein was catalytically active TS-DHFR . In the yeast systems, essentially all of the bifunctional protein was soluble and catalytically active, and crude extracts contained about 100-fold more enzyme than do extracts from wild-type L . major . The expressed TS-DHFR from yeast and E . coli was purified to homogeneity by methotrexate-Sepharose affinity chromatography . About 8.5 mg of homogeneous, catalytically active protein is obtained from a 1-L culture of yeast, and 1.5 mg was obtained from 1 L of E . coli culture . A 200-L fermentation of the yeast expression system yielded a crude extract containing over 4 g of TS-DHFR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arch Tierernahr, 1988 May, 38(5), 375 - 85
{The use of a partly-hydrolysed straw meal in the feeding of weaned piglets . 2 . Concentration and production of volatile fatty acids in the large intestine by the use of test rations with various portions of straw}; Munchow H et al.; The ad libitum influence of various quotas of partly hydrolysed straw meal (PHSM) on the fermentation and production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the colon in the measuring periods 2nd and 8th weeks of keeping was checked within a feeding experiment with weaned piglets of the country species (42nd-98th day of life; 1st-8th week of keeping) . The straw hydrolysis product was fed in a parallel experiment without or after neutralization with CaCO3 in quotas of, 5, 10 and 15% related to dry matter in comparison to the feeding of sole concentrate feed . The measuring in the 2nd week of keeping (adaptation phase) was blurred by the diarrhea in the groups with regard to the concentration, production and molar proportion of VFA . The concentration and production quota of VFA was diminished and the C2:C3 relation as well as the molar quota of branched-chain fatty acids increased in the comparison of the groups above all under the feeding conditions of the sole use of concentrate and--less distinctly--of quotas of 5% PHSM (insufficient dietetic effect) in the feed mixture . Measuring in the 8th week, in which diarrhea did not play a role in any of the groups, showed a significant, ration specific influence on the fermentation pattern of VFA . With the increasing quota of PHSM in the feed mixture (x) a significantly positive relation with the molar acetate quota (y) could be calculated (y = 52.6 + 0.36x;r = 0.50) . The C2:C3 relation after sole concentrate feeding rose to 2.6:1 at a 15% PHSM integration . In this, the molar increase of acetate was predominantly linked with a decrease of the butyrate and valerate quotas . A falling tendency of the molar iso-acid quota in the colon digesta was registered with the growing straw quota in the feed mixture . The daily production quota of VFA varied in the measuring period in the 8th week of keeping between 400 and 800 mmol/animal.d without an ascertainable influence of the crude fibre quota of the straw . In comparative calculations with other test results, however, a significant positive correlation between the daily intake of digestible organic matter and the production of VFA in the large intestine could be proved.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 May, 33(5), 339 - 42
{Utilization of modified waste from the antibiotic industry for the production of construction materials}; Kalashnikov VI et al.; Possible utilization of treated streptomycin fermentation broth modified with waste hydrochloric acid solution followed by lime neutralization was studied . Such a complex additive to concrete increased its strength by 36-41 per cent . With saving cement by 7 per cent the concrete strength increased by 22-29 per cent as compared to the control samples . Therefore, utilization of antibiotic industry waste in production of building material allowed not only to improve its quality but also to lower the environmental pollution.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 May, 33(5), 323 - 6
{Regulation of the biosynthesis of aminoacylase and pigments by strains of Actinomyces of the genus Streptoverticillium}; Oreshina MG et al.; For using actinomyceteous extracellular aminoacylase in production of optically active amino acids it is necessary to have the fermentation broth with lowered contents of extracellular pigments whose accumulation dynamics in the process of the strain growth correlates with the dynamics of the enzyme biosynthesis . The results of the studies showed that it was possible to regulate biosynthesis of the aminoacylase and pigments in the direction of increasing the enzyme production and decreasing the pigment formation by using a medium of the respective composition and providing the respective high temperature and sufficient aeration for the strains.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 May, 71(5), 1239 - 47
Effects of niacin and whole cottonseed on ruminal fermentation, protein degradability, and nutrient digestibility; Horner JL et al.; Four mature nonlactating Holstein heifers fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulae were used to investigate in vivo effects of niacin and whole cottonseed . Each heifer was assigned randomly to a treatment in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatment sequences within a 4 X 4 Latin square design . Heifers were fed isonitrogenous complete mixed rations individually twice daily . Diets contained corn-soybean meal concentrate, corn silage, chopped coastal bermudagrass hay, plus 1) 0% niacin and 0% whole cottonseed, 2) 0% niacin and 15% whole cottonseed, 3) .07% niacin and 0% whole cottonseed, or 4) .07% niacin and 15% whole cottonseed . Dry matter consumption, ruminal pH, ruminal ammonia and VFA concentrations, microbial N production, and DM and ADF digestion were not affected by treatment . Numbers of ruminal protozoa and RNA concentrations were reduced with whole cottonseed feeding and increased by addition of niacin . Whole cottonseed increased molar percentages of acetate while depressing propionate . Niacin supplementation resulted in greater digestion of both CP and NDF . Ether extract digestibility was highest in heifers fed whole cottonseed . Fiber digestion was not affected by whole cottonseed feeding.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 May, 71(5), 1178 - 88
Modeling of rumen water kinetics and effects of rumen pH changes; Argyle JL et al.; Mechanistic elements for determining water kinetics and effects of pH on VFA production and cellulose hydrolysis were incorporated into a model of rumen digestion and metabolism . Elements necessary for water kinetics were estimates of salivary flow during eating, resting, and ruminating, time course and amount of drinking water, osmotic flux across the rumen wall based on changes in rumen fluid osmolality, and liquid turnover rate . Osmotic flux equations predicted a significant net absorption of water from rumens of dairy cattle . Water kinetic equations predicted experimental changes in rumen volume during twice daily feeding, and produced marker dilution data qualitatively resembling published data . Increased marker dilution during feeding was due to increased rumen volume . An empirical equation predicting rumen pH from VFA concentration was validated against literature data . Changes in molar percentages of acetate and propionate as pH declined below 6.2 were produced by decreasing cellulose hydrolysis and fermentation and by altering stoichiometric coefficients for fermentation of soluble sugars and starch . Insufficient data prevented an adequate challenge of equations predicting decreases in cellulose hydrolysis and changes in stoichiometric coefficients as pH decreased.

Int J Neurosci, 1988 May, 40(1-2), 111 - 28
Participation of serotoninergic system in neuroimmunomodulation: intraimmune mechanisms and the pathways providing an inhibitory effect; Devoino L et al.; Exogenous serotonin administration as well as its precursor 5-oxytryptophan, blockade of the ferment inactivation by MAO inhibition, impairment of the monoamine binding, in other words, all the ways of elevation of active serotonin level, result in the inhibition of the immune response . On the contrary, exclusion of the serotoninergic system by the nuclei raphe lesion and the blockade of the synthesis ferments by p-chlorphenylalanine and p-chloramphetamine stimulates it . The present analysis permits us to conclude that the nuclei raphe serotoninergic system provides an inhibitory mechanism of the immune response modulation, that is realized via the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenals axis . Immune response modulation by the extraimmune control system is possible only be means of the mechanisms that are present in the immunocompetent system . Investigation of the cellular basis of physiological mechanisms of serotoninergic regulation of the immune process made it possible to determine alterations in the correlation of functionally different cell populations in animals with elevated serotonin level . An inhibitory action which serotonin produces upon the immunogenesis, is based on the attenuation of suppressor cell function, an earlier than under the normal immune response development emergence of suppressor in the population of cell organs, and their longer presence, that is to some extent connected with the redistribution of cell populations in the immunocompetent organs . After serotonin administration only the antigen-nonspecific immunosuppression is activated . In evolutionary terms the mechanisms of nonspecific suppression have been formed earlier than those of specific ones (Calkins & Stutman, 1978; Mijawaki, Seki, Kubo & Tanigushi, 1979) . It is quite reasonable that extraimmune modulation, and psychoneuroimmunomodulation by monoamine systems in particular, can be performed by means of this ancient antigen-nonspecific mechanism of the immune response regulation . In this case, the modulation of immunological reactivity should correspond to these endogenous and environmental influences . Thus, activation of the nonspecific suppression induced through the serotoninergic system can be considered as the universal mechanism which on the one hand completes control of the immune homeostasis and on the other may be the precondition of the development of pathological states caused by the reduction of immunological status.

Anticancer Res, 1988 May-Jun, 8(3), 355 - 67
Correlation of in vitro cytotoxicity with preclinical in vivo antitumor activity; Rose WC et al.; Several human and murine tumor cell lines were evaluated in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay as prescreens for fermentation extracts and pure materials subsequently tested in vivo against P388 leukemia or B16 melanoma . Each material, regardless of its in vitro cytotoxicity, was evaluated in vivo . At the criteria levels of in vitro positivity and in vivo activity invoked, a highly significant relationship between these two endpoints was demonstrated for each cell line . When cell lines were compared, most of them performed in a similar manner, with HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cells providing a modest advantage predicting for P388 activity in some comparisons . Using the data from any two cell lines in concert did not improve the acuity of the prescreen beyond that associated with the better cell lines used singularly and only a minority of active materials was predicted for uniquely . Overall, the in vitro cytotoxicity assay provided a useful prescreen for selecting P388 and B16 in vivo active materials.

Cell Tissue Res, 1988 May, 252(2), 435 - 47
Regional differences in hindgut structure and function in the nutria, Myocastor coypus; Snipes RL et al.; Morphologically the large intestine of the nutria resembles that of other caviomorphs, notably the guinea pig . The cecum is voluminous: it contributes 8.6% of the total intestinal length and 12.7% of the total intestinal surface area (considering the surface enlargement factor) . It contains 27-32% of the wet ingesta and 20-23% of the dry matter in the gastrointestinal tract . In the colon the corresponding figures are: 21.8% of length, 12.6% of surface area, 16-21% of wet ingesta, and 16-40% of dry matter . The colon can be subdivided both structurally and functionally into two sections, the proximal and the distal colon, the border between the two being the apical flexure of a long parallel loop . The proximal colon (42% of colonic length) displays on the mucosal surface of its mesenterial side a narrow furrow bordered by ridges, which is absent in the distal colon . The ridges contain subepithelial accumulations of coiled tubuloalveolar mucoid glands, entwined by bundles of muscle fibers . Determinations of nitrogen in the contents near the furrow suggest a concentration of bacteria in this part of the lumen . It is hypothesized that the structural differentiations of the proximal colon provide mechanisms for the transport of bacteria from the proximal colon back into the cecum to maintain the fermentation function . The slopes of the longitudinal profiles for dry matter and for concentrations of sodium, potassium and calcium in the luminal contents change at the tip of the parallel loop . The electrical potential difference "intestinal lumen - blood" is particularly large in the proximal colon, indicating active electrogenic ion transport in this region.

Curr Genet, 1988 May, 13(5), 369 - 75
MAL64c is a global regulator of alpha-glucoside fermentation: identification of a new gene involved in melezitose fermentation; Perkins EL et al.; Maltase constitutive mutants at the MAL6 locus have been mapped to the newly identified regulatory gene MAL64c . We show here that MAL64c has in addition pleiotropic effects on sugar fermentation: MAL64c strains constitutively synthesize an alpha-methylglucosidase and can complement a new gene, MTP1, for the fermentation of melezitose and alpha-methylglucoside . MTP1, maps near MAL1, and either encodes a permease which transports melezitose, alpha-methylglucoside, and maltose or regulates the activity of such a permease . This work shows that MAL64c, a trans-acting regulatory gene, is a global regulatory gene affecting several different pathways of alpha-glucoside metabolism.

Mol Microbiol, 1988 May, 2(3), 353 - 61
Catabolite control of the elevation of PGK mRNA levels by heat shock in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Piper PW et al.; Heat shock enhances the very high level of transcription of the phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) gene in fermentative cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . This response of PGK mRNA levels was not found on gluconeogenic carbon sources, and could be switched on or off subject to availability of fermentable carbon source . The addition of glucose to yeast growing on glycerol resulted in acquisition, within 30-60 min, of the ability to elevate PGK mRNA levels after heat shock . In addition, in aerobic cultures growing on glucose the exhaustion of the medium glucose coincided with a loss of the heat-shock effect on PGK mRNA and a switch-over to slower growth by aerobic respiration . Levels of hsp26 mRNA were analysed during these experiments . Contrasting with this requirement for fermentable catabolite for manifestation of a heat-shock response of PGK mRNA levels, the PGK enzyme was not synthesized at a greater level in heat-shocked fermentative than in gluconeogenic cultures . PGK is one of only a few proteins made efficiently after mild heat shock of yeast . Thus, heat-stress-induced elevation of PGK mRNA levels does not appreciably increase PGK synthesis during exposure to high temperatures and so its role may be to assist cells repressed in mitochondrial function during recovery following a heat shock.

Arch Tierernahr, 1988 May, 38(5), 359 - 73
{The use of a partly-hydrolysed straw meal for the feeding of weaned piglets . 1 . Increased production and feed expense as well as nutrient digestibility and buffer capacity in rations with various high portions of partly-hydrolysed straw meal}; Munchow H et al.; In studies with weaned piglets of the land race the usability of partly hydrolysed straw meal (PSM) in concentrate - straw meal mixtures was tested over a period of 56 days (42nd-98th day of life; 1st-8th week of feeding . The hydrolysed straw product was there tested in a parallel experiment each without and after neutralization (by means of CaCO3) in quotas of 5, 10 and 15% as supplement to the concentrate feed (based on dry matter) in comparison to a sole concentrate feeding . Daily weight gain and feed and energy expenditure as well as nutrient digestibility and the buffer effect of the PSM rations were ascertained . Measured by weight gain, feed intake and concentrate- and energy expenditure related weight gain, a 10% quota of partly hydrolysed straw meal in a period near weaning (1st-4th week of feeding) had the highest effect and was far superior to traditional concentrate feeding . Lower quotas of PSM in this period did not show a sufficient dietetic effect (diarrhea symptoms), higher reduced the effect on the performance parameters . In the period more remote from weaning (5th-8th week of feeding) the effect of the straw meal integration was generally reduced, a quota of about 5% proved optimal . The registered higher daily weight gains in the total test period (1st-8th week of feeding in which concentrate - straw meal mixtures (relative 106-130%) were closely related to the daily intake of digestibility organic matter . The decrease in digestibility of organic matter in the total ration remained small with the use of the well fermentable crude fibre from the hydrolysed straw product and the balance was overcompensated by higher feed intake . A pH-value decrease of the feed mixtures and a physiologically suitable influence on the pH-value in the stomachs of the test animals could be ascertained due to the buffer capacity of the hydrolysed straw products used . With regard to this, the non-buffered hydrolysed straw product had a higher effect, which was, among other things, reflected in higher performances.

J Virol Methods, 1988 May, 20(1), 65 - 72
Reduction in immunoreactivity of varicella-zoster virus proteins induced by mycoplasma contamination; Harper DR et al.; During the study of protein differences between several strains of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), two of the strains were found to be contaminated with Mycoplasma hyorhinis . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed fourteen extra bands present in MRC5 fibroblasts infected with these strains compared to other strains of VZV . A more striking difference was observed when infected cultures were used as antigens in immunoblotting . Certain viral proteins, corresponding in molecular weight to the viral glycoproteins, showed greatly reduced immunoreactivity . Experimental contamination of a mycoplasma-free strain of VZV with the glucose fermenting M . hyorhinis produced similar effects on immunoreactivity, while contamination with the arginine-hydrolysing M . orale produced no detectable effects . Given these data, it appears likely that the glucose-fermenting species induced significant changes in the VZV glycoproteins, possibly by depletion of sugars or interference in glycosylation pathways . The implications of this are discussed.

Br J Nutr, 1988 May, 59(3), 429 - 36
Dynamics of protozoa in the rumen of cattle; Ffoulkes D et al.; 1 . The dynamics of protozoa were studied in two groups of rumen-fistulated cattle fed on a basal diet of molasses ad lib., with oaten chaff given at 6 or 18 g/kg live weight . This diet resulted in different mixtures of protozoal species in the populations in the rumen . 2 . The rumen protozoa were studied by intrarumen injections of protozoa labelled in vitro with {14CH3}choline . An indication of protozoal death and fermentation of protozoal cell residues was obtained by measuring 14C loss via the methane pool . 3 . After a single injection of labelled protozoa, the decline in the specific radioactivity (microCi/g nitrogen) of the protozoal pool in the rumen indicated that first-order kinetic processes applied . Conversely the specific radioactivity of protozoa, incubated in rumen fluid, remained constant indicating no growth in vitro, presumably owing to a rapid exhaustion of essential nutrients . 4 . The protozoal populations in the rumen of cattle fed on the diet with the low level of oaten chaff were mainly small ciliates; but on the higher level of chaff in the diet, the large ciliates were a higher proportion of the total protozoal population present . 5 . The mean pool size of protozoa in the rumen was significantly larger and the protozoal half-life tended to be longer for cattle fed on the higher level of chaff in the diet . The apparent production rate of protozoa in cattle fed on each diet was not significantly different and there were no differences in the production rate of methane . The percentage losses of label from protozoa in the rumen via the methane pool were not significantly different on the two diets and indicated that 74% of the protozoa that were apparently irreversibly lost from the rumen could be accounted for by death and lysis in the rumen and therefore only 26% of protozoa apparently entered the lower digestive tract.

Arch Tierernahr, 1988 Apr, 38(4), 247 - 56
{The use of partly-hydrolyzed and untreated straw meal in the feeding of breeding sows . 5 . Concentration, production and absorption of volatile fatty acids in the large intestine}; Munchow H et al.; In 2 experiments with a total of 28 breeding sows of the country species studies were made of the fermentation, production and absorption of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the large intestine after feeding variously treated straw materials in concentrate--straw meal mixtures . Experiment 1 ascertained that supplements of untreated (I), HCl treated (II) and partly hydrolysed straw meal (III, treatment with subsequent steaming) caused a decrease of the VFA concentration as well as considerable molar changes of the VFA in the caecal and colonal digesta in comparison of the sole feeding with concentrate (IV) . The straw fibre integration increased the molar acetate quota at the expense decreased propionate and butyrate fermentation . Considering the straw meal variants this effects was least distinct after the feeding of partly hydrolysed straw meal (III) . In experiment 2, which comprised the simultaneous ascertainment of VFA production in the feeding variants I and III and which was based on a representative number of animals per test group (n = 10), there were significant differences between the production quotas (I = 992; III = 1,300 mmol/animal.d) and in the absorption quotas of VFA (I = 63; II = 78%) . The digestible energy from the VFA in the large intestine amounted to 711 kJ/d (I) and 1,183 kJ/d (III) . The derived higher net energy gain from the hydrolysed straw product (III) was calculated at 590 kJ (40EFUpig/kg DM) and discussed together with results of feed value increase from the digestibility experiments.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Apr, 41(4), 488 - 93
Neihumicin, a new cytotoxic antibiotic from Micromonospora neihuensis . II . Structural determination and total synthesis; Yang LM et al.; The structure of neihumicin, a new antibiotic isolated from the fermentation broth of Micromonospora neihuensis Wu, sp . nov., has been determined as (Z)-3,(Z)-6-dibenzylidene-2-methoxy-3,6-dihydropyrazin-5-one based upon spectral evidence and X-ray crystallographic analysis . Its total synthesis has also been achieved.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Apr, 41(4), 481 - 7
Neihumicin, a new cytotoxic antibiotic from Micromonospora neihuensis . I . The producing organism, fermentation, isolation and biological properties; Wu RY et al.; A new cytotoxic and antifungal antibiotic, neihumicin, was isolated from the culture broth of a soil isolate identified as Micromonospora neihuensis Wu, sp . nov . Neihumicin shows in vitro cytotoxicity against KB tissue culture cells (ED50 0.94 micrograms/ml) as well as antifungal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 9763.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Apr, 41(4), 454 - 60
Aerocyanidin, a new antibiotic produced by Chromobacterium violaceum; Parker WL et al.; Aerocyanidin, a new antibiotic containing an isonitrile group, has been isolated from fermentations of Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 53434 . Structure 1 was assigned on the bais of spectroscopic characterization of the antibiotic and of a degradation product that results from treatment with base . The antibiotic is primarily active against Gram-positive bacteria.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Apr, 41(4), 446 - 53
Aerocavin, a new antibiotic produced by Chromobacterium violaceum; Singh PD et al.; A new antibiotic, aerocavin, has been isolated from fermentation broths of a non-pigmented strain of Chromobacterium violaceum . The structure 1 was deduced from its spectroscopic properties and X-ray diffraction analysis . Aerocavin exhibits activity in vitro against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Apr, 41(4), 417 - 24
SF2446, new benzo{a}naphthacene quinone antibiotics . I . Taxonomy and fermentation of the producing strain, isolation and characterization of antibiotics; Takeda U et al.; New antibiotics SF2446A1, A2, A3, B1 and B2 have been isolated from the culture of Streptomyces sp . SF2446 and antibiotic SF2446B3 has been obtained by methanolysis of SF2446B1 or B2 . SF2446A1, A2 and B1 showed strong inhibitory activities against mycoplasmas and Gram-positive bacteria . Empirical molecular formulae of antibiotics SF2446-A1, A2, A3, B1, B2 and B3 were determined to be C34H35NO15, C26H21NO11, C34H35NO14, C34H35NO14 and C26H21NO10, respectively.

J Nutr, 1988 Apr, 118(4), 438 - 44
Nutritive value of whole soybeans fermented with Aspergillus oryzae or Rhizopus oligosporus as evaluated by neonatal pigs; Zamora RG et al.; Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritive effects of heated whole soybeans fermented with the mold Aspergillus oryzae (AOS) or Rhizopus oligosporus (ROS) in diets fed to neonatal pigs from 1 to 22 d of age . In experiment 1, either soybean meal or heated whole soybeans fermented with ROS replaced 75% of the dried skim milk protein . The average daily gain (ADG) and gain-feed (G-F) ratio of pigs fed the diet containing 100% milk protein were greater than those of pigs fed the diets containing either soybean meal or ROS . In experiment 2, heated nonfermented whole soybeans (HUS) or heated whole soybeans fermented with either AOS or ROS replaced 50% of the milk protein in isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets . Proximate and amino acid analyses of HUS and the fermented soybean products, AOS and ROS were similar . Pigs fed a diet containing either HUS or AOS had greater (P less than 0.05) mean ADG and G-F ratios than pigs fed the diet containing ROS . Apparent biological value, apparent net protein utilization and digestible and metabolizable energy utilization were similar for all dietary treatments . In conclusion, the protein and energy values of whole soybeans were not improved by fermentation with ROS or AOS compared to nonfermented heated whole soybeans, soybean meal or dried skim milk in diets fed to neonatal pigs.

Cancer Res, 1988 Apr 1, 48(7), 1954 - 9
Preserved foods and nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a case-control study in Guangxi, China; Yu MC et al.; One hundred twenty-eight mothers of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cases under age 45 in Yulin Prefecture, China and 174 mothers of population controls were interviewed as part of an epidemiological study to examine childhood exposures in relation to the development of NPC . Exposure before age 2 years to a number of fermented foods was a risk factor for NPC . During weaning, intake of salted fish {relative risk (RR) = 2.6, one-sided P (P) = 0.01}, salted duck eggs (RR = 5.0, P = 0.03), salted mustard green (RR = 5.4, P = 0.03), and chung choi (RR = 2.0), P = 0.003), a kind of salted root, was significantly related to an increased risk of NPC . Between ages 1 and 2 years, intake frequency of dried fish {P for linear trend test (linear trend P) = 0.002}, fermented black bean paste (linear trend P = 0.0009), and fermented soy bean paste (linear trend P = 0.007) was also positively associated with NPC . A multivariate analysis of these different foods showed all except fermented black bean paste to be independently related to NPC.

Gastroenterology, 1988 Apr, 94(4), 928 - 32
Impaired colonic fermentation of carbohydrate after ampicillin; Rao SS et al.; The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ampicillin on the ability of the human colon to ferment carbohydrate . The effect of ingesting a drink containing 20 g of lactulose on stool output and breath hydrogen production was measured in 13 normal volunteers before and during administration of ampicillin (2 g/day) . Small bowel and whole gut transit times were also measured to exclude any direct effect of ampicillin on motor activity . Ingestion of lactulose did not increase stool weight or frequency under control conditions, but during administration of ampicillin, lactulose caused increases in stool weight (p less than 0.02) and frequency (p less than 0.01), in the percentage of unformed stools (p less than 0.001), and in the excretion of galactose and fructose in stool samples collected from 2 volunteers . Administration of ampicillin also significantly reduced the area under the breath hydrogen profile (p less than 0.03) . Mouth-to-cecum transit of the lactulose drink was prolonged during ampicillin ingestion (p less than 0.01) but there was no significant change in the whole gut transit time . These results suggest that ampicillin impairs colonic fermentation of carbohydrate and a diet high in unabsorbable carbohydrate increases the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Z Lebensm Unters Forsch, 1988 Apr, 186(4), 295 - 300
The importance of metallic elements in wine . A literature survey; Fernandez Pereira C; A review of the current literature concerning the role played by metallic elements present in wine is presented . The aim is to show the importance of these elements in the entire wine-making process, mainly through their influence on the organoleptic properties of wine . The study takes into consideration the individual stages of the process such as fertilization, fermentation and aging and also deals with other interesting aspects related to hygiene and dietetic properties, as well as the possibility of differentiating wines according to their metal contents.

Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 1988 Apr, 17, 163 - 73
Mutants of Escherichia coli defective in acid fermentation; Clark DP et al.; Wild type E . coli ferments glucose to a mixture of ethanol and acetic, lactic, formic, and succinic acids . Mutants defective in acid production have now been isolated, including those defective in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) or with excess alcohol dehydrogenase . These mutations had no phenotype without a pfl mutation . Novel mutants affecting acetate metabolism were isolated by insertion of the fusion vector Mudl . These aceG mutants cannot grow anaerobically on glucose or aerobically on acetate yet lack the pleiotropic growth defects of previously known pta/ack mutants . In some genetic backgrounds acetate negative mutations suppress the growth defects of adh mutations . These results are discussed in terms of redox balance.

Xenobiotica, 1988 Apr, 18(4), 365 - 71
Microbial cleavage of zearalenone; el-Sharkawy S et al.; 1 . Zearalenone, a fungal oestrogenic compound, was subjected to microbial transformation studies . Preliminary screening with 150 fungal species showed that Gliocladium roseum was capable of metabolizing zearalenone in 80-90% yields . 2 . Large-scale fermentation with G . roseum produced a 1:1 mixture of 1-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-10'-hydroxy-1-undecen-6'-one and 1-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-6'-hydroxy-1-undecen-10'-one . The compounds were isolated and purified at -20 degrees C, and identified using spectroscopic analysis and by comparison to products obtained from alkaline hydrolysis of zearalenone.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 Apr, 71(4), 964 - 70
Effect of ratio of roughage concentrate on glucose-induced heat production in sheep rumen fluid in vitro; Arieli A et al.; The effect of ration on heat of glucose fermentation in sheep rumen fluid was investigated . Heat production was measured in a semiadiabatic calorimeter . In trial 1, the effect of glucose (.4 to 6.4 mg) on fermentative heat production was determined in rumen fluid from sheep fed 25 or 100% roughage diet . Heat of glucose fermentation decreased with increase in glucose dose in both diets . Maximal heat of glucose fermentation in both diets agreed with stoichiometric calculations . However, at 6.4 mg glucose, maximal heat was 18 kcal/mol in the 25% roughage diet and 14 kcal/mol in the 100% roughage diet . Purine N and maximal rate of heat production were not affected by diet type . In trial 2, the effect of glucose (1.6 and 6.4 mg) on fermentative heat production was determined in rumen fluid from sheep fed 25, 50, 75, and 100% roughage . In addition, fermentation pattern was measured in donors of the rumen fluid . Heat of glucose fermentation was positively correlated with organic matter digestibility and negatively correlated with rumen pH and acetate concentration . These observations indicate that in addition to the effect of roughage on the fermentation pattern, supplemental adaptation may occur, as indicated by the reduction in the heat of glucose fermentation.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 Apr, 71(4), 946 - 53
Effects of feeding synthetic zeolite A and sodium bicarbonate on milk production, nutrient digestion, and rate of digesta passage in dairy cows; Johnson MA et al.; Four rumen-cannulated Holstein cows were fed synthetic zeolite A and NaHCO3 to evaluate their affect on milk production, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, and rate of digesta passage . Treatments were allocated in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement within a 4 x 4 Latin-square design . Treatments consisted of control; 1.0% NaHCO3; 2.0% zeolite; and 1.0% NaHCO3 plus 2.0% zeolite . A total mixed ration with 50:50 concentrate to forage (80% corn silage, 20% haylage) DM was fed . Intake of DM was lower for cows receiving zeolite (18.7 vs . 20.7 kg/d) . Decreases were noted in daily milk (26.3 vs . 28.9 kg/d) . 4% FCM (23.6 vs . 25.6 kg/d); milk fat yield (.86 vs . .93 kg/d); milk protein yield (.85 vs . .95 kg/d); and milk protein percent (3.21 vs . 3.34) with zeolite . Digestibilities of DM, organic matter, and crude protein were also decreased by zeolite but ADF digestion was unaffected . Rumen pH was increased, ruminal propionate decreased, and acetate:propionate ratio increased by zeolite . All other VFA plus rumen NH3 were not affected by treatment . Decreases due to zeolite were observed in liquid fractional rate of passage and liquid flow rate when measured by Cr-EDTA in the feces . No treatment differences were found in fractional rate of passage of feed particles . Addition of NaHCO3 had no significant effects.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Apr, 170(4), 1698 - 703
Properties of a Tn5 insertion mutant defective in the structural gene (fruA) of the fructose-specific phosphotransferase system of Rhodobacter capsulatus and cloning of the fru regulon; Daniels GA et al.; In photosynthetic bacteria such as members of the genera Rhodospirillum, Rhodopseudomonas, and Rhodobacter a single sugar, fructose, is transported by the phosphotransferase system-catalyzed group translocation mechanism . Previous studies indicated that syntheses of the three fructose catabolic enzymes, the integral membrane enzyme II, the peripheral membrane enzyme I, and the soluble fructose-1-phosphate kinase, are coordinately induced . To characterize the genetic apparatus encoding these enzymes, a Tn5 insertion mutation specifically resulting in a fructose-negative, glucose-positive phenotype was isolated in Rhodobacter capsulatus . The mutant was totally lacking in fructose fermentation, fructose uptake in vivo, phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent fructose phosphorylation in vitro, and fructose 1-phosphate-dependent fructose transphosphorylation in vitro . Extraction of the membrane fraction of wild-type cells with butanol and urea resulted in the preparation of active enzyme II free of contaminating enzyme I activity . This preparation was used to show that the activity of enzyme I was entirely membrane associated in the parent but largely soluble in the mutant, suggesting the presence of an enzyme I-enzyme II complex in the membranes of wild-type cells . The uninduced mutant exhibited measurable activities of both enzyme I and fructose-1-phosphate kinase, which were increased threefold when it was grown in the presence of fructose . Both activities were about 100-fold inducible in the parental strain . Although the Tn5 insertion mutation was polar on enzyme I expression, fructose-1-phosphate kinase activity was enhanced, relative to the parental strain . ATP-dependent fructokinase activity was low, but twofold inducible and comparable in the two strains . A second fru::Tn5 mutant and a chemically induced mutant selected on the basis of xylitol resistance showed pleiotropic loss of enzyme I, enzyme II, and fructose-1-phosphate kinase . These mutants were used to clone the fru regulon by complementing the negative phenotype with a wild-type cosmid bank.

Int J Cancer, 1988 Mar 15, 41(3), 331 - 5
Diet and cancer of the stomach: a case-control study in China; Hu JF et al.; A case-control study focusing on the role of single food items was undertaken in the Heilongjiang area, 241 patients with histologically verified stomach cancer and an equal number of controls (with non-neoplastic diseases) matched by age, sex and area of residence being interviewed during a 2-year period . Questions asked covered economic status, occupation, histories of smoking and drinking, diet and dietary habits and disease history . Data concerning the average frequency and quantity of consumption of single food items were obtained by the same interviewer . An inverse association between the consumption of vegetables and stomach cancer was observed whereas high intake of potatoes and of salted and fermented soya paste appeared to be high-risk factors . Specifically, Chinese cabbage plays an important role in reducing the risk of developing stomach cancer.

Arch Tierernahr, 1988 Mar, 38(3), 183 - 91
{Rye and wheat in piglet rations supplemented by bisergon}; Bolduan G et al.; In a feeding experiment (54 piglets) and a slaughtering test for the registration of tract and digesta properties (15 piglets) the influence of rations with 69% rye (R) or wheat (W) with and without a supplement of 200 mg of the chinoxalin derivate Bisergon/kg DM (rations RB and WB) was studied . In the sequence R, RB, W and WB the feed intake in the test period of 3 weeks after weaning amounted to 581, 651, 583 and 764 g, weight gain to 314, 365, 319 and 424 g per animal and day . In the same sequence the concentration of organic acids in the stomach amounted to 41, 5, 25 and 18 mmol per 100 g dry matter and in the colon to 106, 83, 64 and 62 . Bisergon caused a redistribution of the digesta from the stomach to the large intestine and a more rapid emptying of the stomach as well . Rye caused extreme fermentation processes in the front part of the tract and Bisergon clearly has ergotropic qualities for the stabilization of the intestinal flora.

Arch Tierernahr, 1988 Mar, 38(3), 175 - 81
Production of acids from inulin by a mixed culture of rumen microorganisms; Marounek M et al.; The production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and lactic acid from inulin (plant fructan with 2-1 bonds) in in vitro rumen fermentations was followed . The experiments were performed with inocula from wethers receiving two rations, with two pH regimes and using as inocula either whole rumen contents or the corresponding rumen fluid . The following results were obtained: The VFA production was higher when using inocula from hay and concentrate fed wethers . In contrast to this, the lactic acid production was higher when using inocula from hay fed wethers . The VFA production tends to be higher in a weakly acid medium than in a neutral medium . Acetate-to-propionate molar ratio was lower at lower pH . The amounts and composition of the VFA were not different when using both types of inocula . Thus, we believe that micro-organisms colonising plant fibres obviously do not play an important role in inulin splitting.

J Anim Sci, 1988 Mar, 66(3), 743 - 9
Influence of DL-methionine supplementation on growth, ruminal fermentation and dilution rates in heifers; Clark CK et al.; A 3 X 3 replicated Latin square design was used to evaluate three isonitrogenous supplements designed to supply 250 g crude protein (CP) daily . Measurements included in situ dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) fermentation and ruminal dilution rates . Supplements contained beet pulp plus DL-methionine and urea (MET), ammonium sulfate and urea (U) or soybean meal (SBM) . Six mature, ruminally cannulated crossbred beef cows were individually fed supplement and a mixture (63% NDF and 6.1% CP) of chopped 75% grass hay and 25% barley straw in ad libitum . Fermentation rate of DM was increased (P less than .05) by 30% with MET in comparison to SBM or U (9.54 vs 7.28% and 7.74%/h for MET, SBM and U, respectively) . Even though MET improved fermentation rate by 30%, particle dilution rate was more important in affecting ruminal digestibility than fermentation rate . Two 90-d heifer growth trials were conducted to evaluate similar supplements . Supplements similar to those used in the in situ trial were mixed with roughage to provide a complete diet balanced for .3 kg daily gain . Heifers consumed 112% of the National Research Council CP requirement . Weight gain, intake and feed conversion were similar (P greater than .10) for all treatments . In heifer trial 2, 90% of the National Research Council CP requirement was fed . The heifers supplemented with MET and SBM had faster (P less than .05) weight gains than heifers receiving U . These studies show that feeding DL-methionine with urea, as compared with feeding an isonitrogenous supplement containing SBM, increased the fermentation rate of DM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Mar, 54(3), 832 - 4
Fermentation of methanol in the sheep rumen; Pol A et al.; Sheep fed a hay-concentrate diet were adapted to pectin administration and ruminal infusion of methanol . Both treatments resulted in a strong increase in the rate of methanogenesis from methanol . Quantitative data show that methanol was exclusively converted into methane . Treatments did not influence ruminal volatile fatty acid percentages.

Food Chem Toxicol, 1988 Mar, 26(3), 215 - 25
Alkylating activity in food products--especially sauerkraut and sour fermented dairy products--after incubation with nitrite under quasi-gastric conditions; Groenen PJ et al.; N-Nitroso compounds may well rank high among the genotoxic carcinogens present in our environment . Small amounts of such compounds may be formed in the human stomach after consumption of high-nitrate vegetables . Volatile nitrosamines can be conveniently determined but reliable methods of analysis for non-volatile N-nitroso compounds are still lacking . In this study we have used the 4-(4-nitrobenzyl)pyridine test to look for the formation of alkylating compounds such as N-nitroso-N-methylurea in a wide range of food products after incubation with nitrite under simulated gastric conditions . Our results indicate that many food products do not form alkylating compounds in appreciable amounts, even though the nitrite concentration used was five to ten times that found in saliva after a high-nitrate meal . Comparatively strong alkylating activity, however, was detected after incubation of samples of sauerkraut, certain dairy products (yoghurt, biogarde, quark, buttermilk and milk), wine and smoked mackerel . Samples of sauerkraut incubated with simulated gastric fluid, but without (added) nitrite, also displayed appreciable alkylating activity . The formation of alkylating substances in non-fat yoghurt was markedly inhibited by addition of ascorbic acid . The identity of the alkylating agents remains unknown . The isolation procedure was optimized for N-nitroso-N-methylurea, but will certainly result in the isolation of other compounds, such as C-nitroso-, C-nitro- or perhaps even C-nitroso-C'-nitro-compounds as well . Biogenic amines, glucosinolates, indole derivatives or other compounds may be involved as precursors . If alkylating agents are formed in vivo after ingestion of high-nitrate vegetables or drinking water, this is likely to occur only when the food products mentioned above are ingested simultaneously with or shortly after the nitrate load and not appreciably (except perhaps in the case of sauerkraut) when they are ingested alone, without a nitrate source . The health implications of these findings cannot yet be established . Many alkylating agents, however, have strong carcinogenic properties and continued investigation of food products (and their interaction products with nitrite) is indicated.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1988 Mar, 158(3 Pt 1), 564 - 9
Distribution of K vitamins (phylloquinone and menaquinones) in human placenta and maternal and umbilical cord plasma; Hiraike H et al.; It is a well-known fact that neonatal and infantile vitamin K deficiencies cause melena neonatorum and intracranial hemorrhagic disorders . These disorders occur more frequently in breast-fed babies than in bottle-fed babies, for reasons that are still obscure . Endogenous concentrations of K vitamins (phylloquinone and menaquinones) in human placentas and in paired specimens of maternal and umbilical cord plasma were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection and postcolumn reduction . Phylloquinone (K1) and menaquinones (MK-4, MK-6, and MK-7) were found in placentas and maternal plasma . K1 and MK-4 were found in umbilical cord plasma . The experimental subjects were 13 pregnant women with normal diets (group A) and two pregnant women with diets supplemented with fermented soybeans (group B), in which MK-7 is abundant . Samples from their placentas and maternal and umbilical cord plasma were collected just after delivery . The placentas and maternal plasma of group B contained higher concentrations of MK-7 (placentas = 10.82 ng/gm and maternal plasma = 3.55 ng/ml) than did group A (placentas = 1.08 ng/gm, maternal plasma = 0.70 ng/ml) . However, MK-7 was not found in umbilical cord plasma of any of the subjects . The mean K1 values of all 15 patients in placentas and maternal and umbilical cord plasma were 1.28 ng/gm, 1.54 ng/ml, and 0.11 ng/ml, respectively; mean MK-4 values were 1.18 ng/gm, 0.05 ng/ml, and 0.04 ng/ml, respectively . A high concentration of MK-4 was detected in placentas.

Cancer Res, 1988 Mar 1, 48(5), 1166 - 72
Antitumor activity and hematotoxicity of a new, substituted dihydrobenzoxazine, FK973, in mice; Shimomura K et al.; FK973, a new, substituted dihydrobenzoxazine (11-acetyl-8-carbamoyloxymethyl-4-formyl-14-oxa-1,11- diazatetracyclo{7.4.1.0.0}tetra-deca-2,4,6-trien-6,9-diyl diacetate), was obtained by chemical modification of a novel antibiotic which was isolated from the fermentation products of Streptomyces sandaensis No . 6897 . FK973 had cytotoxic effects against in vitro cultured human and murine tumor cells . FK973 in doses of 0.032-5.6 mg/kg (i.p.) had stronger antitumor activities and higher chemotherapeutic ratio than mitomycin C against such murine ascitic tumors as P388 and L1210 leukemia, B16 melanoma, M5076 reticulum cell sarcoma of ovarian origin, Colon 26 carcinoma, Ehrlich carcinoma, and MH134 hepatoma . In tests against murine and human solid tumors implanted s.c . in normal mice and nude mice, respectively, FK973 (i.v.) inhibited growth of murine tumors (M5076 sarcoma, Colon 38 carcinoma, B16 melanoma, and Lewis lung carcinoma) by 66-100% and human tumors (LX-1 lung, MX-1 mammary, and SC-6 stomach carcinoma) by 84-99% . In studies with drug-resistant P388 leukemia, FK973 was also effective against vincristine-resistant P388, moderately effective against mitomycin C (MMC)- and adriamycin-resistant P388, and partially effective against cyclophosphamide-resistant P388 cells in mice . Leukopenic effects of FK973 and MMC in mice were comparable at doses which gave antitumor activity almost equally . FK973 had no effect on the numbers of platelets and red blood cells, whereas MMC markedly decreased both . FK973 decreased the numbers of colony forming units in spleen and in culture and the effect was less than that of MMC . Therefore, FK973 may give weaker myelosuppression than MMC . The results suggest that FK973 will be a beneficial drug for the treatment of cancer.

Am J Public Health, 1988 Mar, 78(3), 318 - 9
Investigation of possible health effects of community exposure to fermenting wood chips; Birkhead G et al.; We conducted a case-control study of emergency room (ER) patients to evaluate whether asthma is caused by living near a wood-chip fueled power plant that released wood-chip fermentation products . Only eight (29 per cent) of 28 asthma patients seen in the ER during an 11-week period lived within 1.5 miles of the plant compared with 18 (34 per cent) of 54 control patients matched for severity of diagnosis and seen during the same period (Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio controlling for age = 0.96).

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1988 Mar-Apr, 24(2), 175 - 81
{Effect of surface-active agents (tween-21) on indices of energy metabolism in oleandomycin producers}; Rudakova AV et al.; The specific growth rate of Streptomyces antibioticus, a producer of oleandomycin, and the specific rate of the antibiotic accumulation in the culture medium during fermentation were investigated . On the basis of the results obtained the fermentation period was divided into 7 phases of development . The culture treated with the surfactant (Tween-21) is characterized by a higher specific growth rate during the whole fermentation and a higher specific rate of the antibiotic accumulation at the stage of the highest production as compared to the control . The ATP content, the value of the adenylate energy charge and the contents of high-molecular weight polyphosphates in the mycelium were examined . In the phase of the intensive growth St . antibioticus was characterized by a higher ATP level and a higher energy charge . More active accumulation of polyphosphates was observed in the late intensive growth phase . It was also found that after the treatment of the culture with Tween-21 it utilized polyphosphates more actively during the antibiotic biosynthesis.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1988 Mar, 38(3), 422 - 8
Purification of proteins produced by biotechnological process; Werner RG et al.; Proteins maintain functions important to life . Faulty functioning or deficiency gives rise to pathological reactions . These proteins can now be produced, using the methods of recombinant DNA technology and administered to patients for replacement therapy . Many proteins as active ingredients are already available for use as immunomodulators, agents for tumour treatment, plasma proteins and hormones . They are in various stages of development, ranging from cloning of the producing cells to marketing of the finished products . Since the active substances are proteins synthesized by recombinant cells, their purification presents a particular challenge to protein chemists . Purification of recombinant DNA-derived proteins intended for human use is an essential part of the biotechnical process . It starts immediately after the fermentation of the host cell . The characteristics of the protein determine which microorganisms or cell cultures are used and this in turn defines the first purification step . The microorganisms are disrupted, and the insoluble protein, desposited in "inclusion bodies" has to be renatured, or the proteins secreted by cells and have to be concentrated . The subsequent strategy for purification of the protein does not depend on the fermentation process but is entirely determined by the physiochemical properties of the proteins . The goal of the first purification step is to isolate as fast and quantitatively as possible the recombinant protein from the culture filtrate, in order to minimize potential changes brought about by proteases or glycosidases . Immunoaffinity or ligand-affinity chromatography is used preferentially for this purpose . The concentration of protein and buffer changes are carried out by precipitation followed by reconstitution or, preferably, by dialysis and ultrafiltration/diafiltration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Bacteriol, 1988 Mar, 170(3), 1290 - 6
Genetic analyses of the mannitol permease of Escherichia coli: isolation and characterization of a transport-deficient mutant which retains phosphorylation activity; Manayan R et al.; Three positive selection procedures were developed for the isolation of plasmid-encoded mutants which were defective in the mannitol enzyme II (IIMtl) of the phosphotransferase system (mtlA mutants) . The mutants were characterized with respect to the following properties: (i) fermentation, (ii) transport, (iii) phosphoenolpyruvate(PEP)-dependent phosphorylation, and (iv) mannitol-1-phosphate-dependent transphosphorylation of mannitol . Cell lysis in response to indole acrylic acid, which causes the lethal overexpression of the plasmid-encoded mtlA gene, was also scored . No correlation was noted between residual IIMtl activity in the mutants and sensitivity to the toxic effect of indole acrylic acid . Plasmid-encoded mutants were isolated with (i) total or partial loss of all activities assayed, (ii) nearly normal rates of transphosphorylation but reduced rates of PEP-dependent phosphorylation, (iii) nearly normal rates of PEP-dependent phosphorylation but reduced rates of transphosphorylation, and (iv) total loss of transport activity but substantial retention of both phosphorylation activities in vitro . A mutant of this fourth class was extensively characterized . The mutant IIMtl was shown to be more thermolabile than the wild-type enzyme, it exhibited altered kinetic behavior, and it was shown to arise by a single nucleotide substitution (G-895----A) in the mtlA gene, causing a single amino acyl substitution (Gly-253----Glu) in the permease . The results show that a single amino acyl substitution can abolish transport function without abolishing phosphorylation activity . This work serves to identify a site which is crucial to the transport function of the enzyme.

J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Mar, 134 ( Pt 3), 791 - 800
Presence of anaplerotic reactions and transamination, and the absence of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in mollicutes; Manolukas JT et al.; Cell extracts of the fermentative Mollicutes Acholeplasma laidlawii B-PG9, Acholeplasma morum S2, Mycoplasma capricolum 14, Mycoplasma gallisepticum S6, Mycoplasma pneumoniae FH, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae J and M . genitalium G-37, and the non-fermentative Mycoplasma hominis PG-21, Mycoplasma hominis 1620 and Mycoplasma bovigenitalium PG-11 were examined for 39 cytoplasmic enzyme activities associated with the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, transamination, anaplerotic reactions and other enzyme activities at the pyruvate locus . Malate dehydrogenase (EC 4.2.1.2) was the only TCA-cycle-associated enzyme activity detected and it was found only in the eight Mycoplasma species . Aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) activity was detected in all Mollicutes tested except M . gallisepticum S6 . Malate synthetase (EC 4.1.3.2) activity, in the direction of malate formation, was found in the eight Mycoplasma species, but not in any of the Acholeplasma species . Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) was detected in the direction of oxaloacetate (OAA) formation in both Acholeplasma species, but not in any of the Mycoplasma species . Pyruvate carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.1), pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40), pyruvate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.4.1) and lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) activities were found in all ten Mollicutes tested . No activities were detected in any of the ten Mollicutes for aspartase (EC 4.3.1.1), malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40), PEP carboxytransphosphorylase (EC 4.1.1.38), PEP carboxykinase (EC 4.1.1.32) or pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (EC 2.7.9.1) . In these TCA-cycle-deficient Mollicutes the pyruvate-OAA locus may be a point of linkage for the carbons of glycolysis, lipid synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis and certain amino acids . CO2 fixation appears obligatory in the Acholeplasma species and either CO2 fixation or malate synthesis appears obligatory in the Mycoplasma species.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Mar, 33(3), 223 - 8
{Comparative characteristics of penicillin-binding proteins of representatives of the genus Streptomyces}; Griaznova NS et al.; Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) in Strepomyces strains producing clavulanic acid and beta-lactamase and in Streptomyces strains not producing these compounds were studied comparatively . In S . clavuligerus, the organism producing clavulanic acid, there were detected 3 PBPs in the membrane fraction . S . griseus, the organism producing beta-lactamase, contained 6 PBP . In S . cacaoi and S . olivaceus, organisms producing neither beta-lactams nor beta-lactamase, there were detected 5 and 4 PBP, respectively . The set of the PBP in the organism producing clavulanic acid varied during fermentation . In a variant of S . clavuligerus isolated after protoplasting of the mycelial cells and their regeneration the content of the electrophoretically most mobile PBP lowered . The PBP of S . clavuligerus did no show any high affinity to other beta-lactams such as methicillin and ampicillin tested as competing agents of 14C-benzylpenicillin.

J Dent Res, 1988 Mar, 67(3), 531 - 5
Effect of chewing gum containing sodium bicarbonate on human interproximal plaque pH; Igarashi K et al.; The effect of chewing sorbitol gum containing sodium bicarbonate on interproximal plaque pH was determined by use of an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) electrode system with four human volunteers . Plaque pH was lowered by 2 min of chewing of a sucrose-containing toffee . After 20 min, either sodium bicarbonate or control gum was chewed for 10 min, and the pH was followed for an additional 20 min . The minimum pH after toffee chewing was elevated by both the control gum (4.5 +/- 0.3 to 5.2 +/- 0.5) and the sodium-bicarbonate-containing product (4.3 +/- 0.3 to 6.1 +/- 0.6) to levels which were significantly different (p less than 0.01) . The rate of rise in pH was 2.6 times faster with the gum containing buffer compared with the control gum . In comparison with the control gum, the sodium bicarbonate gum caused the pH to remain at a higher level, approximately 0.5 pH units, for 20 min after gum chewing . The addition of sodium bicarbonate to gum containing sorbitol markedly enhanced its capacity to cause and maintain an elevation of interproximal plaque pH previously lowered by exposure to fermentable carbohydrate . Sodium bicarbonate may be useful in products designed to reduce the acidogenic challenge to the teeth following food ingestion.

Mol Cell Biol, 1988 Mar, 8(3), 1027 - 35
Constitutive expression of the maltose fermentative enzymes in Saccharomyces carlsbergensis is dependent upon the mutational activation of a nonessential homolog of MAL63; Dubin RA et al.; Maltose fermentation in Saccharomyces carlsbergensis is dependent upon the MAL6 locus . This complex locus is composed of the MAL61 and MAL62 genes, which encode maltose permease and maltase, respectively, and a third gene, MAL63, which codes for a trans-acting positive regulatory product . In wild-type strains, expression of the MAL61 and MAL62 mRNAs and proteins is induced by maltose and induction is dependent upon the MAL63 gene . Mutants constitutively expressing the MAL61 and MAL62 gene products have been isolated in mal63 backgrounds, and the mutations which have been analyzed map to a fourth MAL6-linked gene, MAL64 . Cloning and characterization of this new gene are described in this report . The results revealed that the MAL64-C alleles present in constitutive strains encode a trans-acting positive function required for constitutive expression of the MAL61 and MAL62 gene products . In inducible strains, the MAL64 gene is dispensable, as deletion of the gene had no effect on maltose fermentation or maltose-regulated induction . MAL64 encoded transcripts of 2.0 and 1.4 kilobase pairs . While both MAL64 mRNAs were constitutively expressed in constitutive strains, they were maltose inducible in wild-type strains and induction was dependent upon the MAL63 gene . The MAL63 and MAL64 genes are at least partially structurally homologous, suggesting that they control MAL61 and MAL62 transcript accumulation by similar mechanisms.

FEBS Lett, 1988 Feb 29, 229(1), 145 - 9
A 5 kb intergenic region containing ori1 in the mitochondrial DNA of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is dispensable for expression of the respiratory phenotype; Piskur J; A mutant mitochondrial DNA of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain R 0.54 has been shown to have a 5 kb deletion which removes the ori1 sequence and its surrounding intergenic sequences between the pro tRNA and 15 S rRNA genes . The deleted DNA has been sequenced and is found to be flanked by two 11 bp direct repeats . The deletion mutant displays a normal phenotype in non-fermentable media . This implies that the intergenic sequence is not required for expression of the respiratory phenotype.

J Chromatogr, 1988 Feb 26, 424(2), 325 - 36
Determination of beta-lactams and their biosynthetic intermediates in fermentation media by pre-column derivatisation followed by fluorescence detection; Shah AJ et al.; This paper describes a novel and sensitive pre-column derivatisation method for the detection and quantitation of beta-lactams and their biosynthetic precursors at trace levels in fermentation media . Filtered broths from fermentations of strains of Penicillium chrysogenum and Cephalosporium acremonium, after deproteination and centrifugation, were incubated with 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate for 5 min at 20 degrees C in 0.2 M borate buffer at pH 7.7 . Following two-fold pentane extraction of the reagent hydrolysis product, the aqueous layer was injected directly onto a C18 reversed-phase column, and products were detected spectrofluorimetrically with excitation and emission wavelengths of 260 and 313 nm, respectively . Detection limits of 0.01 and 0.05 micrograms ml-1 were achieved for both 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) and isopenicillin N in borate buffer and filtered fermentation broths, respectively, using a 10-microliter injection volume . A linear calibration for 6-APA in fermentation broth was obtained for a very wide concentration range (0.05-100 micrograms ml-1) . Detection limits for solutions of cephalosporin C, deacetylcephalosporin C and deacetoxycephalosporin C in broth were all 0.25 micrograms ml-1 . The detection limit for the beta-lactam precursor delta-(L-aminoadipyl)-L-alpha-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV) dimer in borate buffer was 0.5 microgram ml-1 . The cephalosporins and ACV dimer gave linear plots in the ranges 3-25 and 1-100 micrograms ml-1, respectively . Repeated analysis of 6-APA at a concentration of 10 micrograms ml-1 in filtered broth gave a mean peak area of 2.5.10(6) with a standard deviation of 2.6.10(5) using a 10-microliter injection volume . Ampicillin spiked into deproteinated blood serum gave a linear calibration in the concentration range 2-100 micrograms ml-1.

Nature, 1988 Feb 18, 331(6157), 633 - 5
Heterologous expression of a bacterial haemoglobin improves the growth properties of recombinant Escherichia coli; Khosla C et al.; Rational design of novel as well as improved cellular biocatalysts by genetic manipulation of cellular metabolism has recently attracted considerable interest . A wide range of bacteria have been genetically modified by integrating new enzymatic functions into their metabolic network . A central problem in the aerobic growth of any cell culture is the maintenance of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations above growth-limiting levels especially in high cell-density fermentations which are usually of a fed-batch type . The optimal rate of nutrient addition (and consequently the productivity) is ultimately limited by the rate at which cells can aerobically catabolize the carbon source without generating growth-inhibitory metabolites such as lactate and acetate . All approaches thus far have concentrated on improving the oxygen mass transfer rates by manipulating various environmental parameters . We have isolated the gene for a haemoglobin-like molecule, expressed by the aerobic bacterium Vitreoscilla in poorly-oxygenated environments, and expressed it in Escherichia coli . The recombinant cells contain enhanced haem as well as active haemoglobin, and they grow faster and to considerably greater cell densities than comparable plasmid-containing cells which do not express haemoglobin . This haemoglobin increases the rate of oxygen use, especially when dissolved oxygen is less than 5% of air saturation.

Biomed Environ Mass Spectrom, 1988 Feb 15, 15(4), 185 - 91
Mass spectral investigations on trichothecene mycotoxins . V . Direct analysis of satratoxins by tandem mass spectrometric techniques; Krishnamurthy T et al.; Under chemical ionization conditions, satratoxins preferentially produce negatively charged molecular ions (M-) over the positively charged protonated molecules . Collisionally activated dissociation of the M-.ions resulted in daughter ions and neutral losses which were characteristic of the macrocyclic ester bridges . Direct tandem mass spectrometric methods of analyses wee developed and applied for the detection and quantification of satratoxins in Stachybotrys atra fermentation broths . Minimum detectable levels for satratoxin standards were 5 pg . A synthetically modified macrocyclic trichothecene, 8-ketoverrucarin A, was used as an internal standard for the quantification of satratoxins in fermentation samples.

Eur J Biochem, 1988 Feb 15, 172(1), 227 - 31
Studies on the mechanism of the glucose-induced cAMP signal in glycolysis and glucose repression mutants of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Beullens M et al.; When glucose is added to cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown on non-fermentable carbon sources, a cAMP signal is induced which triggers a protein phosphorylation cascade . Addition of glucose or fructose to cells of a phosphoglucose isomerase mutant also induced the cAMP signal indicating that metabolization of the sugar beyond the sugar phosphate step is not necessary . Glucose 6-phosphate might stimulate the triggering reaction since induction with fructose shows a significant delay . Experiments with double and triple mutants in hexokinase 1, hexokinase 2 or glucokinase indicated that the presence of one of the three kinases was both necessary and enough for induction of the cAMP signal by glucose and the presence of one of the two hexokinases necessary and enough for induction by fructose . The product of the kinase reaction itself however does not appear to be the trigger of the reaction: when the increase in the level of glucose 6-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate was measured as a function of time after addition of different glucose concentrations, no correlation was observed with the increase in the cAMP level . From the dependence of the cAMP increase on the external concentration of glucose, a rough estimate was obtained of the Km of the triggering reaction: about 25 mM . This value clearly fits with the Km of the low-affinity glucose carrier (about 20 mM) and differs by at least an order of magnitude from the Km values of the high-affinity glucose carrier and the three kinases . The present results situate the primary triggering reaction at the level of transport-associated phosphorylation . The main (= low-affinity) glucose carrier appears to be the receptor while association of the corresponding kinase is needed for induction of the signal . Since it is known that the presence of the kinases influences the characteristics of sugar transport, no definite conclusion can be given on whether the necessity of the kinases reflects the need for a certain type of transport or the need for phosphorylation of the sugar . The increase in the level of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, on the other hand, correlated very well with the cAMP increase . However, it clearly lagged behind the cAMP increase, confirming the previously suggested importance of the cAMP signal for the stimulation of glycolytic flux at the level of phosphofructokinase 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

J Chromatogr, 1988 Feb 5, 436(2), 259 - 67
Photodiode array detection of peptide-nucleoside antibiotics; Mierzwa R et al.; The discrimination within fermentation matrices of some structurally related peptide-nucleosides is vastly simplified by coupling photodiode array detection to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) . Blasticidin S analogues and other closely related nucleosides can easily be discriminated with on-line photodiode array spectral acquisition (PDA) . From the combined HPLC-PDA evaluation of the fermentation filtrate from culture broth 83-2245, two blasticidin S type compounds, Sch 36605 and Sch 36606 could be detected . Mildiomycin, a structurally related nucleoside produced from ATCC culture 31120, could be detected during preliminary isolation without an authentic reference for comparison . Fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopic evaluations and mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra of these nucleosides confirmed their respective identities.

Am J Med, 1988 Feb, 84(2), 315 - 8
Dysgonic fermenter 3-associated gastrointestinal disease in a patient with common variable hypogammaglobulinemia; Wagner DK et al.; A gram-negative bacteria designated DF-3 was cultured on multiple occasions from stool samples of a patient with common variable hypogammaglobulinemia and chronic diarrhea . Antibiotic therapy resulted in elimination of the organism and resolution of the patient's symptoms . DF-3 has not been linked previously to human disease; because of its fastidious growth characteristics and unique isolation requirements, it may be a rarely identified cause of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms in immunocompromised patients.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 Feb, 71(2), 409 - 13
Particle size reduction of alfalfa silage did not alter nutritional quality of high forage diets for dairy cattle; Armentano LE et al.; Twelve multiparous, lactating Holsteins were fed an energy adequate diet (50% wilted alfalfa silage) and two isonitrogenous diets containing 80% of the same silage . The two 80% alfalfa diets were identical in all respects except that for one diet 38% of the alfalfa silage was rechopped after fermentation to reduce the particle length from 5.63 to 3.12 mm . Feeding the 80% alfalfa diets decreased milk production due to limitation of digestible energy intake . Under conditions of energy restriction, reduction of particle size of alfalfa silage after fermentation did not result in any changes in feed intake, feed digestibility, or milk production . The results do not preclude the possibility of some changes for intake or digestibility with more extensive reductions in particle length of alfalfa silage . However, because the extent of forage particle size reduction is limited by nutritional and economic constraints, the results of this study indicate that there is no practical advantage to reducing the particle size of fermented alfalfa beyond that required for adequate fermentation.

J Anim Sci, 1988 Feb, 66(2), 552 - 8
Effects of additives on in vitro ruminal fermentation: a comparison of monensin and bacitracin, another gram-positive antibiotic; Russell JB et al.; Mixed ruminal bacteria (n = 4) were incubated in anaerobic media for 24 h in vitro with either hay, corn meal, protein hydrolyzate or hydrogen gas as the substrate . The ionophore monensin and the polypeptide antibiotic bacitracin were added to the incubation flasks at concentrations ranging from 0 to 10 or 40 mg/liter . As was expected, monensin decreased methane production, increased the ratio of propionate to acetate and decreased the deamination of amino acids . Monensin had little effect on methane production, however, if hydrogen gas was the fermentation substrate . Bacitracin, another gram-positive antibiotic with a distinctly different cellular target, was somewhat less potent than monensin, but it produced strikingly similar responses . This similarity of fermentation patterns suggested that monensin action in the rumen is probably due to its activity as a gram-positive antibiotic, and that any gram-positive antibiotic not suppressed by resistance may produce fermentation effects similar to those of monensin . The cellular action of monensin as an ionophore in membranes is probably little more than a means of inhibiting sensitive species . Many gram-positive antibiotics have little affect on ciliate protozoa or coccidia.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 Feb, 32(2), 282 - 4
Involvement of glucose catabolism in avermectin production by Streptomyces avermitilis; Ikeda H et al.; The addition of glucose in the early stage of fermentation suppressed not only avermectin production but also the activity of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in the pentose phosphate pathway . On the other hand, when glucose was added at the late stage of fermentation, suppression of avermectin formation and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity was not observed but avermectin formation was increased and about a twofold-higher content of avermectins than that of the control fermentation was accumulated.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Feb, (2), 82 - 7
{Cytotoxic action of the individual membrane components of Mycoplasma arthritidis and M . fermentans on rat lymphocytes}; Gorina LG et al.; Study of the toxic properties of the preparations obtained from M . arthritidis has revealed that the cytotoxic activity of M . arthritidis is mainly linked with the cytoplasmic membrane and, partially, with the cytoplasmic fraction . The membrane substances of M . fermentans and the products of its vital activity are toxic with respect to target cells, the component translocated into the culture medium consisting of globular proteins . Interaction of the cytoplasmic membranes of these Mycoplasma species, as well as of the fractions of M . fermentans globular proteins, with rat lymphocytes is accompanied by a cytodestructive effect and an increased permeability for toxic dyes.

Med Hypotheses, 1988 Feb, 25(2), 99 - 101
Milk consumption, lactose and copper in the aetiology of ischaemic heart disease; Strain JJ; Milk is a poor source of copper--a nutrient which is known to be limiting or marginal in many western diets . Lactose (a major nutritional constituent of milk) may interfere with copper utilization in milk and in the overall diet . It is postulated that the strong association between the consumption of milk and dairy products (especially fresh milk and non-fermented milk products) and the incidence of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) indicates a central role for a dietary copper deficiency in the aetiology of this disease.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Feb, 41(2), 157 - 69
New paulomycins produced by Streptomyces paulus; Argoudelis AD et al.; Paulomycin A2 (C34H46N2O17S), paulomycin C (C32H42N2O17S), paulomycin D (C31H40N2O17S), paulomycin E (C29H36N2O16S) and paulomycin F (C29H38N2O16S) have been isolated from fermentations of Streptomyces paulus strain 273 . The structure of these compounds was determined using NMR and mass spectroscopic techniques . The new paulomycins, like paulomycins A and B (J . Antibiotics 35: 285-294, 1982) are highly active mainly against Gram-positive organisms.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 54(2), 561 - 5
Fermentative degradation of nonionic surfactants and polyethylene glycol by enrichment cultures and by pure cultures of homoacetogenic and propionate-forming bacteria; Wagener S et al.; Linear alkyl ethoxylates (polyethylene glycol alkyl ethers) were fermented completely to methane and CO2 in enrichment cultures inoculated with anoxic sewage sludge . Long-chain fatty acids were released as intermediates . No degradation was found with polypropylene glycol and polypropylene glycol-containing surfactants . Two types of primary ethoxylate-degrading bacteria were isolated and characterized . Both degraded polyethylene glycols with molecular weights of 1,000 completely . Strain KoB35 fermented polyethylene glycol, ethoxyethanol, and lactate to acetate and propionate and was assigned to the described species Pelobacter propionicus . Strain KoB58 converted polyethylene glycol and many other substrates to acetate only and was assigned to the genus Acetobacterium . The pathways of anaerobic degradation of nonionic surfactants are discussed with respect to their limitations and the various groups of bacteria involved.

J Nutr, 1988 Feb, 118(2), 249 - 60
Influence of major minerals on rumen microbiota; Durand M et al.; The supply of minerals needed to meet rumen microbe requirements should match the amount of energy available for fermentation . Therefore, we attempt to assess microbial requirements for phosphorus (P), sulfur (S) and magnesium (Mg) in terms of fermentable organic matter at the rumen level (OMF) or in terms of digestible matter in the total tract (OMD) . In vivo, about 5 g of P and 1.8 g of S/kg OMD should be available (a) in the rumen . Pa is provided mostly by salivary secretion, which depends on several dietary factors as well as on the physiological state of the animal; dietary S supply with natural diets depends on dietary S availability, which can be particularly low for some roughages . Dietary Mg concentration should be in the range 1.5-2.5 g/kg OMD . The circumstances in which major minerals may be used to manipulate rumen fermentation are discussed . With a high concentrate diet the addition of a mineral buffer may help to maintain an adequate pH for cellulolysis and enhance the efficiency and quantity of the microbes produced . Some inconsistent results are obtained, possibly because of the sensitivity of rumen microbes to high osmolality . It is concluded that, as the margin between optimal stimulatory concentration and toxic excess is narrow, rumen fermentation should be manipulated cautiously when using minerals.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Feb, 170(2), 623 - 9
The frdR gene of Escherichia coli globally regulates several operons involved in anaerobic growth in response to nitrate; Kalman LV et al.; Fumarate reductase catalyzes the terminal step of anaerobic electron transport with fumarate as a terminal electron acceptor . Transcription of the fumarate reductase (frdABCD) operon in Escherichia coli is repressed in the presence of the preferred terminal electron acceptors, oxygen and nitrate . To identify trans-acting genes involved in regulation by nitrate, a number of E . coli mutants were generated in which expression of a frdA'-'lacZ protein fusion was no longer fully repressed by nitrate . One of these mutants, strain LK23R35, exhibited 17-fold higher beta-galactosidase activity than the wild-type strain when grown anaerobically in the presence of nitrate . When grown aerobically in the presence of nitrate, it contained three- to fourfold more beta-galactosidase activity than the wild-type strain did . Oxygen regulation of frd expression, however, was unaffected by the mutation, since the level of beta-galactosidase activity in both strains was nearly identical when they were grown in the absence of nitrate either aerobically or anaerobically . To confirm that the mutation acts in trans to frdABCD, we measured fumarate reductase levels and found them to parallel FrdA'-beta-galactosidase activity under all growth conditions tested . The effect of the mutation is pleiotropic, since the levels of nitrate reductase in LK23R35 were not induced by the addition of nitrate . The frdR mutant was also derepressed for nitrate control of the trimethylamine-N-oxide reductase and alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes . The mutation maps in a region between trp and hemA at 27 min on the E . coli chromosome . This gene, where we call frdR, is involved in both positive and negative regulation of electron transport and fermentation associated genes . A cloned 4.9-kilobase fragment of chromosomal DNA was found to complement the frdR mutation; both repression of fumarate reductase gene expression and activation of nitrate reductase gene expression were restored.

Acta Physiol Scand, 1988 Feb, 132(2), 159 - 66
Carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes in the caecum and colon of normal and germ-free rats; Lonnerholm G et al.; Histochemical and immunocytochemical methods were used to study the presence of carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoenzymes in the caecum and colon of normal and germ-free rats . Very high enzyme activity was demonstrated by histochemistry in the caecum and proximal colon of normal rats, while the activity decreased in the distal colon . Very strong immunostaining for the isoenzyme CA I was found in the cytoplasm of surface cells and upper gland cells in the caecum and colon of normal rats . In the distal colon the staining was less intense with a marked cell-to-cell variation . Ca II was found in the apical (luminal) cell region of the surface epithelium in all regions . Ca III was possibly present in small amounts, but this could not be judged with certainty . There was no difference in carbonic anhydrase between normal and germ-free rats (except for less staining of the mucosal capillaries in germ-free animals) . Therefore, our data give no support to the hypothesis that CA I participates in the absorption of microbial fermentation products . The location of CA II in the apical cell region suggests a role for this isoenzyme in regulation of the microclimate close to the epithelial cells.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Feb, 7(1), 49 - 51
Non-occurrence of Mycoplasma genitalium in clinical specimens; Samra Z et al.; Five hundred and thirteen clinical specimens, mainly from patients with urogenital inflammations, were examined for Ureaplasma urealyticum and mycoplasmas, including cultures for Mycoplasma genitalium . The study yielded 95 isolates of Ureaplasma urealyticum, 37 isolates of Mycoplasma hominis and two isolates of Mycoplasma fermentans, but no growth of Mycoplasma genitalium was obtained . It was concluded that Mycoplasma genitalium is a relatively rare inhabitant of the human urogenital tract in Israel.

Arch Tierernahr, 1988 Feb, 38(2), 99 - 108
Influence of dietary niacin on volatile fatty acids in rumen liquid of sheep and rumen dry matter degradability of untreated and ammonia-treated wheat straw; Flachowsky G et al.; Three rumen fistulated sheep were fed with roughage (1200 g artificially dried grass) or a concentrate/roughage diet (600 g concentrate, 400 g artificially dried grass per animal and day) . The diets were unsupplemented or 0.5, 1 and 2 g niacin per animal and day were added . After a 14-day adaptation period samples of rumen liquid were taken 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 h after morning feeding . In a second experiment untreated and NH3-treated wheat straw were incubated in nylon bags for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h in the rumen of 5 sheep fed with 1.2 kg artificially dried grass and unsupplemented or supplemented with 1 g niacin per day . Niacin did not significantly influence the total concentration of volatile fatty acids, acetate and branched chain fatty acids in both types of diet (P less than 0.05) . 0.5 and 1 g niacin in the roughage and 0.5 g niacin in concentrate/roughage diet increased the propionic acid concentration and reduced the butyric acid concentration in rumen liquid of sheep (P less than 0.05) . Niacin resulted in a small decrease (P greater than 0.05) of dry matter degradability in rumen . After 48 h incubation time, the dry matter disappearance of untreated and NH3-treated wheat straw amounted to 35.4 and 46.2% resp . The effects of niacin on rumen fermentation may be useful in avoiding ketogenic situations in dairy cows.

Arch Tierernahr, 1988 Feb, 38(2), 109 - 17
Effect of dietary choline on volatile fatty acids in rumen liquid of sheep and rumen dry matter degradability of untreated and ammonia-treated wheat straw; Flachowsky G et al.; Three rumen fistulated wethers consumed a roughage (1200 g artificially dried grass) or a concentrate/roughage diet (600 g concentrate, 400 g dried grass per animal and day) . The diets were unsupplemented or 0.5, 1 or 2 g choline per animal and day were added . After a 14-day feeding period, samples of rumen liquid were taken 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 h after morning feeding . In a second experiment, untreated and ammonia-treated wheat straw were incubated in nylon bags for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h in rumen of 5 sheep fed on 1.2 kg dried grass and without or with 1 g choline per day . Choline supplementation decreased the total concentration of volatile fatty acids in rumen liquid in both types of diet (roughage: 106, 83, 89 and 87; concentrate/roughage: 142, 114, 91 and 106 mmol/l for 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 g choline per day resp.) . Concentration of acetate and branched chain fatty acids in both diets and butyrate in concentrate/roughage diet was reduced as total acids . Butyrate in roughage diet was increased by added choline . Molar propionate concentration was not significantly influenced by choline (P greater than 0.05) . Choline resulted in a little increase (P greater than 0.05) of dry matter degradability in rumen, especially when NH3-treated straw was incubated . The effect of choline on milk fat production of cows fed with diets rich in concentrate is probably not related to changes in rumen fermentation and digestion.

J Nutr, 1988 Feb, 118(2), 261 - 70
Evaluating constraints on fiber digestion by rumen microbes; Allen MS et al.; Factors affecting fiber digestion in ruminants were evaluated with the use of simple mathematical models . These models were constructed to define the dynamic processes involved so that constraints on fiber digestion may be elucidated . The fraction of fiber that is resistant to digestion and the rate of digestion and passage of potentially fermentable fiber were identified as constraints on fiber digestion in the rumen . Fermentation lag was shown to have no direct effect on fiber digestibility . Fiber that is resistant to fermentation by rumen microbes represents a significant fraction of forage fiber and accumulates in the rumen relative to potentially fermentable fiber . The digestibility of fiber that is potentially fermentable is a function of the rate at which the fiber is digested and its retention time in the rumen . Selective retention of potentially fermentable fiber in the rumen is necessary for the maximization of fiber digestion.

Mikrobiologiia, 1988 Jan-Feb, 57(1), 73 - 9
{Effect of excess ethanol on the growth of yeasts of the genus Candida during continuous cultivation}; Shkidchenko AN et al.; The effect of flow rates and a specific ethanol load on the growth of Candida utilis and Candida krusei was studied in the process of one-step and three-step cultivation . The productive capacity of fermenters and the economic coefficient of yeast biomass production were shown to depend on the ability of microbial populations to assimilate a certain quantity of a carbon substrate per unit time . When a specific ethanol load exceeds the optimal one, the respiratory activity of a population and the economic coefficient of growth fall down whereas the accumulation of metabolites in the cultural broth increases . The steady state of biomass can be maintained in the process of continuous cultivation by inhibiting the yeast growth with an excess of ethanol.

Biosystems, 1988, 21(3-4), 377 - 83
Sugar and polysaccharide fermentation by rumen anaerobic fungi from Australia, Britain and New Zealand; Phillips MW et al.; Nine strains of anaerobic fungi, assigned to the genera Neocallimastix and Piromonas, have been isolated from samples of ruminal digesta obtained from sheep and cattle in temperate Australia . Two strains of Sphaeromonas were also isolated from sheep . The patterns of utilization of mono-, oligo- and polysaccharides were determined for these fungi, four Neocallimastix spp . from Britain and New Zealand, and two Piromonas spp . from Britain . All 17 strains utilized cellobiose, fructose, gentiobiose, glucose and lactose . The seven Neocallimastix spp., whether from sheep or cattle, also fermented cellulose, glycogen, inulin, maltose, raffinose, starch, sucrose, xylan and xylose . Both Sphaeromonas isolates also fermented xylan and xylose . The eight Piromonas strains displayed a diversity in carbohydrate utilization, and could not be formed into a cohesive group . The metabolic endproducts of one strain each of Neocallimastix, Sphaeromonas and Piromonas were determined . They all produced acetate, formate, D(-)-lactate, ethanol and CO2 during glucose fermentation.

Biosystems, 1988, 21(3-4), 371 - 6
The fermentative characteristics of anaerobic rumen fungi; Theodorou MK et al.; Substrate utilization and fermentation characteristics of rumen fungi of the genus Neocallimastix are described . Preliminary observations on the removal of monosaccharides from plant cell walls and the effect of fermentation products on growth of Neocallimastix sp . (isolate R1) are presented . The properties of rumen fungi are discussed in relation to their role in the rumen.

Biosystems, 1988, 21(3-4), 365 - 70
Nutrition and biochemistry of anaerobic Chytridiomycetes; Orpin CG; The nutrition and biochemistry of anaerobic Chytridiomycetes is at present poorly understood . Data has been obtained principally from studies of rumen isolates of Neocallimastix spp . grown in vitro . Our knowledge of the nutrition of Neocallimastix is summarised . Current information on glycolysis and fermentation product generation via cystosolic and hydrogenosomal systems, production of enzymes involved in plant cell wall hydrolysis, lipid metabolism and the role of Chytridiomycetes in ruminal proteolysis is discussed . At present this is insufficient to provide useful phylogenetic information.

Trop Geogr Med, 1988 Jan, 40(1), 39 - 44
Miang chewing in northern Thai villagers; Reichart PA et al.; The habit of chewing miang, composed of fermented tea leaves was studied among 100 farmers of Northern Thai origin . It was disclosed that the majority of miang chewers were 'multi-habituees' in that this habit was combined with other oral habits such as betel quid chewing, banana cigar and Thai cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption . Among women the most prevalent habit combination was miang chewing and khi yo cigar smoking whereas men showed a more differentiated habit pattern . A total of 37 men and 21 women showed oral lesions that could be related to the practice of one or several habits . Oral precancerous lesions such as leukoplakia were, however, only found among miang chewers who in addition indulged in other oral habits (betel quid chewing, smoking, alcohol usage).

Nahrung, 1988, 32(2), 169 - 72
Nutritional studies on agadagidi; Sanni AI et al.; The analysis showed a gradual fall of the sugar content as fermentation period increased . Ascorbic acid content decreased while nitrogen and crude protein increased during fermentation . The predominant amino acids are leucine, lysine, valine, asparagine and glutamic acid, methionine, phenylalanine.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 Jan, 71(1), 117 - 23
Influence of prilled fat and calcium salt of palm oil fatty acids on ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility; Grummer RR; Four rumen cannulated Holstein cows were used in a Latin square design to examine the effect of supplemental calcium salt of palm oil fatty acids (.68 kg/d) or prilled fat (.68 or .91 kg/d) on DM intake, rumen fermentation, and nutrient digestibility . Basal diet contained 45% concentrate, 27.5% alfalfa silage, and 27.5% corn silage (DM basis), and treatments were balanced for calcium . Dry matter intake was similar among treatments . Ruminal pH, total VFA, and molar percentage acetate and propionate were not affected by fat supplementation . Feeding prilled fat decreased slightly ruminal molar percentage butyrate . Forage DM and neutral detergent fiber disappearance from ruminally suspended dacron bags did not differ due to treatment . For unknown reasons, total tract apparent digestibility of DM and NDF was lower when cows received the low amount but not the high amount of prilled fat . Milk yield and fat percentage were not significantly affected by treatment . Milk protein was maintained during prilled fat supplementation but decreased .13% during calcium salt of palm oil fatty acid supplementation . Both fat supplements appeared inert in the rumen and did not markedly affect nutrient digestion when supplemented at 3.5% or less of the total ration DM.

J Anim Sci, 1988 Jan, 66(1), 159 - 73
Characterization of acid-base disturbances and effects on calcium and phosphorus balances of dietary fixed ions in pregnant or lactating does; Fredeen AH et al.; Effects of fixed cation-anion balance on acid-base status and calcium and phosphorus balances were examined . Pregnant and lactating goats were fed a diet of alfalfa hay, concentrate and minerals to vary the cation-anion balance {meq sodium (Na) + meq potassium (K)-meq chloride (Cl)}/100 g diet dry matter (DM) over the range found in ruminant feeds . Small but significant effects on ruminal pH, fermentation and dilution rate were observed . Metabolic acid-base status of pregnant and lactating goats was normal when (Na + K - Cl) balance was 40 to 50 meq/100 g DM . The other treatments drastically altered plasma electrolyte concentrations, causing metabolic acid-base disturbances and profound changes in calcium and phosphorus metabolism . Subclinical hypernatremic, hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis was induced by a dietary fixed cation excess (Na + K - Cl) of greater than 85 meq/100 g DM (typical of buffered, alfalfa diets) and caused hypocalciuria, diminished calcium and phosphorus absorption, and possibly diminished dietary calcium absorption and resorption of calcium from bone . Subclinical hyperchloremic, hyponatremic metabolic acidosis from a diminished dietary fixed cation-anion balance (Na + K - Cl) of less than 10 meq/100 g DM (typical of nonbuffered corn silage or grain diets) caused hypercalciuria, enhanced calcium and phosphorus absorption and apparently enhanced calcium resorption from bone . Apparent effects on absorption and resorption depended on calcium and phosphorus intakes . Alterations in goats performance were not demonstrable . Dietary excesses of fixed cations over anions (meq Na + K - Cl/100 g diet DM greater than 50) cause metabolic alkalosis in ruminants, whereas fixed anion excesses (meq Na + K - Cl/100 g diet DM less than 40) cause metabolic acidosis . Content of electrolytes in diets should be reported in all nutrition trials with ruminants for assessment of metabolic acid-base status.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jan, 41(1), 45 - 52
New aureolic acid antibiotics . I . Screening, isolation, characterization and biological properties; Koenuma M et al.; A new antibiotic complex was isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces aburaviensis PA-39856 . The individual factors, demethylolivomycins A, B and demethylchromomycins A2, A3 were separated and purified by preparative HLC . These antibiotics possess high activities against Gram-positive bacteria and P388 leukemia in mice.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jan, 41(1), 36 - 44
Tirandalydigin, a novel tetramic acid of the tirandamycin-streptolydigin type . II . Isolation and structural characterization; Brill GM et al.; Tirandalydigin a structurally unique hybrid of the tirandamycin-streptolydigin families of tetramic acid antibiotics has been isolated from the fermentation beers of Streptomyces sp . AB-1006A-9 . The structure of this anti-anaerobic antibiotic has been characterized based upon NMR, UV and mass spectrometric data.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jan, 41(1), 25 - 30
Vinigrol, a novel antihypertensive and platelet aggregation inhibitory agent produced by a fungus, Virgaria nigra . I . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, physicochemical and biological properties; Ando T et al.; Vinigrol, produced by a fungal strain identified as Virgaria nigra, was extracted from the cultured mycelium, purified by solvent extraction followed by chromatography on silica gel and then isolated as crystals (C20H34O3, mp 108 degrees C) . Vinigrol decreased arterial blood pressure of anesthetized normotensive rats dose-dependently when administered intravenously . Vinigrol inhibited platelet activating factor and epinephrine induced platelet aggregation.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jan, 41(1), 20 - 4
Sch 36605, a novel anti-inflammatory compound . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological properties; Gullo V et al.; A novel anti-inflammatory compound, Sch 36605, belonging to the blasticidin family of nucleoside compounds was isolated from the fermentation filtrate of a Streptomyces sp . Sch 36605, as well as blasticidin S, demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in the reverse passive Arthus reaction and the adjuvant arthritic rat at doses ranging between 1-10 mg/kg and 0.3-6.0 mg/kg, respectively . A minor component, Sch 366606, co-produced in the in the fermentation was isolated and identified as a known compound in the blasticidin family of compounds.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jan, 41(1), 13 - 9
Sch 37137, a novel antifungal compound produced by a Micromonospora sp . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, structure and biological properties; Cooper R et al.; A new antifungal compound, Sch 37137, was isolated from the cultured broth of a Micromonospora sp., SCC 1792 . Sch 37137 is structurally related to A 19009, a dipeptide previously discovered from a Streptomyces sp . The compound was weakly active against species of Candida and dermatophytes (mean MICs greater than or equal to 128 micrograms/ml) in Sabouraud dextrose, yeast-nitrogen and modified Eagles minimum essential media; however activity against Candida sp . (mean MICs greater than or equal to 12 micrograms/ml) and dermatophytes (mean MICs greater than or equal to 0.8 microgram/ml) significantly improved in MA medium.

Crit Rev Microbiol, 1988, 15 Suppl 1, S33 - 67
The acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation; Awang GM et al.; Renewed interest in the acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation as a route for industrial production of butanol has been evident since the oil crisis of the 1970s . The present review includes an historical recap of the traditional industrial process and culturing practices useful in maintaining viable solvent-producing cultures, and then summarizes new and exciting research on the physiology and genetics of the microorganisms as well as process design . Most of these reports relate to improvements in solvent yield and the overall process, since traditional production is not efficient under present economic conditions . Conclusions are then made on future developments necessary for the establishment of an economically viable industrial process.

Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol, 1988 Jan-Feb, 139(1), 129 - 46
High-cell density fermentation studies of recombinant Escherichia coli strains expressing human interleukin-1 beta; Jung G et al.; A high-productivity process has been developed for the production of mature human interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) from recombinant Escherichia coli strains . Conditions were found that allow high IL-1 beta expression levels in high cell density cultures . Improved fed-batch fermentation strategies are described which include maintenance of glucose and acetate concentrations below 1 g/l and sparging the fermentor with an O2-enriched air supply . Using the E . coli tryptophan promoter control of transcription, a 2.2 g/l production level of IL-1 beta was achieved in E . coli B at cell densities of 55 g dry weight per litre . Another genetic construction involving the bacteriophage lambda cIts-PR expression cassette allowed a similar IL-1 beta production level (1.9 g/l) in E . coli E103S, albeit at a lower cell density (30 g/l) . A simplified procedure allowing the purification of fully active IL-1 beta is also presented.

Can J Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 34(1), 38 - 44
Mutual antagonism among killer yeasts: competition between K1 and K2 killers and a novel cDNA-based K1-K2 killer strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Bussey H et al.; Mutually antagonistic K1 and K2 killer strains compete when mixed and serially subcultured . At pH 4.6, where the K1 killer toxin is more stable in vitro, the K1 strain outcompeted the K2 strains at both 18 and 30 degrees C . At pH 4.0, closer to the in vitro pH optimum of the K2 killer toxin, the K1 strain again predominated at 18 degrees C, but at 30 degrees C the K2 strains became the sole cell type on subculture . To show more clearly that these results were dependent upon the respective killer toxins, control experiments were conducted with isogenic, nonkiller strains cured of the dsRNA-based killer virions . Such nonkiller strains were unable to compete with antagonistic killers under conditions where their isogenic killer parents could, strongly suggesting that the killer phenotype was important in these competitions . Double K1-K2 killer strains cannot stably exist, as their dsRNA genomes compete at a replicative level . Using recombinant DNA methodology, a stable K1-K2 killer strain was constructed . This strain outcompeted both K1 and K2 killers when serially subcultured under conditions where either the K1 or the K2 strains would normally predominate in mixed cultures . Such a double killer may be useful in commercial fermentations, where there is a risk of contamination by killer yeasts.

Pharmacology, 1988, 36 Suppl 1, 120 - 5
Colon: relationship between epithelial transport and motility; Read NW; Although our knowledge of colonic function is still incomplete, the available data support the concept that for most of the time colonic motor activity is adapted to promote absorption and bacterial metabolism . The possibility that this mode of activity may be enhanced and promoted by the products of fermentation is intriguing and needs to be established . Substances that irritate or stimulate the colon, such as unabsorbed fat, bile acids, bacterial enterotoxins and laxatives and excessive delivery of fluid from the small intestine, flush out colonic contents by causing secretion and colonic propulsion.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1988, 33(1), 21 - 8
Cultural stability of Streptomyces fradiae in the production of xylose isomerase: studies in shake flasks; Thakur MS et al.; Comprehensive studies of pure colonies of Streptomyces fradiae in the production of xylose isomerase by submerged fermentation at shake flask level revealed poor culture stability with respect to enzyme production, biomass formation, degree of pigmentation, quantity of glucose and xylose utilization, level of enzyme in cell-free culture broth and final pH of the fermentation medium . The results serve to stress obligatory evaluation of culture stability of Streptomyces strains in determining their suitability for use in developing fermentation processes for commercial exploitation.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 54(1), 98 - 104
Intracellular accumulation of AMP as a cause for the decline in rate of ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae during batch fermentation; Dombek KM et al.; A general hypothesis is presented for the decline in the rate of ethanol production (per unit of cell protein) during batch fermentation . Inhibition of ethanol production is proposed to result from the intracellular accumulation of AMP during the transition from growth to the stationary phase . AMP acts as a competitive inhibitor of hexokinase with respect to ATP . When assayed in vitro in the presence of ATP and AMP concentrations equivalent to those within cells at different stages of fermentation, hexokinase activity declined in parallel with the in vivo decline in the rate of ethanol production . The coupling of glycolytic flux and fermentation to cell growth via degradation products of RNA may be of evolutionary advantage for Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Such a coupling would reduce the exposure of nongrowing cells to potentially harmful concentrations of waste products from metabolism and would conserve nutrients for future growth under more favorable conditions.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 54(1), 110 - 4
Intracellular ethanol accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae during fermentation; D'Amore T et al.; An intracellular accumulation of ethanol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was observed during the early stages of fermentation (3 h) . However, after 12 h of fermentation, the intracellular and extracellular ethanol concentrations were similar . Increasing the osmotic pressure of the medium caused an increase in the ratio of intracellular to extracellular ethanol concentrations at 3 h of fermentation . As in the previous case, the intracellular and extracellular ethanol concentrations were similar after 12 h of fermentation . Increasing the osmotic pressure also caused a decrease in yeast cell growth and fermentation activities . However, nutrient supplementation of the medium increased the extent of growth and fermentation, resulting in complete glucose utilization, even though intracellular ethanol concentrations were unaltered . These results suggest that nutrient limitation is a major factor responsible for the decreased growth and fermentation activities observed in yeast cells at higher osmotic pressures.

Nahrung, 1988, 32(6), 571 - 5
Amino-acid composition and mycology of Sekete, a fermented product from Zea mays L; Fapohunda SO; The local procedure for preparing Sekete is described . The isolated microfungi, Aspergillus flavus Link., Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fres.) de Vries, and Alternaria tenuissima (Kunze) Wiltshire, were examined for various aspects of their physiology and biochemistry . Sekete is rich in important amino acids as alanine, leucine, tyrosine, and lysine, though proline and arginine are lacking . All the mycoflora isolated exhibited good secretion of extracellular enzymes . Pullulan, starch, soyabean meal, and corn steep liquor encouraged alpha-amylase production.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Res, 1988, 8(6), 449 - 55
Effect of Carbolevure on intestinal fermentation induced by the ingestion of lactulose; Frexinos J et al.; A double-blind trial involving two parallel groups of healthy volunteers was carried out in order to determine whether Carbolevure was capable of decreasing the over-production of intestinal gas induced by the ingestion of 15 ml of lactulose, a synthetic disaccharide not absorbed by the small intestine . Catabolism of this substrate by the anaerobic bacterial flora produces hydrogen, a constant fraction of which diffuses from the intestinal lumen into the blood, later to be excreted in expired air . Hydrogen levels were measured in air samples collected at the end of forced expiration . This hydrogen respiratory test was carried out before and after administration of Carbolevure to 17 volunteers or of a placebo to 15 volunteers, at a dose of three capsules morning and evening for seven days . Comparison of measurements of expired hydrogen by the subjects before and after administration showed a decrease in both groups . However, this decrease was statistically significant only in the group of volunteers having received Carbolevure.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1988, 67(3), 245 - 50
Pasteur yeasts system, a test-kit for yeasts identification . Its evaluation in comparison with three commercial methods and conventional procedures; Riviera L et al.; The Pasteur Yeasts System is a commercial prepared kit and scheme for the rapid (48 h) identification of 23 yeasts belonging to 7 genera . The method consists of two parts: a gallery of media to evaluate germ tube production, urease activity, tetrazolium reduction, cycloheximide sensibility and fermentation of three carbohydrates, and an auxanographic method to determine the assimilation pattern of 16 carbohydrates . This system was tested in comparison with API 20 C Auxanogram, Mycotube, Candida Check and conventional procedures to identify 40 yeast strains . Pasteur Yeasts System provided correct identifications for 97.5% of the organisms and proved to have a high reproducibility, accuracy and reliability . The method is useful and facilitates the identification of pathogenic yeasts from clinical specimens in the routine laboratory.

Ann Nutr Metab, 1988, 32(2), 95 - 107
Hypocholesterolaemic effects of dietary propionate: studies in whole animals and perfused rat liver; Illman RJ et al.; In adult male rats fed a non-purified diet supplemented with 5% sodium propionate, plasma cholesterol concentrations were significantly depressed . Although liver cholesterol was increased by feeding propionate, rates of hepatic cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis were unchanged . Tissue concentrations and rates of synthesis of cholesterol were also unaffected by dietary propionate in stomach, small intestine and caecum . Concentrations of propionate in hepatic portal venous plasma were raised by feeding the supplemented diet but the increase was low in comparison to the dietary intake . Examination of the gut contents revealed concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (VFA) of 19 mumol/ml in the stomach contents of control rats and 148 mumol/ml (of which propionate contributed 116 mumol/ml) in those fed the supplemented diet . Duodenal and ileal concentrations of VFA were very low and were only slightly raised in the propionate-fed rats while caecal VFA were the same in both groups with a combined mean of 159 mumol/ml . These data indicate that in the rat, the absorption of dietary propionate appears to occur in the stomach . In pigs fed a standard ration hepatic portal venous VFA remained low for the first 4 h after feeding but then rose with the onset of large bowel fermentation . Feeding the diet supplemented with propionate caused hepatic portal venous plasma concentrations to rise by approximately 0.4 mumol/ml . This increase was apparent 30 min after feeding and was sustained for 3 h but subsequently there was no difference to controls . As in the rat, the absorption of dietary propionate appeared to occur in the upper gastrointestinal tract . The transport of propionate via the porcine hepatic portal vein also appeared insufficient to account for the dietary intake and suggests metabolism of the acid by the upper gastrointestinal tract . Further studies with perfused livers from fed rats indicated that propionate at a concentration of 1 mumol/ml did not alter cholesterol synthesis but that inhibition occurred at 18 mumol of propionate/ml . It appears that a redistribution of cholesterol from the plasma to the liver, rather than inhibition of hepatic and intestinal cholesterol synthesis, is responsible for the hypocholesterolaemic effects of dietary propionate . Because the absorption and transport of dietary propionate appears to follow a time course which differs considerably to that of the acid produced by the large bowel microflora, we conclude also that VFA produced by such fermentation would not seem to be responsible for the hypocholesterolaemic effects of certain water-soluble plant fibres.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1988, 33(5), 425 - 9
Formation of conidia in a saprophytic strain Claviceps paspali producing simple lysergic acid derivatives; Rylko V et al.; A non-mutant saprophytic strain C . paspali which forms conidia both on a solid medium and during submerged fermentation is described . Conidiation proceeded in parallel with culture growth and production of alkaloids . The effect of composition of culture media on the intensity of conidiation is described.

Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 1988, 38(2), 121 - 6
Sugars of the unfermented sap and the wine from the oil palm, Elaeis guinensis, tree; Eze MO et al.; The sugar composition of the unfermented sap from oil palm (Elaeis guinensis) trees growing in the plantations of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, Benin City, has been determined . While sucrose concentration ranges from 9.59 to 10.59% (w/v) in the pure unfermented sap, that of either glucose or fructose is much less than 1% (w/v) (0.13-0.73% w/v) . Raffinose occurs in traces only (0.13-0.35 w/v) . These results were derived from our improved methods which eliminate completely, or reduce to a bare minimum, fermentation of the sap during collection . The variation with time of storage of the individual sugars in the sap during fermentation to form palm wine reveals that, as sucrose steadily decreases, fructose reaches a peak at 1.51% (w/v) at the 9th hour, and thereafter declines, while glucose and raffinose remain continuously low; all sugars disappear beyond the 33rd hour . Concomittantly, pH decreases from pH 6.60 at zero time and stabilizes at pH 3.30 after 48 h, while titrable acidity increases continuously up until the 96th hour . These changes account for the variations in the quality of palm wine during storages.

Arch Microbiol, 1988, 150(3), 249 - 53
Reversible conversion of coenzyme F420 to the 8-OH-AMP and 8-OH-GMP esters, F390-A and F390-G, on oxygen exposure and reestablishment of anaerobiosis in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum; Kiener A et al.; Intracellular levels of F390 (AMP and GMP adducts of the 5-deazaflavin cofactor F420) in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum were analysed after gasing fermenter cultures with several consecutive cycles of substrate gas and gas mixtures containing 5% oxygen . No F390 was detected in growing cells, hydrogen starved cells and CO2 starved cells prior to O2 contamination . Also, no F390 was found in hydrogen depleted cells after O2 treatment . Exposure of exponentially growing cells and CO2 starved cells to oxygen lead to the formation of F390 species; the increase in the detected amount of F390 was coupled to a decrease of the F420 level . As soon as anaerobiosis was reestablished F390 cofactors were degraded and growth proceeded . Independent of the physiological condition of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum methanopterin was formed upon O2 exposure . After normal growth conditions were restored the level of detected methanopterin decreased again.

J Basic Microbiol, 1988, 28(1-2), 17 - 23
Compartmentation of enzymes interconverting aclacinomycins in Streptomyces species AM 33352; Grafe U et al.; The enzymatic interconversion of the aclacinomycins A (I), Y (II), and B (III) by Streptomyces spec . AM 33352/S 182 producing these aklavinone glycosides was investigated . The enzymes converting I to II and III, as well as vice versa, are located within different compartments separated by the cytoplasmic membrane . Aclacinomycin A (I) is biotransformed to II and III by the cell-free mycelium extract while the entire mycelium carries out the same type of conversion towards the opposite direction . Changes of enzyme activity are correlated to alterations in the ratio of aklavinone glycosides throughout the fermentation . A hypothesis is developed concerning the role of compartmentized oxidoreductase(s) in the passive flux of I from inside the cells to outside.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jan, 41(1), 73 - 80
Studies on mikamycin B lactonase . V . Metabolic control in mikamycin B fermentation; Kim CH et al.; In mikamycin B fermentation, some procedures were examined to remove the participation of mikamycin B lactonase, which reduces mikamycin B titers . Addition of enzyme inhibitors and control of pH resulted in the elimination of the enzyme activity, and in the stimulation of antibiotic production.

Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales, 1988, 81(5), 795 - 805
{Epidemiologic evaluation of studies carried out on enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in New Caledonia between 1983 and 1986}; Germani Y et al.; Between 1983 and 1986 epidemiological surveys have been realized to study enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in New-Caledonia . 339 ETEC strains have been studied . In this survey we have studied the relation between acute diarrheas due to ETEC and the climatology, the enterotoxicity, carbohydrate fermentation patterns, O serogroups, colonization factor antigens and antibiotypes.

Drug Metab Rev, 1988, 19(3-4), 243 - 61
Factors affecting metabolic activity of the intestinal microflora; Rowland IR; 1 . The metabolic activity of the gastrointestinal microflora can be modified by numerous factors derived from the host, the host's environment, and the flora itself . 2 . Marked differences exist in microbial composition and metabolism of the gut floras of different species of animal, and in the degree of colonization of the various regions of the gut . 3 . The microbial flora changes with age, particularly in early infancy, and developmental changes in in vivo metabolism attributable to the gut flora have been noted for methylmercury . 4 . Gastrointestinal disease can have a profound effect on microbial colonization and metabolism in the upper regions of the human gut . In particular, hypochlorhydria can lead to elevation in bacterial numbers, and nitrite and nitrosamine concentrations in gastric juice . 5 . Environmental factors such as drugs (particularly antibiotics), diet, and xenobiotics can modify microbial metabolism and toxicity of foreign compounds . In some cases exposure to xenobiotics (e.g., cyclamate, rutin) results in metabolic adaptation and increased biotransformation of the foreign compound . 6 . By their fermentation of dietary residues and endogenous carbohydrates, the gut bacteria produce acids which can lower lumenal pH and, in turn, modify bacterial enzyme activities . However, the changes in activity appear to be enzyme specific, some increasing with pH and others being inversely related to pH of incubation.

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 1988, 27(3), 159 - 87
Food biotechnology review: traditional solid-state fermentations of plant raw materials--application, nutritional significance, and future prospects; Paredes-Lopez O et al.; This review on the use of indigenous solid-state fermentations (SSF) describes the microbiological transformation of plant raw materials into highly nutritious foods and flavor-enhancing ingredients . Traditional fermented foods from most countries of the world may be classified into the following categories: fungal fermentation followed by brining, SSF principally using bacteria, lactic acid fermentation followed by fungal fermentation, production of fermented doughs, alcoholic fermentation, and fermented food ingredients . Scientific studies of the principles behind SSF, identification of the essential microorganisms, development of suitable and versatile equipment, control of the process, and quality control of the substrate and final product can very well lead to a substantial increase at a world level in the availability and consumption of these fermented foods . The application of modern biotechnology in some countries is already changing the ancient methods of making fermented foods.

Am J Chin Med, 1988, 16(1-2), 83 - 6
Alchemy, Chinese versus Greek, an etymological approach: a rejoinder; Mahdihassan S; The theory generally accepted maintains that Alchemy arose at Alexandria as a child of Greek culture . It has two names, Chemeia as the earlier and Chumeia as the later . There is another theory that Alchemy arose in China . Its founder was the aged ascetic who longed after drugs of longevity . He first tried jade, next gold and cinnabar, but the ideal was a drug which was red like cinnabar and fire-proof like gold . But what was actually prepared was red colloidal gold or "calcined gold," by grinding gold granules in a decoction of an herb of longevity . It was called Chin-I; Chin = gold and I = plant juice . In Fukin dialect Chin-I = Kim-Iya . This was Arabicized, by pre-Islamic Arabs trading in silk with China, as Kimiya, whence arose Al-Kimiya and finally Al-chemy . It was first accepted by Bucharic speaking Copts in Egypt who transliterated Kimiya = Chemeia, pronouncing it as the Arabs did . With the increase of trade in silk the Chinese also went to Alexandria and helped the Greeks to translate Chin-I as Chrusozomion meaning, gold (making) ferment, instead of gold making plant juice . Consistent with this origin of the word Chemeia is the fact that the earlier Alchemists were not Greeks but probably Bucharic speaks Copts or Egyptians . The consumer of Chin-I or Chemeia became "a drug-made immortal" called Chin-Jen, Golden-Man . This was translated into Greek as Chrusanthropos . Thus the etymoloogy of two Greek words Chrusozomion and Chrusanthropos support the origin of the loan word, Chemeia as Chinese . To save space it is not proposed to discuss the origin of Chumeia.

Braz J Med Biol Res, 1988, 21(2), 375 - 7
Influence of gamma radiation on ethanol production from yeast; Del-Mastro NL et al.; The effect of up to 6,000 Gray (Gy; 1 Gy = 1 J/k) 60Co gamma irradiation on the fermentative capacity of two strains of yeast cells is reported . Ethanol production by the irradiated cells was unchanged for both strains at 3,000 Gy and reduced 43% for only one strain at 6,000 Gy in spite of a marked decrease in viability at higher doses (2-8% at 3,000 Gy and 0.01% at 6,000 Gy) . These results suggest that the yeast fermentation system for converting sugar to alcohol is a relatively radioresistant process and not inhibited by the stable by-products produced during irradiation . Furthermore, these data indicate that radiation polymerization for immobilizing these cells should not interfere with their fermentation capacity.

J Basic Microbiol, 1988, 28(3), 175 - 83
Towards diacetyl-less brewers' yeast . Influence of ilv2 and ilv5 mutations; Gjermansen C et al.; During alcoholic fermentations, the off-flavour compound diacetyl is formed non-enzymatically from acetolactate leaking out from the cells . Acetolactate is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of valine . In beer fermentation, the amount of diacetyl is reduced to acceptable levels during maturation . A reduction of the time needed for maturation may be achieved by the use of a brewing yeast that produces less diacetyl . Saccharomyces cerevisiae laboratory strains with an inactive ilv2 gene can not form acetolactate, while ilv5 strains, blocked in the subsequent step, leak acetolactate in high amounts . Induction of recessive mutations in production strains of Saccharomyces carlsbergensis has not yet been achieved, as the yeast is polyploid and possibly a hybrid between S . cerevisiae and another Saccharomyces species . Thus, all chromosomes investigated so far are present in at least two genetically different versions . Genetic and molecular analysis has shown that the brewing yeast is structurally heterozygous for ILV2 and ILV5 . Genetic modification of brewers' yeast to reduce diacetyl formation is being carried out by mutation of ILV2 . Deletion mutations in both ILV2 alleles have been constructed in vitro to be used for gene replacement in the brewing strain . In addition, partial inactivation of the ILV2 function is carried out by selecting spontaneous dominant mutations resistant to the herbicide sulfometuron methyl . Among these mutants some produce only half the amount of diacetyl compared to the parental strain . An alternative way to reduce diacetyl production might be to increase the activity of the ILV5 gene product . Model experiments in S . cerevisiae show that the presence of the ILV5 gene on a 2-micron based multi-copy vector can reduce the diacetyl production by half.

Tokai J Exp Clin Med, 1988, 13 Suppl, 59 - 69
Characterization and clinical study on the acellular pertussis vaccine produced by a combination of column purified pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin; Ginnaga A et al.; Bordetella Pertussis Tohama phase I was cultured in a 300-liter fermentor using a medium containing 0.1% heptakis (2,5-0-dimethyl) beta-cyclodextrin (MeCD) . Pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hamagglutinin (FHA) were purified using affinity and ion exchange gel column chromatographies . Endotoxin contents of these antigens (10 micrograms PN/ml) were less than 10 ngLPS/ml . PT and FHA were independently treated with formalin in the presence of amino acid and were mixed at a protein concentration ratio of 1:4, the same ratio of our commercialized acellular pertussis vaccine . PDT vaccine containing 2 micrograms PN of PT and 8 micrograms PN of FHA per milliliter was prepared . This PDT vaccine satisfied all the items of the Japanese Minimum Requirements including potency and toxicity tests . Even after this vaccine was incubated for 4 weeks at 37 degrees C, no deaths of the inoculated mice were observed after challenge with 4 mg of histamine on the 4th and 12th day of the inoculation . Compared with the conventional vaccine, this new vaccine caused less swelling in the mouse footpad test . A field trial of our two vaccines, one manufactured by the conventional method (lot No . 21A) and the other produced by the new method (lot No . KC8702), revealed that children receiving KC8702 showed almost the same anti-PT and anti-FHA antibody levels as those given 21A . Those who received KC8702 suffered from less local side effects such as redness, swelling or induration than those given 21A . Our new method for the production of acellular pertussis vaccine permits us the economical manufacturing of the vaccine with uniform quality in a closed system.

Comp Biochem Physiol A, 1988, 90(4), 563 - 8
Fermentation of polysaccharides and absorption of short chain fatty acids in the mammalian hindgut; Rechkemmer G et al.; 1 . Hindgut volume varies considerably between carnivores, omnivores and herbivores . But a common feature in all mammals is an extensive microbial fermentation of polysaccharides in the hindgut . Large amounts of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) are produced . Total concentrations of SCFA are generally ca 100 mmol/l . SCFA metabolism contributes considerably to the energy metabolism of the animal . 2 . In hindgut fermenting herbivores ileal outflow provides fluid and the buffering capacity essential for microbial metabolism . 3 . SCFA are rapidly absorbed . Absorption is passive and, unexpectedly, nearly independent from luminal pH . This is attributed to the presence of a constant pH-microclimate at the epithelial surface . 4 . The permeability of the proximal compared to the distal colon of guinea pig is higher for acetate, equal for propionate and lower for butyrate . This difference is due to partial absorption of SCFA in the dissociated form in the proximal segment . 5 . Protons required for SCFA transport in the undissociated form may be partially explained by HCO3 accumulation or by Na-H exchange . Findings are controversial.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Jan, 170(1), 65 - 70
Cyclic AMP and cell division in Escherichia coli; D'Ari R et al.; We examined several aspects of cell division regulation in Escherichia coli which have been thought to be controlled by cyclic AMP (cAMP) and its receptor protein (CAP) . Mutants lacking adenyl cyclase (cya) or CAP (crp) were rod shaped, not spherical, during exponential growth in LB broth or glucose-Casamino Acids medium, and lateral wall elongation was normal; in broth, stationary-phase cells became ovoid . Cell mass was smaller for the mutants than for the wild type, but it remained appropriate for their slower growth rate and thus probably does not reflect early (uncontrolled) septation . The slow growth did not seem to reflect a gross metabolic disorder, since the mutants gave a normal yield on limiting glucose; surprisingly, however, the cya mutant (unlike crp) was unable to grow anaerobically on glucose, suggesting a role for cAMP (but not for CAP) in the expression of some fermentation enzyme . Both cya and crp mutants are known to be resistant to mecillinam, an antibiotic which inhibits penicillin-binding protein 2 (involved in lateral wall elongation) and also affects septation . This resistance does not reflect a lack of PBP2 . Furthermore, it was not simply the result of slow growth and small cell mass, since small wild-type cells growing in acetate remained sensitive . The cAMP-CAP complex may regulate the synthesis of some link between PBP2 and the septation apparatus . The ftsZ gene, coding for a cell division protein, was expressed at a higher level in the absence of cAMP, as measured with an ftsZ::lacZ fusion, but the amount of protein per cell, shown by others to be invariable over a 10-fold range of cell mass, was independent of cAMP, suggesting that ftsZ expression is not regulated by the cAMP-CAP complex.

Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 1988, 38(3), 251 - 61
Antinutritional factors of chickpea and pigeonpea and their removal by processing; Singh U; Protease inhibitors, amylase inhibitors, phytolectins, polyphenols, and oligosaccarides are important antinutritional factors of chickpea and pigeonpea . Research on these factors is reviewed and compared to those in other grain legumes . Both chickpea and pigeonpea are consumed in various forms as processed food . The effects of such processing practices as cooking, germination, and fermentation to reduce the levels of these antinutritional factors are also discussed.

Acta Microbiol Pol, 1988, 37(1), 17 - 26
Sulphate and methionine as sulphur sources for cysteine and cephalosporin C synthesis in Cephalosporium acremonium; Lewandowska M et al.; Three prototrophic strains of Cephalosporium acremonium with different potentials for cephalosporin C production show pronounced differences in pools of intracellular sulphur amino acids . The superior strain exhibits the largest pool, particularly of cysteine (four times that of the non-producing strain) . In fermentations with this strain methionine was found to be a much better sulphur source than sulphate for both cysteine and antibiotic synthesis . In the presence of methionine the utilization of sulphate is strongly depressed.

J Chromatogr, 1987 Dec 18, 411, 345 - 54
Assay, purification and characterization of a recombinant malaria circumsporozoite fusion protein by high-performance liquid chromatography; Folena-Wasserman G et al.; The immunodominant repeat region of the malaria circumsporozoite protein from Plasmodium falciparum was purified from a recombinant Escherichia coli to study as a potential subunit vaccine . The recombinant protein, R32Leu-Arg, is composed of 32 tetrapeptide repeat sequences from the circumsporozoite protein (R32) linked to the dipeptide, Leu-Arg . R32Leu-Arg was purified by a series of precipitation steps including temperature, ammonium sulfate, and acid pH treatments; followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) . An automated RP-HPLC assay was developed to measure the R32Leu-Arg concentration during both fermentation and purification . This assay was used in a variety of applications including measurement of production levels of the antigen during fermentation, evaluation of the protein purification process, quantitation of protein recovery, and as one criterion of protein purity . With minimal changes, the assay conditions were easily adapted to the semi-preparative level to produce 200 mg of purified product . The purified product was characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; amino acid composition; and analytical size-exclusion and RP-HPLC.

J Chromatogr, 1987 Dec 11, 410(2), 363 - 72
Determination of vancomycin related substances by gradient high-performance liquid chromatography; Inman EL; A gradient high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of vancomycin related substances is described . This method was developed to profile vancomycin, co-fermentation products, and degradation products . The resultant chromatograms confirm the multifactored nature of vancomycin, separating a number of peaks from the main component . The development of acceptable chromatographic performance is described, with the final method intended for use as a control assay . Quantitation of total related substances is made by comparing the relative area of the main peak to total peak area in a pair of chromatograms from a stock solution and a twenty-five fold dilution . A rapid-scan UV detector was used to demonstrate the similar spectral characteristics of the vancomycin related substances, confirming the validity of the relative area approach . Statistical method validation data are included, evaluating the use of this method for quantitative applications . Example applications demonstrate the effectiveness of this method.

Ann Trop Med Parasitol, 1987 Dec, 81(6), 687 - 92
Regulation of aerobic fermentation in Leishmania donovani promastigotes by NADP+-dependent malic enzyme; Saadalla V et al.; NADP+-dependent malic enzyme (decarboxylating) was extracted from Leishmania donovani promastigotes with Triton X-100 . The enzyme was specific for NADP+ and did not decarboxylate oxaloacetate (OA) . The substrate activity relationship was hyperbolic for both L-malate and NADP+, and Km values were calculated as 0.18 and 0.12 mM, respectively . The enzyme exhibited a broad pH optimum of 7.5-8.0 . Pyruvate, NADPH and OA inhibited the reaction in a competitive manner with apparent Ki values of 0.2, 0.04 and 0.04 mM, respectively, while oxalate inhibition was of the mixed type . The kinetic results obtained indicate that malic enzyme is involved in the regulation of carbon flow towards aerobic fermentation, complete oxidation of dicarboxylic acids or biosynthetic purposes.

J Anim Sci, 1987 Dec, 65(6), 1674 - 9
Influence of supplemental four- and five-carbon volatile fatty acids on forage intake and utilization by steers; McCollum FT et al.; Four ruminally and duodenally cannulated crossbred steers (avg wt 282 kg; trial 1) and 12 intact Hereford steers (avg wt 336 kg; trial 2) were used to evaluate the effects of supplemental four- and five-carbon volatile fatty acids (SFA) on intake and digestion of low-quality prairie grass hay (PH) . Steers were fed PH at 1.8% body weight (trial 1) or free choice (trial 2) together with a 34% protein, urea-cottonseed meal supplement (365 g/d trial 1; 500 g/d trial 2) plus 0 or 30 g/d of SFA (Ca-salts of isoC4, C5, and isoC5 acids) . Ruminal pH, ammonia-N and total volatile fatty acid concentrations were not influenced (P greater than .10) by SFA . Addition of SFA increased the molar proportions of isobutyric (.84 vs .11; P less than .05), isovaleric (1.01 vs .32; P less than .01), and valeric (.66 vs .47; P less than .07) acids but did not significantly alter the proportions of other acids . Apparent total tract organic matter digestion (51.9 vs 53.7%; P = .095) tended to decrease with SFA, while ruminal and total tract digestion of acid detergent fiber and N were not affected by SFA . Microbial N (MN) flow to the duodenum and efficiency of microbial crude protein (MCP) synthesis were similar for both treatments (66.7 vs 57.4 g MN/d and 29.8 vs 24.4 g MCP/100 g apparently fermented organic matter, respectively) . In trial 2, total tract dry matter and acid detergent fiber digestion and voluntary intake were similar for both diets . Results suggest that intake and utilization of prairie hay was not limited by a ruminal deficiency of SFA.

J Anim Sci, 1987 Dec, 65(6), 1633 - 8
Effect of magnesium and potassium on microbial fermentation in a continuous culture fermentation system with different levels of monensin or lasalocid; Chirase NK et al.; Two continuous culture fermentation experiments were used to determine ruminal microbial fermentation in the presence of monensin (Exp . 1) or lasalocid (Exp . 2) with different dietary concentrations of Mg and K . In each experiment, eight 500-ml continuous culture fermentors were supplied with late-cut coastal bermuda grass (80%) and cellulose (20%) as substrate during five trials with two levels of Mg (.07 and .14%), K (.6 and 2.5%) and either monensin (Exp . 1; 0 and 20 mg/kg) or lasalocid (Exp . 2; 0 and 20 mg/kg) in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (each trial served as a replication) . Substrate was added every 8 h (5 g/fermentor) for 5 d and digesta samples were collected every 2 h for 6 h and at 20 h for volatile fatty acid (VFA) analysis on d 6 . In Exp . 1, monensin decreased (P less than .05) the acetate:propionate ratio (A:P) from 2.98 to 2.22 . A Mg X monensin interaction was observed for the molar percentage of acetate and propionate (P less than .05) . There was a 4.8% reduction in acetate (mol/100 mol) when monensin was fed with .07% Mg and a 12.6% decrease (P less than .01) when fed with .14% Mg compared with diets not containing monensin . Propionate (mol/100 mol) increased 14% when monensin was fed with .07% Mg and 32% (P less than .001) when fed with .14% Mg compared with diets not containing monensin . Potassium did not affect VFA concentrations in the presence of monensin or Mg . In Exp . 2, lasalocid decreased (P less than .01) the A:P ratio from 3.53 to 2.86.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Anim Sci, 1987 Dec, 65(6), 1610 - 6
Effects of dietary monensin and sodium propionate on net nutrient flux in steers fed a high-concentrate diet; Harmon DL et al.; Four Holstein steers (mean body weight, 211 +/- 20 kg) were utilized in a Latin-square design with a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to investigate the effects of monensin (0 or 220 mg/d) and sodium propionate (0 or 450 g/d) on net nutrient flux . Steers were surgically prepared with hepatic portal and mesenteric venous catheters and an elevated carotid artery, after which they were adjusted to their basal diet (85% concentrate) and initial treatment over 19 d . Samples of arterial and portal venous blood were taken hourly over 3 h for the final 3 d of each 2-wk period . Portal blood flow was determined by primed continuous infusion of para-aminohippurate . No changes were seen in dry matter intake, portal blood flow, or net portal flux of any of the volatile fatty acids with the exception of butyrate flux, which decreased with monensin addition . Addition of monensin decreased net portal flux of ammonia, decreased recycling of urea, and tended to increase the net portal flux of glucose . Addition of sodium propionate increased the net portal flux of glucose and decreased the net portal flux of alpha-amino-N . These results are interpreted to suggest that changes in the products of ruminal fermentation may not be exactly translated into the products appearing in the portal circulation, and more information is needed to describe these relationships.

Z Ernahrungswiss, 1987 Dec, 26(4), 268 - 75
{Effect of beverages containing lactate of fermented grains on metabolism in the human}; Matzkies F et al.; Nine healthy women received a new type of beverage over a period of 14 days . The daily dose was 1400 ml containing 14 g lactate . Acceptance was good . Blood cholesterol dropped from 193 +/- 21 mg/dl to 165 +/- 16 mg/dl (p less than 0.01) . Blood potassium increased from 3.7 +/- 0.8 mmol/l to 4.3 +/- 0.2 mmol/l (p less than 0.01) . Magnesium and calcium, however, showed a significant augmentation . No metabolic side effects were observed.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Dec, 53(12), 2821 - 6
Preparation and characterization of the deepoxy trichothecenes: deepoxy HT-2, deepoxy T-2 triol, deepoxy T-2 tetraol, deepoxy 15-monoacetoxyscirpenol, and deepoxy scirpentriol; Swanson SP et al.; The production of deepoxy metabolites of the trichothecene mycotoxins T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol, including deepoxy HT-2 (DE HT-2), deepoxy T-2 triol, deepoxy T-2 tetraol, deepoxy 15-monoacetoxyscirpenol, and deepoxy scirpentriol is described . The metabolites were prepared by in vitro fermentation with bovine rumen microorganisms under anaerobic conditions and purified by normal and reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography . Capillary gas chromatographic retention times and mass spectra of the derivatized metabolites were obtained . The deepoxy metabolites were significantly less toxic to brine shrimp than were the corresponding epoxy analogs . Polyclonal and monoclonal T-2 antibodies were examined for cross-reactivity to several T-2 metabolites . Both HT-2 and DE HT-2 cross-reacted with mouse immunoglobulin monoclonal antibody 15H6 to a greater extent than did T-2 toxin . Rabbit polyclonal T-2 antibodies displayed greater specificity to T-2 toxin compared with the monoclonal antibody, with relative cross-reactivities of only 17.4, 14.6, and 9.2% for HT-2, DE HT-2, and deepoxy T-2 triol, respectively . Cross-reactivity of both antibodies was weak for T-2 triol, T-2 tetraol, 3'OH T-2, and 3'OH HT-2.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Dec, 40(12), 1751 - 6
Method for the detection and quantitation of chitinase inhibitors in fermentation broths; isolation and insect life cycle effect of A82516; Somers PJ et al.; A new method of screening for chitinase inhibitors in crude fermentation broths as a means of discovering new insecticidal leads has been developed . In this procedure soluble Remazol brilliant violet 5R dye-coupled chitin degradation products released from insoluble chitin azure substrate by hydrolysis with Streptomyces griseus chitinase are filtered in 0.45 micron Millititer HA 96 well filtration plates and collected in 96 well microtiter plates . Inhibitors of this reaction are detected by a decrease in absorbance (570 nm) of the filtrate . A chitinase inhibitor, designated A82516, produced by culture A82516 was discovered using this screen . Purified A82516 was found to have an IC50 of 3.7 X 10(-6) M for S . griseus chitinase . At a test concentration of 0.27 mg/ml, A82516 was 100% effective in preventing development of house fly larvae to pupae . Allosamidin, a recently reported chitinase inhibitor in vitro, has spectral properties identical to A82516.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1987 Dec, 8(4), 255 - 8
Rapid identification of Escherichia coli with a fluorogenic beta-glucuronidase assay; Papasian CJ et al.; We evaluated three fluorogenic methods (MUG; Remel, Lenexa, KS) for the rapid (less than 1 hr) identification of E . coli by detecting beta-glucuronidase activity . The methods included: direct disk inoculation test, tube test, and liquid spot reagent test . Fluorogenic tests were performed on pure cultures of lactose fermenters and compared with identification by Enterotube II (Roche Diagnostics; Nutley, NJ) . Organisms yielding disparate results were further analyzed by API 20E (Analytab Products Inc.; Plainview, NY) . The tube test was evaluated with isolates subcultured on both MacConkey and blood agars; the direct disk and liquid spot reagent methods were tested with isolates subcultured on blood agar only . All methods were highly specific (greater than 97%) . Sensitivity of the beta-glucuronidase tests were method and media dependent, but exceeded 85% in all cases . The direct disk and tube tests also permitted detection of indole formation; results of indole testing, however, contributed little to accurately identifying E . coli.

Arch Biochem Biophys, 1987 Nov 15, 259(1), 58 - 65
Oxalic acid biosynthesis and oxalacetate acetylhydrolase activity in Streptomyces cattleya; Houck DR et al.; In addition to producing the antibiotic thienamycin, Streptomyces cattleya accumulates large amounts of oxalic acid during the course of a fermentation . Washed cell suspensions were utilized to determine the specific incorporation of carbon-14 into oxalate from a number of labeled organic and amino acids . L-{U-14C}aspartate proved to be the best precursor, whereas only a small percentage of label from {1,5-14C}citrate was found in oxalate . Cell-free extracts catalyzed the formation of {14C}oxalate and {14C}acetate from L-{U-14C}aspartate . When L-{4-14C}aspartate was the substrate only {14C}acetate was formed . The cell-free extracts were found to contain oxalacetate acetylhydrolase (EC 3.7.1.1), the enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of oxalacetate to oxalate and acetate . The enzyme is constitutive and is analogous to enzymes in fungi that produce oxalate from oxalacetate . Properties of the crude enzyme were examined.

J Chromatogr, 1987 Nov 6, 408, 157 - 70
High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of some mono- and disaccharides with detection by a post-column enzyme reactor and a chemically modified electrode; Marko-Varga G; The effluent from a chromatographic column was mixed with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide coenzyme (NAD+) buffer and passed through a packed-bed reactor containing immobilized glucose dehydrogenase . Oxidation of the carbohydrates emerging from the column produced an equivalent amount of reduced coenzyme (NADH), which was detected electrochemically using an electrode modified with 7-dimethylamino-1,2-benzophenoxazine (Meldola Blue) . Separation was effected in three different chromatographic systems containing a protonated ion exchanger, a calcium(II)-saturated or a lead(II)-saturated ligand exchange column . Separation, detection and k' values are reported for glucose, 2-deoxyglucose, xylose, mannose, cellobiose, lactose, ribose and glucosamine . The detection limit was 2 ng for a 20-microliter injection of glucose and the response was linear up to 6300 ng . Samples from fermentation of penicillin were analysed for lactose and glucose with the described detector . A comparison with the recordings from a refractive index detector showed that the selectivity of the enzymes and the modified electrodes are necessary for the determination of glucose and lactose.

Nature, 1987 Nov 26-Dec 2, 330(6146), 401 - 4
Adaptive evolution in the stomach lysozymes of foregut fermenters; Stewart CB et al.; The convergent evolution of a fermentative foregut in two groups of mammals offers an opportunity to study adaptive evolution at the protein level . The appearance of this mode of digestion has been accompanied by the recruitment of lysozyme as a bacteriolytic enzyme in the stomach both in the ruminants (for example the cow) and later in the colobine monkeys (for example the langur) . The stomach lysozymes of these two groups share some physicochemical and catalytic properties that appear to adapt them for functioning in the stomach fluid . To examine the basis for these shared properties, we sequenced langur stomach lysozyme and compared it to other lysozymes of known sequence . Tree analysis suggest that, after foregut fermentation arose in monkeys, the langur lysozyme gained sequence similarity to cow stomach lysozyme and evolved two times faster than the other primate lysozymes . This rapid evolution, coupled with functional and sequence convergence upon cow stomach lysozyme, could imply that positive darwinian selection has driven about 50% of the evolution of langur stomach lysozyme.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Nov, 70(11), 2339 - 48
Comparison of sweet white lupin seeds with soybean meal as a protein supplement for lactating dairy cows; Guillaume B et al.; Data were from 45 Holstein cows (23 multiparous, 22 primiparous) assigned by calving date and parity within groups to one of two isonitrogenous (16% crude protein) diets . The diets were 50% forages (corn silage, alfalfa silage) and 50% concentrate, dry basis . In diet A, soybean meal supplied 34.2% of total crude protein; in diet B, ground sweet white lupin seeds provided 37.9% of total crude protein . Cows were fed once daily during the experimental period (d 4 to 116 postpartum) . Cows fed lupins consumed significantly less dry matter, produced 1.8 kg/d less milk (but not significantly different), and had lower milk protein percent . Milk fat and total solids percents were similar . Reasons for reduced intake of cows fed lupins were not evident . Traces of alkaloids (.005% dry basis) were present in diet B . Combined results of in vitro continuous culture fermentation and in situ degradation measurements indicated that crude protein from lupins was more degradable than that of soybean meal . Poor performances of cows fed lupins could be partly due to a reduced true protein supply to the small intestine.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Nov, 70(11), 2312 - 21
Effects of feed intake and dietary urea concentration on ruminal dilution rate and efficiency of bacterial growth in steers; Firkins JL et al.; Four multiple-fistulated steers (340 kg) were fed a diet containing 50% ground grass hay, 20% dry distillers grains, and 30% concentrate at two intakes (7.2 or 4.8 kg DM/d) . Urea (.4 or 1.2% of the diet) was infused continuously into the steers' rumens . The experimental design was a 4 X 4 Latin square with a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments . Infusing urea at .4 or 1.2% of the diet resulted in ruminal NH3 N concentrations of 4.97 and 9.10 mg/dl, respectively . Feeding steers at high rather than low intake decreased ruminal and total tract digestibilities of organic matter, NDF, and ADF but did not increase ruminal escape of N . However, apparent N escape from the rumen calculated using purines, but not 15N, as a bacterial marker was higher when 1.2 vs . .4% urea was infused . Feeding at high rather than at low intake increased the total pool of viable bacteria per gram organic matter fermented in the rumen . Although ruminal fluid outflows and particulate dilution rates were greater when steers were fed at high than at low intakes, efficiencies of bacterial protein synthesis were unaffected by intake . The possibility of increased N recycling within the rumen with feeding at the higher intake is discussed.

J Anim Sci, 1987 Nov, 65(5), 1342 - 53
Steers grazing blue grama rangeland throughout the growing season . I . Dietary composition, intake, digesta kinetics and ruminal fermentation; Funk MA et al.; Four sampling periods on blue grama rangeland in northeastern New Mexico evaluated effects of advancing forage maturity and drought-induced dormancy on dietary nutrient and botanical composition, intake, digesta kinetics and ruminal fermentation in grazing beef steers . Six ruminally cannulated and three esophageally cannulated steers freely grazed a 12-ha pasture during the study . Sampling periods lasted 11 d and started June 2, during the early growing season (EGS); June 22, during early summer dormancy (ESD); July 21, during late summer dormancy (LSD); and August 25, 1985, during the late growing season (LGS) . Forage availability was not limiting in any sampling period . Steers consumed a greater (P less than .05) percentage in forbs and lower percentage of grasses in EGS and ESD than in LSD and LGS . Dietary in vitro organic matter digestibility was lower (P less than .05) in ESD than in EGS, LSD and LGS . Dietary N content was higher (P less than .05) in EGs and LGS than in ESD and LSD . Neutral detergent fiber content was lower (P less than .05) in EGS than in other sampling periods, while dietary lignin contents were similar for all sampling periods . Voluntary organic matter intake was similar for all sampling periods; however, estimated gastrointestinal tract fill was greater (P less than .05) in ESD and LSD than in EGS and LGS . Particulate passage rate was slower (P less than .05) and total mean retention time longer (P less than .05) in LSD than in other sampling periods . Rate and lag time of neutral detergent fiber digestion were not different among sampling periods . Ruminal pH was greater (P less than .05) at 3 and 6 h after sunrise in ESD than in other sampling periods . Ruminal ammonia concentrations were lower (P less than .05) in ESD and LSD than in EGS and LGS at 3 and 6 h after sunrise . Total volatile fatty acid concentrations were lower (P less than .05) in ESD than in EGS and LSD at 3 h after sunrise and lower (P less than .10) than EGS and LGS at 9 h after sunrise . Molar proportions of acetate were greater (P less than .05) at 3 h after sunrise in ESD and LSD than in EGS and LGS . Changes in digesta kinetics and ruminal fermentation patterns observed in this study appeared to be related to both forage maturity and dietary botanical composition.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Nov, 40(11), 1596 - 604
Antitumor effect of kazusamycin B on experimental tumors; Yoshida E et al.; Kazusamycin B, a novel antibiotic (MW 542) isolated from fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp . No . 81-484 showed a broad antitumor spectrum both in vitro and in vivo . IC50 against the growth of tumor cells was around 1 ng/ml at 72 hours-exposure in vitro . Intraperitoneal injection of the antibiotic was effective in inhibiting the growth of murine tumors, S180, P388, EL-4, and B16 . It was also active against doxorubicin-resistant P388, hepatic metastases of L5178Y-ML, pulmonary metastases of 3LL, and human mammary cancer MX-1 xenografted to nude mice . However, the activity of kazusamycin B toward L1210 or human lung cancer LX-1 was weaker . According to the results of comparative studies on the effect of kazusamycins B and A, an analog of B, there seemed to be no significant difference in their effectiveness . The effective dose range and toxicity were markedly dependent on tumor lines tested and the regimen used . Maximum tolerated dose in mice with subcutaneous tumors was much higher than that in mice bearing ascitic leukemia as P388 . Although intermittent administration could greatly reduce the cumulative toxicity of the drug, therapeutic effect was similar with both successive and intermittent administration schedules.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Nov, 40(11), 1490 - 5
CP-54,883 a novel chlorine-containing polyether antibiotic produced by a new species of Actinomadura: taxonomy of the producing culture, fermentation, physico-chemical and biological properties of the antibiotic; Cullen WP et al.; The novel chlorine-containing acidic polycyclic ether antibiotic CP-54,883 (C41H62O12Cl2) {corrected} is produced by the fermentation of Actinomadura routienii Huang sp . nov . This report presents the taxonomy and the fermentation conditions for the antibiotic-producing culture . The antibiotic is mainly active against Gram-positive bacteria . It protects chickens against Eimeria challenge in vivo and enhances rumen propionic acid in vitro . The physico-chemical properties are also characterized.

Br J Nutr, 1987 Nov, 58(3), 493 - 502
Effect of sugar fatty acid esters on rumen fermentation in vitro; Wakita M et al.; 1 . The effect of sugar fatty acid esters (SFEs; currently used as food additives for human consumption) on rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA) and gas production was studied with sheep rumen contents in vitro . 2 . Some SFEs having monoester contents of more than 70% increased the molar proportion of propionate in conjunction with reduction in the acetate:propionate ratio when the individual SFE was added to rumen contents in a final concentration of 4 g/l . Laurate sugar ester was the most potent propionate enhancer and rumen gas depressor, the effective dose being as low as 1 g/l in a final concentration . Fatty acid esters other than SFEs had little, if any, effect on rumen VFA production and their molar proportions . 3 . Approximately 50% of laurate sugar ester was hydrolysed by in vitro incubation with rumen fluid for 2 h . The addition of fatty acids and sucrose was also effective in the alterations of rumen VFA and gas production . However, the effect of SFEs on in vitro rumen fermentation was significantly greater than that of their constituent fatty acids or sucrose, or both . Accordingly, the effect appeared to be ascribed to the complex action of SFE itself and to its constituents, free fatty acids and sucrose . 4 . SFEs, at the level of 4 g/l, reduced substantially the froth formation (ingesta volume increase) and seemed to be effective for the prevention of bloat.

Arch Tierernahr, 1987 Nov, 37(11), 955 - 69
{The energy requirement of young female cattle . 1 . Research overview and body weight development of the animals}; Schiemann R et al.; In the period of 1975-1982 6 experiments with young female cattle of various rearing intensities were carried out . The respiration trial technique for the measuring of energy and protein metabolization in connection with the registration of a number of rumen physiologic data were applied together with comparative studies of the digestibility and the rumen fermentation of the rations used with young cattle and with fully grown sheep . The extent of the experiment was characterized by 695 metabolism periods in calves and young cattle as well as by 149 comparative studies of the digestibility and the rumen metabolism of the fully grown sheep . The results ascertained are the basis of the derivation of the energy requirement for the rearing of young female cattle according to factorial criteria . This first out of six papers on these experiments comprises an outline of the experiment arrangement, the material and the methods as well as of the live weight development of the animals . In four of the six experiments there was a continuous monthly registration of the measured values over the complete period of the rearing of the weaned calves up to their calving with four animals each under conditions of extremely high (experiment 1), medium (experiments 5 and 6) and low (experiment 3) rearing intensity . Experiments 2 and 4 provide additional information on rearing periods under special consideration of the gestation period . In experiment 1 the cows were not milked after the first calving, and measuring was continued to the second calving of the animals.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1987 Nov, 63(5), 395 - 9
Ethanol production in table jelly by two species of Chrysosporium; Kinderlerer JL; Different commercial brands of tablet jelly were stored in sealed containers for 12 weeks at an initial water activity of 0.90 . The surface of those containing real fruit juice became covered with a dense white mould identified as Chrysosporium inops . That of those without fruit juice did not . This type of spoilage has been observed in commercially stored samples . When spores of this fungus and the closely related species, C . xerophilum, were added to commercial tablet jelly, the fungi grew only on samples containing real fruit juice . It is suggested that the fruit juice may provide some essential nutrient required for growth of these nutritionally fastidious species as well as the fungal spores themselves . Ethanol was detected in the headspace gas of stored samples of mouldy jelly . The production of ethanol by the two Chrysosporium species was confirmed by fermentation of glucose in liquid batch culture: approximately 2% ethanol was formed in 14 d . The ability of C . xerophilum and C . inops to utilize the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway may explain why these slow-growing xerophilic moulds become dominant after storage at low oxygen tension.

Mol Biochem Parasitol, 1987 Nov, 26(1-2), 1 - 10
Aerobic glucose fermentation by Trypanosoma cruzi axenic culture amastigote-like forms during growth and differentiation to epimastigotes; Engel JC et al.; Axenic culture amastigote-like forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, grown at 28 degrees C, reach a stationary phase after two generations, and differentiate to epimastigotes, which then resume growth . Axenic culture amastigotes readily ferment glucose to succinate and acetate, and do not excrete NH3; they have high activities of hexokinase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and very low citrate synthase activity; cytochrome o is absent, and cytochrome b-like is present at a very low level . Epimastigotes catabolize glucose and produce succinate and acetate at a considerably lower rate; they exhibit lower levels of hexokinase and carboxykinase, and much higher levels of citrate synthase and cytochromes o and b-like . They catabolize amino acids, as shown by excretion of NH3 to the medium . The results suggest that axenic culture amastigotes have an essentially glycolytic metabolism, and they acquire the ability to oxidize substrates such as amino acids only after differentiation to epimastigotes.

Mikrobiologiia, 1987 Nov-Dec, 56(6), 985 - 90
{Autostabilization of the pH in a batch culture of Pseudomonas}; Arzamastsev AA; Ranges within which the pH of the environment can be self-regulated have been determined for microorganisms belonging to the Pseudomonas genus . The ability of these microorganisms to self-regulate the pH was detected both at an increase and a decrease in the pH of the environment as compared to its optimal value . The rate of self-regulation appears to be proportional to the concentration of viable cells in a suspension . The results may be used for creating an economical system for maintaining the pH of the environment in industrial fermentation.

J Immunol Methods, 1987 Oct 23, 103(1), 15 - 25
Large scale production and purification of human IL-2 from buffy coat lymphocytes stimulated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate and calcium ionophore A23187; Grote W et al.; Methods for the production of high titers of interleukin-2 (IL-2) from human buffy coat lymphocytes, and subsequent purification of the IL-2 are described . 50 buffy coats containing 1 X 10(11) leukocytes were first depleted of erythrocytes by batchwise leukapheresis using a Haemonetics model 15 blood wash centrifuge . Further lymphocyte enrichment was achieved using a one-step sedimentation in the presence of hydroxyethyl starch, which produced suspensions of more than 90% lymphocytes . This degree of lymphocyte purity was important since phagocytes were inhibitory to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate/calcium ionophore (TPA/A23187)-induced IL-2 production when their concentration exceeded 15% of the total cells . Cell culture was performed in stirred fermenters . Using TPA/A23187 induction, up to 500 micrograms of IL-2 per liter were produced . The IL-2 was purified by absorption from the supernatants onto controlled pore glass and elution with 50% ethylene glycol, followed by Fractogel chromatography, and then preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using an RP-6 column and elution with a gradient of n-propanol . A final HPLC rechromatography step using an analytical RP-6 column gave a homogeneous preparation with specific activity of 1.2 X 10(7) U/mg and a recovery from the starting supernatant of 22%.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Oct 15, 262(29), 14154 - 7
Mechanism of stimulation of endogenous fermentation in yeast by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone; Noshiro A et al.; Addition of the uncoupler and protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) to starved yeast cells starts endogenous alcoholic fermentation lasting about 20 min . Hexose 6-phosphates, fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, and pyruvate accumulate in less than 2 min after addition of CCCP from almost zero concentration to concentrations which correspond to 1/5-1/10 of the steady-state concentrations during fermentation of glucose . CCCP immediately causes a decrease of the intracellular cytosolic pH from 6.9 to 6.4 . This change activates adenylate cyclase (Purwin, C., Nicolay, K., Scheffers, W.A., and Holzer, H . (1986) J . Biol . Chem . 261, 8744-8749) and leads to the previously observed transient increase of cyclic AMP . It is shown here that the following enzymes known from in vitro experiments to be activated by cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation are activated in the CCCP-treated starved yeast cells in vivo: glycogen phosphorylase, trehalase (pH 7), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase . The activation of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase leads to an accumulation of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, which is known from in vitro experiments to activate 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase and to inhibit fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase . All effects observed in the intact yeast cells fit with the idea that the CCCP-initiated activation of adenylate cyclase leads to a sequence of events which by protein phosphorylation and allosteric effects initiates endogenous alcoholic fermentation.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Oct, 70(10), 2063 - 8
Effect of yeast culture and Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract on ruminal characteristics and nutrient digestibility; Wiedmeier RD et al.; Four nonpregnant and nonlactating Holstein cows fitted with ruminal fistulas were assigned to each of four diets in a 4 X 4 Latin square design . Dietary treatments were 1) basal diet containing 50% concentrate; 2) basal diet plus 90 g/d yeast culture; 3) basal diet plus 2.63 g/d Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract; 4) basal diet plus 90 g/d of A . oryzae fermentation extract and yeast culture . Cows were fed diets at a rate of 86 g DM/kg BW.75 for 14 d adaptation followed by an 8-d collection period . Digestibility of dry matter was increased by A . oryzae and A . oryzae and yeast culture combination treatments . Digestibility of CP was increased regardless of fungal culture addition . Hemicellulose digestibility, percent ruminal cellulolytic organisms, and acetate to propionate ratio were increased by the addition of fungal supplements.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Oct, 40(10), 1414 - 8
A new tetracycline antibiotic from a Dactylosporangium species . Fermentation, isolation and structure elucidation; Patel M et al.; An actinomycete identified as a Dactylosporangium sp . produces a new tetracycline, 4a-hydroxy-8-methoxychlortetracycline (Sch 34164) . The addition of magnesium ions to complex fermentation media increased the antibiotic titers . Sch 34164 was isolated by solvent extraction and Sephadex G-25 column chromatography . The novel structure was proposed based on spectroscopic analysis . The shift of C-4a (35 to 77 ppm) and C-8 (140 to 163 ppm) in the 13C NMR as compared to chlortetracycline was indicative of the novel hydroxyl and methoxy substituents, respectively.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Oct, 40(10), 1408 - 13
A novel tetracycline from Actinomadura brunnea . Fermentation, isolation and structure elucidation; Patel M et al.; A novel tetracycline antibiotic, Sch 33256, was isolated from a culture broth of a new species of Actinomadura . The antibiotic was isolated by solvent extraction, Sephadex G-25 column chromatography and crystallization . The structure was determined by comparison of the spectra with that of chlortetracycline . Spectroscopic analysis of the compound yielded 2'-N-methyl-8-methoxychlortetracycline as the proposed structure.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Oct, 40(10), 1383 - 93
Coloradocin, an antibiotic from a new Actinoplanes . II . Identity with luminamicin and elucidation of structure; Rasmussen RR et al.; Coloradocin was isolated from a fermentation broth by adsorption onto Amberlite XAD-2 . The activity was eluted in MeOH and purified by gel filtration on Shephadex LH-20, followed by liquid-liquid chromatography on diol-bonded silica gel . The last two steps in the purification of this antibiotic included reverse-phase chromatography on C18-bonded silica gel and countercurrent chromatography on an Ito Coil Planet Centrifuge to give material of 90% purity . Analytically pure material was obtained by preparative HPLC . As a result of extensive homo and heteronuclear two-dimensional NMR studies, a structure was proposed for coloradocin . The structure consists of a decalin ring system fused to a 10-membered macrolactone which in turn is fused to a 14-membered macrolactone possessing an enol ether in conjugation with an unsaturated cyclic anhydride functionality . Coloradocin is related to a small class of antibiotics which include nodusmicin and nargenicin and was shown to be identical to luminamicin for which no structure has been reported.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Oct, 40(10), 1361 - 7
Swalpamycin, a new macrolide antibiotic . I . Taxonomy of the producing organism, fermentation, isolation and biological activity; Franco CM et al.; A new macrolide antibiotic, swalpamycin, has been isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp . Y-84,30967 . Taxonomically the producing organism most closely resembles Streptomyces anandii and has therefore been named S . anandii subsp . swalpus . Swalpamycin is a neutral 16-membered macrolide active against Gram-positive bacteria including erythromycin-resistant strains.

Gut, 1987 Oct, 28(10), 1221 - 7
Short chain fatty acids in human large intestine, portal, hepatic and venous blood; Cummings JH et al.; Evidence for the occurrence of microbial breakdown of carbohydrate in the human colon has been sought by measuring short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations in the contents of all regions of the large intestine and in portal, hepatic and peripheral venous blood obtained at autopsy of sudden death victims within four hours of death . Total SCFA concentration (mmol/kg) was low in the terminal ileum at 13 +/- 6 but high in all regions of the colon ranging from 131 +/- 9 in the caecum to 80 +/- 11 in the descending colon . The presence of branched chain fatty acids was also noted . A significant trend from high to low concentrations was found on passing distally from caecum to descending colon . pH also changed with region from 5.6 +/- 0.2 in the caecum to 6.6 +/- 0.1 in the descending colon . pH and SCFA concentrations were inversely related . Total SCFA (mumol/l) in blood was, portal 375 +/- 70, hepatic 148 +/- 42 and peripheral 79 +/- 22 . In all samples acetate was the principal anion but molar ratios of the three principal SCFA changed on going from colonic contents to portal blood to hepatic vein indicating greater uptake of butyrate by the colonic epithelium and propionate by the liver . These data indicate that substantial carbohydrate, and possibly protein, fermentation is occurring in the human large intestine, principally in the caecum and ascending colon and that the large bowel may have a greater role to play in digestion than has previously been ascribed to it.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1987 Oct, 95(5), 309 - 14
Biochemical characterization of nine oral small-sized spirochete strains containing one endoflagellum from each cell-end; Fiehn NE; The purpose of the present investigation was to establish a biochemical characterization of oral spirochetes containing one endoflagellum from each cell-end . Nine spirochete strains were isolated from subgingival plaque with pocket depth greater than 6 mm . The following metabolic capabilities were examined: fermentation of 16 different carbohydrates, hydrolysis of urea, gelatin and esculin, and production of indol and H2S . Furthermore activities of the following categories of enzymes were examined: proteases, peptidases, lipases, glycosidases, phosphatases, and mucopolysaccharadases . The tests and analyses were routinely carried out with cultures in the early stationary phase of growth . Of the examined metabolic capabilities eleven of the 21 characters were identical for all strains . Only the fermentation of some of the carbohydrates varied between the strains . All strains were identical regarding the examined enzymes . The following enzyme activities were found: acid and alkaline phosphatase, C-4 (butyrate)-, and C-8 (caprylate)-lipases, peptidases, hyaluronidase, and chondroitinsulfatase . The findings are compared with earlier observations for the same spirochete morphotype and with small-sized spirochetes containing two endoflagella from each cell-end.

J Anim Sci, 1987 Oct, 65(4), 865 - 71
Effect of lasalocid on weight gains, ruminal fermentation and forage intake of stocker cattle grazing winter wheat pasture; Andersen MA et al.; Fifty fall-weaned heifers with initial weights of 209 kg (yr 1) and 222 kg (yr 2) were used to determine effects of lasalocid on weight gains, forage intake and ruminal fermentation of stocker cattle grazing winter wheat pasture . The heifers grazed a single wheat pasture for about 100 d each year, and were individually fed 1.06 kg of supplement (6 d/wk) pro-rated to supply 0, 100 or 200 mg lasalocid.head-1.d-1 . Also, eight mature Hereford steers with large rumen cannula were used to evaluate further effects of lasalocid (0 or 300 mg) on ruminal fermentation during two grazing periods (immature and mature wheat forage) of yr 2 and an additional third year . Daily gains of heifers fed 200 mg lasalocid/d were .11 kg greater (P less than .05) than those of heifers fed 0 or 100 mg lasalocid/d . One hundred milligrams lasalocid did not increase weight gains . Digestibilities of forage dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) were similar (P greater than .05) among treatments, and lasalocid did not affect (P greater than .10) forage intake . Ruminal ammonia concentrations (10.57, 15.22 and 17.81 mg/dl +/- 1.71) were increased (P less than .05) by both levels of lasalocid in yr 1, but differences among treatment means of 8.32, 11.95 and 11.66 (SE +/- 1.44) were not significant in yr 2 . Lasalocid did not consistently affect total volatile fatty acids concentrations . The acetic:propionic acid ratios in heifers were not different (P greater than .05) among treatments, but were decreased (P less than .10) by lasalocid in cannulated steers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Anim Sci, 1987 Oct, 65(4), 1101 - 12
Ruminal solubility of nitrogen and minerals from fescue and fescue-red clover herbage; van Eys JE et al.; Ruminal solubility of N, K, P, Ca, Mg and S were measured for three forages at six growth stages . The three forages were Kentucky 31 tall fescue (TF), Kenhy fescue (KN) and a red clover-tall fescue mixture (RC) . Disappearance parameters were measured by means of the dacron bag technique using cannulated steers . Exposures were for 48 h; maximum extent of disappearance for all elements occurred before this time . High proportions (greater than 60%) of P, K and Mg were released from all three forages during the first 3 h of incubation, with small losses thereafter . Amounts of N and S released during the first 3 h ranged between 40 to 75% . Ca had the lowest initial disappearance . Forages differed (P less than .05) in extent of mineral disappearance after 3- and 48-h incubations and in rate of disappearance (Kd) of the potentially available, slowly solubilizing, fraction of N, Ca and S . Across growth stages, TF had generally the lowest extent and rate of disappearance . With increasing maturity, Kd for Mg, Ca and S decreased (P less than .05) . For each element, Kd was not correlated with herbage concentration or initial (3 h) disappearance . Partial correlations between disappearance of N, K, Ca, Mg and S after the 48-h incubation and herbage concentration were significant . Solubilization values corrected for rate of passage (ERS) showed significant differences among forages for K, Ca and S . Average ERS values for S and K were highest for KN; RC herbage had higher ERS values for Ca . Increases in forage maturity lowered (P less than .001) ERS for all elements . The results indicate that for all growth stages, ruminal solubility and potential availability of N and minerals from the three forages was high . The rate of release differed among elements and may have affected efficiency of microbial fermentation . Although ruminal solubility of minerals from TF was generally lower than from the other two forages, the difference was not sufficient to explain fully the lower apparent availability observed in previous studies.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1987 Oct, 21(4), 296 - 300
{Production of rifamycin complex}; Oner M et al.; In this study, by using synthetic medium and Streptomyces mediterranai rifamycin was produced by fermentation in laboratory scale . By means of spectrophotometric determination and microbiological assay, production of antibiotic by the organism was proved.

Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Oct, 95(5), 405 - 10
Effect of xylitol-containing carbohydrate mixtures on acid and ammonia production in suspensions of salivary sediment; Soderling E et al.; pH changes and the production of lactic acid, acetic acid and ammonia were studied in suspensions of salivary sediment supplemented with mixtures of xylitol and other carbohydrate sweeteners . The only mixtures which increased the pH values of the suspensions were those containing xylitol alone or mixtures of xylitol and sorbitol . Mixtures of xylitol and Lycasin 80/55 caused a relatively small pH reduction . Xylitol was not able to inhibit the acid production from the easily fermented glucose, fructose and Lycasin 05/60 . The levels of lactic acid, determined in the incubation mixtures, directly reflected these pH changes . The levels of acetic acid and ammonia were, however, relatively similar in all incubation mixtures . The results suggest that the inhibitory effects of xylitol on acid production of oral flora should be retained, provided that xylitol is used either alone or in mixtures with slowly fermentable carbohydrates, such as sorbitol and Lycasin 80/55.

Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 1987 Oct, 15(5), 286 - 8
Changing patterns of dental caries in Ethiopian adolescents who immigrated to Israel; Sarnat H et al.; The aim of this investigation was to explore changes in caries prevalence and gingival health in adolescents who immigrated from Ethiopia to Israel, experiencing an abrupt cultural transition . Fifty adolescents, aged 15-17, born in Ethiopia, and 196 adolescents born in Israel were examined . All were pupils of a boarding school, sharing the same living conditions and eating schedules . The results showed a nearly sixfold difference in caries prevalence between the Ethiopian and the Israeli group (1.5/9.6) . No differences could be seen clinically between the Ethiopians who immigrated more than 1 yr ago and those who arrived within the last year . Radiographically, a significant difference was found between the two Ethiopian subgroups . Those who arrived more than 1 yr ago had nearly three times more initial caries . Total interproximal caries scores for the Israeli group, Ethiopians who arrived more than 1 yr ago, and newly arrived Ethiopians were 6.9, 5.7 and 2.1 respectively . Oral hygiene was poorer in the Ethiopian group than in the Israeli group; little difference was found in gingival health . Change in dietary habits, more meals per day and more frequent consumption of fermentable carbohydrates, could have been the cause of the change in caries rate.

J Dent Res, 1987 Oct, 66(10), 1527 - 32
Effects of cheese extract and its fractions on enamel demineralization in vitro and in vivo in humans; Silva MF et al.; In order to isolate and identify the most active anti-cariogenic components(s) of aqueous cheese extract (CE), we separated it into low (LMW) (MW less than 500), medium (MMW) (500 less than MW less than 10,000), and high (HMW) (MW greater than 10,000) molecular weight fractions by means of the Amicon ultrafiltration system . These fractions were then tested in vitro with a bacterial system containing S . mutans, adapted from that of Turtola (1977) . The LMW fraction reduced the demineralization caused by the fermentation of sucrose by 96% (p less than 0.001) as compared with the water control; this was not significantly different from a 50% concentration of the CE . The MMW and HMW fractions reduced demineralization by 36 and 42%, respectively . The concentrations of acid-soluble calcium and phosphorus in CE, LMW, MMW, and HMW were 1509 and 462, 991 and 310, 231 and 7, and 162 and 3 micrograms/mL, respectively . A solution containing the same levels of calcium and phosphorus as CE was somewhat more effective in reducing demineralization in vitro than was CE itself (p less than 0.01) . In vivo, the addition of these same calcium and phosphorus levels to a 10% sucrose solution reduced its cariogenicity by 67% (p less than 0.001), as judged by the intra-oral cariogenicity test (ICT) . Plaque calcium and phosphorus concentrations were significantly higher in the ICT plaque samples subjected to the sucrose-Ca,P solution (p less than 0.01) than in the sucrose control . The resting pH, minimum pH, and shape of the pH curves produced by the sucrose control and sucrose-Ca,P were similar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Oct, 266(3-4), 390 - 402
Genomic relationships and species differentiation in the genus Capnocytophaga; Speck H et al.; Ten epidemiologically independent Capnocytophaga strains from clinical materials constituted three distinct DNA homology groups corresponding to the established species, Capnocytophaga ochracea, sputigena, and gingivalis . The three groups exhibited only low, or even insignificant degrees of genomic relatedness mutually, and to a reference culture of CDC group DF-2 . All of five Capnocytophaga ochracea strains considered were involved in topic infections whereas four strains, isolated from blood belonged to either Capnocytophaga sputigena or Capnocytophaga gingivalis . However, Capnocytophaga ochracea and Capnocytophaga sputigena could not be discriminated on the basis of DNA base composition, genome size, or phenotypic features including cellular fatty acids, lipoquinones, and various fermentation and hydrolase reactions . The need for additional phenotypic criteria characterizing species of Capnocytophaga is underlined by the present findings.

Vet Microbiol, 1987 Oct, 15(1-2), 65 - 70
In vitro testing of the anti-mycoplasma effect of some anti-coccidial drugs; Stipkovits L et al.; The anti-mycoplasma effects of the ionophores (lasalocid sodium, monensin and nigericin) were compared with that of tylosin tartrate and tiamulin in vitro . Forty-four strains representing 14 avian and 10 mammalian Mycoplasma species and serotypes and 5 Acholeplasma species were tested . The ionophores showed average minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values between 3.65 and 4.93 micrograms ml-1 for all strains, the MIC values for glucose-fermenting strains were between 2.26 and 3.75 micrograms ml-1, significantly lower than for arginine-hydrolysing strains (9.27-13.12 micrograms ml-1) . These values were significantly higher than those obtained with tylosin tartrate (0.45 micrograms ml-1) or tiamulin (0.13 micrograms ml-1) . The ionophores were more efficacious against acholeplasmas (0.06-0.25 micrograms ml-1) than against mycoplasmas.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Oct, 32(10), 735 - 8
{Isolation and identification of an antileukemia substance from Coprinus radiatus}; Anisova LN et al.; Conditions for cultivation of basidiomycete Coprinus radiatus on agar media and its submersion fermentation were developed . An antibiotic was isolated from the fermentation broth filtrate by extraction with ethyl acetate followed by purification on a column with silica gel . The antibiotic had a pronounced in vivo effect on hemoblastosis La . Spectral analysis of the antibiotic (UV, IR, NMR and mass spectra) showed that it was identical to patulin (a toxin).

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Oct, 40(10), 1394 - 9
Studies on WF-3681, a novel aldose reductase inhibitor . I . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and characterization; Nishikawa M et al.; WF-3681 was isolated from a cultured filtrate of Chaetomella raphigera as a novel inhibitor of aldose reductase . It was extracted with ethyl acetate and then purified with silica gel chromatography . Its molecular formula was determined to be C13H12O5 by elemental analysis and high resolution electron impact mass spectrometry . IC50 of WF-3681 was 2.5 X 10(-7) M for partially purified aldose reductase of rabbit lens.

J Immunol Methods, 1987 Sep 24, 102(2), 275 - 8
Effect of feeding rate on monoclonal antibody production in a modified perfusion-fed fermentor; Velez D et al.; Previously we described a perfusion system for production of high yields of monoclonal antibodies in a fermentor . This system incorporated a cylindrically shaped, stainless steel filter mounted around the stirring shaft for retention of cells within a 1 liter fermentor . Modification of this filter by increasing the pore size from 5 micron to 10 micron decreased its tendency to clog and allowed continuous operation for about 3 weeks . Fresh culture medium, containing 6.5 mg glucose/ml and 3% horse serum, was supplied continually at two different perfusion rates, 850 and 1100 ml/day . Spent culture medium containing monoclonal antibody was harvested concomitantly . Highest cell density (5 X 10(7)/ml) and best antibody yield (1.7 g/l culture per day) were obtained at the higher feeding rate.

Am J Clin Nutr, 1987 Sep, 46(3), 456 - 60
Dietary carbohydrate assimilation in the premature infant: evidence for a nutritionally significant bacterial ecosystem in the colon; Kien CL et al.; Carbohydrate energy absorption and breath hydrogen concentration were measured in 12 premature infants 28-32 wk gestational age and 2-4 wk postnatal age . Each of two groups of six infants were randomly assigned to receive one of two formulas that differed only in carbohydrate source: 100% lactose (LAC) or 50% lactose: 50% glucose polymer (LAC + GP) . In 11 infants the peak breath hydrogen concentration suggested extensive colonic fermentation (range 44-239 ppm/5% CO2 or 44-239 microL/L per 50 mL/L CO2) . An approximate 100% increase in lactose intake in the LAC group was associated with a similar increase in breath hydrogen concentration at 30, 60, and 120 min . None of the infants exhibited diarrhea or vomiting or developed delayed gastric emptying . Carbohydrate energy absorption (mean +/- SD) was, respectively, 86 +/- 5% and 91 +/- 3% in the LAC and the LAC + GP groups (p greater than 0.05) . Thus, colonic bacterial fermentation may be critical to energy balance and to the prevention of osmotic diarrhea in premature infants fed lactose.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Sep, 53(9), 2265 - 8
A selective medium for enumeration and recovery of Pseudomonas cepacia biotypes from soil; Hagedorn C et al.; TB-T medium provides a high degree of selectivity for and detection of Pseudomonas cepacia biotypes upon initial plating from soil . TB-T medium consists of a basal medium with glucose as the sole carbon source and asparagine as the sole nitrogen source . The selectivity of TB-T medium is based on the combination of trypan blue (TB) and tetracycline (T) (pH 5.5) . On TB-T medium, 216 of 300 isolates (72%) from five different soil types were identified as P . cepacia . The remaining 28% were facultative organisms that could be separated readily from P . cepacia by anaerobic glucose fermentation and by their inability to grow at 41 degrees C . Molds were controlled on low soil dilutions by adding crystal violet, nystatin, or both . Elimination of either ingredient or elevation of the pH to 7.5 resulted in a pronounced loss of selectivity . The efficiency of recovery varied considerably among P . cepacia strains but was high enough for some strains (76 to 86%) to permit quantitative studies . TB-T medium combines a defined formulation with high selectivity and allows recovery of P . cepacia biotypes from low soil dilutions (10(1) to 10(3)).

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Sep, 40(9), 1266 - 72
Arugomycin, a new anthracycline antibiotic . I . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and physico-chemical properties; Kawai H et al.; Arugomycin (AGM) is a new anthracycline antibiotic produced by strain No . 1098-AV2 which was identified as Streptomyces violaceochromogenes . AGM was isolated by solvent extraction, silicic acid chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography . Acid treatment of AGM gave the chromophore, named arugorol, which was identified as 4'-epi-nogalarol, and sugar moieties . AGM inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and showed antitumor activity against sarcoma S-180 and Ehrlich ascites tumors.

Arch Tierernahr, 1987 Sep, 37(9), 823 - 33
Energy utilization of sodium hydroxide treated or untreated straw supplemented with protein or concentrates by adult sheep . 2 . Rumen digestion; Dulphy JP et al.; NaOH treated (T) or untreated (UT) barley straws were supplemented either with protein (P) or with concentrates based on maize (M) or beet pulp (BP), the two last at rates of 25 and 50% of the diet . Each of the 10 diets was fed to two sheep ad libitum . Two diets were also fed at limited intakes . For these 12 diets in sacco cellulolytic activity in the rumen and ruminal fermentation were measured . Cellulolytic activity was measured with the studied straws, so that their digestion rate was also determined . NaOH treatment increased rate of digestion of straw, while high levels of concentrates decreased it . In contrast NaOH treatment and high levels of concentrate decreased cellulolytic activity but neither type of concentrate nor limitation of intake altered it . NaOH treatment only slightly modified pH because a higher level of VFA in rumen balanced NaOH presence . An important negative effect on pH of high levels of concentrate was observed, but there was no effect or type of concentrate or limitation of intake . Fermentation pattern was only slightly influenced by studied factors: +2.2 units of butyric acid and -2.1 units of acetic acid with treated straw; lower level of acetic acid occurred when concentrate was increased, especially for maize . Limitation of intake increased acetic acid molar proportion.

J Nat Prod, 1987 Sep-Oct, 50(5), 903 - 9
Microbial transformation studies on arteannuin B; Elmarakby SA et al.; The microbial transformation of the sesquiterpene lactone arreannuin B {3} using Aspergillus flavipes produced dihydroarteannuin B {4} as the main transformation product . Preparative-scale fermentation of 3 with Beauveria bassiana, on the other hand, has resulted in the production of two metabolites, 3 beta-hydroxyarteannuin B {5} and 13-hydroxy-11-epi-dihydroarteannuin B {6} . The structure of these metabolites, all of which are new compounds, was established using chemical and spectroscopic techniques . The isomeric dihydrocompound, 11-epi-dihydroarteannuin B {7} and an isomer of arteannuin B {8} were also prepared chemically . All compounds were subjected to 2D-nmr experiments and full 1H- and 13C-nmr assignments were made.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Sep, 32(9), 643 - 8
{Formation of A-factor-type regulators by representatives of the genus Micromonospora}; Efremenkova OV et al.; It is known that substances similar in their chemical structure and biological action to A-factor, a regulator of Streptomyces griseus differentiation are widely observed in streptomycetes . The present paper is concerned with studies on capacity for producing A-factor-like regulators in 13 strains belonging to 11 species of genus Micromonospora . It was shown that 7 strains had an A-factor-deficient test mutant effect analogous to the effect of A-factor . Relation of A-factor-like substance production to biosynthesis of sisomicin and sporogenesis was investigated in M . fusca var . sisomicini, strain RIA 1572 . A-Factor-like substances were isolated from submersion culture of strain 1572 on the 6th-8th day of the culture growth . By the time it corresponded to the highest number of the spores in the medium . The highest levels of sisomicin were detected on the 3rd day of the fermentation process . After that period its concentration markedly lowered . Exogenic addition of A-factor had no effect on sisomicin biosynthesis but resulted in increased numbers of the spores.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Sep, 169(9), 3891 - 7
Amino acid-dependent transport of sugars by Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 10953; Robrish SA et al.; Resting cells of Fusobacterium nucleatum 10953 (grown previously in a medium containing glucose) failed to accumulate glucose under aerobic or anaerobic conditions . However, the addition of glutamic acid, lysine, or histidine to anaerobic suspensions of cells caused the immediate and rapid accumulation of glucose . Except for the amino acid-dependent transport of galactose and fructose (the latter being transported at approximately one-third the rate of glucose), no other sugars tested were accumulated by the resting cells . Amino acid-dependent uptake of sugar(s) by F . nucleatum was abolished by exposure of cells to air, and under aerobic conditions the rates of fermentation of glutamic acid and lysine were less than 15% of the rates determined anaerobically . The energy necessary for active transport of the sugars (acetyl phosphate and ATP) is derived from the anaerobic fermentation of glutamic acid, lysine, or histidine . Competition studies revealed that glucose and galactose were mutual and exclusive inhibitors of transport, and it is suggested that the two sugars (Km = 14 microM) are translocated via a common carrier . The products of amino acid-dependent sugar transport were recovered from resting cells as ethanol-precipitable, high-molecular-weight polymers . Polymer formation by F . nucleatum, during growth in medium containing glucose or galactose, was confirmed by electron microscopy.

Mol Gen Genet, 1987 Sep, 209(2), 366 - 73
Isolation and expression analysis of two yeast regulatory genes involved in the derepression of glucose-repressible enzymes; Schuller HJ et al.; Yeast strains carrying one of the two regulatory mutations cat1 and cat3 are defective in derepression of several glucose-repressible enzymes that are necessary for utilizing non-fermentable carbon sources . Hence, these strains fail to grow on ethanol, glycerol or acetate . The synthesis of isocitrate lyase, malate synthase, malate dehydrogenase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is strongly affected in cat1 and cat3 strains . Genes CAT1 and CAT3 have been isolated by complementation of the cognate mutations after transformation with an episomal plasmid gene library . The restriction map of CAT1 proved its allelism to the earlier isolated SNF1 gene . Both genes appear to exist as single-copy genes per haploid genome as indicated by Southern hybridization . Northern analysis has shown that the 1.35 kb CAT3 mRNA is constitutively expressed, independent of the carbon source in the medium . Derepression studies with CAT3 transformants using a multi-copy plasmid showed over-expression of glyoxylate cycle enzymes . This result would be consistent with a direct effector function for the CAT3 gene product.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Sep, 70(9), 1835 - 40
Changes in oxidation reduction potentials and volatile fatty acid production by rumen bacteria when methane synthesis is inhibited; Sauer FD et al.; Rumen inoculum was cultured in specially designed fermenters that allowed simultaneous measurement of pH, oxidation-reduction potentials, and gas production . The cultures were maintained at pH 6.8 by addition of 1 M NaHCO3 and continuous infusion of artificial saliva . Gas flow was maintained at 20.0 ml/min with a stream of O2-free N2 . Monensin at 7.0 micrograms/ml inhibited CH4 production 49% below control concentrations . The sodium salt of 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid added at an initial concentration of 5 x 10(-5) M inhibited CH4 production by 86% and increased H2 production from less than .5 mumol/min in the control to 24.5 mumol/min in the inhibited fermenter . The redox potentials in the control fermenter remained above -.20 V and did not change with the addition of monensin . Bromoethanesulfonic acid rapidly decreased the redox potential in the fermenter to -.33 V . Volatile fatty acid production was not significantly altered by the addition of 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid . The addition of monensin gave the expected decrease in acetate:propionate ratios, decreased acetate and butyrate production, and increased valerate (but not propionate) production.

J Nutr, 1987 Sep, 117(9), 1556 - 61
Specific effect of guar gum or gum arabic on adaptation of cecal digestion to high fiber diets in the rat; Tulung B et al.; The objective of this work was to examine whether the nature of fiber may influence the cecal digestion in the rat fed hydrocolloids such as gums . Adaptation to a high fiber diet containing 15% guar gum (GG) or gum arabic (GA) was thus studied in rats previously adapted to a high starch fiber-free diet . Both gums elicited a marked enlargement of the cecum and a trophic effect on the cecal wall . The cecal pH dropped to 5.8, then plateaued to about 6.1 . During the first days of adaptation, a part of GA escaped microbial degradation; thereafter the cecal pool of volatile fatty acids (VFA) was similar with both diets (approximately equal to 1000 mumol) . GA promoted propionate-rich fermentations, whereas GG rather enhanced acetic and butyric fermentations . VFA absorption was higher with the gum diets than with the control diet, because blood flow increased in parallel to the weight of cecal wall . K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ were absorbed in large amounts from the cecum, particularly in rats fed the GA diet . With this diet, high concentrations of nonsoluble Ca2+ and phosphate (but low concentrations of soluble phosphate) were found in the cecum . The study indicates that gums have potent effects on digestion in the large bowel, and that there are specific effects of the different types of gums.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Sep, 40(9), 1249 - 55
FK-506, a novel immunosuppressant isolated from a Streptomyces . I . Fermentation, isolation, and physico-chemical and biological characteristics; Kino T et al.; FK-506, a novel immunosuppressant, has been isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces tsukubaenis No . 9993 as colorless prism and the molecular formula was determined as C44H69NO12.H2O . The compound suppressed immune responses in vitro and in vivo with mice . This immunosuppressive effect was more potent than that of ciclosporin.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Aug, 40(8), 1123 - 30
New tylosin analogs produced by mutants of Streptomyces fradiae; Kiyoshima K et al.; 2'''-Demethoxytylosin (component IIIc), 2'''-demethoxy-4'''-epi-tylosin (component IIId) and 2'''-O-demethyltylosin (component Vb) were produced by blocked mutant strains of Streptomyces fradiae . Fermentation, isolation, structure determination and biosynthetic considerations of these tylosin analogs are described.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Aug, 40(8), 1081 - 5
Lipstatin, an inhibitor of pancreatic lipase, produced by Streptomyces toxytricini . I . Producing organism, fermentation, isolation and biological activity; Weibel EK et al.; Lipstatin, a new and very potent inhibitor of pancreatic lipase (the key enzyme of intestinal fat digestion) was isolated from Streptomyces toxytricini . Lipstatin contains a beta-lactone structure that probably accounts for the irreversible lipase inhibition . The IC50 of lipstatin for pancreatic lipase is 0.14 microM . In mice triolein absorption was dose-dependently inhibited by lipstatin, whereas oleic acid was absorbed normally . Other pancreatic enzymes, such as phospholipase A2 and trypsin, were not inhibited even at an inhibitor concentration of 200 microM.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Aug, 70(8), 1572 - 82
Rumen and total diet digestibilities in lactating cows fed diets containing full-fat rapeseed; Murphy M et al.; Effects of full-fat crushed rapeseed (0, 1, or 2 kg/d) on rumen and total digestion, rumen biohydrogenation, and rumen microbial protein synthesis were studied in lactating cows . Rumen digestibilities (%) of DM, NDF, and cellulose were 52.1, 46.1, and 51.8, respectively, for control . Rapeseed decreased rumen and total DM digestibilities and proportion of DM digested in the rumen . Rumen digestibility of cellulose was decreased by rapeseed, but this was apparently compensated by hindgut fermentation . Dry matter, NDF, and hemicellulose digestibilities were compensated at 1 kg but not at 2 kg/d . Biohydrogenation of 18:1 fatty acids increased with increasing dietary fat, whereas that of 18:2 and 18:3 was 85% on all diets . Fatty acid digestibility was not different among diets . Microbial nitrogen in the duodenum increased from 142 g/d for control to 191 g/d for 1 and 2 kg/d . Efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (grams of microbial nitrogen per kilogram organic matter apparently digested in the rumen) was 17.3, 24.8, and 26.6 for 0, 1, and 2 kg/d . Slow release of fat from crushed rapeseed minimized negative effects on rumen metabolism; 1 to 2 kg/d of full-fat crushed rapeseed may be fed to lactating cows without detrimental metabolic effects.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1987 Aug, 20(3), 247 - 56
Factors affecting the production of amphotericin A; Liu YT et al.; Factors affecting amphotericin A synthesis of Streptomyces nodosus, NDMC-034 were studied . Iron, magnesium and manganese were found to stimulate amphotericin A synthesis at concentrations ranging from 10-100 microM . The optimum inoculum size, and the pH of production medium before sterilization for producing amphotericin A, were found to be near 10% (v/v) and pH 7.8, respectively . Carrying out fermentation in a complex medium using pharmamedia as nitrogen source resulted in an amphotericin A yield of up to 3.4 g/liter . A novel isolation and purification process for amphotericin A from the fermentation broth was developed, using an extracting isopropyl alcohol and methanolic solution containing 2% CaCl2 . Amphotericin A exhibits a much lower acute toxicity in mice than amphotericin B.

Onkologie, 1987 Aug, 10(4), 226 - 31
{New cytostatic drugs . Status: 1986}; Gallmeier WM et al.; In oncology phase-II studies are planned for testing antitumor activity in a series of malignant tumors . Most important is the development of drugs from entirely new classes of chemicals, fermentation products etc . Clinical research with analogues of known cytotoxic drugs aims at broader spectra of activity and at decreased toxicity in an attempt to avoid, for example, the cardiac toxicity of the anthracyclines or the renal and gastrointestinal toxicities of cis-platinum.

Genetics, 1987 Aug, 116(4), 523 - 30
The identification and characterization of ADR6, a gene required for sporulation and for expression of the alcohol dehydrogenase II isozyme from Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Taguchi AK et al.; The alcohol dehydrogenase II isozyme (enzyme, ADHII; structural gene, ADH2) of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is under stringent carbon catabolite control . This cytoplasmic isozyme exhibits negligible activity during growth in media containing fermentable carbon sources such as glucose and is maximal during growth on nonfermentable carbon sources . A recessive mutation, adr6-1, and possibly two other alleles at this locus, were selected for their ability to decrease Ty-activated ADH2-6c expression . The adr6-1 mutation led to decreased ADHII activity in both ADH2-6c and ADH2+ strains, and to decreased levels of ADH2 mRNA . Ty transcription and the expression of two other carbon catabolite regulated enzymes, isocitrate lyase and malate dehydrogenase, were unaffected by the adr6-1 mutation . adr6-1/adr6-1 strains were defective for sporulation, indicating that adr6 mutations may have pleiotropic effects . The sporulation defect was not a consequence of decreased ADH activity . Since the ADH2-6c mutation is due to insertion of a 5.6-kb Ty element at the TATAA box, it appears that the ADR6+-dependent ADHII activity required ADH2 sequences 3' to or including the TATAA box . The ADH2 upstream activating sequence (UAS) was probably not required . The ADR6 locus was unlinked to the ADR1 gene which encodes another trans-acting element required for ADH2 expression.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Aug, 169(8), 3707 - 11
Regulation of ergosterol biosynthesis and sterol uptake in a sterol-auxotrophic yeast; Lorenz RT et al.; Inhibition of sterol uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae sterol auxotroph FY3 (alpha hem1 erg7 ura) by delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is dependent on the ability of the organism to synthesize heme from ALA . Sterol-depleted cells not exposed to ALA or strain PFY3 cells, with a double heme mutation, exposed to ALA did not exhibit inhibition of sterol uptake . Addition of ALA to sterol-depleted FY3 stimulated production of a high endogenous concentration of 2,3-oxidosqualene (25.55 micrograms mg-1 {dry weight}) at 24 h, whereas FY3 not exposed to ALA or PFY3 exposed to ALA did not accumulate 2,3-oxidosqualene . The high concentration of 2,3-oxidosqualene in FY3 with ALA decreased, and 2,3;22,23-dioxidosqualene increased to a very high level . The elevation of 2,3-oxidosqualene by ALA was correlated with a fivefold increase in the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (EC 1.1.1.34) . The enhanced activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase was prevented by cycloheximide but not chloramphenicol and was dependent on a fermentative energy source . Inhibition of sterol uptake could not be attributed to 2,3-oxidosqualene or 2,3;22,23-dioxidosqualene but was due to a nonsaturating level of ergosterol produced as a consequence of heme competency through a leaky erg7 mutation.

J Protozool, 1987 Aug, 34(3), 338 - 42
Intestinal ciliated protozoa of African rhinoceros: two new genera and five new species from the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum Burchell, 1817); Van Hoven W et al.; This report represents the first published information on intestinal ciliated protozoa in the African white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum Burchell, 1817) . Two new genera which do not relate to any known ciliated protozoa from the intestines of mammals and five new species are described . The ciliates were found in the colon of three of these free-living hindgut-fermenting grazers that were shot in widely spaced districts in southern Africa . Phalodinium digitalis n . gen., n . sp., Arachnodinium noveni n . gen., n . sp., Monoposthium vulgaris n . sp., M . bracchium n . sp., and M . latus n . sp . constituted between 1% and 10% of the total ciliate population (ca . 1 X 10(5)/ml digesta) in the ascending colon . Exceedingly small numbers were observed in the descending colon, indicating temporary accommodation only.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 25(8), 1354 - 8
Comparison of biochemical, morphologic, and chemical characteristics of Centers for Disease Control fermentative coryneform groups 1, 2, and A-4; Na'Was TE et al.; A total of 24 strains of fermentative coryneform like bacteria isolated from clinical specimens form two distinct groups which have been designated Centers for Disease Control (CDC) fermentative coryneform groups 1 (13 strains) and 2 (11 strains) . The phenotypic characteristics of group 1 were similar to those of a previously described CDC group designated A-4, with the major differentiating characteristic being the inability to hydrolyze esculin . Major differences in cellular fatty acid composition between CDC groups 1 and A-4 were also observed . The branched-chain fatty acids 14-methylhexadecanoate and 12-methyltetradecanoate, which account for more than 80% of the total acids of group A-4, were not detected in cells of group 1 strains . Groups 1 and 2, which have similar cellular fatty acid compositions, can be differentiated on the basis of fermentation of xylose, mannitol, lactose, sucrose, and melibiose by group 1 but not by group 2 . The sources of isolation of the strains of both groups varied . Only group 1 strains were associated with eye infections.

J Anim Sci, 1987 Aug, 65(2), 497 - 9
Thoughts on fiber utilization in swine; Pond WG; There is continued incentive for the development of alternative feed resources for use in swine production . The availability of distillery by-products may be expected to increase as the use of corn and cereal grains for ethanol production expands . The acceptability of distillery by-products, milling by-products, forages and other fibrous feeds as energy sources for swine depends on such factors as cell wall content of the plant, degree of microbial fermentation in the large intestine, and extent of absorption and utilization of the volatile fatty acids produced . Physiological effects of dietary fiber, including effects on gastric emptying, rate of transit of digesta, gut motility, digestive secretions, and absorption and utilization of breakdown products need quantification . Limited evidence suggests that there are genetic differences in the response of pigs to dietary fiber and in their ability to utilize it as an energy source . Recombinant DNA technology offers the possibility of cloning cellulase genes from microorganisms for application in swine feeding programs . The extent to which biotechnology will be applied in swine feeding will depend ultimately on the economic incentive for developmental effort and on unknown biological limitations of the pig and its gastrointestinal microbial ecosystem.

Genetics, 1987 Aug, 116(4), 531 - 40
The cloning and mapping of ADR6, a gene required for sporulation and for expression of the alcohol dehydrogenase II isozyme from Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Taguchi AK et al.; The alcohol dehydrogenase II (ADH2) gene of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is not transcribed during growth on fermentable carbon sources such as glucose . Growth of yeast cells in a medium containing only nonfermentable carbon sources leads to a marked increase or derepression of ADH2 expression . The recessive mutation, adr6-1, leads to an inability to fully derepress ADH2 expression and to an inability to sporulate . The ADR6 gene product appears to act directly or indirectly on ADH2 sequences 3' to or including the presumptive TATAA box . The upstream activating sequence (UAS) located 5' to the TATAA box is not required for the Adr6- phenotype . Here, we describe the isolation of a recombinant plasmid containing the wild-type ADR6 gene . ADR6 codes for a 4.4-kb RNA which is present during growth both on glucose and on nonfermentable carbon sources . Disruption of the ADR6 transcription unit led to viable cells with decreased ADHII activity and an inability to sporulate . This indicates that both phenotypes result from mutations within a single gene and that the adr6-1 allele was representative of mutations at this locus . The ADR6 gene mapped to the left arm of chromosome XVI at a site 18 centimorgans from the centromere.

Arch Tierernahr, 1987 Jul-Aug, 37(7-8), 713 - 22
Study of changes of properties in thermically and hydrothermically treated feeds . 2 . N fractions in fermentation medium at the incubation of treated feeds under in vitro conditions; Ceresnakova Z et al.; In the extensive experiments in vitro degradation ability of hydrothermically and thermically treated feeds have been studied . The feeds used were soybean meal, horse bean, alfalfa meal, field pea . The feeds have been treated at 90, 110 and 130 degrees C for 30, 60 and 90 min . The treated feeds have been tested both for microbial degradation ability due to rumen microflora and enzymatic degradation ability via pepsin and trypsin . The fact has been regarded as an important finding that the degradation ability of nitrogenous compounds had been restricted effectively by hydrothermic treatment that was manifested by low ammonia-N levels in fermentation medium (11.3; 8.8; 15.9 and 1.1% out of nitrogen contents in the different feeds) . On the other hand improved protein enzymatic digestibility have been recorded in treated feeds as compared with native ones.

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