Lu Zhaoxin

Mining for sensitive and reliable species-specific primers for PCR for detection of Cronobacter sakazakii by a bioinformatics approach

Although several studies have reported PCR assays for distinguishing Cronobacter sakazakii from other species in the genus, reports regarding assay sensitivity and specificity, as well as applications for food testing, are lacking. Hence, the objective of this study was to develop a sensitive and reliable PCR-based method for detection of C. sakazakii by screening for specific target genes. The genome sequence of C. sakazakii in the GenBank database was compared with that of other organisms using BLAST. Thirty-eight DNA fragments unique to C. sakazakii were identified, and primers targeting these sequences were designed. Finally, 3 primer sets (CS14, CS21, and CS38) were found to be specific for C. sakazakii by PCR verification. The detection limit of PCR assays using the 3 pairs of primers was 1.35 pg/μL, 135 fg/μL, and 135 fg/μL, respectively, for genomic DNA, and 5.5×10(5), 5.5×10(3), 5.5×10(3) cfu/mL, respectively, using pure cultures of the bacteria, compared with 13.5 pg/μLand 5.5×10(5) cfu/mLfor primer set SpeCronsaka, which has been previously described. Cronobacter sakazakii were detected in artificially contaminated powdered infant formula (PIF) by PCR using primer sets CS21 and CS38 after 8h of enrichment. The detection limit was 5.5×10(-1) cfu/10g of PIF. Thus, the PCR assay can be used for rapid and sensitive detection of C. sakazakii in PIF.

A study of ethanol production of yeast cells immobolized with polymer carrier produced by radiation polymerization

Abstract Polymer carriers, poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate(HEA)-methoxy polyethylene glycol methylacrylate (M-23G)) and poly (hydroxyethyl accrylate(HEA)-glycidyl methlacrylate(GMA)) using for immobilization of yeast cells were prepared by radiation polymerization at low temperature. Yeast cells were immobilized through adhesion and multiplication of yeast cells themselves. The ethanol productivity of immobilized yeast cells with these carriers was related to the monomer composition of polymers and the optimum monomer composition was 20% : 10% in poly(HEA-M-23G) and 17%: 6% in poly(HEA-GMA). In this case, the ethanol productivity of immobilized yeast cells was 29mg/ml/h which was about 4 times that of cells in free system. The relationship between the activity of immobilized yeast cells and the water content of polymer carrier were also discussed.

Neomycin biosynthesis is regulated positively by AfsA-g and NeoR in Streptomyces fradiae CGMCC 4.7387

Neomycins are a group of aminoglycoside antibiotics with both clinical and agricultural applications. To elucidate the regulatory mechanism of neomycin biosynthesis, we completed draft genome sequencing of a neomycin producer Streptomyces fradiae CGMCC 4.7387 from marine sediments, and the neomycin biosynthesis gene cluster was identified. Inactivation of the afsA-g gene encoding a γ-butyrolactone (GBL) synthase in S. fradiae CGMCC 4.7387 resulted in a significant decrease of neomycin production. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the transcriptional level of neoR and the aphA-neoGH operon were reduced in the afsA-g::aac(3)IV mutant. Interestingly, a conserved binding site of AdpA, a key activator in the GBL regulatory cascade, was discovered upstream of neoR, a putative regulatory gene encoding a protein with an ATPase domain and a tetratricopeptide repeat domain. When neoR was inactivated, the neomycin production was reduced about 40% in comparison with the WT strain. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the transcriptional levels of genes in the aphA-neoGH operon were reduced clearly in the neoR::aac(3)IV mutant. Finally, the titers of neomycin were improved considerably by overexpression of afsA-g and neoR in S. fradiae CGMCC 4.7387.

Adhesion of Gibberella fujikuroi cells on surfaces of carriers by radiation polymerization

The adhesion of Gibberella fujikuroi cells on the covered polymers which were prepared by radiation polymerization technique was investigated. The adhesion of the cells was related to the surface free energy and polar component force. The copolymer resulted from hydrophillic and hydrophobic monomer and porous structure were favorable to the adhesion of the cells. However, the anionic poly-acrylic acid was not unfavorable to the adhesion of the cells. The adhesion process of the cells on the carrier covered with copolymer was observed by scanning electron microscopy.

β-galactosidase-catalyzed synthesis of 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol: Optimization by response surface methodology

Abstract In this study, the synthesis of 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol (GG) was performed by the reverse hydrolysis of D-galactose and glycerol using β-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces lactis. Four process variables, reaction temperature (30.0–45.0 °C), reaction time (24–48 h), enzyme concentration (150.00–350.00 U/mL), and substrate molar ratio (glycerol:D-galactose, 7.5:12.5 mmol/mmol) were investigated and optimized via response surface methodology (RSM) for optimal GG synthesis. Both quadratic equations and the optimal reaction conditions were established. Results showed that the four variables, i.e., reaction temperature, reaction time, enzyme concentration, and substrate molar ratio had significant (p < 0.0001) effects on the synthesis of GG. The optimal reaction conditions were identified as 350.00 U/mL of β-galactosidase concentration and 8.65:1.00 of substrate molar concentration ratio (glycerol: D-galactose) at 39.8 °C and 48 h of reaction. Under these conditions, the GG concentration was 140.03 g/L and GG yield was 55.71%, which both were close to the predicted values (143.26 g/L and 56.73%). This finding proves the RSM to be a useful tool in optimizing process conditions for GG synthesis.

Purification and Characterization of a Novel Protopectin-Solubilizing Enzyme from Aspergillus niger Z-25

A mutant, Aspergillus niger Z-25 derived from A. niger XZ-131 with N+ supplementation, produced a protopectin-solubilizing enzyme (protopectinase). The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by a procedure involving ammonium sulfate fractionation and gel chromatographies on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and Sephadex G-100 columns. The molecular weight of the protopectinase was estimated at 68.4 KD by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was stable from pH 3.0 to 7.0 and up to 60°C. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity was 4.0 and 50°C, respectively. The purified enzyme had 268-U/mL PPase (protopectinase) activity on citrus protopectin, and also showed 100-U/mL PGase (polygalacturonase) activity, which catalyzed the hydrolysis of polygalacturonic acid. The Km value for protopectin was 0.215 mg/mL, while the Km value for polygalacturonic acid was 39.09 mg/ml. The PPase/PGase q-value was 2.68, more than 0.5. Therefore the enzyme was considered a novel pectinase and classified as protopectinase.