Odile M. M. Bouvet

Sol–gel encapsulation of bacteria: a comparison between alkoxide and aqueous routes

The viability of bacteria in the presence of sol–gel reagents has been studied in order to define the best experimental conditions for the sol–gel encapsulation of E. coli. The β-galactosidase activity of these bacteria, trapped in sol–gel silica matrices, was then analyzed. Two routes, using alkoxide and aqueous precursors, have been used and compared. It appears that the aqueous route is less damaging than the alkoxide one. Moreover the aqueous silica matrix appears to slow down the lysis of cell membranes when bacteria are aged without nutrient.

Taxonomic diversity of anaerobic glycerol dissimilation in the Enterobacteriaceae

A total of 1,123 strains representing 128 taxa in the Enterobacteriaceae (named species or subspecies and genomic species) were screened for the presence of glycerol dehydrogenases and 1,3-propanediol dehydrogenase. Only eight taxa, Citrobacter freundii sensu stricto, C. youngae, C. braakii, C. werkmanii, Citrobacter genomospecies 10 and 11, Enterobacter gergoviae and Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae could grow fermentatively on glycerol and possessed both glycerol dehydrogenase type I (induced by glycerol and dihydroxyacetone) and 1,3-propanediol dehydrogenase which are typical enzymes of the anaerobic glycerol dissimilation pathway. Six other species, C. koseri, E. aerogenes, E. intermedium, K. oxytoca, K. planticola and K. terrigena could not grow fermentatively on glycerol and possessed a glycerol dehydrogenase type I but no 1,3-propanediol dehydrogenase. Other glycerol dehydrogenases types were found: type II (induced by glycerol and hydroxyacetone), type III (induced by glycerol only) and type IV (induced by hydroxyacetone only). They were widely distributed among the Enterobacteriaceae. Classification and identification may take advantage of tests exploring the dissimilation of glycerol.

Cellular activities in ultra-violet killed Escherichia coli

In this work we analyze the physiological state of cells after lethal-UV dose disinfection using independent metabolic markers. Through the detection of some metabolic activities we proved that cell lysis does not immediately follow death in UV-irradiated Escherichia coli K12 cells.

Transport of glucose by a phosphoenolpyruvate:mannose phosphotransferase system in Pasteurella multocida

Pasteurella multocida was examined for glucose and mannose transport. P. multocida was shown to possess a phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):mannose phosphotransferase system (PTS) that transports glucose as well as mannose and was functionally similar to the Escherichia coli mannose PTS. Phosphorylated proteins with molecular masses similar to those of E. coli mannose PTS proteins were visualized when incubated with 32P-PEP. The presence of an enzyme IIAGlc which could play an important role in regulation, as described in other Gram-negative bacteria, was detected. The enzymes of the pentose-phosphate pathway were present in P. multocida growth on glucose. The activity of 6-phosphofructokinase (the key enzyme of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway (EMP)), was very low in cell extracts, suggesting that EMP is not the major pathway for glucose catabolism.

Natural and Artificial Functionalized Biopolyesters. II. Medium-Chain Length Polyhydroxyoctanoates from Pseudomonas Strains

Sixteen Pseudomonas strains have been tested with a view to developing medium-chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates. Four strains were selected and it is shown that their ability for producing three different polyesters with variable properties was dependent on the strains and substrates. Otherwise, Pseudomonas oleovorans was grown on a mixture of sodium octanoate and undecenoate salts at a 90/10 mol/mol ratio. The corresponding copolymer, bearing lateral double bonds, was chemically modified in the carboxy group. Finally, the ability to tailor-make functional bacterial polyesters aimed at temporary therapeutic applications is demonstrated.