Tomoe Komoriya

Efficient hydrogen production from acetate through isolated Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Photosynthetic bacteria produce hydrogen from lactate and acetate that are products of hydrogen producing bacteria in the dark. Thus, their coculture is a promising method for hydrogen production. However, the hydrogen production yield from acetate of Rhodobacter sphaeroides RV, which has been shown to possess the highest yield and hydrogen production rate, is low as compared to that from lactate. Photosynthetic bacteria that produce hydrogen from acetate as well as lactate were screened from lakes and swamps in the Tokyo and Chiba areas in Japan. Seventy-six strains of photosynthetic bacteria were obtained and the analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that they belong to R. sphaeroides. Among the isolated bacteria, R. sphaeroides HJ produced the highest amount of hydrogen from acetate and lactate. The HJ strain produced a 2300±93ml/L-broth of hydrogen from 75mM acetate consumed during for 120h of fermentation. The amount of hydrogen and the yield from acetate were 1.9 and 2.1 times higher, respectively, than those of R. sphaeroides RV. The amount and yield of hydrogen, produced by R. sphaeroides HJ from lactate were similar to those produced by R. sphaeroides RV. Since the amount and yield of produced hydrogen by the HJ strain were similar regardless of the substrate (acetate or lactate), its metabolic pathway could have a key to increasing hydrogen production from acetate.

In vitro study of the prebiotic xylooligosaccharide (XOS) on the growth of Bifidobacterium spp and Lactobacillus spp

Abstract We recently demonstrated that XOS increased the counts of Bifidobacterium in vivo without increasing Lactobacillus in healthy adults. In the current study, we evaluated the effect of XOS on the growth of 35 Bifidobacterium and 29 Lactobacillus strains in in vitro conditions. Bacteria were identified by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The growth stimulation was determined by agar dilution technique on plates containing two-fold serial dilutions of XOS (100–0.1 mg/ml). The growth of 86% of Bifidobacterium strains was stimulated at 1.56 mg/ml XOS and 100% at 6.25 mg/ml XOS. The growth of 38% of Lactobacillus strains was stimulated at 1.56 mg/ml XOS and 62% at 6.25 mg/ml XOS; 31% of Lactobacillus were not stimulated by XOS. Our results further suggest that XOS may be beneficial in stimulating intestinal Bifidobacterium without having much effect on Lactobacillus. The potential role for XOS in managing obesity should be investigated further.

Development of a Highly Sensitive Latex Reagent Directed against C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Using Epitope Analysis with Monoclonal Antibodies

C-Reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein that increases during systemic inflammation and is currently one of the most frequently studied inflammatory markers in epidemiology. We have determined CRP concentration using novel latex reagent with polyclonal antibody. In the present study, we determined the concentration of CRP using monoclonal antibodies, and evaluated the interaction of antigen-antibody reactive sites and latex agglutination to detect low CRP concentrations. We developed four novel monoclonal antibodies that we classified into two major groups, and that were used to prepare the latex reagents. The latex reagents prepared using a cocktail of monoclonal antibodies for different epitopes appeared highly sensitive. The lower limit of CRP detection, which was defined using the mean 3 SD method, was calculated to be 5 ng/ml for the latex reagents when oligoclonal antibodies were utilized. Furthermore, the latex reagents were found to react specifically with CRP in clinical samples.

Use of a highly sensitive latex reagent with amino acid spacer for determination of C-reactive protein concentration in a variety of liver diseases

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major acute-phase protein, which is extremely important in inflammatory disease diagnosis. CRP is rapidly elevated in various diseases as a result of tissue injury, infection and inflammation. Recently, many reports have shown its usefulness as a risk marker for arteriosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. However, the lack of sensitivity of existing CRP assays has hampered CRP testing in conditions associated with viral infections, where CRP levels typically elevate only marginally. In this report, we prepared a novel, ultra-sensitive latex-based CRP test using amino acid spacers with a high sensitivity and a wider assay range. Our method of conjugating latex beads enabled us to measure CRP in the range of 5-500 ng/mL in patient sera. Furthermore, we studied CRP levels in patients with various liver diseases, such as chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma, in order to examine the correlation between severity of liver dysfunction and CRP levels, and to examine the likelihood of recurrence of liver dysfunction. The reagent was simple to prepare and sensitive during clinical investigation, where it discriminated clearly between normal subjects and those with liver diseases. Therefore, we conclude that our ultra-sensitive CRP assay will contribute greatly to the clinical study of hepatic disorders.

Development of a high-sensitivity latex reagent for the detection of C-reactive protein

Various convenient and high-sensitivity immunoassays based on luminescent oxygen channeling and chromatographic techniques have been developed in recent years. This study focused on the latex agglutination immunoassay because it is a simple, homogenous immunoassay, which is also cost effective. We developed a highly sensitive latex reagent and examined the method of antibody conjugation on the latex particle surface. We introduced spacer amino acids in the latex surface to investigate the relationship between the amino acid spacer and the binding of an anti-C-reactive protein (anti-CRP) antibody as well as to investigate the resulting reactivity of the latex reagent to antigen. Because the distance between the latex particle and the antibody is equal in each case, differences in immunoreactivity are attributed to the structure of the amino acid side chain (R). Thus, reactivity of the latex reagent depends on the inorganicity and organicity of R. We suggest that a useful amino acid spacer has an inorganicity-to-organicity ratio of approximately 2.

Synthesis of arylsulfanyl-subphthalocyanines and their ring expansion reaction

For dye-sensitized solar cells, phthalocyanines require strong absorption of far-red light between 700 and 850 nm because of their high electron transfer efficiency. Nevertheless phthalocyanines lack of affinity to basal plats, they inhibit utilization as dye-sensitized solar cell photosensitizer. Then, subphthalocyanines are used as precursors to prepare asymmetric 3:1 type phthalocyanines using a ring-enlargement technique to give affinity to basal plates. As subphthalocyanines having arylsulfanyl substituents used as a precursor, asymmetric phthalocyanines are expected to have good affinity to basal plates. Spectroscopic properties and electron transfer abilities to synthesize non-peripheral arylsulfanyl-subphthalocyanines were estimated. In addition to prepare as trial, asymmetric 3:1 type phthalocyanine, hexakis[(4-methylphenyl)thio]phthalocyanine, was synthesized from corresponding subphthalocyanine.

REMOVAL OF RADIOACTIVE CESIUM FROM OCEAN SLUDGE BY THE BACTERIUM USING PURIFICATION SYSTEM OF CIRCULATION TYPE

The Fukushima nuclear accident of March 11, 2011, resulted in soil and water contamination by radioactive cesium. Radioactive cesium transported by rivers was also found in the ocean sludge of Tokyo Bay. Cesium adsorbed on the sludge is not easily removed. One of the authors has developed an ocean sludge decomposition system that employs micro-bubble circulation. The circulation of micro-bubbles creates an aerobic state that activates aerobic bacteria, facilitating decomposition and purification of the sludge. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the addition of bacteria to the micro-bubble circulation system on the efficient removal of radioactive cesium from ocean sludge. We tested the water purification effect of the system by adding bacteria directly. Results confirmed that the decomposition of the deposited sludge using our system facilitates the elution of the radioactive cesium. Any cesium eluted in the water can be remedied using existing technology such as zeolites. Purification efficiency seems to be greatest when additional bacteria are added directly to the process. With time, bacterial concentration doubles, and 76% of cesium in the liquid phase (dried sludge) and 51% of cesium in the solid phase (water) is removed.

Synthesis of alkylthio substituted pyridoporphyrazines and their photophysicochemical properties

Phthalocyanine and their related compounds are utilized as various applications, such as photosensitizing agents for photodynamic therapy of cancer. In this study, zinc bis(thiodidecylbenzo)-bis(py...

EFFECT OF ADDITION OF BACTERIA ON THE REMOVAL OF RADIOACTIVE CESIUM FROM OCEAN SLUDGE IN A CIRCULATION TYPE PURIFICATION SYSTEM

Following the Fukushima nuclear accident of March 11, 2011, soil and water were contaminated by radioactive cesium. Moreover, radioactive cesium was found in the ocean sludge in Tokyo Bay, carried by rivers flowing into the bay. The cesium adsorbed in the sludge cannot easily be removed. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the addition of bacteria to the micro-bubble circulation system on the efficient removal of radioactive cesium from ocean sludge. One of the authors has developed an ocean sludge decomposition system employing circulation of micro-bubbles. Model sludge was prepared using seawater, sea sludge, and cesium chloride. Bacteria were added to the system after 24 h. Dried tangle extract was added as a nutrient at 24 h and 36 h. The decomposition experiment was carried out for 120 h. The circulation of micro-bubbles created an aerobic state that activated aerobic bacteria, facilitating decomposition and purification of the sludge. Thus, decomposition of the deposited sludge using our system renders the elution of the radioactive cesium possible. If the cesium is eluted in the water, we can fix it using existing technology such as zeolites. We identified and isolated the most useful bacteria for sludge decomposition. Effects on purification seem to be greatest when additional bacteria are added directly to the process. The methodology proposed is expected to facilitate decomposition of sludge and removal of radioactive cesium from the environment.