Umme Salma Zohora

Atomic force microscopy for cellular level manipulation: imaging intracellular structures and DNA delivery through a membrane hole

The atomic force microscope (AFM) is a versatile tool for imaging, force measurement and manipulation of proteins, DNA, and living cells basically at the single molecular level. In the cellular level manipulation, extraction, and identification of mRNAs from defined loci of a cell, insertion of plasmid DNA and pulling of membrane proteins, for example, have been reported. In this study, AFM was used to create holes at defined loci on the cell membrane for the investigation of viability of the cells after hole creation, visualization of intracellular structure through the hole and for targeted gene delivery into living cells. To create large holes with an approximate diameter of 5–10 µm, a phospholipase A2 coated bead was added to the AFM cantilever and the bead was allowed to touch the cell surface for approximately 5–10 min. The evidence of hole creation was obtained mainly from fluorescent image of Vybrant DiO labeled cell before and after the contact with the bead and the AFM imaging of the contact area. In parallel, cells with a hole were imaged by AFM to reveal intracellular structures such as filamentous structures presumably actin fibers and mitochondria which were identified with fluorescent labeling with rhodamine 123. Targeted gene delivery was also attempted by inserting an AFM probe that was coated with the Monster Green Fluorescent Protein phMGFP Vector for transfection of the cell. Following targeted transfection, the gene expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was observed and confirmed by the fluorescence microscope. Copyright

Biofilm formation and lipopeptide antibiotic iturin A production in different peptone media

Biofilm fermentation is a newly developed promising technique in fermentation technology. In this study no.3 and no.3S media have been used for the lipopeptide antibiotic iturin A production by Bacillus subtilis RB14. The main component of no.3 and no.3S media is Polypepton and Polypepton S, respectively. B. subtilis RB14 produces thick stable biofilm and high amount of iturin A in no.3S medium. Whereas, impaired biofilm formation and lower iturin A production was observed in no.3 medium. From the analytical information it was observed that the amounts of metal ions, such as K(+), Ca(2+) and Mn(2+), cysteine and cellulose are lower in Polypepton compared to the Polypepton S. To investigate their effect on biofilm formation and iturin A production cysteine, cellulose, K(+), Ca(2+) and Mn(2+) were added respectively into the no.3 medium at similar amount that Polypepton S contains. It was observed that individual addition of K(+), Ca(2+), cysteine and cellulose had no effect on biofilm formation, cellular growth induction or iturin A production. However, when Mn(2+) was supplemented in no.3 medium, biofilm development was restored with an improved production of iturin A. Finally, combined addition of investigated substances into the no.3 medium resulted with highly folded, thick biofilm with high cellular growth and iturin A production compared to the original no.3 medium.

Production of surfactin using pentose carbohydrate by Bacillus subtilis

Interest in microbial surfactants has been steadily increasing in recent years due to their diversity, mass production possibility, selectivity, performance under extreme conditions and potential applications in environmental protection. In this study two pentose sugars (xylose and arabinose) were investigated for the submerged fermentation (SmF) of Bacillus subtilis in surfactant production medium for bio-surfactant surfactin production. An excellent vegetative growth of B. subtilis (× 10(10) CFU/mL) was observed for xylose and arabinose containing medium which were comparable to glucose supplemented medium. Low growth (× 10(8) CFU/mL) was found when medium was not supplemented with any of the sugars. Surfactin production in xylose, arabinose and glucose containing medium was 2700, 2600 and 2000 mg/L, respectively, whereas, medium without any sugar showed low surfactin (700 mg/L) production. These results clearly indicate the effect of pentose sugars on production of surfactin. Gradual depletion of the xylose and arabinose were confirmed by HPLC analysis during the growth phase of the strain that ultimately produced the surfactin.

Improvement of production of lipopeptide antibiotic iturin A using fish protein.

To enhance the production of lipopeptide antibiotic iturin A, nutrient contents of the culture mediums were investigated in both submerged and biofilm fermentations. As a carbon source maltose and as nitrogen source, fish protein was used. In submerged fermentation maltose uptake was found lower (12%) compared to biofilm fermentation (15%) that was associated with higher cellular growth in biofilm. However, requirement of nitrogen (fish protein) concentration was found similar in both submerged and biofilm fermentations. Production of iturin A in submerged fermentation with 12% maltose and 5% fish protein was 4450 mg/L, and in biofilm fermentation it was 5050 mg/L when 15% maltose and 5% fish protein was used.

Study of Submerged and Biofilm Fermentation of Bacillus subtilis using Fish Protein for Production of Lipopeptide Antibiotic Iturin A

Iturin A is an environmentally safe biocontrol agent produced by Bacillus subtilis as a secondary metabolite. Generally iturin A is produced in conventional submerged fermentation. Recently, B. subtilis has received a huge interest for its nature to develop into biofilm as it shows significantly independent genetic and morphological development in biofilm compared to its planktonic culture. In this study it was attempted to compare the production of iturin A in submerged with that in biofilm fermentation using novel marine fish protein as a medium component. When fish protein was compared with commercially available peptones, it was observed that the microbial growth and iturin A productions were similar to those in the medium containing Polypepton S (originated from soybean) and higher than those in the medium containing Polypepton (originated from casein). Quicker cellular growth and secondary metabolite production was observed in submerged fermentation whereas slower but higher cellular growth and iturin A production was found in biofilm fermentation.