Bioprospection of proteases from Halobacillus andaensis for bioactive peptide production from fish muscle protein

BACKGROUND: Biologically active peptides produced from fish wastes are gaining attention because their health benefits. Proteases produced by halophilic microorganisms are considered as a source of active enzymes in high salt systems like fish residues. Hence, the aim of this study was the bioprospection of halophilic microorganisms for the production of proteases to prove their application for peptide production. RESULTS: Halophilic microorganisms were isolated from saline soils of Mexico and Bolivia. An enzymatic screening was carried out for the detection of lipases, esterases, pHB depolymerases, chitinases, and proteases. Most of the strains were able to produce lipases, esterases, and proteases, and larger hydrolysis halos were detected for protease activity. Halobacillus andaensis was selected to be studied for proteolytic activity production; the microorganism was able to grow on gelatin, yeast extract, skim milk, casein, peptone, fish muscle (Cyprinus carpio), and soy flour as protein sources, and among these sources, fish muscle protein was the best inducer of proteolytic activity, achieving a protease production of 571 U/mL. The extracellular protease was active at 50°C, pH 8, and 1.4 M NaCl and was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. The proteolytic activity of H. andaensis was used to hydrolyze fish muscle protein for peptide production. The peptides obtained showed a MW of 5.3 kDa and a radical scavenging ability of 10 to 30% on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and a ferric reducing ability of plasma. Conclusion: The use of noncommercial extracellular protease produced by H. andaensis for biologically active peptide production using fish muscle as the protein source presents a great opportunity for high-value peptide production.

Native yeasts for alternative utilization of overripe mango pulp for ethanol production / Levaduras nativas para la utilización alternativa de pulpa de mango senescente para la producción de etanol

Mango fruits (Mangifera indica L.) are highly perishable, causing postharvest losses and producing agroindustrial waste. In the present work, native yeasts were used to evaluate ethanol production in overripe mango pulp. The two isolated strains showed similar sequences in the 18S rDNA region corresponding to Kluyveromyces marxianus, being different to the data reported in the NCBI database. Values of up to 5% ethanol (w/v) were obtained at the end of fermentation, showing a productivity of 4g/l/day, a yield of up to 49% of ethanol and a process efficiency of 80%. These results represent a viable option for using the surplus production and all the fruits that have suffered mechanical injury that are not marketable and are considered as agroindustrial waste, thus achieving greater income and less postharvest losses.

Las frutas de mango (Mangifera indica L.) son altamente perecederas, lo cual causa pérdidas poscosecha y produce desechos agroindustriales. En el presente trabajo, se utilizaron 2 levaduras nativas para evaluar la producción de etanol en pulpa de mango senescente. Las 2 cepas aisladas mostraron similitud en la región 18S ADNr, correspondiente a Kluyveromyces marxianus, la cual es diferente a lo reportado en la base de datos del NCBI. Se obtuvieron valores de hasta el 6% de etanol (v/v) al final de la fermentación, con una productividad de hasta 4g/l/día, un rendimiento de hasta 49% de etanol y una eficiencia en el proceso fermentativo del 80%. Esto representa una opción viable para utilizar excedentes de producción o frutos que han sufrido daño mecánico y no son comercializables, al lograr más ingresos y menos pérdida poscosecha.

Growth Inhibition of Some Phytopathogenic Bacteria by Cell-Free Extracts from Enterococcus sp.

Aims: To inhibit of bacterial growth of three important phyto-pathogenic bacteria: Erwinia carotovora, Clavibacter michiganensis sp. michiganensis and Xanthomonas axonopodis by cell-free extracts from submerged cultures of two strains of Enterococcus sp. was tested. Study Design: A complete randomized experimental design with factorial fix was used to evaluate the efficiency of growth inhibition against the phytopathogenic bacteria. Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Bioprocesses, Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Chemistry, Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila, Mexico, between December 2011 and July 2012. Methodology: Enterococci strains were isolated from goat milk, buttermilk and whey by typical microbiological procedures and primarily identified based on biochemical tests. Strains were subsequently activated in MRS broth and cells were separated by centrifugation and filtration. Cell-free extracts were tested against plant pathogenic bacteria to determine their growth inhibition potential. Results: Strains of Enterococcus MII-1 and MIV-2 were able to inhibit the growth of three pathogenic bacteria, demonstrating to be an attractive alternative for biological control assays. Conclusion: The cell-free extracts of Enterococcus spp. show inhibition potential to inhibit phytopathogenic bacteria that cause diseases in horticultural crops. Further studies are needed to completely evidence the high potential of use of cell-free extracts from Enterococcus MII-1 and MIV-2.