Improved protease activity of Pixian broad bean paste with cocultivation of Aspergillus oryzae QM-6 and Aspergillus niger QH-3

BACKGROUND: The preparation of broad bean koji is a key process in the production of Pixian broad bean paste (PBP). Protease is essential for the degradation of proteins during PBP fermentation. To obtain broad bean koji with high protease activity using the cocultivated strains of Aspergillus oryzae QM-6 (A. oryzae QM-6) and Aspergillus niger QH-3 (A. niger QH-3), the optimization of acid and neutral protease activities was carried out using Box­Behnken design with response surface methodology (RSM). RESULTS: The optimum conditions were found to be as follows: inoculation proportion (X1), 3:1 (A. oryzae QM-6: A. niger QH-3, w/w); culture temperature (X2), 33°C; inoculum size (X3), 0.5% (w/w); incubation time (X4), 5 d. The acid and neutral protease activities were 605.2 ± 12.4 U/g and 1582.9 ± 23.7 U/g, respectively, which were in good agreement with the predicted values. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles revealed that the broad bean koji extracellular proteins in the case of cocultivation were richer compared to those in the case of A. oryzae QM-6 or A. niger QH-3 strain only. In addition, the free amino acids (FAAs) in the fermentation product were 55% higher in the cocultivation process than in that involving only A. oryzae QM-6, further confirming the diversity of proteases in the fermentation products. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal conditions of koji-making in PBP were obtained using RSM. The cocultivation of A. oryzae and A. niger increases the overall enzyme activities in the culture medium and the FAAs content, which would thus have potential application in the PBP industry.

Antibacterial effects and tensile bonding strength of orthodontic adhesive containing nanohydroxyapatite / 口腔疾病防治

Objective @# To evaluate the tensile bonding strength (TBS) and antibacterial properties when an orthodontic adhesive was added with nanohydroxyapatite (nHAp). @*Methods@#Light cure orthodontic adhesive (Grengloo) was blended with 2% TiO2 containing nHAp nanoparticles by 0%、10%、20%、30% (w/w), while the control was not blended with nHAp. Brackets were bonded to extracted premolars by these new adhesives. TBS of 5groups were determined, and the adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores were assessed. Composite discs specimen were prepared, incubated with bacterial suspension for 48 h, and tested for antibacterial properties. @*Results @#No significant difference was found in ARI. The colony unit counts and lactate productionof the groups containing 2%TiO2 were significantly reduced. The colony unit counts and lactate production were without relationship with nHAp. The tensile bonding strength drastically decreased when containing more than 10% nHAp. @* Conclusin@#nHAp might not enhance the antibacterial effects of Grengloo.