Site specific integration of FLP recombinase in BHK-21 cell line.

A binary system for gene activation and site specific integration based on conditional recombination of transfected sequences mediated by FLP recombinase from yeast was implemented in mammalian cells. In several cell lines, FLP rapidly and precisely recombined copies of its specific target sequences to activate an otherwise silent beta-galactosidase reporter gene. Clones of marked cells were generated by excisional recombination within a chromosomally integrated copy of the silent reporters. These clones exhibited intense blue colour with X-Gal staining solution.

Strain improvement studies on production of cephalosporin C from Acremonium chrysogenum ATCC 48272.

Strain development for antibiotic production has been an essential prerequistie for efficient production process. Studies were carried out to produce high antibiotic yield strain by using UV and N-methyl-N1-nitro-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) as mutagens. A superior mutant (PNTG-22) with a productivity of 2.4 time (810-1995 microg/ml higher than, the parent strain was produced.

Characterisation of a new bioactive actinomycete AUB N5/8 from marine sediments.

Actinomycetes were isolated from marine sediments off Machilipatnam coast of Andhra Paradesh by plating on Starch-Casein Agar medium. From which one isolate AUB N5/8 was selected for detailed morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical studies. The genera encountered were, Streptomycetes. Studies were compared with known strain S. baarinenisis (ISP 5232). It showed enough significant difference to create the status of a separate species for our isolate AUB N5/8. Hence it was designated as Streptomyces kavutarensis Sp.nov.

Production of glycolipids containing biosurfactant by Pseudomonas species.

Microorganisms, that degrade hydrocarbon were isolated and screened for their biosurfactant activity. A total of 68 strains were isolated and tested for their glycolipid activity of which 4 isolates showed good glycolipid activity. Isolate K10 gave the maximum biosurfactant production in medium A (containing kerosene as a sole carbon source) as compared to medium B (containing glucose as a sole carbon source). Characterization of isolate K10 showed that it belongs to Pseudomonas species.

Bioactive actinomycetes from Krishna River sediments of Andhra Pradesh.

Sediment samples from Krishna River at Nagayalanka of Andhra Pradesh, India were investigated as a source of actinomycetes to screen for the production of novel bioactive compounds. During our investigation on fresh water actinomycetes from 5 different river sediment samples, a total of 80 actinomycetes were isolated. Out of these 80 isolates, 30 isolates which showed distinct macromorphological characteristics were selected. The antimicrobial and enzymatic activities were studied for all the 30 isolates. The preliminary study for antimicrobial activity by cross streak method indicated that 16 isolates (53.3%) have excellent antagonistic properties. All these 16 isolates were subjected to detailed submerged fermentation studies. It was observed that 12 isolates (40.0%) exhibited antibacterial activity, 9 isolates (30.0%) showed antifungal activity while 5 isolates (16.6%) showed both antibacterial and antifungal activities. All the 30 isolates were also subjected for the determination of enzymatic activities 25 isolates (83.3%) exhibited amylolytic activity while 27 isolates (90.0%) showed proteolytic activity. Among these isolates, six promising isolates were selected for detailed morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical studies. It was established that these isolates belong to the Streptomyces genus by virtue of their cell wall composition pattern and were identified as strains of different Streptomyces species like S. rochei, S. alanosinicus, S. erumpens, S. griseoplanus, S. gancidicus and S. nigrogriseolus.