Genome mining and physiological analyses uncover adaptation strategies and biotechnological potential of Virgibacillus dokdonensis T4.6 isolated from high-salt shrimp paste.

Virgibacillus spp. stand out as a potent starter culture for accelerating the fermention of fish sauces and shrimp pastes. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for their adaptation and biotechnological potential remain elusive. Therefore, the present study focuses on phenotypic and genomic analyses of a halophilic bacterium Virgibacillus dokdonensis T4.6, derived from Vietnamese high-salt fermented shrimp paste. The draft genome contained 4,096,868 bp with 3780 predicted coding sequences. Genome mining revealed the presence of 143 genes involved in osmotic adaptation explaining its resistant phenotype to 24% (w/v) NaCl. Among them, 37 genes making up the complete ectoine metabolism pathway, confirmed its ability to produce 4.38 ± 0.29 wt% ectoine under 12.5% NaCl stress. A significant finding was the identification of 39 genes responsible for an entire degradation pathway of the toxic biogenic amine histamine, which was in agreement with its histamine degradation rate of 42.7 ± 2.1% in the HA medium containing 5 mM histamine within 10 days at 37 °C. Furthermore, 114 proteolytic and 19 lipolytic genes were detected which might contribute to its survival as well as the nutrient quality and flavor of shrimp paste. Of note, a putative gene vdo2592 was found as a possible novel lipase/esterase due to its unique Glycine-Aspartate-Serine-Leucine (GDSL) sequence motif. This is the first report to reveal the adaptative strategies and related biotechnological potential of Virgibacillus associated with femented foods. Our findings indicated that V. dokdonensis T4.6 is a promising starter culture for the production of fermented shrimp paste products.

A fermentation process for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) using waste cooking oil or waste fish oil as inexpensive carbon substrate.

The utilization of waste cooking oil (WCO) or waste fish oil (WFO) as inexpensive carbon substrate for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) by Cupriavidus necator H16 was investigated. Fed-batch cultivation mode in bioreactor was applied in this study. High cell dry weight (CDW) of 135.1 g/L, PHB content of 76.9 wt%, PHB productivity of 1.73 g/L/h, and PHB yield of 0.8 g/g were obtained from WCO. In the case of WFO, the CDW, PHB content, PHB productivity, and PHB yield were 114.8 g/L, 72.5 wt%, 1.73 g/L/h, and 0.92 g/g, respectively. The PHB productivity and yield obtained in the current study from WCO or WFO are among the highest reported so far for PHA production using oils as sole carbon substrate, suggesting that both WCO and WFO can be used as inexpensive carbon substrates for the production of PHA on an industrial scale.

Accumulation of Ectoines By Halophilic Bacteria Isolated from Fermented Shrimp Paste: An Adaptation Mechanism to Salinity, Temperature, and pH Stress.

Shrimp paste is a traditional fermented food produced by many Asian countries. Bacteria play important roles in the shrimp paste fermentation process. In order to survive under the low water activity (Aw) conditions caused by the high salt concentration, the bacteria need to employ a special adaptation strategy. This study found that most halophilic bacteria isolated from shrimp paste accumulated ectoines (ectoine and hydroxyectoine) as protective osmotic agents. Five isolated bacteria, including three high ectoine producers and two high hydroxyectoine producers, were selected for further study. Based on their morphological and biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequences, the five strains were classified into three genera: Salinivibrio (strains M7 and M316), Salimicrobium (strains M31 and M69), and Vibrio (strain M92). The accumulation of ectoines by Salimicrobium species is reported here for the first time. The effects of salinity, incubation temperature, and initial pH on the growth rate and accumulation of ectoines by the five strains were investigated. The results revealed that the bacterial growth rate was inhibited while the accumulation of ectoines by the five selected strains was triggered by an increase in the external salinity, incubation temperature, or initial pH. In addition, a high concentration of ectoine only (21.2 wt%) was produced by strain M316 at the optimum salinity and temperature, and under pressure of a high initial pH value. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that the production of ectoines by bacterial strains can be enhanced by increasing the pH of the culture medium to induce pH stress. This finding suggests a new ectoine producer and fermentation strategy that may help to improve the production of ectoines in the future.

Metabolic potential of the moderate halophile Yangia sp. ND199 for co-production of polyhydroxyalkanoates and exopolysaccharides.

Yangia sp. ND199 is a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from mangrove samples in Northern Vietnam, which was earlier reported to grow on several sugars and glycerol to accumulate poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA). In this study, the potential of the bacterium for co-production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) and PHA was investigated. Genome sequence analysis of the closely related Yangia sp. CCB-M3 isolated from mangroves in Malaysia revealed genes encoding enzymes participating in different EPS biosynthetic pathways. The effects of various cultivation parameters on the production of EPS and PHA were studied. The highest level of EPS (288 mg/L) was achieved using sucrose and yeast extract with 5% NaCl and 120 mM phosphate salts but with modest PHA accumulation (32% of cell dry weight, 1.3 g/L). Growth on fructose yielded the highest PHA concentration (85% of CDW, 3.3 g/L) at 90 mM phosphate and higher molecular weight EPS at 251 mg/L yield at 120 mM phosphate concentration. Analysis of EPS showed a predominance of glucose, followed by fructose and galactose, and minor amounts of acidic sugars.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate production from rice straw hydrolysate obtained by alkaline pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis using Bacillus strains isolated from decomposing straw.

Rice straw is an important low-cost feedstock for bio-based economy. This report presents a study in which rice straw was used both as a source for isolation of bacteria producing the biodegradable polyester polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), as well as the carbon source for the production of the polymer by the isolated bacteria. Of the 100 bacterial isolates, seven were found to be positive for PHA production by Nile blue staining and were identified as Bacillus species by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Three isolates showed 100% sequence identity to B. cereus, one to B. paranthracis, two with 99 and 100% identity to B. anthracis, while one was closely similar to B. thuringiensis. For use in PHA production, rice straw was subjected to mild alkaline pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis. Comparison of pretreatment by 2% sodium hydroxide, 2% calcium hydroxide and 20% aqueous ammonia, respectively, at different temperatures showed maximum weight loss with NaOH at 80 °C for 5 h, but ammonia for 15 h at 80 °C led to highest lignin removal of 63%. The ammonia-pretreated rice straw also led to highest release of total reducing sugar up to 92% on hydrolysis by a cocktail of cellulases and hemicellulases at 50 °C. Cultivation of the Bacillus isolates on the pretreated rice straw revealed highest PHA content of 59.3 and 46.4%, and PHA concentration of 2.96 and 2.51 g/L by Bacillus cereus VK92 and VK98, respectively.

Genome Mining Reveals the Biosynthetic Pathways of Polyhydroxyalkanoate and Ectoines of the Halophilic Strain Salinivibrio proteolyticus M318 Isolated from Fermented Shrimp Paste.

Salinivibrio proteolyticus M318, a halophilic bacterium isolated from fermented shrimp paste, is able to produce polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from different carbon sources. In this study, we report the whole-genome sequence of strain M138, which comprises 2 separated chromosomes and 2 plasmids, and the complete genome contains 3,605,935 bp with an average GC content of 49.9%. The genome of strain M318 contains 3341 genes, 98 tRNA genes, and 28 rRNA genes. The 16S rRNA gene sequence and average nucleotide identity analysis associated with morphological and biochemical tests showed that this strain has high homology to the reference strain Salinivibrio proteolyticus DSM 8285. The genes encoding key enzymes for PHA and ectoine synthesis were identified from the bacterial genome. In addition, the TeaABC transporter responsible for ectoine uptake from the environment and the operon doeABXCD responsible for the degradation of ectoine were also detected. Strain M318 was able to produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] from different carbon sources such as glycerol, maltose, glucose, fructose, and starch. The ability to produce ectoines at different NaCl concentrations was investigated. High ectoine content of 26.2% of cell dry weight was obtained by this strain at 18% NaCl. This report provides genetic information regarding adaptive mechanisms of strain M318 to stress conditions, as well as new knowledge to facilitate the application of this strain as a bacterial cell factory for the production of PHA and ectoine.

Utilization of waste fish oil and glycerol as carbon sources for polyhydroxyalkanoate production by Salinivibrio sp. M318.

A moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from fermenting shrimp paste, Salinivibrio sp. M318 was found capable of using fish sauce and mixtures of waste fish oil and glycerol as nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively, for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production. A cell dry weight (CDW) of up to 10 g/L and PHB content of 51.7 wt% were obtained after 48 h of cultivation in flask experiment. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] was synthesized when 1,4-butanediol, γ-butyrolactone, or sodium 4-hydroxybutyrate was added as precursors to the culture medium. The biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)] was achieved by supplying precursors such as sodium valerate, sodium propionate, and sodium heptanoate. Salinivibrio sp. M318 was able to accumulate the above mentioned PHAs during the growth phase. High CDW of 69.1 g/L and PHB content of 51.5 wt% were obtained by strain Salinivibrio sp. M318 after 78 h of cultivation in fed-batch culture. The results demonstrate Salinivibrio sp. M318 to be a promising wild-type bacterium for the production of PHA from aquaculture residues.

Biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and its copolymers by Yangia sp. ND199 from different carbon sources.

A halophilic bacterium isolated from mangrove soil sample in Northern Vietnam, Yangia sp. ND199 was found capable of producing homopolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)], copolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)], and copolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] from different carbon sources. The presence of 3HB, 3HV, and 4HB monomers were confirmed by gas chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Only P(3HB) was produced using carbon sources such as fructose or by a combination of fructose with 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, sodium hexanoate, or sodium octanoate. The biosynthesis of P(3HB-co-3HV) was achieved by adding cosubstrates such as sodium valerate and sodium heptanoate. When 1,4-butanediol, γ-butyrolactone or sodium 4-hydroxybutyrate was added to the culture medium, P(3HB-co-4HB) containing 4.0-7.1mol% 4HB fraction was accumulated. The molecular weights and thermal properties of polyesters were determined by gel permeation chromatography and differential scanning calorimeter, respectively. The results showed that Yangia sp. ND199 is able to produce polyester with high weight average molecular weight ranging from 1.3×10(6) to 2.2×10(6) Dalton and number average molecular weight ranging from 4.2×10(5) to 6.9×10(5) Dalton. The molecular weights, glass transition temperature as well as melting temperature of homopolymer P(3HB) are higher than those of copolymer P(3HB-co-3HV) or P(3HB-co-4HB).

Production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by Halomonas boliviensis in an air-lift reactor.

BACKGROUND: Microbial polyesters, also known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), closely resemble physical and mechanical features of petroleum derived plastics. Recombinant Escherichia coli strains are being used in industrial production of PHAs in Stirred Tank Bioreactors (STRs). However, use of Air-Lift Reactors (ALRs) has been known to offer numerous technical operating options over STRs, and as such has been successfully implemented in many bioprocesses. Halomonas boliviensis is a halophilic bacterium that is known to assimilate various carbohydrates and convert them into a particular type of PHA known as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). Owing to this capability, it has been used to synthesize the polyester using hydrolysates of starch or wheat bran in stirred tank bioreactors. RESULTS: This research article firstly describes the production of PHB in shake flasks by H. boliviensis using different combinations of carbohydrates and partially hydrolyzed starch as carbon sources. The highest PHB yields, between 56 and 61 % (wt.), were achieved when either starch hydrolysate or a mixture of glucose and xylose were used as carbon sources. The starch hydrolysate obtained in this study was then used as carbon source in an ALR. The largest amount of PHB, 41 % (wt.), was attained after 24 hrs of cultivation during which maltose in the hydrolysate was assimilated more rapidly than glucose during active cell growth; however, the rate of assimilation of both the carbohydrates was found to be similar during synthesis of PHB. An incomplete pentose phosphate pathway, which lacks 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, was deduced from the genome sequence of this bacterium and may result in the characteristic assimilation of glucose and maltose by the cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the production of PHB by H. boliviensis using cheap substrates such as starch hydrolysate in a simple production system involving an ALR is feasible. Both maltose and glucose in the hydrolysate induce cell growth and PHB synthesis; most likely the cells balance adequately CoA and NAD(P)H during the assimilation of these carbohydrates. The combination of cheap substrates, simple production systems and the use of non-strict sterile conditions by the halophile H. boliviensis are desirable traits for large scale production of PHB, and should lead to a competitive bioprocess.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) production by a moderate halophile Yangia sp. ND199 using glycerol as a carbon source.

Yangia sp. ND199, a moderate halophile isolated from mangrove soil sample in Vietnam, was found to accumulate poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) from unrelated carbon sources in a medium with 4.5% (w/v) NaCl. Cultivation with glycerol as carbon source and yeast extract as nitrogen source resulted in maximum cell dry weight of 5.7 g/l and PHBV content of 52.8 wt% (containing 2.9 mol% of 3HV) after 40 h. The 3HV content of the PHBV was the highest during initial stages of copolymer production and decreased with increase in the copolymer amount with time, but was not affected by changing the pH of the culture medium. Only homopolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) was synthesized when monosodium glutamate was used as the nitrogen source. Fed-batch cultivation of Yangia sp. ND199 with glycerol and yeast extract gave PHBV content and productivity of 53.2 wt% and 0.44 g/l/h, respectively, which were reduced to 40.6 wt% and 0.25 g/l/h, respectively, with crude glycerol as carbon source. Both the copolymer content and productivity were improved to 56 wt% and 0.61 g/l/h, respectively, by using 1:1 mixture of crude glycerol and high fructose corn syrup. This is the first report of PHBV production by a wild-type halophilic bacterium using glycerol as carbon source.

Ectoine-mediated protection of enzyme from the effect of pH and temperature stress: a study using Bacillus halodurans xylanase as a model.

Compatible solutes are small, soluble organic compounds that have the ability to stabilise proteins against various stress conditions. In this study, the protective effect of ectoines against pH stress is examined using a recombinant xylanase from Bacillus halodurans as a model. Ectoines improved the enzyme stability at low (4.5 and 5.0) and high pH (11 and 12); stabilisation effect of hydroxyectoine was superior to that of ectoine and trehalose. In the presence of hydroxyectoine, residual activity (after 10 h heating at 50 °C) increased from about 45 to 86 % at pH 5 and from 33 to 89 % at pH 12. When the xylanase was incubated at 65 °C for 5 h with 50 mM hydroxyectoine at pH 10, about 40 % of the original activity was retained while no residual activity was detected in the absence of additives or in the presence of ectoine or trehalose. The xylanase activity was slightly stimulated in the presence of 25 mM ectoines and then gradually decreased with increase in ectoines concentration. The thermal unfolding of the enzyme in the presence of the compatible solutes showed a modest increase in denaturation temperature but a larger increase in calorimetric enthalpy.

Polyester production by halophilic and halotolerant bacterial strains obtained from mangrove soil samples located in Northern Vietnam.

This research article reports halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from mangrove forests located in Northern Vietnam. Several of these bacteria were able to synthesize polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHAs are polyesters stored by microorganisms under the presence of considerable amounts of a carbon source and deficiency of other essential nutrient such as nitrogen or phosphorous. Mangrove forests in Northern Vietnam are saline coastal habitats that have not been microbiologically studied. Mangrove ecosystems are, in general, rich in organic matter, but deficient in nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. We have found about 100 microorganisms that have adapted to mangrove forests by accumulating PHAs. The production of polyesters might therefore be an integral part of the carbon cycle in mangrove forests. Three of the strains (ND153, ND97, and QN194) isolated from the Vietnamese forests were identified as Bacillus species, while other five strains (QN187, ND199, ND218, ND240, and QN271) were phylogenetically close related to the α-proteobacterium Yangia pacifica. These strains were found to accumulate PHAs in noticeable amounts. Polymer inclusions and chemical structure were studied by transmission electron microscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analyses, respectively. Strains ND153, ND97, QN194, QN187, ND240, and QN271 synthesized poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) from glucose, whereas strains ND199 and ND218 synthesized poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) from this carbohydrate. With the exception of strain QN194, the strains accumulated PHBV when a combination of glucose and propionate was included in the culture medium. The polymer yields and cell growth reached by one Bacillus isolate, strain ND153, and one Gram-negative bacterium, strain QN271, were high and worth to be researched further. For experiments performed in shake flasks, strain ND153 reached a maximum PHBV yield of 71 wt% and a cell dry weight (CDW) of 3.6 g/L while strain QN271 attained a maximum PHB yield of 48 wt% and a CDW of 5.1 g/L. Both strain ND153 and strain QN271 may only represent a case in point that exemplifies of the potential that mangrove forests possess for the discovery of novel halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms able to synthesize different types of biopolyesters.

High productivity of ectoines by Halomonas boliviensis using a combined two-step fed-batch culture and milking process.

A process comprising two-step fed-batch cultivation has been investigated for the production of ectoines using the halophilic bacterium Halomonas boliviensis DSM 15516(T). The first cultivation was performed under optimal conditions for cell growth and resulted in cell mass concentration of about 41 g l(-1) after 24 h of cultivation. During the second cultivation at higher salt concentration, accumulation of ectoines increased while cell mass decreased with increasing salt concentration. Maximum productivity of total ectoines reached was 10 g l(-1) d(-1) with ectoine concentration of 6 g l(-1) and hydroxyectoine concentration of 8 g l(-1) after 9 h of cultivation at 18.5% NaCl, which is among the highest reported so far. H. boliviensis cells were further recycled for the production process after releasing the ectoines. About 75% of the accumulated ectoines were released by subjecting the cells to hypoosmotic shock. On subsequent reincubation in a medium containing higher salt concentration the cells were able to re-synthesize the ectoines resulting in a global productivity of 11.1 g l(-1) d(-1), and ectoine and hydroxyectoine productivities of 9.1 g l(-1) d(-1) and 2.0 g l(-1) d(-1), respectively.

Ectoine production by Halomonas boliviensis: optimization using response surface methodology.

Two cultivation steps were used for production of biomass and ectoine by Halomonas boliviensis, respectively. The optimization of some nutrient parameters in each step was investigated by using response surface methodology. Twenty and 12 experiments were performed to attain optimal conditions for biomass and ectoine production, respectively. The model predicted a maximum biomass concentration of 3.34 g/L on optimization of NH(4)Cl, K(2)HPO(4), and MgSO(4)•7H(2)O concentrations during the first cultivation, while a maximum ectoine concentration of 1.27 g/L was predicted on optimizing NaCl and monosodium glutamate concentrations in the second cultivation. The experimental values obtained (3.36 g biomass/L and 1.25 g ectoine/L) were in good agreement with the predicted values. The optimized conditions were also used for two-step 1.5-L fed-batch fermentations. In the first step, biomass concentration of 28.7 g/L was obtained while in the second step biomass concentration increased to 63 g/L. Ectoine concentration of 9.2 g/L was obtained, and the overall ectoine productivity was 6.3 g/L/day, being among the highest reported so far.

Synthesis and production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by halophiles: current potential and future prospects.

Biodegradable materials with plastic or elastomeric properties are in great demand for a variety of applications. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polyesters synthesized by microorganisms, possess such desired features. Industrial production of PHAs is currently achieved using recombinant Escherichia coli. Nevertheless, recent research on halophiles, salt requiring microorganisms, has shown a remarkable potential for biotechnological production of PHAs. The halophilic archaeon Haloferax mediterranei accumulates a co-polymer, i.e., poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in large amounts using glucose, starch, and hydrolyzed whey as carbon sources. Chemical composition and molecular weight of PHAs produced by H. mediterranei can be modified depending on the substrate utilized as precursor. Phylogenetic studies on haloarchaeal enzymes able to polymerize the components of PHAs (i.e., PHA synthases) reveal a novel cluster, with a close relationship with PHA polymerases of bacteria and archaea found in marine-related niches. On the other hand, sequences of PHA synthases of two halophilic bacteria are more closely affiliated to synthases of Proteobacteria. Several bacterial species of the family Halomonadaceae accumulate PHAs. Halomonas boliviensis reached PHA yields and volumetric productivities close to the highest reported so far. Furthermore, H. boliviensis and other Halomonas species are able to co-produce PHA and osmolytes, i.e., ectoines and hydroxyectoine, in one process.

A process for the production of ectoine and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by Halomonas boliviensis.

The paper reports a study involving the use of Halomonas boliviensis, a moderate halophile, for co-production of compatible solute ectoine and biopolyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) in a process comprising two fed-batch cultures. Initial investigations on the growth of the organism in a medium with varying NaCl concentrations showed the highest level of intracellular accumulation of ectoine (0.74 g L(-1)) at 10-15% (w/v) NaCl, while at 15% (w/v) NaCl, the presence of hydroxyectoine (50 mg L(-1)) was also noted. On the other hand, the maximum cell dry weight and PHB concentration of 10 and 5.8 g L(-1), respectively, were obtained at 5-7.5% (w/v) NaCl. A process comprising two fed-batch cultivations was developed-the first culture aimed at obtaining high cell mass and the second for achieving high yields of ectoine and PHB. In the first fed-batch culture, H. boliviensis was grown in a medium with 4.5% (w/v) NaCl and sufficient levels of monosodium glutamate, NH (4) (+) , and PO (4) (3-) . In the second fed-batch culture, the NaCl concentration was increased to 7.5% (w/v) to trigger ectoine synthesis, while nitrogen and phosphorus sources were fed only during the first 3 h and then stopped to favor PHB accumulation. The process resulted in PHB yield of 68.5 wt.% of cell dry weight and volumetric productivity of about 1 g L(-1) h(-1) and ectoine concentration, content, and volumetric productivity of 4.3 g L(-1), 7.2 wt.%, and 2.8 g L(-1) day(-1), respectively. At salt concentration of 12.5% (w/v) during the second cultivation, the ectoine content was increased to 17 wt.% and productivity to 3.4 g L(-1) day(-1).