Thiamine increases beta-glucosidase production in the newly isolated strain of Fomitopsis pinicola.

AIMS: To isolate a high beta-glucosidase (BGL)-producing strain and to optimize BGL production in the isolated strain. METHODS AND RESULTS: A high BGL-producing strain was isolated and identified as Fomitopsis pinicola KMJ812 based on its morphology and a comparison of sequence of its internal transcribed spacer rDNA gene. To increase BGL production, F. pinicola was supplemented with various vitamins. Supplementation with thiamine (20 mg l(-1)) improved BGL production in F. pinicola cultures by 3.7-fold to give a specific activity of 114.4 micromol min(-1) mg(-1) protein, one of the highest among BGL-producing micro-organisms. The increased production of BGL in the thiamine-supplemented culture was confirmed by 2D electrophoresis followed by MS/MS sequencing. The BGL purified from F. pinicola culture showed the highest catalytic efficiency ever reported. CONCLUSION: Supplemental thiamine remarkably increased BGL production by a novel BGL-producing strain, F. pinicola KMJ812. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our results provide a high BGL-producing strain and the production media for BGL production, and should contribute to better industrial production of glucose via biological processes.

Improvement of xylanase production in solid state fermentation by alkali-tolerant Aspergillus fumigatus MKU1 using a fractional factorial design.

Optimization of media for the maximum production of xylanase by Aspergillus fumigatus MKUI was carried out using De Meo's fractional factorial design with seven components such as NaNO3, K2HPO4, MgSO4, FeSO4. KCl, peptone and yeast extract. A. fumigatus produced a maximum of 700 U/gds of enzyme after 48 hr of incubation (before optimization). After two steps of optimization, the medium designed favoured a 2.8 fold (1950 U/gds) increase in xylanase production by A. fumigatus. Optimized medium for Aspergillus fumigatus contained (g/l) NaNO3, 15; K2HPO4, 15; MgSO4, 5; FeSO4, 0.009; KCI, 0.5; peptone, 20; and yeast extract, 10.

Improvement of xylanase production in solid-state fermentation by alkali tolerant Aspergillus versicolor MKU3.

AIMS: To optimize the media components for xylanase production by Aspergillus versicolor MKU3 in solid-state fermentation (SSF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Medium optimization was carried out using De Moe's fractional factorial design with seven components. Maximum production of xylanase 3249.9 U g(-1) was obtained in SSF with an optimized medium containing (g l(-1)): NaNO(3), 20; K(2)HPO(4), 20; MgSO(4), 10; FeSO(4), 0.001; KCl, 1; peptone, 10 and yeast extract, 10. Four components namely NaNO(3), MgSO(4), peptone and K(2)HPO(4) significantly increased the xylanase production by A. versicolor MKU3. CONCLUSIONS: Fractional factorial design was used to optimize the seven components in the fermentation medium for SSF. The optimized media increased xylanase production by 3.4-fold. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Aspergillus versicolor MKU3 produced maximum xylanase after two steps of media optimization under alkaline condition. This medium will be significant value for xylanase production in SSF.

Ethyl cellulose and polyethylene glycol-based sustained-release sparfloxacin chip: an alternative therapy for advanced periodontitis.

This study reports the development of a sustained-release system of sparfloxacin for use in the treatment of periodontal disease. A sustained-release sparfloxacin device was formulated, based on ethyl cellulose (EC) 10 cps, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000, and diethyl phthalate (DEPh). It will hereafter be called the sparfloxacin chip (SRS chip). The chip has dimensions of 10 mm length, 2 mm width, and 0.5 mm thickness. The in vitro drug release pattern and clinical evaluation of the formulations were studied. Reports of the short-term clinical study show that the use of the SRS chip may cause complete eradication of the pathogenic bacteria in the periodontal pockets of patients who have chronic generalized periodontitis. In this clinical study, the baseline and follow-up measurements of various clinical indices, such as oral hygiene index(es), plaque index, sulcular depth component of periodontal disease index, gingival crevicular fluid flow measurement, and dark field microscopic examinations of oral pathogens in plaque samples were studied. Significant improvements were observed in many parameters of the treatment group compared with the placebo group.