Non-concordance of CVS and liver glycine cleavage enzyme in three families with non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia (NKH) leading to false negative prenatal diagnoses.

We report three false negative prenatal diagnostic results, using direct measurement of glycine cleavage enzyme activity in uncultured chorionic villus tissue from 290 pregnancies at risk for non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia (NKH). Testing was done by two centres: Vancouver, Canada and Lyon, France. One false negative result had activity near the lower limit of the normal range but two samples gave completely normal results well within the control range. All three pregnancies continued and the three children were born affected with NKH. Because of the first result, we now counsel that there is a grey zone of uninterpretable activity where affected and normal enzyme values overlap. Because of the other two results we now counsel that there is an approximately 1% chance of a pregnancy with a normal CVS activity resulting in an affected child. The clinical and biochemical findings in the three families are discussed.

Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA genes amplified from two ribosomal RNA gene clusters of Bifidobacterium bifidum.

Two rRNA gene clusters were detected in the genome of Bifidobacterium bifidum KCTC 3202T using Southern blot analysis. To analyse the sequences of the 16S rRNA genes from rrnA and rrnB, 16S rDNAs were amplified by PCR using DNA fragments purified from gel slices containing each of the rRNA gene clusters. The amplified 16S rDNAs from rrnA and rrnB were cloned into vectors and three clones of each gene sequenced. The resultant sequences were confirmed by direct sequencing of the 16S rDNAs from rrnA and rrnB. Sequence differences were not found between rrnA and rrnB in 1488 bp of the 16S rRNA genes.

Paenibacillus campinasensis sp. nov., a cyclodextrin-producing bacterium isolated in Brazil.

An alkaliphilic, endospore-forming bacterium isolated from Brazilian soil was taxonomically studied and is proposed as a new Paenibacillus species. This organism (strain 324T) was particularly distinguishable from other Paenibacillus species by its ability to grow optimally at pH 10 and 40 degrees C. The DNA G+C content was 5.0 mol%. The diamine acid of the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone and anteiso-C15:0 was the major fatty acid. Levels of 16S rDNA similarity between strain 324T and other Paenibacillus species were 90.6-95.9%. Phylogenetically, strain 324T formed an evolutionary lineage distinct from other species within the evolutionary radiation encompassing the genus Paenibacillus. Based on phenotyic and chemotaxonomic properties, and phylogenetic inference, it is proposed that strain 324T should be placed in the genus Paenibacillus as a new species is strain 324T should be placed in the genus Paenibacilus as a new species, Paenibacillus campinasensis. This type strain of the new species is strain 325T (= KCTC 0364BP).

Production of microbial alkaline cellulase and studies of their characteristics

Com o objetivo de obter celulases que melhorassem a eficiência de produtos detergentes, isolou-se, a partir de solos e compostagens, dois microorganismos, Bacillus sp B38-2 e Streptomyces sp S36-2, através de incubaçäo de amostras em meio de cultura enriquecido, contendo CMC e Na2CO3 com pH9.6. Verificou-se que eles secretavam uma carboximetil celulase (CMCase) alcalina constitutiva, extracelular, em quantidade. A atividade enzimática máxima foi observada entre 48h e 72h a 30oC para o Streptomyces e entre os pH 6.0 e 7.0 a 55oC para o Streptomyces e entre os pH 7.0 e 8.0 a 60oC para o Bacillus. As duas atividades CMCases brutas permaneceram termoestáveis a 45oC durante 1 h e ambas as atividades enzimáticas brutas, tanto do Bacillus como do Streptomyces, ficaram estáveis na faixa de pH 5.0 - 9.0. após tratamentos em várias soluçöes-tampäo de diferentes valores de pH a 30oC durante 24 h