Production of bacterial cellulose from alternate feedstocks

Production of bacterial cellulose by Acetobacter xylinum ATCC 10821 and 23770 in static cultures was tested from unamended food process effluents. Effluents in cluded low-solids (LS) and high-solids (HS) potato effluents, cheese whey permeate (CW), or sugar beet raffinate (CSB). Strain 23770 produced 10% less cellulose from glucose than did strain 10821 and diverted more glucose to gluconate. Unamended HS, CW, and CSB were unsuitable for cellulose production by either strain, and LS was unsuitable for production by strain 10821. However, strain 23770 produced 17% more cellulose from LS than from glucose, indicating that unamended LS could serve as a feedstock for bacterial cellulose.     

Characterization of surfactin from Bacillus subtilis for application as an agent for enhanced oil recovery

Surfactin produced by Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 21332) was used to examine the effect of altering salt concentration, pH, and temperature on surfactin activity (as measured by reductions in surface tension). These parameters are some of the conditions that define oil reservoir characteristics and can affect the application of surfactants. The Biotechnology for Oilfield Operations research program at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) has successfully produced surfactin from potato process effluents for possible use as an economical alternative to chemical surfactants for improved oil recovery. Surfactants enhance the recovery of oil through a reduction of the interfacial tension between the oil and water interfaces, or by mediating changes in the wettability index of the system. We investigated changes in surfactin activity under a range of conditions by measuring surface tension. Surface tension was determined using video image analysis of inverted pendant drops. Experimental variables included NaCl (0–10%), pH (3.0–10.0), and temperature (21–70°C). Each of these parameters, as well as selected combinations, resulted in discrete changes in surfactin activity. It is therefore important to consider the exploration of the studied surfactin as an enhanced oil recovery agent.     

Development of continuous surfactin production from potato process effluent by Bacillus subtilis in an airlift reactor

The biosurfactant surfactin has the potential to aid in the recovery of subsurface organic contaminants (environmental remediation) or crude oils (oil recovery). However, high medium and purification costs limit its use in these high-volume applications. In previous work, we showed that surfactin can be produced from an inexpensive low-solids (LS) potato process effluent with minimal amendments or pretreatments. Previous research has also shown that 95% or more of the surfactin in Bacillus subtilis cultures can be recovered by foam fractionation. In this work, we present the results of research to integrate surfactin production with foam fractionation. Experiments were performed in an airlift reactor, with continuous collection of the foam through a tube at the top of the column. Preliminary results using both purified potato starch and unamended low-solids potato process effluent as substrates for surfactin production indicate that the process is oxygen limited and that recalcitrant indigenous bacteria in the potato process effluent may hamper continuous surfactin production.     

Characterization of Surfactin Produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> Isolate BS5

Physical and chromatographic characterization of the surfactin biosurfactant produced by Bacillus subtilis isolate BS5 has been conducted to study its potentiality for industrial application. The crude extract of test surfactin appeared as off-white to buff flake-like amorphous residue with bad odor similar to sour pomegranate. Test surfactin showed solubility in aqueous solution at pH>5 with optimum solubility at pH 8-8.5. It was also soluble in organic solvents like ethanol, acetone, methanol, butanol, chloroform, and dichloromethane. Surfactin crystals appeared rectangular with blunt corners and were arranged perpendicular to each other making a plus sign. Extracted surfactin showed high surface activity, as it could lower the surface tension of water from about 70 to 36 mN/m at approximately 15.6 mg/l. Moreover, test surfactin exhibited excellent stabilities at high temperatures (100 degrees C for up to 1 h at and autoclaving at 121 degrees C for 10 min), salinities (up to 6% NaCl), and over a wide range of pH (5-13). Test surfactin in the cell-free supernatant or crude culture broth forms showed high emulsification indices against kerosene (62.5% and 59%, respectively), diesel (62.5% and 66%, respectively), and motor oil (62% and 66%, respectively). These characters can effectively make test surfactin, in its crude forms, a potential candidate for the use in bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated sites or in the petroleum industry. Chromatographic characterization of test surfactin, using high-performance liquid chromatography technique, revealed that the extracted surfactin contained numerous isoforms, of which six were found in the standard surfactin preparation (Fluka). Additional peaks appeared in the test surfactin and not in the standard one. These peaks may correspond to new surfactin isoforms that may be present in the test surfactin produced by B. subtilis isolate BS5.     

表面活性肽的研究进展

表面活性肽(Surfactin)是由枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)发酵产生的一系列具有相似基本结构的环状脂肽。与合成的表面活性剂相比,Surfactin的优势在于,其是以碳氢化合物等可再生能源为原料、采用微生物发酵技术产生的纯天然产品,具有表面活性大、环境无污染、易生物降解、抑菌作用良好等优异特性,符合现代绿色化学发展理念,在多个领域应用广泛。本文详细介绍了Surfactin的基本结构、主要特性、生产工艺、纯化方式以及应用,并对Surfactin下一步的研究工作进行了展望,为今后关于Surfactin的进一步研究提供了便利。     

Surfactin production from potato process effluent by Bacillus subtilis in a chemostat

The biosurfactant surfactin has potential to aid in the recovery of energy resources (oil recovery) or subsurface organic contaminants (environmental remediation). However, high medium and purification costs limit its use in these high-volume applications. In previous work, we showed that surfactin could be produced from an inexpensive low-solids potato process effluent with minimal amendments or pretreatments. Previous research has also shown that surfactin can be both produced in Bacillus subtilis cultures and recovered by foam fractionation in an airlift reactor. Results using both purified potato starch and unamended low-solids potato process effluent as substrates for surfactin production indicate that the process is oxygen limited and that recalcitrant indigenous bacteria in the potato process effluent hamper continuous surfactin production. The research reported here features the use of a chemostat operated in batch mode for producing surfactin with concomitant use of antifoam to prevent surfactant loss. The antifoam did not interfere with surfactin recovery by acid precipitation or its efficacy. Initial trials took about 48 h to produce 0.9 g/L of surfactin from potato process effluent. Increasing the oxygen mass transfer by increasing the stirring speed and adding a baffle decreased production time to 12–24 h and produced about 0.6 g/L of surfactin from two different potato-processing facilities.     

Evaluation of Cashew Apple Juice for Surfactin Production by Bacillus subtilis LAMI008

Bacillus subtilis LAMI008 strain isolated from the tank of Chlorination at the Wastewater Treatment Plant on Campus do Pici in Federal University of Ceará, Brazil has been screened for surfactin production in mineral medium containing clarified cashew apple juice (MM-CAJC). Results were compared with the ones obtained using mineral medium with glucose PA as carbon source. The influence on growth and surfactin production of culture medium supplementation with yeast extract was also studied. The substrate concentration analysis indicated that B. subtilis LAMI008 was able to degrade all carbon sources studied and produce biosurfactant. The highest reduction in surface tension was achieved with the fermentation of MM-CAJC, supplemented with yeast extract, which decreased from 58.95?±?0.10 to 38.10?±?0.81 dyn cm^?1. The biosurfactant produced was capable of emulsifying kerosene, achieving an emulsification index of 65%. Surfactin concentration of 3.5 mg L^?1 was obtained when MM-CAJC, supplemented with yeast extract, was used, thus indicating that it is feasible to produce surfactin from clarified cashew apple juice, a renewable and low-cost carbon source.     

Effects of Different Amino Acids in Culture Media on Surfactin Variants Produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> TD7

Surfactin produced by Bacillus subtilis has different variants, which are affected by the composition of substrate available. To demonstrate the effects of amino acids on surfactin variants, B. subtilis TD7 was cultivated under the same conditions but with different amino acids supplied in media, respectively, and the type as well as the proportion of surfactin variants produced was analyzed with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The result shows that the addition of different amino acids significantly influences the proportion of surfactin variants with different fatty acids. When Arg, Gln, or Val was added to the culture medium of B. subtilis TD7, the proportion of produced surfactin variants with even β-hydroxy fatty acids significantly increased, while the addition of Cys, His, Ile, Leu, Met, Ser, or Thr enhanced the proportion of surfactin variants with odd β-hydroxy fatty acids markedly. This result may be of some reference value in enhancing the production of specific surfactin variants as well as in the research on the relationship between culture media and the corresponding products of a certain bacterium.     

Optimization of biosurfactant lipopeptide production from Bacillus subtilis S499 by Plackett-Burman design

Bacillus subtilis S499 is well-known for its ability to produce two families of surfactant lipopeptides: Iturin A and Surfactin S1. Fermentation optimization for this strain was performed to amplify the surfactant production. Ten active variables were analyzed by two successive Plackett-Burman designs, consisting respectively of 12 and 16 experiments to give an optimized medium. The amount of biosurfactant lipopeptides in the supernatant of a culture carried out in this optimized medium was about five times higher than that obtained in nonoptimized rich medium. The analysis of the surfactant molecules produced in such optimized conditions has revealed the presence of a third family of lipopeptides: the fengycins. The time-dependent production of these three families of molecules in bioreactors showed that surfactin S1 is produced during the exponential phase and iturin A and fengycins during the stationary phase.     

Synthesis of stable cadmium sulfide nanoparticles using surfactin produced by Bacillus amyloliquifaciens strain KSU-109

In this study, a surfactin was extracted from a novel surfactant producing bacterial strain Bacillus amyloliquifaciens KSU-109, isolated from rhizosphere of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), and characterized based on 16Sr RNA and sfp genes using Blastn, Blastx and phylogenetic analyses. The study was performed to obtain a renewable bioresource for surfactin production, and its application in nanotechnology as a non-hazardous and environmentally compatible nanoparticle (NP) stabilizer. The strain KSU-109 produced the surfactin with an average yield of 160 mg/L with strong surfactant activity, reducing the surface tension of the medium from 72 mN/m to 29.3 mN/m. The surfactin preparation was used for synthesizing the cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdS-NPs) by mixing 0.005% surfactin with 1mM Cd(NO(3))(2) in 1:1 ratio (v/v) and 10mM Na(2)S solution at pH 7.2 and ambient temperature, which were stable up to 120 days. The surfactin stabilized CdS-NPs were characterized using XRD, TEM, and spectroscopic techniques. The data revealed a significant role of surfactin as a stabilizer and capping agent, which also causes phase transition to yield the cubic/hexagonal CdS-NPs of average size of 3-4 nm. The results elucidated the significance of biocompatible and biodegradable surfactin as an effective and inexpensive stabilizing agent for developing stable CdS nanoparticles.     

Silver nanoparticles formed in bio- and chemical syntheses with biosurfactant as the stabilizing agent

In this work, the comparison of the physical properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) obtained via the reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) in biological and chemical (model) syntheses supplemented with the biosurfactant surfactin is described. In the studies, two strains of Bacillus subtilis (denoted T’1 and I’1a) were used. The biological synthesis of AgNPs was performed using supernatants obtained from cultures of bacteria growing on brewery effluents, molasses, and Luria–Bretani (LB) medium. In model experiments, ascorbic acid served as the reductant; surfactin acted as the stabilizing agent. The surfactin concentrations were adjusted to 5 and 30?mg/L, which corresponded to minimum and maximum surfactin concentrations as measured in the supernatants obtained from the B. subtilis cultures. The chemical synthesis was carried out at acidic as well as alkaline pH. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) revealed that in model and biological samples, single AgNPs were accompanied by aggregated structures. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the contribution of the aggregates in bacterial supernatants and in chemical synthesis is negligible under acidic conditions. However, in the alkaline environment, this contribution predominates. In the model experiments, smaller nanoparticles were formed with higher concentrations of surfactant. The presence of surfactin significantly increased the stability of AgNPs in both bio- and chemical syntheses.     

Significance of β-sheet formation for micellization and surface adsorption of surfactin

It was found that surfactin, an anionic lipopeptide biosurfactant, forms large rod-shaped micelles (micellar weight, 179 000, aggregation number n = 173) having a critical CMC of 9.4 × 10⁻⁶ M and a surface tension at the CMC γ_CMC of 30 mN m⁻¹ in 0.1 M NaHCO₃ (pH 8.7). This excellent surface-active behaviour was attributed to the ease of piling of surfactin molecules organized by β-sheet formation. Surfactin also showed a possible organization between molecules due to β-sheet structure at the air-water interface under forced experimental conditions.     

The First Observation of Hidden Hysteresis in an Iron(III) Spin‐Crossover Complex

Molecular magnetic switches are expected to form the functional components of future nanodevices. Herein we combine detailed (photo‐) crystallography and magnetic studies to reveal the unusual switching properties of an iron(III) complex, between low (LS) and high (HS) spin states. On cooling, it exhibits a partial thermal conversion associated with a reconstructive phase transition from a [HS‐HS] to a [LS‐HS] phase with a hysteresis of 25 K. Photoexcitation at low temperature allows access to a [LS‐LS] phase, never observed at thermal equilibrium. As well as reporting the first iron(III) spin crossover complex to exhibit reverse‐LIESST (light‐induced excited spin state trapping), we also reveal a hidden hysteresis of 30 K between the hidden [LS‐LS] and [HS‐LS] phases. Moreover, we demonstrate that Fe^III spin‐crossover (SCO) complexes can be just as effective as Fe^II systems, and with the advantage of being air‐stable, they are ideally suited for use in molecular electronics.     

The effect of pretreatments on surfactin production from potato process effluent by Bacillus subtilis

Pretreatments of low-solids potato process effluent were tested for their potential to increase surfactin yield. Pretreatments included heat, removal of starch particulates, and acid hydrolysis. Elimination of contaminating vegetative cells was necessary for surfactin production. After autoclaving, 0.40 g/L of surfactin was produced from the effluent in 72 h, vs 0.24 g/L in the purified potato starch control. However, surfactin yields per carbon consumed were 76% lower from process effluent. Removal of starch particulates had little effect on the culture. Acid hydrolysis decreased growth and surfactant production, except 0.5 wt% acid, which increased the yield by 25% over untreated effluent.     

表面活性素单分子膜在空气/水界面的迟滞现象

表面活性素是一类具有较强表面活性的微生物脂肽类化合物,能在空气/水界面形成不溶性单分子膜.利用Langmuir膜天平测定了表面活性素单分子膜的压缩-扩张循环曲线,发现单分子膜在经历了“平台区”后出现较大的迟滞环,迟滞环的形状与亚相pH有关.将“平台区”的单分子膜转移到云母表面后,用原子力显微镜(AFM)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)均观察到高度达几十至数百纳米的表面聚集体,说明表面活性素在单分子膜的“平台区”伴随着自聚集.研究结果表明,表面活性素单分子膜在空气/水界面的迟滞现象是分子浸入亚相和形成三维表面聚集体共同作用的结果.     

Structural Characterization of Lipopeptides from Brevibacillus brevis HOB1

Brevibacillus brevis HOB1 was isolated from the formation water of an oil field and found to produce lipopeptides. The separation of lipopeptides was successfully achieved by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) leading to nine separated peaks. The chemical structures of these lipopeptides were studied by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), HPLC and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). As the results, all the lipopeptides had peptide parts with the same amino acid composition of Asp, Glu, Val, and Leu in the molar ratio 1:1:1:4, while the lipid part was composed of C₁₃–C₁₅ β-hydroxy fatty acids. As the sequence of fraction 1 was determined to be N-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Asp-Leu-Leu-C, the same as surfactin, they were proposed to be surfactin isoforms. Fraction 4 (C₁₅ surfactin) exhibited a good surface activity of 26.8 mN/m with CMC of 9?×?10^?6 M. Surfactin is a powerful biosurfactant possessing biological activities. As far as we know, Br. brevis is a new surfactin-producing species.     

Abrupt Spin-State Switching in Mn(III) Complexes with BPh4 Anion: Effect of Halide Substituents on Crystal Structure and Magnetic Properties.

Three tetraphenylborates of mononuclear Mn(III) cation complexes with hexadentate ligands, the products of the reaction between a N,N′-bis(3-aminopropyl)ethylenediamine and salicylaldehydes with the different haloid substitutions at the 5 or 3,5 positions, have been synthesized: [Mn(5-F-sal-N-1,5,8,12)]BPh₄ ( 1 ), [Mn(3,5-diCl-sal-N-1,5,8,12)]BPh₄ ( 2 ) and [Mn(3,5-Br,Cl-sal-N-1,5,8,12)]BPh₄ ( 3 ). Their crystal structure, dielectric constant (ϵ) and magnetic properties have been studied. Ligand substituents have a dramatic effect on the structure and magnetic properties of the complexes. With decreasing temperature, the complex ( 1 ) shows a gradual spin crossover from the high-spin state (HS) to the HS:LS intermediate phase, followed by an abrupt transition to the low-spin state (LS) without changing the crystal symmetry. The complexes 2 and 3 are isostructural, but have fundamentally different properties. Complex 2 demonstrates two structural phase transitions related to sharp spin crossovers from the HS to the HS:LS intermediate phase at 137 K and from the intermediate phase to the LS at 87 K, while complex 3 exhibits only one spin transition from the HS to the HS:LS intermediate phase at 83 K.     

Micellization of surfactin and its effect on the aggregate conformation of amyloid beta(1-40)

The aggregation of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta(1-40)) into fibrils is a key pathological process associated with Alzheimer's disease. This work has investigated the micellization process of biosurfactant surfactin and its effect on the aggregation behavior of Abeta(1-40). The results show that surfactin has strong self-assembly ability to form micelles and the micelles tend to form larger aggregates. Surfactin adopts a beta-turn conformation at low micelle concentration but a beta-sheet conformation at high micelle concentration. The effect of surfactin on the Abeta(1-40) aggregation behavior exhibits a strong concentration-dependent fashion. Below the critical micelle concentration of surfactin, the electrostatic binding of surfactin monomers on Abeta(1-40) causes Abeta(1-40) molecules to unfold. Assisted by the hydrophobic interaction among surfactin monomers on the Abeta(1-40) chain, the conformation of Abeta(1-40) transfers to the beta-sheet structure, which promotes the formation of fibrils. At low surfactin micelle concentration, besides the electrostatic force and hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonds formed between surfactin micelles and adjacent Abeta(1-40) peptide chains may promote the ordered organization of these Abeta(1-40) peptide chains, thus leading to the formation of beta-sheets and fibrils to a great extent. At high surfactin micelle concentration, the separating of Abeta(1-40) chains by the excessive surfactin micelles and the aggregation of the complexes of Abeta(1-40) with surfactin micelles inhibit the formation of beta-sheets and fibrils.     

Sustainable Surfactin Production by Bacillus subtilis Using Crude Glycerol from Different Wastes

Most biosurfactants are obtained using costly culture media and purification processes, which limits their wider industrial use. Sustainability of their production processes can be achieved, in part, by using cheap substrates found among agricultural and food wastes or byproducts. In the present study, crude glycerol, a raw material obtained from several industrial processes, was evaluated as a potential low-cost carbon source to reduce the costs of surfactin production by Bacillus subtilis #309. The culture medium containing soap-derived waste glycerol led to the best surfactin production, reaching about 2.8 g/L. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing surfactin production by B. subtilis using stearin and soap wastes as carbon sources. A complete chemical characterization of surfactin analogs produced from the different waste glycerol samples was performed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Furthermore, the surfactin produced in the study exhibited good stability in a wide range of pH, salinity and temperatures, suggesting its potential for several applications in biotechnology.     

Kinetic Modeling of Esterification Reaction of Surfactin-C15 in Methanol Solution

Surfactin in methanol solution with acid would be spontaneously esterified into the mono- or dimethyl ester surfactin even at a temperature as low as 4 °C because there were two free carboxyl groups in the peptide loop of surfactin. Using trifluoroacetic acid as the catalyst, the esterification and the contents change in surfactin-C₁₅, mono- and dimethyl ester surfactin-C₁₅ with time were investigated at 4, 25, and 45 °C, respectively. The kinetic model was established for prediction of the esterification degree under experimental conditions. At 4, 25, and 45 °C, more than 10 % of the surfactin-C₁₅ in methanol solution in the presence of 0.05 % trifluoroacetic acid was changed into the esterified surfactin-C₁₅ after 37.6, 14.1, and 7.4 h, respectively. The maximum of intermediate of the mono-methyl ester surfactin-C₁₅ was observed at 4, 25, and 45 °C after 25, 10, and 5 days, respectively. Our results indicated that the time for preparation should be strictly controlled to avoid an unexpected esterification of surfactin during its storage and experimental treatment, and the kinetic results could be adopted as the reference condition for preparation of monomethyl ester surfactin-C₁₅.