Utilization of agro-industrial by-products in Monascus fermentation: a review.

The Monascus fermentation industry has gained global attention. Its key products, i.e.

Screening of peptide probe binding to particulate matter with a high metal content.

Particulate matter (PM) is becoming an increasing health concern and there is a need to develop detection methods to keep its harmful effects in check. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by PM is often associated with metal compounds, hence our aim is to screen for a peptide probe towards improved collection and the detection of PM having a high metal content. Peptides are putative recognition molecules due to their versatility and ease of modification to enhance their binding selectivities.

Industrial robustness linked to the gluconolactonase from Zymomonas mobilis.

The physiological characteristics and the potential gluconolactone production of the gluconolactonase-deficient strain, Zymomonas mobilis ZM4 gnlΔ, were investigated via growth inhibitory assay and biotransformation of glucose and fructose into gluconolactone and sorbitol, respectively. The results of ethanol fermentation studies performed in the presence of high concentration of glucose (>200 g l) under fermentative or aerobic conditions indicated that a significant reduction of volumetric ethanol productivity from the strain of ZM4 gnlΔ was noticeable due to the reduced rates of specific growth, sugar uptake, and biomass yield as compared with those of the parental strain ZM4. The biotransformation prepared at pH 6.

Combined genetic and bioactivity-based prioritization leads to the isolation of an endophyte-derived antimycobacterial compound.

Aim: To initiate a genetic and bioactivity-based screening programme of culturable endophytes to identify micro-organisms capable of producing bioactive polyketides and peptides.

Methods And Results: Fungal endophytes were isolated from flowers, leaves and roots of Rhoeo spathacea, revealing a community consisting of Colletotrichum sp., Fusarium sp.

Gene expression and molecular evolution of sxtA4 in a saxitoxin producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella.

Dinoflagellates of the genus Alexandrium produce the neurotoxin saxitoxin (STX), responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and accumulates in marine invertebrates. The recent identification of STX biosynthesis genes allowed us to investigate the expression of sxtA4 at different growth stages in Alexandrium catenella Group IV. We found no significant differences in expression of sxtA4, despite significant differences in STX levels at different growth stages (P < 0.