A novel modified alternan, produced by using newly isolated strains of Penicillium sp., was physically characterized. High molecular weight native alternan was progressively modified to lower molecular weight heterodisperse forms, associated with a reduction in absorbance at 225 nm, light scattering, and opalescence. Methylation analysis indicated that modified alternan has a linkage pattern si...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of media compositions on the production of βmannanase by Nonomuraea sp. ID06-379. The study was focused on the influence of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and detergents on β-mannanase synthesis through manipulating media compositions on production medium. The results indicated that for carbon sources, locus bean gum (0.745 ± 0.036 U/ml) s...

An extracellular cell lytic enzyme from Pseudomonas sp. was active on heat killed cells of Xanthomonas campestris. The lytic activity caused enzymatic digestion of X.campestris xanthan gum. Digestion was effective for highly viscous native xanthan 2.0% (w/v) and 2.5% (w/v) commercial Sigma xanthan. Scanning electron microscopy and SDS-PAGE observations confirmed the cell lytic action on X.campe...

OBJECTIVE To investigate if the core population hypothesis is applicable to patients with genital chlamydia infections. DESIGN Retrospective cross sectional study. SETTING Two genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the city of Birmingham and eight adjacent clinics. SUBJECTS All patients with chlamydia (n = 665) or gonorrhoea (n = 584) attending between 1 October 1995 and 30 September 199...

Commercially available enzymes do not contain all the necessary softwood-specific accessory enzymes to obtain high saccharification efficiency. In this work, six saprophytic fungi obtained from Pinus radiata plantation site were screened for the putative softwood-specific accessory enzyme, β-mannanase. A Penicillium sp. was found to produce β-mannanase in both solid (31.6 units/g of dry biomass...

Gum tragacanth derived from the plant "goat's horn" (Astragalus sp.) has a long history of use as a stabilizing, viscosity-enhancing agent in food emulsions. The gum contains pectinaceous arabinogalactans and fucose-substituted xylogalacturonans. In this work, gum tragacanth from Astragalus gossypinus was enzymatically depolymerized using Aspergillus niger pectinases (Pectinex BE Color). Th...

A locally isolated Acinetobacter sp. Strain AQ5NOL 1 was encapsulated in gellan gum and its ability to degrade phenol was compared with the free cells. Optimal phenol degradation was achieved at gellan gum concentration of 0.75% (w/v), bead size of 3 mm diameter (estimated surface area of 28.26 mm(2)) and bead number of 300 per 100 ml medium. At phenol concentration of 100 mg l(-1), both free a...

In a previous study, we isolated Leifsonia sp. strain SIU, a new bacterium from agricultured soil. The bacterium was tested for its ability to degrade caffeine. The isolate was encapsulated in gellan gum and its ability to degrade caffeine was compared with the free cells. The optimal caffeine degradation was attained at a gellan gum concentration of 0.75% (w/v), a bead size of 4 mm diameter, a...

The penetration of solar erythemal ultraviolet radiation has been measured in the shade of a gum (Eucalyptus sp.) and a she oak (Casaurina) tree, both on a horizontal plane and with polysulphone dosimeters to human anatomical sites. This has provided new data useful for protection strategies against harmful ultraviolet radiation. For larger solar zenith angles, the relative penetration of solar...