Preliminary Characterizations of a Carbohydrate from the Concentrated Culture Filtrate from <i>Fusarium solani</i>and Its Role in Benzo[a]Pyrene Solubilization

In order to investigate the mechanism of benzo[a]pyrene uptake by a filamentous fungus Fusarium solani, a biochemical characterization of its concentrated culture filtrate has been conducted. The preparation contained approximately (w/w): 50% of total carbohydrate, 6.5% of uronic acid and 6% protein, as determined by colorimetric tests. Gel filtration and anion-exchange chromatographic profiles indicated that the main product of the culture filtrate was a glycoprotein, which contained mannose, glucose and galactose in an approximate molar ratio of 1.5: 0.8: 1. The polysaccharide fraction of the culture filtrate was prepared by treatment with proteinase K, followed by gel-filtration chromatography. Its chemical structure was studied by methylation analysis, gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The major carbohydrate was a polymer of β-(1 → 6)-linked galactofuranose units fully branched at positions O-2 by single residues of α-glucopyranose. The Fusarium concentrated culture filtrate increased 4-fold the BaP solubilization in comparison with its aqueous solubility and suggested that the carbohydrate present in this filtrate should probably be involved in this enhancement. Our findings point out the potential role of fungal glycoproteins in PAH microbial bioavaibility, an important step for PAH biodegradation.

Stress-Induced Dispersal of Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilm Is Due to Compositional Changes in Its Biofilm Matrix

Biofilm formation is an important virulence factor of Staphylococcus epidermidis. However, little is known about the mechanisms of staphylococcal biofilm dispersal. In the present study, we investigated biofilm dispersal of the model biofilm-forming strain S. epidermidis RP62A under oligotrophic stress conditions. We found that oligotrophic stress led to rapid dispersal of pre-formed biofilms and concomitant changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix, including a decrease in poly-N-acetylglucosamine polysaccharide and an increase in proteins. Our results suggest that modifications in biofilm integrity caused by compositional changes in the biofilm matrix can induce biofilm dispersal.

表皮葡萄球菌生物膜蛋白在假体周围感染诊断中的应用

目的探讨表皮葡萄球菌生物膜蛋白作为抗原诊断假体周围感染的临床价值。方法制作表皮葡萄球菌感染的假体周围感染动物模型,并收集临床假体周围感染患者的血清。以从表皮葡萄球菌444生物膜中提取的蛋白为抗原,用ELISA方法检测感染动物和临床假体周围感染患者的血清中IgG水平。蛋白印迹杂交寻找特异性抗原蛋白。结果感染动物和感染患者血清中的IgG水平明显高于各自对照组,Western-blot结果显示,表皮葡萄球菌生物膜蛋白大小在15KD-37KD之间具有良好的抗原性。结论表皮葡萄球菌生物膜蛋白成份具有良好的抗原性,是引起机体免疫的重要成份。进一步纯化这些蛋白组分并作为诊断假体周围表皮葡萄球菌感染的抗原,具有重要的临床价值。