Screening and Characterization of Nitrite-Degrading Bacterial Isolates Using a Novel Culture Medium

In this study,a novel culture medium that simulates shrimp pond conditions was established to screen nitrite-degrading isolates.The medium was supplemented with nitrite as a nitrogen source and shrimp feed as the major carbon source,to achieve the high nitrogen and low carbon nutritional status found in shrimp farming ponds.Screening using this medium identified potent denitrifying Bacillus isolates,among which Bacillus subtilis M7-1 was considered best.M7-1 was able to completely degrade nitrite-N in 24 h without much consumption of dissolved oxygen.Efficient denitrification activity took place in liquid cultures within a set of non-stringent ranges of pH(5.0–9.0),salinity(0–30)and temperature(25–35℃).The denitrifying enzyme gene was amplified,sequenced and further identified as nirS type.In biosecurity assessments,M7-1 had no negative effects on shrimps at a dose of 106 cfu mL−1.M7-1 could therefore be used in aquaculture to reduce and control the nitrogen concentration,and to promote the development of sustainable and healthy culture systems.

Evaluation of Endotoxin in Culture Medium for Human in vitro Fertilization

To determine whether the presence of bacterial endotoxin in the commercial culture media utilized for human in vitro fertilization （IVF）, and evaluate the difference in detecting endotoxin in culture medium between the human sperm motility assay and the 2-cell mouse embryo assay. Methods Thirty-six batches of culture media commonly used in IVF laboratories from 3 manufacturers were determined for thepresence ofendotoxin before using the medium for the assisted reproductive programs （group A）. After being used, 25 specimens among above media were also tested （group B）. The chromogenic limulus amoebocyte lysate （LAL） test was used for quantification the content of endotoxin. In addition, the human sperm motility assay was compared with the 2-cell mouse embryo assay to evaluate the difference in detecting endotoxin in culture medium. Results Endotoxin was not detected in group A. However, 2 samples were positive in group B, Sperm did not show significant change in motility in group A during 24 h of incubation when compared with the control （P〉0. 05）. However, in group A the 2-cell embryo development to blastocyst was suppressed in 3 batches of media. Conclusions Regular screening of each batch of culture medium should be performed if possible although there was no evidence of endotoxin contamination in commercially prepared pre-tested media. Culture environment should be stringently controlled in case the medium is polluted. The sensitivity of the sperm motility assay was lower than that of the mouse embryo assay for detecting low levels of endotoxin or toxic compounds in the medium.

Investigation of Oxidation-Reduction Properties of Growing Mediums for Cell Culture of Mammals under the Effect of Cosmo-Geophysical Factors

In model experiments were studied the effect of cosmo-geophysical factors of environment (hypomagnetic conditions during 2 days ≈ 1 mkT;electromagnetic irradiation (10 min - 2 MHz with amplitude 5 V/m and power 30 mkVt, background 2 - 4 mkVt), γ-quantum (10 min—from the source 137Cs) and its combined effect on the physic-chemical properties (ORP and pH) of growing medium for cell culture of mammals as nutrition medium 199 (PanEco, Russia). It was used a clear solution of medium (solution 1) and with the adding of 10% embryo bull serum—model of bio-medium (solution 2). Hypomagnetic conditions evoked the decreasing of ORP and pH value in both solutions, electromagnetic irradiation in the solution 1 which evoked the decreasing of ORP and the increasing of pH value, and in the solution 2, on the contrary, the increasing of ORP with the unchanging pH value. γ-radiation sharply decreased ORP value and didn’t change pH in solution 1, i.e. the reduction properties increased. There is insignificant increasing of ORP value and the decreasing of pH is noted in the solution 2, that it is characterized with the increasing of oxidative properties of solution. Under the combined effect of hypomagnetic conditions and electromagnetic irradiation, the values of investigating parameters in the solution 1 decreased and in the solution 2 increased. It was observed acute decreasing of ORP value in both solutions under the combined effect of hypomagnetic conditions and γ-radiation, i.e. the reductive properties of the solutions increased sharply. In this the concentration H+ significantly decreased, (p γ-radiation led to the decreasing of ORP and pH values in both solutions. Thus, the studying factors significantly change the oxidation-reduction properties of growing mediums. The investigation of the processes in biological mediums plays the important role in the assessment of environment effect during the flight in inter-planet space.

Optimization of Culture Conditions and Medium Composition for the Marine Algicidal Bacterium Alteromonas sp. DH46 by Uniform Design

Harmful algal blooms(HABs) have led to extensive ecological and environmental issues and huge economic losses.Various HAB control techniques have been developed,and biological methods have been paid more attention.Algicidal bacteria is a general designation for bacteria which inhibit algal growth in a direct or indirect manner,and kill or damage the algal cells.A metabolite which is strongly toxic to the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense was produced by strain DH46 of the alga-lysing bacterium Alteromonas sp.The culture conditions were optimized using a single-factor test method.Factors including carbon source,nitrogen source,temperature,initial pH value,rotational speed and salinity were studied.The results showed that the cultivation of the bacteria at 28℃ and 180 r min-1with initial pH 7 and 30 salt contcentration favored both the cell growth and the lysing effect of strain DH46.The optimal medium composition for strain DH46 was determined by means of uniform design experimentation,and the most important components influencing the cell density were tryptone,yeast extract,soluble starch,NaNO3 and MgSO4.When the following culture medium was used(tryptone 14.0g,yeast extract 1.63g,soluble starch 5.0 g,NaNO3 1.6 g,MgSO4 2.3 g in 1L),the largest bacterial dry weight(7.36 g L-1) was obtained,which was an enhancement of 107% compared to the initial medium;and the algal lysis rate was as high as 98.4% which increased nearly 10% after optimization.

Study on Microwave Sterilization of Solid Culture Medium

In this paper,microwave sterilization craft of solid culture medium in fungus growth is studied.The results show that microwave not only can be used to sterilize the micro-organisms which is useless for fungus growth in the solid culture medium,but also has positive effect on fungus growth;and the sterilization process is featured with shorter time and higher efficiency compared with the traditional method.

Improved elastase production by Bacillus sp. EL31410—further optimization and kinetics studies of culture medium for batch fermentation

An efficient culture medium producing a bacterial elastase with high yields was developed further following preliminary studies by means of response surface method. Central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology were applied to optimize the medium constituents. A central composite design was used to explain the combined effect of three medium constituents, viz, glucose, K2HPO4, MgSO4·7H2O. The strain produced more elastase in the completely optimized medium, as compared with the partially optimized medium. The fitted model of the second model, as per RSM, showed that glucose was 7.4 g/100 ml, casein 1.13 g/100 ml, corn steep flour 0.616 g/100 ml, KEHPO4 0.206 g/100 ml and MgSO4·7H2O 0.034 g/100 ml. The fermentation kinetics of these two culture media in the flask experiments were analyzed. It was found that the highest elastase productivity occurred at 54 hours. Higher glucose concentration had inhibitory effect on elastase production. At the same time, we observed that the glucose consumption rate was slow in the completely optimized medium, which can explain the lag period of the highest elastase production. Some metal ions and surfactant additives also affected elastase production and cell growth.

Statistical optimization of medium composition and culture condition for the production of recombinant anti-lipopolysaccharide factor of Eriocheir sinensis in Escherichia coli

Anti-lipopolysaccharide factors (ALFs) are important antimicrobial peptides that are isolated from some aquatic species. In a previous study, we isolated ALF genes from Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. In this study, we optimized the production of a recombinant ALF by expressing E. sinensis ALF genes in Escherichia coli maintained in shake-flasks. In particular, we focused on optimization of both the medium composition and the culture condition. Various medium components were analyzed by the Plackett-Burman design, and two significant screened factors, (NH4)2SO4 and KH2PO4, were further optimized via the central composite design (CCD). Based on the CCD analysis, we investigated the induction start-up time, the isopropylthio-D-galactoside (IPTG) concentration, the post-induction time, and the temperature by response surface methodology. We found that the highest level of ALF fusion protein was achieved in the medium containing 1.89 g/L (NH4)2SO4 and 3.18 g/L KH2PO4, with a cell optical density of 0.8 at 600 nm before induction, an IPTG concentration of 0.5 mmol/L, a post-induction temperature of 32.7°C, and a post-induction time of 4 h. Applying the whole optimization strategy using all optimal factors improved the target protein content from 6.1% (without optimization) to 13.2%. We further applied the optimized medium and conditions in high cell density cultivation, and determined that the soluble target protein constituted 10.5% of the total protein. Our identification of the economic medium composition, optimal culture conditions, and details of the fermentation process should facilitate the potential application of ALF for further research.

The Skin Whitening Effect of Co-Cultured Conditioned Medium: Involvement of Synergy between Stem Cells and Immune Cells

Many researchers have described that mesenchymal stem cells conditioned medium and immune cells conditioned medium have a clear whitening effect when they are used as cosmetic ingredients. In this study, we confirmed the whitening efficacy of various concentrations of immune cells and stem cell conditioned media. The author tried to study a conditioned medium that has a strong whitening effect even with a composition of less than 20% (the most used concentration in cosmetics). Because of the fact that the conditioned medium contains various cytokines and growth factors secreted by stem cells or immune cells, it is known to have effects such as wound healing, antioxidant, and whitening effect. Recently, stem cells have been used not only in the development of cosmetic raw materials but also in skincare procedures, and there are reports being released of cosmetics using immune cells conditioned medium. The concentration-dependent whitening effect equivalently increased as the concentration of the mono-cultured conditioned medium was obtained through the stem cells or immune cells culture. In the case of co-culture, whitening results are like the effect of positive control such as arbutin in the medium carrying only 10% of the co-cultured conditioned medium. It is possible that enhanced whitening efficiency in co-cultured conditioned medium leads to a major innovation in the global cosmetic market.

Establishment of a Highly Efficient Regeneration System for the Mature Embryo Culture of Wheat

Establishment of a highly efficient regeneration system for the mature embryo of wheat will provide a convenient tool for wheat tissue culture and transformation, thereby facilitating the transformation of foreign genes into wheat. By using the mature embryos derived from 20 different wheat lines including Shi 4185, Yumai 66, Lunxuan 987, CB037, Yangmai 6, Xinchun 9, Bobwhite, Han 6172, Zheng 9023, Jimai 20, Ningchun 4, and Jing 411, the effects of some factors including inoculation methods, initiating culture media, organic additives, antioxidants, and auxins on the regeneration from the explants were evaluated. The results indicated that the scraping embryo culture was better than the whole embryo culture, the Aa medium was better than the SD2 medium and dicamba was better than 2,4-D in increasing the regeneration frequency. An Adi medium was established in this study by adding silver nitrate, cysteine, ascorbic acid, dicamba, glutamine into the Aa medium at the concentration of 4,40, 100, 2, and 5 mg L^-1, respectively. By using the Adi medium and the scraping technique, the regeneration frequencies of the mature embryos of CB037, Lunxuan 987, Hart 6172, Yangmai 6, Bobwhite, Zheng 9023, Shi 4 185, and Jimai 20 became 85.6, 60,1, 46.0, 42.1,42.0, 34.0, 33.0, and 32.0%, respectively, which were about 5-8 times higher than that obtained from the conventional culture mediums and techniques. This novel regeneration system could be helpful in wheat transformation.

COMPARISON OF POLYSACCHARIDES ISOLATED FROM THE MYCELIA OF A CULTIVATED STRAIN OF PORIA COCOS GROWN IN DIFFERENT LIQUID CULTURE MEDIA

Mycelium of a cultivated strain of Poria cocos was grown by submerged fermentation in a liquid mediumcontaining corn steep liquor with orbital shaking. Six polysaccharides coded as ac-PCM1, ac-PCM2, ac-PCM3-Ⅰ andⅡ, ac-PCM4-Ⅰand Ⅱ were isolated from the myelium by extracting with 0.9% NaCl aqueous solution, hot water, 0.5 mol/L NaOHaqueous solution and 88% formic acid. Exo-polysaccharide was obtained from the culture medium and coded as ac-PCM0.The monosaccharide composition and molecular weights of these polysaccharides were characterized by using infraredspectroscopy, gas chromaography, elemental analysis, ^(13)C-NMR, viscometry and light scattering. The results indicated thatac-PCM0, ac-PCM1 and ac-PCM2 are heteropolysaccharides containing glucose, galactose, mannose and fucose, and ac-PCM3-Ⅰ and ac-PCM3-Ⅱ mainly consist of D-glucose. The content of the glucose in the polysaccharides increased with theisolation progress. Remarkably, α-glucan and β-glucan coexisted in the extract by NaOH aqueous solution (ac-PCM3), andcould be separated by chemical methods. The protein in the ac-PCM polysaccharides cultured from the medium containingcorn steep liquor was higher than that in the ab-PCM from the medium with bran extract. Therefore, the polysaccharidesfrom Poria cocos mycelia cultured in different media have different chemical composition, molecular weights and conformations.

Relationship Between Differential Expression of Bax and Bcl-2 Genes and Developmental Differences of Porcine Parthenotes Cultured in PZM-3 and NCSU-23

The developmental competence of porcine parthenotes cultured in porcine zygote medium-3 （PZM-3） and North Carolina State University-23 （NCSU-23） media was investigated. After in vitro maturation oocytes were electro-activated, and the subsequent developmental competence, rates of apoptotic, fragmented and arrested embryos from the two media were evaluated. Also, the ratio of mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and Bax gene was determined. Results demonstrated that cleavage, blastocyst, hatched blastocyst rates, and blastocyst cell numbers were significantly higher in PZM-3 than in NCSU-23. The rate of fragmented embryos in PZM-3 was lower than in NCSU-23 on d 1 and 3 （P〈0.05） while the percentage of arrested embryo was lower in PZM-3 than in NCSU-23 on d 4 and 5 （P〈0.05）. TUNEL positive signals were higher in NCSU-23 than in PZM-3 from d 3 to 7 （P〈0.05）. The ratios of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression in embryos were higher on d 5 than on d 3 and 1 in PZM-3 （P〈0.05）. In contrast, the ratios of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression in embryos on d 1 were higher than on d 3 and 5 in NCSU-23 （P〈0.05）. Additionally, the ratios of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression in embryos in PZM-3 were higher than in NCSU-23 on d 3 and 5 （P〈0.05）. In conclusion, lower apoptotic embryo rates and down-regulating Bax together with up-regulating expression of Bcl-2 transcripts may be responsible for the better developmental competence of porcine parthenotes in PZM-3.

Effects of different culture media on the growth of Indian sandalwood(Santalum album L.) seedlings in Zhanjiang,Guangdong,southern China

We studied the effects of different culture media on the growth of India sandalwood （Santalum album L.） seedlings in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province in southern China. Five different growth substrates, lateritic subsoil, burnt soil, agricultural soil, peaty soil and coconut dust, were used as the basic culture materials and seven different treatments of composition were used as potting media. Kuhnia rosmarinifolia Vent. was used as a primary host plant for all treatments. Statistically significant differences were found between treatments in respects of survival rate （p 〈 0.001）, height （p 〈 0.001）, ground diameter （p 〈 0.001） and biomass （p = 0.002）, as well as for quality index （p 〈 0.001） of S. album seedlings after 6-month growth in containers with different culture media. Among all treatments, the treatment combining burnt soil, peat and coconut dust in a weight ratio of 1：1：1 plus 2% calcium super-phosphate as basal manure achieved the best performance for most of the seedling growth parameters, including survival rate （98%）, height （35.81 cm）, ground diameter （0.56 cm）, biomass （4.46 g） and quality index （0.65）, followed by the treatment using only burnt soil plus 2% calcium super-phosphate as the culture medium （survival rate 86%, height 29.23 cm, ground diameter 0.48 cm, biomass 3.36 g and quality index 0.52）, while the treatment using only lateritic subsoil plus the basal manure as the medium obtained the poorest results in survival rate （38%）, height （12.04 cm）, ground diameter （0.19 cm）, biomass （0.26 g） and quality index （0.043）. Increasing the proportion of lateritic subsoil in the medium when mixed with peat and coconut dust did not show statistically significant differences in survival, height, ground diameter, biomass nor in quality index. In consideration of cost, using burnt soil plus 2% calcium super-phosphate as basal manure may be the optimum culture medium for large-scale production of Indian sandal- wood seedlings in Guangdong, southern China.

Culture Media Influenced Laboratory Outcomes But Not Neonatal Birth Weight in Assisted Reproductive Technology

Summary： Whether the type of culture media utilized in assisted reproductive technology has impacts on laboratory outcomes and birth weight of newborns in in-vitro fertilization （IVF）/intracytoplasmic sperm injection （ICSI） was investigated. A total of 673 patients undergoing IVF/ICSI and giving birth to live singletons after fresh embryo transfer on day 3 from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2012 were included. Three types of culture media were used during this period： Quinn＇s Advantage （QA）, Single Step Medium （SSM）, and Continuous Single Culture medium （CSC）. Fertilization rate （FR）, normal fertilization rate （NFR）, cleavage rate （CR）, normal cleavage rate （NCR）, good-quality embryo rate （GQER） and neonatal birth weight were compared using one-way ANOVA and Z2 tests. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the impact of culture media on laboratory outcomes and birth weight. In IVF cycles, GQER was significantly decreased in SSM medium group as compared with QA or CSC media groups （63.6% vs. 69.0% in QA; vs. 71.3% in CSC, P=0.011）. In ICSI cycles, FR, NFR and CR were significantly lower in CSC medium group than in other two media groups. No significant difference was observed in neonatal birthweight among the three groups （P=0.759）. Multiple linear regression analyses confirmed that the type of culture medium was correlated with FR, NFR, CR and GQER, but not with neonatal birth weight. The type of culture media had potential influences on laboratory outcomes but did not exhibit an impact on the birth weight of singletons in ART.

<i>In Vitro</i>Propagation of Endangered Orchid, <i>Vanda pumila</i>Hook.f. through Protocorms Culture

The Vanda pumila is a monopodial orchid with beautiful flowers that are native to Thailand but now found across South Asia. The immature seeds of Vanda pumila were used for in vitro culture and then the protocorms developed were used as explants for seedling development and mass propagation. Protocorms were cultured on 1/2 MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium fortified separately with Kinetin (Kn), 6-Benzyl amino purine (BAP) and Gibberellic Acid (GA3) each in different concentrations as (0.5 mg/L, 1.0 mg/L and 2.0 mg/L) well as each on each concentrations of each medium supplemented with 5% and 10% coconut water (CW) respectively. The greatest number of shoots (9.50 ± 0.29 shoots per culture) was developed on 1/2 MS medium fortified with 1.0 mg/L Kn plus 10% CW and the longest shoots (0.78 ± 0.07 cm per culture) developed on 1/2 MS medium fortified with 2.0 mg/L BAP plus 10% CW. The shoots derived from protocorms were then developed on 1/2 MS medium fortified with three different rooting hormones viz. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and α-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), each in four concentrations (0.5 mg/L, 1.0 mg/L, 1.5 mg/L and 2.0 mg/L) as well as 1.0 mg/L of each hormone supplemented with 10% CW. The 1/2 MS medium fortified with 0.5 mg/L IAA was found to be the most effective condition for the development of maximum number of root (5 ± 0.0 roots per culture) and root length (0.93 ± 0.07 cm). Hence, the present study could be useful for standardizing the protocol for mass propagation of the endangered orchid V. pumila.

Developments in cell culture systems for human pluripotent stem cells

Human pluripotent stem cells(hPSCs)are important resources for cell-based therapies and pharmaceutical applications.In order to realize the potential of hPSCs,it is critical to develop suitable technologies required for specific applications.Most hPSC technologies depend on cell culture,and are critically influenced by culture medium composition,extracellular matrices,handling methods,and culture platforms.This review summarizes the major technological advances in hPSC culture,and highlights the opportunities and challenges in future therapeutic applications.

A Preliminary Study on Tissue Culture and Rapid Propagation of Virus-free Plantlets of Benihoppe Strawberry

[ Objective] This study aimed to investigate the tissue culture and rapid propagation techniques of Benihoppe strawberry. [ Method] Shoot tips of new stolons of Benihoppe strawberry were used as experimental materials to analyze the effects of media type, cytokinin type and concentration, carbon source type and concentration, and light intensity on tissue culture and propagation of Benihoppe strawberry. [ Result] MS was the optimal media for plantlet propagation. In the media containing 1.2 ing/L BA （with addition of 0.1 mg/L NAA）, fresh weight, dry weight and propagation coefficient of strawberry plantlets reached the maxi- mum, which were 2.259 g, 0. 221 g and 12.4, respectively. The optimal carbon source was 30 g/L sucrose, and the optimal light intensity was 1 600 lx. [ Conclu- sion] The best media for tissue culture and rapid propagation of Benihoppe strawberry was MS ＋ BA 1.2 mg/L ＋ NAA 0. 1 mg/L ＋ sucrose 30 g/L ＋ agar 8 g/L. This study provided scientific basis for large-scale production of Benihoppe strawberry.

Study on Tissue Culture and Adventitious Bud Induction of Eucheuma striatum

This study aimed to investigate the aseptic treatment and disinfection of E. striatum explants and the effects of three liquid culture medium （ PES, PESI, f/2） and plant hormones on adventitious bud induction from explants. The results showed that the vast majority of explants disinfected by combined treatment exhib- ited good growth and normal color with an average mortality rate of only 9%. E. striatum explants exhibited the best growth in PES liquid medium and the survival rate reached 66.67% at 40 d after culture. Under different concentrations （0.5, 2, 5 mg/L） of 6-BA, the induction rate ofE. striatum explants was significantly higher than that in control group, but no remarkable differences were found in the induction of adventitious buds from E. striatum explants. In PES liquid medium containing 6-BA and 2,4-D, the adventitious bud induction rate was 90% and the average number of induced adventitious buds was 6.63.

Study on Optimization of Culture Conditions for Wild Isaria cicadae Miquel Liquid Strain

[Objectives] To study the effect of different culture conditions on the growth of wild I. cicadae Miq. liquid strain. [Methods]The I. cicadae Miq. strain was inoculated into the liquid culture medium with different carbon sources,nitrogen sources,micronutrients and p H,cultured in the constant temperature shaking incubator with rotating speed of 120 r/min at 19℃,and the mycelium pellet diameter,density and weight were compared between different treatments. [Results] The results showed that the optimum components of I. cicadae Miq.strain liquid included soluble starch,milk powder and vitamin B_(12),and the optimum p H was 5. 0-6. 0. [Conclusions] Soluble starch was the most suitable carbon source for the culture medium of I. cicadae Miq. liquid strain; milk powder was the most suitable nitrogen source for the culture medium of I. cicadae Miq. liquid strain; the most suitable p H was 5. 0-9. 0 for the mycelial growth of I. cicadae Miq.; the formula and mixture ratio of the optimum culture medium for the growth of liquid strain were determined.