Induction of nucleoside phosphorylase in Enterobacter aerogenes and enzymatic synthesis of adenine arabinoside

Nucleoside phosphorylases (NPases) were found to be induced in Enterobacter aerogenes DGO-04, and cytidine and cytidine 5′-monophosphate (CMP) were the best inducers. Five mmol/L to fifteen mmol/L cytidine or CMP could distinctly increase the activities of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNPase), uridine phosphorylase (UPase) and thymidine phosphorylase (TPase) when they were added into medium from 0 to 8 h. In the process of enzymatic synthesis of adenine arabinoside from adenine and uracil arabinoside with wet cells of Enterobacter aerogenes DGO-04 induced by cytidine or CMP, the reaction time could be shortened from 36 to 6 h. After enzymatic reaction the activity of NPase in the cells induced remained higher than that in the cells uninduced.

Sepsis resulting from Enterobacter aerogenes resistant to carbapenems after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: Sepsis due to Enterobacter aerogenes (E. aerogenes) is rare after liver transplantation but is also a serious infection that may cause liver abscess. The purpose of this case report is to relate an unusual presentation of liver transplantation to show how successive treatment can be an appropriate option in septic patients after liver transplantation. METHOD: We report on a patient with liver transplantation who developed sepsis due to extended spectrum beta-lactamases and AmpC-producing E. aerogenes. RESULTS: A 39-year-old man had a biliary fistula and then was found to have multiple liver abscesses through abdominal ultrasound and an abdominal computed tomography scan, and carbapenem-sensitive E. aerogenes infection was confirmed. The patient was not successfully treated with conservative treatment consisting of intravenous carbapenems, percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage, and biliary stent placement by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, so a second liver transplantation followed. Carbapenem-resistant E. aerogenes was detected in bile and blood after a five-week course of carbapenem therapy. The patient developed septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: We first report an unusual case of sepsis caused by E. aerogenes after liver transplantation in China. Carbapenem-resistant E. aerogenes finally leads to uncontrolled sepsis with current antibiotics. We hypothesize that the infection developed as a result of biliary fistula and predisposing immunosuppressive agent therapy. Further research is progressing on the aspect of immunomodulation therapy. (Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2009; 8: 320-322)

Biodegradation of acrylamide by Enterobacter aerogenes isolated from wastewater in Thailand

A widespread use of acrylamide, probably a neurotoxicant and carcinogen, in various industrial processes has led to environmental contamination. Fortunately, some microorganisms are able to derive energy from acrylamide. In the present work, we reported the isolation and characterization of a novel acrylamide-degrading bacterium from domestic wastewater in Chonburi, Thailand. The strain grew well in the presence of acrylamide as 0.5% （W/V）, at pH 6.0 to 9,0 and 25℃. Identification based on biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence identified the strain as Enterobacter aerogenes. Degradation of acrylamide to acrylic acid started in the late logarithmic growth phase as a biomass-dependent pattern. Specificity of cell-free supernatant towards amides completely degraded butyramide and urea and 86% of lactamide. Moderate degradation took place in other amides with that by formanaide 〉 benzamide 〉 acetamide 〉 cyanoacetamide 〉 propionamide. No degradation was detected in the reactions of N,N-methylene bisacrylamide, sodium azide, thioacetamide, and iodoacetamide. These results highlighted the potential of this bacterium in the cleanup of acrylamide/amide in the environment.

Biodegradation of 2-methylquinoline by Enterobacter aerogenes TJ-D isolated from activated sludge

Bacterial strain Enterobacter aerogenes TJ-D capable of utilizing 2-methylquinoline as the sole carbon and energy source was isolated from acclimated activated sludge under denitrifying conditions. The ability to degrade 2-methylquinoline by E. aerogenes TJ-D was investigated under denitrifying conditions. Under optimal conditions of temperature （35°C） and initial pH 7, 2-methylquinoline of 100 mg/L was degraded within 176 hr. The degradation of 2-methylquinoline by E. aerogenes TJ-D could be well described by the Haldane model （R 2 〉 0.91）. During the degradation period of 2-methylquinoline （initial concentration 100 mg/L）, nitrate was almost completely consumed （the removal efficiency was 98.5%）, while nitrite remained at low concentration （〈 0.62 mg/L） during the whole denitrification period. 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-2-methylquinoline, 4-ethyl-benzenamine, N-butyl-benzenamine, N-ethyl-benzenamine and 2,6-diethyl-benzenamine were metabolites produced during the degradation. The degradation pathway of 2-methylquinoline by E. aerogenes TJ-D was proposed. 2-Methylquinoline is initially hydroxylated at C-4 to form 2-methyl-4-hydroxy-quinoline, and then forms 2-methyl-4-quinolinol as a result of tautomerism. Hydrogenation of the heterocyclic ring at positions 2 and 3 produces 2,3-dihydro-2-methyl-4-quinolinol. The carbon-carbon bond at position 2 and 3 in the heterocyclic ring may cleave and form 2-ethyl-N-ethyl-benzenamine. Tautomerism may result in the formation of 2,6-diethyl-benzenamine and N-butyl-benzenamine. 4- Ethyl-benzenamine and N-ethyl-benzenamine were produced as a result of losing one ethyl group from the above molecules.

Two-step Enzymatic Synthesis of Guanine Arabinoside

The chemical synthesis of Guanine arabinoside （ara-G） is extremely complex, time-consuming, and seriously polluted. A two-step enzymatic synthesis process was developed to acquire ara-G easily. 2,6-Diaminopurine arabinoside （ara-DA） was first synthesized with purine nucleoside phosphorylase and pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase produced by Enterobacter aerogenes DGW-07. The conversion yield of ara-DA could reach above 90% when the reaction liquid contained 30 mmol·L^-1 uracil arabinoside as arabinose donor, 10 mmol·L^- 1 2,6-diaminopurine as arabinose acceptor in pH 7.0 20 mmol·L^-1 phosphate buffer, and reacted at 60℃ for 48h. Then, ara-DA was effectively transformed into ara-G with adenylate deaminase produced by Aspergillus oryzae DAW-01. The total process had no complex separation and purification.