Oxidative cyclization of prodigiosin by an alkylglycerol monooxygenase-like enzyme

Prodiginines, which are tripyrrole alkaloids displaying a wide array of bioactivities, occur as linear and cyclic congeners. Identification of an unclustered biosynthetic gene led to the discovery of the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the regiospecific C-H activation and cyclization of prodigiosin to cycloprodigiosin in Pseudoalteromonas rubra. This enzyme is related to alkylglycerol monooxygenase and unrelated to RedG, the Rieske oxygenase that produces cyclized prodiginines in Streptomyces, implying convergent evolution

Multiplex PCR for Identification of Vibrio cholerae Genes

Cholera has re-emerged as a major infectious disease in the recent past, with a global increase in its incidence. This study was focused on Prevalence of ace, tcpA, zot and ctxA genes in Vibrio cholerae strains associated cholera epidemic in 2005, Iran. Number of Thirty-nine strains of Vibrio cholerae Mated to cholera epidemic obtained from different provinces in 2005 in Iran. All the isolates identified by using standard bacteriological methods. Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction performed for identification of ctxa,tcpa,ace,zot. All the isolates were inaba O1, Of thirty nine inaba 100 were positive for ace and zot,89.74 presented ctxa and 84.61 showed tcpA. It was found that zot and ace genes in all strains, ctxA genes was found in 89/74 per cent and tcpA genes in 84.6 per cent of strains. It has been suggested that the control of cholera epidemics is too big a task for a national diarrheal diseases control programmed. Although this may be true in the case of extensive epidemics, it should not be forgotten that large outbreaks of this kind are often the result of initial delays in detection and containment. A properly organized national control programmed provides the framework for quick detection and prompt containment and is the best means of ensuring preparedness for cholera control

Crude bacterial extracts of two new Streptomyces sp isolates as bio-colorants for textile dyeing

Renewed demand for incorporation of natural dyes (bio-colorants) in textile industry could be met through biotechnological production of bacterial pigments. Two new Streptomyces strains (NP2 and NP4) were isolated for the remarkable ability to produce diffusible deep blue and deep red pigment into fermentation medium. Crude mycelial extracts of both strains were used as bio-colorants in conventional textile dyeing procedures avoiding downstream purification procedures. The yields of bio-colorants obtained in this way were 62 and 84 mg per g of mycelia for Streptomyces sp. NP2 and Streptomyces sp. NP4, respectively. Through nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of crude extracts before and after dyeing procedures, it was shown that both extracts contained prodigiosin-like family of compounds that exhibited different dyeing capabilities towards different textile fibers. Polyamide and acrylic fibers were colored to the deepest shade, polyester and triacetate fibers to a noticeable, but much lower shade depth, while cotton and cellulosic fibers stained weakly. These results confirmed that crude bacterial extracts had the characteristics similar to those of ionic and disperse dyes, which was consistent with the identified polypyrrolic prodigiosin-like structures