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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Renewable Product Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #316956
Title: Production of novel types of antibacterial liamocins by diverse strains of Aureobasidium pullulans grown on different culture media

Author
item Leathers, Timothy
item Price, Neil
item Bischoff, Kenneth
item MANITCHOTPISIT, PENNAPA - Illinois State University
item Skory, Christopher - Chris

Submitted to: Biotechnology Letters
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2015
Publication Date: 6/26/2015
Citation: Leathers, T.D., Price, N.P.J., Bischoff, K.M., Manitchotpisit, P., Skory, C.D. 2015. Production of novel types of antibacterial liamocins by diverse strains of Aureobasidium pullulans grown on different culture media. Biotechnology Letters. 37(10):2075-2081. doi: 10.1007/s10529-015-1892-3.

Interpretive Summary: In this research, we compared production of certain antibacterial compounds, called “liamocins,” using different microbial strains and culture media. New methods are needed to improve production of antibacterial compounds. Results showed that the choice of microbial strain and culture medium affected both the yield and types of antibacterials produced. These results are important to researchers developing improved methods to produce antibacterial compounds.

Technical Abstract: Objective: The objective was to compare production of antibacterial liamocins by diverse strains of A. pullulans grown on different culture media. Results: Liamocins produced by strains of A. pullulans have potential agricultural and pharmaceutical applications as antibacterials with specificity against Streptococcus sp. Six strains of A. pullulans were characterized for liamocin production on four different culture media. The choice of strain and culture medium affected growth, liamocin yields, and production of contaminating pigments. Best growth and highest liamocin yields were obtained using A. pullulans strain NRRL 50384 grown on PM medium. Unexpectedly, the choice of strain and culture medium also affected the structure of liamocins produced, providing novel types of liamocins. Liamocins varied not only in the ratios of trimer and tetramer polyester tail groups, but also in the nature of the polyol headgroup, which could include mannitol, arabitol, or glycerol. Conclusions: The ability to conveniently produce novel types of liamocins in good yields will provide novel antibacterials for applied uses, and facilitate structure-function studies on the mechanism of antibacterial activity.