Initial rates of ferrous iron transport into Bifidobacterium bifidum var. pennsylvanicus were measured at low and high iron concentrations. The low affinity system (LAFIUS) had an apparent Km of 167 microM, the high affinity system (HAFIUS) had a Km of 50 microM. Iron removal from preloaded bifidobacteria revealed the existence of a labile and an inert iron pool in the bacterial cells. Iron uptake by the bifidobacteria was associated with lactate production, though lactate production could continue without iron uptake. Cessation of iron uptake and lactate production was not because of an exhaustion of any nutrient nor the accumulation of fermentation end products in the medium. It was apparently the result of an inactivation of the cellular enzyme machinery without replacing it through normal biosynthetic processes.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Optimal design of an enzymatic reactor for flow injection analysis.

A simulation procedure for the optimization of enzymatic reactors used in sandwich flow injection systems is evaluated. The system is modeled as a plug-flow reactor with axial dispersion. To calibrate it, dispersion coefficients can be evaluated using residence time distribution techniques; meanwhile, enzymatic kinetics must be determined for the system considered, according to the values of the substrate conversion attained. The model has been linked to an optimization routine based on the Powell algorithm. The proposed approach has been evaluated in a system performing simultaneous determinations of glucose and glycerol, considered the common carbon sources in a fermentation process.

Biotechnology↗