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Biomedical subjects

Wei Cong

Publications and source records attributed to Wei Cong.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Degradation and decolorization of monosodium glutamate wastewater with Coriolus versicolor.

Degradation and decolorization of monosodium glutamate wastewater (MSGW) with Coriolus versicolor were firstly carried out. The effects of various operation parameters namely wastewater concentrations, pH, culture time and incidence of sterilization on maximum percentage of degradation and decolorization of wastewater were investigated. Studies of mycelium and enzyme for C. versicolor degradation and decolorization were estimated in this study. Ten percentage of wastewater concentration and pH = 5.0 were found to be the most suitable ones among the other experiments. The highest degradation and decolorization efficiency of wastewater was obtained at the fifth day of cultivation, which was displayed with more than 70% chemical oxygen demand removal, 83% total sugar removal and 55% color removal, respectively. Sterile operation had no remarkable effect on the degradation and decolorization efficiency for C. versicolor. Mycelium and the extra cellular fungal enzyme were both necessary for the degradation and decolorization of MSGW. C. versicolor possesses great potential and economic advantages in MSGW treatment.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed2006

Synergic treatment for monosodium glutamate wastewater by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Coriolus versicolor.

Biodegradation and decolorization of monosodium glutamate wastewater were carried out by using an acidophilus yeast strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Coriolus versicolor. For the yeast treatment, the highest COD removal and reducing sugar removal efficiency were 76.6% and 80.2%, respectively. The color removal was only 2%. For C. versicolor treatment, the highest COD removal, color removal and reducing sugar removal efficiencies were 78.7%, 56.5% and 90.9%, respectively. The synergic treatment process, in which the yeast and C. versicolor were successively applied,exhibited great advantage over the individual process.

Agaricales↗
PubMed2005

Nitrate and phosphate supplementation to increase toxin production by the marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense.

Alexandrium tamarense toxins have great value in biotechnology research as well as important in connection with shellfish poisoning. The influence of nitrate or nitrate and phosphate supplementation on cell biomass and toxin content were investigated in batch cultures. When cultures at low nitrate (88.2 microM NaNO(3)) were supplemented with 793.8 microM NaNO(3) at day 10 the cell density and cellular toxin contents were increased by 6-29% and 20-76%, respectively, compared with controls, and maximal values were 43,600 cells/ml (day 38) and 0.91 pg/cell (day 31). Supplementation with nitrate at day 14 or with nitrate and phosphate at day 10/14 to the cultures did not increase the cell density compared with the non-supplemented middle nitrate or high phosphate (108 microM NaH(2)PO(4)) cultures, respectively, but increased the cellular toxin contents by an average of 52%. The results showed that supplementation with nitrate or with nitrate and phosphate at different growth phases of the cultures increased toxin yield by an average of 46%. Supplementation with nitrate at selected times to maintain continuous low level of nitrate might contribute to the effective increase of toxin yield of A. tamarense.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Modelling the production of nisin by Lactococcus lactis in fed-batch culture.

Nisin production in batch culture and fed-batch cultures (sucrose feeding rates were 6, 7, 8, and 10 g l(-1) h(-1), respectively) by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis ATCC 11454 was investigated. Nisin production showed primary metabolite kinetics, and could be improved apparently by altering the feeding strategy. The nisin titer reached its maximum, 4,185 IU ml(-1), by constant addition of sucrose at a feeding rate of 7 g l(-1) h(-1); an increase in 58% over that of the batch culture (2,658 IU ml(-1)). Nisin biosynthesis was affected strongly by the residual sucrose concentration during the feeding. Finally, a mathematical model was developed to simulate the cell growth, sucrose consumption, lactic acid production and nisin production. The model was able to describe the fermentation process in all cases.

Culture Media↗
PubMed2004

Growth characteristics and eicosapentaenoic acid production by Nannochloropsis sp. in mixotrophic conditions.

Nannochloropsis sp. was grown under mixotrophic conditions with 30 mM glucose as carbon source, reaching 507 mg dry wt l(-1) after 8 d. This was 1.4-fold of that obtained under photoautotrophic conditions. Under mixotrophic and photoautotrophic cultivations, the net photosynthetic rate of Nannochloropsis sp. did not change but the respiratory rate increased in the mixotrophic cultivation. The yield of eicosapentaenoic acid was 22 mg l(-1) in the mixotrophic cultivation and 20 mg l(-1) under the photoautotrophic cultivation.

Bioreactors↗
PubMed2004

Utilization of nitrite as a nitrogen source by Botryococcus braunii.

Nitrite at 2 mM did not affect the growth of Botryococcus braunii and served as the sole nitrogen source giving a minimum biomass doubling time of 4.2 d, which was equal to that of the culture using 4 mM nitrate as nitrogen source. With nitrite at 4 mM, after a lag phase of about 10 d, the alga grew quickly, reaching 1.1 g l(-1) at the end. Respective nitrite removals were 100% and 99.7%. There were few differences in the hydrocarbons produced using different nitrogen sources.

Bioreactors↗
PubMed2004

Improved use of organic phosphate by Skeletonema costatum through regulation of Zn2+ concentrations.

The maximum growth rate (1.4-2 x 10(5) cells ml(-1) d(-1)), cell final yields (2.6-5.2 x 10(5) cells ml(-1)) and extracellular alkaline phosphatase activity (2.4-10.6 microg phosphate released ml(-1) h(-1)) of the red tide alga, Skeletonema costatum, increased when Zn2+ was increased from 0 to 24 pM, but decreased with 66 pM Zn2+ in growth medium with glycerophosphate as the sole phosphorus source. Extracellular carbonic anhydrase activity and the affinity for HCO3- and CO2 uptake increased when Zn2+ was increased from 0 to 12 pM, but then decreased at higher concentrations. The results suggested that utilization of organic phosphate required more Zn2+ than the uptake of inorganic carbon did, while utilization of dissolved inorganic carbon by Skeletonema costatum was very sensitive to Zn2+ concentration variations.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed2004

Growth and fatty acid composition of Nannochloropsis sp. grown mixotrophically in fed-batch culture.

The cell growth and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) yields of Nannochloropsis sp. were enhanced in the fed-batch cultures. With feeding glucose solution, the biomass reached 1.1 g dry wt l(-1) after 10 days' culture, which was 40% higher than that obtained in the batch culture (0.8 g dry wt l(-1)). With supplement of nitrate solution, the biomass reached 1 g dry wt l(-1), and reached the stationary phase 2 days earlier than the others. The maximum of biomass (1.2 g dry wt l(-1)) was obtained with the supplement of the mixture of glucose and nitrate solution. The EPA yields of Nannochloropsis sp. after 10 days' growth in the fed-batch cultures were 52 mg l(-1), 43 mg l(-1) and 56 mg l(-1) with, respectively, addition of nitrate, glucose and both together. In batch culture only 35 mg EPA l(-1) was obtained.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Interactions between organic and inorganic carbon sources during mixotrophic cultivation of Synechococcus sp.

Glucose at 3 g l(-1) markedly accelerated growth of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. The net photosynthesis rate was 263 micromol O2 (mg Chl a h)(-1) for mixotrophic culture and 146 micromol O2 (mg Chl a h)(-1) for photoautotrophic culture. Additing 1 g NaHCO3 l(-1) to the glucose-supplemented culture enhanced the photosynthetic rate by 18%, and the total carbon consumption rate was raised to 2.5 mg l(-1) (mg chl a h)(-1) from a previously negative value. An interaction between organic and inorganic carbon metabolism was established.

Carbon Compounds, Inorganic↗
PubMed2003

Biooxidation of ferrous iron by immobilized Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogel carriers.

PVA-cryogels entrapping about 10(9) cells of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans per ml of gel were prepared by freezing-thawing procedure, and the biooxidation of Fe2+ by immobilized cells was investigated in a 0.365 l packed-bed bioreactor. Fe2+ oxidation fits a plug-flow reaction model well. A maximum oxidation rate of 3.1 g Fe2+ l(-1) h(-1) was achieved at the dilution rate of 0.4 h(-1) or higher, while no obvious precipitate was determined at this time. In addition, cell-immobilized PVA-cryogels packed in bioreactor maintained their oxidative ability for more than two months under non-sterile conditions.

Bioreactors↗
PubMed2003

Growth and photosynthesis limitation of marine red tide alga Skeletonema costatum by low concentrations of Zn2+.

The specific growth rate, cell final yields and extracellar carbonic anhydrase activity of the red tide alga Skeletonema costatum increased with increasing concentrations of Zn2+ from 0 to 12 pM, but decreased when Zn2+ was over 24 pM. However, cells grown under high concentrations of Zn2+ had higher activities of intracellular carbonic anhydrase than those grown under low concentrations of Zn2+. Chlorophyll a-specific light-saturated photosynthetic rate (P(Chla)), dark respiration rate (R(chla)) and apparent photosynthetic efficiency (alpha(chla)) significantly increased with increasing concentrations of Zn2+ from 0 to 3 pM, but decreased when increasing concentrations of Zn2+ from 3 to 66 pM. Photorespiration is the lowest when cells cultured in 3 pM Zn2+. The results suggest physiological activity of Skeletonema costatum is very sensitive to the prevailing concentration of Zn2+.

Carbonic Anhydrases↗
PubMed2003

[Response of Prorocentrum minimum growth to zinc limitation].

Studies on the growth and physiological response of red tide alga Prorocentrum minimum to three Zn2+ levels were showed that the specific growth rate and biomass were limited in low Zn(2+)-grown cells (1.4 pmol.L-1, which were 0.40 d-1 and 51,100 cell.ml-1 respectively. The specific growth rate was not significantly different when the Zn2+ concentration in medium was increased over 24.4 pmol.L-1, but there was a slight decrease in biomass; however, both specific growth rate and biomass were much higher than those in low Zn(2+)-grown cells. It was also showed that chlorophyll a synthesis was limited due to Zn2+ deficient, and therefore, the cells became light saturated at higher irradiance under Zn-limited condition. Light-saturated photosynthetic rates (Pm) and photosynthetic efficiency (alpha) increased significantly with increasing Zn2+ concentrations. It was concluded that Zn2+ concentration might be one of the key factors affecting red tide blooms in eutrophication environment.

Biomass↗
PubMed2003

[Nitrogen and phosphorus absorption and growth characteristics of Alexandrium tamarense].

The uptake of nitrate and phosphate by Alexandrium tamarense and its growth characteristics were studied in laboratory cultures, which were conducted using environmentally realistic levels of physical factors during red tide occurrences. The results indicated that the specific growth rate had little difference under three nitrate levels (low-nitrate, 0.0882 mmol.L-1; middle-nitrate, 0.882 mmol.L-1; high-nitrate, 2.646 mmol.L-1). The cell yield was the lowest at low-nitrate, a maximum yield was achieved at the middle-nitrate, which increased by 44.7% and 53.6% respectively, compared with high-nitrate and low-nitrate. The cell yield increased with increasing phosphate concentrations in cultures (low-phosphate, 0.0036 mmol.L-1; middle-phosphate, 0.036 mmol.L-1; high-phosphate, 0.108 mmol.L-1), and the maximum yield (17200 cell.ml-1) was observed at high-phosphate concentration, while the maximum specific growth rate occurred at middle-phosphate. The growth conditions had a significant effect on the uptake rate of nitrate and phosphate by cells, and the cells grown in low-nitrate and low-phosphate cultures had a higher uptake rate. Further experiment suggested that lower ratio of N/P promoted the propagation of cells, and the supplementation of nitrate at later exponential growth phase had a positive effect to the accumulation of biomass.

Absorption↗
PubMed2003

[Spectroscopic properties of Heterosigma akashiwo under iron limitation].

Room-temperature absorption spectra of H. akashiwo cells under iron limitation showed a chlorophyll c absorption peak at 630 nm, 2 nm blue-shifted from its normal position of 632 nm. Moreover, because of the increase in the relative carotenoid abundance compared to Chl a, there was an extra shoulder peak at 480 nm for the iron-limited cells. Their fluorescence spectra (77 K) have one prominent chlorophyll emission peak at 685 nm. By comparison with Fe-replete cells (10 mumol.L-1), the fluorescence yield from 685 nm band increased by about 2 times in Fe deplete cells (5 nmol.L-1), and about 1.4 times in low iron cells (100 nmol.L-1), respectively. 48 h after Fe addition, the height of 685 nm peak was considerably decreased from that observed in low iron (100 nmol.L-1) and iron deficient (ID) cells before Fe addition, which indicated that there was a significantly higher energy dissipation, and thus, a less effective photosynthesis under the lack of Fe.

Chlorophyll↗
PubMed2003

[Induction of biochemical composition in Heterosigma akashiwo under Fe stress].

The iron-stress mediated effects on biochemical constituents of red tide alga H. akashiwo were examined in Fe-replete and iron deficiency, and low iron batch cultures. The content of all pigments decreased under iron limitation, and the cellular chlorophyll a concentration decreased by more than 2-fold compared to that under iron replete condition. This change in Chl a was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in Chl c per cell, resulting in no trend in the ratio of Chl c to Chl a. The cellular carotenoids content decreased by more than 1.5-fold compared to that under iron replete condition. As a consequence, carotenoids/chlorophyll a ratio increased in Fe-deficient cells. Carbohydrate content was reduced under iron stress, and total proteins decreased with the decrease of iron concentration. A crude fractionation of the soluble proteins demonstrated that 17 kD and 55 kDa proteins in soluble fraction were induced.

Carotenoids↗
PubMed2002

Effect of Amorphophallus Konjac oligosaccharides on STZ-induced diabetes model of isolated islets.

Three oligosaccharide fractions from the root of Amorphophallus Konjac, which was reported with hypoglycemic effects on diabetes subjects, were isolated and studied using the STZ-treated diabetes model. Among them, one fraction named as KOS-A, was found with nitric oxide (NO(*)) free radical regulation effect, while the other two were not. At concentrations less than 1.5 mM, KOS-A positively decreased STZ-induced NO(*) level of islets, but normal NO(*) release for non-STZ-treated islets was not affected within the range. At 15 mM, KOS-A played a contrary role and increased NO(*) level for islets both with and without STZ-treatment. Islets insulin secretion changed corresponding to NO(*) level in the assay. Increased insulin secretion appeared parallel to the decrease of NO(*), and normal insulin release was not affected by KOS-A less than 1.5 mM. Structure determination of KOS-A shows that it is a tetrasaccharide with Mw of 666 Da and reductive end of alpha-D-mannose. These results indicate that low dosage of KOS-A, with its function on attenuating STZ-induced NO(*) level, doesn't alter normal NO(*) and insulin secretion pathways of isolated islets. The NO(*) attenuation function of KOS-A on the diabetes model is mainly resulted from environmental free radical scavenging by the oligosaccharide. Present results also imply the mechanism of clinical Amorphophallus Konjac hypoglycemic function maybe related with free radical attenuation and lower risks of islets damage from NO(*) radical.

Amorphophallus↗