title: Novel assay for screening rifamycin B-producing mutants.
abstract: A simple method that allows easy identification of rifamycin B-producing strains is described. This method involves the use of an enzyme, rifamycin oxidase, which converts inactive rifamycin B to active rifamycin S. In this method, colonies to be tested are grown in pairs. The two colonies are then transferred to two plates seeded with a sensitive strain of Staphylococcus aureus, one plate of which contains the enzyme rifamycin oxidase. All paired colonies which show a larger inhibition zone diameter on the enzyme-containing plate are identified as rifamycin B producers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Vohra
mesh_terms: D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D009154:Mutation; D009615:Nocardia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012294:Rifamycins; C033974:rifamycin B