title: A novel finding that Streptomyces clavuligerus can produce the antibiotic clavulanic acid using olive oil as a sole carbon source.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to establish whether commercially available food oils can be used by Streptomyces clavuligerus as sole carbon sources for growth and clavulanic acid production.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Batch cultures in bioreactors showed that Strep. clavuligerus growth and clavulanic acid yields in a P-limited medium containing 0.6% (v/v) olive oil were respectively 2.5- and 2.6-fold higher than in a glycerol-containing medium used as control. Glycerol- and olive oil-grown cells present different macromolecular composition, particularly lipid and protein content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Streptomyces clavuligerus uses olive oil as the sole carbon and energy source for growth and clavulanic acid production. Yields and production rates in olive oil are comparable to those reported for oil-containing complex media. Differences in yields and in the macromolecular composition indicate that different metabolic pathways convert substrate into product.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report of oils being used as the sole carbon source by Strep. clavuligerus. Apart from economic benefits, interesting questions are raised about Strep. clavuligerus physiology. Defined culture media allow physiological studies to be performed in the absence of interference by other compounds. Understanding how Strep. clavuligerus catabolises oils may have an economic impact in clavulanic acid production.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Efthimiou
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Thumser
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Avignone-Rossa
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D019818:Clavulanic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003470:Culture Media; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000378:metabolism*; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D019818:Clavulanic Acid; D005990:Glycerol