Enhanced protease production in a polymethylmethacrylate conico-cylindrical flask by two biofilm-forming bacteria.
A polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) conico-cylindrical flask (CCF) with an inner arrangement consisting of eight equidistantly spaced rectangular strips mounted radially on a circular disk to provide additional surface area for microbial attachment was employed for protease production by two biofilm-forming bacteria, an intertidal gamma-Proteobacterium (DGII) and a chicken meat isolate, Virgibacillus pantothenticus. The flask design allowed comparison of protease production during cultivation with a hydrophilic (glass) or hydrophobic (PMMA) surface. Compared to the Erlenmeyer flask, the CCF allowed protease production that was 30% and 35% higher and growth that was 20% and 345% higher for DGII and V. pantothenticus, respectively. Protease production increased by 202% and 22% and growth by 19,275% and 940% for DGII and V. pantothenticus, respectively, in the presence of a hydrophobic as compared to a hydrophilic surface. This investigation pioneers the application of a vessel beyond the traditional shake-flask for enhancing protease production by biofilm-formers.
School of Environmental Studies, Department of Chemical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India.
Sreyashi
S
Sarkar
Debashis
D
Roy
Joydeep
J
Mukherjee
D000332:Aerobiosis; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020563:Gammaproteobacteria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D058679:Virgibacillus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D010450:Endopeptidases