The kinetics of immobilized cells of Brevibacterium ammoniagenes MA-2 and Brevibacterium flavum MA-3 cells were studied. By means of both a theoretical analysis of diffusion in the gel particles and an experimental determination of apparent kinetic parameters, the intrinsic kinetic parameters of immobilized cells of B. ammoniagenes MA-2 and B. flavum MA-3 cells were obtained.
Brevibacterium ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; physiology ; Kinetics

A 52-year-old man undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis presented with two consecutive episodes of peritonitis caused by unusual organisms, namely, Brevibacterium and Pantoea agglomerans. The patient was successfully treated with a 2-week course of cefazolin and ceftazidime for the Brevibacterium-associated peritonitis, and a 3-week course of gentamicin for the P. agglomerans-associated peritonitis. Although these environmental organisms are rarely responsible for human infection, the number of reported cases of human infection by these unusual organisms has increased. This report emphasizes the potential for infection by environmental organisms in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.
Brevibacterium ; Cefazolin ; Ceftazidime ; Gentamicins ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pantoea ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Peritonitis

We describe here a case of central venous catheter (CVC)-related bacteremia caused by Microbacterium species in a 14-year-old patient, who had received chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. All nine blood cultures obtained from admission day 2 to day 62 yielded the same yellow-pigmented coryneform rod. Both Vitek 2 (bioMerieux, USA) and MicroScan (Dade Behring, USA) identified the isolate as Micrococcus species, and the API Coryne (bioMerieux, France) identified the isolate as Rhodococcus or Brevibacterium species. However, the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed a 99% identity with Microbacterium species. The bacteremia was recurrent or persistent over 60 days despite alternate systemic antibiotic therapy, but blood culture became negative after an addition of teicoplanin lock therapy for eradicating CVC-related bacteremia. This represents the first report of CVC-related Microbacterium bacteremia cured by antibiotic lock therapy in Korea.
Adolescent ; Bacteremia ; Brevibacterium ; Central Venous Catheters ; Genes, rRNA ; Humans ; Micrococcus ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Rhodococcus ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Teicoplanin

Brevibacterium spp. are Gram-positive, irregularly rod-shaped, strictly aerobic bacteria that resemble corynebacteria. Since they are a part of normal skin flora, they have been regarded as apathogenic, and human infections related to them are very rare. A 46-year-old man previously diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presented with fever without a definitive infectious source. Blood cultures from both peripheral blood and a central venous catheter showed that only aerobic bottles grew contaminants, while anaerobic bottles did not. Although the automated microbial identification system indicated Propionibacterium acnes, the isolated species was identified as B. casei by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Our case emphasizes the utilization of 16S rRNA sequence analysis when the result from an automated system does not correspond with other laboratory findings. This is the first case of catheter-related blood stream infection due to B. casei identified by 16S rRNA sequence analysis.
Bacteria, Aerobic ; Brevibacterium* ; Central Venous Catheters ; Fever ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Middle Aged ; Propionibacterium acnes* ; Rivers ; Sequence Analysis ; Skin

NAD kinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of coenzyme I [NAD(H)] to form coenzyme II [NADP(H)], and NADPH is an important cofactor in L-isoleucine biosynthesis. In order to improve NADPH supply, ppnK, the gene encoding NAD kinase in Corynebacterium glutamicum was cloned and separately expressed in an L-isoleucine synthetic strain, Brevibacterium lactofermentum JHI3-156, by an inducible expression vector pDXW-8 and a constitutive expression vector pDXW-9. Compared with the control strain JHI3-156/pDXW-8, NAD kinase activity of the inducible ppnK-expressing strain JHI3-156/pDXW-8-ppnK was increased by 83.5%. NADP(H)/NAD(H) ratio was also increased by 63.8%. L-isoleucine biosynthesis was improved by 82.9%. Compared with the control strain JHI3-156/pDXW-9, NAD kinase activity of the constitutive ppnK-expressing strain JHI3-156/pDXW-9-ppnK was increased by 220%. NADP(H)/ NAD(H) ratio and NADPH concentration were increased by 134% and 21.7%, respectively. L-isoleucine biosynthesis was increased by 41.7%. These results demonstrate that NAD kinase can improve the coenzyme II supply and L-isoleucine biosynthesis, which would also be useful for biosynthesis of other amino acids.
Brevibacterium ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Corynebacterium glutamicum ; enzymology ; Isoleucine ; biosynthesis ; Metabolic Engineering ; NAD ; metabolism ; NADP ; metabolism ; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Brevibacterium spp. are gram-positive rods that are considered to be strictly nonpathogenic, and a very few cases of their infection in humans have been reported. In this study, we report a case of otitis caused by Brevibacterium otitidis. A 53-year-old woman, who visited the hospital, complained of symptoms, such as otorrhea from both ears, ear fullness, tinnitus, and hearing impairment, for several months. Ear discharge was cultured on blood agar for pathogen identification. Bacteria from the isolated colony were initially identified as Actinomyces odontolyticus by VITEK 2 (bioMerieux, France), whereas VITEK® MS (bioMerieux, France) identified them as Brevibacterium luteolum. Subsequently, bacteria from the isolated colony were confirmed as B. otitidis by 16S rRNA sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing confirmed their sensitivity to vancomycin and linezolid and resistance to clindamycin and penicillin. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of otitis caused by B. otitidis in Korea.
Actinomyces ; Agar ; Bacteria ; Brevibacterium ; Clindamycin ; Ear ; Female ; Gram-Positive Rods ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Korea ; Linezolid ; Middle Aged ; Otitis ; Penicillins ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Tinnitus ; Vancomycin