The biodiversity of the taxol-producing endophytic fungi,advantage of taxol production by microbe fermentation,isolation of endophytic fungi,and the separation,purification and determination of taxol in fermentation liquid were reviewed.The pathways to improve the production of taxol by endophytic fungi were also comprehensively discussed.

In order to obtain high beta-glucosidase productivity, we optimized the fermentation parameters for beta-glucosidase production by Aspergillus niger HDF05. First, we screened the important parameters by Plackeet-Burman design. Second, we used the path of steepest ascent to approach to the biggest response region of parameters affecting beta-glucosidase production. Then, we obtained the optimal parameters by central composite design and response surface analysis. We developed a quadratic polynomial equation for predicting beta-glucosidase production level. The results showed that the important parameters were temperature, packing volume, concentrations of wheat bran and (NH4)2SO4. The optimal fermentation parameters were as follows: temperature 28 degrees C, packing volume 71.4 mL/250 mL, wheat bran 36 g/L and (NH4)2SO4 5.5 g/L. Under the optimal conditions, we obtained the maximum enzyme activity of 60.06 U/mL, with an increase of 23.9% compared to the original fermentation parameters. During enzymatic hydrolysis of acid-pretreated corncob, addition of beta-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger HDF05 greatly reduced the inhibition caused by cellobiose, and the hydrolysis yield was improved from 66.7% to 80.4%.
Ammonium Sulfate ; pharmacology ; Aspergillus niger ; enzymology ; growth & development ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Fermentation ; Industrial Microbiology ; Temperature ; beta-Glucosidase ; biosynthesis

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of antofloxacin hydrochloride tablet for the treatment of acute bacterial infections. Methods A multi-center randomized control, double blind and double dummy clinical trial was conducted; levofloxacin tablet was chosed as controlled drug. The duration of treatment was 7-14 days in both groups. Results A total of 719 patients were enrolled in the study, in which 359 patients treated with antofloxacin and 360 patients treated with levofloxacin were included. Three hundred and thirty and 337 patients completed the study and met with all the criteria for perprotocol analysis, respectively. By the end of chemotherapy, the cured rates in per protocol set (PPS)population were 79.7% and 77.4%, the effective rates were 95.2% and 96. 7%, and the bacterial clearance were 96. 7% and 97. 5% for the treating and control group, respectively. The clinical and bacterial efficacy of antofloxacin and levofloxacin was comparable by the analysis of infectious sites. Three hundred and fifty-seven and 356 patients in antofloxacin and levofloxacin groups were evaluated the safety.The drug adverse events occurred both in 10. 1%, and drug adverse reactions accurred in 7. 8% and 7.9%patients in the two groups. The most common drug adverse reactions were mild gastroenteric symptoms. No QTc prologation was detected in all the patients. One patient in each group had mild blood glucose increase at the end of therapy, but the glucose returned to normal level without any intervention. No statistic significant difference between the two groups in clinical efficacy and safety was detected (P＞0.05).Conclusions Antofloxacin hydrochloride tablet was effective and safe for the treatment of acute bacterial infections.

Plackett-Burman (PB) design and central composite design (CCD) were applied to optimize of xylose fermentation for ethanol production by Candida shehatae HDYXHT-01. The PB results showed that (NH4)2SO4, KH2PO4, yeast extract and inoculum volume were the main affecting factors. With ethanol productivity as the target response, the optimal fermentation was determined by CCD and response surface analysis (RSM). The optimal fermentation conditions were (NH4)2SO4 1.73 g/L, KH2PO4 3.56 g/L, yeast extract 2.62 g/L and inoculum volume 5.66%. Other fermentation conditions were xylose 80 g/L, MgSO47H20 0.1 g/L, pH 5.0 and 250 mL flask containing 100 mL medium and cultivated at 30 degrees C for 48 h and the agitation speed was 140 r/min. Under this fermentation conditions, ethanol productivity was 26.18 g/L, which was 1.15 times of the initial.
Candida ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Industrial Microbiology ; Xylose ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the resistance of clinical Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates from 15 hospitals in several regions of China during 2011.Methods Fifteen repre-sentative general hospitals were involved in this program. Bacterial susceptibility testing was carried out by means of a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method and MIC determi-nation.Results were analyzed according to CLSI 2011 break-points.Results Majority (93.3%) of the 1 889 clinical strains of S.maltophilia were isolated from inpatients.On-ly 6.7% of the isolates were from outpatients.About 62.9% of these S .maltophilia strains were isolated from old patients whose age was 60 years or older.Only 8.2% of the strains were from the patients younger than 18 years old.Sputum and re-spiratory tract secretion were the most common specimen source,accounting for 82.6%.Another 4.2% isolates were from blood,abdominal fluid and other sterile body fluids.The percentage of the S .maltophilia strain resistant to trimethoprim-sul-famethoxazole,levofloxacin and minocycline was 16.6%,10.0% and 1.8%,respectively.The strains resistant to cefopera-zone-sulbactam accounted for 19.0%.About 37.1% of the strains isolated from blood or sterile body fluids were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,significantly higher than the strains from urine or wound specimens (P < 0.01).Conclusions S.maltophilia strains are mainly isolated from inpatients.The most common source is sputum and other respiratory speci-mens.Most of the patients with S.maltophilia isolate are 60 years of age or older.The S.maltophilia strains are constitu-tively resistant to several antibacterial agents,but showed relatively lower resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,levo-floxacin and minocycline.Cefoperazone-sulbactam is still active against these strains.The antimicrobial therapy targeting S. maltophilia infections should be selected cautiously according to the results of antimicrobial resistance surveillance.

Intense utilization and mining of fossil fuels for energy production have resulted in environmental pollution and climate change. Compared to fossil fuels, microalgae is considered as a promising candidate for biodiesel production due to its fast growth rate, high lipid content and no occupying arable land. However, monocultural microalgae bear high cost of harvesting, and are prone to contamination, making them incompetent compared with traditional renewable energy sources. Co-culture system induces self-flocculation, which may reduce the cost of microalgae harvesting and the possibility of contamination. In addition, the productivity of lipid and high-value by-products are higher in co-culture system. Therefore, co-culture system represents an economic, energy saving, and efficient technology. This review aims to highlight the advances in the co-culture system, including the mechanisms of interactions between microalgae and other microorganisms, the factors affecting the lipid production of co-culture, and the potential applications of co-culture system. Finally, the prospects and challenges to algal co-culture systems were also discussed.
Biofuels ; Biomass ; Coculture Techniques ; Flocculation ; Microalgae

Objective To analyze the resistance proifle of bacterial strains isolated from geriatric patients in 17 hospitals across China from 2005 to 2014.Methods A total of 17 representative general hospitals were involved in this program. Bacterial susceptibility testing was carried out by means of a uniifed protocol using Kirby-Bauer method and MIC determination. The results were analyzed according to CLSI 2014 breakpoints.Results The proportion of the strains isolated from geriatric patients among all the clinical isolates increased with time from 30.0% in 2005 to 32.7% in 2014. A total of 159 888 clinical isolates were collected from geriatric patient during the period from 2005 to 2014, about 33.1% of the whole patient population. Gram negative organisms and gram positive cocci accounted for 77.1% (123 229/159 888) and 22.9% (36 659/159 888), respectively. Majority (92.8%, 148 376/159 888) of the isolates were from inpatients and more than half (55.2%, 88 201/159 888) of the isolates were from sputum or other respiratory tract specimens. Methicillin-resistant strains inS. aureus (MRSA) and coagulase negativeStaphylococcus (MRCNS) accounted for an average of 67.1% and 75.9%, respectively. The resistance rates of methicillin-resistant strains to β-lactams and other antimicrobial agents were much higher than those of methicillin-susceptible strains. No staphylococcal strains were found resistant to vancomycin, teicoplanin or linezolid. Some strains ofE. faecalis (0.4%) andE. faecium (4.6%) were resistant to vancomycin, which was higher than average national level (0.3%, 3.2%). Vancomycin-resistant strains ofE. faecalisandE. faecium were mainly VanA type and VanB type based on their phenotype. The prevalence of penicillin-susceptibleS. pneumoniae strains was 78.2%, slightly lower than the 95.0% in Chinese adults in year 2014. The prevalence of ESBLs-producing strains was 67.5% inE. coli, 40.4% inKlebsiella (K. pneumoniae andK. oxytoca) and 34.3% inProteus mirabilis isolates on average. The strains ofEnterobacteriaceae were still highly susceptible to carbapenems (<10% resistant), followed by amikacin and the beta-lactam and beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations. Overall, 35.9% and 33.0% of theP. aeruginosa strains were resistant to imipenem and meropenem. More than 50% of theA. baumannii strains were resistant to imipenem and meropenem. The prevalence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR)P. aeruginosa (4.0%-1.8%) was higher than the average national level (2.1%-1.6%). The prevalence of XDR A. baumannii (19.2%-15.5%) and XDREnterobacteriaceae (0.1%-1.0%) was lower than the average national level (21.4%-19.7% and 0.3%-3.2%).Conclusions The proportion of clinical isolates from geriatric patients is different from average national level at the same period. The isolates from geriatric patients are more likely from inpatients, respiratory tract specimens and more likely non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli compared to average national level. The proportion of fastidious bacteria andEnterobacteriaceae species is generally lower than average national level. MRSA, VRE, ESBLs-producing strains and XDRP. aeruginosa are more prevalent in geriatric patients than in general Chinese patient population. This study suggests that surveillance of antimicrobial resistance for the clinical isolates from geriatric patients is very important for rational antimicrobial therapy.

Objective To investigate the distribution and changing resistance proifle ofSalmonella isolates in hospitals across China during the period from January 2005 to December 2014.Methods Seventeen general hospitals and two children’s hospitals were involved in this program. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out by means of a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or MIC determination. The results were analyzed according to CLSI 2014 breakpoints.Results The proportion ofSalmonella isolates increased with time from 0.2% in 2005 to 0.7% in 2014. A total of 3 478Salmonella strains were collected from 19 hospitals. The proportion ofSalmonella typhimurium andSalmonella enteritidis was 27.4% and 24.4%, respectively. During the 10-year period, theSalmonella strains showed highest resistance rate to ampicillin (33.3%-64.8%), but low resistance to cefoperazone-sulbactam (0-5.3%) and ciprofloxacin (2.4%-14.3%).S. typhimurium showed higher resistance rate thanS. typhi,S. paratyphi andS. enteritidis. About 76.8% and 50.5% ofS. typhimurium were resistant to ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The average prevalence of multi-drug resistantSalmonellawas 3.9% in the ten-year period, the highest (7.5%) was in 2005, the lowest (1.5%) in 2013.Conclusions During the period from 2004 to 2015, majority of theSalmonella isolates in hospitals across China wasS. typhimurium andS. enteritidis. Ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole are no longer appropriate for empirical treatment ofS. typhimurium infection due to high resistance rate.Salmonella isolates are relatively more susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins and quinolones. Ongoing monitoring is necessary to identify multi-drug resistant strains ofSalmonella.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antibiotic resistance proifle of clinicalEnterobacter isolates using the data from CHINET during the period from 2005 through 2014.Methods A total of 20 558 clinical strains ofEnterobacter spp. were collected from 2005 to 2014 in CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed with Kirby-Bauer or minimum inhibitory concentration method. The results were analyzed according to CLSI 2014 breakpoints.ResultsEnterobacter cloacae andEnterobacter aerogenes accounted for 71.1% (14 617/20558) and 20.1% (4 129/20 558) of all theEnterobacterisolates, respectively. The proportion ofEnterobacter spp. increased with time from 3.5% in 2005 to 4.3% in 2014. The main source of the isolates was respiratory tract, accounting for 55.2% (11 358/20 558). More than 90% of theEnterobacterisolates were resistant to cefazolin and cefoxitin, but less than 30% of the strains were resistant to cefepime, piperacillin-tazobactam, cefoperazone-sulbactam, amikacin, gentamicin, ciprolfoxacin, meropenem, imipenem and ertapenem. TheEnterobacterisolates showed a trend of declining resistance to most antibiotics except ertapenem and meropenem. The resistance proifle ofEnterobacterisolates varied with departments where they were isolated. The strains from ICU and Department of Surgery were relatively more resistant to antibiotics. The prevalence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains was decreasing, but the prevalence of carbapenem-resistantEnterobacter (CRE, resistant to any of imipenem, meropenem or ertapenem) was increasing. The MDR and CRE strains were primarily isolated from ICU and Department of Surgery. At least 30% of the MDREnterobacter strains were resistant to any of the antimicrobial agents tested except meropenem, imipenem and ertapenem and at least 35% of the CRE strains were resistant to any of the antimicrobial agents tested except amikacin and ciprolfoxacin.Conclusions TheEnterobacter isolates in CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program showed decreasing resistance to most of the antimicrobial agents tested since 2011, but the prevalence of CRE strains increased progressively. Effective measures should be carried out to prevent the spread of CRE strains in hospitals.

Objective To evaluate the changing pattern of antibiotic resistance inKlebsiella strains isolated from the patients in 19 hospitals across China based on the data from CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program during the period from 2005 through 2014.Methods Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion and automated susceptibility testing methods were used to test the susceptibility ofKlebsiella isolates to the commonly used antibiotics. The results were interpreted according to the criteria of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (CLSI-2014).Results A total of 61 406Klebsiella strains were identified between 2005 and 2014, includingK. pneumoniae (56 281 strains), K. oxytoca(4 779),Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp.Ozaenae (300) and otherKlebsiella species (46). Most (89.0%, 54 664/61 406) of theKlebsiella strains were isolated from inpatients, and 60.0% (36 835/61 406) were from respiratory tract speciems. About 16.7% (10 248/61 406) of the strains were isolated from pediatric patients aged 0-17 years and 83.3% (51 158/61 406) from adult patients. The prevalence ofKlebsiella spp. increased with time from 10.1% in 2005 to 14.3% in 2014. Based on the surveillance data during the 10-year period, we found a marked increase of resistance to imipenem (2.9% to 10.5%) and meropenem (2.8% to 13.4%) inKlebsiella spp. The prevalence of ESBLs-producing isolates inK. pneumoniae andK. oxytoca decreased from 39.0% in 2005 to 30.1% in 2014. The resistance to amikacin, ceftazidime, ciprolfoxacin, pipracillin-tazobactam and cefoperazone-sulbactam was on decline. The resistance rate to cefotaxime remained high about 49.5%. Carbapenem resistantance was identiifed in 5 796 (9.4%) of the isolates, including 5 492 strains ofK. pneumoniae and 280 strains ofK. oxytoca. Overall, 4 740 (7.8%) strains were identiifed as extensively-drug resistant (XDR), including 4 520 strains ofK. pneumoniae and 202 strains ofK. oxytoca. The carbapenem-resistant strains showed high (>60%) resistance rate to majority of the antimicrobial agents tested, but relatively low resistance to tigecycline (16.8%), amikacin (54.4%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (55.5%).Conclusions During the 10-year period from 2005 through 2014, carbapenem resistance amongKlebsiella isolates has increased dramatically in the hospitals across China. The level of resistance to other antibiotics remains stable.