Study of polymer produced by fungi of Thailand and its potential as wound covering materials: Screening for biopolymer-producing fungi
2002
Kirtikara, K.(National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok (Thailand). National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology)
It has been reported that microorganisms could produce polymers including those that belong to the polysaccharide group. These polymers may be found inside the cells, attached to the cell walls or secreted outside the cells in soluble slime form. Microbial polymers have diverse applications depending on the types of sub-unit. From our observation of fungi cultured in the Fermentation Technology Laboratory at BIOTEC, we found that 147 strains of fungi produce metabolites that increase viscosity of culture broth. We hypothesized that this was caused by a production of biopolymer by the growing mycelia. In order to study the production and characteristics of these biopolymers, 16 strains of fungi were selected as representatives from each different genus. Each strain was cultured in PDB medium at room temperature (25 deg C) for 21 days. The samples in duplicate were examined every 3 days and subsequently pH, sugar content, and dry weight were determined. Biopolymers in broth were precipitated with cold ethanol and centrifugation. The polymer yields were in the range of 1-16 g/L. Cordyceps nipponica BCC 2092 gave the highest yield of polymer (15.71 g/L, 18 days). The pH changes were in the range of 3.0-7.0 and the amount of sugar consumption, as determined by the phenol-sulfuric acid method, were in the range of 60-99 original levels.
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