Study of clavulanic acid production by Streptomyces clavuligerus immobilized in chrysotile

• Grant number: 05/05174-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2006
• End date: January 14, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Alberto Colli Badino Junior
• Grantee: Mariana Sardelli Pinha
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Clavulanic acid (CA) is a potent inhibitor of beta-lactamases, enzymes that deactivate penicillins and cephalosporins by hydrolyzing the beta-lactam ring. CA is traditionally produced by Streptomyces clavuligerus in batch and fed-batch cultures with free cells in conventional bioreactors. The aim of the present project is to study the production of clavulanic acid by Streptomyces clavuligerus immobilized in chrysotile, a fibrous mineral composed of magnesium silicate, which have been employed with success as immobilization support for cells in other important bioprocesses. The immobilization of S. clavuligerus with different concentrations of chrysotile as well as the production of clavulanic acid will be evaluated in batch and repeated batch cultivations in shake flasks with culture media containing soluble and insoluble nitrogen sources. Finally, the best experimental condition in shaker, in terms of production and productivity of clavulanic acid, will be studied in airlif bioreactor of 5 liters working volume.