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LAB 6: Extraction of Plasmid DNA using GF-1 Plasmid DNA extraction Kit

INTRODUCTION

A plasmid is a DNA molecule that is separate from, and can replicate independently of, the chromosomal DNA. They are double-stranded and, in many cases, circular. Plasmids usually occur naturally in bacteria, but are sometimes found in eukaryotic organisms (e.g., the 2-micrometre-ring in Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
Plasmid sizes vary from 1 to over 1,000 kilobase pairs (kbp). The number of identical plasmids in a single cell can range anywhere from one to even thousands under some circumstances. Plasmids can be considered part of the mobilome because they are often associated with conjugation, a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer.
Extraction is an easy and quick way to purify DNA from a mixture of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids (e.g., a cell or bacterial lysate). The mixture is extracted with phenol or a 50/50 mixture of phenol and chloroform. The organic solvents have two effects: 1.) they dissolve hydrophobic molecules and 2.) they denature proteins (which makes them insoluble in water). As a result, cell membranes and cellular proteins are either dissolved in the phenol/CHCl3 (which is then discarded) or trapped in the interface between the two phases. DNA and RNA remain in the aqueous phase, and are easily separated.
The GF-1 Plasmid DNA Extraction Kit is designed for rapid and efficient purification of high copy and low copy plasmid DNA from bacterial lysates. This kit uses the alkaline lysis-SDS method to lyse cells and release plasmid DNA. Special buffers provided in the kit are optimized to enhance binding of DNA onto a specially-treated glass filter membrane for efficient recovery of highly pure plasmid DNA.
Among the features are it yields up to 20µg of DNA and multiple samples can be processed rapidly in less than 30 minutes.This process did not required organic-based extraction. It produced highly pure plasmid DNA ready to use for routine molecular biology applications such as restriction enzyme digestion, PCR, DNA sequencing, ligation, transformation and some mores.



Plasmid DNA Isolation Kits

RESULTS


Reading at 230 nm (OD230) = 0.241
Reading at 260 nm (OD260) = 0.389
Reading at 280 nm (OD280) = 0.195

To estimate the purity of the sample :
= Ratio of OD260/ OD280
= (0.389 ÷ 0.195)
= 1.995

To evaluate the level of salt carryover in the purified plasmid DNA :              
= Ratio of OD260/ OD230
= (0.389 ÷ 0.241)
= 1.614

DNA concentration (µg/mL)
= 50 µg/mL x OD260 x dilution factor
= 50 x 0.389 x 50
= 972.5 µg/mL

Total yield in 500µL sample
= DNA concentration x volume of sample in milliliters
= 972.5 µg/mL x 0.50 mL
= 486.3 µg

DISCUSSION

The quantity and purity of extracted plasmid DNA was determined. The mixture was transferred in a cuvette and the absorbance of the diluted sample was measured at 230nm, 260nm and OD280 nm in spectrophotometer.  The ratio between readings OD260 to OD280 that we got 1.995 closed to 1.8.  it shown that less contaminant with protein. If there is contamination with proteins, the OD260/OD280 will be significantly less.
Then, the level of salt carryover in the purified plasmid DNA was reading at 260nm and 230nm (OD260/OD230. The result showed (OD260/OD230) we got 1.614 it was greater than 1.5. From the reading it showed amount of our salt low because greater the amount of salt present, the lower ratio. DNA isolation are disruption of the cellular structure to create a lysate, separation of the soluble DNA from cell debris and other insoluble material and purification of the DNA of interest from soluble proteins and other nucleic acids. In the case of plasmid preparations, the multiple-day protocol typically involved cesium chloride banding followed by dialysis of the plasmid DNA.
The purified, high-quality DNA is ready to use for a wide variety of demanding downstream applications such as multiplex PCR, coupled in vitro transcription or translation systems, transfection and sequencing reactions. Number of methods has been developed to generate a cleared lysate that not only removes protein and lipids but also efficiently removes contaminating chromosomal DNA while leaving plasmid DNA free in solution. Methods for the preparation of cleared lysates that enrich for plasmid DNA include SDS-alkaline denaturation (Birnboim and Doly, 1979; Birnboim, 1983), salt-SDS precipitation (Hirt, 1967) and rapid boiling (Holmes and Quigley, 1981).
The SDS-alkaline denaturation method, which is used in all Promega plasmid isolation systems, is a popular procedure for purifying plasmid DNA because of its overall versatility and consistency. This technique exploits the difference in denaturation and renaturation characteristics of covalently closed circular plasmid DNA and chromosomal DNA fragments. Under alkaline conditions at pH 11, both plasmid and chromosomal DNA are efficiently denatured.
CONCLUSION

Extraction is an easy and quick way to purify DNA from a mixture of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.
In a plasmid preparation it is always necessary to separate the plasmid DNA from the large amount of bacterial chromosomal DNA
Plasmids and the bacterial chromosome are circular, but during preparation of the cell extract the chromosome is always broken to give linear fragments. A method for separating circular from linear molecules will therefore result in pure plasmids.

REFERENCES
 

LAB 5: DETERMINATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTS OF MICROBIAL EXTRACTS

INTRODUCTION.


An antimicrobial is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoans. Antimicrobial drugs either kill microbes (microbiocidal) or prevent the growth of microbes (microbiostatic). Disinfectants are antimicrobial substances used on non-living objects or outside the body. Consumers nowadays demand food products with fewer synthetic additives but increased safety, quality and shelf-life. These demands have led to renewed interest in the use of natural antimicrobials to preserve foods. However, despite the wide range of potential antimicrobials, relatively few are suitable for use in practice in particular food products. For example the bacteriocins.

Bacteriocins are proteinaceous toxins produced by bacteria to inhibit the growth of similar or closely related bacterial strain. They are typically considered to be narrow spectrum antibiotics. Although bacteriocins can be found in numerous Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, those which are produced by lactic acid bacteria are to be given special attention due to its potential as natural bio preservatives in the food industry.

In fermented foods, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) display numerous antimicrobial activities. This is mainly due to the production of organic acids, but also of other compounds, such as
bacteriocins and antifungal peptides. Several bacteriocins with industrial potential have been  purified  and  characterized. These bacteriocins have been reported to inhibit the growth of many pathogens. In this experiment, we are going to examine and discuss the effects of LAB strains on Escherichia coli (E.coli)  and Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus).

E. coli is a Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms (endotherms).It normally lives inside your intestines, where it helps your body break down and digest the food you eat. Unfortunately, certain strains of E. coli can get from the intestines into the blood. This is a rare illness, but it can cause a very serious infection.

S.aureus is a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive coccus, and is the most common cause of staph infections. It is frequently part of the skin flora found in the nose and on skin. S. aureus can cause a range of illnesses from minor skin infections, such as pimples, impetigo, boils (furuncles), cellulitis folliculitis, carbuncles,scalded skin syndrome, and abscesses, to life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome (TSS), chest pain, bacteremia, and sepsis.


Part I : Determination of Bacteriocin Activity via Agar Diffusion Test.

The agar diffusion test, or the Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion method, is a means of measuring the effect of an antimicrobial agent against bacteria grown in culture. The bacteria is swabbed uniformly across a culture plate. A filter-paper disk, impregnated with the LAB, is then placed on the surface of the agar. The compound diffuses from the filter paper into the agar. The concentration of the compound will be highest next to the disk, and will decrease as distance from the disk increases. If the compound is effective against bacteria at a certain concentration, no colonies will grow where the concentration in the agar is greater than or equal to the effective concentration. This is the zone of inhibition. Thus, the size of the zone of inhibition is a measure of the compound's effectiveness: the larger the clear area around the filter disk, the more effective the compound.

Part II : Determination of Bacteriocin Activity via Optical Density.

Spectrophotometers are commonly used for the measurement of transmittance or reflectance of solutions, transparent or opaque solids, such as polished glass, or gases. However they can also be designed to measure thediffusitivity on any of the listed light ranges that usually cover around 200nm - 2500nm using different controls and calibrations. Within these ranges of light, calibrations are needed on the machine using standards that vary in type depending on the wavelength of the photometric determination. This wavelength must be standardized and may need to be adjusted specifically to the material being tested. Different bacteria may not have the same maximal absorbance wavelength.

 RESULT

PART 1
E.COLI






S.AUREUS 




PART 2

E.COLI
CLICK TO ENLARGE
S.AUREUS

CLICK TO ENLARGE


DISCUSSION


PART 1

Using sterile inoculation loop, a loop full of direct Leuconostoc mesenteroides culture was touched over the swabbed plate and a small smear was made
A drop of the soft agar was dropped into the well to seal the bottom. The test organism Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, and Shigella flexinerrae were swabbed on the respective plates
The bacteriocin was extracted and its antagonistic activity was studied against the indicator organisms by well diffusion method

Bacteriocin was extracted by cell free supernatant method and the crude supernatant was determined for its antagonistic activity.
A well diffusion method was performed. In the activity it was observed that the bacteriocin produced by L.mesenteroides was effective against Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli. But there was no effect against Shigella flexinerrae.
The reviews say that the bacteriocins produced by L.mesenteroides are active against Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, L.monocytogenes has been considered as the major food borne pathogen and most activities were against them in food industries.
Now these studies reveal the scope for bacteriocins, not only as preservatives but also as an antibiotic for many diseases and infections.
Bacteriocin activity was determined in an agar well diffusion assay. To test the ability of the polyclonal antiserum to neutralize bacteriocin activity, serial dilutions of bacteriocin were mixed with an equal volume of undiluted antiserum in each well prior to adding the overlay.
Preimmune serum and sterile deionized water were mixed with bacteriocin in the control wells. All tests were run in duplicate.
This is an area around a paper disk or colony of bacteria(LAB) or mold where no other organisms are growing.  If you are testing antibiotic sensitivity for  example, you can impregnate paper disks with antibiotic and then put them on an  agar plate of growing bacteria.  The antibiotic then diffuses into the agar  away from the disk.  If the bacteria are sensitive to the antibiotic, they  will not grow near the disk.  The size of the zone is proportional to how  sensitive the organism is.  If the organism is resistant to the antibiotic,  it will grow right up to the disk.

PART2

Many lactic acid bacteria (LAB) produce a high diversity of bacteriocins, with a fairly broad inhibitory spectrum (19).
In recent years, many bacteriocins from LAB belonging to different groups have been described, characterized, and purified.
Nisin, produced by several strains of Lactococcus lactis, is the most studied bacteriocin, and it is used as a commercial food preservative.
The role of LAB and their bacteriocins as food biopreservatives is expected to grow in the future as a result of consumer awareness of the potential risks derived from food-borne pathogens as well as from the artificial chemical preservatives currently used to control them.
Why is the result more than 1?
This was possibly because of the supplements in MRS medium was suitable for bacteriocin production.
Why is the graph inceasing?
This is probably because of the lower growth at 5.0% and 10.0% glucose because of end-product  inhibition of lactic acid. This could be seen when total acidity was higher than 1.0%, the cell growth was stopped, even the substrate still available.

SPECTROMETER.
A spectrometer (spectrophotometer, spectrograph or spectroscope) is an instrument used to measure properties of lightover a specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, typically used in spectroscopic analysis to identify materials. The variable measured is most often the light's intensity but could also, for instance, be the polarization state. The independent variable is usually the wavelength of the light or a unit directly proportional to the photon energy, such as wavenumber or electron volts, which has a reciprocal relationship to wavelength. A spectrometer is used in spectroscopy for producing spectral lines and measuring their wavelengths and intensities. Spectrometer is a term that is applied to instruments that operate over a very wide range of wavelengths, from gamma rays and X-rays into the far infrared. If the instrument is designed to measure the spectrum in absolute units rather than relative units, then it is typically called a spectrophotometer. The majority of spectrophotomers are used in spectral regions near the visible spectrum.
In general, any particular instrument will operate over a small portion of this total range because of the different techniques used to measure different portions of the spectrum. Below optical frequencies (that is, at microwave and radio frequencies), the spectrum analyzer is a closely related electronic device

CONCLUSION

The possible use of bacteriocins as food biopreservatives could lead to the replacement of synthethic chemical preservatives, which have their antimicrobial action reduced due the continued appearance of multiresistant microbial lineages. The increasing occurrence of classic and or emerging food borne disease and it is possibly related to the indiscriminate use of chemicals preservatives favoring the selection of microbial lineages more and more resistant and therefore of difficult control. Bacteriocins are agents that could act on the microbial cell through different ways when compared to conventional chemical food preservatives, provoking the formation of an inhospitable environment to microbial survival. In addition, these molecules present characteristics of resistance to heat, acidity, low water activity and oscillations of temperature. However, there is the necessity to develop studies involving the establishment of the some bacteriocins characteristics such as antimicrobial spectrum, isolation, toxicity and stability use as control agents to the growth and microbial survival in food. Lactic acid bacteria and their products are more effective and flexible in several applications. Most inhibitory substances produced by lactic acid bacteria are safe and effective natural inhibitors of pathogenic and food spoilage bacteria in various food.