• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 1992

For the screening of new-functional and specific exopolysaccharide, a bacterium strain was isolated from soil through the two steps of screening. The isolated bacterium was identified as Bacillus polymyxa KS-1 according to the criteria of morphological, physiological, and chemical taxonomic analyses. The exopolysaccharide was composed of glucose:galactose: mannose and galactosamine in an approximate molar ratio of 1.00:0.36:1.02:1.10. The produced exopolysaccharide by Bacillus polymyxa KS-1 was found to be revealed new acidic polysaccharide which did not contain pentose, ketose, starch, and uronic acid.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.644-651
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• 2013

The fermented manure derivative known as Preparation 500 is traditionally used as a field spray in biodynamic agriculture for maintaining and increasing soil fertility. This work aimed at characterizing the product from a microbiological standpoint and at assaying its bioactive properties. The approach involved molecular taxonomical characterization of the culturable microbial community; ARISA fingerprints of the total bacteria and fungal communities; chemical elemental macronutrient analysis via a combustion analyzer; activity assays for six key enzymes; bioassays for bacterial quorum sensing and chitolipooligosaccharide production; and plant hormone-like activity. The material was found to harbor a bacterial community of $2.38{\times}10^8$ CFU/g dw dominated by Gram-positives with minor instances of Actinobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. ARISA showed a coherence of bacterial assemblages in different preparation lots of the same year in spite of geographic origin. Enzymatic activities showed elevated values of ${\beta}$-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, chitinase, and esterase. The preparation had no quorum sensing-detectable signal, and no rhizobial nod gene-inducing properties, but displayed a strong auxin-like effect on plants. Enzymatic analyses indicated a bioactive potential in the fertility and nutrient cycling contexts. The IAA activity and microbial degradation products qualify for a possible activity as soil biostimulants. Quantitative details and possible modes of action are discussed.