Comparative Studies on Cephalosporin C biosynthesis by Aspergillus and Acremonium Species

Three species of Aspergillus (A. niger, A. flavus, A. nidulans) and two species of Acremonium (A. furcatum and A. kiliense) were tested for their potential to biosynthesis of cephalosporin-C (CPC) in batch mode of cultivation before and after mutagenesis. The effects of different ingredients of the medium on CPC yield were thoroughly investigated. Results manifested that sucrose 30 mg ml-1, DL methionine 3mg mL-1 and ammonium sulphate 7.5 mg mL-1 were most appropriate for maximum harvest of antibiotic. Mutants were achieved by exposing fungal cultures to 400 µg mL-1 of ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) for 1 hour.