New mould starter cultures by genetic modification

Abstract

Penicillium nalgiovense is a filamentous fungus which is used in the production of mould fermented meat products. An expression vector with fungal transcription initiation and termination sites was constructed in order to analyse heterologous gene expression in this host. Under the control of these transcription signals the expression of the Escherichia coli ß‐galactosidase gene could be shown. Penicillium nalglovense was cotransfarmed with p3SR2 and pLys 1 which carries the lysostaphin gene from Staphylococcus staphylolyticus. Of the resulting transformants one transfarmant could be obtained which suppresses the growth of Staphylococcus aureus cells. A DNA fragment of Penicillium nalgiovense could be isolated which confers extracellular proteolytic activity to Escherichia coli cells.