ASD Formation Prior to Material Characterization as Key Parameter for Accurate Measurements and Subsequent Process Simulation for Hot-Melt Extrusion.

Process simulation facilitates scale-up of hot-melt extrusion (HME) and enhances proper understanding of the underlying critical process parameters. However, performing numeric simulations requires profound knowledge of the employed materials' properties. For example, an accurate description of the compounds' melt rheology is paramount for proper simulations. Hence, sample preparation needs to be optimized to yield results as predictive as possible. To identify the optimal preparation method for small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) rheological measurements, binary mixtures of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate or methacrylic acid ethyl acrylate copolymer (Eudragit L100-55) together with the model drugs celecoxib and ketoconazole were prepared. The physical powder mixtures were introduced into the SAOS as a compressed tablet or a disk prepared via vacuum compression molding (VCM). Simulations with the derived parameters were conducted and compared to lab-scale extrusion trials. VCM was identified as the ideal preparation method resulting in the highest similarity between simulated and experimental values, while simulation based on conventional powder-based methods insufficiently described the HME process.

Influence of Particle Size and Drug Load on Amorphous Solid Dispersions Containing pH-Dependent Soluble Polymers and the Weak Base Ketoconazole.

Among the great number of poorly soluble drugs in pharmaceutical development, most of them are weak bases. Typically, they readily dissolve in an acidic environment but are prone to precipitation at elevated pH. This was aimed to be counteracted by the preparation of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) using the pH-dependent soluble polymers methacrylic acid ethylacrylate copolymer (Eudragit L100-55) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) via hot-melt extrusion. The hot-melt extruded ASDs were of amorphous nature and single phased with the presence of specific interactions between drug and polymer as revealed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The ASDs were milled and classified into six particle size fractions. We investigated the influence of particle size, drug load, and polymer type on the dissolution performance. The best dissolution performance was achieved for the ASD made from Eudragit L100-55 at a drug load of 10%, whereby the dissolution rate was inversely proportional to the particle size. Within a pH-shift dissolution experiment (from pH 1 to pH 6.8), amorphous-amorphous phase separation occurred as a result of exposure to acidic medium which caused markedly reduced dissolution rates at subsequent higher pH values. Phase separation could be prevented by using enteric capsules (Vcaps Enteric®), which provided optimal dissolution profiles for the Eudragit L100-55 ASD at a drug load of 10%.

Preselection of recombinant gene integration sites enabling high transcription rates in CHO cells using alternate start codons and recombinase mediated cassette exchange.

Site-specific recombinase mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) enables the transfer of the gene of interest (GOI) into pre-selected genomic locations with defined expression properties. For the generation of recombinant production cell lines, this has the advantage that screening for high transcription rates at the genome integration site would be required only once, with the possibility to reuse the selected site for new products. Here, we describe a strategy that aims at the selection of transcriptionally active genome integration sites in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells by using alternate start codons in the surface reporter protein CD4, in combination with FACS sorting for high expressers. The alternate start codon reduces the translation initiation efficiency and allows sorting for CHO cells with the highest transcription rates, while RMCE enables the subsequent exchange of the CD4 against the GOI. We have shown that sorted cell pools with the CD4 reporter gene containing the alternate start codon CTG lead to higher GFP signals and higher antibody titers upon RMCE as compared to cell pools containing the ATG start codon of the CD4 reporter. Despite the absence of any subcloning step, the final cell pool contained the CD4 gene in a single genome integration site.

Genetic engineering of CHO cells for viral resistance to minute virus of mice.

Contamination by the parvovirus minute virus of mice (MVM) remains a challenge in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) biopharmaceutical production processes. Although infrequent, infection of a bioreactor can be catastrophic for a manufacturer, can impact patient drug supply and safety, and can have regulatory implications. We evaluated engineering a CHO parental cell line (CHOZN® GS-/- ) to create a new host cell line that is resistant to MVM infection by modifying the major receptors used by the virus to enter cells. Attachment to a cell surface receptor is a key first step in the infection cycle for many viruses. While the exact functional receptor for MVM binding to CHO cell surface is unknown, sialic acid on the cell surface has been implicated. In this work, we used the zinc finger nuclease gene editing technology to validate the role of sialic acid on the cell surface in the binding and internalization of the MVM virus. Our approach was to systematically mutate genes involved in cell surface sialylation and then challenge each cell line for their ability to resist viral entry and propagation. To test the importance of sialylation, the following genes were knocked out: the CMP-sialic acid transporter, solute carrier family 35A1 (Slc35a1), the core 1-ß-1,3-galactosyltransferase-1 specific chaperone (Cosmc), and mannosyl (α-1,3-)-glycoprotein ß-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (Mgat1) as well as members of the sialyltransferase family. Slc35a1 is responsible for transporting sialic acid into the Golgi. Knocking out function of this gene in a cell results in asialylated glycan structures, thus eliminating the ability of MVM to bind to and enter the cell. The complete absence of sialic acid on the Slc35a1 knockout cell line led to complete resistance to MVM infection. The Cosmc and Mgat1 knockouts also show significant inhibition of infection likely due to their effect on decreasing cell surface sialic acid. Previously in vitro glycan analysis has been used to elucidate the precise sialic acid structures required for MVM binding and internalization. In this work, we performed the sequential knockout of various sialyltransferases that add terminal sialic acid to glycans with different linkage specificities. Cell lines with modifications of the various genes included in this study resulted in varying effects on MVM infection expanding on the knowledge of MVM receptors. MVM resistant host cell lines were also tested for the production of model recombinant proteins. Our data demonstrate that resistance against the MVM virus can be incorporated into CHO production cell lines, adding another level of defense against the devastating financial consequences of MVM infection without compromising recombinant protein yield or quality. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 576-588. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The GalNAc-type O-Glycoproteome of CHO cells characterized by the SimpleCell strategy.

The Chinese hamster ovary cell (CHO) is the major host cell factory for recombinant production of biological therapeutics primarily because of its "human-like" glycosylation features. CHO is used for production of several O-glycoprotein therapeutics including erythropoietin, coagulation factors, and chimeric receptor IgG1-Fc-fusion proteins, however, some O-glycoproteins are not produced efficiently in CHO. We have previously shown that the capacity for O-glycosylation of proteins can be one limiting parameter for production of active proteins in CHO. Although the capacity of CHO for biosynthesis of glycan structures (glycostructures) on glycoproteins are well established, our knowledge of the capacity of CHO cells for attaching GalNAc-type O-glycans to proteins (glycosites) is minimal. This type of O-glycosylation is one of the most abundant forms of glycosylation, and it is differentially regulated in cells by expression of a subset of homologous polypeptide GalNAc-transferases. Here, we have genetically engineered CHO cells to produce homogeneous truncated O-glycans, so-called SimpleCells, which enabled lectin enrichment of O-glycoproteins and characterization of the O-glycoproteome. We identified 738 O-glycoproteins (1548 O-glycosites) in cell lysates and secretomes providing the first comprehensive insight into the O-glycosylation capacity of CHO (http://glycomics.ku.dk/o-glycoproteome_db/).

Solubility Enhanced Formulation Approaches to Overcome Oral Delivery Obstacles of PROTACs.

PROteolysis TArgeting Chimaeras (PROTACs) offer new opportunities in modern medicine by targeting proteins that are undruggable to classic inhibitors. However, due to their hydrophobic structure, PROTACs typically suffer from low solubility, and oral bioavailability remains challenging. At the same time, due to their investigative state, the drug supply is meager, leading to limited possibilities in terms of formulation development. Therefore, we investigated the solubility enhancement employing mini-scale formulations of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) and liquisolid formulations of the prototypic PROTAC ARCC-4. Based on preliminary supersaturation testing, HPMCAS (L Grade) and Eudragit® L 100-55 (EL 100-55) were demonstrated to be suitable polymers for supersaturation stabilization of ARCC-4. These two polymers were selected for preparing ASDs via vacuum compression molding (VCM), using drug loads of 10 and 20%, respectively. The ASDs were subsequently characterized with respect to their solid state via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Non-sink dissolution testing revealed that the physical mixtures (PMs) did not improve dissolution. At the same time, all ASDs enabled pronounced supersaturation of ARCC-4 without precipitation for the entire dissolution period. In contrast, liquisolid formulations failed in increasing ARCC-4 solubility. Hence, we demonstrated that ASD formation is a promising principle to overcome the low solubility of PROTACs.

Highly protein-loaded melt extrudates produced by small-scale ram and twin-screw extrusion - evaluation of extrusion process design on protein stability by experimental and numerical approaches.

Understanding of generation, extent and location of thermomechanical stress in small-scale (< 3 g) ram and twin-screw melt-extrusion is crucial for mechanistic correlations to the stability of protein particles (lysozyme and BSA) in PEG-matrices. The aim of the study was to apply and correlate experimental and numerical approaches (1D and 3D) for the evaluation of extrusion process design on protein stability. The simulation of thermomechanical stress during extrusion raised the expectation of protein degradation and protein particle grinding during extrusion, especially when TSE was used. This was confirmed by experimental data on protein stability. Ram extrusion had the lowest impact on protein unfolding temperatures, whereas TSE showed significantly reduced unfolding temperatures, especially in combination with kneading elements containing screws. In TSE, the mechanical stress in the screws always exceeded the shear stress in the die, while mechanical stress within ram extrusion was generated in the die, only. As both extruder designs revealed homogeneously distributed protein particles over the cross section of the extrudates for all protein-loads (20-60%), the dispersive power of TSE revealed not to be decisive. Consequently, the ram extruder would be favored for the production of stable protein-loaded extrudates in small scale.

Boost of solubility and supersaturation of celecoxib via synergistic interactions of methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1) and hydroxypropyl cellulose in ternary amorphous solid dispersions.

A current trend in the development of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) is the combination of two polymers for synergistic enhancement in supersaturation of poorly soluble drugs. We investigated the supersaturation potential of celecoxib (CXB) using combinations of methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1) (EL 100-55) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) SSL. Initially, the supersaturation potential of single polymers and combinations in various ratios was assessed. While EL 100-55 and HPC SSL alone showed limited potential in solubility enhancement of CXB the combination of both polymers led to a boost of CXB solubility, whereby most promising results were obtained using a 50:50 polymer ratio. Binary and ternary CXB ASDs (10% drug load) were prepared via vacuum compressing molding (VCM) and hot melt extrusion (HME). ASDs were studied by exploring the miscibility and intermolecular interactions and tested for their dissolution performance. HPC SSL was identified to be a suitable precipitation inhibitor when added to a fast dissolving CXB: EL 100-55 ASD. Ternary ASDs showed even further dissolution improvement, when processed by HME. The combination of heat and shear stress led to a homogeneous and intimate mixture of EL 100-55 and HPC SSL, resulting in formation of synergistic interactions with pronounced impact on CXB supersaturation.

Enhancing glycoprotein sialylation by targeted gene silencing in mammalian cells.

Recombinant glycoproteins produced by mammalian cells represent an important category of therapeutic pharmaceuticals used in human health care. Of the numerous sugars moieties found in glycoproteins, the terminal sialic acid is considered particularly important. Sialic acid has been found to influence the solubility, thermal stability, resistance to protease attack, antigenicity, and specific activity of various glycoproteins. In mammalian cells, it is often desirable to maximize the final sialic acid content of a glycoprotein to ensure its quality and consistency as an effective pharmaceutical. In this study, CHO cells overexpressing recombinant human interferon gamma (hIFNgamma) were treated using short interfering RNA (siRNA) and short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) to reduce expression of two newly identified sialidase genes, Neu1 and Neu3. By knocking down expression of Neu3 we achieved a 98% reduction in sialidase function in CHO cells. The recombinant hIFNgamma was examined for sialic acid content that was found to be increased 33% and 26% respectively with samples from cell stationary phase and death phase as compared to control. Here, we demonstrate an effective targeted gene silencing strategy to enhance protein sialylation using RNA interference (RNAi) technology.

Processing of Polyvinyl Acetate Phthalate in Hot-Melt Extrusion-Preparation of Amorphous Solid Dispersions.

The preparation of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) is a suitable approach to overcome solubility-limited absorption of poorly soluble drugs. In particular, pH-dependent soluble polymers have proven to be an excellently suitable carrier material for ASDs. Polyvinyl acetate phthalate (PVAP) is a polymer with a pH-dependent solubility, which is as yet not thoroughly characterized regarding its suitability for a hot-melt extrusion process. The objective of this study was to assess the processability of PVAP within a hot-melt extrusion process with the aim of preparing an ASD. Therefore, the influence of different process parameters (temperature, feed-rate) on the degree of degradation, solid-state and dissolution time of the neat polymer was studied. Subsequently, drug-containing ASDs with indomethacin (IND) and dipyridamole (DPD) were prepared, respectively, and analyzed regarding drug content, solid-state, non-sink dissolution performance and storage stability. PVAP was extrudable in combination with 10% (w/w) PEG 3000 as plasticizer. The dissolution time of PVAP was only slightly influenced by different process parameters. For IND no degradation occurred in combination with PVAP and single phased ASDs could be generated. The dissolution performance of the IND-PVAP ASD at pH 5.5 was superior and at pH 6.8 equivalent compared to commonly used polymers hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) and Eudragit L100-55.

Using microarray technology to select housekeeping genes in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

In the present study, we have identified species-specific housekeeping genes (HKGs) for Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells using data from microarray gene expression profiling. HKGs suitable for quantitative RT-PCR normalization should display relatively stable expression levels across experimental conditions. We analyzed transcription profiles of several IgG-producing recombinant CHO cell lines under numerous culture conditions using a custom CHO DNA microarray platform and calculated relative expression variability from 124 microarrays. We selected a novel panel of candidate HKGs based on their low variability in expression from the microarray data. Compared to three traditional HKGs (Gapdh, Actb, and B2m), the majority of genes on this panel demonstrated lower or equal variability. Each candidate HKG was then validated using qRT-PCR. Final selection of CHO-specific HKGs include Actr5, Eif3i, Hirip3, Pabpn1, Vezt, Cog1, and Yaf2. The results reported here provide a useful tool for gene expression analyses in CHO cells, a critical expression platform used in biotherapeutics.

Overexpression of Serpinb1 in Chinese hamster ovary cells increases recombinant IgG productivity.

We report the discovery and validation of a novel CHO cell engineering target for improving IgG expression, serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade B, member 1 (Serpinb1). Transcriptomic studies using microarrays revealed that Serpinb1 was up-regulated in cultures with IgG heavy and light chain transcription transiently repressed compared with cultures treated with non-targeting siRNA. As proof of concept, a lentiviral vector was employed to overexpress the Chinese Hamster Serpinb1 in a CHOZN(®) Glutamine Synthetase (-/-) recombinant IgG producing CHO line. The lentiviral stable pool demonstrated 4.2-fold SERPINB1 overexpression compared with the non-transduced control. The peak viable cell density (VCD) and peak IgG volumetric productivity of the lentiviral stable pool increased 1.3 and 2.0 fold, respectively, compared with the non-transduced control. For host cell engineering, a plasmid encoding SERPINB1 was transfected into the CHOZN(®) GS (-/-) host cell line to create several stable pools. Single-cell clones isolated from the pools were characterized for their SERPINB1 expression levels and growth. The clone (SERPINB1_OE_27) with the highest SERPINB1 expression had decreased peak viable cell density and exponential phase growth rate. Selected SERPINB1 OE clones were subsequently evaluated for their IgG expression capabilities using GS selection. Clone SERPINB1_OE_42 with moderate SERPINB1 overexpression demonstrated increased IgG productivity in "bulk" selection. We conclude that manipulating Serpinb1 expression can lead to increased recombinant IgG productivity, but the effect in host cell lines may vary by clone and by overexpression level. This work represents the ongoing effort in applying "-omics" findings to novel CHO host cell line engineering.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) host cell engineering to increase sialylation of recombinant therapeutic proteins by modulating sialyltransferase expression.

N-Glycans of human proteins possess both α2,6- and α2,3-linked terminal sialic acid (SA). Recombinant glycoproteins produced in Chinese hamster overy (CHO) only have α2,3-linkage due to the absence of α2,6-sialyltransferase (St6gal1) expression. The Chinese hamster ST6GAL1 was successfully overexpressed using a plasmid expression vector in three recombinant immunoglobulin G (IgG)-producing CHO cell lines. The stably transfected cell lines were enriched for ST6GAL1 overexpression using FITC-Sambucus nigra (SNA) lectin that preferentially binds α2,6-linked SA. The presence of α2,6-linked SA was confirmed using a novel LTQ Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry (LTQ MS) method including MSn fragmentation in the enriched ST6GAL1 Clone 27. Furthermore, the total SA (mol/mol) in IgG produced by the enriched ST6GAL1 Clone 27 increased by 2-fold compared to the control. For host cell engineering, the CHOZN(®) GS host cell line was transfected and enriched for ST6GAL1 overexpression. Single-cell clones were derived from the enriched population and selected based on FITC-SNA staining and St6gal1 expression. Two clones ("ST6GAL1 OE Clone 31 and 32") were confirmed for the presence of α2,6-linked SA in total host cell protein extracts. ST6GAL1 OE Clone 32 was subsequently used to express SAFC human IgG1. The recombinant IgG expressed in this host cell line was confirmed to have α2,6-linked SA and increased total SA content. In conclusion, overexpression of St6gal1 is sufficient to produce recombinant proteins with increased sialylation and more human-like glycoprofiles without combinatorial engineering of other sialylation pathway genes. This work represents our ongoing effort of glycoengineering in CHO host cell lines for the development of "bio-better" protein therapeutics and cell culture vaccine production.

Engineering Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells for producing recombinant proteins with simple glycoforms by zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN)-mediated gene knockout of mannosyl (alpha-1,3-)-glycoprotein beta-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (Mgat1).

While complex N-linked glycoforms are often desired in biotherapeutic protein production, proteins with simple, homogeneous glycan structure have implications for X-ray crystallography and for recombinant therapeutics targeted to the mannose receptor of antigen presenting cells. Mannosyl (alpha-1,3-)-glycoprotein beta-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (Mgat1, also called GnTI) adds N-acetylglucosamine to the Man5GlcNAc2 (Man5) N-glycan structure as part of complex N-glycan synthesis. Here, we report the use of zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN) genome editing technology to create Mgat1 disrupted Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines. These cell lines allow for the production of recombinant proteins with Man5 as the predominant N-linked glycosylation species. This method provides advantages over previously reported methods to create Mgat1-deficient cell lines. The use of ZFN-based genome editing eliminates potential regulatory concerns associated with random chemical mutagenesis, while retaining the robust growth and productivity characteristics of the parental cell lines. These Mgat1 disrupted cell lines may be used to produce mannose receptor-targeted therapeutic proteins. Cell line generation work can be performed in both Mgat1 disrupted and wild-type host cell lines to conduct X-ray crystallography studies of protein therapeutics in the same cell line used for production.

Profiling highly conserved microrna expression in recombinant IgG-producing and parental Chinese hamster ovary cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in global gene regulation. Researchers in recombinant protein production have proposed miRNAs as biomarkers and cell engineering targets. However, miRNA expression remains understudied in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells, one of the most commonly used host cell systems for therapeutic protein production. To profile highly conserved miRNA expression, we used the miRCURY™ miRNA array for screening miRNAs in CHO cells. The selection criteria for further miRNA profiling included positive hybridization signals and experimentally validated predicted regulatory targets. On the basis of screening, we selected 16 miRNAs for quantitative RT-PCR profiling. We profiled miR expression in parental CHO DG44 and CHO K1 cell lines as well as four recombinant DG44-derived CHO lines producing a recombinant human IgG. We observed that miR-221 and miR-222 were significantly downregulated in all IgG-producing cell lines when compared with parental DG44, whereas miR-125b was significantly downregulated in one IgG-producing line. In another IgG-producing line, miR-19a was significantly upregulated. miRNA expression was also profiled in two of these lines that were amplified by stepwise increase of methotrexate. In both amplified cell lines, let-7b and miR-221 were significantly downregulated. In parental CHO K1, let-7b, miR-15b, and miR-17 were significantly downregulated when compared with DG44. The results reported here are the first steps toward profiling highly conserved miRNAs and studying the clonal difference in miRNA expression in CHO cells and may shed light on using miRNAs in cell engineering.

Methods and applications of laser-enabled analysis and processing (LEAP).

The LEAP (Laser-Enabled Analysis and Processing) platform combines in situ imaging with laser manipulation to efficiently identify, purify, and monitor expansion of high secreting clones. It also allows for rapid analysis of cell population heterogeneity. This unit describes the LEAP instrumentation as well as basic and alternate protocols of the major applications in recombinant human or humanized IgG expression. The protocols include fluorescent cell counting, secreted recombinant IgG capture and detection, and IgG-secreting clone selection by laser processing.

Heterologous gene expression in Thermus thermophilus: beta-galactosidase, dibenzothiophene monooxygenase, PNB carboxy esterase, 2-aminobiphenyl-2,3-diol dioxygenase, and chloramphenicol acetyl transferase.

Enzymes from thermophiles are preferred for industrial applications because they generally show improved tolerance to temperature, pressure, solvents, and pH as compared with enzymes from mesophiles. However, nearly all thermostable enzymes used in industrial applications or available commercially are produced as recombinant enzymes in mesophiles, typically Escherichia coli. The development of high-temperature bioprocesses, particularly those involving cofactor-requiring enzymes and/or multi-step enzymatic pathways, requires a thermophilic host. The extreme thermophile most amenable to genetic manipulation is Thermus thermophilus, but the study of expression of heterologous genes in T. thermophilus is in its infancy. While several heterologous genes have previously been expressed in T. thermophilus, the data reported here include the first examples of the functional expression of a gene from an archaeal hyperthermophile ( bglA from Pyrococcus woesei), a cofactor-requiring enzyme ( dszC from Rhodococcus erythropolis IGTS8), and a two-component enzyme ( carBa and carBb from Sphingomonas sp. GTIN11). A thermostable derivative of pnbA from Bacillus subtilis was also expressed, further expanding the list of genes from heterologous hosts that have been expressed in T. thermophilus.

Isolation and characterization of Sphingomonas sp. GTIN11 capable of carbazole metabolism in petroleum.

A bacterial culture was isolated from a manufactured gas plant (MGP) soil based on its ability to metabolize the nitrogen-containing heterocycle carbazole. The culture was identified as a Sphingomonas sp. and was given the designation GTIN11. A cloned 4.2kb DNA fragment was confirmed to contain genes responsible for carbazole degradation. DNA sequence analysis revealed that the fragment contained five open reading frames (ORFs) with the deduced amino acid sequence showing homology to; carbazole terminal dioxygenase (ORF1), 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase subunits (ORF2 and ORF3), meta-cleavage compound hydrolases (ORF4), and ferrodoxin component of bacterial multicomponent dioxygenases (ORF5). The percent similarity was 61% of these proteins or less to known proteins. The specific activity of Sphingomonas sp. GTIN11 for the degradation of carbazole at 37 degrees C was determined to be 8.0 micromol carbazole degraded/min/g dry cell. This strain is unique in expressing the carbazole degradation trait constitutively. Resting cells of Sphingomonas sp. GTIN11 removed 95% of carbazole and 50% of C1-carbazoles from petroleum in a 16-h treatment time.

Alkanindiges illinoisensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an obligately hydrocarbonoclastic, aerobic squalane-degrading bacterium isolated from oilfield soils.

An alkane-degrading bacterium, designated GTI MVAB Hex1(T), was isolated from chronically crude oil-contaminated soil from an oilfield in southern Illinois. The isolate grew very weakly or not at all in minimal or rich media without hydrocarbons. Straight-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as hexadecane and heptadecane, greatly stimulated growth; shorter-chain (