Preparation of Hetero-Chitooligosaccharides and Their Antimicrobial Activity on Vibrio parahaemolyticus

This study was performed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of hetero-chitosans and their oligosaccharides on the halophilic bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Nine classes of hetero-chitosan oligosaccharides were prepared based on their molecular weights, using an ultrafiltration membrane reactor system with chitosanase and celluase, from partially different deacetylated chitosans, 90%, 75%, and 50% deacetylated chitosan, respectively. Thirty-two strains of V. parahaemolyticus were isolated from various marine organisms such as shellfish, shrimps, octopus, and seabirds. Seventy-five percent deacetylated chitosan showed the highest antimicrobial activity. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 0.5 ㎎/㎖ on 14 strains of V. parahaemolyticus, and MIC of the rest strains (18 strains) was 1.0 ㎎/㎖. In addition, MIC of most hetero-chitosan oligosaccharides was 8.0 ㎎/㎖. The results revealed that the antimicrobial effects of hetero-chitosans and their oligosaccharides against V. parahaemolyticus depend on the degree of deacetylation, their molecular weights, and strains tested.