Antibacterial Effect of Chitooligosaccharides with Different Molecular Weights Prepared Using Membrane Bioreactor

Chitosan (deacetylated form of chitin) possesses strong antibacterial activities such as antimicrobial effect, antifungal effect and the induction of plant defense response. Chitosan itself, however, has high molecular weight and viscosity as well as water-insolubility, These natures may restrict applications in various fields, especially in in vivo system. While the hydrolysates of chitosan, chitooligosaccharides (COS) are not only lower in the molecula. weight and viscosity, but also water-soluble. Thus, they would be expected more efficient absorption in vivo. Besides several documents have been reported antibacterial activities of COS against microorganisms (Kendra et al., 1989; Uchida et al., 1989). (omitted)