Judul: Biosintesis 1,3-Propanadiol Dari Gliserol (Hasil Samping Biodiesel) Oleh Bakteri Enterobacter aerogenes
Abstrak: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menghasilkan senyawa 1,3-propanadiol melalui fermentasi gliserol sebagai hasil samping produksi biodiesel oleh bakteri mutan Enterobacter aerogenes AD-H43 dan membandingkan dua metode separasi (distilasi pada tekanan udara normal dan distilasi vakum) 1,3-propanadiol dari broth fermentasi. Penelitian dilakukan di Laboratorium Teknologi Bioindustri BPPT, Puspiptek Serpong, Tangerang dan Laboratorium Terpadu UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta selama 6 bulan (Juli-Desember 2007). Penelitian diawali dengan penentuan bakteri yang digunakan dan terbukti bahwa mutan Enterobacter aerogenes AD-H43 memproduksi 1,3-propanadiol yang lebih tinggi (31,13%) dibandingkan dengan Enterobacter aerogenes AY-2 (26,06%). Limbah biodiesel sebagai substrat gliserol dipurifikasi dahulu sehingga konsentrasinya sebesar 17,5 g/l. Fermentasi dilakukan mulai dari pembuatan kultur kerja 50 ml, pra-pra kultur 35 ml, pra kultur 350 ml sampai kultur utama (main culture) 3500 ml. Fermentasi dilakukan pada fermentor 6 liter (T=37 oC dan pH 6,8) selama 20 jam. Pengukuran terhadap pertumbuhan bakteri (OD=680 nm dan pH) diamati setiap 4 jam. Hasil fermentasi kemudian disentrifugasi, filtratnya diseparasi dengan dua metode, yaitu distilasi pada tekanan udara normal (T=105 oC, 190 oC) dan distilasi vakum menggunakan alat rotari evaporator (T= 40 oC). Proses separasi dengan dua metode kemudian dianalisis menggunakan kromatografi gas-spektrometri massa (GC-MS).
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Judul: Isolasi Enterobacter cloacae Penghasil 2,3-Butanediol dari Tempe.
Abstrak: Senyawa 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) digunakan diberbagai industri seperti industri kosmetik, makanan, bahan bakar dan polimer.Maka dari itu, studi ini adalah yang pertama untuk mengisolasi bakteri penghasil 2,3-BDdari tempe yang dapat menggunakan gliserol karena umumnya bakteri yang memproduksi 2,3-BD menggunakan glukosa dan sukrosa sebagai sumber karbon.Berlimpahnya gliserol mentah menyebabkan pengembangan bahan organik ini sebagai substrat untuk industri mikrobiologi seperti 1,3-propanodiol (1,3-PD) dan 2,3-BD. Penelitian ini mendapatkan isolat penghasil 2,3-BD dari tempe yang telah diidentifikasi melalui sekuen 16S rRNA.Isolat 20, 25, dan 70 adalah Enterobacter cloacaedengan 100%kemiripan isolat dengan pembanding di GenBank.Konsentrasi 2,3-BD yang dihasilkan setelah 48 jam dari isolat 20, 25 dan 70 secara berturut-turut yaitu 3,703 gL-1, 5,201gL-1, dan 4,385gL-1 pada kondisi aerobik.
Keyword: 2,3-butanediol, tempe, Enterobacter cloacae

Judul: Phylogeography and Species Limits in the Papuan White Snake (Micropechis ikaheka) (Reptilia: Serpentes: Elapidae)
Abstrak: Papua white snake, Micropechis ikaheka, has been distingushed into two subspecies M.i. ikaheka and M.i. fasciatus. However, due to lack of data on their morphology, distribution and ecology, both subspecies often ignored in scintific discussions and refers only byas , Micropechis ikaheka. This study was designed to document the differences between M.i. ikaheka and M.i fasciatus by using scales characteristics and reproductive organ or hemipenes. The study also examine, zoogeography, habitat, diet and cannibalism of both subspecies to better understanding the the ecology of one of the most venomous snakes in the world. This study consists of three topics with method and also different in the size samples, respectively. The first study is the histology and microtopography of the skin were studied using paraffin method and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The second is the hemipenis were examined by following Myers and Cadle (2003), and Zaher and Prudente (2003). The third is the abdominal surgery was carried out to document diet type and the investigate phenomenon of cannibalism in the snake. Specimens for this study came from the collection from Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (MZB) and Universitas Negeri Papua’s Laboratory (LZU). The research result also indicated that the markers of skin and hemipenis described the same structure and microornamentation in all M. ikaheka groups being compared. Based specimens examined morphological descriptions do not s support the further differentiation in Micropechis. In short, two markers that used in this study could not sufficiently indicate the differences in the level of species and subspecies of M. ikaheka. The study, however, were able to delineate zoogeography and skin color patterns, which fall into four groups: M. i. ikaheka; M. i. fasciatus. M. i. ssp. “intermediate”; and M. i. ssp “black”. This study also revealed that color variations did not overlap in their geographic distribution. It is therefore, it suggested that environmental factors may contribute to the skin color variations. It also assumed that habitat discontinuous and biogeography factors may also cause the loss of the connection between the original populations (vicarians) or follow colonization events (dispersal). The examined of 22 stomach contents of M. ikaheka shows this species is carnivorous, and prey on vertebrates such as amphibians, fish, reptiles, and Mammals. These snakes are opportunistic predators since they prey on all that can be captured, but mainly reptiles (61.5%), followed by mammals and fish (both 15.4%), and amphibians (7.7%). Although categorized as terrestrial animal, the diet study showed that M. ikaheka snakes often go into the water to hunt for fish (the sample from Yapen island), including eel (the sample from Aru island). Based on prey items indentified, there is evidence that M. ikaheka is cannibal. At this time, there still no record on reason for cannibalism, but it is assumed that cannibalism was due to competition between populations and means to control population.
Keyword: geographic variation, white snake, papua