CHITIN BEADS, CHITOSAN BEADS, PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING THESE BEADS, CARRIERS MADE OF THESE BEADS AND PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING MICROSPRODIDIAN SPORES

摘要

PURPOSE: A chitin bead with a uniform fine particle size being composed of microsporidian spores containing chitin as a major cell wall constituent, a chitosan bead with a uniform fine particle size being obtained by N-deacetylating the chitin, and a manufacturing method for the bead are provided. CONSTITUTION: Chitin beads having a uniform fine particle size and made of microsporidian spores containing chitin as the major cell wall constituent; and chitosan beads having a uniform fine particle size and obtained by N-deacetylating the chitin. Microsporidian spores are proliferated in insects or cultured cells to give the chitin beads. The chitosan beads are obtained by N-deacetylating the chitin. When the insects are domesticated silkworm larvae, 5 x 102 to 5 x 108/ml of microsporidian spores are orally or percutaneously inoculated into the larvae of second-instar exuviated domesticated silkworm and proliferated therein. Then the spores thus proliferated are taken out of the larvae of fifth-instar domesticated silkworm and purified to give chitin beads with a uniform small particle size. These beads are used as carriers for immobilizing or encapsulating various substances such as antibiotics and microorganisms therein.