Obtention and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from industrial melon residues following a biorefinery approach

Residual melon by-products were explored for the first time as a bioresource of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) obtention. Two alkaline extraction methods were employed, the traditional (4.5% NaOH, 2 h, 80 °C) and a thermo-alkaline in the autoclave (2% NaOH, 1 h, 100 °C), obtaining a yield of MCC ranging from 4.76 to 9.15% and 2.32 to 3.29%, respectively. The final MCCs were characterized for their chemical groups by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), crystallinity with X-ray diffraction, and morphology analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). FTIR spectra showed that the traditional protocol allows for a more effective hemicellulose and lignin removal from the melon residues than the thermo-alkaline process. The degree of crystallinity of MCC ranged from 51.51 to 61.94% and 54.80 to 55.07% for the thermo-alkaline and traditional processes, respectively. The peaks detected in X-ray diffraction patterns indicated the presence of Type I cellulose. SEM analysis revealed microcrystals with rough surfaces and great porosity, which could remark their high-water absorption capacity and drug-carrier capacities. Thus, these findings could respond to the need to valorize industrial melon by-products as raw materials for MCC obtention with potential applications as biodegradable materials.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evidence for Reductive Genome Evolution and Lateral Acquisition of Virulence Functions in Two Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Strains

Ruiz JC, D'Afonseca V, Silva A, et al. Evidence for Reductive Genome Evolution and Lateral Acquisition of Virulence Functions in Two Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Strains. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(4): e18551.Background: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, a Gram-positive, facultative intracellular pathogen, is the etiologic agent of the disease known as caseous lymphadenitis (CL). CL mainly affects small ruminants, such as goats and sheep; it also causes infections in humans, though rarely. This species is distributed worldwide, but it has the most serious economic impact in Oceania, Africa and South America. Although C. pseudotuberculosis causes major health and productivity problems for livestock, little is known about the molecular basis of its pathogenicity. Methodology and Findings: We characterized two C. pseudotuberculosis genomes (Cp1002, isolated from goats; and CpC231, isolated from sheep). Analysis of the predicted genomes showed high similarity in genomic architecture, gene content and genetic order. When C. pseudotuberculosis was compared with other Corynebacterium species, it became evident that this pathogenic species has lost numerous genes, resulting in one of the smallest genomes in the genus. Other differences that could be part of the adaptation to pathogenicity include a lower GC content, of about 52%, and a reduced gene repertoire. The C. pseudotuberculosis genome also includes seven putative pathogenicity islands, which contain several classical virulence factors, including genes for fimbrial subunits, adhesion factors, iron uptake and secreted toxins. Additionally, all of the virulence factors in the islands have characteristics that indicate horizontal transfer. Conclusions: These particular genome characteristics of C. pseudotuberculosis, as well as its acquired virulence factors in pathogenicity islands, provide evidence of its lifestyle and of the pathogenicity pathways used by this pathogen in the infection process. All genomes cited in this study are available in the NCBI Genbank database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/) under accession numbers CP001809 and CP001829

Obtention and Characterization of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Industrial Melon Residues Following a Biorefinery Approach

Residual melon by-products were explored for the first time as a bioresource of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) obtention. Two alkaline extraction methods were employed, the traditional (4.5% NaOH, 2 h, 80 °C) and a thermo-alkaline in the autoclave (2% NaOH, 1 h, 100 °C), obtaining a yield of MCC ranging from 4.76 to 9.15% and 2.32 to 3.29%, respectively. The final MCCs were characterized for their chemical groups by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), crystallinity with X-ray diffraction, and morphology analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). FTIR spectra showed that the traditional protocol allows for a more effective hemicellulose and lignin removal from the melon residues than the thermo-alkaline process. The degree of crystallinity of MCC ranged from 51.51 to 61.94% and 54.80 to 55.07% for the thermo-alkaline and traditional processes, respectively. The peaks detected in X-ray diffraction patterns indicated the presence of Type I cellulose. SEM analysis revealed microcrystals with rough surfaces and great porosity, which could remark their high-water absorption capacity and drug-carrier capacities. Thus, these findings could respond to the need to valorize industrial melon by-products as raw materials for MCC obtention with potential applications as biodegradable materials

Instituições e cooperação social em Douglass North e nos intérpretes weberianos do atraso brasileiro

O artigo tem por objetivo resgatar a aproximação teórica entre o arcabouço institucionalista de Douglass North e os argumentos utilizados por intérpretes do Brasil de reconhecida orientação weberiana, como Sérgio Buarque de Holanda, Vianna Moog e Raymundo Faoro. Para tanto, privilegia o entendimento da relação entre instituições e cooperação social presentes na obra desses autores como variável relevante para explicar o desempenho de longo prazo da economia brasileira, bem como de seu relativo atraso

Uso de vermicomposto favorece o crescimento de mudas de gravioleira (Annona muricata L. 'Morada') associadas a fungos micorrízicos arbusculares Use of earthworm manure improves growth of soursop seedlings (Annona muricata L. 'Morada') associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

A gravioleira, cujos frutos apresentam elevado potencial para exportação, é de fácil adaptação ao Semi-Árido nordestino, e a sua produção, economicamente importante, vem sendo estimulada. O uso de adubos orgânicos associados à inoculação com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) pode ser útil na formação de mudas frutíferas, porém o efeito da adição de adubo na simbiose com gravioleira (Annona muricata L. 'Morada') não é conhecido. Foi investigado o efeito de FMA multiplicado em substrato com resíduo orgânico na formação de mudas de gravioleira mantidas em substratos com fertilizante. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, em fatorial de 2×5: 2 substratos (solo sem ou com 10% de vermicomposto) e cinco tratamentos de inoculação (Acaulospora longula Spain & Schenck e Gigaspora albida Schenck & Smith produzidos em substratos com ou sem resíduo orgânico e controle não inoculado), com quatro repetições. Após 102 dias, avaliou-se: massa seca da parte aérea e radicular, altura, diâmetro do caule, taxa de crescimento, produção de esporos de FMA e de glomalina, atividade enzimática do solo, respiração microbiana, colonização micorrízica total, arbuscular e hifálica. Em geral, a inoculação com FMA estimulou o crescimento, mas no tratamento adubado as mudas em simbiose com G. albida não foram beneficiadas pela associação. O uso de vermicomposto estimulou a colonização micorrízica, a respiração microbiana, a atividade enzimática e a produção de glomalina no solo, porém reduziu a esporulação de A. longula. A utilização de FMA e vermicomposto pode constituir alternativa na produção de mudas de gravioleira, pois reduziu à metade o tempo de formação das mudas e pode reduzir em 75% a dose de adubo a ser aplicada. No entanto, a escolha de FMA compatíveis com o hospedeiro é indispensável para garantir respostas positivas. A aplicação conjunta de FMA e adubo orgânico também pode melhorar a qualidade do solo, contribuindo para a produção sustentável de mudas desta e de outras fruteiras.<br>Annona muricata L. (soursop) easily adapts to irrigation in the semiarid Northeast. The economically important fruits have high exportation potential, so production has been encouraged. The use of organic amendments, together with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may be useful for production of seedlings. However, the effect of such amendments on the symbiosis established between AMF and soursop remains unknown. The effect of AMF multiplied in a substrate with earthworm manure on the formation of A. muricata seedlings maintained in fertilized substrate was investigated. The experimental design was entirely random, in a factorial of 2×5 = 2 substrates (with or without 10% organic manure) and five inoculation treatments (Acaulospora longula Spain & Schenck and Gigaspora albida Schenck & Smith, produced in substrates with or without organic residue and an uninoculated control), with four replicates. After 102 days, dry mass of shoots and roots, height, growth rate, production of AMF spores and glomalin, soil enzymatic activity, microbial respiration, total, arbuscular and hyphal colonization were evaluated. In general, seedling growth was stimulated by the inoculation with AMF, but in the fertilized soil, growth of seedlings in symbiosis with G. albida was not benefited. The use of organic fertilizer stimulated mycorrhizal colonization, microbial respiration, enzymatic activity and glomalin production, but inhibited A. longula sporulation. The application of AMF and organic manure may constitute an alternative for production of Annona muricata, since it reduced by half the period for seedling formation, and can reduce by 75% the dose of fertilizer to be applied. However, the choice of AMF compatible with the host is needed to assure positive results. The combination of both, AMF and organic amendment, can also improve soil quality, thus contributing to sustainable production of seedlings of A. muricata and other fruit trees