Isolation and identification of Magnusiomyces capitatus as a lipase-producing yeast from olive mill wastewater

ABSTRACT: Olive mill wastewaters (OMW) are effluents originated from olive oil extraction. As an oil-rich residue, OMW is a potential source of lipase-producing microorganisms and a complex medium potentially suitable for lipase production. The aim of the present study was to isolate yeasts with the ability to produce extracellular lipases from OMW. Thirty-two yeast isolates were obtained and screening for esterase/lipase activity using rapid plate detection methods allowed the selection of five isolates. Subsequently, extracellular lipolytic activity was determined in shake-flasks, and the best activity was found in the isolate JT5 (0.85 U/mL). This isolate was identified as Magnusiomyces capitatus by DNA sequencing. Growth and lypolytic activities by M. capitatus JT5 were assessed in undiluted OMW, and optimization of lipase production was achieved by a positive interaction of two factors (oxygen availability and nitrogen concentration). The highest lipase activity (1.4 U/mL) was obtained at NH4Cl concentration of 2.8 g/L and kLa of 0.65 min−1. The growth of M. capitatus JT5 in a stirred tank bioreactor, using undiluted OMW, allowed the improvement of lipase production (up to 3.96 U/mL) by increasing olive oil concentration in the medium, under the selected conditions of nitrogen concentration and oxygen availability. This study highlighted the isolate M. capitatus JT5 as a lipase-producing microorganism that is able to grow in undiluted OMW under controlled conditions. Results obtained in shake-flasks have been reproduced satisfactorily in the stirred tank bioreactor.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

X-metabolomics : a software tool for dynamic mass spectroscopy automated signal processing

One of the major challenges of today's biotechnology is to be able to obtain the maximum of metabolic information for the holistic interpretation of biological systems. Herein we present a new computational application for gas-chromatography mass spectroscopy automated signal processing, named 'X-Metabolomics', that shows to be a potential framework for dynamic systems as fermentation processes interpretation by compounds and pathways identification and quantification and moreover for new metabolites discovery. Our GC-MS signal processing pipeline is implemented into an X-window interface using Tcl/Tk interface and based on R statistical programming environment for comprehensive statistical computing of results and access to 'Bioconductor' bioinformatics platform under Unix, Linux and MacOS. This approach focuses on the robustness of peak extraction algorithms for further identification, quantification and biological interpretation by multivariate analysis, evolving the following steps: i) peaks extraction; ii) supervised filtering; iii) identification of candidate fragments and removal of possible contaminants; iv) compounds identification/quantification; v) compounds expression and co-expression in time-course; and vi) sample classification and biological interpretation by multivariate analysis. 'X-Metabolomics' can be an useful tool in different fields such as pharmacology, genetics, living cells systems, promising to be innovative and very helpful for new drug discovery and new advances in dynamic systems understanding

Vertical Distribution of Leaves and Stems on the Sward and Forage Intake by Lambs in Tifton-85 Pasture

Sward characteristics affect the performance of grazing livestock, especially for the youngest animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the vertical distribution of leaves and stems on the sward and the forage intake parameters of lambs in four sheep meat production systems grazing a Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) cv. Tifton-85 pasture

Genomic characterization, high-density mapping and anchoring of DArT markers to the reference genome of Eucalyptus

Genetic linkage maps have been essential tools to examine the inheritance of qualitative and quantitative traits, to carry out comparative mapping and to provide markers for molecular breeding applications. Linkage maps for species of Eucalyptus have been reported for several pedigrees using different molecular marker technologies [1]. However improved marker density, throughput and transferability across species are necessary to increase resolution of current maps for a variety of genomic applications. We report the development of a high density linkage map for Eucalyptus based on microsatellites and DArT (Diversity Arrays Technology) markers generated by a standardized genotyping microarray [2]. DNA probes that constitute the DArT microarray were sequenced and positioned on the reference Eucalyptus genome providing information about their sequence content, their distribution relative to annotated genes as well as the relationship between physical and recombination distance in the Eucalyptus genome. [Poster Presentation

Decomposition and nutrient release of leguminous plants in coffee agroforestry systems.

Leguminous plants used as green manure are an important nutrient source for coffee plantations, especially for soils with low nutrient levels. Field experiments were conducted in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais State, Brazil to evaluate the decomposition and nutrient release rates of four leguminous species used as green manures (Arachis pintoi, Calopogonium mucunoides, Stizolobium aterrimum and Stylosanthes guianensis) in a coffee agroforestry system under two different climate conditions. The initial N contents in plant residues varied from 25.7 to 37.0 g kg-1 and P from 2.4 to 3.0 g kg-1. The lignin/N, lignin/polyphenol and(lignin+polyphenol)/N ratios were low in all residues studied. Mass loss rates were highest in the first 15 days, when 25 % of the residues were decomposed. From 15 to 30 days, the decomposition rate decreased on both farms. On the farm in Pedra Dourada (PD), the decomposition constant k increased in the order C. mucunoides < S. aterrimum < S. guianensis < A. pintoi. On the farm in Araponga (ARA), there was no difference in the decomposition rate among leguminous plants. The N release rates varied from 0.0036 to 0.0096 d-1. Around 32 % of the total N content in the plant material was released in the first 15 days. In ARA, the N concentration in the S. aterrimum residues was always significantly higher than in the other residues. At the end of 360 days, the N released was 78 % in ARA and 89 % in PD of the initial content. Phosphorus was the most rapidly released nutrient (k values from 0.0165 to 0.0394 d-1). Residue decomposition and nutrient release did not correlate with initial residue chemistry and biochemistry, but differences in climatic conditions between the two study sites modified the decomposition rate constants

Green manure in coffee systems in the region of Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais: characteristics and kinetics of carbon and nitrogen mineralization.

The use of green manure may contribute to reduce soil erosion and increase the soil organic matter content and N availability in coffee plantations in the Zona da Mata, State of Minas Gerais, in Southeastern Brazil. The potential of four legumes (A. pintoi, C. mucunoides, S. aterrimum and S. guianensis)to produce above-ground biomass, accumulate nutrients and mineralize N was studied in two coffee plantations of subsistence farmers under different climate conditions. The biomass production of C. mucunoides was influenced by the shade of the coffee plantation.C. mucunoides tended to mineralize more N than the other legumes due to the low polyphenol content and polyphenol/N ratio. In the first year, the crop establishment of A. pintoi in the area took longer than of the other legumes, resulting in lower biomass production and N2 fixation. In the long term, cellulose was the main factor controlling N mineralization. The biochemical characteristics, nutrient accumulation and biomass production of the legumes were greatly influenced by the altitude and position of the area relative to the sun

Efeito-leitor de ciência: a textualização e circulação da ciência em folders sobre transgênicos

Apresentamos a análise de folders sobre alimentos transgênicos de uma empresa multinacional protagonista importante em controvérsias sobre essa temática. As análises se amparam na noção de efeito-leitor, posição de leitura e relação com a ciência que o leitor pode vir a ocupar. Consideramos esse aspecto relevante se se deseja formar leitores de ciência com compreensão da dimensão social da sua produção e circulação. A análise dá visibilidade ao fato de que não apenas nos posicionamos em controvérsias sociocientíficas como já somos posicionados. Ao dar visibilidade a esse processo, de natureza discursiva, buscamos contribuir para pensar a produção de práticas de leitura da ciência na escola como construção de possibilidades de trabalhar com os estudantes as posições que os constituem em relação à ciência. Tratar-se-ia de trabalhar não apenas o conteúdo do texto, mas a textualização desse conteúdo, ou seja, a textualização da ciência. A textualização desses folders representa um exemplo da variedade de textualizações que fazem circular a ciência numa sociedade como a nossa

Isolamento de isobruceina B e neosergeolida de Picrolemma sprucei Hook. f. em escala-grama

Quassinoids neosergeolide and isobrucein B, obtained from Picrolemma sprucei, have proven in vitro antitumor, antimalarial, anthelminthic, cytotoxic, insecticide and leishmanicidal activities. There is interest in the in vivo pharmacological study of these natural compounds and their semi-synthetic derivatives, however, the quantities obtained in previous extraction processes have been shown to be a limiting factor for continuation of these studies. Herein, we describe a method for obtaining grams of these quassinoids whose purification relies only on recrystallization.Os quassinóides neosergeolida e isobruceína B, obtidos de Picrolemma sprucei, possuem atividades antitumoral, antimalárica, anti-helmíntica, citotóxica, inseticida e anti-leishmania comprovadas em estudos in vitro. Há interesse no estudo farmacológico in vivo dessas substâncias naturais e de seus derivados semi-sintéticos, porém a quantidade obtida nos processos de extração tem se mostrado um fator limitante à continuação desses estudos. No presente trabalho, descrevemos um método para obtenção de gramas desses quassinóides cuja purificação depende apenas de cristalização fracionada

A oposição aos pavilhões do parque Ibirapuera (1950-1954)

Este artigo trata das disputas em torno da realização do parque Ibirapuera, na primeira metade da década de 1950, quando a Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo, com o apoio do Governo do Estado, decidiu implementá-lo, com o propósito de nele sediar as comemorações do seu 400º aniversário de fundação. O Ibirapuera é considerado o primeiro parque metropolitano de São Paulo. Foi construído em 1954, momento em que a cidade arvorava a condição de "metrópole moderna". Com 1.584.000 m² de área total, localizado junto a bairros nobres, o parque foi equipado com um conjunto de edifícios desenhados por Oscar Niemeyer, destinados a abrigar exposições comemorativas. Sua construção ensejou uma série de manifestações de oposição, consolidadas em torno de um grupo que teve franca representação em diversos meios institucionais e de comunicação. Posteriormente, no entanto, essa oposição foi totalmente silenciada tanto pelos agentes sociais envolvidos no processo quanto pela bibliografia sobre o assunto. Procura-se, aqui, levantar as questões em torno de tal oposição, com vistas a estabelecer um contraponto ao caráter comemorativo da própria fundação da cidade, permitindo a superação do olhar celebratório e de elogio do progresso paulistano. Essa investigação delineia um campo de conflitos e disputas, indicando que, naquele momento, não havia continuidade entre a celebração do aniversário da cidade e a modernidade dos pavilhões do Ibirapuera, mas sim uma série de embates políticos de relevância para o urbanismo em São Paulo, que merecem ser recuperados.This article discusses the disagreements around the construction of Ibirapuera Park in the first half of the 1950s, when the municipal government of São Paulo decided, with support from the state government, to implement the project for the purpose of staging the celebrations of the city's 400th anniversary on its premises. Ibirapuera is regarded as the first metropolitan park in São Paulo. It was built in 1954 as the city laid claim to the title of "modern metropolis". Sprawling across an area of 1,584,000m² in the vicinity of wealthy neighborhoods, the park boasts a complex of buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer for commemorative exhibitions. Its construction gave rise to a number of protests gathered around a group with direct representation in several institutions and mass media. Subsequently, however, the opposition was completely silenced not only by the social agents involved in the process but also by the literature published on the subject. In this paper, we try to raise a few questions about the said opposition in an effort to set a counterpoint to the commemorative nature of the events associated with the city's foundation, and thereby look beyond the celebration and acclamation of its progress. Our investigation brings to light an arena of conflicts and disputes, suggesting that there was no direct connection between the celebration of the city's anniversary and the modern design of the pavilions in Ibirapuera Park at the time, but rather a series of political clashes of great import for urban planning in São Paulo that are worth revisiting