Avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana do óleo essencial e extratos da Curcuma longa

O aumento do uso de fármacos propiciou um elevado número de resíduos jogados em vias hídricas; uma possibilidade de diminuir esses danos ambientais é o uso de fitofármacos. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo testar in vitro pelo método de difusão em disco de papel a susceptibilidade de Candida albicans (CAN14), Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei e Cryptococcus neoformans aos extratos aquoso, etanólico bem como o óleo essencial da Curcuma longa conhecida por açafrão da terra. Verificou-se que óleo essencial apresentou resultado positivo para a maioria dos fungos, exceto C. glabrata. O extrato etanólico foi o mais eficiente a C. tropicalis. Vale destacar que todos os extratos foram mais eficientes frente a C. tropicalis e C. krusei quando comparados com o controle positivo cetoconazol

Biology and protoplast fusion among flocculant and H2S- yeasts

A utilização industrial de leveduras na produção de bebidas fermentadas é baseada na fermentação alcoólica, onde ocorre a produção de álcool etílico a partir de carboidratos fermentáveis. As linhagens selecionadas para este fim, apresentam diversas características pertinentes ao processo produtivo, entre elas a capacidade de floculação e a não produção de H2S, como destacado no presente trabalho. Do ponto de vista econômico, para as indústrias de bebidas fermentadas não destiladas, a floculação é vantajosa quando atinge o estágio final da fermentação, enquanto que a presença de H2S no produto final confere odor desagradável, alterando o flavour da bebida. Assim sendo este estudo teve por objetivos obter linhagens de leveduras floculantes e H2S- e caracterizar geneticamente os parentais, bem como analisar os produtos de fusão e os recombinantes obtidos. As linhagens ABXR.11B (floculante) e IZ 987 (H2S-) foram utilizadas no cruzamento via fusão de protoplastos. A taxa de fusão de protoplastos foi de 2,7xl0-4 entre os mutantes arg (ABXR.11B) e pdx (IZ 987). Não foi obtido nenhum produto de fusão estável mas foram selecionados recombinantes com as características de interesse. A caracterização genética foi realizada por cariotipagem eletroforética e marcadores RAPD. Os padrões eletroforéticos dos parentais foram muito diferentes. A linhagem IZ 987 mostrou resolução de 6 bandas cromossômicas (2,3 a 1,125 Mb), enquanto que a linhagem ABXR.11B mostrou resolução de 14 bandas cromossômicas (2,09 a 0,215 Mb). Isto indica uma grande distância taxonômica entre os parentais o que pode explicar a instabilidade dos produtos de fusão. O padrão de um produto de fusão foi complementar entre os respectivos padrões parentais. A análise dos resultados obtidos por RAPD demonstraram que um dos produtos de fusão (denominado PF67) é um híbrido, com padrão de amplificação complementar entre as linhagens parentais.The industrial use of yeast in the production of fermented beverages is based on alcoholic fermentation, where ethanol production occurs from fermentable carbohydrates. Selected strains for this purpose show several characteristics related to the producing process and among them are flocculation capacity and lack of H2S production, as reinforced in the present work. From an economic point of view non distillated fermented beverage industry flocculation is advantageous during the final stage of fermentation, whereas H2S occurance in the final product gives an appearance undesirable odor, altering the beverage flavour. Therefore, this study was done to obtain flocculant, H2S- strains and genetically characterize the parent strains, as well as to analyse fusion products and recombinants. A strains ABXR.11B (flocculant) and IZ 987 (H2S-) were crossed through protoplast fusion. Fusion rate of 2,7x10-4 for the arg mutant (ABXR.11B) and pdx (IZ987) cross was observed. Stable fusion products were not obtained, but recombinants with the desirable characteristics were selected. Genetic characterization was done by electrophoretic karyotyping and RAPD markers. The parental electrophoretic patterns were strikly different. The strain IZ 987 resolved into 6 bands (2,3 to 1,125 Mb), whereas strain ABXR.11B resolved into 14 bands (2,09 to 0,215 Mb). This indicates a great taxonomic distance between the parent strains, what may explain fusion product instability. The pattern of one fusion product was complementary to the patterns of its respective parents. The results obtained from RAPD analysis showed fusion product 67 to be a hybrid, with amplification pattern complementary to the parent strains

Avaliação microbiológica e bromatológica da silagem ácida obtida de resíduos da indústria de filetagem de tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus)

The experiment constituted in evaluating the acid silage prepared from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) filletage industry residues. This silage was prepared in a filetage industry through the residues milling and 5% of ascetic acid addition and stock piling in a period up to until 201 days. Storaged silages in a period of 7, 12, 22, 27, 41, 48, 61, 75, 84, 91, 96, 110, 140, 151, 181, 187 and 201dias were evaluated. Bromatologics analyses of rude protein(PB), etereal extract (EE), humidity (UM), ashes (CZ) and microbiological analyses of Salmonella, total coliforms, faecals and Escherichia coli of the storaged silages in a period of 7, 91 and 201 days were realized. The pH was evaluated in all the storaged periods. Differences (P > 0.05) in the substance of PB, EE, UM and CZ were not observed. A linear increase in PH was observed, being stabilizing in plateau of 4.74. In relation to the microbiological analysis the presence of Salmonella, total coliforms, faecals and E. Coli were not found. Was concluded that the acid silage gotten from tilapia filetage residues produced with the use of 5% ascetic acid can be stored during 201 days without having Salmonella, total coliforms and faecals proliferation

Yeasts isolated from a lotic continental environment in Brazil show potential to produce amylase, cellulase and protease

Yeasts have wide applicability in the industrial field, as in the production of enzymes used in biocatalysts. Biocatalysts are more efficient when compared to chemical catalysts, with emphasis on hydrolytic enzymes, such as amylase, cellulase and protease. Here we focused on prospecting yeasts, with a high capacity to synthesize hydrolytic enzymes, from a continental lotic ecosystem environment in Brazil. 75 yeasts were grown in Yeast Extract-Peptone-Dextrose (YPD) medium supplemented with antibacterial and their capacity for enzymatic production was tested in specific media. Accordingly, 64 yeasts showed enzyme production capacity. From those, six showed good enzyme indexes, 3 for amylase, 2 for cellulase and 1 for protease. All showed at least one hydrolytic enzyme activity for the tested enzymes (amylase, cellulase and protease), which suggested that the yeasts are metabolically active. By sequencing the 26S gene, we identified Naganishia diffluens and Apiotrichum mycotoxinivorans as the species with highest enzyme production activities. Those species showed potential for application as biological catalysts in the biotechnological scope, collaborating in a sustainable way for the development of industrial products

Butenafine and analogues: An expeditious synthesis and cytotoxicity and antifungal activities

The incidence of fungal infections is considered a serious public health problem worldwide. The limited number of antimycotic drugs available to treat human and animal mycosis, the undesirable side effects and toxicities of the currently available drugs, and the emergence of fungal resistance emphasizes the urgent need for more effective antimycotic medicines. In this paper, we describe a rapid, simple, and efficient synthetic route for preparation of the antifungal agent butenafine on a multigram scale. This novel synthetic route also facilitated the preparation of 17 butenafine analogues using Schiff bases as precursors in three steps or less. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated against the yeast, Cryptococcus neoformans/C. gattii species complexes and the filamentous fungi Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum gypseum. Amine 4bd, a demethylated analogue of butenafine, and its corresponding hydrochloride salt showed low toxicity in vitro and in vivo while maintaining inhibitory activity against filamentous fungi. Keywords: Antifungal activity, Butenafine, Microwave-assisted synthesis, Multigram-scale synthesis, Schiff base, Trichophyton rubru