Fucoxanthin and docosahexaenoic acid production by cold-adapted Tisochrysis lutea

publishedVersio

Estudo sobre o estado de preservação das nascentes do rio Sapato, Lauro de Freitas-BA

There are very few urban centers that still have intacts or well conserved hydrics sources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the current state of preservation of the springs and the current measures of preservation to environmental damage of Sapato river (Lauro de Freitas – BA), located at Metropolitan Region of Salvador (RMS). The investigation was developed by collecting information in the pertinent environmental organs, in the cities of Salvador and Lauro de Freitas. There is few information about the Sapato river, the only relevant data, is that there are no sanitary sewer in Lauro de Freitas. The zoning of the river showed a high rate of earth covering and deviation of the course and springs of the river. But also showed richness of fauna and flora. It was concluded that the springs are preserved in Praia do Flamengo, however highly deteriorated in Praia de Ipitanga, and that is necessary the implementation of a recovery and preservation program from the public administration.Poucos são os centros urbanos que desfrutam de fontes hídricas ainda intactas ou em bom estado de conservação. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o estado atual de preservação das nascentes e as medidas de prevenção a danos ambientais do rio Sapato (Lauro de Freitas – BA), localizado na Região Metropolitana de Salvador (RMS). O trabalho foi desenvolvido por meio de levantamento de dados nos órgãos ambientais pertinentes, nos municípios de Salvador e Lauro de Freitas. Há poucas informações referentes ao rio Sapato. A única informação relevante é de que não há sistema de esgotamento sanitário em Lauro de Freitas. O zoneamento das nascentes evidenciou uma taxa alta de aterramento e de desvio do leito e das nascentes. Mas também mostrou riqueza e diversidade de flora e fauna. Concluiu-se que as nascentes encontram-se preservadas em Praia do Flamengo, porém altamente deterioradas em praia de Ipitanga, evidenciando a necessidade da implantação de programas de recuperação e preservação por parte da administração pública

Repeated nitrogen starvation doesn't affect lipid productivity of Chlorococcum littorale

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Light spectra as triggers for sorting improved strains of Tisochrysis lutea

It is known that microalgae respond to different light colors, but not at single-cell level. This work aimed to assess if different light colors could be used as triggers to sort over-producing cells. Six light spectra were used: red + green + blue (RGBL), blue (BL), red (RL), green (GL), blue + red (BRL) and blue + green (BGL). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting method was used to analyse single-cell fluorescence and sort cells. BGL and RGBL lead to the highest fucoxanthin production, while RL showed the lowest. Therefore, it was hypothesized that hyper-producing cells can be isolated efficiently under the adverse condition (RL). After exposure to all light colors for 14 days, the top 1% fucoxanthin producing cells were sorted. A sorted strain from RL showed higher (16–19%) growth rate and fucoxanthin productivity. This study showed how light spectra affected single-cell fucoxanthin and lipid contents and productivities. Also, it supplied an approach to sort for high-fucoxanthin or high-lipid cells.publishedVersionPaid Open Acces

Improved fucoxanthin and docosahexaenoic acid productivities of a sorted self-settling Tisochrysis lutea phenotype at pilot scale

This work aimed to select a Tisochrysis lutea phenotype with higher biomass and fucoxanthin productivities using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). A novel phenotype was obtained after 2 rounds of selection, based on high-fucoxanthin fluorescence. The resulting phenotype forms cell aggregates, has no flagella, and was stable after 15 months. Optimal temperature (30 °C) and light (300 µmol m−2 s−1) were obtained at laboratory scale, identical to the original strain. The biomass productivity was higher than the original strain: 1.9× at laboratory scale (0.4 L), and 4.5× under outdoor conditions (190 L). Moreover, compared to the original strain, the productivity of fucoxanthin increased 1.6–3.1× and docosahexaenoic acid 1.5–1.9×. These are the highest ever reported outdoor productivities, obtained with a robust new phenotype from a T. lutea monoculture isolated with FACS without genetic manipulation. The resulting phenotype shows high potential for industrial production.publishedVersio

Improved fucoxanthin and docosahexaenoic acid productivities of a sorted self-settling Tisochrysis lutea phenotype at pilot scale

This work aimed to select a Tisochrysis lutea phenotype with higher biomass and fucoxanthin productivities using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). A novel phenotype was obtained after 2 rounds of selection, based on high-fucoxanthin fluorescence. The resulting phenotype forms cell aggregates, has no flagella, and was stable after 15 months. Optimal temperature (30 °C) and light (300 µmol m−2 s−1) were obtained at laboratory scale, identical to the original strain. The biomass productivity was higher than the original strain: 1.9× at laboratory scale (0.4 L), and 4.5× under outdoor conditions (190 L). Moreover, compared to the original strain, the productivity of fucoxanthin increased 1.6–3.1× and docosahexaenoic acid 1.5–1.9×. These are the highest ever reported outdoor productivities, obtained with a robust new phenotype from a T. lutea monoculture isolated with FACS without genetic manipulation. The resulting phenotype shows high potential for industrial production.publishedVersio

Cell diameter doesn't affect lipid productivity of Chlorococcum littorale

Paid Open Acces

Sorting cells of the microalga Chlorococcum littorale with increased triacylglycerol productivity

Despite extensive research in the last decades, microalgae are still only economically feasible for high valued markets. Strain improvement is a strategy to increase productivities, hence reducing costs. In this work, we focus on microalgae selection: taking advantage of the natural biological variability of species to select variations based on desired characteristics. We focused on triacylglycerol (TAG), which have applications ranging from biodiesel to high-value omega-3 fatty-acids. Hence, we demonstrated a strategy to sort microalgae cells with increased TAG productivity

Perfil do albinismo oculocutâneo no estado da Bahia.

The albinism is a heterogeneous group of genetic disturbances that affects melanina production,  able to lead to hypopigmentation of the skin, fur, hair and eyes. The objective of this work was to analyze genetic aspects and health problems in consequence of oculocutaneous albinism. It was used a sampling of convenience, using as instrument for data collection, semi-structured questionnaires applied to 40 subjects (23 females and 17 males) from families associated to APALBA (Association of the Carriers of Albinism of Bahia). The albinos were offspring of normal pigmented parents, carriers of the recessive mutant allele. The majority, (65%), refers heredity, with more than one case in the family, and ethnic origin predominantly black. The usual diagnostic of albinism follows clinic criteria, although laboratory methods, able to identify some mutations, are already available. The absence of assistance to the affected people contributes for the low vision and risks of skin cancer. The study indicates the necessity of a new model of assistance to albinos, with preventive measures to the health damages, and that also includes, in the indicated cases, laboratorial tests with techniques from molecular biology that can contribute for the genetic counseling of the condition.O albinismo é um conjunto heterogêneo de distúrbios genéticos que afeta a produção de melanina, podendo levar à hipopigmentação da pele, dos pêlos, cabelos e olhos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar aspectos genéticos e agravos à saúde decorrentes do albinismo oculocutâneo. Foi feita uma amostragem de conveniência, utilizando-se como instrumento de coleta de dados questionários semi-estruturados aplicados a 40 probandos (23 mulheres e 17 homens) de famílias associadas a APALBA (Associação dos Portadores de Albinismo da Bahia). Os albinos eram filhos de pais normalmente pigmentados, portadores do alelo recessivo mutante. A maioria (65%) refere hereditariedade, com mais de um caso na família, e origem étnica predominantemente negra. A ocorrência do albinismo está associada a dificuldades e desvantagens, conseqüências do distúrbio genético e da segregação social. O diagnóstico usual do albinismo segue critérios clínicos, embora já existam métodos laboratoriais que identificam algumas mutações. A falta de assistência aos afetados contribui para a baixa da visão e a ocorrência de câncer de pele. O estudo indica a necessidade de um novo modelo de atendimento ao albino, com medidas de prevenção aos danos à saúde, que também incluam, nos casos indicados, testes laboratoriais com técnicas da biologia molecular que possam contribuir para  o aconselhamento genético da condição

Comparing the use of different domestic wastewaters for coupling microalgal production and nutrient removal.

The streams from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) have been considered a valuable medium for mass cultivation of algal biomass. The aim of this work is to test and compare the performance of Chlorella vulgaris on several streams from five stages, from two different WWTP. The results showed biomass yields ranging from 39 to 195 mg dry-weight l−1 days−1. The best performance as biomass production was obtained with the centrate (effluent from drying the anaerobic sludge). After testing a wide range of N/P ratios with centrate, the highest productivity and growth rates were obtained with the original N/P ratio (2.0) of this stream. The highest removal rates were of 9.8 (N) and 3.0 (P) mg l−1 days−1, in the centrate. Finally, this research also suggests that microalgal production seems to be a promising process when coupled to wastewater treatment