Beneficial effects of fermented vegetal beverages on human gastrointestinal microbial ecosystem in a simulator

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of four beverage formulations (prebiotic - fructooligosaccharide, probiotic - Lactobacillus casei Lc-01, synbiotic - fructooligosaccharide and L. casei Lc-01 and placebo) based on aqueous extracts of soy and quinoa, towards the human intestinal microbiota using the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME (R)), a dynamic model of the human gut. To monitor the effects on microbial community composition, plate counts on specific growth media and a PCR-DGGE analysis were performed on samples from all colon compartments - ascending, transverse and descending. To verify the effects on microbial metabolism, we analyzed the ammonium and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentrations. The synbiotic beverage showed the best microbiological results in the ascending colon compartment, stimulating the growth of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp., and reducing Clostridium spp., Bacteroides spp., enterobacteria and Enterococcus spp. populations in this compartment. A larger reduction (p < 0.05) of ammonia ions in the ascending colon was observed during the synbiotic beverage treatment. No statistical difference was observed in SCFA production among the treatments and the basal period. Plate count and DGGE analysis showed the survival of L. casei Lc-01 in the colon. DGGE analysis also showed higher richness and diversity of the Lactobacillus spp. community during the treatment with synbiotic beverage, with higher accentuation in the ascending colon. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Performance evaluation and phylogenetic characterization of anaerobic fluidized bed reactors using ground tire and pet as support materials for biohydrogen production

AbstractThis study evaluated two different support materials (ground tire and polyethylene terephthalate [PET]) for biohydrogen production in an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) treating synthetic wastewater containing glucose (4000mgL−1). The AFBR, which contained either ground tire (R1) or PET (R2) as support materials, were inoculated with thermally pretreated anaerobic sludge and operated at a temperature of 30°C. The AFBR were operated with a range of hydraulic retention times (HRT) between 1 and 8h. The reactor R1 operating with a HRT of 2h showed better performance than reactor R2, reaching a maximum hydrogen yield of 2.25molH2mol−1 glucose with 1.3mg of biomass (as the total volatile solids) attached to each gram of ground tire. Subsequent 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of particle samples revealed that reactor R1 favored the presence of hydrogen-producing bacteria such as Clostridium, Bacillus, and Enterobacter

Aplicação de resíduo da agroindústria citrícola para a produção de hidrogênio utilizando culturas puras e mistas

Nos últimos anos há um interesse crescente no uso de diversos resíduos agroindustriais. No Brasil, as indústrias de alimentos acumulam uma enorme quantidade de resíduos, principalmente as de processamento de frutos cítricos. Entre as possibilidades de valorização destes resíduos, a digestão anaeróbia é uma alternativa promissora na geração de energia renovável e controle da poluição. Nesse sentido, esse estudo avaliou a digestão anaeróbia de água residuária citrícola, visando à produção biológica de hidrogênio a partir de três inóculos: (1) Clostridium Acetobutylicum ATCC 824, (2) Clostridium Beijerinckii ATCC 10132 e (3) consórcio anaeróbio obtido da água residuária citrícola. O experimento foi realizado em 51h, em triplicatas de reatores anaeróbios em batelada, alimentados com 2 fontes distintas de carbono: glicose (10,7 g DQO L-1) e água residuária citrícola (10,0 g DQO L-1), headspace preenchido com N2 (99,99%), pH inicial 7,0 e mantidos a 37°C, sob modo estático. Nos reatores alimentados com glicose foram verificados geração de hidrogênio apenas com os inóculos 1 e 2, que foram, respectivamente, de 36,8 mmol L-1 e 64,1 mmol L-1. Nos reatores operados com água residuária citrícola foram obtidos 21,2; 15,7 e; 37,6 mmol H2 L-1 com os inóculos 1; 2 e 3, respectivamente. Além disso, foram verificadas gerações expressivas de etanol para todos os inóculos testados nos reatores alimentados com glicose. Na caracterização do consórcio anaeróbio citrícola foi verificado predomínio de bacilos Gram + e quantificados os gêneros de bactérias anaeróbias geradoras de H2 (UFC mL1): Clostridium sp. (3x105), Bacteroides sp. (4x105), Lactobacillus sp. (4x105), Streptococcus sp. (5x104), e Veillonella sp. (3x105), revelando diversidade elevada de bactérias anaeróbias produtoras de hidrogênio presentes na água residuária agroindustrial. Tais resultados ressaltam que a geração de hidrogênio pode ocorrer em vias metabólicas distintas com consequente favorecimento na geração de biocombustíveis como etanol ou butanol.Palavras-chave: Águas Residuárias. Citricultura. Fermentação. Clostridium

Development and validation of a method for determination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) of a standard solution PCB Congener MIX 1 by gas chromatography and electron capture detector in three different matrices: Askarel oil, samples from batch anaerobic reactors and soil

Bifenilas policloradas (PCBs) são componentes de óleo ascarel, usado extensamente (no Brasil até os anos 80) como isolante em transformadores de energia devido às suas propriedades físico-químicas como estabilidade térmica e alta constante dielétrica. Apesar de ter sido proibido em todo o mundo devido à alta toxicidade dos PCBs presentes em sua composição, ainda resta grande quantidade de ascarel em circulação como resíduo \"passivo\" e resultante de contaminação em trocas dos fluidos dos transformadores, além de vazamentos. A principal forma de eliminação é por incineração, que, além de ser um processo caro, pode provocar a formação de compostos mais tóxicos, as dioxinas. Por isso é importante o monitoramento da concentração dessas substâncias, a fim de evitar maiores impactos ambientais na sua disposição, bem como em estudos de biodegradação. Esta matriz é extremamente complexa, o que torna a extração e determinação desses analitos um processo trabalhoso e difícil. Neste trabalho avaliaram-se métodos de extração e determinação de PCBs presentes na solução padrão comercial PCB Congener MIX 1, SUPELCO (PCBs 10, 28, 52, 138, 153 e 180). O desenvolvimento de métodos de extração (cromatografia em coluna, extração líquido-líquido (L-L), extração em fase sólida (SPE) e micro-extração em fase sólida - SPME) dos PCBs foi seguido da determinação, por cromatografia gasosa com detector por captura de elétrons (CG/DCE), em três matrizes diferentes: óleo ascarel, amostras provenientes de reatores anaeróbios em batelada e solo. Os métodos cuja purificação e extração diminuíram o efeito dos interferentes da matriz, como SPE - Sulfoxide, cromatografia em coluna de sílica e extração L-L com n-hexano foram validados pela avaliação dos seguintes parâmetros: linearidade e faixa de aplicação; precisão instrumental; limite de detecção, limite de quantificação e recuperação absoluta. O critério de escolha entre os métodos para extração dos PCBs do óleo que forneceram maior eficiência (cartucho SPE Sulfoxide e coluna de sílica gel, após lavagem ácida; método da adição de padrão, entre 1,0 e 4,0 mg L-1) deve considerar a disponibilidade de recursos, pois a sílica gel é mais viável economicamente do que o cartucho SPE. Os valores de R2 > 0,99 para o método de extração com sílica, mesmo tendo sido considerados apenas três pontos para a curva de calibração, atestam maior linearidade do que o método com SPE Sulfoxide (R2 entre 0,97 e 0,99). A extração L-L e determinação por CG/DCE dos PCBs (padronização interna) de amostras provenientes de reatores anaeróbios em batelada (aquosas, em matriz extremamente complexa com biomassa e espuma de poliuretano para imobilização de microrganismos) foram eficientes na faixa de concentração entre 0,05 e 0,5 mg L-1. Esse método foi adequado para monitorar PCBs em estudo de degradação anaeróbia e teste de adsorção dos PCBs em espuma; forneceu linearidade com R2 entre 0,93 e 0,96 e limites de detecção de 0,048 a 0,298 mg L-1, além de recuperação absoluta entre 14,1% e 110,7%. As condições testadas por SPME não permitiram a extração dos PCBs de óleo e de solo, principalmente devido à dessorção incompleta dos PCBs da fibra de polidimetil-siloxano, de 100 &#956;m.Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are components of ascarel, oil widely used as insulation (until the \'80s in Brazil) due to its physicochemical properties such as thermal stability and high dielectric constant. Despite having been banned worldwide due to the high toxicity of PCBs present in its composition, there are still lots of outstanding ascarel as \"passive\" residue and resulting contamination of fluids in transformers exchanges, plus leaks. The main form of disposal is incineration, which, besides being costly, can cause the formation of more toxic compounds, that is, dioxins. It is therefore important to monitor the concentration of these substances in order to prevent further environmental impacts in their disposal, as well as in studies of biodegradation. This is an extremely complex matrix, which makes the extraction and determination of this analytes very difficult and labor intensive. In this work we have evaluated methods of extraction and determination of the PCBs present in the standard solution Congener MIX 1, SUPELCO (PCBs 10, 28, 52, 138, 153 e 180). The extraction and cleanup developed methods which reduced the effects of interfering matrix as solid phase extraction (SPE) - Sulfoxide, column chromatography on silica and liquid-liquid (L-L) extraction with n-hexane, and solid phase microextraction (SPME) after determination of the PCBs by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC/ECD) were validated by assessing the following parameters: linearity and range of application; instrumental precision; detection limit; limit of quantification and absolute recovery. The criterion for choosing between the methods for extraction of PCBs from the oil with a higher efficiency (SPE cartridge Sulfoxide and silica gel column, after acid washing; using the standard addition method, between 1.0 and 4.0 mg L-1) must evaluate the availability resources, since the silica gel is more economically viable than the SPE cartridge. The R2 values > 0.99 for silica extraction method, even though it was considered only three points for the calibration curve, attested higher linearity than the method with SPE Sulfoxide (R2 between 0.97 and 0.99). The L-L extraction and determination by GC/ECD of the PCBs (internal standardization) of samples from batch anaerobic reactors (aqueous, in a very complex matrix with biomass and polyurethane foam for the immobilization of microorganisms) were efficient in the concentration range between 0.05 and 0.5 mg L-1. This method was suitable to monitor PCBs in anaerobic degradation studies and its adsorption on foam; provided R2 linearity between 0.93 and 0.96 and detection limits from 0.048 to 0.298 mg L-1, as well as absolute recovery between 14.1% and 110.7%. The conditions tested for SPME technique did not allow the extraction of the PCBs from the oil and soil, mainly due to the \"incomplete dessorption\" of PCBs from the polydimethylsiloxane fiber of 100 micron

Simplified Mathematical Model for an Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Biofilm Reactor Treating Lipid-Rich Wastewater Subject to Rising Organic Loading Rates

This study proposes a simplified mathematical model to describe the processes occurring in an anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (ASBBR) treating lipid-rich wastewater. The reactor, subjected to rising organic loading rates, contained biomass immobilized cubic polyurethane foam matrices, and was operated at 32 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C, using 24-h batch cycles. In the adaptation period, the reactor was fed with synthetic substrate for 46 days and was operated without agitation. Whereas agitation was raised to 500 rpm, the organic loading rate (OLR) rose from 0.3 g chemical oxygen demand (COD) . L(-1) . day(-1) to 1.2 g COD . L(-1) . day(-1). The ASBBR was fed fat-rich wastewater (dairy wastewater), in an operation period lasting for 116 days, during which four operational conditions (OCs) were tested: 1.1 +/- 0.2 g COD . L(-1) . day(-1) (OC1), 4.5 +/- 0.4 g COD . L(-1) . day(-1) (OC2), 8.0 +/- 0.8 g COD . L(-1) . day(-1) (OC3), and 12.1 +/- 2.4 g COD . L(-1) . day(-1) (OC4). The bicarbonate alkalinity (BA)/COD supplementation ratio was 1:1 at OC1, 1:2 at OC2, and 1:3 at OC3 and OC4. Total COD removal efficiencies were higher than 90%, with a constant production of bicarbonate alkalinity, in all OCs tested. After the process reached stability, temporal profiles of substrate consumption were obtained. Based on these experimental data a simplified first-order model was fit, making possible the inference of kinetic parameters. A simplified mathematical model correlating soluble COD with volatile fatty acids (VFA) was also proposed, and through it the consumption rates of intermediate products as propionic and acetic acid were inferred. Results showed that the microbial consortium worked properly and high efficiencies were obtained, even with high initial substrate concentrations, which led to the accumulation of intermediate metabolites and caused low specific consumption rates.FAPESP-Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo[2005/04353-9]FAPESP-Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo[2006/02323-8

Modulation of gut microbiota from obese individuals by in vitro fermentation of citrus pectin in combination with <em>Bifidobacterium longum</em> BB-46

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T16:55:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-01-01This study aimed to evaluate the effects of three treatments, i.e., Bifidobacterium longum BB-46 (T1), B. longum BB-46 combined with the pectin (T2), and harsh extracted pectin from lemon (T3) on obesity-related microbiota using the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®). The effects of the treatments were assessed by the analysis of the intestinal microbial composition (using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing) and the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and ammonium ions (NH4 +). Treatments T2 and T3 stimulated members of the Ruminococcaceae and Succinivibrionaceae families, which were positively correlated with an increase in butyric and acetic acids. Proteolytic bacteria were reduced by the two treatments, concurrently with a decrease in NH4 +. Treatment T1 stimulated the production of butyric acid in the simulated transverse and descending colon, reduction of NH4 + as well as the growth of genera Lactobacillus, Megamonas, and members of Lachnospiracea. The results indicate that both B. longum BB-46 and pectin can modulate the obesity-related microbiota; however, when the pectin is combined with B. longum BB-46, the predominant effect of the pectin can be observed. This study showed that the citric pectin is able to stimulate butyrate-producing bacteria as well as genera related with anti-inflammatory effects. However, prospective clinical studies are necessary to evaluate the anti/pro-obesogenic and inflammatory effects of this pectin for future prevention of obesity.Department of Food Science UNESP - São Paulo State UniversityDepartment of Food Science Faculty of Science University of CopenhagenDepartment of Hydraulics and Sanitation School of Engineering of São Carlos University of São Paulo (USP)Department of Environmental Science Aarhus UniversityDepartment of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology Food Research Center University of São Paulo (USP)Department of Food Science UNESP - São Paulo State Universit

Effect of probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic on the gut microbiota of autistic children using an in vitro gut microbiome model

International audienc

Effect of a probiotic beverage consumption (Enterococcus faecium CRL 183 and Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707) in rats with chemically induced colitis.

BACKGROUND:Some probiotic strains have the potential to assist in relieving the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. The impact of daily ingestion of a soy-based product fermented by Enterococcus faecium CRL 183 and Lactobacillus helveticus 416 with the addition of Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707 on chemically induced colitis has been investigated thereof within a period of 30 days. METHODS:Colitis was induced by dextran sulfate sodium. The animals were randomly assigned into five groups: Group C: negative control; Group CL: positive control; Group CLF: DSS with the fermented product; Group CLP: DSS with the non-fermented product (placebo); Group CLS: DSS with sulfasalazine. The following parameters were monitored: disease activity index, fecal microbial analyses, gastrointestinal survival of probiotic microorganisms and short-chain fatty acids concentration in the feces. At the end of the protocol the animals' colons were removed so as to conduct a macroscopical and histopathological analysis, cytokines and nitrite quantification. RESULTS:Animals belonging to the CLF group showed fewer symptoms of colitis during the induction period and a lower degree of inflammation and ulceration in their colon compared to the CL, CLS and CLP groups (p<0.05). The colon of the animals in groups CL and CLS presented severe crypt damage, which was absent in CLF and CLP groups. A significant increase in the population of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. at the end of the protocol was verified only in the CLF animals (p<0.05). This group also showed an increase in short-chain fatty acids (propionate and acetate). Furthermore, the intestinal survival of E. faecium CRL 183 and B. longum ATCC 15707 in the CLF group has been confirmed by biochemical and molecular analyzes. CONCLUSIONS:The obtained results suggest that a regular intake of the probiotic product, and placebo to a lesser extent, can reduce the severity of DSS-induced colitis on rats

Evaluation of microorganisms with sulfidogenic metabolic potential under anaerobic conditions

The aim of this work was to identify groups of microorganisms that are capable of degrading organic matter utilizing sulfate as an electron acceptor. The assay applied for this purpose consisted of running batch reactors and monitoring lactate consumption, sulfate reduction and sulfide production. A portion of the lactate added to the batch reactors was consumed, and the remainder was converted into acetic, propionic and butyric acid after 111 hours of operation These results indicate the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) catalyzing both complete and incomplete oxidation of organic substrates. The sulfate removal efficiency was 49.5% after 1335 hours of operation under an initial sulfate concentration of 1123 mg/L. The SRB concentrations determined by the most probable number (MPN) method were 9.0x10(7) cells/mL at the beginning of the assay and 8.0x10(5) cells/mL after 738 hours of operation