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

Diabetic Cardiovascular Disease Induced by Oxidative Stress.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). DM can lead to multiple cardiovascular complications, including coronary artery disease (CAD), cardiac hypertrophy, and heart failure (HF). HF represents one of the most common causes of death in patients with DM and results from DM-induced CAD and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Oxidative stress is closely associated with the pathogenesis of DM and results from overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS overproduction is associated with hyperglycemia and metabolic disorders, such as impaired antioxidant function in conjunction with impaired antioxidant activity. Long-term exposure to oxidative stress in DM induces chronic inflammation and fibrosis in a range of tissues, leading to formation and progression of disease states in these tissues. Indeed, markers for oxidative stress are overexpressed in patients with DM, suggesting that increased ROS may be primarily responsible for the development of diabetic complications. Therefore, an understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms mediated by oxidative stress is crucial to the prevention and treatment of diabetes-induced CVD. The current review focuses on the relationship between diabetes-induced CVD and oxidative stress, while highlighting the latest insights into this relationship from findings on diabetic heart and vascular disease

Oxytetracycline effect on the structure of bacterioplankton in microcosm / Efeito da oxitetraciclina na estrutura do bacterioplâncton no microcosmo

Resíduos de medicamentos são frequentemente encontrados em matrizes ambientais. A classe dos antimicrobianos é uma das que causa grande preocupação devido aos potenciais efeitos negativos sobre a comunidade microbiana que desempenha papel crucial nos processos, dinâmica e estabilidade dos ecossistemas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os aspectos ecológicos da ação do antimicrobiano oxitetraciclina (OTC) sobre a densidade e diversidade bacterianas de um sistema de água doce. Foram desenvolvidos experimentos em microcosmos, em triplicata, totalizando 18 microcosmos-tratamento contendo água do ambiente com 2 mg L-1 de oxitetraciclina e 18 microcosmos controle contend apenas água do ambiente. O conteúdo dos microcosmos foi analizado em 1, 5, 10, 20, 45 e 70 dias. O decaimento da OTC e as mudanças nas variáveis abióticas e bióticas foram verificadas em cada dia de amostagem. O tempo de meia-vida da OTC nas condições experimentais estabelecidas foi de 3,8 dias (R2 = 98%). O valores de nitrogênio total (NT) e carbono orgânico dissolvido (COD) foram significativamente diferentes entre os microcosmos controle e tratamento. A densidade bacteriana foi significativamente diferente entre os microcosmos controle e tratamento, estando entre 1,57x103 e 3,48x105 células por mL de água nos microcosmos-controle e entre 1,17x105 e 2,19x105 células por mL de água nos microcosmos-tratamento. A densidade bacteriana apresentou correlação negativa ao COD. No microcosmos-tratamento, a densidade bacteriana esteve negativamente correlacionada à OTC. Em relação à diversidade bacteriana, valores similares foram encontrados entre controle e tratamento nos tempos de análise T1 e T70, mas em T20 foi observado maior diversidade nas amostras dos microcosmos-tratamento. Os resultados demonstraram que para as condições estabelecidas, a OTC pode mediar a coexistencia de espécies, controlando bactérias com maior potencial competitivo, aumentando a diversidade bacteriana por consequencia.

Optimization of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) degradation in UASB reactors by varying bioavailability of LAS, hydraulic retention time and specific organic load rate

AbstractDegradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in UASB reactors was optimized by varying the bioavailability of LAS based on the concentration of biomass in the system (1.3–16gTS/L), the hydraulic retention time (HRT), which was operated at 6, 35 or 80h, and the concentration of co-substrates as specific organic loading rates (SOLR) ranging from 0.03–0.18gCOD/gTVS.d. The highest degradation rate of LAS (76%) was related to the lowest SOLR (0.03gCOD/gTVS.d). Variation of the HRT between 6 and 80h resulted in degradation rates of LAS ranging from 18% to 55%. Variation in the bioavailability of LAS resulted in discrete changes in the degradation rates (ranging from 37–53%). According to the DGGE profiles, the archaeal communities exhibited greater changes than the bacterial communities, especially in biomass samples that were obtained from the phase separator. The parameters that exhibited more influence on LAS degradation were the SOLR followed by the HRT

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

Lactobacillus acidophilus CRL 1014 improved “gut health” in the SHIME® reactor

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Background\ud How to maintain “gut health” is a goal for scientists throughout the world. Therefore, microbiota management models for testing probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have been developed.\ud \ud \ud \ud Methods\ud The SHIME® model was used to study the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus 1014 on the fermentation pattern of the colon microbiota. Initially, an inoculum prepared from human feces was introduced into the reactor vessels and stabilized over 2-wk using a culture medium. This stabilization period was followed by a 2-wk control period during which the microbiota was monitored. The microbiota was then subjected to a 4-wk treatment period by adding 5 mL of sterile peptone water with L. acidophilus CRL1014 at the concentration of 108 CFU/mL to vessel one (the stomach compartment). Plate counts, Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE), short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and ammonium analyses were carried out for monitoring of the microbial community from the colon compartments.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud A significant increase (p < 0.01) in the Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. populations was observed during the treatment period. The DGGE obtained showed changes in the lactobacilli community from the colon compartments of the SHIME® reactor. The (SCFA) concentration increased (p < 0.01) during the treatment period, due mainly to significant increased levels of acetic, butyric, and propionic acids. However, ammonium concentrations decreased during the same period (p < 0.01).\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud This study showed the beneficial influence of L. acidophilus CRL 1014 on microbial metabolism and lactobacilli community composition for improving human health.This work had been financially supported by FAPESP (Fundação de Amaparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo).This work had been financially supported by FAPESP (Fundação de Amaparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo)

The afterglow and kilonova of the short GRB 160821B

GRB 160821B is a short duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) detected and localized by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in the outskirts of a spiral galaxy at z=0.1613, at a projected physical offset of 16 kpc from the galaxy's center. We present X-ray, optical/nIR and radio observations of its counterpart and model them with two distinct components of emission: a standard afterglow, arising from the interaction of the relativistic jet with the surrounding medium, and a kilonova, powered by the radioactive decay of the sub-relativistic ejecta. Broadband modeling of the afterglow data reveals a weak reverse shock propagating backward into the jet, and a likely jet-break at 3.5 d. This is consistent with a structured jet seen slightly off-axis while expanding into a low-density medium. Analysis of the kilonova properties suggests a rapid evolution toward red colors, similar to AT2017gfo, and a low nIR luminosity, possibly due to the presence of a long-lived neutron star. The global properties of the environment, the inferred low mass (M_ej < 0.006 Msun) and velocities (v > 0.05 c) of lanthanide-rich ejecta are consistent with a binary neutron star merger progenitor.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, MNRAS, in press. Moderate revision, added Figure 5 and X-ray data to Table

DEGRADAÇÃO ANAERÓBIA DE FENOL EM REATORES EM BATELADA SOB CONDIÇÕES FERMENTATIVAS

The goal of this research was to assess phenol degradation on different nutritional conditions. The reactors were carried out in a batch fed with phenol, sulfate and yeast extract, at 30+1oC, under 150 rpm agitation. The reactors fed with phenol (240 mg.l-1) and yeast extract obtained 100% degradation efficiency in 11 days. The reactors fed with phenol (234 mg.l-1), sulfate (162.5 mg.l-1) and yeast extract; and phenol (256 mg.l-1), sulfate (500 mg.l-1) and yeast extract obtained degradation efficiency of 98.8% and 99.3%, respectively, in 17 days. Such efficiencies were obtained by the addition of yeast extract in the reactors, in the beginning of the essays. The analyzes of Molecular Biology had confirmed that the present bacterial community in inoculum remained in the reactors, although to have been operated under distinct nutritional conditions. These conditions had propitiated the permanence of bacterial populations capable to degrade phenol; to leaven phenol and to use sulfate as aceptor electron end.O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar a potencialidade do inóculo na degradação de fenol sob diferentes condições nutricionais. Os reatores foram alimentados em batelada com fenol, sulfato e extrato de levedura, a 30+1oC, sob agitação de 150 rpm. Os resultados das eficiências de remoção de fenol demonstraram que não houve diferença significativa entre as condições impostas no experimento. As análises do DGGE confirmaram que a comunidade microbiana presente no inóculo permaneceu nos reatores, apesar de terem sido operados sob condições distintas. Essas condições propiciaram a permanência de populações microbianas capazes de degradar fenol

Performance and composition of bacterial communities in anaerobic fluidized bed reactors for hydrogen production: Effects of organic loading rate and alkalinity

This study evaluated the effects of the organic loading rate (OLR) and pH buffer addition on hydrogen production in two anaerobic fluidized bed reactors (AFBRs) operated simultaneously. The AFBRs were fed with glucose, and expanded clay was used as support material. The reactors were operated at a temperature of 30 degrees C, without the addition of a buffer (AFBR1) and with the addition of a pH buffer (AFBR2, sodium bicarbonate) for OLRs ranging from 19.0 to 140.6 kg COD m(-3) d(-1) (COD: chemical oxygen demand). The maximum hydrogen yields for AFBR1 and AFBR2 were 2.45 and 1.90 mol H-2 mol(-1) glucose (OLR of 84.3 kg COD m(-3) d(-1)), respectively. The highest hydrogen production rates were 0.95 and 0.76 L h(-1) L-1 for AFBR1 and AFBR2 (OLR of 140.6 kg COD m(-3) d(-1)), respectively. The operating conditions in AFBR1 favored the presence of such bacteria as Clostridium, while the bacteria in AFBR2 included Clostridium, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Veillonellaceae, Chryseobacterium, Sporolactobacillus, and Burkholderiaceae. Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.CNPqCNPqCAPESCAPESFAPESPFAPES