Chemical composition and bioactivity of essential oils and extracts from Oregano from Madeira Island, Portugal

In the course of ongoing investigations on polymorphic Lamiaceae species, we studied Origanum vulgare spp. virens growing wild in several locations of Madeira Island, Portugal. Variation in essential oil composition with climate conditions was studied. The antimicrobial activity of the various essential oils was determined against 10 strains of bacteria and yeasts, usually found as human pathogenic or food contaminants. The essential oils inhibited all the bacteria tested excepting for P. aeruginosa. The most sensitive microorganism was M. smegmatis with MIC = 25 µg ml-1 for two of the oils. The results of this study suggest a potential application of these oils in preventing the human pathogenic and food contaminant microorganisms growth. Radical scavenging capacity of essential oils and solvent extract (hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol) were also determined, since interest of oregano resides in both non polar and polar fractions, all known by their very high antioxidant activity. From the hexane fraction, we obtained a large amount of 1-hexacosanol, C26H54O, a long chain alcohol, which was previously extracted in the non-esterified form only from Hygrophila erecta.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Inhibitor of cysteine protease and mortality of Diaphorina citri.

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is considered an important pest of citrus by its ability to transmit the HLB disease. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of protease inhibitors for the control of this insect. The tests were performed with Murraya paniculata plants. The following aqueous solutions were applied: (1) distilled water (control), (2) Triton X-100 (0.1 m L-1) and (3) cysteine proteinase inhibitor E-64 (0.05 mg mL-1) and Triton X -100 (0.1 mL L-1). Four treatments were performed: solutions (1), (2) and (3) were applied four days before the release of the insects on the plants and for the last treatment, solution (3) was applied immediately before the insects release. The solutions were applied to the stem of the plant, 20 mL per plant. Were used five plants per treatment. Ten adults of D. citri were released on each plant after four hours of starvation. Each plant was maintained in a cage and mortality was observed for five days. The data was analyzed by Tukey test (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in mortality of insects among the treatments. Enzymatic analysis showed that there is enzymatic activity of cysteine p roteases in the D. citri midgut, thus, the low mortality after ingestion of this compound may indicate the need to adapt the bioassay method

Phenotype and Genotype of Portuguese Patients with Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome

A síndrome de Smith-Lemli-Opitz (SLOS) é uma síndrome polimalformativa de transmissão autossómica recessiva causada por um défice metabólico da biossíntese do colesterol, que se caracteriza por dismorfias craniofaciais, anomalias congénitas de vários órgãos (salientando-se as do esqueleto e do aparelho urogenital), restrição de crescimento intra-uterino (RCIU), alterações comportamentais e atraso mental. É causada por mutações no gene DHCR7, que codifica para a enzima 7-dehidrocolesterol reductase, responsável pelo último passo da via metabólica da síntese do colesterol. A SLOS caracteriza-se por níveis diminuídos de colesterol e concentrações altas do seu precursor, 7-dehidrocolesterol, no sangue e tecidos. Procedeu-se a uma análise comparativa dos fenótipo e genótipo de quinze casos de SLOS de origem portuguesa, e são tecidas considerações quanto às dificuldades e limitações inerentes ao diagnóstico, e ao facto de esta doença hereditária do metabolismo dever ser considerada no diagnóstico diferencial das situações de (i) hipocolesterolémia, (ii) RCIU e (iii) síndromes polimalformativas,(especialmente quando crianças com atraso de crescimento apresentam simultaneamente sindactilia do segundo e terceiro dedos do pé e microcefalia e/ou narinas antevertidas entre outras anomalias)

A computational method for the identification of dengue, zika and chikungunya virus species and genotypes

In recent years, an increasing number of outbreaks of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika viruses have been reported in Asia and the Americas. Monitoring virus genotype diversity is crucial to understand the emergence and spread of outbreaks, both aspects that are vital to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies. Hence, we developed an efficient method to classify virus sequences with respect to their species and sub-species (i.e. serotype and/or genotype). This tool provides an easy-to-use software implementation of this new method and was validated on a large dataset assessing the classification performance with respect to whole-genome sequences and partial-genome sequences.publishersversionpublishe

Transfusion therapy and sickle cell disease

Background: Sickle cell disease is a very common hemoglobinopathy. The main goal of transfusion therapy in sickle cell disease is to prevent thrombotic events, improve tissue oxygenation and treat anaemia complications. However the risk of all immunization is well known. Since 2001 our service has been doing a tight surveillance work in sickle cell patients, creating a database of about 15,000 studied blood donors. Aims: We want to share our experience in transfusion of sickle cell patients and highlight the importance to have a computer database with compatible donors in order to reduce all immunization in these patients. Methods: We have studied the above described donors for the following blood group systems ABO, Rh, Kell, Duffy, Kidd, MNSs, Lutheran, P (P1) and haemoglobin S. For each transfusion demand for these patients we research in our computer data base the more likely compatible donor. From January 2007 to January 2011 we studied 64 patients. To transfuse these patients we followed the protocol described above. We transfused these patients with red cells of compatible donors pre investigated. We perform pre transfusion tests in all patients. Results : Have been studied 64 patients who needed red cells transfusion, 30 were females and 34 were males. The range of ages was from 1 to 46 years old. 55 patients were black (85.9%). We have been able to transfuse these patients with red cells of 135 compatible donors from database. We performed 439 red cell concentrate (RCC) transfusions (average per patient 6.85). The patient with the biggest supply was transfused with 22 RCC and we didn’t find in this case any clinically significant red cell alloantibody. We had 7 positive antibody screenings, 2 were anti-Lea, 2 anti-E and 3 were inconclusive. Summary/Conclusions: In our study all patients with clinically significant alloantibody were previously transfused in other institution. We didn’t find any alloantibody in patients exclusively transfused in our department. Our experience transfusing sickle cell disease patients reveals that RCC compatible to antigens of the groups mentioned above greatly reduce all immunization. Hence the importance of the existence in urgency blood department of extended phenotype donors files

Optimization of lipase production by solid-state fermentation of olive pomace: from flask to laboratory-scale packed-bed bioreactor

Lipases are versatile catalysts with many applications and can be produced by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using agro-industrial wastes. The aim of this work was to maximize the production of Aspergillus ibericus lipase under SSF of olive pomace (OP) and wheat bran (WB), evaluating the effect on lipase production of C/N ratio, lipids, phenols, content of sugars of substrates and nitrogen source addition. Moreover, the implementation of the SSF process in a packed-bed bioreactor and the improvement of lipase extraction conditions were assessed. Low C/N ratios and high content of lipids led to maximum lipase production. Optimum SSF conditions were achieved with a C/N mass ratio of 25.2 and 10.2% (w/w) lipids in substrate, by the mixture of OP:WB (1:1) and supplemented with 1.33% (w/w) (NH4)2SO4. Studies in a packed-bed bioreactor showed that the lower aeration rates tested prevented substrate dehydration, improving lipase production. In this work, the important role of Triton X-100 on lipase extraction from the fermented solid substrate has been shown. A final lipase activity of 223 ± 5 U g1 (dry basis) was obtained after 7 days of fermentation.Felisbela Oliveira acknowledges the financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) of Portugal through grant SFRH/BD/87953/2012. José Manuel Salgado was supported by grant CEB/N2020–INV/01/2016 from Project ‘‘BIOTECNORTE-Underpinning Biotechnology to foster the north of Portugal bioeconomy’’ (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004). Luı ´s Abrunhosa was supported by grant UMINHO/BPD/51/2015 from project UID/BIO/04469/2013 financed by FCT/MEC (OE). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020–Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. Noelia Pérez-Rodríguez acknowledges the financial support of FPU fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports. The authors thank the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for the financial support of this work (Project CTQ2015-71436-C2-1-R), which has partial financial support from the FEDER funds of the European Union.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Applications of yeast flocculation in biotechnological processes

A review on the main aspects associated with yeast flocculation and its application in biotechnological processes is presented. This subject is addressed following three main aspects – the basics of yeast flocculation, the development of “new” flocculating yeast strains and bioreactor development. In what concerns the basics of yeast flocculation, the state of the art on the most relevant aspects of mechanism, physiology and genetics of yeast flocculation is reported. The construction of flocculating yeast strains includes not only the recombinant constitutive flocculent brewer’s yeast, but also recombinant flocculent yeast for lactose metabolisation and ethanol production. Furthermore, recent work on the heterologous β-galactosidase production using a recombinant flocculent Saccharomyces cerevisiae is considered. As bioreactors using flocculating yeast cells have particular properties, mainly associated with a high solid phase hold-up, a section dedicated to its operation is presented. Aspects such as bioreactor productivity and culture stability as well as bioreactor hydrodynamics and mass transfer properties of flocculating cell cultures are considered. Finally, the paper concludes describing some of the applications of high cell density flocculation bioreactors and discussing potential new uses of these systems.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) – PRAXIS XXI - BD11306/97