Growth of Burkholderia sacchari LFM 101 cultivated in glucose, sucrose and glycerol at different temperatures

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have attracted major industrial interest as alternatives to conventional plastics. They are produced by several bacteria as cytoplasmic inclusions when nutrients are in limited supply. Among the many factors influencing bacterial growth, the effect of temperature on both specific growth rates and growth yields in terms of carbon source intake is of considerable interest. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the bacterium Burkholderia sacchari LFM 101 on growth and PHA production, using glucose, sucrose or glycerol as a carbon source, at 30 and 35 °C. The results showed that B. sacchari cultured with glucose at 35 °C presented both higher productivity and polymer yield in dried cell mass. There were no differences in growth rates (max) in sucrose and glucose. The growth conditions studied were not favorable to glycerol consumption due to limitations in the energy supply from glycerol.

Growth of Burkholderia sacchari LFM 101 cultivated in glucose, sucrose and glycerol at different temperatures

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have attracted major industrial interest as alternatives to conventional plastics. They are produced by several bacteria as cytoplasmic inclusions when nutrients are in limited supply. Among the many factors influencing bacterial growth, the effect of temperature on both specific growth rates and growth yields in terms of carbon source intake is of considerable interest. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the bacterium Burkholderia sacchari LFM 101 on growth and PHA production, using glucose, sucrose or glycerol as a carbon source, at 30 and 35 °C. The results showed that B. sacchari cultured with glucose at 35 °C presented both higher productivity and polymer yield in dried cell mass. There were no differences in growth rates (max) in sucrose and glucose. The growth conditions studied were not favorable to glycerol consumption due to limitations in the energy supply from glycerol.(AU)

Efeitos da fumaça da Cannabis sativa e de compostos canabinóides: uma avaliação in vivo e in

Os efeitos do uso materno da maconha sobre o desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso central da prole não são bem esclarecidos. Neste estudo foram investigados os efeitos da inalação materna da fumaça da Cannabis sativa sobre o desenvolvimento cerebral e os efeitos de exo e endocanabinóides e do extrato da fumaça da maconha sobre a função mitocondrial em cultura celular. Camundongas grávidas (n=20) foram expostas diariamente durante 5 minutos à fumaça decorrente da queima de maconha (0,2 g de Cannabis), ou ao ar filtrado, a partir do 5,5° dia gestacional (DG) ao 17,5° DG. No 18,5° DG metade dos fetos foram eutanasiados e a outra metade foi eutanasiada com 20 e 60 dias pós-natal (DPN) para análises estereológicas, imunohistoquímicas e de Western blotting. Cultura de neurônios primários corticais de ratos e células PC12 diferenciadas foram tratados com AEA, THC e CBD para avaliação da viabilidade celular e da função mitocondrial (produção de estresse oxidativo, potencial de membrana e dinâmica mitocondrial). A caracterização de HPAs, da composição elementar e de canabinóides foram realizados no material particulado e na droga, respectivamente. Animais expostos à fumaça da maconha no período gestacional tiveram alteração no volume encefálico, no tálamo, no hipotálamo e cerebelo com 60DPN. Houve alteração do volume do bulbo olfatório e do diencéfalo em fetos. A espessura das camadas corticais foi alterada em animais com 20 e 60DPN. Houve aumento de BDNF no córtex de animais adultos e alteração na expressão das proteínas BDNF (18DPC e 60DPN), CB1 e NeuN (60DPN). Além disso, diferenças específicas ligadas ao sexo foram observadas. Diminuição da viabilidade celular e no potencial de membrana, aumento na produção de EROs e inibição da dinâmica mitocondrial foram observadas nas culturas celulares. Os resultados desse estudo demonstram que a exposição in vivo e in vitro à fumaça da Cannabis causa alterações morfológicas cerebrais em camundongos e na função da mitocondrial neuronal.

The effects of maternal marijuana use on the development of central nervous system in offsprings are not completely understood. In this study, we have investigated the effects of maternal Cannabis smoke inhalation on the brain development and the effects of cannabinoids and Cannabis smoke extracts on in vitro mitochondrial function. Pregnant mice (n = 20) were exposed daily for 5 minutes to marijuana smoke (0.2 g of Cannabis), or filtered air from gestational day (GD) 5.5 to 17.5 GD. On GD 18.5 half of the dams (n=10) were euthanized and the other half (n=10) were euthanized at postnatal day (PND) 20 and 60 for stereological, immunohistochemical, and Western blotting analysis. Neurons culture from rats and differentiated PC12 cells were treated with AEA, THC, and CBD to assess cell viability and mitochondrial function (reactive oxygen species production i.e. ROS), membrane potential, and mitochondrial dynamic). PHAs, elemental composition, and cannabinoids characterization were carried out by using the particulate material and the drug, respectively. The animals exposed to marijuana smoke during gestation presented changes in encephalon total volume, thalamus, hypothalamus, and cerebellum at PND 60. There was an alteration in the volume of the olfactory bulb and the diencephalon in fetuses. The thickness of the cortical layers changed in animals with PND 20 and 60. There was an increase in BDNF in the cortex of adult animals and a change in the expression of BDNF proteins (GD18 and PND60), CB1, and NeuN (PND60). Also, sex- specific differences were found. Cell viability and membrane potential were decreased. On the other hand, increased ROS production was found, and inhibition of mitochondrial dynamics was observed in cell cultures. In summary, this study points out that smoke Cannabis exposure in vivo and in vitro may cause brain damage in mice and in neuronal mitochondrial function.

Halotolerant bacteria in the São Paulo Zoo composting process and their hydrolases and bioproducts

Halophilic microorganisms are able to grow in the presence of salt and are also excellent source of enzymes and biotechnological products, such as exopolysaccharides (EPSs) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Salt-tolerant bacteria were screened in the Organic Composting Production Unit (OCPU) of São Paulo Zoological Park Foundation, which processes 4 ton/day of organic residues including plant matter from the Atlantic Rain Forest, animal manure and carcasses and mud from water treatment. Among the screened microorganisms, eight halotolerant bacteria grew at NaCl concentrations up to 4 M. These cultures were classified based on phylogenetic characteristics and comparative partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as belonging to the genera Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Brevibacterium. The results of this study describe the ability of these halotolerant bacteria to produce some classes of hydrolases, namely, lipases, proteases, amylases and cellulases, and biopolymers. The strain characterized as of Brevibacterium avium presented cellulase and amylase activities up to 4 M NaCl and also produced EPSs and PHAs. These results indicate the biotechnological potential of certain microorganisms recovered from the composting process, including halotolerant species, which have the ability to produce enzymes and biopolymers, offering new perspectives for environmental and industrial applications.(AU)

Volatile fatty acids influence on the structure of microbial communities producing PHAs

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) can be produced by microorganisms and are a biodegradable alternative to fossil-fuel based plastics. Currently, the focus is on reducing production costs by exploring alternative substrates for PHAs production, and on producing copolymers which are less brittle than monomers. Accordingly, this study used a substrate consisting of wastewater from waste-glycerol fermentation, supplemented with different amounts of acetic and propionic acids. These substrates were used to feed mixed microbial communities enriched from activated sludge in a sequencing batch reactor. A reactor supplemented with 2 mL of acetic acid produced 227.8 mg/L of a homopolymer of hydroxybutyrate (3HB); 4 mL of acetic acid produced 279.8 mg/L 3HB; whereas 4 mL of propionic acid produced 673.0 mg/L of a copolymer of 3HB and 3HV (hydroxyvalerate). Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (RISA) was used to show the differences between the communities created in the reactors. Thauera species predominated in biomass that produced 3HB; Paracoccus denitrificans in the biomass that produced 3HB-co-3HV. Because P. denitrificans produced the more desirable copolymer, it may be advantageous to promote its growth in PHAs-producing reactors by adding propionate.

Genotoxic effect of Phenanthrene on Chironomus sancticaroli (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Phenanthrene, a Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, remains adsorbed to sedimentary particles in aquatic environments. It affects mainly benthic organisms, and is considered potentially genotoxic. In ecotoxicology, species of Chironomus Meigen, 1803 are widely known as bioindicators of the effects of chemicals on aquatic organisms. This study investigates the effects of phenanthrene on the size of the head capsule of Chironomus sancticaroli Strixino & Strixino, 1981 larvae after chronic (eight days) exposure, and DNA damage after acute (96 hours) and chronic exposure (eight days), under laboratory conditions. DNA damage, evaluated using the alkaline comet assay, detected effects for both exposure periods, indicating that phenanthrene is toxic for C. sancticaroli. For the acute exposure, we analyzed five concentrations of phenanthrene, between 0.16 mg.l-1 and 1.60 mg.l-1, detecting significant differences (Kruskall-Wallis test with p 0.05) in the degree of DNA damage in all groups. These effects were not dose-dependent. For the chronic exposure, two concentrations (0.16 mg.l-1, 0.83 mg.l-1) were analyzed, and DNA damage was observed in both. Again, the effects were not dose-dependent. This indicates that phenanthrene is genotoxic to larvae of C. sancticaroli even at low concentrations. The size of the head capsule was evaluated after chronic exposure to concentrations of 0.16 mg.l-1 and 0.83 mg.l-1. Significant differences (ANOVA test with p 0.05) were detected in the two concentrations, and a reduction in the size of the larval head capsule was observed. This suggests that phenanthrene causes delay in larval development. These results indicate that phenanthrene affects the development of and causes DNA damage in C. sancticaroli larvae. Therefore, we suggest that C. sancticaroli can be used as a biological indicator for environmental contamination with phenanthrene.(AU)

Genotoxic effect of Phenanthrene on Chironomus sancticaroli (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Phenanthrene, a Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, remains adsorbed to sedimentary particles in aquatic environments. It affects mainly benthic organisms, and is considered potentially genotoxic. In ecotoxicology, species of Chironomus Meigen, 1803 are widely known as bioindicators of the effects of chemicals on aquatic organisms. This study investigates the effects of phenanthrene on the size of the head capsule of Chironomus sancticaroli Strixino & Strixino, 1981 larvae after chronic (eight days) exposure, and DNA damage after acute (96 hours) and chronic exposure (eight days), under laboratory conditions. DNA damage, evaluated using the alkaline comet assay, detected effects for both exposure periods, indicating that phenanthrene is toxic for C. sancticaroli. For the acute exposure, we analyzed five concentrations of phenanthrene, between 0.16 mg.l-1 and 1.60 mg.l-1, detecting significant differences (Kruskall-Wallis test with p 0.05) in the degree of DNA damage in all groups. These effects were not dose-dependent. For the chronic exposure, two concentrations (0.16 mg.l-1, 0.83 mg.l-1) were analyzed, and DNA damage was observed in both. Again, the effects were not dose-dependent. This indicates that phenanthrene is genotoxic to larvae of C. sancticaroli even at low concentrations. The size of the head capsule was evaluated after chronic exposure to concentrations of 0.16 mg.l-1 and 0.83 mg.l-1. Significant differences (ANOVA test with p 0.05) were detected in the two concentrations, and a reduction in the size of the larval head capsule was observed. This suggests that phenanthrene causes delay in larval development. These results indicate that phenanthrene affects the development of and causes DNA damage in C. sancticaroli larvae. Therefore, we suggest that C. sancticaroli can be used as a biological indicator for environmental contamination with phenanthrene.

Semi-scale production of PHAs from waste frying oil by Pseudomonas fluorescens S48

The present study aimed at developing a strategy to improve the volumetric production of PHAs by Pseudomonas fluorescens S48 using waste frying oil (WFO) as the sole carbon source. For this purpose, several cultivations were set up to steadily improve nutrients supply to attain high cell density and high biopolymer productivity. The production of PHAs was examined in a 14 L bioreactor as one-stage batch, two-stage batch, and high-cell-density fed-batch cultures. The highest value of polymer content in one-stage bioreactor was obtained after 60 h (33.7%). Whereas, the two-stage batch culture increased the polymer content to 50.1% after 54 h. High-cell-density (0.64 g/L) at continuous feeding rate 0.55 mL/l/h of WFO recorded the highest polymer content after 54 h (55.34%). Semi-scale application (10 L working volume) increased the polymer content in one-stage batch, two-stage batch and high cell density fed-batch cultures by about 12.3%, 5.8% and 11.3%, respectively, as compared with that obtained in 2 L fermentation culture. Six different methods for biopolymer extraction were done to investigate their efficiency for optimum polymer recovery. The maximum efficiency of solvent recovery of PHA was attained by chloroform-hypochlorite dispersion extraction. Gas chromatography (GC) analysis of biopolymer produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens S48 indicated that it solely composed of 3-hydrobutyric acid (98.7%). A bioplastic film was prepared from the obtained PHB. The isolate studied shares the same identical sequence, which is nearly the complete 16S rRNA gene. The identity of this sequence to the closest pseudomonads strains is about 98-99%. It was probably closely related to support another meaningful parsiomony analysis and construction of a phylogenetic tree. The isolate is so close to Egyptian strain named EG 639838.(AU)

BIBLIOGRAFIA DO CAMARÃO DE ÁGUA DOCE, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (DE MAN), NO BRASIL. 2. LISTAGEM POR ASSUNTO / Brazilian publications on macrobrachium rosenbergii (de man), a freshwater shrimp. 2. list by subject

The aim of this study was to continue the diagnosis of the Brazilian publications, performed by a member of the Working Group on Freshwater Prawn Farming (GTCAD), Macrobrachium rosenbergii. A preliminary list was presented during Brazilian Aquaculture Congress, in 1994 (VIII SIMBRAq) and was then updatted and reorganized by subject. The Brazilian references on freshwater prawn are those currently filed at the Aquaculture Sector of the Zootechny Department of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul State (Setor de Aquacultura do Departamento de Zootecnia da Faculdade de Agronomia da UFRGS). This current version has its citations distributed in to six main categories: 1. management, culture systems and phases; 2. Feed and feeding (nutrition); 3. physiology, endocrinology, genetics, diseases and parasitism; 4. policulture and consorcium; 5. water and soil quality; and 6. post-harvest, processing and commercialization. It was classified 70 references on the category 1. management, culture systems and phases, most of them (23) related to economic analysis, reports, diagnosis and up-to-date reports of the activity in different States of Brazil, being the researches on growth phases more numerous (16) then hatchery (12), general biology (10) and finally the nursery phase (9). 2. Feed and feeding (nutrition): out of 46 citations, 30 were about feeding management on the nursery phas

Com o objetivo de dar continuidade ao diagnóstico do Grupo de Trabalho do Camarão de Água Doce (GTCAD) sobre situação atual das pesquisas e publicações relativas ao camarão Macrobrachium rosenbergii no Brasil, a listagem preliminar que havia sido apresentada no SIMBRAq 94 foi ampliada e reorganizada por assunto. As referências bibliográficas brasileiras sobre esta espécie de camarão de água doce constam de trabalhos disponíveis no Setor de Aquacultura do Departamento de Zootecnia da Faculdade de Agronomia da UFRGS, e a presente versão atualizada tem as citações organizadas em seis categorias principais: 1. manejo, sistemas e fases de cultivo; 2. alimentos e alimentação (nutrição); 3. fisiologia, endocrinologia, genética, doenças e parasitismo; 4. policultivo e consórcio; 5. qualidade de água e solo; e 6. pós-colheita, processamento e comercialização. Foram classificadas 70 referências na categoria 1. manejo, sistemas e fases de cultivo, a maioria delas (23) relacionadas às análises econômicas, relatos, diagnósticos e situação atual da atividade nos diversos Estados e no País, sendo as pesquisas referentes à fase de crescimento mais numerosas (16), a seguir, larvicultura (12), biologia geral (10) e a menos estudada, fase de berçário (9). Por outro lado, no tópico 2. alimentos e alimentação (nutrição), das 46 citações, 30 foram sobre manejo alimentar justamente na fase de berçári

BRAZILIAN PUBLICATIONS ON MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGII (DE MAN), A FRESHWATER SHRIMP. 2. LIST BY SUBJECT / BIBLIOGRAFIA DO CAMARÃO DE ÁGUA DOCE, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (DE MAN), NO BRASIL. 2. LISTAGEM POR ASSUNTO

The aim of this study was to continue the diagnosis of the Brazilian publications, performed by a member of the Working Group on Freshwater Prawn Farming (GTCAD), Macrobrachium rosenbergii. A preliminary list was presented during Brazilian Aquaculture Congress, in 1994 (VIII SIMBRAq) and was then updatted and reorganized by subject. The Brazilian references on freshwater prawn are those currently filed at the Aquaculture Sector of the Zootechny Department of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul State (Setor de Aquacultura do Departamento de Zootecnia da Faculdade de Agronomia da UFRGS). This current version has its citations distributed in to six main categories: 1. management, culture systems and phases; 2. Feed and feeding (nutrition); 3. physiology, endocrinology, genetics, diseases and parasitism; 4. policulture and consorcium; 5. water and soil quality; and 6. post-harvest, processing and commercialization. It was classified 70 references on the category 1. management, culture systems and phases, most of them (23) related to economic analysis, reports, diagnosis and up-to-date reports of the activity in different States of Brazil, being the researches on growth phases more numerous (16) then hatchery (12), general biology (10) and finally the nursery phase (9). 2. Feed and feeding (nutrition): out of 46 citations, 30 were about feeding management on the nursery phas

Com o objetivo de dar continuidade ao diagnóstico do Grupo de Trabalho do Camarão de Água Doce (GTCAD) sobre situação atual das pesquisas e publicações relativas ao camarão Macrobrachium rosenbergii no Brasil, a listagem preliminar que havia sido apresentada no SIMBRAq 94 foi ampliada e reorganizada por assunto. As referências bibliográficas brasileiras sobre esta espécie de camarão de água doce constam de trabalhos disponíveis no Setor de Aquacultura do Departamento de Zootecnia da Faculdade de Agronomia da UFRGS, e a presente versão atualizada tem as citações organizadas em seis categorias principais: 1. manejo, sistemas e fases de cultivo; 2. alimentos e alimentação (nutrição); 3. fisiologia, endocrinologia, genética, doenças e parasitismo; 4. policultivo e consórcio; 5. qualidade de água e solo; e 6. pós-colheita, processamento e comercialização. Foram classificadas 70 referências na categoria 1. manejo, sistemas e fases de cultivo, a maioria delas (23) relacionadas às análises econômicas, relatos, diagnósticos e situação atual da atividade nos diversos Estados e no País, sendo as pesquisas referentes à fase de crescimento mais numerosas (16), a seguir, larvicultura (12), biologia geral (10) e a menos estudada, fase de berçário (9). Por outro lado, no tópico 2. alimentos e alimentação (nutrição), das 46 citações, 30 foram sobre manejo alimentar justamente na fase de berçári

Technical efficiency and economic viability of different cattle identification methods allowed by the Brazilian traceability system / Eficiência técnica e viabilidade econômica de diferentes métodos de identificação de bovinos permitidos pelo sistema de rastreabilidade brasileiro

We aimed to evaluate the technical efficiency and economic viability of the implementation and use of four cattle identification methods allowed by the Brazilian traceability system. The study was conducted in a beef cattle production system located in the State of Mato Grosso, from January to June 2012. Four identification methods (treatments) were compared: T1: ear tag in one ear and ear button in the other ear (eabu); T2: ear tag and iron brand on the right leg (eaib); T3: ear tag in one ear and tattoo on the other ear (eata); and T4: ear tag in one ear and electronic ear tag (eael) on the other. Each treatment was applied to 60 Nelore animals, totaling 240 animals, divided equally into three life stages (calves, young cattle, adult cattle). The study had two phases: implementation (phase 1) and reading and transfer of identification numbers to an electronic database (phase 2). All operating expenses related to the two phases of the study were determined. The database was constructed, and the statistical analyses were performed using SPSS® 17.0 software. Regarding the time spent on implementation (phase 1), conventional ear tags and electronic ear tags produced similar results, which were lower than those of hot iron and tattoo methods, which differed from each other. Regarding the time required for reading the numbers on animals and their transcription into a database (phas

Objetivou-se avaliar a eficiência técnica e a viabilidade econômica da implantação e utilização de quatro métodos de identificação de bovinos, permitidos pelo sistema de rastreabilidade brasileiro. A pesquisa foi realizada em um sistema de produção de gado de corte, localizado no Estado de Mato Grosso, de janeiro a junho de 2012. Foram comparados quatro métodos de identificação (tratamentos): T 1: brinco auricular em uma orelha e botton auricular na outra (brbo); T 2: brinco auricular e marca a fogo na perna direita (brmf); T 3: brinco auricular em uma orelha e tatuagem na outra (brta); T 4: brinco auricular em uma orelha e brinco eletrônico (arruela eletrônica auricular) (brde) na outra. Cada tratamento foi aplicado em 60 animais da raça Nelore, totalizando 240 animais, igualmente divididos em três categorias animais (bezerros, novilhos e vacas adultas). A pesquisa teve duas fases: implantação (fase 1) e leitura dos números de identificação e sua transferência para um banco de dados eletrônico (fase 2). Foram levantadas todas as despesas operacionais referentes às duas fases da pesquisa. A construção do banco de dados e as análises estatísticas foram realizadas utilizando o software SPSS® 17.0. Quanto ao tempo gasto na implantação (fase 1), o brinco convencional e a arruela eletrônica auricular apresentaram resultados semelhantes, e menores que o ferro quente e tatuagem, que a