Cell surface characterization of Yarrowia lipolytica IMUFRJ 50682.

In the present work, the surface characteristics of a wild-type strain of Yarrowia lipolytica (IMUFRJ50682) were investigated. Six different methods to characterize cell surfaces--adhesion to polystyrene; hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC); microbial adhesion to solvents (MATS) test; zeta potential; microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons (MATH) test; and contact angle measurement (CAM)--were employed to explain the cell surface behaviour of Y. lipolytica (IMUFRJ50682). This Y. lipolytica strain presents significant differences at the cell surface compared with another Y. lipolytica strain (W29) previously reported in the literature. The main difference is related to the higher cell adhesion to non-polar solvents. The proteins present on the cell wall of Y. lipolytica IMUFRJ50682 seem to play an important role in these particular surface characteristics because of the consistent reduction of this yeast hydrophobic character after the action of pronase on its cell wall.

Decolorization of dyes from textile wastewater by Trametes versicolor.

The white rot fungus Trametes versicolor was applied to the decolourisation of three synthetic textile dyes in the presence and absence of glucose. Different initial dye concentrations were tested and approximately 97% decolourisation was achieved. It was found that fungal metabolism induced by the glucose as well as the pH play an important role in the decolourisation process. This treatment was also applied to a real wastewater from a textile industry-dyeing sector leading to 92% decolourisation.