A thermostable maltose-tolerant alpha-amylase from Aspergillus tamarii.

An homogeneous fraction of alpha-amylase from Aspergillus tamarii was obtained by means of a very easy purification procedure. The enzyme is a glycoprotein containing 32% saccharide and MW of 37.5 kDa. Optimal of pH and temperature with starch as substrate were 4.5-6.5 and 50-55 degrees C. The enzyme was stable for several hours at temperature up to 65 degrees C. Starch, amylose, and amylopectin were the substrates preferentially hydrolysed and maltose and maltotriose were the main end products. The values of K(M) and V(max) for starch were 2 g/l and 880 micromoles reducing sugars/min.mg of protein, respectively. The purified enzyme was remarkably insensitive to end product inhibition, being only slightly inhibited by maltose and glucose up to 1.0 M.

Temperature effect in the production of multiple xylanases by Aspergillus fumigatus.

This work has evaluated the temperature effect in the production of multiple xylanases by a locally isolated strain of Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius. Three isoenzymes, identified as xylanases I, II, and III with apparent molecular weight of 45.7 KDa, 39.8 KDa and 18.2 KDa, respectively, were produced in cultures developed at 30 degrees C and at 42 degrees C. The pattern of distribution of xylanase activity among the three isoenzymes was greatly affected by the growth temperature: at 30 degrees C, the total xylanase activity was distributed homogeneously among the three enzymes, while at 42 degrees C, the total xylanase activity was mainly due to the fractions with the highest MW (I and II) and the xylanase III was a minor component.

Frequência de comensais e parasitas intestinais em escolares da Rede Pública Municipal de Cascavel, PR / Frequency of commensal organisms and intestinal parasites among school children of municipal schools from Cascavel, PR

Exames coproparasitológicos foram realizados em 1.439 crianças com idade entre 4 a 12 anos. As amostras de fezes foram coletadas e processadas através dos métodos a fresco, Hoffman-Pons-Janer e Faust et al. Os indivíduos infectados foram encaminhadas ao posto de saúde próximo aos seus domicílios para tratamento da parasitosediagnosticada. Entre as 1.439 crianças analisadas, a prevalência de comensais e parasitas intestinais foi de 34,8%. O protozoário mais frequente foi Giardia lamblia (11,7%), seguido de Entamoeba coli (10,2%). O helminto mais frequente foi Ascaris lumbricoides(4,2%), seguido de Enterobius vermicularis (2,4%). Foi observado que o parasitismo é mais prevalente em crianças de 7 a 9 anos (21,4%). Concluiu-se que há necessidade deacompanhamento de saúde desta população a fim de controlar o parasitismo intestinal...

The use of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside, a synthetic analogue of maltose, as inducer of amylase by Aspergillus sp in solid-state and submerged fermentations

The use of a methyl-D-glucoside (alphaMG), a synthetic analogue of maltose, as carbon source and inducer of amylase synthesis to several species of Aspergillus was studied in submerged and solid-state fermentations. Among a group of ten species, A. tamarii, A. fumigatus and A. flavus were able to produce biomass and high specific amylolytic activity in submerged cultures containing alphaMG as the only carbon source. In solid state fermentation, the enrichment of basal wheat bran or corn cob medium with alphaMG increased up to 3 times the production of amylases. In both submerged and solid state fermentations, alphaMG was more effective inducer of amylases than maltose and starch.

O uso de alfa-metil-D-glucosídeo (alfaMG), um análogo sintético de maltose, como fonte de carbono e indutor das amilases por Aspergillus sp., foi estudado em fermentação submersa e fermentação em estado sólido. De um grupo de dez espécies, A. tamarii, A. fumigatus e A. flavus foram capazes de produzir biomassa e alta atividade amilolítica em culturas submersas contendo alfaMG como única fonte de carbono. Em fermentação em estado sólido, o enriquecimento do meio basal de farelo de trigo ou sabugo de milho com alfaMG aumentou em 3 vezes a produção das amilases. Tanto em fermentação submersa quanto em fermentação em estado sólido, alfaMG induziu mais eficientemente a produção de amilases que maltose e amido.

The use of (alfa)a-methyl-D-glucoside, a synthetic analogue of maltose, as inducer of amylase by Aspergillus sp in solid-state and submerged fermentations

The use of a methyl-D-glucoside (aMG), a synthetic analogue of maltose, as carbon source and inducer of amylase synthesis to several species of Aspergillus was studied in submerged and solid-state fermentations. Among a group of ten species, A. tamarii, A. fumigatus and A. flavus were able to produce biomass and high specific amylolytic activity in submerged cultures containing aMG as the only carbon source. In solid state fermentation, the enrichment of basal wheat bran or corn cob medium with aMG increased up to 3 times the production of amylases. In both submerged and solid state fermentations, aMG was more effective inducer of amylases than maltose and starch.(au)

Production of amylases by Aspergillus tamarii

A strain of Aspergillus tamarii, a filamentous fungus isolated from soil, was able to produce both Ó-amylase and glucoamylase activities in mineral media supplemented with 1(per cent) (w/v) starch or maltose as the carbon source. Static cultivation led to significantly higher yields than those obtained using shaking culture. The production of amylases was tolerant to a wide range of initial culture pH values (from 4 to 10) and temperature (from 25 to 42degree C). Two amylases, once Ó-amylase and one glucoamylase, were separated by ion exchange chromatography. Both partially purified enzymes had optimal activities at pH values between 4.5 and 6.0 and were stable under acid conditions (pH 4.0-7.0). The enzymes exhibited optimal activities at temperatures between 50(degree) and 60(degree) C and wete stable for more than ten hours at 55(degree) C.

Diagnóstico e prevenção de parasitoses no reassentamento São Francisco em Cascavel - PR / Diagnosis and parasitosis prevention at São Francisco replacement, Cascavel - PR

As parasitoses intestinais ainda constituem um sério problema de saúde pública no Brasil, apresentando maior prevalência em população de nível sócio-econômico mais baixo e com condições precárias de saneamento básico,sendo as crianças em idade escolar as mais acometidas por essas infecções. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a prevalência de enteroparasitoses em crianças que frequentam a Escola Estadual São Francisco de Assis, localizada no Reassentamento São Francisco de Assis/Cascavel-PR, bem como o desenvolvimento de atividades visando a prevenção de parasitoses para as crianças, professores e funcionários da escola. Analisou-se as amostras fecais de 127 crianças, das quais 11% (14) estavam parasitadas. Observou-se que os protozoários mais frequentes foram Entamoeba coli e Giardia lamblia enquanto o Ascaris lumbricoides teve maior prevalência entre os helmintos. Além do encaminhamento para o tratamento adequado, realizou-se um teatro com a comunidade escolar, visando a reeducação da população quanto as medidas básicas de higiene e os cuidados com a água e os alimentos. Aesar da baixa condição sócio-econômica das crianças analisadas, o índice de parasitismo foi inferior ao já observado por outros autores, indicando que apesar das dificuldades, as crianças conhecem cuidados e medidas profiláticas eficazes para o combate aos parasitas.