Use of soybean oil fry waste for economical biosurfactant production by isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa using response surface methodology

The present study sought biotensoactive production from soybean oil fry waste using Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from the soil of a petroleum station having undergone gasoline and diesel oil spills. The results of the experiments were analyzed using a complete factorial experimental design, investigating the concentration of soybean oil waste, ammonia sulfate and residual brewery yeast. Assays were performed in 250-mL Erlenmeyer beakers containing 50 mL of production medium, maintained on a rotary shaker at 200 rpm and a temperature of 30±1 °C for a 48-hour fermentation period. Biosurfactant production was monitored through the determination of rhamnose, surface tension and emulsification activity. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145 strain and isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa were able to reduce the surface tension of the initial mexlium from 61 mN/m to 32.5 mN/m and 30.0 mN/m as well as produce rhamnose at concentrations of 1.96 and 2.89 g/L with emulsification indices of 96% and 100%, respectively.

Multiplex PCR use for Staphylococcus aureus identification and oxacillin and mupirocin resistance evaluation

Oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus represents a serious problem in hospitals worldwide, increasing infected patients' mortality and morbidity and raising treatment costs and internment time. In this study, the results of using the Multiplex PCR technique to amplify fragments of the genes femA (specific-species), mecA (oxacillin resistance) and ileS-2 (mupirocin resistance) were compared with those of tests conventionally used to identify S. aureus isolates and ascertain their resistance to drugs. Fifty S. aureus strains were isolated from patients receiving treatment at UNOESTE University Hospital in Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil. The 686 bp fragment corresponding to the gene femA was amplified and detected in all the isolates. On the other hand, the 310 bp fragment corresponding to the mecA gene was amplified in 29 (58%) of the isolates. All of the isolates showed sensitivity to mupirocin in the agar diffusion test, which was corroborated by the lack of any amplicon of the 456 bp fragment corresponding to the ileS-2 gene, in the PCR bands. The conventional tests to identify S. aureus and detect resistance to oxacillin and mupirocin showed 100% agreement with the PCR Multiplex results. The use of techniques for rapid and accurate identification of bacteria and assessment of their resistance may be valuable in the control of infection by resistant strains, allowing the rapid isolation and treatment of an infected patient. However, the results demonstrate that traditional phenotypic tests are also reliable, though they take more time.

Semi-selective culture medium for Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum detection in cotton seeds (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

The cotton disease known as angular leaf spot, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum (Xam) has been causing cotton losses in several producing regions around the world. Xam is transmitted by seeds, which may be infected both externally and internally. Infected seeds constitute the main long-distance dissemination mode of the pathogen. In view of this, the use of healthy seeds is a must. To accomplish that, detection methodologies for the bacteria must be developed be used in seed health analysis laboratories. This study aimed to develop a semi-selective medium for Xam detection in cotton seeds. The semi-selective culture medium was named MSSXAN and it was consisted of peptone (5.0 g), beef extract (3 g), sucrose (5 g), soluble starch (10 g), agar (15 g), CaCl 2 (0.25 g), Tween 80 (10 mL), distilled water (1,000 mL), crystal violet solution at 1% (150 μL), cephalexin (50 mg 1*), methyl thyophanate (10 mg*) and chlorothalonil (10 mg*) - *added after culture medium autoclaving. This MSSXAN medium shows low repressiveness to Xam and it be used for isolation of this bacteria in cotton seeds health analysis. © 2009 Academic Journals Inc.

Índice de Qualidade da Água (IQA) do reservatório Tanque Grande, Guarulhos (SP): Análise sazonal e efeitos do uso e ocupação do solo

The Tanque Grande Reservoir is located at the Serra da Cantereira, Guarulhos (SP), and provides 3% of the municipal drinking water. In the last years, the urban zone has expanded towards the reservoir and has significantly altered the land use. In this work, water samples from three stations were monitored from August/2007 up to July/2008 in terms of the Water Quality Index (IQA) adopted by CETESB. The waters were usually classified in the band Good during the study period. Nevertheless, termotolerants coliforms, BOD and total phosphorus have exceeded the legal limits several times. Such occurrences may be related to the economical activities at the sub-watersheds in addition to changes in the land use of the surroundings of the reservoir.

Pneumonias

Pneumonia is an infectious disease with great morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to the current guidelines recommendations the authors reviewed the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). In this paper will be presented data about etiology, clinics and diagnostic tools. © Copyright Moreira Jr. Editora.

Optimal clone identifier based on dynamic rules and process algebra

The rule creation to clone selection in different projects is a hard task to perform by using traditional implementations to control all the processes of the system. The use of an algebraic language is an alternative approach to manage all of system flow in a flexible way. In order to increase the power of versatility and consistency in defining the rules for optimal clone selection, this paper presents the software OCI 2 in which uses process algebra in the flow behavior of the system. OCI 2, controlled by an algebraic approach was applied in the rules elaboration for clone selection containing unique genes in the partial genome of the bacterium Bradyrhizobium elkanii Semia 587 and in the whole genome of the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri. Copyright© (2009) by the International Society for Research in Science and Technology.

Diagnóstico da qualidade da água na microbacia do córrego recanto, em americana, no estado de São Paulo

The environmental degradation observed in the Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiaí watershed has been one of the principal preoccupations of the environmental agencies in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. In this context, there is inserted the Americana county which is cut by streams of unsuitable quality for the human consumption and other uses. The main goal of the present work was evaluated the water quality of the Recanto Creek, affluent of the Quilombo stream, at the Americana county, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The research was developed in the period from March of 2007 to March of 2008, when it was measured the flow and the following physical-chemical water quality parameters: temperature; turbidity; pH; dissolved oxygen (OD); phosphorus (P); ammonia nitrogen (NH 4); nitrate (NO 3); chemical demand of oxygen (DQO), besides total coliforms. The results demonstrated a variation of the flow from 34.3 to 375.2 L s -1, during the evaluated period. The parameters dissolved oxygen, phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen and nitrate presented values out of the limits recommended for rivers of class 3, like the Recanto Creek, suggesting water pollution due to the organic matter disposal.

rastreamento histoquímico, fitoquímico e biológico de folhas de Plinia cauliflora (DC.) Kausel (Myrtaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Experimental infection of commercial layers using a Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum strain: Leukogram and serum acute-phase protein concentrations

The aim of the present study was to evaluate white blood cell counts and serum protein profiles of commercial layers experimentally infected with Salmonella Gallinarum (SG) in order to better understand the pathophysiology of the disease caused by this bacterium. 180 five-day-old commercial layers were divided into 3 groups (G); G1 and G2 received 0.2 mL of inoculate containing 3.3x10 8 CFU or 3.3×10 5 CFU SG resistant to nalidix acid (Nal r)/mL, respectively, directly into their crops. G3 group did not receive the inoculum. Birds were sacrificed 24 hours before (T1) and 24 hours after the infection (T2), and three (T3), five (T4), seven (T5), and ten (T6) days after the administration of the inoculum. White blood cell counts were carried out in a Neubauer hemocytometer and in blood smears. Serum protein concentrations, including acute-phase proteins, were determined using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Data were submitted to analysis of variance, and means were compared by Tukey's test (P <0.05). G1 and G2 groups presented higher leukocyte counts on T4 and T5, respectively, due to the increase of circulating lymphocytes and heterophils, with a significant difference relative to G3. In electrophoresis, an increase in the serum levels of ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, and hemopexin and a decrease in transferrin, which are acute-phase proteins, was verified. IgA serum levels did not change; however, IgG concentration increased during the infection. In conclusion, the results provide information for the better understanding of the pathophysiology of fowl typhoid.

Development and validation of a Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri DNA microarray platform (XACarray) generated from the shotgun libraries previously used in the sequencing of this bacterial genome

Background. From shotgun libraries used for the genomic sequencing of the phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (XAC), clones that were representative of the largest possible number of coding sequences (CDSs) were selected to create a DNA microarray platform on glass slides (XACarray). The creation of the XACarray allowed for the establishment of a tool that is capable of providing data for the analysis of global genome expression in this organism. Findings. The inserts from the selected clones were amplified by PCR with the universal oligonucleotide primers M13R and M13F. The obtained products were purified and fixed in duplicate on glass slides specific for use in DNA microarrays. The number of spots on the microarray totaled 6,144 and included 768 positive controls and 624 negative controls per slide. Validation of the platform was performed through hybridization of total DNA probes from XAC labeled with different fluorophores, Cy3 and Cy5. In this validation assay, 86% of all PCR products fixed on the glass slides were confirmed to present a hybridization signal greater than twice the standard deviation of the deviation of the global median signal-to-noise ration. Conclusions. Our validation of the XACArray platform using DNA-DNA hybridization revealed that it can be used to evaluate the expression of 2,365 individual CDSs from all major functional categories, which corresponds to 52.7% of the annotated CDSs of the XAC genome. As a proof of concept, we used this platform in a previously work to verify the absence of genomic regions that could not be detected by sequencing in related strains of Xanthomonas. © 2010 Moreira et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Formação de biofilme cristalino de Proteus mirabilis em cateter urológico

The indwelling urethral catheter has an important role for patients with urinary retention, bladder obstruction, neurological damage and other diseases. Urine contains minerals which precipitate in alkaline pH, crystallize and block the urological catheter. The crystallization of the ionic components of urine occurs in the presence of urease, an enzyme produced by Proteus mirabilis. This bacterium adheres to inanimate surfaces and forms biofilms. The aim of this study was to investigate the formation of crystalline biofilm on the luminal surface of siliconized latex catheters by means of scanning electron microscope, after channeling artificial urine infected with Proteus mirabilis. The experiment was performed in vitro using a dynamic flow system. The artificial urine compounds were salts of calcium, magnesium, phosphates, urea and egg albumin, and it was infected with Proteus mirabilis ATCC 25933. The urine flow was stopped after crystallization of the ionic components. Crystallization was observed after alkalinization of urine. Scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of crystals and morphologies typical of bacilli embedded in an amorphous mass on the internal lumen of the catheter. The present study showed that catheter encrustation may limit the use of long-term indwelling catheter. © SBEB - Sociedade Brasileira de Engenharia Biomédica.

Bacillus Thuringiensis mutant increase activity against Apodoptera Frugiperda larvae

Bacillus thuringiensis is a Gram-positive bacterium which main characteristic is the production of Cry proteins, that is toxic to some insects. These proteins, when ingested by susceptible insects, become active causing their death. In nature, it is possible to found B. thuringiensis strains which produce these proteins, but they differ in productivity (some of these isolates are more productive then others), and as to the toxicity levels of the produced proteins. Two B. thuringiensis strains that were highly effective against Spodoptera frugiperda larvae were chosen to verifying genetic mutation implication on Cry proteins productivity. One strain with a prolific spores production, while the other one only produced small amounts of spores. A genomic mutant library of these two isolates was, separately, constructed by genome Tn-5 transposon random insertion. Data analysis showed that mutation had a direct effect on the spores production, inducing an increase as well as a decrease in the production, according to the different strain observed. These results indicate, for the first time, that it is possible to use the described technique with B. thuringiensis, as well as the possibility to genetically breeding this bacteria. Another possibility introduced here is the possibility to do functional genetic studies mediated by mutagenesis in this bacterium.

Avaliação da qualidade da água purificada em farmácias magistrais da região de São José do Rio Preto, SP

Water is the raw material used most in the production of diverse pharmaceutical forms and, being a constituent of the formulation itself, is subject to a number of physico-chemical and microbiological specifications. In addition, it is indispensable for laboratory tests and the cleaning of equipment and apparatus. The aim of this study was to ascertain the degree of physicochemical and microbiological contamination of purified water used in compounding pharmacies in the city of São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil. Samples were taken as recommended in the USP Pharmacopeia, with careful aseptic technique, and sent immediately the to quality control laboratory. Physicochemical properties were analyzed, including appearance, pH, conductivity, residue after evaporation, ammonia, calcium, chloride, heavy metals, sulfate and oxidizable substances, and microbiological tests were performed: total aerobic microbial count and detection of total and thermotolerant coliforms and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results showed that some parameters did not conform to the standards, especially pH, conductivity, inorganic impurities, oxidizable substances and microbiological test data, in 10%, 17%, 10%, 14% and 20% of the analyzed samples, respectively, This points to the need for greater care in the production and/or storage of purified water in these pharmaceutical establishments.

Presence of a human diarrheagenic escherichia coli clone in captivity kept psittacidaes

Bacterial cultures of cloaca swabs from 86 captivity kept psittacidaes revealed 17 Escherichia coli bearing birds sharing strains which, on the basis of enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR analysis, proved to be genetically similar. Further, triplex PCR specific for the genetic markers chuA, yjaA, and TSPE4.C2 was used to assign the strains to the E. coli reference collection (EcoR) B2 group. One strain of each, from the enteropathogenic (EPEC), enteroaggregative (EAEC) and Shiga toxin (STEC) E. coli pathovars were found among these isolates. © Marietto-Gonçalves et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.

Quercetin reduces Staphylococcus aureus interaction with neutrophils

Flavonoids, including quercetin, have been reported to modulate the ability of Staphylococcus aureus to adhere to host tissue without exhibiting direct antibacterial activity. In the present study, we evaluated the interaction of S. aureus pretreated with 40 μg/mL of quercetin with neutrophils to assay oxidative burst stimulation, using luminol-amplified chemiluminescence. S. aureus pre-incubated with subinhibitory concentration of quercetin induced significantly less light emission by neutrophils than did untreated bacteria. The results of the present study demonstrate that quercetin decreases S. aureus uptake by neutrophils.