Culture-dependent and culture-independent characterization of microorganisms associated with Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) (L.) and dynamics of bacterial colonization in the midgut

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Screening of bacterial strains for pectinolytic activity: characterization of the polygalacturonase produced by Bacillus sp

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Surface Roughness and Bacterial Adherence to Resin Composites and Ceramics

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness and the in vitro adherence of Streptococcus mutans to indirect aesthetic restorative materials that are uncoated with saliva.Materials and Methods: Four groups of restorative materials were evaluated according to material type: (1) microparticulate feldspathic ceramic; (2) leucite-reinforced feldspathic ceramic; (3) microhybrid resin composite and (4) microfilled resin composite. Twenty standardised samples of each material were produced. Roughness analysis (Ra, n = 10) was performed using a roughness analyser. Adhesion tests (n = 10) were carried out in 24-well plates; colony-forming units (CFU/mL) were evaluated. The mean values of roughness (mu m) and adherence (CFU/mL) for each group were subjected to an analysis of variance and a Tukey test.Results: The leucite-reinforced feldspathic ceramic was rougher and presented higher bacterial adherence than the microparticulate feldspathic ceramic. The resin composites were similar with regard to surface roughness and bacterial adherence.Conclusions: The microhybrid and microfilled resin composites were similar and the leucite-reinforced feldspathic ceramic was rougher and presented higher bacterial adherence than the microparticulate feldspathic ceramic.

Morphology and bacterial colonisation of tooth/ceramic restoration interface after different cement excess removal techniques

Objectives: To evaluate the influence of different protocols for resin cement removal during cementation on biofilm formation.Methods: Twenty-eight ceramic blocks, which were injected under pressure, were placed over enamel blocks obtained from freshly extracted bovine incisors. The ceramic blocks were cemented to the enamel blocks using a dual-cured resin cement and the excess resin was removed according to the experimental group: TS: Teflon spatula; BR: brush; BR+: brush and polishing; SB+: scalpel blade and polishing. After autoclaving, the samples were colonised by incubation in a sucrose broth suspension standardised with Streptococcus mutans in microaerophilic stove. Specimens were quantitatively analysed for bacterial adherence at the adhesive interface using confocal laser scanning microscopy and counting the colony forming units, and qualitatively analysed using SEM. The roughness (Ra/Rz/RSm) was also analysed. Data were analysed by 1-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (5%).Results: The roughness values ranged from 0.96 to 1.69 mu m for Ra (p > 0.05), from 11.59 to 22.80 mu m for Rz (p = 0.02 < 0.05) and from 293.2 to 534.3 mu m for RSm (p = 0.00). Bacterial adhesion varied between 1,974,000 and 2,814,000 CFU/ml (p = 0.00). Biofilm mean thickness ranged from 0.477 and 0.556 mu m (p > 0.05), whilst the biovolume values were between 0.388 and 0.547 mu m(3)/mu m(2) (p = 0.04). Lower values for roughness, bacterial adhesion, biofilm thickness and biovolume were found with BR, whilst TS presented the highest values for most of the parameters. SEM images confirmed the quantitative values.Conclusions: The restoration margin morphology and interface roughness affects bacterial accumulation. The brush technique promoted less bacterial colonisation at the adhesive interface than did the other removal methods.Clinical significance: The brush technique seems to be a good option for removing the excess resin cement after adhesive cementation in clinical practice, as indicated by its better results with lower bacterial colonisation. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Peptides based on CcdB protein as novel inhibitors of bacterial topoisomerases

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Design and synthesis of peptides from bacterial ParE toxin as inhibitors of topoisomerases

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Differential proteomic analysis of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans cells maintained in contact with bornite or chalcopyrite: Proteins involved with the early bacterial response

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Bacterial cellulose/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) composite membranes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Kinetic parameters for thermal decomposition of microcrystalline, vegetal, and bacterial cellulose

Cellulose can be obtained from innumerable sources such as cotton, trees, sugar cane bagasse, wood, bacteria, and others. The bacterial cellulose (BC) produced by the Gram-negative acetic-acid bacterium Acetobacter xylinum has several unique properties. This BC is produced as highly hydrated membranes free of lignin and hemicelluloses and has a higher molecular weight and higher crystallinity. Here, the thermal behavior of BC, was compared with those of microcrystalline (MMC) and vegetal cellulose (VC). The kinetic parameters for the thermal decomposition step of the celluloses were determined by the Capela-Ribeiro non-linear isoconversional method. From data for the TG curves in nitrogen atmosphere and at heating rates of 5, 10, and 20 A degrees C/min, the E(alpha) and B(alpha) terms could be determined and consequently the pre-exponential factor A(alpha) as well as the kinetic model g(alpha). The pyrolysis of celluloses followed kinetic model g(alpha) = [-ln(1 - alpha)](1.63) on average, characteristic for Avrami-Erofeev with only small differences in activation energy. The fractional value of n may be related to diffusion-controlled growth, or may arise from the distributions of sizes or shapes of the reactant particles.

Preparation and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles impregnated in bacterial cellulose

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Synthesis and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose produced from bacterial cellulose

In this study, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was prepared from the acid hydrolysis of bacterial cellulose (BC) produced in culture medium of static Acetobacter xylinum. The MCC-BC produced an average particle size between 70 and 90 mu m and a degree of polymerization (DP) of 250. The characterization of samples was performed by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The MCC shows a lower thermal stability than the pristine cellulose, which was expected due to the decrease in the DP during the hydrolysis process. In addition, from X-ray diffractograms, we observed a change in the crystalline structure. The images of SEM for the BC and MCC show clear differences with modifications of BC fiber structure and production of particles with characteristics similar to commercial MCC.

Thermal behavior of cellulose acetate produced from homogeneous acetylation of bacterial cellulose

Cellulose acetate (CA) is one of the most important cellulose derivatives and its main applications are its use in membranes, films, fibers, plastics and filters. CAs are produced from cellulose sources such as: cotton, sugar cane bagasse, wood and others. One promissory source of cellulose is bacterial cellulose (BC). In this work, CA was produced from the homogeneous acetylation reaction of bacterial cellulose. Degree of substitution (DS) values can be controlled by the acetylation time. The characterization of CA samples showed the formation of a heterogeneous structure for CA samples submitted to a short acetylation time. A more homogeneous structure was produced for samples prepared with a long acetylation time. This fact changes the thermal behavior of the CA samples. Thermal characterization revealed that samples submitted to longer acetylation times display higher crystallinity and thermal stability than samples submitted to a short acetylation time. The observation of these characteristics is important for the production of cellulose acetate from this alternative source. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Self-supported silver nanoparticles containing bacterial cellulose membranes

Hydrated bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes obtained from cultures of Acetobacter xylinum were used in the preparation of silver nanoparticles containing cellulose membranes. In situ preparation of Ag nanoparticles was achieved from the hydrolytic decomposition of silver triethanolamine (TEA) complexes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns both lead to the observation of spherical metallic silver particles with mean diameter of 8 nm well adsorbed onto the BC fibriles. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.