Induction and secretion of elastinolytic and proteolytic activity in cultures of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

P. brasiliensis parasitizes various human tissues and proteinases exported by this fungus may allow it to metabolize and invade host tissues. The influence of the culture medium on the production of proteinases by P. brasiliensis isolates was studied and the export of these enzymes was followed as a function of culture time. The fungus was grown in neopeptone, BSA, elastin or collagen medium. The culture medium was assayed for azocollytic, elastinolytic and caseinolytic activity. Proteolytic activity was also analysed by electrophoresis of the culture medium on gelatin and casein substrate gels. P. brasiliensis expressed relatively high levels of azocoll, elastin and casein degrading activity in all types of medium, except in neopeptone medium. Generally, expression of azocollytic activity peaked during the third week of culture and caseinolytic activity during the fourth week of culture. Azocollytic activity was highest at pH 4.0 and caseinolytic activity at pH 8.0. Elastinolytic activity was also highest at pH 8.0. This activity, as well as the others, may provide the fungus with a source of carbon and nitrogen and may also be responsible for the invasion of host tissues, such as pulmonary elastic fiber, by P. brasiliensis.

Postharvest characteristics and treatments to overcome latex exuded from cut flowers of lotus

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is a perennial herbaceous aquatic ornamental plant with potential to be used as a new cut flower for the Brazilian ornamental market. It shows exotic and attractive flowers and has a strong market appeal, once it is known as a symbol of purity, holiness and immortality. However, flowers have a short-vase life. Lotus flower stem exudes a large quantity of sticky milky sap from the cut surface, which is produced in laticifers, spatially associated with both xylem and phloem. It has been reported that latex coagulates on the cut surface preventing or reducing water absorption and reducing flowers' vaselife, requiring treatments to stop the flow of latex. The objective of this study was to report observations of lotus postharvest characteristics and evaluate treatments to overcome latex flow. The experiment was conducted as a complete randomized design with three replications of four stems in each vase and eight treatments; a control (distilled water), pretreatment of cut stem-ends with hot water (40° C/1 minute), boiling water (3 seconds), isopropyl alcohol 90% (10 minutes) or citric acid (pH = 2.8/1h) and, maintenance of stems in a holding solution of Tween® 20 (0.01%), citric acid (200 mg L-1) or Tween® 20 (0.01%) plus citric acid (200 mg L-1). Treatments had no significant effect on flowers vaselife which was only about three days, although isopropyl alcohol, hot and boiling water completely stopped latex flow. Cut stem-ends pretreated with citric acid (pH = 2.8/1 h) showed a significantly higher relative water content of petals compared to others treatments. The senescence symptom of lotus cut flowers was mainly characterized by abscission of turgid petals and dehiscence of stamens without any visual change of petal color and brightness.

Drinking water supply and sanitation services on the threshold of the XXI century

Includes bibliography

Agua potable y saneamiento ambiental en América Latina, 1981-1990 = Drinking water supply and sanitation in Latin America, 1981-1990

Incluye Bibliografía

Necesidades financieras del Decenio Internacional del Agua Potable y del Saneamiento Ambiental en América Latina = Financial demands of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade in Latin America

Incluye Bibliografía

Decenio Internacional del Agua Potable y del Saneamiento Ambiental: la situación en América Latina al comenzar el Decenio y las perspectivas para el futuro = International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade: the situation in Latin America on the eve of the decade and the prospects for the future

Incluye Bibliografía

Self-financing water supply and sanitation services

Includes bibliography

Water management and river basins in Latin America

Includes bibliography

Avances hacia el logro de los objetivos del Decenio Internacional del Agua Potable y del Saneamiento Ambiental, 1980-1983 = Progress towards achievement of the goals of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (IDWSSD), 1980-1983

Incluye Bibliografía

Aprovechamiento de los recursos hídricos: progresos realizados en la aplicación del Plan de Acción de Mar del Plata y el Decenio Internacional del Agua Potable y del Saneamiento Ambiental en América Latina y el Caribe = Water resource development: progress in the implementation of the Mar del Plata Action Plan and the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade in Latin America and the Caribbean

Incluye Bibliografía

Abastecimiento de agua potable y saneamiento ambiental en América Latina y el Caribe con posterioridad a la Carta de Punta del Este = Drinking water supply and sanitation in Latin America and the Caribbean since Punta del Este

Incluye Bibliografía

Necesidades financieras del Decenio Internacional del Agua Potable y del Saneamiento Ambiental en América Latina = Financial demands of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade in Latin America

Incluye Bibliografía

Resolución 441(XIX): Apoyo al Decenio Internacional del Agua Potable y del Saneamiento Ambiental = Resolution 441(XIX): Support for the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade = Résolution 441(XIX): Mesures d'appui à la Décennie internationale de l'eau potable et de l'assainissement

Publicado separadamete en cada idioma

Resolución 442(XIX): Medidas para promover el cumplimiento de los objetivos del Decenio Internacional del Agua Potable y del Saneamiento Ambiental en América Latina = Resolution 442(XIX): Measures to promote the achievement of the objectives of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade in Latin America = Résolution 442(XIX): Mesures destinées à faciliter la réalisation des objectifs de la Décennie internationale de l'eau potable et de l'assainissement

Publicado separadamete en cada idioma