Degrada����o do perfil bioqu��mico de um concentrado de Nannochloropsis sp. durante o seu per��odo de validade

As algas do g��nero Nannochloropsis s��o microalgas marinhas que apresentam um perfil bioqu��mico ��nico, principalmente no que �� respeitante a l��pidos, e uma vasta gama de compostos bioativos que possibilitam a sua aplicabilidade comercial em v��rias ��reas biotecnol��gicas, destacando-se a alimenta����o e nutri����o humana, ind��stria cosm��tica e farmac��utica, produ����o de biocombust��veis e a sua utiliza����o em aquacultura. Em aquacultura, s��o usadas maioritariamente microalgas vivas, cuja produ����o representa elevados custos. Tem havido assim uma pesquisa de dietas alternativas, entre as quais os concentrados de microalgas se apresentam promissores. Os desafios atuais das empresas produtoras de concentrados de microalgas prendem-se com a conserva����o e armazenamento destes concentrados. Assim, neste trabalho foi proposto o estudo da influ��ncia da refrigera����o, congela����o e adi����o de conservantes a PhytoBloom Green Formula��, concentrado de Nannochloropsis sp. comercializado pela empresa Necton S.A., com o objetivo de averiguar a varia����o de par��metros bioqu��micos e organol��ticos com a exposi����o do concentrado aos diferentes m��todos de conserva����o. Pretendia-se assim observar se estes processos podem ser usados para aumentar o tempo de prateleira do concentrado em estudo. Para tal, foram avaliadas amostras recolhidas em tr��s pontos temporais e analisados os seguintes par��metros: perfil de ��cidos gordos, quantifica����o de hidroper��xidos lip��dicos, quantifica����o espectrofotom��trica de clorofila a e caroten��ides, bem como par��metros organol��ticos. Inicialmente, foi efetuada uma avalia����o de diferentes par��metros organol��ticos, n��o se observando varia����es relevantes entre amostras das diferentes condi����es. Assim, foi posteriormente realizada a avalia����o bioqu��mica. Primeiramente, foi efetuada a quantifica����o de ��cidos gordos por GC-FID das diferentes amostras, nas quais n��o se observou diferen��as significativas entre as condi����es experimentais. Foi tamb��m efetuado um ensaio de FOX II, que permitiu avaliar o grau de peroxida����o lip��dica de cada amostra por quantifica����o de hidroper��xidos lip��dicos formados. As amostras nas quais houve adi����o de conservantes apresentaram um teor menor de hidrop��roxidos lip��dicos, permitindo inferir que a a����o dos conservantes com propriedades antioxidantes permitiu uma melhor conserva����o da amostra. Quando se determinou a concentra����o de clorofila a e de caroten��ides verificou-se que, em ambos os casos, a congela����o conduziu a uma estabiliza����o da concentra����o destes pigmentos. No entanto, os melhores resultados foram obtidos usando a combina����o de congela����o com adi����o de conservantes. Estes resultados, embora promissores, carecem de uma confirma����o por um novo estudo, completando com an��lises com maior rigor e sensibilidade associados, no sentido de se verificar qual o m��todo mais vantajoso para a extens��o do tempo de prateleira de PhytoBloom Green Formula��.

Efeito da substitui����o da farinha de peixe por farinha de algas Gracilaria sp. e Ulva rigida no crescimento e nos par��metros metab��licos da dourada (Sparus aurata)

Disserta����o mestr., Engenharia Biol��gica, Universidade do Algarve, 2008

Biocaumula����o de alum��nio em rebentos micropropagados de Plantago sp.

Disserta����o de Mestrado, Engenharia Biol��gica, Faculdade de Ci��ncias e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2009

Compara����o dos m��todos aplicados na detec����o de bact��rias coliformes, Escherichia coli e Enterococcus sp. em ��guas para fins recreativos

Disserta����o mest., Qualidade em An��lises, Universidade do Algarve, 2007

Sobreviv��ncia e crescimento de juvenis de cavalos-marinhos (Hippocampus sp.): caso de estudo: Hippocampus erectus (Perry, 1810)

Disserta����o de mest., Ci��ncias, Faculdade de Ci��ncias do Mar e do Ambiente, Univ. do Algarve, 2009

Exploring an uncommon host-parasite interaction to unveil the uniqueness of Perkinsus sp as a model organism

We report the exploration of some unique metabolic pathways in Perkinsus olseni a marine protist parasite, responsible to significant mortalities in mollusks, especially in bivalves all around the world. In Algarve, south of Portugal carpet shell clam Ruditapes decussatus mortalities can reach up to 70%, causing social and economic losses. The objective of studying those unique pathways, is finding new therapeutic strategies capable of controlling/eliminating P. olseni proliferation in clams. In that sense metabolic pathways, were explored, and drugs affecting these cycles were tested for activity. The first step involved the identification of the genes behind those pathways, the reconstitution of the main steps, and molecular characterization of those genes and later on, the identification of possible targets within the genes studied. Metabolic cycles were screened due to the fact of not being present in host or differ in a critical way, such as the following pathways: shikimate, MEP-����� isoprenoids, Leloir cycle for chitin production, purine biosynthesis (unique among protists), the de novo synthesis of folates (absent in metazoa) and some unique genes like, the alternative oxidase (a branch of respiratory chain) and the hypoxia sensor HPH. All those pathways were covered and possible chemical inhibition using therapeutic drugs was tested with positive results. The relation between the common host Ruditapes decussatus and P. olseni was also explored in a dimension not possible some years ago. With the accessibility to second generation sequencers and microarray analysis platforms, genes involved in host defense or parasite virulence and resistance to the host were deciphered, allowing aiming to new targets (mechanisms and pathways), offering new possibilities for the control of Perkinsus in close environments. The thousands of genes, generated by this work, sequenced and analyzed from this commercial valuable clam and for Perkinsus olseni will be an important and value tool for the scientific community, allowing a better understanding of host-�����parasite interactions, promoting the usage of P. olseni as an emerging model for alveolata parasites.

Otimiza����o da fragmenta����o e dos processos de fixa����o na reprodu����o assexuada do coral mole Sarcophyton sp.

Disserta����o de mestrado, Aquacultura e Pescas (Aquacultura), Faculdade de Ci��ncias e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Defini����o do modo de opera����o, descont��nuo ou semi-descont��nuo, para produ����o de bioetanol utilizando um novo substrato misto pela levedura Kluyveromyces sp.

Disserta����o de mestrado, Engenharia Biol��gica, Faculdade de Ci��ncias e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Caracteriza����o funcional da microalga extrem��fila Coccomyxa sp.

Disserta����o de mestrado, Biologia Molecular e Microbiana, Faculdade de Ci��ncias e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Dynamics of production and mortality of Aurelia SP. in thau lagoon, northwerstern Mediterranean

Disserta����o de mestrado, Biologia Marinha, Faculdade de Ci��ncias e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Back-trajectories Show Export of Airborne Fungal Spores (Ganoderma sp.) From Forests to Agricultural and Urban Areas in England

We propose here the hypothesis that all of United Kingdom (UK) is likely to be affected by Ganoderma sp. spores, an important plant pathogen. We suggest that the main sources of this pathogen, which acts as a bioaerosol, are the widely scattered woodlands in the country, although remote sources must not be neglected. The hypothesis is based on related studies on bioaerosols and supported by new observations from a non-forest site and model calculations to support our hypothesis. Hourly concentrations of Ganoderma sp. spores were measured from 2006 to 2010 using a 7-day volumetric spore trap at the city of Worcester. The concentrations peak during the night and early in the morning. This suggests that the main spore sources are located a few hours away with respect to air masses transport and reach urban areas thanks to air masses transport. The back-trajectory analysis was applied to determine the location of Ganoderma sp. spore sources. The analysis of back-trajectories demonstrated that 78% of the air masses reached Worcester from a 180�� arc direction from the East to West. Three episodes were selected for detailed investigation and they revealed that during the episodes air masses always passed main UK woodlands before the arrival in Worcester, independently of their origin, but the long distance transport under certain conditions might be possible. Our studies suggest that the sources of UK Ganoderma sp. spores are mainly to be found in UK. Hence our studies suggest that research and mitigation strategies in UK should give their main attention to national sources, without neglecting the contribution from long distance transport.

Pollen From Alder (Alnus sp.), Birch (Betula sp.) and Oak (Quercus sp.) in the UK Originate From Small Woodlands

We have analysed the pollen seasons in Worcester for the period 2005���12 for alder (Alnus), birch (Betula) and oak (Quercus) by using back trajectory calculations and produced the first detailed source maps for these three pollen types. The study shows considerable variations in the source���receptor relationship of three of the most important tree pollen types in England with respect to allergy. Long Distance Transport is observed for Quercus and Betula but not for Alnus. The new source maps show a number of high emitting areas for Betula and Quercus, mainly near London, in the Midlands and in Wales. The production of source maps is sensitive to the used type of land cover data and how well they incorporate small woodlands. Two satellite products, Corine Land Cover and Globcover, are compared with the detailed national land cover product Land Cover Map 2007. The broad scale satellite products show either up to 50% less woody coverage or a direct misplacement of woodlands. The Lagrangian back trajectory model, the pollen count observations and the source maps altogether suggest that small woodlands (below 25 ha) play a major role in the overall pollen load in urban areas in England.

Kroppenstedtia pulmonis sp. nov. and Kroppenstedtia sanguinis sp. nov., isolated from human patients

Three human clinical strains (W9323T , X0209T and X0394) isolated from lung biopsy, blood and cerebral spinal fluid, respectively, were characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed the three strains belonged to two novel branches within the genus Kroppenstedtia : 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of W9323T showed closest sequence similarity to Kroppenstedtia eburnea JFMB- ATET (95.3 %), Kroppenstedtia guangzhouensis GD02T (94.7 %) and strain X0209T (94.6 %); sequence analysis of strain X0209T showed closest sequence similarity to K . eburnea JFMB- ATET (96.4 %) and K. guangzhouensis GD02T (96.0 %). Strains X0209T and X0394 were 99.9 % similar to each other by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The DNA- DNA relatedness was 94.6 %, confirming that X0209T and X0394 belong to the same species. Chemotaxonomic data for strains W9323T and X0209T were consistent with those described for the genus Kroppenstedtia : whole- cell peptidoglycan contained LL- diaminopimelic acid; the major cellular fatty acids were iso- C15 and anteiso- C15 ; and the major menaquinone was MK- 7. Different endospore morphology, carbon utilization profiles, and whole cell wall sugar patterns of strains W9323T and X0209T supported by phylogenetic analysis enabled us to conclude that the strains represent two new species within the genus Kroppenstedtia , for which the names Kroppenstedtia pulmonis sp. nov. (type strain W9323T = DSM 45752T = CCUG 68107T) and Kroppenstedtia sanguinis sp. nov. (type strain X0209T = DSM 45749T = CCUG 38657T) are proposed.

Tratamento de cor em p��s-produ����o televisiva: o caso da produtora de conte��dos SP Televis��o

Disserta����o apresentada �� Escola Superior de Comunica����o Social como parte dos requisitos para obten����o de grau de mestre em Audiovisual e Multim��dia.