Influence of Growth Media and Temperature on Bacterial Adhesion to Polystyrene Surfaces

Bacterial adhesion to inert surfaces is a complex process influenced by environmental conditions. In this work, the influence of growth medium and temperature on the adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus and Listeria monocytogenes to polystyrene surfaces was studied. Most bacteria demonstrated the highest adhesion when cultured in TSYEA, except S. marcescens, which showed to be positively influenced by the pigment production, favored in poor nutrient media (lactose and peptone agar). P. aeruginosa adhesion to polystyrene increased at low temperatures whatever the medium used. The culture medium influenced the surface properties of the bacteria as assessed by the MATS test.

Seasons of desiccant application in the soybean crop: water content and productivity

The herbicides glyphosate and paraquat have been used by Brazilian soybean producers to obtain crop desiccation and to anticipate and uniformity at harvest. However, improper use of herbicides can to occasion problems in agronomic and physiologic characteristics of crop. This study aimed to evaluate the use of the glyphosate and paraquat herbicides as a desiccant for growing soybeans. The experiment was conducted in 2005/06 crop year, in an experimental design of randomized blocks with four replications. Treatments were arranged in two factorial design, 3x3x5x2 and 3x2x5x2: two desiccants (glyphosate and paraquat) and control (without drying), three and two growth stages (R6, R7 and R8) and (R7 and R8) for varieties MSOY 6101 of superprecocious cycle, and MG / BR 46 (Conquista) of precocious cycle, respectively, five sampling times (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days after application) and two positions in the plants on the ground assessment (apex and base). Was evaluated for seed Production, mass and water content of 100 seeds. Desiccants tested were effective in reducing the water content of seeds, without affecting productivity and mass of 100 seeds.

Genetic analysis of kernel oil content in tropical maize with design III and QTL mapping

Oil content and grain yield in maize are negatively correlated, and so far the development of high-oil high-yielding hybrids has not been accomplished. Then a fully understand of the inheritance of the kernel oil content is necessary to implement a breeding program to improve both traits simultaneously. Conventional and molecular marker analyses of the design III were carried out from a reference population developed from two tropical inbred lines divergent for kernel oil content. The results showed that additive variance was quite larger than the dominance variance, and the heritability coefficient was very high. Sixteen QTL were mapped, they were not evenly distributed along the chromosomes, and accounted for 30.91% of the genetic variance. The average level of dominance computed from both conventional and QTL analysis was partial dominance. The overall results indicated that the additive effects were more important than the dominance effects, the latter were not unidirectional and then heterosis could not be exploited in crosses. Most of the favorable alleles of the QTL were in the high-oil parental inbred, which could be transferred to other inbreds via marker-assisted backcross selection. Our results coupled with reported information indicated that the development of high-oil hybrids with acceptable yields could be accomplished by using marker-assisted selection involving oil content, grain yield and its components. Finally, to exploit the xenia effect to increase even more the oil content, these hybrids should be used in the Top Cross((TM)) procedure.

The Effects of Palmitic Acid on Nitric Oxide Production by Rat Skeletal Muscle: Mechanism via Superoxide and iNOS Activation

Background: Increased plasma concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) can lead to insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, impaired effects on mitochondrial function, including uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and decrease of endogenous antioxidant defenses. Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly diffusible gas that presents a half-life of 5-10 seconds and is involved in several physiological and pathological conditions. The effects of palmitic acid on nitric oxide (NO) production by rat skeletal muscle cells and the possible mechanism involved were investigated. Methods: Primary cultured rat skeletal muscle cells were treated with palmitic acid and NO production was assessed by nitrite measurement (Griess method) and 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2-DA) assay. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) activation was evaluated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and iNOS protein content by western blotting. Results: Palmitic acid treatment increased nitric oxide production. This effect was abolished by treatment with NOS inhibitors, L-nitro-arginine (LNA) and L-nitro-arginine methyl esther (L-NAME). NF-kappa B activation and iNOS content were increased due to palmitic acid treatment. The participation of superoxide on nitric oxide production was investigated by incubating the cells with DAF-2-DA in the presence or absence of palmitic acid, a superoxide generator system (X-XO), a mixture of NOS inhibitors and SOD-PEG (superoxide dismutase linked to polyethylene glycol). Palmitic acid and X-XO system increased NO production and this effect was abolished when cells were treated with NOS inhibitors and also with SOD-PEG. Conclusions: In summary, palmitic acid stimulates NO production in cultured skeletal muscle cells through production of superoxide, nuclear factor-kappa B activation and increase of iNOS protein content. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel

Xylanase and beta-Xylosidase Production by Aspergillus ochraceus: New Perspectives for the Application of Wheat Straw Autohydrolysis Liquor

The xylanase biosynthesis is induced by its substrate-xylan. The high xylan content in some wastes such as wheat residues (wheat bran and wheat straw) makes them accessible and cheap sources of inducers to be mainly applied in great volumes of fermentation, such as those of industrial bioreactors. Thus, in this work, the main proposal was incorporated in the nutrient medium wheat straw particles decomposed to soluble compounds (liquor) through treatment of lignocellulosic materials in autohydrolysis process, as a strategy to increase and undervalue xylanase production by Aspergillus ochraceus. The wheat straw autohydrolysis liquor produced in several conditions was used as a sole carbon source or with wheat bran. The best conditions for xylanase and beta-xylosidase production were observed when A. ochraceus was cultivated with 1% wheat bran added of 10% wheat straw liquor (produced after 15 min of hydrothermal treatment) as carbon source. This substrate was more favorable when compared with xylan, wheat bran, and wheat straw autohydrolysis liquor used separately. The application of this substrate mixture in a stirred tank bioreactor indicated the possibility of scaling up the process to commercial production.

OPTIMUM RATIO OF CALCIUM AND BORON IN THE NUTRIENT SOLUTION OR IN CASTOR BEAN SHOOT FOR FRUIT YIELD AND SEED OIL CONTENT

Calcium (Ca) and boron (B) have been reported as the major macro-and micronutrient required for castor bean plant yield. The objective of this study was to determine the Ca: B ratios (in the growth media and plant tissue) for fruit yield and shoot dry weight of the castor bean (Ricinus communis L.), grown in a nutrient solution, and to evaluate Ca and B supply on concentration and total uptake of Ca, potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and B, as well on the seed oil content. The treatments were arranged in a 3 x 3 factorial fashion, consisting of three rates of Ca (40, 80, and 160 mg L-1) and three of B (0.32, 0.96, and 1.60 mg L-1). Calcium and B rates increased the shoot and root dry weight and fruit yield at a Ca: B ratio in the nutrient solution of 166 and 100, respectively. Symptoms of B deficiency were observed in plants supplied with 0.32 mg B L-1, regardless of the Ca concentration in the nutrient solution. Plants which showed visual symptoms of Ca deficiency cultivated with 40 mg Ca L-1 presented concentration of Ca in plant tissue up to 10 g kg(-1). The concentration and total Ca and B uptake increased with the rates of them. Notwithstanding, the shoot Ca accumulation was improved by B rates. In addition, there were no decreases in K and Mg uptake due to Ca rates. Furthermore, addition of 80 mg L-1 of Ca and 1.60 mg L-1 of B in the growth media increased the seed oil content. The Ca: B ratio in the diagnostic leaf associated with the highest plant dry weight (shoot and root) and fruit yield, was 500 (16 to 20 g kg(-1) of Ca, and for 30 to 40 mg kg(-1) of B).

Carbon source pulsed feeding to attain high yield and high productivity in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production from soybean oil using Cupriavidus necator

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) biosynthesis from soybean oil by Cupriavidus necator was studied using a bench scale bioreactor. The highest cell concentration (83 g l(-1)) was achieved using soybean oil at 40 g l(-1) and a pulse of the same concentration. The PHB content was 81% (w/w), PHB productivity was 2.5 g l(-1) h(-1), and the calculated Y-p/s value was 0.85 g g(-1). Growth limitation and the onset of PHB biosynthesis took place due to exhaustion of P, and probably also Cu, Ca, and Fe.

Oxygen supply in Bacillus thuringiensis fermentations: bringing new insights on their impact on sporulation and delta-endotoxin production

The growth kinetics, sporulation, and toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis were evaluated through the analysis of batch cultures with different dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles. Firstly, DO was maintained constant at 5%, 20%, or 50% throughout fermentation in order to identify the most suitable one to improve the main process parameters. Higher biomass concentration, cell productivity, and cell yield based on glucose were obtained with 50% DO. The higher aeration level also resulted in higher spore counts and markedly improved the toxic activity of the fermentation broth, which was 9-fold greater than that obtained with 5% DO (LC50 of 39 and 329 mg/L, respectively). Subsequently, using a two-stage oxygen supply strategy, DO was kept at 50% during the vegetative and transition phases until the maximum cell concentration was achieved. Then, DO was changed to 0%, 5%, 20%, or 100% throughout sporulation and cell lysis phases. The interruption of oxygen supply strongly reduced the spore production and thoroughly repressed the toxin synthesis. On the contrary, when DO was raised to 100% of saturation, toxic activity increased approximately four times (LC50 of 8.2 mg/L) in comparison with the mean values reached with lower DO levels, even though spore counts were lower than that from the 50% DO assay. When pure oxygen was used instead of normal air, it was possible to obtain 70% of the total biomass concentration achieved in the air assays; however, cultures did not sporulate and the toxin synthesis was consequently suppressed.

Culture medium of diluted skimmed milk for the production of nisin in batch cultivations

Nisin is a promising alternative to chemical preservatives for use as a natural biopreservative in foods. This bacteriocin has also potential biomedical applications. Lactic acid bacteria are commonly cultivated in expensive standard complex media. We have evaluated the cell growth and nisin production of Lactococcus lactis in a low-cost natural medium consisting of diluted skimmed milk in a 2-L bioreactor. The assays were performed at 30 degrees C for 56 h, at varying agitation speeds and airflow rates: (1) 200 rpm (no airflow, and airflow at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 L/min); (2) 100 rpm (no airflow, and airflow at 0.5 L/min). Nisin activity was evaluated using agar diffusion assays. The highest nisin concentration, 49.88 mg/L (3.3 log AU/mL or 1,995.29 AU/mL), was obtained at 16 h of culture, 200 rpm and no airflow (k(L)a = 5.29 x 10(-3)). These results show that a cultivation medium composed of diluted skimmed milk supports cell growth to facilitate nisin biosynthesis.

Development of corn and flaxseed snacks with high-fibre content using response surface methodology (RSM)

With the increasing emphasis on health and well-being, nutrition aspects need to be incorporated as a dimension of product development. Thus, the production of a high-fibre content snack food from a mixture of corn and flaxseed flours was optimized by response surface methodology. The independent variables considered in this study were: feed moisture, process temperature and flaxseed flour addition, as they were found to significantly impact the resultant product. These variables were studied according to a rotatable composite design matrix (-1.68, -1, 0, 1, 1.68). Response variable was the expansion ratio since it has been highly correlated with acceptability. The optimum corn-flaxseed snack obtained presented a sevenfold increase in dietary fibre, almost 100% increase in protein content compared to the pure corn snack, and yielded an acceptability score of 6.93. This acceptability score was similar to those observed for corn snack brands in the market, indicating the potential commercial use of this new product, which can help to increase the daily consumption of dietary fibre.

Discrimination of media moments and media intervals: sticker-based watch-and-comment annotation

In this paper we discuss the problem of how to discriminate moments of interest on videos or live broadcast shows. The primary contribution is a system which allows users to personalize their programs with previously created media stickers-pieces of content that may be temporarily attached to the original video. We present the system's architecture and implementation, which offer users operators to transparently annotate videos while watching them. We offered a soccer fan the opportunity to add stickers to the video while watching a live match: the user reported both enjoying and being comfortable using the stickers during the match-relevant results even though the experience was not fully representative.

Probiotic yogurts manufactured with increased glucose oxidase levels: Postacidification, proteolytic patterns, survival of probiotic microorganisms, production of organic acid and aroma compounds

We investigated the effect of increased glucose oxidase concentration as a technological option to decrease oxidative stress during the processing of probiotic yogurts. Probiotic yogurts were produced with increased concentrations of glucose oxidase (0, 250, 500, 750, or 1,000 mg/kg) and submitted to physicochemical and microbiological analysis at 1, 15, and 30 d of refrigerated storage. Higher concentrations of glucose oxidase (750 and 1,000 mg/kg) and a longer storage time were found to have an influence on the characteristics of the probiotic yogurt, contributing to more extensive post-acidification, an increase in the dissolved oxygen level, and higher proteolysis. In addition, increased production of aroma compounds (diacetyl and acetaldehyde) and organic acids (mainly lactic acid) and a decrease in the probiotic bacteria count were reported. The use of glucose oxidase was a feasible option to minimize oxidative stress in probiotic yogurts. However, supplementation with excessive amounts of the enzyme may be ineffective, because insufficient substrate (glucose) is present for its action. Consumer tests should be performed to evaluate changes in the sensory attributes of the probiotic yogurts with increased supplementation of glucose oxidase. In addition, packaging systems with different permeability to oxygen should be evaluated.

Production of methyl and ethyl biodiesel fuel from pequi oil (Caryocar brasiliensis Camb.)

We studied the physical and chemical characteristics of methyl and ethyl esters (biodiesel) produced by transesterification of pequi oil (Caryocar brasiliensis Camb.) in the presence of potassium hydroxide. The oil extracted from pequi seed comprises 60% of the fruit content. Such characteristics as density, acidity, viscosity, and carbon residue of the biodiesel meet ANP (Brazilian National Petroleum Agency) standards. Our tests demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing pequi oil for biodiesel production.

Protein secretion in Lactococcus lactis : an efficient way to increase the overall heterologous protein production

Anderson MIYOSHI, Daniela FREITAS, Luciana RIBEIRO, Jane E. GABRIEL, Sophie LECLERCQ, Maricê N. OLIVEIRA, and Valeria D. GUIMARÃES were recipients of a CAPES fellowship (project CAPESCOFECUB #319II). Luis BERMUDEZ and Sébastien NOUAILLE were recipients of a fellowship from the French Ministry of Education and Research. INRA and Région IledeFrance also financed L. BERMUDEZ and V. GUIMARAES. Cathy CHARLIER is recipient of a fellowship from INRA and Région Bretagne.

Dietary restriction abrogates antibody production induced by a DNA vaccine encoding the mycobacterial 65 kDa heat shock protein

Abstract Background Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) is the most common type of malnutrition. PCM leads to immunodeficiency and consequent increased susceptibility to infectious agents. In addition, responses to prophylactic vaccines depend on nutritional status. This study aims to evaluate the ability of undernourished mice to mount an immune response to a genetic vaccine (pVAXhsp65) against tuberculosis, containing the gene coding for the heat shock protein 65 from mycobacteria. Methods Young adult female BALB/c mice were fed ad libitum or with 80% of the amount of food consumed by a normal diet group. We initially characterized a mice model of dietary restriction by determining body and spleen weights, hematological parameters and histopathological changes in lymphoid organs. The ability of splenic cells to produce IFN-gamma and IL-4 upon in vitro stimulation with LPS or S. aureus and the serum titer of specific IgG1 and IgG2a anti-hsp65 antibodies after intramuscular immunization with pVAXhsp65 was then tested. Results Dietary restriction significantly decreased body and spleen weights and also the total lymphocyte count in blood. This restriction also determined a striking atrophy in lymphoid organs as spleen, thymus and lymphoid tissue associated with the small intestine. Specific antibodies were not detected in mice submitted to dietary restriction whereas the well nourished animals produced significant levels of both, IgG1 and IgG2a anti-hsp65. Conclusion 20% restriction in food intake deeply compromised humoral immunity induced by a genetic vaccine, alerting, therefore, for the relevance of the nutritional condition in vaccination programs based on these kinds of constructs.