High Incidence of Enterotoxin D Producing Staphylococcus spp. in Brazilian Cow's Raw Milk and Its Relation with Coagulase and Thermonuclease Enzymes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The traceability of animal meals in layer diets as detected by stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of eggs

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

Stable carbon (delta(13)C) and nitrogen (delta(15)N) isotopes as natural indicators of live and dry food in Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887) larval tissue

This study proposed the use of the stable isotope technique to track the type of food utilized by pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus larvae during their development, and to identify the moment when the larvae start using nutrients from the dry diet by retaining its carbon and nitrogen atoms in their body tissues. Five-day-old pacu larvae at the onset of exogenous feeding were fed Artemia nauplii or formulated diet exclusively; nauplii+formulated diet during the entire period; or were weaned from nauplii to a dry diet after 3, 6 or 12 days after the first feeding. delta(13)C and delta(15)N values for Artemia nauplii were -15.1 parts per thousand and 4.7 parts per thousand, respectively, and -25.0 parts per thousand and 7.4 parts per thousand for the dry diet. The initial isotopic composition of the larval tissue was -20.2 parts per thousand and 9.5 parts per thousand for delta(13)C and delta(15)N respectively. Later, at the end of a 42-day feeding period, larvae fed Artemia nauplii alone reached values of -12.7 parts per thousand and 7.0 parts per thousand for delta(13)C and delta(15)N respectively. Larvae that received the formulated diet alone showed values of -22.7 parts per thousand for delta(13)C and 9.6 parts per thousand for delta(15)N. The stable isotope technique was precise, and the time at which the larvae utilized Artemia nauplii, and later dry diet as a food source could be clearly defined.

Messenger ribonucleic acid abundance of intestinal enzymes and transporters in feed-restricted and refed chickens at different ages

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The use of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes for the detection of poultry offal meal in meat-type quail feeds

The objective of the present study was to trace the inclusion of poultry offal meal (POM) in the diet of meat-type quails reared for a long period using the technique of stable isotopes. A number of 320 quails were randomly distributed into eight treatments: vegetable diet (T1), and a diet containing 8% POM were fed until the end of the experimental period (T2) or replaced by the vegetable diet on day 42 (T3), 56 (T4), 70 (T5), 84 (T6), 98 (T7), and 112 (T8). Breast muscle samples were collected from four birds randomly selected per treatment every 14 days. The obtained isotope results were submitted to multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with the aid of the GLM procedure of statistical SAS program. Treatments were different from T1 when birds were sacrificed at least two weeks after the diet was changed. T2 results were different from T1 in all evaluated periods. It was concluded that it is possible to trace poultry offal meal inclusion in a strictly vegetable diet after the diet was changed for at least 14 days.

Production of reactive oxygen (H2O2) and nitrogen (NO) intermediates and TNF-α in mice genetically selected for high (H) and low (L) antibody response and experimentally infected with Leptospira serovar pomona

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influence of light intensity and salt-treatment on mode of photosynthesis and enzymes of the antioxidative response system of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum

The metabolic switch From C-3-photosynthesis to crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM),and the antioxidative response of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. plants cultured under severe salt stress and high light intensities, and a combination of booth stress conditions, were studied. High light conditions led to a more rapid CAM induction than salinity. The induction time was still shortened when both stress factors were combined. A main pattern observed in CAM plants was a decrease in mitochondrial Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity during the day. The activities of the chloroplastic Fe-SOD and cytosolic CuZn-SOD were increased due to salt treatment after a lag phase, while catalase activity was decreased. Combination of salt and light stress did not lead to a higher SOD activity as found after application of one stress factor alone, indicating that there is a threshold level of the oxidative stress response. The fact that salt-stressed plants grown under high light conditions showed permanent photoinhibition and lost the ability for nocturnal malate storage after 9 d of treatment indicate serious malfunction of metabolism, leading to accelerated senescence. Comparison of CuZn-SOD activity with CuZn-SOD protein amount, which was determined immunologically, indicates that the activity of the enzyme is at least partially post-translationally regulated.

Enzymes in juice processing: a review

P>The use of enzymes in juice industry has contributed in increasing the yield and production of various types of juices. The addition pectinases aims in particular to degrade the pectic substances, in the cell wall and middle lamella of the cells of plants, aiming to minimise the impacts of these compounds on the characteristics of the final product, such as colour, turbidity and viscosity. Enzymes able to remove bitterness of citrus juice, extract pigments, among other applications, have also had great interest in the juice industry.

Molecular models for shikimate pathway enzymes of Xylella fastidiosa

The Xylella fastidiosa is a bacterium that is the cause of citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC). The shikimate pathway is of pivotal importance for production of a plethora of aromatic compounds in plants, bacteria, and fungi. Putative structural differences in the enzymes from the shikimate pathway, between the proteins of bacterial origin and those of plants, could be used for the development of a drug for the control of CVC. However, inhibitors for shikimate pathway enzymes should have high specificity for X. fastidiosa enzymes, since they are also present in plants. In order to pave the way for structural and functional efforts towards antimicrobial agent development, here we describe the molecular modeling of seven enzymes of the shikimate pathway of X. fastidiosa. The structural models of shikimate pathway enzymes, complexed with inhibitors, strongly indicate that the previously identified inhibitors may also inhibit the X. fastidiosa enzymes. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Production of xylanolytic enzymes by Penicillium janczewskii

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

d(-)-Lactic Acid Production by Leuconostoc mesenteroides B512 Using Different Carbon and Nitrogen Sources

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

The Production of Ligninolytic Enzymes by Marine-Derived Basidiomycetes and Their Biotechnological Potential in the Biodegradation of Recalcitrant Pollutants and the Treatment of Textile Effluents

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

Response surface optimization of D(-)-lactic acid production by Lactobacillus SMI8 using corn steep liquor and yeast autolysate as an alternative nitrogen source

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