Estirpes de Leveduras Assimiladoras de Fontes de Carbono para Produção de Etanoll

Nas etapas fermentativas destinadas a produção de etanol, observa-se o desenvolvimento de diversos contaminantes, dentre elas as leveduras selvagens, que muitas vezes comprometem a produtividade e qualidade do produto final. Desta forma, o trabalho objetivou caracterizar, classificar e determinar marcadores genéticos-moleculares para 5 estirpes de leveduras (C69, C128, C271, CAT e Saccharomyces cerevisiae). A avaliação envolveu a determinação da assimilação de fonte de carbono e técnica de RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA). Os resultados obtidos através dos testes de assimilação de fontes de carbono são importantes para diferenciação e caracterização de leveduras. Sendo, as leveduras C69,C128 e C271 com habilidade para desdobrar xilose como fonte de carbono. A técnica de RAPD obteve dois primers sozinhos não sendo suficientes para a geração de 100 bandas polimórficas para a população, levando-se em conta os resultados do tratamento 2 de 50ng: que pelo polimorfismo gerado pode-se discriminar três grupos principais e distintos: a amostra três sozinha, porém que ocupa uma similaridade com o grupo formado pelo controle e a estirpe 4, e por último o grupo formado pelas amostras 1 e 2, separados do anterior.

Effects of probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri strains of breast-fed infant in a murine model

The ingestion of probiotic lactic acid bacteria has been evaluated and noted that it has an effect on the balance of desirable microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract. Lactobacillus gasseri demonstrates good survival in the gastrointestinal tract, and it has been associated with a variety of probiotic activities and roles, including the reduction of fecal mutagenic enzymes, the production of bacteriocins and the stimulation of macrophages immunomodulation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a pool of L. gasseri strains isolated from the feces of breastfed infants added in the human milk of healthy women. The milk was both pasteurized and unpasteurized, to verify the cell cytotoxicity of macrophages and to quantify the production of immunologic mediators such as IL-4, IL-6, IFN-g, TNF-a, NO and oxygen intermediary compounds (H2O2). The administration of raw human milk and pasteurized human milk to infants is a regular, encouraged practice in units of intensive therapy (UITs) and our present investigation verified the beneficial effect of addition of a pool of L. gasseri to pasteurized human milk (PHML). Our results show that probiotic supplementation helped to maintain cell viability, reduced IL-6 and IFN-γ production and stimulated TNF-α, NO, H2O2, IL-4 production. Nevertheless, the results indicate that the addition of lactobacillus to human milk was not a determinant in the production of TNF-α. L. gasseri added to breast milk did not present a cytotoxic risk, and the addition of L. gasseri to pasteurized milk of human milk bank would benefit newborns that depend on milk banks for the colonization of more desirable microbiota.

Insights into the swelling process and drug release mechanisms from cross-linked pectin/high amylose starch matrices

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Chitosan/Carbomer-based tablets containing Metronidazole for potential treatment of periodontal diseases

Mucoadhesive tablets with different mixtures of chitosan and carbomer homopolymer type B were prepared in order to obtain new formulations containing metronidazole for periodontal disease treatment. All tablets were characterized by swelling and erosion studies, ex vivo mucoadhesion force and in vitro drug release. The drug released mechanism was described by Korsmeyer-Peppas and Weibull models. Tablets containing increased amounts of chitosan presented higher swelling ability and the drug release was prolonged in the simulated saliva fluid. The mechanisms for the drug release from tablets were complex, including diffusion, swelling and erosion simultaneously. This kind of delivery system is suitable for formulating metronidazole mucoadhesive systems, representing a good alternative for the local treatment of periodontal diseases.

Avaliação sazonal de alguns parâmetros indicadores da qualidade de água no reservatório da usina hidrelétrica de Ilha Solteira-SP, Brasil

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

Osteologia craniana comparada de Caracara cheriway (Jacquin, 1784) e Caracara plancus (Miller, 1777) (AVES: FALCONIDAE)

The Caracara genus (Aves: Falconidae) is composed by species C. cheriway, ("Crested Caracara"), and C. plancus (Southern Caracara). This study aimed to describe in detail and compared the cranial osteology of C. cheriway and C. plancus, identifying osteological cranial characters for a future systematic work. The two common characters of Caracara species are: the projection of rostro parasphenoid reaches 50% of the distance from the occipital condyle to the pterygoid; the upper maxilla has about 4/9 of the total length of theskull, the symphysial portion of mandible occupies about 1/7 of its total length, the proximal portion of lacrimal bone ends in a rounded shape and has about 1/4 of the width of the distal portion. The unique characters of C. cheriway are: the interorbital width is about 1/2 of the parietal region, shows a frontal bone prominence; presence of lacrimal process of frontal bone; the proximal portion of the lacrimal bone reaches 1/5 of the distance from the orbital arc to the jugal bone; the distance between the distal portions of two lacrimal bones reach 5/6 of the parietal width, the ratio between the interorbital diameter and parietal region ranges from 2 times; the zygomatic process occupies about 40% of the distance between its origin in the skull and jugal bone. The unique characters of C. plancus are: the interorbital width is approximately 4/7 of the parietal width; show a rostral medial concavity; the proximal portion of the lacrimal bone is about 1/4 of the width of the distal; the proximal portion of the lacrimal bone reaches 1/7 of the distance from the orbital arc to the jugal bone; the distance between the distal portions of two lacrimal bones reaches 6/7 of the width parietal one; the ratio between the interorbital diameter and parietal region varies 1, 75 times, the zygomatic process occupies about 35% of the distance between its origin in the skull and jugal bone.

Rochas calciossilicáticas e feldspáticas na região de Castro Alves e Rafael Jambeiro (BA)

The towns of Castro Alves and Rafael Jambeiro, central-east of Bahia state, are located in the east of São Francisco Craton, in granulite terrains of Salvador-Curaçá Belt, formed in Paleoproterozoic. The region of study contains ortognaisses of Caraíba Complex, metamafic and metaultramafic rocks of São José do Jacuípe Suite, metasedimentary rocks of Tanque Novo-Ipirá Complex, granitoids, pegmatites and alkaline rocks. The study carried out regional and detailed geological mapping in addition to petrographical and geochemical characterization of six areas in the search for targets of feldspar and white diopside, minerals used in ceramic industry. The areas consist of granitic ortognaisses interspersed with lenses of mafic granulite rocks, calc-silicate rock, banded iron formations, paragnaisses, quartzites, and bodies of quartz-feldspar or feldspar pegmatites and alkaline rocks that fill discontinuities. The region of study contains four deformations phases, with a predominance of ductile structures. The foliation Sn has N30E to N70W direction, high angle of dip and is characterized by compositional banding of granoblastic and felsic bands interspersed with nematoblastic or lepidoblastic mafic bands. A mineral or stretching lineation Ln is associated with Sn and has trend of S55E to S72E. The rocks have been suffered a regional metamorphism with granulite facies peak and partial retrogression to greenschist facies. Geochemical studies indicate that the green coloring calc-silicate rocks have lower SiO2, MgO and higher Fe2O3 content compared with white calcssilicate rocks. The alkaline rocks of the studied area have higher Na2O, SiO2 and lower K2O, Fe2O3 content compared with others Paleoproterozoic alkaline rocks of Bahia state. The targets of diopside are associated with white calc-silicate rocks, while the targets of feldspar are associated with paragnaisses, pegmatites and alkaline rocks

Tumor venéreo transmissível canino - I. Expressão gênica e proteica e caracterização genotípica de DLADQA-1 (MHC-II); II. Estudo imuno-histoquímico da resposta imune local

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Heitor Ferreira Lima e a industrialização do Brasil

Pós-graduação em Ciências Sociais - FFC

Ilhas de facilitação no Parque Estadual de Porto Ferreira, SP

Novas pesquisas apontam que as interações positivas e o processo de facilitação sobre a comunidade tem fornecido importantes conhecimentos sobre a ecologia de diversas espécies no mundo. Existe uma carência de informações sobre quais as espécies interferem nos mecanismos facilitadores que conduzem a regeneração natural da vegetação e a atual necessidade de identificar estratégias de conservação, manejo sustentável e recuperação ambiental em ambientes tropicais. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar quais são as espécies arbóreas que facilitam o aumento da riqueza e abundância de outras espécies arbóreas/arbustivas regenerantes sob suas copas numa antiga área de pastagem no Parque Estadual de Porto Ferreira - SP. Foram selecionadas 42 árvores isoladas que foram chamadas de matrizes. Destas matrizes foram feitas 42 parcelas cirulares na qual cada matriz teve duas subparcelas: a Área da Influência (Ai) e a Área do Entorno (Ae), totalizando 84 unidades amostrais. Para cada matriz, nestas unidades amostrais foram incluídos todos os indivíduos arbustivos e arbóreos com altura superior a 1,3 metros de altura. Foram analisadas a florística, fitossociologia e distribuição da abundância das espécies regenerantes. J�� para as espécies das matrizes foram analisadas seis diferentes atributos, divididos em dendrométicos e funcionais para entender como elas influênciam a riqueza e abundância das espécies regenerantes. Em Ai e Ae foram indentificados 883 indivíduos distríbuidos em 28 famílias, 49 gêneros, totalizando 64 espécies em uma área total de 3.028 m³. Em Ai foram intentificados 775 inividuos em uma área total de 1.346 m³, com a mesma composição florística citada acima. As espécies Dimorphandra mollis, Qualea grandiflora, Byrsonima intermedia e Aegiphila lhotzkiana são indicadas aqui neste trabalho como as melhores facilitadoras, por serem decíduas e, por possuírem copas amplas...

Ilhas de facilitação no Parque Estadual de Porto Ferreira, SP

Novas pesquisas apontam que as interações positivas e o processo de facilitação sobre a comunidade tem fornecido importantes conhecimentos sobre a ecologia de diversas espécies no mundo. Existe uma carência de informações sobre quais as espécies interferem nos mecanismos facilitadores que conduzem a regeneração natural da vegetação e a atual necessidade de identificar estratégias de conservação, manejo sustentável e recuperação ambiental em ambientes tropicais. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar quais são as espécies arbóreas que facilitam o aumento da riqueza e abundância de outras espécies arbóreas/arbustivas regenerantes sob suas copas numa antiga área de pastagem no Parque Estadual de Porto Ferreira - SP. Foram selecionadas 42 árvores isoladas que foram chamadas de matrizes. Destas matrizes foram feitas 42 parcelas cirulares na qual cada matriz teve duas subparcelas: a Área da Influência (Ai) e a Área do Entorno (Ae), totalizando 84 unidades amostrais. Para cada matriz, nestas unidades amostrais foram incluídos todos os indivíduos arbustivos e arbóreos com altura superior a 1,3 metros de altura. Foram analisadas a florística, fitossociologia e distribuição da abundância das espécies regenerantes. J�� para as espécies das matrizes foram analisadas seis diferentes atributos, divididos em dendrométicos e funcionais para entender como elas influênciam a riqueza e abundância das espécies regenerantes. Em Ai e Ae foram indentificados 883 indivíduos distríbuidos em 28 famílias, 49 gêneros, totalizando 64 espécies em uma área total de 3.028 m³. Em Ai foram intentificados 775 inividuos em uma área total de 1.346 m³, com a mesma composição florística citada acima. As espécies Dimorphandra mollis, Qualea grandiflora, Byrsonima intermedia e Aegiphila lhotzkiana são indicadas aqui neste trabalho como as melhores facilitadoras, por serem decíduas e, por possuírem copas amplas...

Podochela meloi Sankarankutty, Ferreira & Cunha, 2001, a junior synonym of the spider crab Inachoides forceps A. Milne-Edwards, 1879 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Inachoididae)

Podochela meloi Sankarankutty, Ferreira & Cunha, 2001, originally described in the Inachidae MacLeay, 1838, was recently transferred to the Inachoididae genus Inachoides H. Milne Edwards & Lucas, 1842, based upon overall similarities. Placement of P. meloi in both Inachoididae and Inachoides is found to be supported by a number of synapomorphies as shown herein. Podochela meloi is shown to be a junior synonym of Inachoides forceps A. Milne-Edwards, 1879.

Up-regulation of fas and fasL pro-apoptotic genes expression in type 1 diabetes patients after autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by T cell-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells, resulting in insulin deficiency and hyperglycaemia. Recent studies have described that apoptosis impairment during central and peripheral tolerance is involved in T1D pathogenesis. In this study, the apoptosis-related gene expression in T1D patients was evaluated before and after treatment with high-dose immunosuppression followed by autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HDI-AHSCT). We also correlated gene expression results with clinical response to HDI-AHSCT. We observed a decreased expression of bad, bax and fasL pro-apoptotic genes and an increased expression of a1, bcl-xL and cIAP-2 anti-apoptotic genes in patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) compared to controls. After HDI-AHSCT, we found an up-regulation of fas and fasL and a down-regulation of anti-apoptotic bcl-xL genes expression in post-HDI-AHSCT periods compared to pre-transplantation. Additionally, the levels of bad, bax, bok, fasL, bcl-xL and cIAP-1 genes expression were found similar to controls 2 years after HDI-AHSCT. Furthermore, over-expression of pro-apoptotic noxa at 540 days post-HDI-AHSCT correlated positively with insulin-free patients and conversely with glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GAD65) autoantibody levels. Taken together, the results suggest that apoptosis-related genes deregulation in patients' PBMCs might be involved in breakdown of immune tolerance and consequently contribute to T1D pathogenesis. Furthermore, HDI-AHSCT modulated the expression of some apoptotic genes towards the levels similar to controls. Possibly, the expression of these apoptotic molecules could be applied as biomarkers of clinical remission of T1D patients treated with HDI-AHSCT therapy.

Interaction between toxigenic fungi and weevils in corn grain samples

This study investigated the ability of weevils to transmit Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides fungal spores and the consequent production of mycotoxins. For this purpose, corn grain samples were stored in flasks connected to a hose to form a closed system (flasks A and B). Flasks A were inoculated with the following groups: group 1 (corn + weevil); group 2 (corn + A. flavus); group 3 (corn + A. flavus + weevil); group 4 (corn + F. verticillioides); group 5 (corn + E verticillioides + weevil), and group 6 (corn + A. flavus + E verticillioides + weevil). Flasks B contained sterile grains. The samples were incubated for 10, 20 and 30 days, posteriorly, weight, water activity, mycoflora, aflatoxins and fumonisins. The corn grain samples were also submitted to scanning electron microscopy. Our results showed that weevils could enhance corn grains contamination by these fungi, hence, could increase mycotoxins production. These findings demonstrate the importance of weevils as fungal vectors and the need for good manipulation and storage practices of grains. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Probing the Enamel Topography After Acid Erosion by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

In this work, we present an investigation on the thickness of the eroded enamel layer in tooth samples after exposure to citric and hydrochloric acid by using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM). Approaching curves with typical negative feedback behavior were obtained in enamel samples for evaluation of topographic changes. In a control experiment, SECM images showed no significant difference in the current monitored during the scan, implying that enamel demineralization did not occur in mineral water medium. Topographic SECM images obtained after contact with citric and hydrochloric acid for different periods of time showed a significant increase in the current relative to a previously protected surface, indicating the structural loss of enamel. The thickness of the enamel layer eroded after contact with hydrochloric acid was significantly higher when compared to the one obtained with citric acid. Hence, our results showed that the enamel acid erosion is a relatively fast process, which is strongly dependent on parameters such as pH, time, acid strength and acid concentration.