Candida heliconiae sp nov., Candida picinguabensis sp nov and Candida saopaulonensis sp nov., three ascomycetous yeasts from Heliconia velloziana (Heliconiaceae)

Strains belonging to three novel yeast species, Candida heliconiae (four isolates), Candida picinguabensis (three isolates) and Candida saopaulonensis (two isolates), were recovered in the year 2000 from water of flower bracts of Heliconia velloziana L. Emigd. (Heliconiaceae) found in a forest ecosystem site in an Atlantic rainforest of south-eastern Brazil. C. picinguabensis and C. saopaulonensis were nearly identical in morphology and physiology, but sequence divergence in the D1/D2 domain of the large-subunit rDNA indicated that they should be regarded as different species. They belong to the Metschnikowiaceae clade. C. heliconiae had affinities to Pichia mexicana and related species, but was genetically isolated from all currently accepted species in that group. The type strains are C. heliconiae UNESP 00-91 C1(T) (= CBS 10000(T) = NRRL Y-27813(T)), C. picinguabensis UNESP 00-89(T) (= CBS 9999(T) = NRRL Y-27814(T)) and C. saopaulonensis UNESP 00-99(T) (=CBS 10001(T) = NRRL Y-27815(T)).

Candida golubevii sp nov., an asexual yeast related to Metschnikowia lunata

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Asymmetric microbial reduction of ketones: absolute configuration of trans-4-ethyl-1-(1S-hydroxyethyl)cyclohexanol

A set of five fungal species, Botrytis cinerea, Trichoderma viride and Eutypa lata, and the endophytic fungi Colletotrichum crassipes and Xylaria sp., was used in screening for microbial biocatalysts to detect monooxygenase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities (for the stereoselective reduction of carbonyl compounds). 4-Ethylcyclohexanone and acetophenone were biotransformed by the fungal set. The main reaction pathways involved reduction and hydroxylations at several positions including tertiary carbons. B. cinerea was very effective in the bioreduction of both substrates leading to the chiral alcohol (S)-1-phenylethanol in up to 90% enantiomeric excess, and the cis-trans ratio for 4-ethylcyclohexanol was 0:100. trans-4-Ethyl-1-(1S-hydroxyethyl)cyclohexanol, obtained from biotransformation by means of an acyloin-type reaction, is reported here for the first time. The absolute configurations of the compounds trans-4-ethyl-1-(1S-hydroxyethyl)cyclohexanol and 4-(1S- and 4-(1R-hydroxyethyl)cyclohexanone were determined by NMR analysis of the corresponding Mosher's esters. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Efeito da solarização e do brometo de metila sobre a comunidade de fungos do solo

A microbiota do solo é de grande importância no desenvolvimento de culturas. Os métodos de controle, químico (brometo de metila) e físico (solarização), alteram essa microbiota. O presente trabalho objetivou estudar o comportamento da comunidade de fungos em solo solarizado e fumigado (brometo de metila). O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, com três tratamentos (solarização, brometo de metila e testemunha) e sete repetições. A comunidade de fungos do solo foi avaliada de forma quantitativa e qualitativa, em três momentos (antes, durante e após a solarização) com amostras coletadas de três profundidades (0-5; 10-15 e 20-25 cm). Durante a solarização ocorreu uma redução na comunidade de fungos do solo, em termos quantitativos, em todas as camadas amostradas. No entanto, essa diminuição foi mais significativa na camada superficial (0-5cm). em termos qualitativos, a solarização reduziu também o número de diferentes espécies de fungos do solo, mas na camada de 20-25 cm, essa diminuição foi a zero aos 56 dias de avaliação. A recolonização da microbiota do solo, em termos quantitativos, foi maior no tratamento com brometo de metila do que nos demais. Entretanto, esse aumento não foi o mesmo em termos qualitativos. Nos tratamentos solarizado e testemunha, o aumento na comunidade de fungos do solo foi acompanhado pela diversificação de espécies fúngicas.

Qualidade sanitária e germinação de sementes de pinhão-manso

O pinhão-manso é uma espécie arbustiva que está se destacando pelo interesse para produção de biocombustível, porém, os estudos sobre controle de qualidade das sementes estão se iniciando. Neste trabalho objetivou-se estudar o efeito da temperatura e do tempo de contagem na germinação de sementes de pinhão-manso, conduzido em papel toalha bem como avaliar a qualidade sanitária das sementes, desinfestadas ou não com hipoclorito de sódio, a 2%. O estudo foi conduzido, com sementes de pinhão-manso extraídas de frutos maduros, coletados na planta. O teste de germinação foi conduzido nas temperaturas de 25 ºC e alternadas de 20-30 ºC, com contagens aos 6, 9 e 12 dias. O teste de sanidade foi conduzido a 20 ºC com fotoperíodo de 12 h por 7 dias. Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições e empregado o teste F na análise de variância dos dados de germinação e do índice de velocidade de germinação. As médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. O potencial máximo de germinação das sementes de pinhão-manso foi obtido na temperatura de 25 ºC, com contagens aos seis, nove e 12 dias, entretanto não apresentou diferença significativa com as temperaturas de 20-30 ºC, nas contagens aos 9 e 12 dias. As sementes de pinhão-manso analisadas apresentaram alta frequência de espécies fúngicas, independente da desinfestação superficial. A incidência de fungos em ordem decrescente foi dos gêneros: Alternaria, Macrophomina, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Pestalotiopsis, Phoma, Helminthosporium, Epicocum e Nigrospora a maioria destes fungos apresenta potencial patogênico.

Variability of non-mutualistic filamentous fungi associated with Atta sexdens rubropilosa nests

A survey of the filamentous fungi other than the symbiotic one found in association with Atta sexdens rubropilosa colonies was carried out. Different fungal species (27 taxa) were isolated a few days after treating the workers with toxic baits (sulfluramid; Mirex-SO), from 40 laboratory and 20 field nests. Syncephalastrum racemosum (54 %) and Escovopsis weberi (21 %), Trichoderma harzianum (38 %) and Fusarium oxysporum (23 %) were the prevalent species in laboratory and field nests, respectively. Acremonium kiliense, Acremonium strictum, E. weberi, F oxisporum, Fusarium solani, Moniliella silaveolens and T harzianum were found in both nests' groups. We revealed that many filamentous fungi can co-exist in a dormant state inside the nests of these insects and some of them appear to be tightly associated with this environment.

Chemical structure, surface properties and biological activities of the biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI from soapstock

Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil produced rhamnolipids (RLLBI) when cultivated on soapstock as the sole carbon source. HPLC-MS analysis of the purified culture supernatant identified 6 RL homologues (%): R-2 C-10 C-10 28.9; R-2 C-10 C-12:1 23.0; R-1 C-10 C-10 23.4; R-2 C-10 C-12 11.3; R-2 C-10 C-12 7.9; R-2 C-10 C-12 C-12 5.5. To assess the potential antimicrobial activity of the new rhamnolipid product, RLLBI, its physicochemical properties were studied. RLLBI had a surface tension of 24 mN m(-1) and an interfacial tension 1.31 mN m(-1); the cmc was 120 mg l(-1). RLLBI produced stable emulsions with hydrocarbons and vegetable oils. This product showed good antimicrobial behaviour against bacteria: MIC for Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus vulgaris was 8 mg l(-1), for Streptococcus faecalis 4 mg l(-1), and for Pseudomonas aeruginosa 32 mg l(-1). RLLBI was active against phytopathogenic fungal species, MIC values of 32 mg l(-1) being found against Penicillium, Alternaria, Gliocadium virens and Chaetonium globosum. Due to its physicochemical properties and antimicrobial behaviour, RLLBI could be used in bioremediation treatment and in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Desenvolvimentos da biopolpação no Brasil

Biopulping is a technology which application can be advantageous to mechanical or chemical pulping. It presents benefits such as the creation of stronger pulp, as well as energy or chemicals savings. This paper gives an overview of the recent efforts to develop biopulping processes in Brazil as well as provides critical information on biopulping development worldwide. Eucalyptus grandis wood chips have been biotreated by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora in a 50-ton biopulping pilot-plant and used to produce TMP and CTMP pulps on a mill scale, Up to 18% and 27% energy savings have been observed for producing 450-470 CSFreeness TMP and CTMP pulps. Despite darker bio-TMP pulps are produced, one-stage bleaching with 5% H2O2 was sufficient to improve brightness values to 70% and 72% for bio-TMP and control pulps, respectively. Understanding biopulping mechanisms is also relevant because more resistant and competitive fungal species could be selected with basis on a function-directed screen-ing project. As far as the chemical changes induced by the fungus in wood are concerned, recent efforts have pointed out for two different types of wood transformations. One of them involves intense lignin depolymerization in short biotreatment periods, while the other indicates that esterification reactions of oxalate secreted by the Jungas on the polysaccharides chains increase the water saturation point of the fibers. Both transformations are expected to affect the fiber-fiber bonding and, consequently, the physical resistance of wood.

Filamentous fungi vectored by ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a public hospital in north-eastern Brazil

Background: The increase in opportunistic fungal infections has led to the search for putative sources of contamination in hospital environments. Aim: Ants in a public hospital in Itabuna, north-eastern Brazil were examined for carriage of filamentous fungi. Methods: During a year-long survey, ants from different hospital areas were sampled. Preference was given to locations where it was possible to observe ants actively foraging. The fungi found on the ants' integument were cultured and identified. Findings: A total of 106 ant workers belonging to 12 species in 11 genera were collected. A total of 47 fungal strains was isolated from 40% of the ants (. N = 42). We found 16 fungal species in 13 genera associated with the ant workers. The prevalent fungal genera were . Aspergillus, . Purpureocillium and . Fusarium. The ants . Tapinoma melanocephalum, . Paratrechina longicornis and . Pheidole megacephala were associated with six fungal genera; and four genera of fungi were associated with . Solenopsis saevissima workers. Fungal diversity was higher in the following hospital areas: nursery, hospital beds, breastmilk bank and paediatrics. Conclusion: Ants act as carriers of soil and airborne fungal species, and ant control in hospital areas is necessary to prevent the dissemination of such micro-organisms. © 2012 The Healthcare Infection Society.

Descrição da diversidade de fungos associados a formigas Attini por método independente de cultivo

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

Estudo da hidrólise do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar por fungos filamentosos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Água de soluções alternativas: estudo da diversidade de espécies fúngicas

Pós-graduação em Microbiologia - IBILCE

Biodegradação de filmes de PVC e PCL por fungos filamentosos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito dos extratos obtidos de Swartzia argentea Spruce ex Benth., S. laevicarpa Amshoff, S. panacoco (Aublet) Cowan, S. polyphylla DC. E de S. sericea Vogel da Amazônia Central sobre fungos degradadores de madeira

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Microbiologia Aplicada) - IBRC

Mancha de micosferela em Eucalyptus globulus: características e ascogênese do patógeno, estrutura e composição química foliar

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Proteção de Plantas) - FCA