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Interactions of microorganisms, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, with the metal antimony were studied. Of particular interest was the process of biomethylation. Volatilisation of trimethylantimony from inorganic antimony substrate by mixed inoculum (of environmental source) enrichment cultures was demonstrated to occur. Trimethylantimony was the sole volatile antimony species detected in incubations designed to promote the growth of clostridia, no stibine or other volatile methylated species were detected. Two Clostridium sp. were isolated from environmental enrichment incubations and three characterised Clostridium sp. were demonstrated to possess a biomethylating capability. Up to 21 μg. 1-1 involatile methylantimony species were detected in the culture medium of monoseptic incubations of the characterised Clostridium sp. The relative quantities of involatile mono-, di- and trimethylantimony species produced during the course of the cultivation period is consistent with trimethylantimony oxide being a final product of antimony biomethylation, with monoand dimethylantimony species appearing transiently in the cultures as intermediates of an antimony biomethylation pathway. The fungi Cryptococcus humicolus, Candida boidinii, Candida tropicalis, Geotrichum candidum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were all demonstrated to possess a similar antimony biomethylating capability. Volatile and involatile methylantimony species were detected, with involatile species being the predominant form. Both stibine and trimethylantimony were detected in culture headspace gases of fungal incubations. Levels of trimethylantimony were higher in incubations supplied with antimony III substrate, whilst stibine was the predominant volatile antimony species in incubations supplied with V valency substrate. S. cerevisiae demonstrated the highest stibine generating capability with up to 0.3% substrate being transformed. Regardless of substrate, overall antimony biomethylation efficiency (to both volatile and involatile species) was low, indicating that this biotransformation does not form the primary mode of resistance to the metal. Less than 0.1% of antimony III substrate was biomethylated by C. humicolus, the most productive species in terms of formation of methylantimony compounds. The intracellular accumulation of methylated antimony species further belies the theory that antimony biomethylation constitutes a resistance mechanism. Study of C. humicolus revealed the biomethylation process to be enzymatic and inducible by arsenic but not by antimony. This may indicate that the enzymes of the arsenic biomethylation pathway are the likely biocatalysts for the biomethylation of antimony. The low efficiency of antimony biomethylation indicates that this is most likely a fortuitous process. A number of Gram-positive cocci isolated from soil and sediment were demonstrated to bioreduce antimonate to an unknown inorganic antimony III compound concurrently with lactate oxidation and biomass formation (as measured by protein). Up to 48% of the supplied antimonate was bioreduced. The demonstration of dissimilatory antimonate respiration adds this metal to the increasing list of known "unusual" electron acceptors such as uranium, arsenic, selenium, iron and manganese. These studies reveal some of the microbial interactions of microorganisms with the metal antimony, demonstrating the potential that microorganisms have to contribute to the biogeochemical cycling of antimony through biotransformation processes

Os pesticidas organofosforados são amplamente utilizados na agricultura, pois são muito eficazes no controle de pragas, promovendo um aumento na produtividade dos alimentos. Contudo, sua utilização indiscriminada provoca graves problemas ambientais e para a saúde humana, uma vez que são tóxicos também para as espécies que não são alvos e acumulam grandes quantidades de metabólitos tóxicos, como por exemplo, fenois. Os compostos fenólicos enquadram-se nos resíduos resultantes da degradação de compostos naturais e xenobióticos da atividade antrópica. Este trabalho teve por objetivo estudar as reações de conjugação de fase II em compostos fenólicos derivados da hidrólise de pesticidas organosfosforados (clorpirifós, metil paration e profenofós) e a biotransformação de outros fenois por enzimas provenientes de fungos de ambiente marinho. Primeiramente foi realizado um screening com os fungos de ambiente marinho Aspergillus sydowii CBMAI 934, A. sydowii CBMAI 935, A. sydowii CBMAI 1241, Penicillium decaturense CBMAI 1234, P. raistrickii CBMAI 931, P. raistrickii CBMAI 1235 e Trichoderma sp. CBMAI 932 para avaliar a resistência destes microrganismos frente à toxicidade dos pesticidas organofosforados para posterior escolha da cepa mais resistente e melhor adaptada aos pesticidas testados nesse trabalho. O fungo selecionado para as reações em meio líquido de malte 2%, que melhor adaptou-se na presença dos pesticidas testados foi a cepa do fungo A. sydowii CBMAI 935. Foram realizadas curvas analíticas com o objetivo de estimar a extensão da biodegradação dos pesticidas clorpirifós, metil paration, profenofós e seus respectivos produtos de hidrólise, os fenois 3,5,6-tricloro-2-piridinol, 4-nitrofenol e 4-bromo-2-clorofenol, respectivamente. As reações de biotransformação em meio líquido de malte 2% foram avaliadas com 10, 20, 30 d de reação com concentração inicial dos pesticidas organofosforados de 50 mg.L-1. Todos os metabólitos encontrados nas reações de biotransformação dos pesticidas organofosforados com o fungo A. sydowii CBMAI 935 foram comparados com os seus padrões analíticos e sintéticos (metilação) com o objetivo de corroborar as reações de bioconjugação. Através deste estudo foi possível sugerir a presença de enzimas fosfotriesterases e enzimas metiltransferases provenientes do fungo A. sydowii CBMAI 935. Enzimas que promoveram a hidrólise e metilação dos pesticidas e compostos fenólicos testados nesse trabalho. Segundo a literatura, as reações de biotransforrmação e bioconjugação dos pesticidas orgafosforados, diminuem consideravelmente a toxicidade desses compostos recalcitrantes. / Organophosphate pesticides are widely used in agriculture, as they are very effective in pest control, promoting an increase in productivity of food. However, indiscriminate use causes serious problems environmental and for human health, since they are also toxic to non-target species and accumulate large amounts of toxic metabolites, such as phenols. Phenolic compounds are part of the waste resulting from the degradation of natural compounds and xenobiotics of human activity. This work aimed to study the phase II conjugation reactions in phenolic compounds derived from hydrolysis of pesticides organophosphates (chlorpyrifos, methyl parathion and profenofos) and the biotransformation of other phenols for enzymes from marine environment fungi. First was conducted a screening with the marine environment fungi. Aspergillus sydowii CBMAI 934, A. sydowii CBMAI 935, A. sydowii CBMAI 1241, Penicillium decaturense CBMAI 1234, P. raistrickii CBMAI 931, P. raistrickii CBMAI 1235 and Trichoderma sp. CBMAI 932 to evaluate the resistance of these microorganisms front the toxicity of organophosphate pesticides to later choose the most resistant strain and better adapted to pesticides tested in this work. The fungus selected to the reactions in liquid medium 2% malt, which best adapted in the presence of the pesticide tested was the fungal strain of A. sydowii CBMAI 935. Standard curves were performed in order to estimate the extent of biodegradation of pesticides chlorpyrifos, methyl parathion, profenofos and their hydrolysis products, phenols 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, 4-nitrophenol and 4-bromo- 2-chlorophenol, respectively. The biotransformation reactions in liquid medium 2% malt were evaluated in 10, 20, 30 days reaction of with initial concentration of organophosphate pesticides of 50 mg.L-1. All metabolites found in the biotransformation reactions of organophosphate pesticides with the fungus A. sydowii CBMAI 935 were compared with their synthetic and analytical standards (methylation) in order to corroborate the bioconjugation reactions. Through this study was possible suggest the presence of enzymes phosphotriestesterases and methyltransferases from fungus A. sydowii CBMAI 935. Enzymes that promote hydrolysis and methylation of pesticides and phenolic compounds tested in this work. According to the literature, the reactions of biotransformation and biodegradation of organophosphate pesticides, greatly reduce the toxicity of recalcitrant compounds.

Os pesticidas organofosforados são amplamente utilizados na agricultura, pois são muito eficazes no controle de pragas, promovendo um aumento na produtividade dos alimentos. Contudo, sua utilização indiscriminada provoca graves problemas ambientais e para a saúde humana, uma vez que são tóxicos também para as espécies que não são alvos e acumulam grandes quantidades de metabólitos tóxicos, como por exemplo, fenois. Os compostos fenólicos enquadram-se nos resíduos resultantes da degradação de compostos naturais e xenobióticos da atividade antrópica. Este trabalho teve por objetivo estudar as reações de conjugação de fase II em compostos fenólicos derivados da hidrólise de pesticidas organosfosforados (clorpirifós, metil paration e profenofós) e a biotransformação de outros fenois por enzimas provenientes de fungos de ambiente marinho. Primeiramente foi realizado um screening com os fungos de ambiente marinho Aspergillus sydowii CBMAI 934, A. sydowii CBMAI 935, A. sydowii CBMAI 1241, Penicillium decaturense CBMAI 1234, P. raistrickii CBMAI 931, P. raistrickii CBMAI 1235 e Trichoderma sp. CBMAI 932 para avaliar a resistência destes microrganismos frente à toxicidade dos pesticidas organofosforados para posterior escolha da cepa mais resistente e melhor adaptada aos pesticidas testados nesse trabalho. O fungo selecionado para as reações em meio líquido de malte 2%, que melhor adaptou-se na presença dos pesticidas testados foi a cepa do fungo A. sydowii CBMAI 935. Foram realizadas curvas analíticas com o objetivo de estimar a extensão da biodegradação dos pesticidas clorpirifós, metil paration, profenofós e seus respectivos produtos de hidrólise, os fenois 3,5,6-tricloro-2-piridinol, 4-nitrofenol e 4-bromo-2-clorofenol, respectivamente. As reações de biotransformação em meio líquido de malte 2% foram avaliadas com 10, 20, 30 d de reação com concentração inicial dos pesticidas organofosforados de 50 mg.L-1. Todos os metabólitos encontrados nas reações de biotransformação dos pesticidas organofosforados com o fungo A. sydowii CBMAI 935 foram comparados com os seus padrões analíticos e sintéticos (metilação) com o objetivo de corroborar as reações de bioconjugação. Através deste estudo foi possível sugerir a presença de enzimas fosfotriesterases e enzimas metiltransferases provenientes do fungo A. sydowii CBMAI 935. Enzimas que promoveram a hidrólise e metilação dos pesticidas e compostos fenólicos testados nesse trabalho. Segundo a literatura, as reações de biotransforrmação e bioconjugação dos pesticidas orgafosforados, diminuem consideravelmente a toxicidade desses compostos recalcitrantes. / Organophosphate pesticides are widely used in agriculture, as they are very effective in pest control, promoting an increase in productivity of food. However, indiscriminate use causes serious problems environmental and for human health, since they are also toxic to non-target species and accumulate large amounts of toxic metabolites, such as phenols. Phenolic compounds are part of the waste resulting from the degradation of natural compounds and xenobiotics of human activity. This work aimed to study the phase II conjugation reactions in phenolic compounds derived from hydrolysis of pesticides organophosphates (chlorpyrifos, methyl parathion and profenofos) and the biotransformation of other phenols for enzymes from marine environment fungi. First was conducted a screening with the marine environment fungi. Aspergillus sydowii CBMAI 934, A. sydowii CBMAI 935, A. sydowii CBMAI 1241, Penicillium decaturense CBMAI 1234, P. raistrickii CBMAI 931, P. raistrickii CBMAI 1235 and Trichoderma sp. CBMAI 932 to evaluate the resistance of these microorganisms front the toxicity of organophosphate pesticides to later choose the most resistant strain and better adapted to pesticides tested in this work. The fungus selected to the reactions in liquid medium 2% malt, which best adapted in the presence of the pesticide tested was the fungal strain of A. sydowii CBMAI 935. Standard curves were performed in order to estimate the extent of biodegradation of pesticides chlorpyrifos, methyl parathion, profenofos and their hydrolysis products, phenols 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, 4-nitrophenol and 4-bromo- 2-chlorophenol, respectively. The biotransformation reactions in liquid medium 2% malt were evaluated in 10, 20, 30 days reaction of with initial concentration of organophosphate pesticides of 50 mg.L-1. All metabolites found in the biotransformation reactions of organophosphate pesticides with the fungus A. sydowii CBMAI 935 were compared with their synthetic and analytical standards (methylation) in order to corroborate the bioconjugation reactions. Through this study was possible suggest the presence of enzymes phosphotriestesterases and methyltransferases from fungus A. sydowii CBMAI 935. Enzymes that promote hydrolysis and methylation of pesticides and phenolic compounds tested in this work. According to the literature, the reactions of biotransformation and biodegradation of organophosphate pesticides, greatly reduce the toxicity of recalcitrant compounds.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The diphenyl ditelluride (PhTe)2 is one of the most toxic organic compounds of tellurium which can make their use unsafe. The mechanism(s) involved in (PhTe)2 toxicity is(are) elusive, but thiol oxidation of critical proteins are important targets. Consequently, the possible remedy of its toxicity by thiol-containing compounds is of experimental and clinical interest. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of in vivo exposure to (PhTe)2 from oxidative stress biomarkers and behavioral parameters in adult mice and the possible protective effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC). They evaluated parameters of oxidative stress and behavior in mice. In order to alleviate the toxicity, NAC was administered before (3 days) and simultaneously (PhTe)2 (7 days). Mice were separated into six groups receiving daily injections of (1) Potassium phosphate buffer (TFK) (2.5 ml/kg, intraperitonealy (i.p.)) plus canola oil (10 ml/kg, subcutaneously (s.c.)), (2) NAC (100 mg/kg, i.p.) plus canola oil s.c., (3) TFK i.p. plus (PhTe)2 (10 μmol/kg, s.c.), (4) TFK i.p. plus (PhTe)2 (50 μmol/kg, s.c.), (5) NAC plus (PhTe)2 (10 μmol/kg, s.c.), and (6) NAC plus (PhTe)2 (50 μmol/kg, s.c.). Treatment with (PhtE) started on day 2 of treatment with NAC. The results demonstrate that (PhTe)2 induced behavioral changes in locomotor activity at a concentration of 50 μmol/kg and NAC did not change the effect of (PhTe)2. Motor coordination and lift the bar were compromised and both showed severe motor abnormalities in test animals independent of concentration of (PhTe)2 . The (PhTe)2 also inhibited important selenoenzymes, thioredoxin reductase (at concentrations of 10 μmol/kg and 50 μmol/kg) and glutathione peroxidase (at concentration of 10 μmol/kg) but produced little or no effect on the antioxidant activity of catalase and glutathione reductase. Contrary to expectation, the co-administration of NAC did not protect against deleterious effects (PhTe)2. It was possible to establish high sensitivity of brain tissue compared to the damage (PhTe)2. Other low molecular weight thiols must be investigated to determine whether they may or may not be effective against ditellurides. / O ditelureto de difenila (PhTe)2 é um dos compostos orgânicos de telúrio mais tóxicos, o que pode tornar seu emprego pouco seguro. O mecanismo envolvido na toxicidade do (PhTe)2 ainda é incerto, mas a oxidação de tióis em proteínas são alvos importantes. A partir disso, compostos contendo tiol possívelmente poderiam solucionar ou minimizar a sua toxicidade. Portanto, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a toxicidade da exposição in vivo ao (PhTe)2 a partir de biomarcadores de estresse oxidativo e parâmetros comportamentais em camundongos adultos e o possível efeito protetor da N-acetilcisteína (NAC). Foram avaliados parâmetros de estresse oxidativo e comportamentais em camundongos. A fim de mitigar a toxicidade, foi administrado NAC antes (3 dias) e, simultaneamente ao (PhTe)2 (7 dias). Os camundongos foram separados em seis grupos que receberam injeções diárias de (1) Tampão fosfato de potássio (TFK) (2.5 ml/kg, intraperitonealmente (i.p.)) mais óleo de canola (10 ml/kg, subcutaneamente (s.c.)), (2) NAC (100 mg/kg, i.p.) mais óleo de canola s.c., (3) TFK i.p. mais (PhTe)2 (10 μmol/kg, s.c.), (4) TFK i.p. mais (PhTe)2 (50 μmol/kg, s.c.), (5) NAC mais (PhTe)2 (10 μmol/kg, s.c.), e (6) NAC mais (PhTe)2 (50 μmol/kg, s.c.). O tratamento com (PhTe)2 começou no quarto dia de tratamento com NAC. Os resultados demonstram que (PhTe)2 induziu alterações comportamentais na atividade locomotora na concentração de 50 μmol/kg e a NAC não modificou o efeito do (PhTe)2. A coordenação motora e a força de sustentação na barra foram comprometidas e ambas revelaram alterações motoras graves nos animais testados independente da concentração de (PhTe)2. O (PhTe)2 também inibiu selenoenzimas importantes, tiorredoxina redutase (nas concentrações de 10 μmol/kg e 50 μmol/kg) e glutationa peroxidase (na concentração de 10 μmol/kg), mas produziu mínimo ou nenhum efeito sobre a atividade antioxidante da catalase e glutationa redutase. Contrariamente ao esperado, a co-administração com NAC não protegeu contra os efeitos deletérios do (PhTe)2. Foi possível estabelecer grande sensibilidade do tecido cerebral frente aos danos causados pelo (PhTe)2. Outros tióis de baixo peso molecular devem ser investigados para determinar se eles podem ou não ser eficazes contra diteluretos.