Forty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly placed in five groups with eight rats per group. Each group varied in dietary composition for fiber type and carbohydrate source. Groups one and two received oat fiber and either sucrose or corn starch as the carbohydrate source. Groups three and four received corn bran as the fiber source and either sucrose or corn starch as the carbohydrate source. Group five (considered the control group), received Purina standard rat chow. Analysis of variance showed only significant differences for food intake, and the control group had a significantly higher food intake. Weight gain, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels showed no significant differences.

<div> <div> <div> <p>As a major part of the dietary fiber classification, plant polysaccharides often have chemically complex structures which may differ by genera and species, and perhaps even by genotype and growing environment. Arabinoxylans from cereal cell walls are known to differently impact human gut microbiota composition and fermentation metabolites due to variability in chemical structure, though specificities of structure to these functions are not known at the level of genotype ́ environment. In the first study, corn bran arabinoxylan (CAX) extracted from 4 genotypes ́ 3 growing years at the Purdue Agronomy Farm was compared in human fecal fermentations to test the hypotheses that, 1) CAXs extracted from brans from different corn genotypes and grown over different years (environments) show distinct structures, and 2) these cause differences in gut microbiota response and fermentation metabolites. Monosaccharides and linkage analysis revealed that CAXs had different structures and the differences were genotype-specific, but not significantly due to environment. PCA analysis revealed that both short chain fatty acid production and the microbial community shifted also in a genotype-specific way. Thus, small structural changes, in terms of sugar and linkage compositions, cause significant changes in fermentation response showing very high specificity of structure to gut microbiota function. </p> <p>Insoluble fermentable cell wall matrix fibers have been shown to support beneficial butyrogenic Clostridia, but have restricted use in food products due to their insoluble character.</p></div></div> </div> <div> <div> <div> <p>In the second study, a soluble fiber matrix was developed that exhibited a similar fermentation effect as fermentable insoluble fiber matrices. Low arabinose/xylose ratio CAX was extracted with two concentrations of sodium hydroxide to give soluble polymers with relatively low and high residual ferulic acid (CAX-LFA and CAX-HFA). After laccase treatment to make diferulate crosslinks, soluble matrices were formed with average size of 3.5 to 4.5 mer. In vitro human fecal fermentation of CAX-LFA, CAX-HFA, soluble crosslinked ~3.5 mer CAX-LFA (SCCAX- LFA), and ~4.5 mer SCCAX-HFA revealed that the SCCAX matrices had slower fermentation property and higher butyrate proportion in SCCAX-HFA. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that SCCAX-HFA promoted OTUs associated with butyrate production including Unassigned Ruminococcaceae, Unassigned Blautia, Fecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Unassigned Clostridium. This is the first work showing the fabrication of soluble crosslinked fiber matrices that favors growth of butyrogenic bacteria. </p> <p>Moreover, these same SCCAXs exhibited an interesting gel forming property on simple pH reduction, which is similar in gelling property to low acyl gellan gum, though is differently readily soluble in water. Both of the SCCAXs formed gels at pH 2, with SCCAX-HFA forming the stronger gel. Gels showed shear-thinning behavior and a thermal and pH reversible property. A gel forming mechanism was proposed involving noncovalent crosslinking including hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction among the SCCAX complexes. This mechanism was supported by structural characterization of SCCAX complexes using a Zeta-sizer and FT-IR spectroscopy. SCCAX-HFA could be used in low sugar gels and has the above property of promoting butyrogenic bacteria in the gut. </p> <p>In conclusion, gut microbiota responds differentially to CAXs with various fine structures. This probably due to dietary fiber-gut microbiota relationships have been evolved over time to be highly specific. Forming soluble fiber matrices could be a good strategy to promote butyrogenic bacteria and improve gut health, in a readily usable form in beverages.</p></div></div></div>

A utilização de resíduos da agroindústria na produção de biomoléculas de interesse industrial agrega valor ao produto, por não utilizar meios sintéticos, reduzindo custos totais de produção e promovendo o desenvolvimento de tecnologias mais limpas e sustentáveis. Os exopolissacarídeos, ou simplesmente EPS são polímeros naturais, excretados por algumas espécies de bactérias e fungos. Possuem grande interesse no setor industrial, dado a versatilidade da biomolécula na utilização nas áreas médica, farmacêutica e química apresentando potencial de geração de diversos produtos. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a obtenção do exopolissacarídeo lasiodiplodana utilizando hidrolisados obtidos a partir de subprodutos agrícolas pelo fungo Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Foram realizados Delineamentos Compostos Centrais Rotacionais (DCCR) 22 com três repetições nos pontos centrais para avaliação de condições ótimas de produção de hidrolisados de farelos de arroz e milho com concentrações estimáveis de açúcares totais, açúcares redutores e proteínas totais. Os hidrolisados obtidos foram utilizados em ensaios fermentativos para obtenção da lasiodiplodana em meio de cultivo (LAS-M) e aderida à biomassa celular (LASC), bem como produção de células. Para elaboração dos ensaios foram utilizados DCCR 23 e 22 em hidrolisados de farelos de arroz e milho, respectivamente. As variáveis escolhidas para o DCCR 23 foram pH, volume de meio em frasco e adição de sais suplementares, enquanto o DCCR 22 apresentaram como variáveis o estudo da agitação e temperatura. Os delineamentos estudados geraram diversos modelos significativos para a produção de hidrolisados e obtenção de frações de lasiodiplodana. As frações de LAS-M e LAS-C obtidas foram caracterizadas parcialmente quanto a seus conteúdos de carboidratos e proteínas, sendo também analisadas por espectroscopia de infravermelho (FTIR) e análises cristalográficas de Raios-X. Os hidrolisados de farelo de arroz apresentaram concentrações aproximadas para açúcares totais (40 g/L), açúcares redutores (10 g/L) e proteínas (14 g/L) enquanto o hidrolisado de farelo de milho apresentou 170, 70 e 14 g/L dos respectivos componentes. Os hidrolisados foram tratados e utilizados em ensaios fermentativos apresentando concentrações de LAS-M de 7,8 e 5,73 g/L, LAS-C 4,93 e 3,0 g/L e biomassa celular de 10,68 e 4,47 g/L respectivamente para hidrolisados de farelos de arroz e milho, apresentando consumo dos açúcares totais de 94 e 84%. As frações de lasiodiplodana LAS-M apresentaram em sua composição concentrações de açúcares redutores correspondentes a 83,62 e 92,16%, enquanto as frações LAS-C apresentaram 82,19 e 88,42% para os respectivos hidrolisados. As análises de FTIR e Raios-X demonstraram que os biopolímeros obtidos neste trabalho apresentaram estruturas semelhantes aos citados na literatura. Evidenciou-se que os hidrolisados utilizados nas condições estudadas proporcionaram condições adequadas para o fungo L. theobromae sintetizar o exopolissacarídeo lasiodiplodana. / The utilization of agro-industrial wastes for industrial-interest biomolecules production generates add-value products, reducing total production costs and promoting the development of cleaner and more sustainable technologies. Exopolysaccharides, or simply EPS are natural polymers, excreted by some species of bacteria and fungi. They present a great interest from industrial sector, given the versatility of the biomolecule and its use in medical, pharmaceutical and chemical sectors, generating a diversity of products. The present work had as objective to study the exopolysaccharide lasiodiplodan by fermentation of hydrolysates obtained from agricultural by-products from filamentous fungi Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Rotational Central Compound Designs (DCCR) 22 were performed for the evaluation of optimum conditions for the production of hydrolysates from rice and corn brans with estimated concentrations of total sugars, reducing sugars and total proteins. The optimized hydrolysates were used in fermentative assays for obtaining lasiodiplodan from culture medium (LAS-M) and cell biomass (LAS-C), as well as cell production. For the elaboration of the tests, DCCR 23 and 22 were performed using rice bran and corn bran hydrolysates, respectively. The chosen variables for the DCCR 23 were pH, medium volume in flask and addition of supplemental salts, while the DCCR 22 presented agitation and temperature as variables. The studied designs presented several significant models for the hydrolysates production and its lasiodiplodan fractions. Obtained fractions of LAS-M and LAS-C were partially characterized due to carbohydrate and protein contents, as well as X-ray crystallographic analysis and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy - FTIR. Rice bran hydrolysates presented estimated concentrations for total sugars (40 g / L), reducing sugars (10 g / L) and proteins (14 g / L) while corn bran hydrolysates showed 170, 70 and 14 g / L respectively. Treated rice and corn bran hydrolysates used for fermentative assays presented respective concentrations for LAS-M (7.8 and 5.73 g/L), LAS-C (4.93 and 3.0 g/L) and cellular biomass (10.68 and 4.47 g/L) and total sugar consumption of 94 and 84%, respectively. The lasiodiplodan fractions LAS-M presented reducing sugars compositions of 83.62 and 92.16%, while LAS-C fractions presented 82.19 and 88.42% for rice and corn bran hydrolysates. FTIR and X-ray anlysis showed that the present obtained biopolymers presented similar structures to those mentioned in the literature. It was evidenced that the hydrolysates used under the studied conditions provided adequate conditions for L. theobromae to synthesize the exopolysaccharide lasiodiplodan.

A utilização de resíduos da agroindústria na produção de biomoléculas de interesse industrial agrega valor ao produto, por não utilizar meios sintéticos, reduzindo custos totais de produção e promovendo o desenvolvimento de tecnologias mais limpas e sustentáveis. Os exopolissacarídeos, ou simplesmente EPS são polímeros naturais, excretados por algumas espécies de bactérias e fungos. Possuem grande interesse no setor industrial, dado a versatilidade da biomolécula na utilização nas áreas médica, farmacêutica e química apresentando potencial de geração de diversos produtos. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a obtenção do exopolissacarídeo lasiodiplodana utilizando hidrolisados obtidos a partir de subprodutos agrícolas pelo fungo Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Foram realizados Delineamentos Compostos Centrais Rotacionais (DCCR) 22 com três repetições nos pontos centrais para avaliação de condições ótimas de produção de hidrolisados de farelos de arroz e milho com concentrações estimáveis de açúcares totais, açúcares redutores e proteínas totais. Os hidrolisados obtidos foram utilizados em ensaios fermentativos para obtenção da lasiodiplodana em meio de cultivo (LAS-M) e aderida à biomassa celular (LASC), bem como produção de células. Para elaboração dos ensaios foram utilizados DCCR 23 e 22 em hidrolisados de farelos de arroz e milho, respectivamente. As variáveis escolhidas para o DCCR 23 foram pH, volume de meio em frasco e adição de sais suplementares, enquanto o DCCR 22 apresentaram como variáveis o estudo da agitação e temperatura. Os delineamentos estudados geraram diversos modelos significativos para a produção de hidrolisados e obtenção de frações de lasiodiplodana. As frações de LAS-M e LAS-C obtidas foram caracterizadas parcialmente quanto a seus conteúdos de carboidratos e proteínas, sendo também analisadas por espectroscopia de infravermelho (FTIR) e análises cristalográficas de Raios-X. Os hidrolisados de farelo de arroz apresentaram concentrações aproximadas para açúcares totais (40 g/L), açúcares redutores (10 g/L) e proteínas (14 g/L) enquanto o hidrolisado de farelo de milho apresentou 170, 70 e 14 g/L dos respectivos componentes. Os hidrolisados foram tratados e utilizados em ensaios fermentativos apresentando concentrações de LAS-M de 7,8 e 5,73 g/L, LAS-C 4,93 e 3,0 g/L e biomassa celular de 10,68 e 4,47 g/L respectivamente para hidrolisados de farelos de arroz e milho, apresentando consumo dos açúcares totais de 94 e 84%. As frações de lasiodiplodana LAS-M apresentaram em sua composição concentrações de açúcares redutores correspondentes a 83,62 e 92,16%, enquanto as frações LAS-C apresentaram 82,19 e 88,42% para os respectivos hidrolisados. As análises de FTIR e Raios-X demonstraram que os biopolímeros obtidos neste trabalho apresentaram estruturas semelhantes aos citados na literatura. Evidenciou-se que os hidrolisados utilizados nas condições estudadas proporcionaram condições adequadas para o fungo L. theobromae sintetizar o exopolissacarídeo lasiodiplodana. / The utilization of agro-industrial wastes for industrial-interest biomolecules production generates add-value products, reducing total production costs and promoting the development of cleaner and more sustainable technologies. Exopolysaccharides, or simply EPS are natural polymers, excreted by some species of bacteria and fungi. They present a great interest from industrial sector, given the versatility of the biomolecule and its use in medical, pharmaceutical and chemical sectors, generating a diversity of products. The present work had as objective to study the exopolysaccharide lasiodiplodan by fermentation of hydrolysates obtained from agricultural by-products from filamentous fungi Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Rotational Central Compound Designs (DCCR) 22 were performed for the evaluation of optimum conditions for the production of hydrolysates from rice and corn brans with estimated concentrations of total sugars, reducing sugars and total proteins. The optimized hydrolysates were used in fermentative assays for obtaining lasiodiplodan from culture medium (LAS-M) and cell biomass (LAS-C), as well as cell production. For the elaboration of the tests, DCCR 23 and 22 were performed using rice bran and corn bran hydrolysates, respectively. The chosen variables for the DCCR 23 were pH, medium volume in flask and addition of supplemental salts, while the DCCR 22 presented agitation and temperature as variables. The studied designs presented several significant models for the hydrolysates production and its lasiodiplodan fractions. Obtained fractions of LAS-M and LAS-C were partially characterized due to carbohydrate and protein contents, as well as X-ray crystallographic analysis and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy - FTIR. Rice bran hydrolysates presented estimated concentrations for total sugars (40 g / L), reducing sugars (10 g / L) and proteins (14 g / L) while corn bran hydrolysates showed 170, 70 and 14 g / L respectively. Treated rice and corn bran hydrolysates used for fermentative assays presented respective concentrations for LAS-M (7.8 and 5.73 g/L), LAS-C (4.93 and 3.0 g/L) and cellular biomass (10.68 and 4.47 g/L) and total sugar consumption of 94 and 84%, respectively. The lasiodiplodan fractions LAS-M presented reducing sugars compositions of 83.62 and 92.16%, while LAS-C fractions presented 82.19 and 88.42% for rice and corn bran hydrolysates. FTIR and X-ray anlysis showed that the present obtained biopolymers presented similar structures to those mentioned in the literature. It was evidenced that the hydrolysates used under the studied conditions provided adequate conditions for L. theobromae to synthesize the exopolysaccharide lasiodiplodan.