From June to November 2007, a microscopic analysis was conducted on the activated sludge from eleven selected wastewater treatment plants (WWTP's) belonging to the City of Cape Town. The primary objective was the identification of the dominant and secondary filamentous organisms. Other important criteria included were the floe character, diversity, filament index (Fl) and identification of the protozoan and metazoan communities. The operational data determined from routine analyses of the sludge, influent and effluent were used to assess the relationship of the filamentous population to wastewater characteristics and to compare this with previous findings. Fl values of >3 and dissolved sludge volume indices (DSVI's) of >150 were chosen as representing the possibility of bulking conditions being present. The five most prevalent dominant filaments were Type 0092, Type 1851, actinomycetes, Microthrix parvicella and Type 021N, being present in 74%, 31%, 22%, 17% and 14% of samples respectively. Type 0092 did not appear to be associated with bulking in any of the WWTP's, although it was often incidentally present as a co-dominant species when bulking conditions existed. All three WWTP's with the Modified Ludzack-Ettinger configuration harboured Type 1851 as the major dominant species, irrespective of whether the plants treated domestic or industrial effluent. Conditions suggestive of bulking were present in two of these WWTP's. Contrary to expectations, Type 1851 was often found as a dominant species where domestic waste was the primary influent. Type 021N and actinomycetes were strongly implicated when bulking occurred. The overgrowth of these filaments appeared to be related to factors such as nutrient deficiency (Type 021N) or the presence of large amounts of low molecular weight substances in the influent. Microthrix parvicella did not cause major bulking problems. There was a strong association between low levels of nitrates/nitrites in the clarifier supernatant and good phosphorous removal, irrespective of the configuration of the WWTP. The converse was also true. / Thesis ((M. Environmental Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Autophagie ist ein Degradationsprozess der streng reguliert ist und in welchem eine eukaryotische Zelle zelleigene Organellen und Proteine bei Nährstoffmangel abbaut. Außerdem konnte gezeigt werden, dass dieser Prozess auch in verschiedene Entwicklungsprozesse involviert ist. Die molekulare Entschlüsselung der Autophagie wurde hauptsächlich in der Bäckerhefe S. cerevisiae vorgenommen. Allerdings ist Beteiligung der Autophagie an Entwicklungsprozessen in multizellulären filamentösen Ascomyceten weitestgehend unbekannt. Die Fruchtkörperentwicklung von Pilzen ist ein komplex gestalteter Differenzierungsprozess der von einem zwei-dimensionalem Pilzgeflecht ausgeht das sich zu einem dreidimensionalem Perithezium entwickelt. Die Fruchtkörperentwicklung erfordert spezifische Umgebungsbedingungen und wird durch viele entwicklungsassoziierten Genen reguliert. In dieser Studie diente der Modellorganismus Sordaria macrospora zur Untersuchung des Einflusses der Autophagie auf die Fruchtkörperentwicklung. Der coprophytische filamentöse Ascomycet S. macrospora pflanzt sich lediglich sexuell fort, was ihn ideal für die Fragestellung dieser Arbeit macht. Für diese Arbeit wurden eine Reihe konservierter Autophagie bezogener Gene auserwählt. Folgende Gene die homolog zu denen anderer Ascomyceten sind wurden isoliert: Smvps34, Smvps15, Smatg8, Smatg4, und Smjlb1. Durch die Deletion dieser Gene sollte geklärt werden wie Autophagie in die Fruchtkörperentwicklung involviert ist. Die Deletion des Phospolipidkinase Gens Smvps34 und des Proteinkinase Gens Smvps15 führte zur Lethalität von S. macrospora was durch eine Auskeimungsuntersuchung belegt wurde. Die Deletion des Gens Smatg8, welches eine autophagosomale Strukturkomponente kodiert und des Gens Smatg4, das eine Cystein-Protease kodiert, die SmATG8 prozessiert, beeinträchtigte ebenfalls die Fruchtkörperentwicklung und das vegetative Wachstum. Durch Fluoreszenzmikroskopie konnte gezeigt werden, daß SmATG8 in Autophagosomen lokalisiert und SmATG4 vorwiegend im Zytoplasma lokalisiert ist. Die Prozessierung von SmATG8 durch SmATG4 wurde ebenfalls durch Fluoreszenzmikroskopie und Western-blot Analyse bestätigt. Die heterologe Expression von Smatg8 und Smatg4 in S. cerevisiae und der Ape1 Reifungsuntersuchung zeigte, das die cDNA von Smatg8 und Smatg4 den Deletionsphenotyp der jeweiligen Hefedeletionsmutanten aufheben konnte. Somit konnte die Konservierung dieser beiden Gene innerhalb der Ascomyceten gezeigt werden. Die Blockade der Fruchtköperentwicklung wurde durch die Deletion des bZIP Transkriptionsfaktor Gens Smjlb1 verursacht genauso wie die Beeinträchtigung des vegetativen Wachstums. SmJLB1 ist im Kern lokalisiert und durch qRT-PCR Experimente wurde gezeigt, dass die Autophagiegene Smatg8 und Smatg4 durch Smjlb1 reguliert werden. Dies läßt vermuten, dass Smjlb1 in den Prozess der Autophagie involviert ist. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit weisen darauf hin, dass Autophagie und Fruchtkörperentwicklung des filamentösen Pilzes S. macrospora streng miteinander verknüpft sind.

S. cerevisiae have developed the ability to forage for nutrients when presented with conditions of starvation. This dimorphic adaptation is particularly noticeable when yeast are subject to nitrogen depravation and has been termed filamentous growth, as cells form filament-like projections away from the center of the colony. The regulation of this response is under the control of the well-characterized MAPK and cAMP pathways. Previous work showed that Cdk8p phosphorylated a key transcriptional activator of the filamentous response, Ste12p, and subsequently targeted the factor for degradation under conditions of limiting nitrogen. Data presented in this thesis suggests that Cdk8p is regulated by another kinase, Tpk2p. In vitro kinase assays demonstrate that Tpk2p directly phosphorylates Cdk8p on residue Thr37, leading to the destabilization of Cdk8p after growth for 4 hours in SLAD media. Lack of phosphorylation on Thr37 yields a hypo-hypofilamentous phenotype, whereas a phospho-mimic mutant, T37E displays a filamentous hyper-filamentous phenotype.

Filamentous bulking is a problem that has long plagued activated sludge (AS) wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Much research has looked at its prevention and control but there is still no solution. The sludge microbiological community is very complex and there are many factors that can affect bulking. Clay addition in scaled-down activated sludge systems was investigated at concentrations of 0.4, 2.0 and 5.0 g/L along with sequencing batch reactor (SBR) parameters when run with a synthetic wastewater (SWW). The 5.0g/L concentration exhibited positive results on settling in the form of modified SVI but appeared to cause no reduction in filament length. These preliminary investigations indicate that clay may help improve sludge settling but make no difference in the abundance of filamentous microorganisms. The SBRs exhibited trends in regards to running systems with a synthetic wastewater. A loss of volatile suspended solids (VSS), coupled with increase in sludge volume index (SVI), suggested a link between lack of non-VSS and settling ability. This has implications in the importance of non-VSS such as grit or clay in research performed using SWWs.

From June to November 2007, a microscopic analysis was conducted on the activated sludge from eleven selected wastewater treatment plants (WWTP's) belonging to the City of Cape Town. The primary objective was the identification of the dominant and secondary filamentous organisms. Other important criteria included were the floe character, diversity, filament index (Fl) and identification of the protozoan and metazoan communities. The operational data determined from routine analyses of the sludge, influent and effluent were used to assess the relationship of the filamentous population to wastewater characteristics and to compare this with previous findings. Fl values of >3 and dissolved sludge volume indices (DSVI's) of >150 were chosen as representing the possibility of bulking conditions being present. The five most prevalent dominant filaments were Type 0092, Type 1851, actinomycetes, Microthrix parvicella and Type 021N, being present in 74%, 31%, 22%, 17% and 14% of samples respectively. Type 0092 did not appear to be associated with bulking in any of the WWTP's, although it was often incidentally present as a co-dominant species when bulking conditions existed. All three WWTP's with the Modified Ludzack-Ettinger configuration harboured Type 1851 as the major dominant species, irrespective of whether the plants treated domestic or industrial effluent. Conditions suggestive of bulking were present in two of these WWTP's. Contrary to expectations, Type 1851 was often found as a dominant species where domestic waste was the primary influent. Type 021N and actinomycetes were strongly implicated when bulking occurred. The overgrowth of these filaments appeared to be related to factors such as nutrient deficiency (Type 021N) or the presence of large amounts of low molecular weight substances in the influent. Microthrix parvicella did not cause major bulking problems. There was a strong association between low levels of nitrates/nitrites in the clarifier supernatant and good phosphorous removal, irrespective of the configuration of the WWTP. The converse was also true. / Thesis ((M. Environmental Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

From June to November 2007, a microscopic analysis was conducted on the activated sludge from eleven selected wastewater treatment plants (WWTP's) belonging to the City of Cape Town. The primary objective was the identification of the dominant and secondary filamentous organisms. Other important criteria included were the floe character, diversity, filament index (Fl) and identification of the protozoan and metazoan communities. The operational data determined from routine analyses of the sludge, influent and effluent were used to assess the relationship of the filamentous population to wastewater characteristics and to compare this with previous findings. Fl values of >3 and dissolved sludge volume indices (DSVI's) of >150 were chosen as representing the possibility of bulking conditions being present. The five most prevalent dominant filaments were Type 0092, Type 1851, actinomycetes, Microthrix parvicella and Type 021N, being present in 74%, 31%, 22%, 17% and 14% of samples respectively. Type 0092 did not appear to be associated with bulking in any of the WWTP's, although it was often incidentally present as a co-dominant species when bulking conditions existed. All three WWTP's with the Modified Ludzack-Ettinger configuration harboured Type 1851 as the major dominant species, irrespective of whether the plants treated domestic or industrial effluent. Conditions suggestive of bulking were present in two of these WWTP's. Contrary to expectations, Type 1851 was often found as a dominant species where domestic waste was the primary influent. Type 021N and actinomycetes were strongly implicated when bulking occurred. The overgrowth of these filaments appeared to be related to factors such as nutrient deficiency (Type 021N) or the presence of large amounts of low molecular weight substances in the influent. Microthrix parvicella did not cause major bulking problems. There was a strong association between low levels of nitrates/nitrites in the clarifier supernatant and good phosphorous removal, irrespective of the configuration of the WWTP. The converse was also true. / Thesis ((M. Environmental Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

S. cerevisiae have developed the ability to forage for nutrients when presented with conditions of starvation. This dimorphic adaptation is particularly noticeable when yeast are subject to nitrogen depravation and has been termed filamentous growth, as cells form filament-like projections away from the center of the colony. The regulation of this response is under the control of the well-characterized MAPK and cAMP pathways. Previous work showed that Cdk8p phosphorylated a key transcriptional activator of the filamentous response, Ste12p, and subsequently targeted the factor for degradation under conditions of limiting nitrogen. Data presented in this thesis suggests that Cdk8p is regulated by another kinase, Tpk2p. In vitro kinase assays demonstrate that Tpk2p directly phosphorylates Cdk8p on residue Thr37, leading to the destabilization of Cdk8p after growth for 4 hours in SLAD media. Lack of phosphorylation on Thr37 yields a hypo-hypofilamentous phenotype, whereas a phospho-mimic mutant, T37E displays a filamentous hyper-filamentous phenotype.

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio (fiscina@bahia.fiocruz.br) on 2012-07-30T21:26:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Mayara Ingrid Sousa Lima Seleção e caracterização de peptideos....pdf: 1915651 bytes, checksum: 4954d0969cc99ed5643d45ee27772173 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-07-30T21:26:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mayara Ingrid Sousa Lima Seleção e caracterização de peptideos....pdf: 1915651 bytes, checksum: 4954d0969cc99ed5643d45ee27772173 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, Bahia,Brasil / A hanseníase é uma doença infecciosa crônica, causada pelo Mycobacterium leprae, que apresenta manifestações clínicas variadas. Essas variações refletem em diferenças que vão de uma forte resposta imune celular com controle do crescimento do bacilo, no pólo tuberculóide, a uma anergia em resposta celular, no pólo virchoviano. A caracterização do perfil antigênico do M. leprae frente a esse quadro de múltiplos aspectos clínicos representa uma ferramenta fundamental para o desenvolvimento de novas plataformas para um diagnóstico diferencial mais sensível e/ou desenvolvimento de unidades vacinais. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse trabalho foi selecionar e caracterizar peptídeos miméticos de antígenos do M. leprae reativos contra IgGs totais purificadas de pacientes com hanseníase. Para a seleção foi utilizada a tecnologia de phage display, usando bibliotecas randômicas de peptídeos expressos em fagos filamentosos. Foi realizada uma seleção com IgGs de pacientes Tuberculóides e outra com IgGs de pacientes Virchovianos. A validação dos peptídeos foi realizada utilizando o imunoensaio ELISA, o teste de redução de colônias e análise de bioinformática. Após a pré-validação e sequenciamento foram encontradas 17 mimotopos para o pólo Vichorviano e 12 no pólo Tuberculóide. Foram validados 4 peptídeos, sendo 2 do pólo Tuberculóide (T03, T04) e 2 do pólo Virchoviano (V06 e V13). Os peptídeos TALFPWL (T03) e YSTTLSY (T04) foram imunorreativos em soros de pacientes paucibacilares, bem como em pacientes Virchovianos, além de terem alinhado com proteínas de membrana do M. leprae com potencial antigênico. O peptídeo V06 apresentou especificidade de 100% e sensibilidade de 94,74%, o que se complementa com os dados do teste de redução da pIII, o qual obteve uma taxa de redução de 82% em soros Virchovianos. O peptídeo V13 também foi reativo e apresentou similaridades com chaperonas e proteínas de membrana. Este estudo aponta perspectivas para a identificação de novos antígenos, propiciando a descoberta de novos alvos biológicos com potencial diagnóstico e/ou terapêutico. / Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which has varied clinical manifestations. These variations reflect differences that spans from a strong cellular mediated immunity and bacili growth control the tuberculoid pole to a poor T cell immunity at the lepromatous pole. The antigenic profile characterization in both clinical forms represents a fundamental tool for the development of new platforms for a differential diagnosis more sensitive and/or development of vaccine units. Thus, the objective was to select and characterize mimetics peptides antigens of M. leprae reactive against total IgG purified from leprosy patients. The phage display technology was used for selection using random peptides libraries expressed on filamentous phages. A selection was performed with IgGs from tuberculoid patients and other IgGs of lepromatous patients. Peptides validation was performed using the ELISA immunoassay, the plaque reduction test and bioinformatics analysis. After the pre-validation and sequencing were found 17 valid sequences for the lepromatous pole and 12 tuberculoid pole. Four peptides were validated, two of tuberculoid pole (T03, T04) and two lepromatous pole (V06 and V13). The peptides TALFPWL (T03) and YSTTLSY (T04) were imunoreatives in sera from paucibacillary patients and in lepromatous patients. They had alignment with membrane proteins of M. leprae antigenic potential. The V06 peptide showed 100% specificity and 94.74% sensitivity, which is supplemented with the plaque reduction test, who obtained a reduction rate of 82% in lepromatous sera. The V13 peptide was also reactive and showed similarities with chaperones and membrane proteins. This study presents insights for new antigens identification, leading to discovery of new biological targets with potential diagnostic or therapeutic

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-05-09Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:10:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 giraldo_ma_me_araiq.pdf: 658373 bytes, checksum: 20a8019dced41467e4d92b76d704ce76 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Os microrganismos, de modo especial os fungos filamentosos, possuem papel fundamental na decomposição de matéria orgânica, sendo interessantes como modelos para realização de diferentes estudos biológicos. Além disso, são de fácil manejo e as condições de cultivo podem ser facilmente adaptadas em laboratório. Outra vantagem é, geralmente, o baixo custo e o fácil acesso aos nutrientes necessários para o crescimento dos mesmos. Entre os microrganismos, os fungos filamentosos têm se destacado na obtenção de enzimas de interesse biotecnológico, como é o caso das invertases, as quais podem ser empregadas nas indústrias de alimentos e bebidas. As invertases (EC 3.2.1.26) são hidrolases que podem ser encontradas em uma grande variedade de organismos, realizando a hidrólise da ligação - D-frutofuranosídica, agindo sobre a sacarose, gerando como produtos D-glicose e D-frutose, em quantidades equimolares. Essa mistura é conhecida como açúcar invertido e é geralmente utilizada pelas indústrias de alimentos. Desta maneira, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a produção de invertase extracelular pelo fungo filamentoso Aspergillus terreus, em fermentação submersa e em fermentação em substrato sólido, bem como purificar e caracterizar a enzima bioquimicamente. Entre os diversos meios de cultura testados em FSbm, a maior produção invertásica foi obtida em meio M5 mantido em agitação orbital (100 rpm) a uma temperatura de 30ºC, por um período de 48 horas de incubação. Já na FSS, o melhor período de incubação foi de 72 horas, também a 30ºC. Entre todas as fontes de carbono testadas, a maior produção invertásica foi obtida utilizandose farinha de centeio para a FSbm e soja moída para FSS. A enzima iv extracelular obtida em FSbm foi purificada 139 vezes com uma recuperação de 11%. A invertase extracelular... / The microorganisms, especially filamentous fungi, have a fundamental role in the decomposition of organic matter, and they are interesting as models for carrying out different biological studies. Moreover, they are easy to handle, and their growing conditions can be easily adapted in the laboratory. Another advantage is, generally, the low cost and easy access to the nutrients needed for their growth. Among the microorganisms, filamentous fungi have been essential in obtaining enzymes of biotechnological interest, such as invertase, which may be employed in the food and beverage industries. The invertases (EC 3.2.1.26) are hydrolases that can be found in a great variety of organisms, performing the hydrolysis of the -D fructofuranosidic bond acting on sucrose, generating products such as D-glucose and D-fructose, in equimolar amounts. This mixture is known as inverted sugar and it is commonly used by food industries. This way, the aim of this work was to study the production of extracellular invertase by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus terreus in submerged fermentation and solid state fermentation, as well as its purification and biochemical characterization. Among the various media tested in FSbm, the highest yield of invertase was obtained by using M5 medium under orbital agitation (100 rpm) at 30°C for 48 hours of incubation. In the FSS, the best incubation period was 72 hours, also at 30°C. Among all carbon sources tested, the highest invertase production was obtained using rye flour for FSbm and soybean meal for FSS. The extracellular enzyme obtained from FSbm was purified 139 fold with 11% recovery. The extracellular invertase of A. terreus is a heterodimer of native vi molecular mass of 74.67 kDa consisting of two subunits, one of 46.77 kDa and another of 26.92 kDa determined... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-08-16Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:08:55Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 marques_np_me_araiq_parcial.pdf: 117061 bytes, checksum: 111016526ed0a98902d9d6c8b01f9d3b (MD5) Bitstreams deleted on 2015-06-22T12:53:53Z: marques_np_me_araiq_parcial.pdf,. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-06-22T12:54:47Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000721712_20150917.pdf: 105117 bytes, checksum: bd9855c12b3ec4afdcb5547ce783e4e6 (MD5) Bitstreams deleted on 2015-09-17T16:31:32Z: 000721712_20150917.pdf,. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-09-17T16:32:27Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000721712.pdf: 835904 bytes, checksum: fd7bf1792a2e5436543d83a39fa9040f (MD5) / Os fungos filamentosos são conhecidos por sua notável capacidade de produção de enzimas, particularmente as de degradação de material vegetal. O campo de aplicações industriais destas enzimas tem crescido consideravelmente, especialmente em relação às celulases, que tem sido extensivamente estudadas visando à sacarificação da celulose para a obtenção de etanol de segunda geração. Os fungos endofíticos estão entre os potenciais produtores de enzimas de degradação de material vegetal, são pouco estudados neste sentido e, uma vez que colonizam os tecidos vegetais, suas enzimas devem apresentar características interessantes do ponto de vista do ataque aos componentes da parede celular. Dentro deste contexto, o presente estudo teve por finalidade a prospecção de celulases, xilanases, pectinases e amilases entre fungos endofíticos, bem como estudos da produção e das características das enzimas. Inicialmente, 14 fungos endofíticos foram cultivados por fermentação estado sólido (FES) em bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e farelo de trigo (1:1 m/m), durante 7 dias, a 28 °C. Nesta etapa, 8 fungos se destacaram na produção de celulases e foram posteriormente cultivados, em FES, em outras misturas de substratos lignocelulósicos. Os isolados Botryosphaeria sp. AM01 e Saccharicola sp. EJC04 foram os mais versáteis em relação à produção das enzimas em diferentes meios, sendo selecionados para dar continuidade ao trabalho. A partir desta etapa foram focadas as produções de celulases e xilanases, visando à aplicação destas enzimas em trabalhos futuros envolvendo a sacarificação de materiais lignocelulósicos. O substrato selecionado foi composto por farelo de algodão e farelo de trigo e a influência do tempo de cultivo, da concentração de inóculo e da umidade inicial do substrato foram avaliadas, pelo cultivo em... / Filamentous fungi are known for their remarkable ability for enzymes production, particularly those for plant material degradation. The field of industrial applications of these enzymes has increased considerably, particularly regarding to cellulases which have been extensively studied for cellulose saccharification aiming the production of second generation ethanol. Endophytic fungi are among the potential producers of enzymes for plant material degradation. They are underexplored in this sense and, once they colonize the plant tissues. Their enzymes should present interesting features from the point of view of the attack to the cell wall components. In this context, the present study had as purpose the prospecting of cellulases, xylanases, pectinases and amylases among endophytic fungi, as well as studies of the enzymes production and characteristics. As an initial evaluation of enzymes production, 14 endophytic fungi were cultivated under solid state fermentation (SSF) in sugar cane bagasse and wheat bran (1:1 w/w), for 7 days, at 28 ºC. In this phase, 8 fungi stood out and were subsequently cultivated by SSF, in other mixtures of lignocellulosic substrates. The isolates Botryosphaeria sp. AM01 and Saccharicola sp. EJC04 were the most versatile in relation to enzymes production on different substrates and were selected to continue the work. From this stage on the productions of cellulases and xylanases were focused, aiming the application of these enzymes in future studies involving the saccharification of lignocellulosic materials. The selected substrate was composed by cotton bran and wheat bran and the influence of cultivation time, concentration of inoculum and substrate initial moisture were evaluated, by FES.For almost all the enzymes produced by the two fungi, the peak of production occurred in 192h or... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)