Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) polyphenoloxidase (PPO) (EC 1.14.18.1) was isolated and purified using an aqueous two phase system composed of octyl phenol (ethyleneglycol) 7-8 ether (Triton X-114/TX-114). TX-114 is a non-ionic surfactant which thermoseparates in water and forms an aqueous two phase system with a surfactant-depleted top phase and a surfactant-enriched bottom phase. Critical micelle concentration (CMC) and cloud point of the surfactant are 0.17 mM and 22&ordm / C respectively. The partitioning behavior of mushroom PPO in water/TX-114 aqueous two-phase systems was studied and the effects of TX-114 concentration, ionic strength, pH, temperature and crude extract preparation on PPO partitioning were studied. PPO generally partitioned to the surfactant-depleted top phase / whereas many other hydrophobic proteins and molecules partitioned to the surfactantenriched bottom phase. When two-step ultrafiltration was used as a pretreatment, complete enzyme recovery was achieved with all studied TX-114 concentrations. Moreover, about 5 fold purification was achieved by using 8% TX-114. The purification increased to 10 fold by using polyvinylpolypyrolidone (PVPP) at pH 7.0 with a recovery of 72%. However changing pH from 7.0 to 6.0 increased the purification factor and enzyme recovery to 15 fold and 100%, respectively. Addition of potassium or sodium salts caused PPO molecules to partition in the surfactantenriched bottom phase. Finally, crude enzyme can be concentrated besides being purified and recovered by doing aqueous two-phase separation at room temperature.

Coenzyme Q10 is a lipid-soluble coenzyme, synthesized in mammalian tissue to support energy production, and also act as an antioxidant. Certain medication, stress and age may deplete the body’s endogenous Coenzyme Q10 store. Numerous disease conditions have been shown to benefit from Coenzyme Q10 supplementation. It is a lipid-soluble component of virtually all cell membranes, and is located in the hydrophobic domain of the phospholipid bilayer of cellular membranes. It is also the only known lipid-soluble antioxidant that animal cells can synthesize de novo, and for which there exist enzymatic mechanisms which can regenerate it from its oxidized product formed in the course of its antioxidant function. The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular effects of Coenzyme Q10 and Triton X-100 on primary chicken embryo heart and muscle cell cultures. Triton X-100, a well known membrane disrupter, extensively used by cell biologists for that purpose, was used to investigate whether Coenzyme Q10 might offer protection to cell membranes exposed to disruption. Due to the correlation found between the chemical structures of nonylphenol and Triton X-100, it was decided to determine whether Triton X-100 possess estrogenic properties. Using the Recombinant Yeast Screen Assay for estrogenic activity, it was found that Triton X-100 induced weak estrogenic activity. The primary heart and skeletal muscle cell cultures were established by harvesting skeletal muscle tissue and hearts from 13 day old chicken embryos. After establishment of the cell cultures, the concentrations of Coenzyme Q10 and Triton X-100 were tested for cytotoxicity using the MTT, NR, and CV assays, in the form of a combined colorimetric cytotoxicity assay. The MTT assay revealed an increase in cell viability in both cell cultures upon exposure to Triton X-100 and Coenzyme Q10, alone, and in combination. Triton X-100 and Coenzyme Q10, alone, and in combination, caused a decrease in lysosomal membrane integrity, as measured by the NR assay, and both substances, alone, and in combination, had no effect on cellular proteins, as measured by the CV assay. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was done to determine the cellular effect of heart and skeletal muscle cell cultures on the external surface, more specifically the membranes, of cells in culture. Triton X-100 in the concentrations used in the study, caused membrane disruption, ranging from complete membrane lyses at the highest concentrations to membrane ruptures and apoptotic blebbing in lower concentrations. SEM revealed that no adverse effects were caused by Coenzyme Q10 on the membrane structure, in dissimilarity, cell differentiation and proliferation, including myoblast formation were seen in the presence of all the concentrations of Coenzyme Q10. Numerous ion channels were observed on cellular surfaces exposed to Coenzyme Q10. Upon exposure to 0.005% Triton X-100, after pre-treatment with Coenzyme Q10, SEM revealed a “membrane patch” formation on membranes disrupted by Triton X-100. Damage to cell membranes in the presence of Triton X-100, were less severe when cells were pre-treated with Coenzyme Q10. Confocal microscopy was utilized to investigate intracellular occurrences in the presence of Triton X-100 and Coenzyme Q10. Using Mito Tracker Red to stain active respiring mitochondria and DAPI to stain nuclei, confocal microscopy confirmed the observations made by SEM, that Coenzyme Q10 enhance cell proliferation and differentiation, and that the adverse effects to cells exposed to Triton X-100 are less severe after pre-treatment with Coenzyme Q10. ROS generation was detected, using dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, in cultures exposed to Triton X-100, and none in the presence of Coenzyme Q10. In the presence of Triton X-100, after pre-treatment with Coenzyme Q10, ROS generation was remarkably lower. The study provided apparent evidence that Coenzyme Q10 offer protection to cardiac and skeletal muscle cells in culture after exposure to relatively low concentrations of the membrane disrupter Triton X-100. Coenzyme Q10 also promotes the process of proliferation and differentiation in primary chicken embryonic cultures of heart and skeletal muscle cells. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Anatomy / unrestricted

Foi investigada a utilização de Sistema Micelar de Duas Fases Aquosas (SMDFA) para remoção de lipolissacarídeos (LPS) de preparações contendo proteínas recombinantes de interesse farmacêutico, como a proteína verde fluorescente (GFPuv). Os SMDFA são constituídos por soluções de tensoativos contendo micelas e oferecem ambientes hidrofóbico e hidrofílico, que possibilitam seletividade na partição de biomoléculas de acordo com sua hidrofobicidade, permitindo a remoção de LPS contaminante. Neste trabalho, foi realizada a implementação do método para a quantificação de LPS em amostras contaminadas e a obtenção de LPS e GFPuv puros a partir de cultivo de E. coli recombinante. Além disso, foi estudada a influência do Triton X-114 na metodologia de quantificação de LPS, e a adição de MgSO4, CaCl2, KI e (NH4)2SO4 na partição de GFPuv e LPS puros em SMDFA. E ainda, realizou-se um planejamento experimental (22) para avaliar os maiores KGFPuv e %RECGFPuv. O homogeneizado celular de E. coli foi testado nas melhores condições obtidas com o planejamento experimental. E finalmente, o processo por cromatografia de afinidade por íons metálicos (IMAC) foi empregado para investigar a adsorção de LPS em matriz IDA-Ca2+. Conforme os resultados obtidos, o TX-114 causou elevada interferência no método cinético cromogênico, em função da similaridade desta molécula com os LPS. Os LPS apresentaram partição preferencial para a fase concentrada em micelas, com altos valores de remoção, %REMLPS>98,0%. Ao contrário, a GFPuv foi recuperada preferencialmente na fase diluída, na qual existe maior volume disponível, resultando em valores de KGFPuv>1. A adição de sais ocasionou diminuição nos valores KGFPuv, provavelmente por causa da carga negativa que GFPuv adquiriu nas condições avaliadas. Os resultados do planejamento experimental mostraram que a melhor condição de partição obtida foi na região do ponto central, 4,0% (p/p) a 60,0°C, com KGFPuv>10. O processo por IMAC apresentou as maiores capacidades de adsorção de LPS-IDA-Ca+2 nas condições de menor pH e maior força iônica 4,0 e 1,0 mol/L, respectivamente. O processo de purificação por SMDFA empregado para a remoção de LPS contaminante presente em meio fermentado contendo GFPuv, demonstrou ser eficiente em recuperar a biomolécula-alvo na fase diluída e separar o principal contaminante na fase rica em micelas. Portanto, pode ser empregado como primeira etapa para a remoção de altas concentrações de LPS na purificação de proteínas hidrofílicas como a GFPuv. / The Aqueous Two-Phase Micellar System (ATPMS) was investigated for endotoxin (LPS) removal from preparations containing recombinant proteins of pharmaceutical interest, such as the green fluorescent protein (GFPuv). These systems usually consist of micellar surfactants solutions and offer both hydrophobic and hydrophilic environments, providing selectivity to the biomolecules partitioning according to its hydrophobicity. In this work, the implementation of the method for LPS quantification in contaminated samples was accomplished, as well as the obtaining of pure LPS and GFPuv from recombinant E. coli. Furthermore, the influence of Triton X-114 in the methodology for LPS quantification was studied, as the addition of MgSO4, CaCl2, KI, and (NH4)2SO4 into the partition of pure GFPuv and LPS in ATPMS. In addition, a statistical design (22) was carried out to evaluate the highest KGFPuv and %RECGFPuv. The E. coli cell lysate was tested under optimum conditions obtained with the statistical design. And, finally, the process by ionmetal affinity chromatography (IMAC) was used to investigate the adsorption of LPS in IDA-Ca2+ matrix. The results showed that the TX-114 caused high interference in the kinetic chromogenic method, according to the similarity of this molecule to LPS. The LPS showed preferential partitioning to the micellerich phase, with high values of removal, %REMLPS>98.0%. In the other hand, the GFPuv was preferentially recovered in the micelle-poor phase, in which there is greater volume available resulting in values of KGFPuv>1. The addition of salts caused a reduction in the values KGFPuv, probably because of the negative charge that the GFPuv acquired at the conditions evaluated. The results of the statistical design showed that the best partitioning condition obtained was in the central point region, 4.0% (wt/wt) at 60.0°C, with KGFPuv>10. The process by IMAC showed the highest adsorption of LPS-IDA-Ca+2 capacities at the conditions of lower pH and higher ionic strength 4.0 and 1.0 mol/L, respectively. The purification process for the LPS contaminant removal from E. coli fermentation containing GFPuv by ATPMS proved to be efficient in the recovering of target biomolecule in the micelle-poor phase, and separating the main contaminant in the micelle-rich phase. Furthermore, this system can be exploited as the first step for removal of higher LPS concentrations from hydrophilics protein purification.

Foi investigada a utilização de Sistema Micelar de Duas Fases Aquosas (SMDFA) para remoção de lipolissacarídeos (LPS) de preparações contendo proteínas recombinantes de interesse farmacêutico, como a proteína verde fluorescente (GFPuv). Os SMDFA são constituídos por soluções de tensoativos contendo micelas e oferecem ambientes hidrofóbico e hidrofílico, que possibilitam seletividade na partição de biomoléculas de acordo com sua hidrofobicidade, permitindo a remoção de LPS contaminante. Neste trabalho, foi realizada a implementação do método para a quantificação de LPS em amostras contaminadas e a obtenção de LPS e GFPuv puros a partir de cultivo de E. coli recombinante. Além disso, foi estudada a influência do Triton X-114 na metodologia de quantificação de LPS, e a adição de MgSO4, CaCl2, KI e (NH4)2SO4 na partição de GFPuv e LPS puros em SMDFA. E ainda, realizou-se um planejamento experimental (22) para avaliar os maiores KGFPuv e %RECGFPuv. O homogeneizado celular de E. coli foi testado nas melhores condições obtidas com o planejamento experimental. E finalmente, o processo por cromatografia de afinidade por íons metálicos (IMAC) foi empregado para investigar a adsorção de LPS em matriz IDA-Ca2+. Conforme os resultados obtidos, o TX-114 causou elevada interferência no método cinético cromogênico, em função da similaridade desta molécula com os LPS. Os LPS apresentaram partição preferencial para a fase concentrada em micelas, com altos valores de remoção, %REMLPS>98,0%. Ao contrário, a GFPuv foi recuperada preferencialmente na fase diluída, na qual existe maior volume disponível, resultando em valores de KGFPuv>1. A adição de sais ocasionou diminuição nos valores KGFPuv, provavelmente por causa da carga negativa que GFPuv adquiriu nas condições avaliadas. Os resultados do planejamento experimental mostraram que a melhor condição de partição obtida foi na região do ponto central, 4,0% (p/p) a 60,0°C, com KGFPuv>10. O processo por IMAC apresentou as maiores capacidades de adsorção de LPS-IDA-Ca+2 nas condições de menor pH e maior força iônica 4,0 e 1,0 mol/L, respectivamente. O processo de purificação por SMDFA empregado para a remoção de LPS contaminante presente em meio fermentado contendo GFPuv, demonstrou ser eficiente em recuperar a biomolécula-alvo na fase diluída e separar o principal contaminante na fase rica em micelas. Portanto, pode ser empregado como primeira etapa para a remoção de altas concentrações de LPS na purificação de proteínas hidrofílicas como a GFPuv. / The Aqueous Two-Phase Micellar System (ATPMS) was investigated for endotoxin (LPS) removal from preparations containing recombinant proteins of pharmaceutical interest, such as the green fluorescent protein (GFPuv). These systems usually consist of micellar surfactants solutions and offer both hydrophobic and hydrophilic environments, providing selectivity to the biomolecules partitioning according to its hydrophobicity. In this work, the implementation of the method for LPS quantification in contaminated samples was accomplished, as well as the obtaining of pure LPS and GFPuv from recombinant E. coli. Furthermore, the influence of Triton X-114 in the methodology for LPS quantification was studied, as the addition of MgSO4, CaCl2, KI, and (NH4)2SO4 into the partition of pure GFPuv and LPS in ATPMS. In addition, a statistical design (22) was carried out to evaluate the highest KGFPuv and %RECGFPuv. The E. coli cell lysate was tested under optimum conditions obtained with the statistical design. And, finally, the process by ionmetal affinity chromatography (IMAC) was used to investigate the adsorption of LPS in IDA-Ca2+ matrix. The results showed that the TX-114 caused high interference in the kinetic chromogenic method, according to the similarity of this molecule to LPS. The LPS showed preferential partitioning to the micellerich phase, with high values of removal, %REMLPS>98.0%. In the other hand, the GFPuv was preferentially recovered in the micelle-poor phase, in which there is greater volume available resulting in values of KGFPuv>1. The addition of salts caused a reduction in the values KGFPuv, probably because of the negative charge that the GFPuv acquired at the conditions evaluated. The results of the statistical design showed that the best partitioning condition obtained was in the central point region, 4.0% (wt/wt) at 60.0°C, with KGFPuv>10. The process by IMAC showed the highest adsorption of LPS-IDA-Ca+2 capacities at the conditions of lower pH and higher ionic strength 4.0 and 1.0 mol/L, respectively. The purification process for the LPS contaminant removal from E. coli fermentation containing GFPuv by ATPMS proved to be efficient in the recovering of target biomolecule in the micelle-poor phase, and separating the main contaminant in the micelle-rich phase. Furthermore, this system can be exploited as the first step for removal of higher LPS concentrations from hydrophilics protein purification.

A melamina é um composto tóxico ilegalmente empregado para adulterar o teor de proteínas em leite. A ingestão de pequenas quantidades de melamina pode causar complicações renais e até mesmo a morte de animais e humanos. Os procedimentos usuais para a determinação de proteínas são baseados na quantificação de nitrogênio total e não permitem detectar a adulteração. Neste trabalho, um procedimento rápido e limpo foi desenvolvido para a determinação de melamina como adulterante em leite. Triton X-114 foi utilizado para o clean-up da amostra e como fluoróforo. A determinação da melamina foi baseada na supressão da fluorescência do surfactante na fase pobre após a extração em ponto nuvem. Resposta linear foi observada entre 1,0 e 6,0 mg L- 1 de melamina, descrita pela equação de Stern-Volmer I°/I = 0,999 + 0,0165 CMEL (r = 0,999). O limite de detecção foi estimado em 0,8 mg L- 1 (nível de confiança de 95 %), o que permite a detecção de 320 \'mü\'g de melamina em 100 g de leite. Coeficientes de variação (n = 8) foram estimados em 0,4 e 1,4 % na ausência e na presença do analito, respectivamente. Recuperações entre 95 e 102% e os coeficientes angulares das curvas de calibração obtidas na presença e ausência de leite indicaram a ausência de efeitos da matriz. Os resultados para diferentes amostras de leite concordaram com os obtidos por cromatografia líquida de alto desempenho a um nível de confiança de 95% / Melamine is a toxic compound illegally used to adulterate the protein content in milk. The ingestion even of low amounts of melamine can lead to renal complications and death of animals and humans. Usual procedures for the determination of total nitrogen are not selective for the determination of non-protein nitrogen. In this work, a fast and environmentally friendly procedure was developed for the determination of melamine as a milk adulterant. Triton X-114 was used for sample clean-up and as a fluorophore. Determination of melamine was based on fluorescence quenching of surfactant in the poor phase after cloud point extraction in the presence of melamine. A linear response was observed from 1.0 and 6.0 mg L-1 melamine, described by the Stern-Volmer equation I°/I = 0.999 + 0.0165 CMEL(r = 0.999). The detection limit was estimated at 0.8 mg L-1 level (95% confidence level), which enables detection of as low as 320 \'mü\'g in 100 g of melamine of milk. The coefficients of variation (n = 8) were estimated at 0.4 % or 1.4 % in the absence or presence of the analyte, respectively. Recoveries within 95-102 % and similar slopes of calibration graphs obtained with and without milk indicated the absence of matrix effects. The results for different milk samples agreed with those obtained by high performance liquid chromatography at the 95% confidence level

A melamina é um composto tóxico ilegalmente empregado para adulterar o teor de proteínas em leite. A ingestão de pequenas quantidades de melamina pode causar complicações renais e até mesmo a morte de animais e humanos. Os procedimentos usuais para a determinação de proteínas são baseados na quantificação de nitrogênio total e não permitem detectar a adulteração. Neste trabalho, um procedimento rápido e limpo foi desenvolvido para a determinação de melamina como adulterante em leite. Triton X-114 foi utilizado para o clean-up da amostra e como fluoróforo. A determinação da melamina foi baseada na supressão da fluorescência do surfactante na fase pobre após a extração em ponto nuvem. Resposta linear foi observada entre 1,0 e 6,0 mg L- 1 de melamina, descrita pela equação de Stern-Volmer I°/I = 0,999 + 0,0165 CMEL (r = 0,999). O limite de detecção foi estimado em 0,8 mg L- 1 (nível de confiança de 95 %), o que permite a detecção de 320 \'mü\'g de melamina em 100 g de leite. Coeficientes de variação (n = 8) foram estimados em 0,4 e 1,4 % na ausência e na presença do analito, respectivamente. Recuperações entre 95 e 102% e os coeficientes angulares das curvas de calibração obtidas na presença e ausência de leite indicaram a ausência de efeitos da matriz. Os resultados para diferentes amostras de leite concordaram com os obtidos por cromatografia líquida de alto desempenho a um nível de confiança de 95% / Melamine is a toxic compound illegally used to adulterate the protein content in milk. The ingestion even of low amounts of melamine can lead to renal complications and death of animals and humans. Usual procedures for the determination of total nitrogen are not selective for the determination of non-protein nitrogen. In this work, a fast and environmentally friendly procedure was developed for the determination of melamine as a milk adulterant. Triton X-114 was used for sample clean-up and as a fluorophore. Determination of melamine was based on fluorescence quenching of surfactant in the poor phase after cloud point extraction in the presence of melamine. A linear response was observed from 1.0 and 6.0 mg L-1 melamine, described by the Stern-Volmer equation I°/I = 0.999 + 0.0165 CMEL(r = 0.999). The detection limit was estimated at 0.8 mg L-1 level (95% confidence level), which enables detection of as low as 320 \'mü\'g in 100 g of melamine of milk. The coefficients of variation (n = 8) were estimated at 0.4 % or 1.4 % in the absence or presence of the analyte, respectively. Recoveries within 95-102 % and similar slopes of calibration graphs obtained with and without milk indicated the absence of matrix effects. The results for different milk samples agreed with those obtained by high performance liquid chromatography at the 95% confidence level

Discoveries made with KCl-induced contractions have elucidated the more complex reactions involved in GPCRs signaling; once the mechanisms of smooth muscle Ca2+ sensitization and desensitization are fully understood, then the development of advanced treatments for vascular disorders such as hypertension, cerebral and coronary vasospasm, and vascular hyporeactivity following hemorrhagic shock may be possible. Studies have shown that KCl-induced contractions induce Ca2+-sensitization. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that KCl induced Ca2+-sensitization is due to ROK activation by the increase in [Ca2+]i. To test this hypothesis, rabbit femoral arteries were permeabilized with 20µg/ml α-toxin and 1% Triton X-100 and subjected to different calcium concentrations in the presence or absence of various ROK inhibitors. For a comparison we also used various PKC and MLCK inhibitors and repeated these experiments in intact tissues. We found that either [Ca2+]i alone does not directly activate ROK or the permeabilization technique itself disrupts the normal ROK signaling system. Secondary findings revealed that α-toxin activates PKC pathways; in both chemically permeabilized preparations proteases also appear to be activated and MLCK is the primary kinase responsible for contraction.

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2016-08-16T20:34:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 CynthiaKerziaCostaDeAraujo_DISSERT.pdf: 2646231 bytes, checksum: 4f582aa34d0b6a7e4961cbd1db1b17a2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-08-18T22:50:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 CynthiaKerziaCostaDeAraujo_DISSERT.pdf: 2646231 bytes, checksum: 4f582aa34d0b6a7e4961cbd1db1b17a2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-18T22:50:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CynthiaKerziaCostaDeAraujo_DISSERT.pdf: 2646231 bytes, checksum: 4f582aa34d0b6a7e4961cbd1db1b17a2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-18 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES) / ?No Brasil s?o gerados diversos tipos de subprodutos e res?duos agroindustriais como: baga?o de ped?nculo de caju, baga?o de cana-de-a??car, baga?o de coco e outros. A disposi??o final desses res?duos, ou seja, sua elimina??o causa s?rios problemas ambientais. Apesar de uma parte ser utilizada para fins diversos, uma grande quantidade ainda permanece sem utiliza??o. Neste sentido, os res?duos de conte?do lignocelul?sico, como a casca do coco verde, constituem uma mat?ria-prima renov?vel e abundante cujo aproveitamento ? desej?vel e tem provocado um interesse crescente para o uso na cadeia de produ??o de etanol de 2? gera??o. Neste trabalho foi utilizada como mat?ria-prima a casca de coco verde, a qual foi submetida a dois pr?-tratamentos com o objetivo de melhorar a acessibilidade das enzimas ? celulose. Os pr?-tratamentos aplicados ao baga?o de coco foram: ?cido/Alcalino utilizando H2SO4 0,6M e, em seguida, NaOH 1M e, o pr?-tratamento com Per?xido de Hidrog?nio Alcalino (PHA) a uma concentra??o de 7,35% (v/v) e pH 11,5. O objetivo principal do estudo em quest?o, foi avaliar a influ?ncia do biossurfactante (ramnolip?deo produzido pela Pseudomonas aeruginosa), durante a hidr?lise da casca de coco verde. Para efeito de compara??o, foram realizadas hidr?lises utilizando surfactante qu?mico, nesse caso o Triton X-100, e hidr?lises sem adi??o de surfactantes. Dessa forma, observou-se que, com a aplica??o de ambos os pr?-tratamentos, foi poss?vel atingir uma maior convers?o de celulose ao comparar com o material in natura. No entanto, ao analisar os resultados obtidos para o processo de hidr?lise com a aplica??o de surfactantes, verificou-se que o ramnolip?deo produzido melhora, consideravelmente, a convers?o celul?sica da casca de coco verde, atingindo uma convers?o de 33% ap?s 72 horas de hidr?lise, enquanto que, a convers?o m?xima atingida com o uso do Triton X-100 foi de 23%. Esses resultados mostram que o biossurfactante pode ser aplicado na hidr?lise enzim?tica de materiais lignocelul?sicos, de modo a apresentar uma boa influ?ncia no processo.? / In Brazil many types of bioproducts and agroindustrial waste are generated currently, such as cacashew apple bagasse and coconut husk, for example. The final disposal of these wastes causes serious environmental issues. In this sense, waste lignocellulosic content, as the shell of the coconut is a renewable and abundant raw material in which its use has an increased interest mainly for the 2nd generation ethanol production. The hydrolysis of cellulose to reducing sugars such as glucose and xylose is catalysed by a group of enzymes called cellulases. However, the main bottleneck in the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose is the significant deactivation of the enzyme that shows irreversible adsorption mechanism leading to reduction of the cellulose adsorption onto cellulose. Studies have shown that the use of surfactants can modify the surface property of the cellulose therefore minimizing the irreversible binding. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of chemical and biological surfactants during the hydrolysis of coconut husk which was subjected to two pre-treatment in order to improve the accessibility of the enzymes to the cellulose, removing this way, part of the lignin and hemicellulose present in the structure of the material. The pre-treatments applied to coconut bagasse were: Acid/Alkaline using 0.6M H2SO4 followed by 1M NaOH, and the one with Alkaline Hydrogen Peroxide at a concentration of 7.35% (v/v) and pH 11.5. Both the material no treatment and pretreated were characterized using analysis of diffraction X-ray (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and methods established by NREL. The influence of both surfactants, chemical and biological, was used at concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (CMC), and the concentrations equal to the CMC. The application of pre-treatment with coconut residue was efficient for the conversion to glucose, as well as for the production of total reducing sugars, it was possible to observe that the pretreatment fragmented the structure as well as disordered the fibers. Regarding XRD analysis, a significant increase in crystallinity index was observed for pretreated bagasse acid/alkali (51.1%) compared to the no treatment (31.7%), while that for that treated with PHA, the crystallinity index was slightly lower, around 29%. In terms of total reducing sugars it was not possible to observe a significant difference between the hydrolysis carried out without the use of surfactant compared to the addition of Triton and rhamnolipid. However, by observing the conversions achieved during the hydrolysis, it was noted that the best conversion was using the rhamnolip?d for the husk pretreated with acid/alkali, reaching a value of 33%, whereas using Triton the higher conversion was 23.8%. The coconut husk is a residue which can present a high potential to the 2nd generation ethanol production, being the rhamonolipid a very efficient biosurfactant for use as an adjuvant in the enzymatic process in order to act on the material structure reducing its recalcitrance and therefore improving the conditions of access for enzymes to the substrate increasing thus the conversion of cellulose to glucose.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Neurocysticercosis (NC) caused by the Taenia solium metacestodes usually affects the central nervous system and can be confused with other brain pathologies, which present similar clinical and image findings. This parasitose is endemic in Brazil and the serological diagnosis of NC is of great importance in routine clinical management of patients. The search for alternative antigens for NC immunodiagnosis is importance because of the difficulty of obtaining parasites from naturally infected pigs for the preparation of metacestodes T. solium homologous antigen. Once that purified antigen is more sensitive and specific than crude saline extracts, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Immunoblotting (IB) for the serological diagnosis of human NC, using the crude saline extract (Crude) obtained from T. saginata metacestodes and two fractions of this extract, hydrophobic or detergent fraction (D) and hydrophilic or aqueous fraction (A), purified by extraction with Triton X-114 as alternative purified antigens for the diagnosis of human NC. Serum samples were obtained from 115 individuals: 40 patients with a definitive diagnosis of NC, 45 patients with Taenia sp. and with other parasitic diseases and 30 apparently healthy individuals. The serum samples were diluted 1:200 for ELISA but only the samples positives were diluted 1:100 and evaluated in IB. ELISA sensitivity and specificity were 95% and 73.3% when using Crude, 95% and 82.6% for D phase and 65% and 61.3% for A phase, respectively. The diagnostic efficiency and Youden index were: 83.9% and 0.74 (Crude), 88.5% and 0.80 (D phase) and 72.8 % and 0.46 (A phase), respectively. IB of the antigens confirmed the results obtained by ELISA, and the D phase antigen proved to be more specific than other extracts, showing only one immunodominant protein of 70-64 kDa that was the most frequent (92.5%) among patients with NC. Our results suggest that the D phase obtained with Triton X-114 can be used as heterologous purified antigen for the serological diagnosis of human NC in the IB. / A Neurocisticercose (NC), resultado do acometimento do sistema nervoso central pelas formas metacestódeas de Taenia solium, é uma doença polimórfica podendo ser confundida com outras síndromes neurológicas que apresentam achados clínicos e de imagem similares. Uma vez que esta parasitose é endêmica no Brasil o diagnóstico sorológico é de grande importância, pois auxilia na rotina laboratorial de pacientes com suspeita clínica. A busca por antígenos alternativos se faz necessária diante da dificuldade de obtenção de suínos naturalmente infectados com metacestódeos de T. solium, para a produção do antígeno homólogo. Uma vez que antígenos purificados apresentam sensibilidade e especificidade superiores aos extratos totais, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os testes enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) e Immunoblotting (IB) no diagnóstico sorológico da NC humana utilizando o extrato salino total (S) de metacestódeos de Taenia saginata e suas frações purificadas com Triton X-114 (TX-114). Uma alíquota do extrato S foi fracionada com TX-114, para obtenção das frações antigênicas: hidrofóbica ou detergente (D) e hidrofílica ou aquosa (A). Os extratos antigênicos foram analisados em SDS-PAGE 12% e utilizados no ELISA na concentração de 10μg/mL. Foram analisadas 115 amostras de soro: 40 de pacientes com diagnóstico definitivo de NC, 45 de pacientes com Taenia sp. e por outros parasitos e 30 de indivíduos saudáveis. As amostras foram diluídas a 1:200 para o ELISA, sendo apenas as positivas submetidas ao IB, na diluição de 1:100. A sensibilidade e especificidade do ELISA foram: 95% e 73,3% (S), 95% e 82,6% (D) e 65% e 61,3% (A), respectivamente. O cálculo de eficiência do diagnóstico e Youden Index foram: 83,9% e 0,74 (S); 88,5% e 0,80 (D) e 72,8 % e 0,46 (A), respectivamente. No IB a fração D apresentou com exclusividade a banda imunodominante de 70-64 kDa, sendo detectada em 92,5% dos pacientes com NC. A fração D foi significativamente mais eficiente que a fração A, tanto no ELISA quanto no IB, sendo assim, recomendada como antígeno heterólogo purificado no diagnóstico sorológico da NC humana no IB. / Mestre em Imunologia e Parasitologia Aplicadas

Métodos de Microbiologia de anaeróbios estritos e de Biologia Molecular foram empregados para se conhecer a diversidade de microrganismos relacionados à degradação de ascarel em reatores anaeróbios metanogênicos. A avaliação de potencial metanogênico foi realizada para a escolha da melhor condição nutricional, bem como, para a seleção de material suporte e solvente adequado a solubilização do ascarel. Nos ensaios em batelada, a produção de metano foi maior nos reatores contendo etanol (média de 0,22 - 0,46 molCH4/gSTV, 46h). Remoção de 85,6% (86,7 mg/L de PCB em Aroclor 1016 e 1260) foi obtida na condição com espuma de poliuretano, etanol (46g/L) e formiato (680 mg/L). Diferentes solventes e surfactantes, tais como, DMSO, dioxano, ácido acético, ácido fórmico, n-hexano, acetona, etano, metanol, Tween 80, SDS (10%) e Triton X-100 foram avaliados para a solubilização de ascarel. Dentre esses, metanol, Triton X-100 e ácido fórmico foram eleitos para a realização de ensaio em reatores em batelada contendo espuma de poliuretano, com o propósito de avaliar o potencial metanogênico na degradação de PCB. Os valores de produção de metano foram muito semelhantes (0,21 0,38 molCH4/mLgSTV, 45h) nas diferentes condições, no entanto, a remoção de PCB foi maior nos reatores com metanol 790 mg/L (86,6%), ácido Fórmico 600 mg/L (84,5%) e Triton X-100 1% (72,1%). Portanto, a melhor condição foi contemplada para a operação do reator anaeróbio horizontal de leito fixo (RAHLF) no tratamento do ascarel, ou seja, células imobilizadas em espuma de poliuretano, etanol e formiato (como fonte de carbono), Triton X-100 (0,1%) e metanol (como solvente). No RAHLF, a remoção média de matéria orgânica (DQO) foi de 91% para concentração afluente média de 1270 mg/L. A presença de morfologias semelhantes à Methanosarcina e bacilos fluorescentes foi confirmada em exames microscópicos. Na análise filogenética, por meio de PCR/DGGE e seqüenciamento das bandas recortadas, os grupos encontrados foram relacionados aos Filos Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Spirochaetes, Chlorobi e Chloroflexi, sendo que neste último estão incluídos representantes relacionados a degradação de PCBs. Dentre as arquéias metanogênicas verificou-se similaridade de 99% e 97% com Methanosaeta sp. e Methanolinea sp., relacionadas com a metanogenese acetoclástica e hidrogenotrófica, respectivamente / Molecular biology and microbiology methods were used to study the microbial communities related to degradation of ascarel at methanogenic conditions in an anaerobic reactor. The methanogenic potential was evaluated to choose the better nutritional condition as well as to select the better support material and the most suitable solvent to favor the solubilization of ascarel. The methane production was higher (0.22 0.46 molCH4/mLgSTV, 46h) in batch reactors containing ethanol (46 g/L) and formate (680 mg/L), the PCB elimination attaining 85.6% (86.7 mg/L de PCB as Aroclor 1016 and 1260) when Polyuretane foam was used as support material. Different solvents, namely DMSO, dioxane, n-hexane, acetic acid, formic acid, acetone, ethane, methanol, and surfactants, such as 10% SDS,, Triton X-100, were evaluated aiming o determine the better condition to solubilize ascarel. According to the results of such experiments, methanol, formic acid and Triton X-100 were selected for carrying out the batch experiments in reactors containing polyurethane foam to evaluate the methane production during the PCBs degradation. Regardless of the operation conditions the methane production rates were similar (0.21 0.38 molCH4/gSTV, 45h), however the elimination of PCB was higher in the reactors containing methanol (790 mg/L), formic acid (600 mg/L) and Triton X-100 (1%). Therefore, the better condition for treating ascarel-containing residues in a bench-scale horizontal-flow immobilized biomass (HAIB) was attained with cells immobilized in polyurethane foam when ethanol and formate were used as carbon sources, and in presence of Triton X-100 and methanol, the average elimination of organic material attaining 91% for affluent concentration of 1270 mg/L. The presence of Methanosarcina and fluorescent rods was confirmed by microscopy analysis. According to the filogenetics analysis, which was carried out by PCR/DGGE and band-sequencing, the Bacteria domain are related to the Filos Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Spirochaetes, Chlorobi and Chloroflexi, this latter being directly related to the degradation of PCB. Among the methanogenic Archea, a similiraty of 99% and 97% was observed to Methanosaeta sp. and Methanolinea sp. related to acetoclastic and hydrogenthrophic methanogenesis, respectively