Species invasions are regarded as one of the most serious threats to biodiversity and native ecosystems and our ability to predict and quantify the impacts of invasive species has been an arduous task. Since the 1840s, the Laurentian Great Lakes have experienced an exponential increase in the number of identified invasive species. The most recent, Hemimysis anomala, is a littoral freshwater mysid native to the Ponto-Caspian region of Eastern Europe. They have been identified in all of the Great Lakes (except Lake Superior), the St. Lawrence River downstream to Québec City, and inland lakes in New York State and have the potential to destabilize energy flow in aquatic food webs. Using stable isotopes of carbon (13C) and nitrogen (15N), I evaluated nearshore food web structure at four sites along Lake Ontario’s north shore spanning a gradient of Hemimysis density to determine: 1) if dominant nearshore food web pathways change seasonally, and 2) whether fish exhibit a dietary shift towards consumption of Hemimysis. Also, the effects of Hemimysis consumption on the growth of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were quantified using bioenergetics modeling and four predictive feeding scenarios simulating Hemimysis incorporation into yellow perch diets. My results suggest Hemimysis are being incorporated into diets of round gobies, alewife and small yellow perch, which has resulted in a trophic lengthening of the food web. As Hemimysis populations continue to establish and stabilize, fish may incorporate this species into their diets at a higher rate. Based on the bioenergetic modeling, the incorporation of Hemimysis into the diets of yellow perch will have a negative impact on their growth. These negative impacts on fish growth will likely be exacerbated when the limited seasonal availability of Hemimysis, patchy distribution and predator avoidance behaviours, are considered. These results have implications surrounding the sustainability of the Great Lakes fishery as Hemimysis will likely increase competition with young fish for food and fish consumption of this new invasive may lead to reduced fish growth. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2012-04-03 23:04:18.612

Este trabalho teve como objetivo a utilização de glicerol, principal subproduto da produção de biodiesel, como fonte de carbono para a produção de biomassa e ribonucleotídeos de leveduras. Com este propósito, foi realizado um screening de leveduras para identificar aquelas cepas com maior capacidade de crescimento em glicerol. As leveduras Hansenula anomala CCT 2648 e Kluyveromyces marxianus var. lactis CCT 4086 apresentaram os maiores valores de fator de conversão (YX/S) e produtividade volumétrica em células (QX) sob condições fixas de glicerol (30 g/L), temperatura (30 oC) e pH (5,5). Foi também detectada a produção de etanol e ácidos orgânicos, por algumas das leveduras estudadas em meios contendo glicerol. Com base no potencial de produção de biomassa das cepas selecionadas na etapa anterior, foram realizados estudos para avaliar a influência da concentração de glicerol (10 - 50 g/L), extrato de levedura (1 - 3 g/L), pH(4,5 - 6,5) e temperatura (28 - 40oC) no crescimento destas linhagens, utilizando planejamento experimental 24. De acordo com os resultados, a levedura Hansenula anomala CCT 2648 foi selecionada para a produção de biomassa e ribonucleotídeos em experimentos conduzidos em bioreator por apresentar maior concentração de biomassa (4,59 g/L) quando comparada com a levedura Kluyveromyces marxianus var lactis CCT 4086 (3,37 g/L). Nesta fase, foi avaliada a influência da agitação (300 - 700 rpm), aeração (0,5 - 2 vvm) e concentração de glicerol (10 - 50 g/L) com o objetivo de estabelecer as melhores condições de processo, por meio de planejamento 23. Os maiores valores de YX/S (0,57- 0,60 g/g) foram obtidos nos ensaios conduzidos sob a menor concentração de glicerol (10 g/L), entretanto, o maiores valores de QX (0,44 - 0,62) foram obtidos em cultivos quando se utilizou valores de agitação superiores a 500 rpm. A análise estatística confirmou a significância das variáveis, concentração de glicerol e agitação, e permitiu estabelecer os modelos matemáticos representativos da influência destas variáveis na produção de biomassa e ribonucleotídeos por Hansenula anomala CCT 2648. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho demonstraram o potencial de utilização do glicerol derivado da fabricação de biodiesel como fonte de carbono de baixo custo para a produção de biomassa e biomoléculas, como por exemplo os ribonucleotídeos. / Glycerol is considered to be the principle sub-product derived from biodiesel production process. In this work, glycerol was used as the only carbon source for biomass accumulation and ribonucleotides production. For this purpose screening of different strains was achieved, where the yeasts defined as Hansenula anomala CCT 2648 and Kluyveromyces marxianus var. lactis CCT 4086 showed high biomass yield (Y X/S) and productivity (QX) as well as better ribonucleotides production, using an initial concentration of glycerol of 30 g/L, temperature of 30oC and pH of 5,5. In addition, ethanol and organic acids were detected during glycerol assimilation by these two studied yeasts. Since these two selected yeast showed a promising potential in biomass and ribonucleotides production, a 24 complete factorial design was employed in order to study the influence of different parameters: glycerol initial concentration (10 - 50 g/L), yeast extract initial concentration (1-3 g/L), pH (4,5 - 6,5) and temperature (28 - 40oC) on the fermentation yield and productivity. According to the obtained results, the yeast Hansenula anomala CCT 2648 achieved higher biomass production (4,59 g/L) when compared to Kluyveromyces marxianus var lactis CCT 4086 (3,37 g/L). Such fact lead to the selection of Hansenula anomala CCT 2648 for a scale-up production of ribonucleotides using a stirred stank bioreactor, where the influence of the following fermentation parameters were studied: agitation (300 - 500 rpm), air input (0,5 - 2 vvm) and glycerol initial concentration (10 - 50 g/L) using a 23 full factorial design. High values of YX/S (0,57 - 0,6 g/g) were observed when the experiments were carried out at lower glycerol concentration (10 g/L), while high values of QX (0,44 - 0,62 g/L.h) were observed at high agitation rates of 500 rpm and above. Mathematical models were also created to confirm this influence of glycerol initial concentration and bioreactor stirring on biomass and ribonucleotides production by Hansenula anomala CCT 2648. Obtained results in this work demonstrated the feasibility of using glycerol derived from biodiesel production as a promising low-value carbon source for biomass and ribonucleotides accumulation.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo a utilização de glicerol, principal subproduto da produção de biodiesel, como fonte de carbono para a produção de biomassa e ribonucleotídeos de leveduras. Com este propósito, foi realizado um screening de leveduras para identificar aquelas cepas com maior capacidade de crescimento em glicerol. As leveduras Hansenula anomala CCT 2648 e Kluyveromyces marxianus var. lactis CCT 4086 apresentaram os maiores valores de fator de conversão (YX/S) e produtividade volumétrica em células (QX) sob condições fixas de glicerol (30 g/L), temperatura (30 oC) e pH (5,5). Foi também detectada a produção de etanol e ácidos orgânicos, por algumas das leveduras estudadas em meios contendo glicerol. Com base no potencial de produção de biomassa das cepas selecionadas na etapa anterior, foram realizados estudos para avaliar a influência da concentração de glicerol (10 - 50 g/L), extrato de levedura (1 - 3 g/L), pH(4,5 - 6,5) e temperatura (28 - 40oC) no crescimento destas linhagens, utilizando planejamento experimental 24. De acordo com os resultados, a levedura Hansenula anomala CCT 2648 foi selecionada para a produção de biomassa e ribonucleotídeos em experimentos conduzidos em bioreator por apresentar maior concentração de biomassa (4,59 g/L) quando comparada com a levedura Kluyveromyces marxianus var lactis CCT 4086 (3,37 g/L). Nesta fase, foi avaliada a influência da agitação (300 - 700 rpm), aeração (0,5 - 2 vvm) e concentração de glicerol (10 - 50 g/L) com o objetivo de estabelecer as melhores condições de processo, por meio de planejamento 23. Os maiores valores de YX/S (0,57- 0,60 g/g) foram obtidos nos ensaios conduzidos sob a menor concentração de glicerol (10 g/L), entretanto, o maiores valores de QX (0,44 - 0,62) foram obtidos em cultivos quando se utilizou valores de agitação superiores a 500 rpm. A análise estatística confirmou a significância das variáveis, concentração de glicerol e agitação, e permitiu estabelecer os modelos matemáticos representativos da influência destas variáveis na produção de biomassa e ribonucleotídeos por Hansenula anomala CCT 2648. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho demonstraram o potencial de utilização do glicerol derivado da fabricação de biodiesel como fonte de carbono de baixo custo para a produção de biomassa e biomoléculas, como por exemplo os ribonucleotídeos. / Glycerol is considered to be the principle sub-product derived from biodiesel production process. In this work, glycerol was used as the only carbon source for biomass accumulation and ribonucleotides production. For this purpose screening of different strains was achieved, where the yeasts defined as Hansenula anomala CCT 2648 and Kluyveromyces marxianus var. lactis CCT 4086 showed high biomass yield (Y X/S) and productivity (QX) as well as better ribonucleotides production, using an initial concentration of glycerol of 30 g/L, temperature of 30oC and pH of 5,5. In addition, ethanol and organic acids were detected during glycerol assimilation by these two studied yeasts. Since these two selected yeast showed a promising potential in biomass and ribonucleotides production, a 24 complete factorial design was employed in order to study the influence of different parameters: glycerol initial concentration (10 - 50 g/L), yeast extract initial concentration (1-3 g/L), pH (4,5 - 6,5) and temperature (28 - 40oC) on the fermentation yield and productivity. According to the obtained results, the yeast Hansenula anomala CCT 2648 achieved higher biomass production (4,59 g/L) when compared to Kluyveromyces marxianus var lactis CCT 4086 (3,37 g/L). Such fact lead to the selection of Hansenula anomala CCT 2648 for a scale-up production of ribonucleotides using a stirred stank bioreactor, where the influence of the following fermentation parameters were studied: agitation (300 - 500 rpm), air input (0,5 - 2 vvm) and glycerol initial concentration (10 - 50 g/L) using a 23 full factorial design. High values of YX/S (0,57 - 0,6 g/g) were observed when the experiments were carried out at lower glycerol concentration (10 g/L), while high values of QX (0,44 - 0,62 g/L.h) were observed at high agitation rates of 500 rpm and above. Mathematical models were also created to confirm this influence of glycerol initial concentration and bioreactor stirring on biomass and ribonucleotides production by Hansenula anomala CCT 2648. Obtained results in this work demonstrated the feasibility of using glycerol derived from biodiesel production as a promising low-value carbon source for biomass and ribonucleotides accumulation.

Viability and dispersal of ascospores of Anisogramma anomala, the cause of eastern filbert blight (EFB) on European hazelnut, from diseased branches pruned from trees were measured. In each of two years, branches bearing stromata of A. anomala were cut in mid-December and compared to branches cut near budbreak in March, when trees became susceptible to infection. The experiment was replicated three times at separated locations. At each location, 125 diseased branches (source) were piled loosely in a 1 x 1 m area. From March to June, spore traps (rain sampling-type) as well as 2-year-old potted hazelnut trees were placed next to each source, 6.4 m upwind and downwind, and 20 m downwind from each source. During seven significant major rain events over the two seasons, hazelnut seedlings (3-month-old) were placed adjacent to the spore traps. Near sources significantly higher (P. < 0.01) ascospores counts were obtained for branches cut near budbreak compared to those pruned in December in the first season; no significant difference in counts of ascospores were observed in the second season between pruning treatments. For both seasons significantly higher (P < 0.05) counts of ascospores were observed at 6.4 m downwind compared to 6.4 m upwind or 20 m downwind of a source. Ascospore viability, as assessed by staining with trypan blue, was similar for both pruning times at all distances and averaged 50%. At least one infected seedling was obtained for 5 of 7 major rain events regardless of pruning time at sources and 3 of 7 major rain events 6.4 m downwind of a source. All of the 2-year-old potted trees for both pruning treatments at the source and 6.4 m downwind became diseased and > 50% of trees at 20 m downwind became diseased in the 2010 season. Similar to ascospores counts, disease incidence was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in 2-year-old potted trees observed 6.4 m downwind compared to 6.4 m upwind or 20 m downwind in the 2010 season. Significantly higher (P < 0.01) disease incidence in 2-year-old potted trees was observed 20 m downwind compared to 6.4 m upwind in the 2010 season. Downwind disease gradients for both pruning treatments were shallow with slopes that were not significantly different than zero (p > 0.05) for the 2010 season. Based on these results, ascospores from diseased branches pruned from trees in both pruning treatments remained viable, infectious and were dispersed downwind of each treatment. / Graduation date: 2012

Submitted by (lucia.rodrigues@ufrpe.br) on 2017-03-16T13:22:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Edilaine Alves de Melo.pdf: 641010 bytes, checksum: 2a8032c2676a99782e8fd581d977a950 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-16T13:22:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Edilaine Alves de Melo.pdf: 641010 bytes, checksum: 2a8032c2676a99782e8fd581d977a950 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-27 / The bacterial fruit blotch caused by Acidovorax citrulli is one of the most severe diseases of melon (Cucumis melo), and a major problem in the Northeast, the main melon producing region of Brazil. Strategies for control of bacterial blotch include chemical and physical treatments of seeds and chemical sprays of the plant canopy. Since these treatments are not efficient and resistant melon cultivars do not exist, other strategies have been studied, including biological control. Our objectives were to analyze the efficiency of yeasts in the biocontrol of this disease by protecting seedlings and plants, and by treating melon seeds; and to verify the in vitro activity against the pathogen and the growth promotion of melon plants. None of the 60 yeasts inhibited the growth of the pathogen, but the isolates LMA1 (Rhodotorula aurantiaca), LMS (R. glutinis) and CC-2 (Pichia anomala) stood out as the most effective in protecting seedlings. When tested in plants and seeds, LMA1 and CC-2 maintained effectiveness. In plants, the reductions in disease index (ID) and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) compared to the control reach 58.6 and 47.2%, respectively, while seed treatments reduced ID and AUDPC up to 34.3 and 45.5%. These isolates did not promote the growth of melon plants and did not produce killer toxins in vitro. R. aurantiaca (LMA1) and P. anomala (CC-2) were effective in protecting plants and seedlings and for seed treatment of melon. Therefore, the use of these yeasts jointly with other control methods, such as resistant varieties and copper compounds, is important in integrated management of bacterial fruit blotch. / A mancha aquosa causada por Acidovorax citrulli, é uma das doenças mais severas do meloeiro (Cucumis melo) e um dos principais problemas para o Nordeste, a principal região produtora de melão do Brasil. Estratégias para o controle da mancha aquosa incluem tratamentos químicos e físicos das sementes e químico da parte aérea da planta. Uma vez que esses tratamentos não são eficientes e cultivares resistentes de meloeiro inexistem, outras estratégias têm sido investigadas, dentre elas o controle biológico. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram analisar a eficiência de leveduras no biocontrole dessa doença pela proteção de plântulas e plantas e pelo tratamento de sementes de meloeiro, além de verificar a atividade in vitro contra o patógeno e a promoção do crescimento de plantas de meloeiro. Nenhuma das 60 leveduras testadas inibiu o crescimento do patógeno, porém os isolados LMA1 (Rhodotorula aurantiaca), LMS (R. glutinis) e CC-2 (Pichia anomala) destacaram-se como os mais eficientes na proteção de plântulas. Quando testadas em plantas e sementes, LMA1 e CC-2 mantiveram a eficácia. Em plantas, as reduções de índice de doença (ID) e área abaixo da curva de progresso da doença (AACPD) em relação à testemunha foram de até 58,6 e 47,2%, respectivamente, enquanto que o tratamento de sementes reduziu o ID e AACPD em até 34,3 e 45,5%. Esses isolados não promoveram o crescimento do meloeiro e não produziram toxinas killer in vitro. R. aurantiaca (LMA1) e P. anomala (CC-2) foram eficazes na proteção de plântulas e plantas e no tratamento de sementes de meloeiro. Portanto, a utilização dessas leveduras junto a outros métodos de controle, tais como cultivares resistentes e utilização de compostos cúpricos, será importante no manejo integrado da mancha aquosa.

Killer yeasts secrete polypeptide toxins which kill sensitive cells of their own species and frequently those of other species and genera of yeasts. These protein compounds are designated as killer toxins. Also killer toxins of certain yeast strains have potential growth inhibitory activity on gram-positive pathogenic bacteria and plant pathogenic fungi. The yeasts are immune to their own killer protein. The killer phenomenon can be utilized for the protection of fermentation process against contaminating yeasts and for biological control of undesirable yeasts in the preservation of foods. The killer trait can also be used to produce large amount of foreign proteins in yeast. In the medical field , it is thought that their anti-microbial and anti-mycotic activity could be exploited in a therapeutic strategy. Yeast killer toxins are classified into 11 types according to their killing spectra and immunity-specificities such as K1, K2, etc. Altough there is considerable amount of published information concerning the applications of yeast killer toxins , among the 11 types , only K1 , K2 and K6 have been characterized. In this study , it was aimed to purify and characterize the K4 type yeast killer toxin secreted by the Hansenula anomala NCYC 432. Gel permeation chromatography was performed to isolate the killer toxin by using a HPLC system. The toxin was shown to be a glycoprotein having a molecular mass of between 49.08 kDa and 47.25 kDa and isoelectric point of between 3.77 and 3.41.

This diploma thesis focuses on the photocatalytic effect of titanium dioxide and ultraviolet light. Theoretical part shows the effect of titanium dioxide and aplication in various branches. Antibacterial effect of titanium dioxide iluminated by ultraviolet light was observed in the flow tube reactor on the yeast Hansenula anomala. After adjusting the optimal flow rate experimented with different inicial concentration of yeast cells. To increase desired effect also silver was used in the photocatalytic system. As observed in many previous studies, silver decreases the time needed for killing the microorganisms. The optained date were analysed.

This master thesis is oriented on study antimicrobial effects extracts and macerates from cure Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. Teoretical part describes basic information about plant Stevia, summary of health significant matters contained in Stevia and posobilities preparing extracts from Stevia. Antimicrobial effects extracts and macerates from cure Stevia were testing on food-borne bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus luteus) and yeasts (Geotrichum candidum and Hansenula anomala). Microorganism, extracts and macerates were chosen on basis previous study (Study of antimicrobial effects Stevia Rebaudiana extracts, Eva Rakovská). For screening antimicrobial activity were determined the growth curves by using turbidimetrie for bacteria and direct treetment metod of cells number for yeasts. Antimicrobial effects were confirmed aplication with diffusion pit method on the agar ranges. From the results flow the testing extracts and macerates from stevia analysed antimicrobial effects. The best effect was demostrated on macerates and the most sensitive was bacteria Micrococcus luteus with the best inhibitoring effects.