Intoxicações alimentares são uma das causas mais significativas de mortalidade em países desenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento, sendo as contaminações bacterianas as responsáveis pela maioria dos casos. Dentre elas destacam-se as causadas por espécies de Staphylococcus, que são nocivas tanto pela infecção do organismo hospedeiro, quanto pela intoxicação por enterotoxinas termoestáveis presentes em alimentos contaminados e mal acondicionados. Além disso, a capacidade de S. aureus formarem biofilmes confere maior proteção contra agentes de controle. Neste contexto, torna-se importante desenvolver novos métodos visando inibir estes agentes patogênicos. Uma alternativa ao emprego de conservantes sintéticos é a utilização de biossurfatantes, como os ramnolipídeos (RL) que, além de apresentarem alta estabilidade a temperatura, pH e concentração salina, apresentam baixa toxicidade e são biodegradáveis. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do pH na atividade antimicrobiana dos RL sobre células planctônicas e sésseis de Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 8095) e comparar seu efeito ao do dodecil sulfato de sódio (SDS). Os resultados mostraram que o pH exerce grande influência na ação dos surfatantes, sendo mais efetiva em valores de pH menores. Em pH 5, os RL apresentaram ação bactericida (CBM=19,5 mg L-1) superior ao SDS (CBM=39,1 mg L-1), sendo capazes de inibir e remover 80% dos biofilmes em concentrações de 156,2 mg L-1 e reduzir em cerca de 40 % a hidrofobicidade da superfície celular de S. aureus. Em valores de pH maiores a ação dos RL não superou a do SDS, porém estes ainda mostraram resultados promissores, principalmente na remoção de biofilmes evidenciado pela microscopia confocal. A espectroscopia FTIR revelou que quando em pH 6, 7 e 8 S. aureus, possivelmente, induz alterações em sua membrana celular a fim de diminuir a sensibilidade aos surfatantes. As imagens de MEV mostraram que os RL promovem deformações nas células, podendo levá-las a ruptura. O aumento da força iônica, promovido pela adição de NaCl no meio, favoreceu a ação antimicrobiana dos RL, o que torna a aplicação dos RL em alimentos bastante promissora. / Food poisoning can be considered one of the most significant causes of mortality in developed and developing countries with bacterial contamination being responsible for the majority of cases. Among them are those caused by Staphylococcus species that can beharmful, both from the infection of the host organism as the intoxication by thermostable enterotoxins present in contaminated and poorly conditioned food. In addition, the ability to form biofilms gives S. aureus greater protection against control agents. Under this context, it becomes important to develop new methods to inhibit those pathogens. An alternative to the use of synthetic preservatives are biosurfactants such as rhamnolipids (RL), which shows high stability to temperature, pH and salt concentration along with the fact that they have low toxicity and are biodegradable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pH on the antimicrobial activity of RL on planktonic and sessile Staphylococcus aureus cells (ATCC 8095) and compare its effect to that of the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The results showed that pH exerts a great influence on the action of surfactants, with greater effectiveness at lower pH. At pH 5, RL presented higher bactericidal action (CBM = 19.5 mg L-1) than SDS (CBM = 39.1 mg L-1), also being able to inhibit and remove 80% of biofilms at concentrations of 156. 2 mg L- 1 and reduce the hydrophobicity of S. aureus cell surface by about 40%. At higher pH values, the action of RL did not exceed that of SDS, neverthelessthey showed promising results, mainly on the removal of biofilms evidenced by confocal microscopy. FTIR spectroscopy revealed that at pH 6, 7 and 8,S. aureus possibly induces changes in its cell membrane in order to decrease the sensitivity to surfactants. The MEV images showed that the RL cause deformations in the cells, which can lead to rupture. The increase in ionic strength, promoted by the addition of NaCl in the medium, favored the antimicrobial action of RL, which makes the application of RL in foods very promising.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-01-20Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:05:14Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 costa_sgvao_dr_rcla.pdf: 982367 bytes, checksum: 52f037ca5cb5fbb958ef2b1a4f53f13c (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O presente trabalho visou estudar a produção de biossurfactante e PHAs de Pseudomonas sp. em substratos alternativos oriundos do processamento de alimentos bem como determinar as propriedades, composição química e aplicações dos compostos obtidos. Foram isoladas 21 cepas bacterianas, sendo que duas cepas demonstraram capacidade de crescer no meio de cultivo proposto e produzir ramnolipídios e PHAs. Estas cepas foram identificadas como Pseudomonas aeruginosa e receberam as seguintes terminações: P. aeruginosa L2-1 e P. aeruginosa B1-3. Com relação a caracterização de ramnolipídios e PHAs, suas composições variaram de acordo com a fonte de carbono e a linhagem utilizada na fermentação. O meio manipueira adicionado com óleo de fritura (MOF) apresentou os melhores resultados, alcançando uma produção de PHA de 39% do peso seco de células e uma produção de ramnolipídios de 660 mg/L. A manipueira se mostrou um substrato alternativo com potencial para a produção de ramnolipídios e PHAs, principalmente quando adicionada com óleo de fritura, além de ser uma solução do ponto de vista ambiental e também agregar valor a estes resíduos. A manipueira adicionada de óleo de fritura pode reduzir os custos de produção permitindo a obtenção concomitante de ramnolipídios e PHAs. O ramnolipídio produzido pela linhagem P. aeruginosa L2-1 no substrato manipueira adicionado de óleo de fritura foi recuperado e apresentou excelentes propriedades tenso-ativas, (baixos valores de concentração micelar crítica e de tensão superficial e interfacial, excelente atividade emulficante e estabilidade da emulsão), além de potencial para uso na remediação de ambientes contaminados, removendo até 89% de petróleo na areia após processo de lavagem, conferindo características semelhantes e algumas vezes melhores que o ramnolipídio comercial JBR599 (Jeneil Biosurfactant Co.) / This work evaluated the rhamnolipid and PHAs production by Pseudomonas sp. in alternative low-cost substrates from food processing, determining the properties, applications and chemistry composition of compounds obtained. Were isolated 21 strains, being that 2 isolates were able to growth and produce rhamnolipids and PHAs in the substrates. These bacteria were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The polymers and surfactants produced were characterized by gas-chromatography mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) and by high performance liquid chromatography-MS (HPLC-MS), and their composition was found to vary with the carbon source and the strain used in the fermentation. The best overall production of rhamnolipids and PHAs was obtained with cassava wastewater added with waste cooking oil (CWO) as the carbon source, with PHA production corresponding to 39% of the cell dry weight and rhamnolipids production being 660 mg/L. It would appear that CWO has the highest potential as alternative substrate, and its use may contribute to a reduction in the overall environmental impact generated by discarding such residues. The rhamnolipid produced by P. aeruginosa L2-1 in CWO showed excellent tension-active properties (low values of critic micellar concentration and superficial and interfacial tensions) and potential to use in remediation of contaminated environmental, removing 89% of petroleum after washing process in sand, with characteristics similar or better than commercial rhamnolipid JBR599 (Jeneil Biosurfactant Co.)

Submitted by Vasti Diniz (vastijpa@hotmail.com) on 2017-09-04T14:12:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 832786 bytes, checksum: 68ea68627a9e9ff3af199ea5e374439a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-04T14:12:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 832786 bytes, checksum: 68ea68627a9e9ff3af199ea5e374439a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The biosurfactants are microbial secondary metabolites that decrease the surface tension and have emulsifying capacity. Among biossurfactants the rhamnolipids are the most studied. Generally, the biosurfactant production is induced by hydrocarbons or other oily substrates. In this study we analyzed the production of biosurfactants, with emphasis on rhamnolipids, and diesel oil degradation by 18 strains of bacteria isolated from the waste landfill soil contaminated by petroleum. Among the studied bacteria were found Gram-positive endospore-forming rods (39%), Gram-positive rods, without endospore (17%) and Gram-negatives rods (44%). The following methods were used to test for biosurfactants production: oil spreading, emulsification and hemolytic activity. All strains showed the ability to disperse the diesel oil, while 77% and 44% of the strains showed hemolysis and emulsification of diesel oil, respectively. Rhamnolipids production was observed in four strains which were classified basing on the 16S rRNA sequences as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Only those strains showed gene rhlAB, involved in rhamnolipids synthesis, and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Erwinia carotovora and Ralstonia solanacearum. The higher production of rhamnolipids was 565.7 mg/L observed in mineral medium with olive oil (pH 8). With regard to the diesel oil degradation capacity, 7 strains were positive in reduction of the dye 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP), while 16 had the gene alkane monooxygenase (alkB), and the producers of rhamnolipids were positive in both tests. The P. aeruginosa strains analyzed in this study have a potential to be applied in the bioremediation of petroleum contaminated environments and for biotechnological purposes. / Os biossurfactantes são metabolitos secundários produzidos por microrganismos, sendo os ramnolipídeos os mais estudados entres eles. Esses compostos diminuem a tensão superficial e possuem capacidade emulsificante. Geralmente, a produção de biossurfactantes é induzida por hidrocarbonetos ou por outros substratos oleosos. Neste trabalho foi analisada a produção de biossurfactantes, com ênfase nos ramnolipídeos, e a degradação de óleo diesel por 18 linhagens de bactérias isoladas do solo do aterro de resíduos contaminados por petréolo. Dentre as bactérias estudadas foram encontradas bastonetes Gram positivas formadoras de endósporos (39%), bastonetes Gram positivas, sem endospóros (17%) e bastonetes Gram negativas (44%). Diferentes testes foram utilizados para detectar a produção de biossurfactantes sendo eles: dispersão de óleo diesel, atividade hemolítica e capacidade de emulsificação. Todas as linhagens mostraram a capacidade de dispersar o óleo diesel, enquanto 78% e 44% das linhagens apresentaram hemólise e emulsificação do óleo diesel, respectivamente. A produção de ramnolipídeos foi observada em quatro linhagens que foram classificadas na base de sequencias de 16S rRNA como Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Apenas estas linhagens apresentaram o gene rhlAB, envolvido na síntese de ramnolipídeos, bem como a atividade antibacteriana frente a Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Erwinia carotovora e Ralstonia solanacearum. A maior produção de ramnolipídeos foi de 565,7 mg/L observada em meio mineral contendo azeite de oliva (pH 8). Com relação à capacidade de degradação do óleo diesel, foi observado que 7 linhagens foram positivas no teste de redução de 2,6 diclorofenol-indofenol (DCPIP), enquanto 16 apresentaram o gene alcano monoxigenase (alkB), sendo que os produtores de ramnolipídeos foram positivos em ambos os testes. As linhagens de P. aeruginosa analisadas neste estudo apresentam um potencial de aplicação nos processos de biorremediação de ambientes contaminados por petróleo e para os fins biotecnológicos.

Orientador: Jonas Contiero / Banca: Henrique Ferreira / Banca: Francisco José dos Santos / Banca: José Gregório Cabrera Gomez / Banca: Humberto Marcio Santos Milagre / Resumo: Os biossurfactantes são metabólitos secundários que apresentam atividade de superfície, podendo ser aplicados em diferentes processos industriais, como produção de fármacos, compostos químicos, cosméticos, biorremediação de ambientes poluídos por petróleo e derivados e recuperação terciária do petróleo. A maior vantagem destes compostos quando comparado aos surfactantes sintéticos reside na sua diversidade estrutural, baixa toxicidade e alta biodegradabilidade. Apesar das inúmeras vantagens apresentadas pelos biotensoativos, eles não são comercialmente utilizados devido ao alto custo de produção. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a produção de ramnolipídios por mutantes de P. aeruginosa a partir de resíduos industriais e óleos vegetais, bem como caracterizar as propriedades de solução desses biossurfactante, além de verificar a influência da fonte de carbono na produção de homólogos de ramnolipídios por P. aeruginosa. Na primeira etapa as fermentações foram conduzidas em tubos de ensaio, após a seleção dos micro-organismos com potencial para alta produção, os mesmos foram testados em frascos Erlenmeyer. O mutante com potencial para elevada produção foi avaliado, junto com a linhagem selvagem, em fermentadores. A linhagem selecionada e a utilização do meio de cultura livre de cálcio contendo óleo de girassol como fonte de carbono acarretou em um aumento de 70% na produção de ramnolipídios. A adição de etanol às soluções de ramnolipídios comprovou o potencial desse tensoativo para serem aplicados na indústria de cosméticos, já que as propriedades de tensão superficial, agregação e emulsificação foram mantidas nas três concentrações de álcool adicionadas. Além disso, verificou-se que a mudança da fonte de carbono acarreta alteração nos tipos ácidos graxos e proporções de homólogos de ramnolipídios produzidos por P. aeruginosa LBI 2A1 / Abstract: The biosurfactants are secondary metabolites that exhibit surface activity and can be applied in different industrial processes such as production of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, cosmetics, bioremediation of environments polluted by oil and derivatives and tertiary recovery of oil. The greatest advantage of these compounds compared to synthetic surfactants lies in their structural diversity, low toxicity and high biodegradability. Despite the numerous advantages provided by biosurfactants, they are not commercially used due to the high cost of production. The present study aimed to evaluate the production of rhamnolipids by mutants of P. aeruginosa using industrial waste and vegetable oils as carbon source, as well as to characterize the properties of these biosurfactant solutions and investigate the influence of carbon source in the production of homologous rhamnolipds by P. aeruginosa. In the first stage fermentations were conducted in test tubes, after selection of microorganisms with potential for high production they were tested in Erlenmeyer flasks. The mutant with the potential for increased production was assessed, along with the wild strain in bioreactors. The selected strain and the calcium free medium used with sunflower oil as carbon source resulted in an 70% increase in the production of rhamnolipids. The addition of ethanol to the rhamnolipids solutions proved the potential of this biosurfactant to be applied in the cosmetic industry, since the properties of surface tension, emulsification and aggregation were held in all three concentrations of ethanol added. Moreover, it was found that changing the carbon source caused alteration in the types of fatty acids and rhamnolipids counterparts proportions produced by P. aeruginosa LBI 2A1 / Doutor

Na natureza, os microorganismos podem apresentar forma de vida planctônica ou podem estar aderidos a superfícies formando comunidades conhecidas como biofilmes. A formação de biofilmes na indústria alimentícia é uma constante preocupação visto que os microorganismos aderidos podem causar contaminações persistentes, levando a deterioração do alimento e a transmissão de doenças. Uma alternativa para evitar a adesão bacteriana e a formação de biofilmes é o pré-condicionamento de superfícies com biosurfatantes, que são compostos tensoativos de origem microbiana capazes de alterar as propriedades físico-químicas e conseqüentemente modificar as interações entre a bactéria e a superfície. Os biosurfatantes, surfactina obtida de Bacillus subtilis e ramnolipídeo de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, foram testados quanto a capacidade de evitar a adesão e remover biofilmes de bactérias patogênicas de interesse alimentar. Foram avaliadas culturas individuais e mistas de Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, e Salmonella Enteritidis utilizando-se como modelo superfícies de poliestireno. O pré-condicionamento da superfície com surfactina na concentração de 0,25% reduziu a adesão de Salmonella Enteritidis e Listeria monocytogenes em 42%, enquanto que o tratamento com ramnolipídeo a 1% reduziu a adesão de Listeria monocytogenes e Staphylococcus aureus ao poliestireno em 57,8% e 67,8% respectivamente. O condicionamento com os biosurfatantes não se mostrou eficiente na redução da adesão das culturas mistas das bactérias se comparado aos resultados obtidos para as culturas individuais. O poliestireno condicionado com os biosurfatantes apresentou redução na hidrofobicidade devido ao caráter aniônico destas moléculas. A repulsão eletrostática e a redução das interações hidrofóbicas promovidas pelo condicionamento do poliestireno com ramnolipídeo foram fatores determinantes na atividade antiadesiva observada para L. monocytogenes e S. aureus, entretanto os resultados obtidos para a superfície tratada com surfactina sugerem que outros parâmetros influenciaram nos resultados observados. Após 2 h de contato a surfactina na concentração de 0,1% promoveu a remoção de 63,7% do biofilme de S. aureus, 95,9% do biofilme de L. monocytogenes, 35,5% do biofilme de S. Enteritidis e 58,5% do biofilme da cultura mista das três bactérias. Já o ramnolipídeo na concentração de 0,25% removeu 58,5% do biofilme de S. aureus, 26,5% do biofilme de L. monocytogenes, 23,0 % do biofilme de S. Enteritidis e 24% do biofilme da cultura mista após 2 h contato. De modo geral, o aumento do tempo de contato e da concentração dos biosurfatantes reduziu a remoção dos biofilmes. A surfactina e o ramnolipídeo demonstraram potencial para uso como agentes anti-adesivos assim como para a remoção de biofilmes de bactérias patogênicas de importância alimentar. / In nature, microrganisms can live as planktonic cells or can be found living in communities attached in surfaces forming biofilms. Biofilm represents a great concern for food industry, since it can be a source of persistent contamination that can lead to food spoilage and the transmission of diseases. To avoid the adhesion of bacteria and the formation of biofilms, an alternative is the pre-conditioning of surfaces using biosurfactants that are microbial compounds that can modify the physico-chemical properties of the surfaces changing bacterial interactions and consequently adhesion. The biosurfactants, surfactin obtained from Bacillus subtilis and rhamnolipids from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were evaluated as agents to avoid the adhesion and to disrupt biofilms of food-borne pathogenic bacteria. Individual cultures and mixed cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes e Salmonella Enteritidis were studied using polystyrene as the model surface. The pre-conditioning with surfactin 0,25% reduces in 42,0% the adhesion of L. monocytogenes and S. Enteritidis, whereas the treatment using rhamnolipids 1,0% reduced in 57,8% the adhesion of L. monocytogenes and in 67,8% the adhesion of S. aureus to polystyrene. The conditioning of surface with biosurfactants was less effective to avoid adhesion of mixed cultures of the bacteria when compared with the results obtained for individual cultures. The polystyrene surface conditioned with the biosurfactants showed a reduction in the hydrophobicity due to the anionic character of the molecules. The electrostatic repulsion and the reduction on hydrophobic interactions promoted by the conditioning of surface with rhamnolipids were determinant factors to explain the anti-adhesive activity observed for L. monocytogenes and S. aureus, however, the data obtained with surfactin suggest that other parameters have influenced the results observed. After 2 h contact with surfactin at 0,1% concentration, the pre-formed biofilms of S. aureus were reduced by 63,7%, L. monocytogenes biofilms were reduce by 95,9% , S. Enteritidis biofilms by 35,5% and the mixed culture biofilm by 58,5%. The rhamnolipids at 0,25% concentration removed 58,5% of biofilm of S. aureus, 26,5% of the biofilm of L. monocytogenes, 23,0% the biofilm of S. Enteritidis and 24,0% the biofilm of the mixed culture after 2 h of contact. In general, the increase in concentration of biosurfactants and in the time of contact decreases the biofilm remove percentage. These results demonstrate that surfactin and rhamnolipids present potential to be used as agents to control the attachment and to disrupt biofilms of food-borne pathogens.

Surfactantes de origem química e biológica são substâncias anfipáticas que se localizam em interfaces e diminuem a tensão intererficial. Este trabalho objetivou isolar microrganismos do gênero Pseudomonas, a partir de amostras ambientais; selecionar, dentre os isolados, aqueles que são capazes de produzir biossurfactante e caracterizar os biossurfactantes encontrados de acordo com suas propriedades. Foram isoladas 1713 linhagens, destas, 944 foram capazes de crescer em meio PIA. A análise do sobrenadante para presença de ácidos graxos normalmente encontrados em ramnolipídios demonstrou que em 31 linhagens, das 95 que apresentaram atividades tensoativas, foi detectada a presença de 3-hidroxidecanoato (3HD) e outras 56 não apresentaram picos característicos de ácidos graxos característicos de ramnolipídios. Foram selecionadas 10 linhagens para caracterização dos biossurfactantes produzidos por elas. Foi confirmada a produção de ramnolipídios por 3 linhagens e foi possível identificar um novo composto com tensoatividade, o 2-acetilfurano. / Biological and chemical surfactants are anphipatic compounds whitch reduce interfaces tension. The present work aimed to isolate microorganisms of samples from diverse environments, chosing among the isolated ones, those capaple of producing biosurfactants and characterizing it according to some of their properties. From 1713 isolated strains, 944 were capable of growing in PIA medium. The supernatant analysis for the presence of fatty acids usually found in rhamnolipds showed that 31 of the 87 strains that presented tensoactive activities, had 3-hydroxyalkanoates (3HD) detected in their supernatant. Other 56 strains did not present characteristic rhamnolipid fatty acids peaks. Based in this resoults 10 isolates were selected for a better characterization of their biosurfactants. The producton os RHLs were confirmed for 3 diferent strains. It was possible to identify a new compound called 2-acethylfuran that was not mentioned by other authors as a possible biosurfactant or as produced by Pseudomonas.

Keratins are important structural components of hair and skin. There has been extensive study of keratins from the health and medical perspectives, although little work has been done to date to investigate their basic physicochemical properties in the form of biomaterials. The work presented in this thesis aimed to study surface and interfacial adsorption and solution aggregation of water soluble keratin polypeptides (made available by previous work within the research group). A range of physical techniques were employed including spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), neutron reflection (NR), dual polarisation interferometry (DPI), quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS).A major technical advantage of the neutron techniques is the use of hydrogen/deuterium substitution to enhance structural resolution. This approach was explored to study the interaction of keratins with both conventional surfactants and novel biosurfactants. The work presented comprises four results chapters. The first examines and compares four widely used interfacial techniques, SE, DPI, QCM-D and NR, by studying the adsorption of C12E6 at the silicon oxide/water interface. Whilst the data exhibits a large degree of consistency in the interfacially adsorbed amount, each technique helped reveal unique structural information with a high degree of complementarity. The second results chapter reports on findings regarding the properties of keratin polypeptides in surface adsorption and solution aggregation. It was found that the keratins adsorbed strongly on the surface of water, and formed rugby-shaped nanoaggregates in solution, the size and shape of which responded to salt concentration. The third results chapter reports on the interfacial behaviour of keratin/surfactants complexes in bulk solution, with cationic DTAB and anionic SDS as model conventional surfactants. It was found that both the electrostatic and hydrophobic forces contributed strongly to the surface adsorption processes. The final results chapter reports on interactions of a coated keratin film with novel biosurfactants including rhamnolipids (R1 and R2 with 1 and 2 sugar head(s), respectively) and Mel-C. The keratin films formed were found to be exceptionally stable and reproducible below pH 8, and these films could be widely used as model keratin substrates for screening their binding with surfactants and bioactive molecules. Both rhamnolipids and Mel-C exhibited strong adsorption onto the keratin substrate and interestingly, whilst R1 exhibited a completely reversible adsorption, R2 showed only a partially reversible adsorption. Mel-C showed some degree of irreversible adsorption similar to R2 and exhibited the strongest adsorption at around pH 4-5. These results show mild interactions with the keratin substrate, but indicate that the extent of adsorption and desorption could be manipulated by surfactant structure or solution conditions. The findings presented in this thesis are fundamental in aiding the development of the use of keratin polypeptides as biomaterials, in applications such as personal care. The work is also highly relevant to the understanding of the interactions between surfactants and keratin molecules at interfaces and in solution.

Resumo: O presente trabalho visou estudar a produção de biossurfactante e PHAs de Pseudomonas sp. em substratos alternativos oriundos do processamento de alimentos bem como determinar as propriedades, composição química e aplicações dos compostos obtidos. Foram isoladas 21 cepas bacterianas, sendo que duas cepas demonstraram capacidade de crescer no meio de cultivo proposto e produzir ramnolipídios e PHAs. Estas cepas foram identificadas como Pseudomonas aeruginosa e receberam as seguintes terminações: P. aeruginosa L2-1 e P. aeruginosa B1-3. Com relação a caracterização de ramnolipídios e PHAs, suas composições variaram de acordo com a fonte de carbono e a linhagem utilizada na fermentação. O meio manipueira adicionado com óleo de fritura (MOF) apresentou os melhores resultados, alcançando uma produção de PHA de 39% do peso seco de células e uma produção de ramnolipídios de 660 mg/L. A manipueira se mostrou um substrato alternativo com potencial para a produção de ramnolipídios e PHAs, principalmente quando adicionada com óleo de fritura, além de ser uma solução do ponto de vista ambiental e também agregar valor a estes resíduos. A manipueira adicionada de óleo de fritura pode reduzir os custos de produção permitindo a obtenção concomitante de ramnolipídios e PHAs. O ramnolipídio produzido pela linhagem P. aeruginosa L2-1 no substrato manipueira adicionado de óleo de fritura foi recuperado e apresentou excelentes propriedades tenso-ativas, (baixos valores de concentração micelar crítica e de tensão superficial e interfacial, excelente atividade emulficante e estabilidade da emulsão), além de potencial para uso na remediação de ambientes contaminados, removendo até 89% de petróleo na areia após processo de lavagem, conferindo características semelhantes e algumas vezes melhores que o ramnolipídio comercial JBR599 (Jeneil Biosurfactant Co.) / Abstract: This work evaluated the rhamnolipid and PHAs production by Pseudomonas sp. in alternative low-cost substrates from food processing, determining the properties, applications and chemistry composition of compounds obtained. Were isolated 21 strains, being that 2 isolates were able to growth and produce rhamnolipids and PHAs in the substrates. These bacteria were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The polymers and surfactants produced were characterized by gas-chromatography mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) and by high performance liquid chromatography-MS (HPLC-MS), and their composition was found to vary with the carbon source and the strain used in the fermentation. The best overall production of rhamnolipids and PHAs was obtained with cassava wastewater added with waste cooking oil (CWO) as the carbon source, with PHA production corresponding to 39% of the cell dry weight and rhamnolipids production being 660 mg/L. It would appear that CWO has the highest potential as alternative substrate, and its use may contribute to a reduction in the overall environmental impact generated by discarding such residues. The rhamnolipid produced by P. aeruginosa L2-1 in CWO showed excellent tension-active properties (low values of critic micellar concentration and superficial and interfacial tensions) and potential to use in remediation of contaminated environmental, removing 89% of petroleum after washing process in sand, with characteristics similar or better than commercial rhamnolipid JBR599 (Jeneil Biosurfactant Co.) / Orientador: Jonas Contiero / Coorientador: Marcia Nitschke / Banca: José Gregório Cabrera Gomez / Banca: Marcos Rogério Tótola / Banca: Humberto Márcio Santos Milagre / Banca: Lucia Regina Durrant / Doutor

The increasing bacterial resistance to available antibiotics requires the search for new antibacterial compounds to be broadened. This study investigated the antimicrobial properties of two secondary metabolites from fluorescent pseudo monads -- syringopeptin 25A, a lipodepsipeptide produced by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, and a rhamnolipid mixture produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The rate of antimicrobial action was determined by monitoring the rate of uptake of propidium iodide during exposure to the compounds. Inhibition was also confirmed by the microbroth dilution method to determine the MI Cs. Both the compounds inhibited growth of Gram-positive organisms, including Mycobacterium smegmatis, staphylococci, and listeria. Inhibition of spore germination was also notable. SP 25A inhibited two multiple antibiotic strains of Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, while RLs failed to do so, even at 60 μg/ml. Addition of the compounds together showed a synergistic activity against Listeria monocytogenes. Neither compound was toxic to human cells in vitro at 8 μg/ml. It is postulated that both compounds exert their antimicrobial effect by forming pores in the bacterial cell membrane, but we did not observe a relation between membrane permeabilization and inhibition of growth in each case. At sub-MIC concentrations RLs did cause pores in the membrane of L. monocytogenes, while SP 25A did not. However, RLs did not inhibit cell growth, while SP 25A completely inhibited cell growth. To investigate these effects gene expression was monitored just before treating the cells with the antimicrobials, 30 min after treatment and 120 min after treatment. The gene expression profile was distinct when cells were treated with both the antimicrobials. SP 25A repressed genes related to cell division, intermediary metabolism, transcription, translation, and virulence genes. These effects were not produced when cells were treated with RLs, hence giving indications that even though both the antimicrobials may act on the same site (i.e. the cell membrane), the cellular response was different, which led to different phenotypes for growth. This work indicates that SP 25A holds promise for further development as a therapeutic agent and provides evidence that the proposed pore-forming model alone does not suffice to explain the mode of action of SP 25A.

Los biotensioactivos son compuestos producidos por microorganismos que poseen actividad superficial, baja toxicidad, carácter biodegradable y efectividad a temperaturas y valores de pH extremos. Los ramnolípidos, son un tipo de biotensioactivos con interesantes actividades biológicas, que parecen estar relacionadas con su interacción con las membranas. En esta tesis doctoral se estudia la interacción de la fracción dirramnolipídica purificada de cultivos de Pseudomonas aeruginosa con membranas modelo y membranas biológicas, la interacción con albúmina de suero bovino, utilizada como proteína modelo, y por último, se evalúa el papel de este biotensioactivo en la estabilización de liposomas sensibles a pH y su aplicación en la introducción de compuestos en células animales. Para el desarrollo de este trabajo de investigación se han utilizado técnicas como calorimetría, FT-IR, difracción de rayos X, dispersión de luz dinámica y microscopía electrónica. / Rhamnolipids are bacterial biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas spp. These compounds have been shown to present several interesting biological activities. It has been suggested that the interaction with the membrane could be the ultimate responsible for these actions. This thesis presents a detailed molecular level study of the dirhamnolipid interactions with artificial phospholipids membranes and biological membranas, and the dirhamnolipid interactions with bovine serum albumin, used as a general globular protein model. Furthemore, this work includes the characterization of phosphatidylethanolamine/diRL pH-sensitive liposomes described as efficient systems for cytoplasmic delivery of foreign compounds into living cells. It has been employed a number of physical techniques such as calorimetry, FTIR, small angle X-ray (SAX) diffraction and dynamic light scattering.