Eco-Friendly Bioemulsifier Production by Mucor circinelloides UCP0001 Isolated from Mangrove Sediments Using Renewable Substrates for Environmental Applications

The successful production of a biosurfactant is dependent on the development of processes using low cost raw materials. In the present work, an economically attractive medium composed of corn steep liquor and waste cooking oil was formulated to maximize the production of bioemulsifier by Mucor circinelloides UCP0001. A central rotational composite design was applied to statistical validation of the production. The emulsifying properties, stability under extreme conditions, its toxicity character, and the characterization of the bioemulsifier were determined. The best condition for biomolecule synthesis occurred in the assay 2 containing 4% of corn steep liquor and 3% waste soybean oil and exhibited 100% emulsification index for canola oil and petroleum, as well as excellent emulsifying activity for canola oil and burned engine oil. The nutritional factors studied showed statistical relevance, since all linear, quadratic effects and their interactions were significant. The bioemulsifier showed 2.69 g/L yield and the chemical character of the molecule structure was identified by FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy. The bioemulsifier showed no toxicity to Artemia salina and Chlorella vulgaris. Stable emulsions were obtained under extreme conditions of temperature, pH, and salinity. These findings contribute to understanding of the relationship between production, physical properties, chemical composition, and stability of bioemulsifier for their potential applications in biotechnology, such as bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil and water.

Sustainable biosurfactant produced by Serratia marcescens UCP 1549 and its suitability for agricultural and marine bioremediation applications

BACKGROUND

Biosurfactants are surface-active agents produced by microorganisms that have higher efficiency and stability, lower toxicity and higher biocompatibility and biodegradability than chemical surfactants. Despite its properties and potential application in a wide range of environmental and industrial processes, biosurfactants are still not cost-competitive when compared to their synthetic counterparts. Cost effective technologies and renewable raw substrates as agro-industrial and regional waste from northeast of Brazil as cassava flour wastewater, supplemented with lactose and corn oil are mainly the chemically media for growing microorganism and in turn the production of the biosurfactant of quality. This study aimed to obtained biosurfactant by Serratia marcescens UCP 1549 containing cassava flour wastewater (CWW), by application of a full-factorial design, as sustainable practices in puts the production process in promising formulation medium. The characterization of the biomolecule was carried out, as well as the determination of its stability and toxicity for cabbage seeds. In addition, its ability to stimulate seed germination for agriculture application and oil spill bioremediation were investigated.

RESULTS

Serratia marcescens showed higher reduction of surface tension (25.92 mN/m) in the new medium containing 0.2% lactose, 6% cassava flour wastewater and 5% corn waste oil, after 72 h of fermentation at 28 °C and 150 rpm. The substrate cassava flour wastewater showed a promising source of nutrients for biosurfactant production. The isolate biosurfactant exhibited a CMC of 1.5% (w/v) and showed an anionic and polymeric structure, confirmed by infrared spectra. The biomolecule demonstrated high stability under different temperatures, salinity and pH values and non-toxicity against to cabbage seeds. Thus, exploring biosurfactant their potential role in seeds germinations and the promotion and agricultural applications was investigated. In addition, the effectiveness of biosurfactant for removal burned motor oil adsorbed in sand was verified.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of medium containing CWW not only reduces the cost of process of biosurfactant production, but also the environmental pollution due to the inappropriate disposal of this residue. This fact, added to the high stability and non-toxicity of the biosurfactant produced by S. marcescens UCP 1549, confirms its high environmental compatibility, make it a sustainable biocompound that can be replace chemical surfactants in diverse industries. In addition, the effectiveness of biosurfactant for stimulate seed germination and removing burned motor oil from sand, suggests its suitability for agriculture and bioremediation applications.

Cadmium Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Strain of Pantoea agglomerans UCP1320 Isolated from Laundry Effluent

Background:

Cadmium (Cd), which is a deadly heavy metal of work-related and environmental concern, has been recognized as a substance that is teratogenic and carcinogenic for humans. Therefore, the need to develop low-cost adsorbents to remove heavy metals from aqueous solution has greatly increased. Adsorbents such as Pantoea agglomerans biomass have been used.

Aims:

We investigated the biotechnological potential of Pantoea agglomerans for the biosorption of cadmium from aqueous solution.

Patients and Methods:

Pantoea agglomerans UCP1320 isolated from the effluent of a laundry industry was used to remove cadmium from aqueous solutions. Two approaches were compared using active or thermally inactivated biomass. Three different cadmium concentrations of 1, 10 and 100 ppm were used under constant stirring at temperatures of 25°C and 35°C as was pH of 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0. Variable incubation times of 1, 6, and 24h were also studied.

Results:

The results showed that the temperature did not influence the uptake of metal by living cells nor by inactive bacterial biomass. However, increasing the pH had a positive effect on removing intermediate concentrations of cadmium. Low concentrations of cadmium were completely removed by both live and inactive biomass.

Conclusion:

Pantoea agglomerans biomass was shown to have a promising performance for the biotechnological removal of cadmium which had been dissolved in aqueous solution.

Waste Soybean Oil and Corn Steep Liquor as Economic Substrates for Bioemulsifier and Biodiesel Production by Candida lipolytica UCP 0998

Almost all oleaginous microorganisms are available for biodiesel production, and for the mechanism of oil accumulation, which is what makes a microbial approach economically competitive. This study investigated the potential that the yeast Candida lipolytica UCP0988, in an anamorphous state, has to produce simultaneously a bioemulsifier and to accumulate lipids using inexpensive and alternative substrates. Cultivation was carried out using waste soybean oil and corn steep liquor in accordance with 2² experimental designs with 1% inoculums (10⁷ cells/mL). The bioemulsifier was produced in the cell-free metabolic liquid in the late exponential phase (96 h), at Assay 4 (corn steep liquor 5% and waste soybean oil 8%), with 6.704 UEA, IE₂₄ of 96.66%, and showed an anionic profile. The emulsion formed consisted of compact small and stable droplets (size 0.2–5 µm), stable at all temperatures, at pH 2 and 4, and 2% salinity, and showed an ability to remove 93.74% of diesel oil from sand. The displacement oil (ODA) showed 45.34 cm² of dispersion (central point of the factorial design). The biomass obtained from Assay 4 was able to accumulate lipids of 0.425 g/g biomass (corresponding to 42.5%), which consisted of Palmitic acid (28.4%), Stearic acid (7.7%), Oleic acid (42.8%), Linoleic acid (19.0%), and γ-Linolenic acid (2.1%). The results showed the ability of C. lipopytica to produce both bioemulsifier and biodiesel using the metabolic conversion of waste soybean oil and corn steep liquor, which are economic renewable sources.

Biosurfactant-and-bioemulsifier produced by a promising Cunninghamella echinulata isolated from Caatinga soil in the northeast of Brazil

A Mucoralean fungus was isolated from Caatinga soil of Pernambuco, Northeast of Brazil, and was identified as Cunninghamella echinulata by morphological, physiological, and biochemical tests. This strain was evaluated for biosurfactant/bioemulsifier production using soybean oil waste (SOW) and corn steep liquor (CSL) as substrates, added to basic saline solution, by measuring surface tension and emulsifier index and activity. The best results showed the surface water tension was reduced from 72 to 36 mN/m, and an emulsification index (E₂₄) of 80% was obtained using engine oil and burnt engine oil, respectively. A new molecule of biosurfactant showed an anionic charge and a polymeric chemical composition consisting of lipids (40.0% w/w), carbohydrates (35.2% w/w) and protein (20.3% w/w). In addition, the biosurfactant solution (1%) demonstrated its ability for an oil displacement area (ODA) of 37.36 cm², which is quite similar to that for Triton X-100 (38.46 cm²). The stability of the reduction in the surface water tension as well as of the emulsifier index proved to be stable over a wide range of temperatures, in pH, and in salt concentration (4%-6% w/v). The biosurfactant showed an ability to reduce and increase the viscosity of hydrophobic substrates and their molecules, suggesting that it is a suitable candidate for mediated enhanced oil recovery. At the same time, these studies indicate that renewable, relatively inexpensive and easily available resources can be used for important biotechnological processes.

Effects of 7-hydroxycalamenene isolated from Croton cajucara essential oil on growth, lipid content and ultrastructural aspects of Rhizopus oryzae

The leaves and bark of Croton cajucara, a shrub from the Amazon region, have been used in folk medicine to treat diabetes, malaria, and gastrointestinal and liver disorders. The essential oil from the leaves, rich in linalool, presented antileishmanial and antimicrobial activities. A chemotype of this species was found with an essential oil rich in 7-hydroxycalamenene. During our studies of the C. cajucara essential oil, we isolated 7-hydroxycalamenene at > 98 % purity. The minimum inhibitory concentration of 7-hydroxycalamenene against Absidia cylindrospora, Cunninghamella elegans, Mucor circinelloides, Mucor circinelloides f. circinelloides, Mucor mucedo, Mucor plumbeus, Mucor ramosissimus, Rhizopus microsporus, Rhizopus oryzae, and Syncephalastrum racemosum ranged from 19.53 to 2500 µg/mL. The reference drug used, amphotericin B, presented a minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 0.085 µg/mL to 43.87 µg/mL. 7-Hydroxycalamenene also altered spore differentiation and total lipid content. Ultrastructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy showed significant alterations in the cellular structure of R. oryzae.

Eco-friendly chitosan production by Syncephalastrum racemosum and application to the removal of acid orange 7 (AO7) from wastewaters

Due to the existence of new methodologies that have reduced the production costs of microbiological chitosan, this paper puts forward the use of agro-industrial residues in order to produce microbiological chitosan and to apply chitosan as an innovative resource for removing acid orange 7 (AO7) from wastewaters. The best culture conditions were selected by a full 2⁴ factorial design, and the removal of the dye was optimized by a 2³ central composite rotational design. The results showed that corn steep liquor (CSL) is an agro-industrial residue that can be advantageously used to produce microbiological chitosan with yields up to 7.8 g/kg of substrate. FT-IR spectra of the product showed typical peak distributions like those of standard chitosan which confirmed the extracted product was chitosan-like. The efficiency of removing low concentrations of AO7 by using microbiological chitosan in distilled water (up to 89.96%) and tap water (up to 80.60%) was significantly higher than the efficiency of the control (chitosan obtained from crustaceans), suggesting that this biopolymer is a better economic alternative for discoloring wastewater where a low concentration of the dye is considered toxic. The high percentage recovery of AO7 from the microbiological chitosan particles used favors this biopolymer as a possible bleaching agent which may be reusable.

An improved method for removal of azo dye orange II from textile effluent using albumin as sorbent

Azo dyes are generally resistant to biodegradation due to their complex structures. Acid orange II is one of the most widely used dyes in the textile industry. The influence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in different concentrations, pH, and time of contact on Orange II was investigated using kinetics and adsorption-isotherm experiments. The results showed that the maximum colour removed from dye/albumin was 99.50% and that a stable dye-protein complex had been formed at pH 3.5 and in a proportion of 1:3 (v/v), respectively. The synthetic effluent did not show toxicity to the microcrustacean Artemia salina, and showed a CL₅₀ equal to 97 µg/mL to azo dye orange II. Additionally, the methodology was effective in removing the maximum of orange II using BSA by adsorption at pH 3.5 which mainly attracted ions to the azo dye during the adsorption process. This suggests that this form of treatment is economical and easy to use which potentially could lead to bovine serum albumin being used as a sorbent for azo dyes.

Oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) by Serratia marcescens UCP 1549 formed biphenyl as final product

BACKGROUND

The desulphurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT), a recalcitrant thiophenic fossil fuel component by Serratia marcescens (UCP 1549) in order for reducing the Sulphur content was investigated. The Study was carried out establishing the growth profile using Luria Bertani medium to different concentrations of DBT during 120 hours at 28°C, and orbital Shaker at 150 rpm.

RESULTS

The results indicated that concentrations of DBT 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM do not affected the growth of the bacterium. The DBT showed similar Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MCB) (3.68 mM). The desulphurization of DBT by S. marcescens was used with 96 hours of growth on 2 mM of DBT, and was determined by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry. In order to study the desulphurization process by S. marcescens was observed the presence of a sulfur-free product at 16 hours of cultivation.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggests the use of metabolic pathway "4S" by S. marcescens (UCP 1549) and formed biphenyl. The microbial desulphurization process by Serratia can be suggest significant reducing sulphur content in DBT, and showed promising potential for reduction of the sulfur content in diesel oil.

Microbial enhance of chitosan production by Rhizopus arrhizus using agroindustrial substrates

This study investigated the potential of Rhizopus arrhizus UCP 402 for producing chitosan using corn steep liquor and honey as agroindustrial nitrogen and carbon sources. A complete factorial design was used to assess the improved biomass and chitosan production. The results were evaluated using Pareto charts (Statistica 7.0 software). The chitosan obtained was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The cristallinity index (I(C)), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to evaluate the degree of deacetylation (DD %). The morphological aspects of the R. arrhizus were evaluated by measuring the diameter of the colonies by light microscopy. The results obtained showed higher biomass and chitosan yields (20.61 g/L and 29.3 mg/g), respectively, in the selected assays. The characterization of the macromolecular arrangement of chitosan showed a crystallinity index compatible with the literature, and the infrared peaks confirmed a degree of 86%. The experimental data obtained suggest that adding honey to corn steep liquor is a promising way to improve microbiological chitosan production.

Economic optimized medium for tensio-active agent production by Candida sphaerica UCP0995 and application in the removal of hydrophobic contaminant from sand

Statistical experimental designs and response surface methodology were employed to optimize the concentrations of agroindustrial residues as soybean oil (SORR) from refinery, and corn steep liquor (CSL) from corn industry, for tensio-active agent produced by Candida sphaerica UCP 0995. Three 2(2) full factorial design were applied sequentially to investigate the effects of the concentrations and interactions of soybean oil refinery residue and corn steep liquor on the surface tension of free-cell culture broth for 144 h. Two 2(2) central composite designs and response surface methodology were adopted to derive a statistical model to measure the effect of SORR and CSL on the surface tension of the free-cell culture broth for 144 h. The regression equation obtained from the experimental data using a central composite design was solved, and by analyzing the response surface contour plots, the optimal concentrations of the constituents of the medium were determined: 8.63% v/v (≅9% v/v) of SORR and 8.80% v/v (≅9% v/v) CSL. The minimum surface tension predicted and experimentally confirmed was 25.25 mN/m. The new biosurfactant, denominated Lunasan, recovered 95% of motor oil adsorbed in a sand sample, thus showing great potential for use in bioremediation processes, especially in the petroleum industry.

Environmentally friendly biosurfactants produced by yeasts

Some yeasts are preferred to bacteria as sources for biosurfactants, mainly due to their GRAS status for environmental and health safety reasons. This chapter thus focuses on the production of biosurfactants by some yeast cultures using renewable resources like fatty wastes from household and vegetable oil refineries as major substrates. The chapter also emphasizes on the importance of the application of response surface methodology and artificial neural network techniques for the optimization of biosurfactant production by yeasts.

Experimental design for the production of tensio-active agent by Candida lipolytica

The strategy of optimization using sequential factorial design was employed to enhance the tensio-active emulsifying agent produced by Candida lipolytica using soybean oil refinery residue as substrate. A full factorial design was used to evaluate the impact of three fermentation factors-amounts of refinery residue, glutamic acid and yeast extract. This allowed exclusion of the yeast extract. Full factorials designs were then sequentially used to optimize the levels of the residue and glutamic acid. The surface tension value was finally reduced to 25.29 mN/m. The maximum emulsifier activity using different substrates was within 40 h of cultivation. The surface tension of the cell-free broth containing the biosurfactant remained very stable during exposure to a wide range of pH (2-12), temperatures (0-120 degrees C) and salinity (2-10% NaCl). The combination of an industrial waste and a cheap substrate therefore seems to be very promising for the low-cost production of potent biosurfactant.

Optimizing the medium components in bioemulsifiers production byCandida lipolyticawith response surface method

A response surface methodology was used to study bioemulsifier production by Candida lipolytica. A 24full experimental design was previously carried out to investigate the effects and interactions of the concentrations of corn oil, urea, ammonium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate on the emulsification activity (EA) of the bioemulsifier produced by C. lipolytica. The best EA value (3.727 units of emulsification activity (UEA)) was obtained with a medium composed of 0.4 g of urea, 1.1 g of ammonium sulfate, 2.04 g of potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate, 5 mL of corn oil, 50 mL of distilled water, and 50 mL of seawater. A curvature check was performed and revealed a lack of fit of the linear approximation. The proximity of the optimum point was evident, as was the need for quadratic model and second-order designs that incorporate the effect of the curvature. Medium constituents were then optimized for the EA using a three-factor central composite design and response surface methodology. The second-order model showed statistical significance and predictive ability. It was found that the maximum EA produced was 4.415 UEA, and the optimum levels of urea, ammonium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate were, respectively, 0.544% (m/v), 2.131% (m/v), and 2.628% (m/v).Key words: emulsification activity, factorial design, central composite design, optimization, biosurfactant.

Screening of chitin deacetylase from Mucoralean strains (Zygomycetes) and its relationship to cell growth rate

Chitin deacetylase (CDA) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of acetamine groups of N-acetyl-D: -glucosamine in chitin, converting it to chitosan in fungal cell walls. In the present study, the activity in batch culture of CDA from six Mucoralean strains, two of them wild type, isolated from dung of herbivores of Northeast Brazil, was screened. Among the strains tested, Cunninghamella bertholletiae IFM 46114 showed a high intracellular enzyme activity of 0.075 U/mg protein after 5 days of culture, and a wild-type strain of Mucor circinelloides showed a high intracellular enzyme activity of 0.060 U/mg protein, with only 2 days of culture, using N-acetylchitopentaose as substrate. This enzyme showed optimal activity at pH 4.5 in 25 mM glutamate-sodium buffer at 50 degrees C, and was stable over 1 h preincubation at the same temperature. The kinetic parameters of CDA did not follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics, but rather Hill affinity distribution, showing probable allosteric behavior. The apparent K(HILL) and Vmax of CDA were 288+/-34 nmol/l and 0.08+/-0.01 U mg protein(-1) min(-1), respectively, using N-acetylchitopentaose as substrate at pH 4.5 at 50 degrees C.

Decolorization of reactive azo dyes by Cunninghamella elegans UCP 542 under co-metabolic conditions

The inappropriate disposal of dyes in wastewater constitutes an environmental problem and can cause damage to the ecosystem. Alternative treatments have been reported that fungi are particularly effective in the decolorization of textile effluents. The decolorization of dyes with different molecular structures by Cunninghamella elegans was evaluated under several media conditions. The decolorization procedures consisted of adding 72 h of mycelium into the culture medium containing either orange or reactive black or reactive red or a mixture of these dyes in the presence or absence of sucrose and/or peptone. The decolorization profile was highly dependent upon the incubation time, the molecular structure of the dye and presence or absence of co-substrates. The presence of sucrose or both sucrose and peptone significantly increased the decolorization of the solutions, however, the presence of only the nitrogen source suppressed it. The ultraviolet spectra of the solutions before and after decolorization suggested the occurrence of biodegradation in addition to the biosorption of the dyes. All tested dyes, except for the reactive black, caused inhibition of respiration of Escherichia coli, which suggested that toxic metabolites were produced.

Chitosan from Syncephalastrum racemosum used as a film support for lipase immobilization

Chitosan from a native Mucoralean strain, Syncephalastrum racemosum, isolated from herbivorous dung (Northeast-Brazil), was used as a film support for lipase immobilization. S. racemosum showed highest chitosan yield (152 mg g dry mycelia weight(-1); 15.2% of dry mycelia weight) among the nine strains screened, which presented 89% D-glucosamine. A chitosan film was used for lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) immobilization using glutaraldehyde as a bifunctional agent. The immobilized lipase retained 47% (12.6 micromol s(-1) m(-2)) of its initial catalytic activity after four cycles of reaction. This result is comparable (same order of magnitude) to that of the enzyme immobilized on film made from commercially available crustacean chitosan.

Typing of human and bovine Staphylococcus aureus by RAPD-PCR and ribotyping-PCR

AIMS

To investigate genetic diversity among Staphylococcus aureus and to delineate the geographical distribution of the strains found.

METHODS AND RESULTS

RAPD-PCR and ribotyping-PCR were employed for the characterization of Staph. aureus isolates from bovine and nosocomial origin. Among the strains, five to nine groups were distinguished by RAPD-PCR, depending on which primer was used, while ribotyping-PCR distinguished seven ribotypes.

CONCLUSIONS, AND SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

These results demonstrate the genetic heterogeneity of the strains studied, and the large dissemination of some clones throughout different regions and hosts, findings that may allow the monitoring of Staph. aureus infections.

Physical and rheological characterisation of polyethylene glycol-cashew-nut tree gum aqueous two-phase systems

The characterisation of the polyethylene glycol-cashew-nut tree gum aqueous two-phase system is described. Factors which affect the phase diagram including polymer molecular mass, pH and temperature were analysed. The physico-chemical properties of the system such as density, viscosity, volume ratio and phase separation times were also described. The characteristics of the system studied indicate it to be very attractive as a separation technique.

Bioemulsifier production in batch culture using glucose as carbon source by Candida lipolytica

The yeast Candida lipolytica IA 1055 produced an inducible extracellular emulsification activity while utilizing glucose at different concentrations as carbon source during batch fermentation at 27 degrees C. In all glucose concentrations studied, maximum production of emulsification activity was detected in the stationary phase of growth, after pH reached minimal values. The bioemulsifier isolated was a complex biopolymer constituting proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. The results obtained in this work show that the biosynthesis of a bioemulsifier is not simply a prerequisite for the degradation of extracellular hydrocarbon.

A factorial design analysis of chitin production by Cunninghamella elegans

Chitin production by Cunninghamella elegans (IFM 46109) was studied with a two-level full factorial design, varying time of cultivation and the concentration of D-glucose, L-asparagine, and thiamine in the culture medium. The material extracted was characterized by infrared and NMR spectroscopy. The highest chitin yield, 28.8%, was comparable with the highest in the literature and was obtained with a medium containing 60 g.L-1 of glucose, 3 g.L-1 of asparagine, and 0.008 mg.L-1 of thiamine. Increasing the time of cultivation from 24 h to 72 h did not affect chitin production. The three factors showed significant positive effects on chitin production, without interactions between them.

New aqueous two-phase system based on cashew-nut tree gum and poly(ethylene glycol)

The characterisation of a new system based on cashew-nut tree gum, a branched acidic heteropolysaccharide found in Brazil, and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was studied. Phase diagrams are provided for the PEG-cashew-nut tree gum system. The influence of PEG molecular mass, tie-line length and pH on bovine serum albumin (BSA) partition was investigated. Protein partition coefficient was little influenced by changing PEG molecular mass. Increasing the tie-line length decreased the partition. Increasing the pH also raised the BSA partition coefficient. It is shown that systems formed by PEG and cashew-nut tree gum may be considered as an interesting alternative for use in protein purification.

The use of babassu oil as substrate to produce bioemulsifiers by Candida lipolytica

Candida lipolytica IA 1055 produced an extracellular emulsifier when using babassu oil as its sole carbon source during batch and fed batch fermentations at 27 degrees C. Emulsification activity was detected after 60 h of growth in all conditions studied. The bioemulsifier was isolated after 144 h of fermentation from the best condition studied. The biopolymer seems to be a polysaccharide-protein-lipid complex.

Effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on lipase of Candida lipolytica

The effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate on extracellular lipase produced by Candida lipolytica have been studied. The microorganism was grown in culture medium containing different sodium dodecyl sulfate concentrations added to the culture at different intervals of growth. The extracellular lipase activity was not detected when the treated culture supernatants were directly tested in Yeast Mold Agar-Triolein-Rhodamine plates, regardless of surfactant addition time and concentrations. However, after ammonium sulfate precipitation and dialysis, the extracellular lipase activity could be recovered. Therefore, the surfactant, under the experimental conditions used here, does not seem to be able to inhibit lipase production, but it does inhibit the enzyme activity because of its presence in the mixture of the reaction.

Report of chronic subcutaneous abscesses caused by Exophiala spinifera

A case of phaeohyphomycosis with subcutaneous abscesses involving skin, muscle and bone was caused by Exophiala spinifera. This is the first report of E. spinifera causing bone degeneration in Recife-PE, Brazil.

Bacitracin production by a new strain of Bacillus subtilis. Extraction, purification, and characterization

A new strain of Bacillus subtilis C 126 was isolated from sugar cane fermentation and produced an antibiotic that inhibited the growth of Micrococcus flavus. The production of the antibiotic in culture medium followed to extraction with n-butanol, thin layer chromatography, and microbiological tests indicated that a polypeptide antibiotic was produced. The fraction obtained by Sephadex G-25 column and analyzed by HPLC indicated that bacitracin complex was produced.

The effect of glucose concentration and light on thallospore ultrastructure in Ellisomyces anomalus (Thamnidiaceae, Mucorales)

The development of chains of thallospores in the mucoraceous fungus Ellisomyces anomalus has been examined using scanning, thin section, and freeze-fracture electron microscopical techniques. The development and cytology of spores formed on high-glucose (HG, 4.0%) and low-glucose (LG, 0.06%) media, under both light and dark conditions, have been compared. The vegetative hyphae of spores on LG media accumulate glycogen particles in their cytoplasm but contain very little lipid. The cytoplasm of HG hyphae is packed with lipid globules. The thallospores are delimited by septa, which as in most other mucoraceous fungi are perforated by plasmodesmatalike pit connections. A thick secondary (spore) wall layer is accreted as the spores swell. Although mature thallospores on LG and HG media are similar in their external morphology, they show internal differences. HG spores are thicker walled and contain abundant lipid and glycogen reserves. LG spores contain relatively little lipid and are more highly vacuolate. The only structural differences observed between the carotene-rich, light-grown spores and their dark-grown counterparts is an increase in lipid globule electron density and an overall enhancement of membrane staining properties. The mature thallospores secede from the parent hyphae by both shizolytic (septum splitting) and rhexolytic (circumcissile hyphal splitting) mechanisms. From a developmental standpoint it is suggested the thallospores of Ellisomyces resemble thallic arthric conidia (arthrospores), simiar to those produced by Mucor rouxii, more closely than true chlamydospores, such as those produced by Gilbertella persicaria and Mucor mucedo.