Prokaryote communities along a source-to-estuary river continuum in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

The activities of microbiomes in river sediments play an important role in sustaining ecosystem functions by driving many biogeochemical cycles. However, river ecosystems are frequently affected by anthropogenic activities, which may lead to microbial biodiversity loss and/or changes in ecosystem functions and related services. While parts of the Atlantic Forest biome stretching along much of the eastern coast of South America are protected by governmental conservation efforts, an estimated 89% of these areas in Brazil are under threat.

Up-recycling oil produced water as the media-base for the production of xanthan gum.

Produced water (PW) and crude glycerin (CG) are compounds overproduced by the oil and biodiesel industry and significant scientific efforts are being applied for properly recycling them. The aim of this research is to combine such industrial byproducts for sustaining the production of xanthan by Xanthomonas campestris. Xanthan yields and viscosity on distinct PW ratios (0, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100) and on 100% dialyzed PW (DPW) in shaker batch testing identified DPW treatment as the best approach for further bioreactor experiments.

Large-scale differences in diversity and functional adaptations of prokaryotic communities from conserved and anthropogenically impacted mangrove sediments in a tropical estuary.

Mangroves are tropical ecosystems with strategic importance for climate change mitigation on local and global scales. They are also under considerable threat due to fragmentation degradation and urbanization. However, a complete understanding of how anthropogenic actions can affect microbial biodiversity and functional adaptations is still lacking.

Screening and testing potential inhibitors of sulphide gas production by sulphate-reducing bacteria.

Sulphate-reducing bacteria are commonly associated with biological causes of oil well souring. Biosulphetogenesis can directly affect oil quality and storage due to the accumulation of sulphides. In addition, these microorganisms can create bio-incrustation that can clog pipes.

Essential and Potentially Toxic Elements from Brazilian Geopropolis Produced by the Stingless Bee Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Using ICP OES.

Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides is a species of stingless bee popularly known in Brazil as "mandaçaia". Products derived from bees for food and therapeutic uses, have stimulated the evaluation of the chemical composition of geopropolis. Concentrations of 24 essential and potentially toxic elements were determined in geopropolis samples, using a sequential optical emission spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma (ICP OES) after microwave-assisted acid digestion.

Bacterial xanthan and ramnolipid simultaneous production using industrial oil produced water.

The present work aimed to give an economical destiny to the produced water, a residue generated by the oil and gas industry by means of producing bioactives such as xanthan gum and ramnolipid. These compounds are often used in combination during enhanced oil recovery strategies. On the other hand, reports on co-culture of bacterial strains that are responsible for their production are rare.

Sunscreen protection factor enhancement through supplementation with Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L) ethanolic extract.

The use of plant bioactives in cosmetic formulations are increasing due to the search for new sustainable sources of raw materials, greater concern for safety and possible social impacts caused by the incorrect use of natural resources. Plant extracts have been the subject of several studies in several industrial areas. However, the potential use of tropical fruits extracts in cosmetic formulations remains largely unexplored.

Guava-fruit extract can improve the UV-protection efficiency of synthetic filters in sun cream formulations.

Increasing concerns about health safety, social impacts and fair trade have intensified the industrial interest for using natural products in commercial cosmetic formulations. Several studies are currently focusing on plant extracts, but tropical fruits, such as guava, remain yet unexplored and, consequently, underutilized. This research aims to evaluate the potential for using guava-fruit extract as a photoprotective additive agent for sun cream formulations.

Glucose and Nitrogen Amendments Can Mitigate Wastewater-Borne Bacteria Competition Effect Against Algal Growth in Wastewater-Based Systems.

The reuse of wastewater is important for reducing costs involved with algal lipid production. However, nutrient limitations, wastewater-borne microbes, and mixotrophic growth can significantly affect biomass yields and lipid/biomass ratios. This research compared the growth performances of both Chlorella vulgaris and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata on domestic wastewater effluent.

Effects of photostimulation on the catabolic process of xenobiotics.

Light biotechnology is a promising tool for enhancing recalcitrant compounds biodegradation. Xenobiotics can cause a significant impact on the quality of the results achieved by sewage treatment systems due to their recalcitrance and toxicity. The optimization of bioremediation and industrial processes, aiming to increase efficiency and income is of great value.

Photobiological effect of Laser or LED light in a thermophilic microbial consortium.

Cellulose has a highly diversified architecture and its enzymatic complexes are studied for achieving an efficient conversion and a high level of efficiency in the deconstruction of cellulolytic biomass into sugars. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of Laser or LED light in the cellulolytic activity (CMCase) and on the proliferation of the thermophilic microbial consortium used on the degradation process of a lignocellulosic biomass of green coconut shell. The irradiation protocol consisted of six Laser irradiations (λ660 ηm, 40 mW, 270 s, 13 J/cm) or LED (λ632 ± 2 ηm, 145 mW, 44 s, 13 J/cm) with 12- h time intervals in nutrient deprivation conditions.

The potential impact of using a surfactant and an alcoholic co-surfactant on SRB activity during EOR.

Surfactants and co-surfactants play an important role in enhanced oil recovery for they improve petroleum solubility and reduce interfacial tensions between oil, water and the rock formation. Ethanol is receiving renewed attention as potential co-surfactant because of the negative results obtained with the use of salts and alkaline substances. Sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) can use surfactants and co-surfactants as carbon sources and, consequently, this can increase the biological accumulation of sulphide (souring).

Characterization of isolates of equine infectious anemia virus in Brazil.

Equine infectious anemia is an important infectious disease that affects equids worldwide. Control of the disease is currently based on detection of anti-p26 EIAV by Agar Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID). In this work, 62 animals were examined by AGID and nested-PCR using primers for the gag gene.

Human bocavirus in acute gastroenteritis in children in Brazil.

Epidemiological surveillance for Human Bocavirus (HBoV) was conducted on 105 fecal specimens from children with acute gastroenteritis in Bahia, Brazil. Among of a total 105 stool samples, 44 samples were positive for HBoV as detected by nested-PCR. Of the 44 positive samples, co-infections with other enteric viruses (Norovirus, Adenovirus, and Rotavirus) were found in 12 pediatric patients.

Effect of sulfate on low-temperature anaerobic digestion.

The effect of sulfate addition on the stability of, and microbial community behavior in, low-temperature anaerobic expanded granular sludge bed-based bioreactors was investigated at 15°C. Efficient bioreactor performance was observed, with chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies of >90%, and a mean SO(2-) 4 removal rate of 98.3%.

Growth of Chlorella vulgaris on sugarcane vinasse: the effect of anaerobic digestion pretreatment.

Microalgae farming has been identified as the most eco-sustainable solution for producing biodiesel. However, the operation of full-scale plants is still limited by costs and the utilization of industrial and/or domestic wastes can significantly improve economic profits. Several waste effluents are valuable sources of nutrients for the cultivation of microalgae.

Comparing the use of different domestic wastewaters for coupling microalgal production and nutrient removal.

The streams from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) have been considered a valuable medium for mass cultivation of algal biomass. The aim of this work is to test and compare the performance of Chlorella vulgaris on several streams from five stages, from two different WWTP. The results showed biomass yields ranging from 39 to 195mg dry-weightl(-1)days(-1).

Toxicity of biodiesel, diesel and biodiesel/diesel blends: comparative sub-lethal effects of water-soluble fractions to microalgae species.

The water-soluble-fractions (WSF) from biodiesel and biodiesel/diesel blends were compared to diesel in their sub-lethal toxicity to microalgae. Chemical analyses of aromatics, non-aromatics hydrocarbons and methanol were carried out in the WSF, the former showing positive correlation with increasing diesel concentrations (B100 < B5 < B3 < B2 < D). Biodiesel interacted with the aqueous matrix, generating methanol, which showed lower toxicity than the diesel contaminants in blends.

Microbial community dynamics associated with biomass granulation in low-temperature (15 degrees C) anaerobic wastewater treatment bioreactors.

Granular biofilms underpin the operation of several categories of anaerobic wastewater treatment bioreactors. Recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of treating both industrial and domestic wastewaters at their discharge temperatures (usually <18 degrees C), thereby avoiding the heating expenses of mesophilic (20-45 degrees C) or thermophilic (45-65 degrees C) treatments. Previous low-temperature trials used mesophilic inocula and little information is available on the viability of low-temperature anaerobic granulation.

Characterization of environmentally persistent Escherichia coli isolates leached from an Irish soil.

Soils are typically considered to be suboptimal environments for enteric organisms, but there is increasing evidence that Escherichia coli populations can become resident in soil under favorable conditions. Previous work reported the growth of autochthonous E. coli in a maritime temperate Luvic Stagnosol soil, and this study aimed to characterize, by molecular and physiological means, the genetic diversity and physiology of environmentally persistent E.

Perturbation-independent community development in low-temperature anaerobic biological wastewater treatment bioreactors.

The reproducibility and stability of low- temperature anaerobic wastewater treatment systems undergoing transient perturbations was investigated. Three identical anaerobic expanded granular sludge bed-based bioreactors were used to degrade a volatile fatty acid and glucose-based wastewater under sub-ambient (15 degrees C) conditions. The effect of a variety of environmental perturbations on bioreactor performance was assessed by chemical oxygen demand removal.

Psychrophilic methanogenic community development during long-term cultivation of anaerobic granular biofilms.

Granular biomass was temporally sampled from a cold (4-15 degrees C) anaerobic bioreactor, which was inoculated with mesophilic biomass and used to treat industrial wastewater in a long-term (3.4 year) study. Data from 16S rRNA gene clone libraries, quantitative PCR and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses indicated that microbial community structure was dynamic, with shifts in the archaeal and bacterial communities' structures observed following start-up and during temperature decreases from 15 to 9.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of methanogenic communities in mesophilically and psychrophilically cultivated anaerobic granular biofilims.

Anaerobic granulation describes the self-immobilisation of methanogenic consortia into dense, particulate biofilms. This procedure underpins the operation of several categories of high-rate anaerobic wastewater treatment system. Full-scale anaerobic granular sludge plants have been generally operated in the mesophilic (20-45 degrees C) or thermophilic (45-65 degrees C) temperature range.

Unusual bacterial populations observed in a full-scale municipal sludge digester affected by intermittent seawater inputs.

This study investigated the bacterial community of a full-scale anaerobic digester, which suffers from intermittent seawater contaminations, using 16S rRNA gene clone analysis over different seasons. Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and unclassifiable bacteria were the three major bacterial groups within the clone library (a total of 290 clones). A significant portion of the total clones (29.

Removal of ammonium via simultaneous nitrification-denitrification nitrite-shortcut in a single packed-bed batch reactor.

A polyurethane packed-bed-biofilm sequential batch reactor was fed with synthetic substrate simulating the composition of UASB reactor effluents. Two distinct ammonia nitrogen concentrations (125 and 250 mg l(-1)) were supplied during two sequential long-term experiments of 160 days each (320 total). Cycles of 24h under intermittent aeration for periods of 1h were applied, and ethanol was added as a carbon source at the beginning of each anoxic period.