Xanthan gum production by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. mangiferaeindicae from glycerin of biodiesel in different media and addition of glucose

Biodiesel production has been increasing yearly in Brazil. A large amount of glycerin is generated in this process and needs a correct destination. One possible use of this glycerin in crude form is in biotechnological processes. Xanthan gum is a commercial gum used primarily in the pharmaceutical and food industries as thickener, emulsifier and stabilizer. It is synthetized by species of the bacterium Xanthomonas generally from glucose. However, current research shows that species of this bacterium have the capacity to grow and synthesize the gum using glycerin from biodiesel. The aim of this study was to produce xanthan gum using glycerin from biodiesel production in medium with different nitrogen content, named complex and simple media. The kinetics of fermentation in simple medium showed a twofold increase in gum production (3.16 kg.m-3) compared to the one in complex medium (1.46 kg.m-3) after 120 hours. The gum generated in this study showed chemical and rheological characteristics of xanthan gum. Glucose supplementation did not show an increase in xanthan production but did increase the consistency index and the behavioral index of solutions of this gum.

Studies on the formation and forming mechanism of the related substance E in potassium clavulanate production by HPLC-MS/MS

The objective of this study was to investigate the formation and forming mechanism of the related substance E in potassium clavulanate production. The impurity with retention time of 11.1 min in potassium clavulanate final product was confirmed as the related substance E by high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-MS/MS).The related substance E analysis during the production of clavulanic acid showed that this impurity could be formed during both the fermentation and purification processes, especially in the later fermentation stage, filtration concentration and back-extraction procedure. Clavulanic acid was the precursor of the related substance E. Studies on its forming mechanism showed that the related substance E was formed by the combination of the imino group of one molecule of clavulanic acid with the carboxyl group of another molecule of clavulanic acid with the opening of β-lactam ring. Results of a multi-factor orthogonal test confirmed that the concentration of clavulanic acid was the dominant factor to accelerate the reaction, while the temperature was another contributing factor. The pH 5.0-6.5 had little impact on the generation of the related substance E.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a formação da substância E e o respectivo mecanismo na produção de clavulanato de potássio. Confirmou-se a impureza com tempo de retenção de 11,1 min no produto final, clavulanato de potássio, como substância E, por meio de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência, em conjunto com detecção por espectrometria de massas (CLAE-MS-MS). A análise da substância relacionada E durante a produção do ácido clavulânico mostrou que essa impureza pode ser formada tanto durante a fermentação quanto durante os processos de purificação, especialmente no estágio final de fermentação, filtração, concentração e procedimento de extração. O ácido clavulãnico foi o precursor da substância E. Estudos no mecanismo de sua formação mostraram que a substância E formou-se pela combinação do grupo imina da molécula do ácido clavulânico com o grupo carboxílico de outra molécula de ácido clavulânico, com a abertura do anel β-lactâmico. Resultados do teste ortogonal multifatorial confirmaram que a concentração do ácido clavulânico foi o fator dominante para acelerar a reação, enquanto a temperatura foi outro fator que contribuiu. O pH de 5,0 a 6,5 teve pouco impacto na geração da substância E.

Modelo de sistema basado en conocimiento para apoyo en la investigación y p'roceso clínico de la diabetes / Knowledge-based system model to support diabetes research and clinical process

Due to the great amount of information generated and supported by the explosive evolution of computer science systems since the end of the last century, the expansion and transference of scientific knowledge has caused a rapid transformation of scientific discoveries in products and applications that have positive effects in the life quality of societies. Today, a great amount of data in medicine is obtained by the application of biotechnological methods that constantly evolve. Thus, scientific research related to diabetes keeps improving. In this context, productivity and competitiveness must be sustained on knowledge which facilitates and encourages organizational innovation capacity. For this reason, knowledge based systems emerge as a useful tool to help organizations solve difficult assignments or improve their processes. In this work, derivate from known diabetes group of symptoms and interactions that diabetes research maintains with the biotechnological processes, the authors carried out a brief analysis of the knowledge involved as well as the role that knowledge-based systems have played, and keep playing in support of them. Additionally, with the systemic perspective obtained by the authors regarding aspects like knowledge, practices and resources needed in clinical and laboratory practices, they propose a systemic model that can support diabetes research and clinical process.

Debido a la gran cantidad de información generada y apoyada por la evolución explosiva de sistemas de la ciencia computacional, desde finales del siglo pasado, la expansión y transferencia de conocimiento científico ha provocado una rápida transformación de los descubrimientos científicos en productos y aplicaciones que afectan positivamente la calidad de vida de las sociedades. Actualmente, una gran cantidad de datos en medicina se obtiene por la aplicación de métodos biotecnológicos que constantemente evolucionan. De igual manera, la investigación científica sobre diabetes mantiene una mejora constante. En este contexto, tanto la productividad como la competitividad se deben apoyar con conocimiento que facilite y promueva la capacidad de innovación organizacional. Por esta razón, los sistemas basados en conocimiento emergen como una herramienta útil para coadyuvar con las organizaciones en la solución de situaciones difíciles o en la mejora de sus procesos. En este trabajo, derivado del conocido grupo de síntomas y de las interacciones que la investigación en diabetes mantiene con los procesos biotecnológicos, los autores realizan un breve análisis del conocimiento implicado y del rol que los sistemas basados en el conocimiento han desempeñado, -y continúan desempeñando, en apoyo a tales procesos. Adicionalmente, con la perspectiva sistémica obtenida por los autores respecto al conocimiento y recursos necesarios en prácticas clínicas y de laboratorio, proponen un modelo sistémico capaz de apoyar la investigación y el proceso clínico de la diabetes.