Extraction of chitin from edible crab shells of Callinectes sapidus and comparison with market purchased chitin / Extração de quitina de cascas de caranguejo comestíveis de Callinectes sapidus e comparação com quitina adquirida no mercado

Chitin and its derived products have immense economic value due to their vital role in various biological activities as well as biomedical and industrial application. Insects, microorganism and crustaceans are the main supply of chitin but the crustaceans shell like shrimp, krill, lobsters and crabs are the main commercial sources. Chitin content of an individual varies depending on the structures possessing the polymer and the species. In this study edible crabs’ shells (Callinectes sapidus) were demineralized and deproteinized resulting in 13.8% (dry weight) chitin recovery from chitin wastes. FTIR and XRD analyses of the experimental crude as well as purified chitins revealed that both were much comparable to the commercially purchased controls. The acid pretreatment ceded 54g of colloidal chitin that resulted in 1080% of the crude chitin. The colloidal chitin was exploited for isolation of eighty five chitinolytic bacterial isolates from different sources. Zone of clearance was displayed by the thirty five isolates (41.17%) succeeding their growth at pH 7 on colloidal chitin agar medium. Maximum chitinolytic activity i.e. 301.55 U/ml was exhibited by isolate JF70 when cultivated in extracted chitin containing both carbon and nitrogen. The study showed wastes of blue crabs can be utilized for extraction of chitin and isolation of chitinolytic bacteria that can be used to degrade chitin waste, resolve environmental pollution as well as industrial purpose.

A quitina e seus produtos derivados têm imenso valor econômico devido ao seu papel vital em várias atividades biológicas, bem como em aplicações biomédicas e industriais. Insetos, microrganismos e crustáceos são o principal suprimento de quitina, mas a casca dos crustáceos como camarão, krill, lagosta e caranguejo são as principais fontes comerciais. O conteúdo de quitina de um indivíduo varia dependendo das estruturas que possuem o polímero e da espécie. Neste estudo, as cascas de caranguejos comestíveis (Callinectes sapidus) foram desmineralizadas e desproteinizadas, resultando em 13,8% (peso seco) de recuperação de quitina a partir de resíduos de quitina. As análises de FTIR e XRD do bruto experimental, bem como das quitinas purificadas, revelaram que ambas eram muito comparáveis aos controles adquiridos comercialmente. O pré-tratamento com ácido cedeu 54 g de quitina coloidal que resultou em 1.080% da quitina bruta. A quitina coloidal foi analisada para isolamento de 85 isolados bacterianos quitinolíticos de diferentes fontes. A zona de eliminação foi exibida pelos 35 isolados (41,17%) que sucederam seu crescimento a pH 7 em meio de ágar de quitina coloidal. A atividade quitinolítica máxima, ou seja, 301,55 U / ml, foi exibida pelo isolado JF70 quando cultivado em quitina extraída contendo carbono e nitrogênio. O estudo mostrou que resíduos de caranguejos azuis podem ser utilizados para extração de quitina e isolamento de bactérias quitinolíticas que podem ser usadas para degradar resíduos de quitina, resolver a poluição ambiental e também para fins industriais.

Characterization of a chitinase with antifungal activity from a native Serratia marcescens B4A

Chitinases have the ability of chitin digestion that constitutes a main compound of the cell wall in many of the phytopathogens such as fungi. In the following investigation, a novel chitinase with antifungal activity was characterized from a native Serratia marcescens B4A. Partially purified enzyme had an apparent molecular mass of 54 kDa. It indicated an optimum activity in pH 5 at 45ºC. Enzyme was stable in 55ºC for 20 min and at a pH range of 3-9 for 90 min at 25ºC. When the temperature was raised to 60ºC, it might affect the structure of enzymes lead to reduction of chitinase activity. Moreover, the Km and Vmax values for chitin were 8.3 mg/ml and 2.4 mmol/min, respectively. Additionally, the effect of some cations and chemical compounds were found to stimulate the chitinase activity. In addition, Iodoacetamide and Idoacetic acid did not inhibit enzyme activity, indicating that cysteine residues are not part of the catalytic site of chitinase. Finally, chitinase activity was further monitored by scanning electronic microscopy data in which progressive changes in chitin porosity appeared upon treatment with chitinase. This enzyme exhibited antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani, Bipolaris sp, Alternaria raphani, Alternaria brassicicola, revealing a potential application for the industry with potentially exploitable significance. Fungal chitin shows some special features, in particular with respect to chemical structure. Difference in chitinolytic ability must result from the subsite structure in the enzyme binding cleft. This implies that why the enzyme didn't have significant antifungal activity against other Fungi.

Vicilins (7S storage globulins) of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds bind to chitinous structures of the midgut of Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) larvae

The presence of chitin in midgut structures of Callosobruchus maculatus larvae was shown by chemical and immunocytochemical methods. Detection by Western blotting of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seed vicilins (7S storage proteins) bound to these structures suggested that C. maculatus-susceptible vicilins presented less staining when compared to C. maculatus-resistant vicilins. Storage proteins present in the microvilli in the larval midgut of the bruchid were recognized by immunolabeling of vicilins in the appropriate sections with immunogold conjugates. These labeling sites coincided with the sites labeled by an anti-chitin antibody. These results, taken together with those previously published showing that the lower rates of hydrolysis of variant vicilins from C. maculatus-resistant seeds by the insect's midgut proteinases and those showing that vicilins bind to chitin matrices, may explain the detrimental effects of variant vicilins on the development of C. maculatus larvae

Estabilidad de los supositorios de quitina / Stability of chitin suppositories

Los supositorios de quitina constituyen una nueva opción en la terapéutica anorrectal, cuya estabilidad debe ser evaluada. Se analizó el comportamiento de 3 lotes de supositorios elaborados a escala piloto, almacenados en tiras de aluminio termosellable, a 3 temperaturas diferentes, por un período de 2 a. Se realizaron comprobaciones periódicas de las propiedades organolépticas, de los parámetros peso y tiempo de liquefacción, así como del contenido de quitina, con la combinación de una técnica gravimétrica y la espectroscopia infrarroja (IR). Se investigó la estabilidad desde el punto de vista microbiológico mediante conteo diferencial. Los resultados fueron satisfactorios para cada parámetro evaluado, ya que se encontraron dentro de los límites, aun transcurridos 2 a de elaborado el producto, para cada una de las temperaturas de almacenamiento ensayadas

Métodos de extracción de quitina a partir de cáscara de camarón / Shrimp shell waste as a source of chitin biopolymers

Los desechos de cáscara de camarón procedentes de las plantas congeladoras de Guaymas Sonora, Mex., fueron estudiadas como fuente de biopolímeros de quintina de alto valor agregado. En la ParteI, se estudió el efecto de las diferentes condiciones de aislamiento de la quitina y las características químicas. La proteína y materia mineral fueron eliminados con tratamiento álcali y ácido respectivamente. Se utilizó un diseño completamente al azar con arreglo factorial 2x2x3 para evaluar el efecto de las varables de proceso. Fueron utilizadas concentraciones de 0.4 por ciento y 2 por ciento de NaOH durante la desproteinización, Hcl en concentraciones de 3 por ciento y 5 por ciento a temperaturas de 40, 50 y 60 grados Celsius durante la desmineralización. En base al contenido de cenizas, quitina y rendimiento de quitina, las mejores condiciones de proceso de desproteinización fueron NaOH al 2 por ciento, y desmineralización con Hcl al 5 por ciento a 50 grados Celsius. En la Parte II, se evaluaron los mejores métodos de aislamiento de quinta y quitosano reportados en la literatura, así como el mejor de aquellos usados en la parte I, para un escalamiento a planta piloto. La pureza de las muestras de quitina fueron analizadas en términos de contenido de proteína residual, cenizas y quitina. Dos procesos fueron estabelecidos para producir quitina de alta calidad (0,00 por ciento proteína, 0,01 por ciento cenizas, 99,99 por ciento quitina), y quitina de grado práctico (0,00 por ciento proteína, 0,09 por ciento cenizas, 99,13 por ciento quitina). Ambos productos fueron considerados aceptables y su producción podría ser a escala piloto siempre y cuando se optimicen las condiciones de proceso.