Technological mapping and trends in photobioreactors for the production of microalgae.

Photobioreactors (PBRs) are equipment of central importance for the massive cultivation of microalgae, providing controlled conditions for high cell productivity. There are a few popular PBR designs, with contrasting advantages and limitations, such as poor light distribution, mass transfer, or hydrodynamic behavior. Due to the environmental concerns in recent decades and the discovery of new, useful microalgal metabolites, the interest in finding alternatives to solve technological bottlenecks of PBRs has intensified. In this process, new geometries, materials, and modes of light supply were developed, generating a significant scientific and technological output, reported in papers and patents. We present a technological landscape analysis of photobioreactor design, focusing on improvements of the classical geometries and trends in industrial photobioreactors. The analysis of 412 patent documents showed a surge in innovation filing since 2005 and a reduction in the number of new documents along the last decade. The recent efforts in design improvement, the leading countries, institutes and companies that innovate, and the trends in PBR technology are presented and discussed.

Effect of different compounds on the induction of laccase production by Agaricus blazei.

Laccases are polyphenol oxidases produced by many fungi and have many applications in textile, food and beverage, and pulp and paper industries. Laccase production can be induced using aromatic or phenolic compounds that mostly affect the transcription of laccase-encoding genes. In this study, we analyzed laccase and biomass production by Agaricus blazei in the presence of different concentrations of nitrogen, copper, and inducers such as pyrogallol, veratryl alcohol, xylidine, vanillin, guaiacol, and ethanol. Laccase production by A. blazei U2-4 reached 43.8 U/mL in the presence of 2.8 g/L nitrogen and 150 µM copper. However, addition of copper to the cultivation medium decreased biomass production. Different compounds differentially induced laccase production by A. blazei. Moreover, different concentrations of these inducers exerted different effects on laccase activity. Ethanol (1.0 mM), guaiacol (0.5 mM), and vanillin (0.5 mM) were the best inducers and increased laccase activity by 120% (A. blazei U2-2), 30% (A. blazei U2-3), and 9% (A. blazei U2-4), respectively. In contrast, pyrogallol and xylidine decreased laccase activity but increased biomass production.

Optimum conditions for inducing laccase production in Lentinus crinitus.

Laccases are environmentally friendly alternatives in many important applications such as in bioremediation, biopulping, textile, and the food industry. They have wide substrate specificity, can oxidize a broad range of compounds, and show potential for use in various industrial processes. Therefore, developing methods to increase laccase production is important. In the current study, we aimed to identify optimum conditions for inducing laccase production in the basidiomycete Lentinus crinitus cultivated under varying nitrogen concentrations and in the presence of potential inducers of laccase production, including copper and phenolic compounds. Peak enzymatic activity (11,977 U/L) occurred at higher nitrogen concentrations (2.8 g/L nitrogen). Regardless of the nitrogen concentration, addition of copper increased the laccase activity and decreased mycelial growth, with maximum laccase activity (14,320 U/L) observed at the highest nitrogen concentration combined with 150 mM CuSO4. In addition, ethanol (0.5 or 1.0 mM) and guaiacol (1.5 mM) increased laccase production to 15,000, 14,800, and 14,850 U/L, respectively. Our findings highlighted the optimum conditions for producing L. crinitusderived laccase as potential alternatives to the conventional production and application of the enzyme.

Efeito do extrato bruto enzimático de Streptomyces Viridosporus T7A sobre a digestibilidade de matéria seca in vitro para ruminantes / Effect of the Streptomyces Viridosporus T7A crude fermentation extract on the in vitro digestibility of dry matter for ruminants / Effeito do extrato bruto enzimático de streptoniyces viridosporus T7A sobre a digestibilidade de matéria seca in vitro para ruminantes

As forragens de um modo geral possuem boa digestibilidade para os animais ruminantes, mas os resíduos das agroindústrias, tais como palhas e bagaços, têm aproveitamento limitado, devido ao alto teor em lignina. A cepa Streptomyces viridosporus T7A é capaz de produzir, em substrato lignocelulósico enzimas de interesse agroindustrial como a lignina peroxidase, xilanase, esterase e celulase. Neste trabalho, estudou-se o efeito da adição do extrato bruto enzimático de Streptomyces viridosporus T7A sobre a digestibilidade da fibra em ruminantes, pelo método de digestibilidade in vitro. O extrato foi adicionado na proporção de 0,2; 0,5; 2,0 e 5,0 por cento durante 48 horas, em conteúdo ruminal colhido de um búfalo cirurgicamente fistulado. Não houve diferença estatística com o controle na digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca, quando o extrato bruto foi adicionado nos níveis de 0,2; 0,5; 2,0 e 5,0 por cento. No entanto, observou-se maior digestibidade no nível de 0,2 por cento.

Forages generally have good digestibilility in ruminant animals, but the use of agro-industrial wastes such as straws and bagasses is limited by their high proportion of lignin. In lignocellulosic substrate, the Streptomyces viridosporus T7A strain is capable to produce interesting enzymes as lignin peroxydase, xylanase, esterase, and cellulase. We studied the in vitro effect of the addition of the Streptomyces viridosporus T7A crude fermentation enzymatic extract on digestibility of fibers in ruminants. The extract was added to filtered ruminal fluid obtained from a surgically fistulated Asian buffalo, 0.2 percent, 0.5 percent, 2.0 percent, and 5.0 percent proportions. After 48 hours there was found no statistic difference in dry matter digestibility in vitro among control and the crude extract levels of 0.2, 0.5, 2.0, and 5.0 percent levels. Higher digestibility, however, was observed when it was added at 0.2 percent level.

Las forrajes generalmente tienen buena digestibilidad para los animales rumiantes, pero el uso de residuos agro-industriales como pajas y bagazos es limitados por su alta proporción de lignina. En substrato lignocelulósico, el Streptomyces viridosporus T7A es capaz de producir enzimas de interés industrial, como lignina peroxidase, xilanase, esterase y celulase. En este trabajo se estudió el efecto in vitro de la adición del extracto enzimático bruto de Streptomyces viridosporus T7A sobre la digestibilidad de fibras en rumiantes. El extracto se agregó a fluido rumial filtrado, obtenido de un búfalo quirúrgicamente fistulado, en proporciones de 0,2, 0,5, 2,0 y 5,0. Después de 48 horas, no se encontró ninguna diferencia estadística en la digestibilidad de la materia seca in vitro entre el control y los niveles de 0,2, 0,5, 2,0 y 5,0 del extracto bruto. Sin embargo, se observó digestibilidad más grande con el nivel fue de 0,2.

Avaliação do potencial de uso do extrato bruto da fermentação por Streptomyces Viridosporus T7 A em medicinaveterinária / Evaluation of the potential applicability of Streptomyces Viridosporus T7 A crude fermentation extract in veterinary medicine / Evaluación del potencial de uso del extracto bruto de la fermentación por Streptomyces viridosporus T7A en medicina veterinaria

Desde a sua descoberta como produtoras de antibióticos, as bactérias do gênero Streptomyces têm sido muito estudadas, em função de seu grande interesse para a indústria. A maioria das cepas de Streptomyces sintetiza substâncias antibacterianas, antifúngicas, antitumorais, antiparasitárias, herbicidas e enzimas, que têm empregos em medicina e agricultura, bem como em vários processos biotecnológicos. Neste trabalho estudou-se a aplicação do extrato bruto enzimático obtido da fermentação por Streptomyces viridosporus T7A para uso veterinário. O extrato bruto enzimático foi submetido a testes de atividade antimicrobiana e de inocuidade, em cultivo celular e em camundongos. Observou-se efeito inibidor sobre cepas patogênicas Gram positivas (Staphylococcus aureus), porém não sobre bactérias Gram negativas (Salmonella sp., Pseudomonas sp. e Escherichia coli). Em cultivo celular, o extrato mostrou ausência de toxicidade e efeito citoprotetor, e em camundongos foi inócuo, e teve influência positiva no peso final nos grupos tratados.

Since discovered as antibiotics producers, Streptomyces genus bacteria had been studied to a great extent, because their great industrial interest. Most of the Streptomyces strains synthesize antibacterial, antifungal, antineoplastic, antiparasitic, and herbicide substances, as well as enzymes, which are used in medicine, agriculture and other biotechnological processes. We studied the potential applicability of Streptomyces viridosporus T7A crude fermentation extract in veterinary medicine. The antimicrobial properties of enzymatic crude extract were tested against pathogenic bacteria strains, and its innocuity was tested both in cellular cultives and mice. It was observed inhibitory effect against pathogenic Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), but not against pathogenic Gram negative bacteria (Salmonella sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Escherichia coli). In cellular cultives, the extract showed citoprotector effect and absence of toxicity. In mice, it was innocuous and had positive influence on the final weight in the treated groups.

Desde que fueran descubiertas como productoras de antibióticos, las bacterias del género Streptomyces vienen siendo muy estudiadas, por tener gran interés para la industria. La mayoría de las variedades de Streptomyces sintetiza substancias antibacterianas, antifúngicas, antitumorales, antiparasitarias y herbicidas, así como enzimas que se usan en medicina, agricultura y otros procesos biotecnológicos. En este trabajo, se estudió el potencial de uso del extracto bruto de la fermentación por Streptomyces viridosporus T7A en medicina veterinaria. Las propiedades antimicrobianas del extracto bruto enzimático fueran testadas contra bacterias patogénicas, así como se testó su inocuidad tanto en cultivos celulares cuanto en ratones. Se observó efecto inhibitorio sobre bacterias patogénicas Gram positivas (Staphylococcus aureus), pero no sobre bacterias Gram negativas (Salmonella sp., Pseudomonas sp. y Escherichia coli). En cultivo celular, el extracto mostró ausencia de toxicidad y efecto citoprotector, y en ratones fue inocuo, y ha influenciado positivamente el peso final de los grupos tratados.