Lactobacillus delbrueckii CIDCA 133 fermented milk modulates inflammation and gut microbiota to alleviate acute colitis.

Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis CIDCA 133 is a health-promoting bacterium that can alleviate gut inflammation and improve the epithelial barrier in a mouse model of mucositis. Despite these beneficial effects, the protective potential of this strain in other inflammation models, such as inflammatory bowel disease, remains unexplored. Herein, we examined for the first time the efficacy of Lactobacillus delbrueckii CIDCA 133 incorporated into a fermented milk formulation in the recovery of inflammation, epithelial damage, and restoration of gut microbiota in mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Oral administration of Lactobacillus delbrueckii CIDCA 133 fermented milk relieved colitis by decreasing levels of inflammatory factors (myeloperoxidase, N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase, toll-like receptor 2, nuclear factor-κB, interleukins 10 and 6, and tumor necrosis factor), secretory immunoglobulin A levels, and intestinal paracellular permeability. This immunobiotic also modulated the expression of tight junction proteins (zonulin and occludin) and the activation of short-chain fatty acids-related receptors (G-protein coupled receptors 43 and 109A). Colonic protection was effectively associated with acetate production and restoration of gut microbiota composition. Treatment with Lactobacillus delbrueckii CIDCA 133 fermented milk increased the abundance of Firmicutes members (Lactobacillus genus) while decreasing the abundance of Proteobacteria (Helicobacter genus) and Bacteroidetes members (Bacteroides genus). These promising outcomes influenced the mice's mucosal healing, colon length, body weight, and disease activity index, demonstrating that this immunobiotic could be explored as an alternative approach for managing inflammatory bowel disease.

Recombinant probiotic Lactococcus lactis delivering P62 mitigates moderate colitis in mice.

Introduction and objective: p62 is a human multifunctional adaptor protein involved in key cellular processes such as tissue homeostasis, inflammation, and cancer. It acts as a negative regulator of inflammasome complexes. It may thus be considered a good candidate for therapeutic use in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as colitis. Probiotics, including recombinant probiotic strains producing or delivering therapeutic biomolecules to the host mucosal surfaces, could help prevent and mitigate chronic intestinal inflammation. The objective of the present study was to combine the intrinsic immunomodulatory properties of the probiotic Lactococcus lactis NCDO2118 with its ability to deliver health-promoting molecules to enhance its protective and preventive effects in the context of ulcerative colitis (UC). Material and methods: This study was realized in vivo in which mice were supplemented with the recombinant strain. The intestinal barrier function was analyzed by monitoring permeability, secretory IgA total levels, mucin expression, and tight junction genes. Its integrity was evaluated by histological analyses. Regarding inflammation, colonic cytokine levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and expression of key genes were monitored. The intestinal microbiota composition was investigated using 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing. Results and discussion: No protective effect of L. lactis NCDO2118 pExu:p62 was observed regarding mice clinical parameters compared to the L. lactis NCDO2118 pExu: empty. However, the recombinant strain, expressing p62, increased the goblet cell counts, upregulated Muc2 gene expression in the colon, and downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines Tnf and Ifng when compared to L. lactis NCDO2118 pExu: empty and inflamed groups. This recombinant strain also decreased colonic MPO activity. No difference in the intestinal microbiota was observed between all treatments. Altogether, our results show that recombinant L. lactis NCDO2118 delivering p62 protein protected the intestinal mucosa and mitigated inflammatory damages caused by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). We thus suggest that p62 may constitute part of a therapeutic approach targeting inflammation.

Lactococcus lactis as an Interleukin Delivery System for Prophylaxis and Treatment of Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases.

Target delivery of therapeutic agents with anti-inflammatory properties using probiotics as delivery and recombinant protein expression vehicles is a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of many diseases, such as cancer and intestinal immune disorders. Lactococcus lactis, a Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) widely used in the dairy industry, is one of the most important microorganisms with GRAS status for human consumption, for which biotechnological tools have already been developed to express and deliver recombinant biomolecules with anti-inflammatory properties. Cytokines, for  example, are immune system communication molecules present at virtually all levels of the immune response. They are essential in cellular and humoral processes, such as hampering inflammation or adjuvating in the adaptive immune response, making them good candidates for therapeutic approaches. This review discusses the advances in the development of new therapies and prophylactic approaches using LAB to deliver/express cytokines for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in the future.

Systematic review of reverse vaccinology and immunoinformatics data for non-viral sexually transmitted infections.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are a public health burden rising in developed and developing nations. The World Health Organization estimates nearly 374 million new cases of curable STIs yearly. Global efforts to control their spread have been insufficient in fulfilling their objective. As there is no vaccine for many of these infections, these efforts are focused on education and condom distribution. The development of vaccines for STIs is vital for successfully halting their spread. The field of immunoinformatics is a powerful new tool for vaccine development, allowing for the identification of vaccine candidates within a bacterium's genome and allowing for the design of new genome-based vaccine peptides. The goal of this review was to evaluate the usage of immunoinformatics in research focused on non-viral STIs, identifying fields where research efforts are concentrated. Here we describe gaps in applying these techniques, as in the case of Treponema pallidum and Trichomonas vaginalis.

Poly (ε-caprolactone)-Based Scaffolds with Multizonal Architecture: Synthesis, Characterization, and In Vitro Tests.

Tissue engineering is vital in treating injuries and restoring damaged tissues, aiming to accelerate regeneration and optimize the complex healing process. In this study, multizonal scaffolds, designed to mimic tissues with bilayer architecture, were prepared using the rotary jet spinning technique (RJS scaffolds). Polycaprolactone and different concentrations of alginate hydrogel (2, 4, and 6% m/v) were used. The materials were swollen in pracaxi vegetable oil (PO) (Pentaclethra macroloba) and evaluated in terms of surface morphology, wettability, functional groups, thermal behavior, crystallinity, and cytotoxicity. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed the disappearance of the diffraction peak 2θ = 31.5° for samples from the polycaprolactone/pracaxi/alginate (PCLOA) group, suggesting a reduction of crystallinity according to the presence of PO and semi-crystalline structure. Wettability gradients (0 to 80.91°) were observed according to the deposition layer and hydrogel content. Pore diameters varied between 9.27 µm and 37.57 µm. Molecular interactions with the constituents of the formulation were observed via infrared spectra with Fourier transform (FTIR), and their influence was detected in the reduction of the maximum degradation temperature within the groups of scaffolds (polycaprolactone/alginate (PCLA) and PCLOA) about the control. In vitro tests indicated reduced cell viability in the presence of alginate hydrogel and PO, respectively.

Effective Biocorrosive Control in Oil Industry Facilities: 16S rRNA Gene Metabarcoding for Monitoring Microbial Communities in Produced Water.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) or biocorrosion is a complex biological and physicochemical process, Strategies for monitoring MIC are frequently based on microbial cultivation methods, while microbiological molecular methods (MMM) are not well-established in the oil industry in Brazil. Thus, there is a high demand for the development of effective protocols for monitoring biocorrosion with MMM. The main aim of our study was to analyze the physico-chemi- cal features of microbial communities occurring in produced water (PW) and in enrichment cultures in oil pipelines of the petroleum industry. In order to obtain strictly comparable results, the same samples were used for both culturing and metabarcoding. PW samples displayed higher phylogenetic diversity of bacteria and archaea whereas PW enrichments cultures showed higher dominance of bacterial MIC-associated genera. All samples had a core community composed of 19 distinct genera, with MIC-associated Desulfovibrio as the dominant genus. We observed significant associations between the PW and cultured PW samples, with a greater number of associations found between the cultured sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) samples and the uncultured PW samples. When evaluating the correlation between the physicochemical characteristics of the environment and the microbiota of the uncultivated samples, we suggest that the occurrence of anaerobic digestion metabolism can be characterized by well-defined phases. Therefore, the detection of microorganisms in uncultured PW by metabarcoding, along with physi-cochemical characterization, can be a more efficient method compared to the culturing method, as it is a less laborious and cost-effective method for monitoring MIC microbial agents in oil industry facilities.

Corrosion-influencing microorganisms in petroliferous regions on a global scale: systematic review, analysis, and scientific synthesis of 16S amplicon metagenomic studies.

The objective of the current systematic review was to evaluate the taxonomic composition and relative abundance of bacteria and archaea associated with the microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), and the prediction of their metabolic functions in different sample types from oil production and transport structures worldwide. To accomplish this goal, a total of 552 published studies on the diversity of microbial communities using 16S amplicon metagenomics in oil and gas industry facilities indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and OnePetro databases were analyzed on 10th May 2021. The selection of articles was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Only studies that performed amplicon metagenomics to obtain the microbial composition of samples from oil fields were included. Studies that evaluated oil refineries, carried out amplicon metagenomics directly from cultures, and those that used DGGE analysis were removed. Data were thoroughly investigated using multivariate statistics by ordination analysis, bivariate statistics by correlation, and microorganisms' shareability and uniqueness analysis. Additionally, the full deposited databases of 16S rDNA sequences were obtained to perform functional prediction. A total of 69 eligible articles was included for data analysis. The results showed that the sulfidogenic, methanogenic, acid-producing, and nitrate-reducing functional groups were the most expressive, all of which can be directly involved in MIC processes. There were significant positive correlations between microorganisms in the injection water (IW), produced water (PW), and solid deposits (SD) samples, and negative correlations in the PW and SD samples. Only the PW and SD samples displayed genera common to all petroliferous regions, Desulfotomaculum and Thermovirga (PW), and Marinobacter (SD). There was an inferred high microbial activity in the oil fields, with the highest abundances of (i) cofactor, (ii) carrier, and (iii) vitamin biosynthesis, associated with survival metabolism. Additionally, there was the presence of secondary metabolic pathways and defense mechanisms in extreme conditions. Competitive or inhibitory relationships and metabolic patterns were influenced by the physicochemical characteristics of the environments (mainly sulfate concentration) and by human interference (application of biocides and nutrients). Our worldwide baseline study of microbial communities associated with environments of the oil and gas industry will greatly facilitate the establishment of standardized approaches to control MIC.

Aplicabilidade de sistema reator anaeróbio compartimentado seguida de filtro anaeróbio no tratamento de efluentes de suinocultura de pequeno porte / Applicability of compartmentalized anaerobic reactor system followed by anaerobic filter on small swine wastewater treatment

RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de um sistema composto de reator anaeróbio compartimentado (RAC) seguido por filtro anaeróbio (FA), tratando águas residuárias de uma granja suinícola de pequeno porte. Foram analisados os parâmetros: pH, ácidos voláteis totais (AVT), demanda química de oxigênio total (DQOt), demanda química de oxigênio dissolvida (DQOdiss), demanda química de oxigênio devida aos sólidos suspensos (DQOSS), sólidos suspensos totais (SST), sólidos suspensos voláteis (SSV) e nitrogênio total kjeldhal (NTK). Os valores efluentes no RAC e no FA, de DQOt, SST e NTK, foram 6.633 e 4.361 mg.L-1, 2.418 e 595 mg.L-1 e 888 e 954 mg.L-1, respectivamente, para uma carga orgânica volumétrica (COV) de 7,01 kgDQO(m3.d)-1 no RAC e 28,3 kgDQO(m3.d)-1 no FA, e tempo de detenção hidráulico de 70,5 e 17,8 h no RAC e no FA, respectivamente. O sistema RAC seguido de FA mostrou eficiência de remoção média de 88,8% para DQOt e 80,5% de SST. Conclui-se que o sistema de tratamento anaeróbio, composto por RAC seguido de FA, foi eficiente na remoção de DQO e SST, possibilitando, nas condições operacionais impostas, alcançar valores médios de remoção acima de 80%, tornando-se uma ótima alternativa de tratamento de efluentes de suinocultura para granjas de pequeno porte.

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to assess the performance of a system composed by a compartmentalized anaerobic reactor (CAR) followed by anaerobic filter (AF) in the treatment of the wastewater of as mall pigfarm.The following parameters were analyzed: pH, total volatilefatty acids (VFA), total demand of chemical oxygen (DCOt), dissolved chemical oxygen demand (CODdiss), chemical oxygen demand due to suspended solids (CODSS), total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS) and total kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN). The effluents and AF values for the CAR, the DCOt, TSS and TKN were 6,633 and 4,361mg.L-1, 2,418 and 595 mg.L-1, and 888 and 954 mg.L-1, respectively, for a volumetric organic load (VOL) of 7.01 kgDCO(m3.d)-1 in CAR and 28.3 kgDCO(m3.d)-1 in AF, and hydraulic detention time of 70.5 hand 17.8 hin CAR and AF, respectively. The CAR system followed by FA presented a mean removal efficiency of 88.8% for COD and 80.5% for TSS. It is concluded that the anaerobic treatment system consisting of CAR followed by AF was efficient in removing DCO and TSS, allowing with the imposed operating conditions to achieve average removal values above 80%, becoming a great alternative for wastewater treatment in small swinefarms.

Swine wastewater treatment using an anaerobic baffled (ARB) and a UASB reactor system / Sistema reator anaeróbio de chicanas - reator UASB no tratamento de efluentes de suinocultura

The purpose of this study was to assess the swine wastewater treatment system, consisting of the anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), followed by the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor at full scale. The system was monitored by analyzing samples collected in the influent and effluent of ABR and UASB. The following parameters were analyzed: temperature, pH, total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Averages of total removal of COD and BOD were 96.7 and 98.4%, respectively. The mean concentrations of COD, BOD, TSS, and VSS at the final effluent were 611, 124, 138, and 134 mg L-1, respectively. The mean volumetric organic loadings (VOL) at the ABR and UASB were 10.29 and 0.99 kg COD m-1d-1. Therefore, the ABR-UASB system was found to be a promising alternative for the swine wastewater treatment.(AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o sistema de tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura, constituído de reator anaeróbio de chicanas (RAC), seguido por reator anaeróbio de manta de lodo (UASB), em escala real. O sistema foi monitorado por meio da análise de amostras coletadas nos afluentes e efluentes do RAC e UASB. Foram analisados os seguintes parâmetros: temperatura, pH, sólidos suspensos totais (SST), sólidos suspensos voláteis (SSV), demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO) e demanda química de oxigênio (DQO). As médias de remoção total de DQO e de DBO foram 96,7 e 98,4%, respectivamente. As concentrações médias de DQO, DBO, SST e SSV no efluente final foram 611, 124, 138 e 134 mg.L-1, respectivamente. As cargas orgânicas volumétricas (COV) médias no RAC e UASB foram 10,29 e 0,99 kgDQO m kgDQO m-3d-1. Desta maneira, o sistema RAC-UASB apresenta-se como alternativa promissora para o tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura.(AU)

Swine wastewater treatment using an anaerobic baffled (ARB) and a UASB reactor system / Sistema reator anaeróbio de chicanas - reator UASB no tratamento de efluentes de suinocultura

The purpose of this study was to assess the swine wastewater treatment system, consisting of the anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), followed by the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor at full scale. The system was monitored by analyzing samples collected in the influent and effluent of ABR and UASB. The following parameters were analyzed: temperature, pH, total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Averages of total removal of COD and BOD were 96.7 and 98.4%, respectively. The mean concentrations of COD, BOD, TSS, and VSS at the final effluent were 611, 124, 138, and 134 mg L-1, respectively. The mean volumetric organic loadings (VOL) at the ABR and UASB were 10.29 and 0.99 kg COD m-1d-1. Therefore, the ABR-UASB system was found to be a promising alternative for the swine wastewater treatment.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o sistema de tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura, constituído de reator anaeróbio de chicanas (RAC), seguido por reator anaeróbio de manta de lodo (UASB), em escala real. O sistema foi monitorado por meio da análise de amostras coletadas nos afluentes e efluentes do RAC e UASB. Foram analisados os seguintes parâmetros: temperatura, pH, sólidos suspensos totais (SST), sólidos suspensos voláteis (SSV), demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO) e demanda química de oxigênio (DQO). As médias de remoção total de DQO e de DBO foram 96,7 e 98,4%, respectivamente. As concentrações médias de DQO, DBO, SST e SSV no efluente final foram 611, 124, 138 e 134 mg.L-1, respectivamente. As cargas orgânicas volumétricas (COV) médias no RAC e UASB foram 10,29 e 0,99 kgDQO m kgDQO m-3d-1. Desta maneira, o sistema RAC-UASB apresenta-se como alternativa promissora para o tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura.

Avaliação de reator anaeróbio de manta de lodo no tratamento de efluentes de frigorífico / Evaluation of reactor anaerobic sludge blanket in the treatment of wastewater slaughterhouse

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a eficiência em escala real de um sistema de tratamento de efluentes de frigorífico. A estação de tratamento de efluentes em escalareal foi projetada para uma vazão diária de 60 m³/d, correspondente a um abate de 60 bovinos por dia. O sistema de tratamento composto de uma calha parshall, para medição de vazão, seguida de peneira estática, caixa de gordura gravimétrica, decantador e reator anaeróbio de manta de lodo (UASB) foi monitorado semanalmente entre janeiro e agosto de 2012. Foram analisados os seguintes parâmetros: pH, alcalinidade, demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO), demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), sólidos totais (ST), sólidos suspensos totais (SST), nitrogênio amoniacal e nitrogênio total Kjedhall. Os valores efluentes médios de pH, DQO e SST no reator UASB foram de 6,96; 660 mg/L e 188 mg/L, respectivamente. O sistema mostrou-se eficiente, com remoção média de 96,40% para DQO e 89,92% para SST. O reator UASB apresentou alta performance na remoção de sólidos e carga orgânica. Dessa forma, esse reator torna-se uma alternativa viável para o tratamento de águas residuárias de frigoríficos, já que oferece bons resultados de remoção e baixo custo de implantação.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of a full-scale treatment system effluent slaughterhouse. The full-scale Sewage Treatment Station was designed for a daily flow of 60 m³/d, corresponding to a slaughter of 60 cattle per day. The treatment system consists of a Parshall flume for flow measurement, followed by static sieve, gravimetric fat, sedimentation and anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) box and it was monitored weekly from January to August. The following parameters were analyzed: pH, alkalinity, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), ammonia nitrogen, and total nitrogen kjedhall. The average pH, COD and TSS in the UASB reactor effluent values were 6.96, 660 mg/L and 188 mg/L , respectively. The system proved to be efficient, with average removal of 96.40% to 89.92% for COD and TSS. The UASB reactor showed high performance in removing solids and organic load. Thus, this reactor becomes a viable alternative for treating wastewater slaughterhouse, offering good removal results and low cost of deployment.(AU)

Avaliação de reator anaeróbio de manta de lodo no tratamento de efluentes de frigorífico / Evaluation of reactor anaerobic sludge blanket in the treatment of wastewater slaughterhouse

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a eficiência em escala real de um sistema de tratamento de efluentes de frigorífico. A estação de tratamento de efluentes em escalareal foi projetada para uma vazão diária de 60 m³/d, correspondente a um abate de 60 bovinos por dia. O sistema de tratamento composto de uma calha parshall, para medição de vazão, seguida de peneira estática, caixa de gordura gravimétrica, decantador e reator anaeróbio de manta de lodo (UASB) foi monitorado semanalmente entre janeiro e agosto de 2012. Foram analisados os seguintes parâmetros: pH, alcalinidade, demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO), demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), sólidos totais (ST), sólidos suspensos totais (SST), nitrogênio amoniacal e nitrogênio total Kjedhall. Os valores efluentes médios de pH, DQO e SST no reator UASB foram de 6,96; 660 mg/L e 188 mg/L, respectivamente. O sistema mostrou-se eficiente, com remoção média de 96,40% para DQO e 89,92% para SST. O reator UASB apresentou alta performance na remoção de sólidos e carga orgânica. Dessa forma, esse reator torna-se uma alternativa viável para o tratamento de águas residuárias de frigoríficos, já que oferece bons resultados de remoção e baixo custo de implantação.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of a full-scale treatment system effluent slaughterhouse. The full-scale Sewage Treatment Station was designed for a daily flow of 60 m³/d, corresponding to a slaughter of 60 cattle per day. The treatment system consists of a Parshall flume for flow measurement, followed by static sieve, gravimetric fat, sedimentation and anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) box and it was monitored weekly from January to August. The following parameters were analyzed: pH, alkalinity, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), ammonia nitrogen, and total nitrogen kjedhall. The average pH, COD and TSS in the UASB reactor effluent values were 6.96, 660 mg/L and 188 mg/L , respectively. The system proved to be efficient, with average removal of 96.40% to 89.92% for COD and TSS. The UASB reactor showed high performance in removing solids and organic load. Thus, this reactor becomes a viable alternative for treating wastewater slaughterhouse, offering good removal results and low cost of deployment.