Recent advances in Emulsan production, purification, and application: Exploring bioemulsifiers unique potentials.

Bioemulsifiers are compounds produced by microorganisms that reduce the interfacial forces between hydrophobic substances and water. Due to their potential in the pharmaceutical and food industries and their efficiency in oil spill remediation, they have been the subject of study in the scientific community while being safe, biodegradable, and sustainable compared to synthetic options. These biomolecules have high molecular weight and polymeric structures, distinguishing them from traditional biosurfactants. Emulsan, a bioemulsifier exopolysaccharide, is produced by Acinetobacter strains and is highly efficient in forming stable emulsions. Its low toxicity and high potential as an emulsifying agent promote its application in pharmaceutical and food industries as a drug-delivery vehicle and emulsion stabilizer. Due to the high environmental impact of oil spills, bioemulsifiers have great potential for environmental applications, such as bioremediation. This unique feature gives them a distinct mechanism of action in forming emulsions, resulting in minimal environmental impact. A better understanding of these aspects can improve the use of bioemulsifiers and environmental remediation in various industries. This review will discuss the production and characterization of Emulsan, focusing on recent advancements in cultivation conditions, purification techniques, compound identification, and ecotoxicity.

Bioemulsifier production by Acinetobacter venetianus AMO1502: Potential for bioremediation and environmentally friendly applications.

At the best conditions of the bioprocess (30 °C, pH 7.0, 3.0 g/L NaCl) were obtained 0.66 g/L cell concentration, 3.3 g/L of bioemulsifier, which showed high emulsifying activity (53 % ± 2), reducing the surface tension of the water in 47.2 % (38 mN/m). The polymeric structure of the purified bioemulsifier comprised a carbohydrate backbone composed of hexose-based amino sugars with a monomeric mass of 1099 Da, structurally similar to emulsan. A. venetianus bioemulsifier is non-phytotoxic (GI% > 80 %) against Ocimum basilicum and Brassica oleracea and non-cytotoxic (LC50 5794 mg/L) against Artemia salina, being safe local organisms in comparison to other less eco-friendly synthetic emulsifiers. This bioemulsifier effectively dispersed spilled oil in vitro (C22-C33), reducing oil mass by 12 % (w/w) and dispersing oil in a displacement area of 75 cm2 (23.8 % of the spilled area). Thus, the isolated A. venetianus AMO1502 produced a bioemulsifier potentially applicable for environmentally friendly oil spill remediation.

Knowledge connections for conservation of the Atlantic Goliath Grouper, Epinephelus itajara: records of tropical Brazilian coast

The Atlantic Goliath Grouper (AGG), Epinephelus itajara, the largest Epinephelidae in the Atlantic Ocean, it is classified as critically endangered in Brazil. In the Brazilian northeast, studies focusing on the species are still incipient. Here we study the occurrence, habitat use, and spatial distribution of AGG in Alagoas (Brazil) by combining participatory methods, such as Citizen Science and Local Ecological Knowledge. Living individuals represented 64% (n = 85) of the records, while dead individuals were 36% (n = 47), with 14 records from illegal captures. Juveniles are common in estuaries and shallow natural coastal reefs, while adults are distributed in deeper areas on natural and artificial reefs. The occurrence was significantly higher on Alagoas' southern coast. The São Francisco River (SFR) estuary stood out with 52 occurrences. We mapped 37 occurrence sites for AGG distributed along the coast, emphasising an artificial reef near SFR that received 12 reports about aggregations. The influence area of the SFR was indicated as a priority for species conservation due to the identification of a nursery and possible aggregations close to its mouth. We highlight the urgency of implementing short and long-term management actions along Alagoas' coast.

O mero, Epinephelus itajara, o maior Epinephelidae do Oceano Atlântico, está classificado como criticamente ameaçado no Brasil. No Nordeste brasileiro, os estudos voltados à esta espécie ainda são incipientes. Aqui estudamos a ocorrência, uso do habitat e distribuição espacial do mero em Alagoas (Brasil) combinando métodos participativos, como Ciência Cidadã e Conhecimento Ecológico Local. No total, os indivíduos vivos representaram 64% (n = 85) e os mortos 36% (n = 47), com 14 registros de capturas ilegais. Juvenis foram observados em estuários e em recifes naturais costeiros rasos, enquanto adultos grandes distribuíram-se em recifes naturais e artificiais em áreas mais profundas. A ocorrência foi significativamente maior no litoral sul de Alagoas. O estuário Rio São Francisco (RSF) se destacou com 52 ocorrências. Mapeamos 37 locais onde o mero ocorre, distribuídos ao longo do litoral, com destaque para um recife artificial localizado próximo ao RSF, que obteve 12 citações sobre agregações. Indicamos que a área de influência do RSF é prioritária para a conservação, em razão da identificação de um berçário e de possíveis agregações próximas a sua foz. Destacamos a urgência na aplicação de ações de gestão de curto e longo prazo em Alagoas.

ß-Galactosidase from Kluyveromyces lactis: Characterization, production, immobilization and applications - A review.

A review on the enzyme ß-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces lactis is presented, from the perspective of its structure and mechanisms of action, the main catalyzed reactions, the key factors influencing its activity, and selectivity, as well as the main techniques used for improving the biocatalyst functionality. Particular attention was given to the discussion of hydrolysis, transglycosylation, and galactosylation reactions, which are commonly mediated by this enzyme. In addition, the products generated from these processes were highlighted. Finally, biocatalyst improvement techniques are also discussed, such as enzyme immobilization and protein engineering. On these topics, the most recent immobilization strategies are presented, emphasizing processes that not only allow the recovery of the biocatalyst but also deliver enzymes that show better resistance to high temperatures, chemicals, and inhibitors. In addition, genetic engineering techniques to improve the catalytic properties of the ß-galactosidases were reported. This review gathers information to allow the development of biocatalysts based on the ß-galactosidase enzyme from K. lactis, aiming to improve existing bioprocesses or develop new ones.

Polylactic acid production from biotechnological routes: A review.

Polylactic acid (PLA) has been highlighted as an important polymer due to its high potential for applicability in various areas, such as in the chemical, medical, pharmaceutical or biotechnology field. Very recently, studies have reported its use as a basic component for the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the prevention of Sars-Cov-2 contamination, responsible for the cause of coronavirus disease, which is currently a major worldwide sanitary and social problem. PLA is considered a non-toxic, biodegradable and compostable plastic with interesting characteristics from the industrial point of view, and it emerges as a promising product under the concept of "green plastic", since most of the polymers produced currently are petroleum-based, a non-renewable raw material. Biotechnology routes have been mentioned as potential methodologies for the production of this polymer, especially by enzymatic routes, in particular by use of lipases enzymes. The availability of pure lactic acid isomers is a fundamental aspect of the manufacture of PLA with more interesting mechanical and thermal properties. Due to the technological importance that PLA-based polymers are acquiring, as well as their characteristics and applicability in several fields, especially medical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, this review article sought to gather very recent information regarding the development of research in this area. The main highlight of this study is that it was carried out from a biotechnological point of view, aiming at a totally green bioplastic production, since the obtaining of lactic acid, which will be used as raw material for the PLA synthesis, until the degradation of the polymer obtained by biological routes.

The ß-galactosidase immobilization protocol determines its performance as catalysts in the kinetically controlled synthesis of lactulose.

In this paper, 3 different biocatalysts of ß-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces lactis have been prepared by immobilization in chitosan activated with glutaraldehyde (Chi_Glu_Gal), glyoxyl agarose (Aga_Gly_Gal) and agarose coated with polyethylenimine (Aga_PEI_Gal). These biocatalysts have been used to catalyze the synthesis of lactulose from lactose and fructose. Aga-PEI-Gal only produces lactulose at 50 °C, and not at 25 or 37 °C, Aga_Gly_Gal was unable to produce lactulose at any of the assayed temperatures while Chi_Glu_Gal produced lactulose at all assayed temperatures, although a lower yield was obtained at 25 or 37 °C. The pre-incubation of this biocatalyst at 50 °C permitted to obtain similar yields at 25 or 37 °C than at 50 °C. The use of milk whey instead of pure lactose and fructose produced an improvement in the yields using Aga_PEI_Gal and a decrease using Chi_Glu_Gal. The operational stability also depends on the reaction medium and of biocatalyst. This study reveals how enzyme immobilization may greatly alter the performance of ß-galactosidase in a kinetically controlled manner, and how medium composition influences this performance due to the kinetic properties of ß-galactosidase.

In situ product recovery techniques aiming to obtain biotechnological products: A glance to current knowledge.

Biotechnology and bioengineering techniques have been widely used in the production of biofuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food additives, being considered a "green" form of production because they use renewable and nonpolluting energy sources. On the other hand, in the traditional processes of production, the target product obtained by biotechnological routes must undergo several stages of purification, which makes these processes more expensive. In the past few years, some works have focused on processes that integrate fermentation to the recovery and purification steps necessary to obtain the final product required. This type of process is called in situ product recovery or extractive fermentation. However, there are some differences in the concepts of the techniques used in these bioprocesses. In this way, this review sought to compile relevant content on considerations and procedures that are being used in this field, such as evaporation, liquid-liquid extraction, permeation, and adsorption techniques. Also, the objective of this review was to approach the different configurations in the recent literature of the processes employed and the main bioproducts obtained, which can be used in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical, and/or fuel additives industry. We intended to elucidate concepts of these techniques, considered very recent, but which emerge as a promising alternative for the integration of bioprocesses.

Development and implementation of a brief chat-based intervention to support mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic / Desenvolvimento e implementação de uma intervenção breve via chat para suporte em saúde mental durante a pandemia da COVID-19 / Desarrollo e implementación de una intervención breve vía chat para dar apoyo en salud mental durante la pandemia de COVID-19

This paper presents the development and implementation of a brief chat-based intervention for mental health support toward people suffering from the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and Argentina. During the development phase, we proposed a protocol that comprised: 1) screening and needs assessment; 2) health education based on active listening techniques; and 3) referral to available materials and crisis services available (e.g., crisis intervention hotlines). In the implementation phase, we recruited and trained 77 volunteers who provide healthcare chat support for users under the supervision of 20 psychologists. In less than two months, we performed 1.107 sessions. We expect that the healthcare chat support might be a valuable resource during the COVID-19 pandemic, although further studies to assess its feasibility and effectiveness are needed.

Este artigo apresenta o desenvolvimento e a implementação de uma intervenção breve via chat para suporte em saúde mental voltada para pessoas em sofrimento decorrente do contexto da pandemia de COVID-19, no Brasil e na Argentina. Durante a fase de desenvolvimento, foi proposto um protocolo que inclui: 1) triagem e avaliação de necessidades; 2) educação em saúde com base em técnicas de escuta ativa e 3) encaminhamento de materiais e contatos de serviços especializados ou de urgência disponíveis (ex. linhas diretas de intervenção em crise). Na fase de implementação, foram recrutados e treinados 77 voluntários que oferecem acolhimento em saúde via chat aos usuários sob a supervisão de 20 psicólogos. Em menos de 2 meses, 1.107 intervenções foram realizadas. Espera-se que a intervenção via chat possa ser um recurso valioso durante a pandemia de COVID-19, embora estudos adicionais sejam necessários para avaliar sua viabilidade e sua efetividade.

Este artículo presenta el desarrollo e implementación de una intervención breve vía chat para dar apoyo en salud mental destinado a personas que presentan sufrimientos debido al contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19, en Brasil y Argentina. Durante la fase del desarrollo fue propuesto un protocolo que incluye: 1) detección y evaluación de necesidades; 2) educación para la salud basada en técnicas de escucha activa y 3) derivación de materiales y contactos de servicios especializados o de emergencia disponibles (ej. líneas directas de intervención en crisis). En la fase de implementación, fueron reclutados y capacitados 77 voluntarios que ofrecen contención en salud vía chat a los usuarios bajo la supervisión de 20 psicólogos. En menos de 2 meses se realizaron 1.107 intervenciones. Se espera que la intervención vía chat pueda ser un recurso valioso durante la pandemia de COVID-19, aunque se necesitan estudios adicionales para evaluar su viabilidad y efectividad.

Anthropogenic litter on Brazilian beaches: Baseline, trends and recommendations for future approaches.

Beaches are fundamental habitats that regulate the functioning of several coastal processes and key areas contributing to national and local budgets. In this study we provide the first large-scale systematic survey of anthropogenic litter on Brazilian beaches, covering a total of 35 degrees of latitude, recording the litter type, its use and size. Plastic comprised the most abundant litter type, followed by cigarette butts and paper. Small pieces (<5 cm) were dominant among litter size-classes and food-related use was associated to most litter recorded types. Generalized additive models showed that proximity to estuarine run-offs was the main driver to beach litter accumulation, reinforcing river drainages as the primary route of litter coastal pollution. Also, the Clean-Coast Index evidenced there was not a pattern of beach litter pollution among regions, which denotes that actions regarding marine pollution must be taken by all state governances of the country.

Simultaneous hydrolysis of cheese whey and lactulose production catalyzed by ß-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces lactis NRRL Y1564.

ß-Galactosidase was produced by the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis NRRL Y1564 in cheese whey supplemented with yeast extract under the optimal temperature of 30 °C, delivering an enzymatic activity of 4418.37 U/gcell after 12 h of process. In order to develop more stable biocatalysts, the enzyme produced by fermentation was immobilized on 2.0% w/v chitosan activated with glutaraldehyde, epichlorohydrin or glycidol, producing a highly active and stable biocatalyst capable of hydrolyzing lactose and producing lactulose simultaneously. The biocatalyst obtained by immobilization in chitosan-glutaraldehyde showed high storage stabilities (100% of its activity when stored at 4 °C 105 days). Regarding the milk lactose hydrolysis by both the soluble and the immobilized enzyme, the conversions obtained were 38.0% and 42.8%, respectively. In this study, by using a biocatalyst deriving from enzyme immobilization to chitosan support, a lactulose production of 17.32 g/L was also possible.

Effect of phase shift from corals to Zoantharia on reef fish assemblages.

Consequences of reef phase shifts on fish communities remain poorly understood. Studies on the causes, effects and consequences of phase shifts on reef fish communities have only been considered for coral-to-macroalgae shifts. Therefore, there is a large information gap regarding the consequences of novel phase shifts and how these kinds of phase shifts impact on fish assemblages. This study aimed to compare the fish assemblages on reefs under normal conditions (relatively high cover of corals) to those which have shifted to a dominance of the zoantharian Palythoa cf. variabilis on coral reefs in Todos os Santos Bay (TSB), Brazilian eastern coast. We examined eight reefs, where we estimated cover of corals and P. cf. variabilis and coral reef fish richness, abundance and body size. Fish richness differed significantly between normal reefs (48 species) and phase-shift reefs (38 species), a 20% reduction in species. However there was no difference in fish abundance between normal and phase shift reefs. One fish species, Chaetodon striatus, was significantly less abundant on normal reefs. The differences in fish assemblages between different reef phases was due to differences in trophic groups of fish; on normal reefs carnivorous fishes were more abundant, while on phase shift reefs mobile invertivores dominated.

Study of "napier grass" delignification for production of cellulosic derivatives.

Recently, much research on the evaluation of new cellulose sources has been developed. In this context, a promising source is "napier grass", which contains 30.40% lignin, 36.34% cellulose, and 34.12% hemicellulose. In this work, conditions for the delignification of "napier grass" in the laboratory were studied by using calcium oxide (CaO) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). The best pulping conditions were 9.00% CaO for a period of 2.73 h, which resulted in 74.99% delignification and 66.58% cellulose. The best conditions for the bleaching process were pH 12 and hydrogen peroxide at concentration of 4.2% for 6h, at a temperature of 40 °C, which gave 90.98% delignification and 99.21% cellulose. The analyses were performed by using weight percent.

Qualidade microbiológica da água de coco comercializada por ambulantes no centro de Fortaleza, CE / Microbiological quality of coconut water sold by street vendors in downtown Fortaleza, CE

A facilidade da comercialização de gêneros alimentícios vem aumentando ao longo dos últimos anos. Essa intensificação se faz visível no chamado comércio ambulante, um tipo de comércio informal e que, na maioria dos casos, está à margem da vigilância dos órgãos competentes. A partir desse pressuposto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi a avaliação microbiológica e higiênico-sanitária da água de coco in natura comercializada no comércio ambulante da cidade de Fortaleza-CE. Realizaram-se análises para detecção de coliformes totais, termotolerantes, contagem total de micro-organismos aeróbios mesófilos, bolores e leveduras além da investigação da presença de Escherichia coli. O perfil de comercialização dos produtos foi levantado por meio de entrevista com ambulantes. (...) A análise do perfil de comercialização da água de coco apontou algumas falhas, como falta de treinamento pelos ambulantes e descuido quanto à higienização das mãos, utensílios e equipamentos. Fatos relevantes e que indicam a necessidade de maior atenção para esse tipo de comércio informal.

Qualidade microbiológica da água de coco comercializada por ambulantes no centro de Fortaleza, CE / Microbiological quality of coconut water sold by street vendors in downtown Fortaleza, CE

A facilidade da comercialização de gêneros alimentícios vem aumentando ao longo dos últimos anos. Essa intensificação se faz visível no chamado comércio ambulante, um tipo de comércio informal e que, na maioria dos casos, está à margem da vigilância dos órgãos competentes. A partir desse pressuposto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi a avaliação microbiológica e higiênico-sanitária da água de coco in natura comercializada no comércio ambulante da cidade de Fortaleza-CE. Realizaram-se análises para detecção de coliformes totais, termotolerantes, contagem total de micro-organismos aeróbios mesófilos, bolores e leveduras além da investigação da presença de Escherichia coli. O perfil de comercialização dos produtos foi levantado por meio de entrevista com ambulantes. A maioria das amostras (87,5 %) apresentou-se com nível de contaminação por coliformes a 45°C acima do aceitável segundo a ANVISA. A contagem de micro-organismos se mostrou elevada para todas as amostras analisadas, sendo que as mais relevantes foram da ordem de 106 UFC.mL-1 e 105 UFC.mL-1para aeróbios mesófilos e bolores e leveduras, respectivamente. Além disso, foi possível o isolamento eidentificação de E. coli em duas das amostras analisadas. A análise do perfil de comercialização da água de coco apontou algumas falhas, como falta de treinamento pelos ambulantes e descuido quanto à higienização das mãos, utensílios e equipamentos. Fatos relevantes e que indicam a necessidade de maior atenção para esse tipo de comércio informal.(AU)

The ease marketing of food has been increasing over recent years. This increase is visible in the so-called mobile commerce, a kind of informal trade and, in most cases is outside the surveillance of bodies. From this assumption, the objective of this study was to evaluate microbiological and sanitary-hygienic watercoconut "in natura" itinerant trade marketed in the city of Fortaleza-CE. There were tests for detection of total coliforms, thermotolerant, total count of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, molds and yeasts than the investigation of the presence of Escherichia coli. The profile of marketing products was raised through interviews with mobile. Most samples (87.5%) presented with levels of contamination by coliforms at 45 ° C above the acceptable according to ANVISA. The count of microorganisms was highfor all samples, and the most relevant were the order of 106 CFU.mL-1 and 105 CFU.mL-1 for aerobic mesophiles and yeast and mold, respectively. Furthermore, it was possible the isolation and identification of E. coli in two of the samples. The analysis of the marketing of coconut water showed some flaws, like lack of training by walking and neglect on the hygiene of the hands, utensils and equipment. Relevant facts and indicate the need for greater attention to this type of informal trade. (AU)

Processamento e aceitação sensorial de produto do tipo hambúrger à base de soja (Glycine max) e atum (Thunnus spp) / Processing and sensorial acceptance of hamburger type product consisted of soy (Glycine max) and tuná (Thunnus spp)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar microbiologica e sensorialmente produto tipo hambúrger constituído por proteína de soja texturizada e atum. Estimou-se a quantidade de Coliformes totais e termotolerantes, além da pesquisa de estafilococos coagulase positiva e Salmonella spp. A análise sensorial foi baseada em testes hedônicos e de aceitação. O produto enquadrou-se nos parãmetros microbiológicos estabelecidos pela legislação brasileira vigente para todos os testes realizados, salientado-se a ausência de Salmonella spp. Em relação à análise sensorial, o hambúrger obteve ótima aceitação, alcançando média de 7,06 e intenção de compra por 65 % dos julgadores. Os resultados comprovaram processamento seguro do produto, o qual foi formulado seguindo-se as boas práticas de fabricação, reforçando o potencial alimentício e tecnológico da soja agregada a outras matérias-primas.

Representações sociais da relação auxiliar de enfermagem-usuário no contexto do Programa Saúde da Família / Representaciones sociales de la relación auxiliar de enfermería-usuario en el contexto del Programa de Salud de la Familia / Social representations of the relationship between the nursing assistant and the user in the Family Health Program context

Os profissionais da enfermagem têm se responsabilizado pela “arte” de cuidar, sendo eles os que dedicam a maior parte do seu tempo ao usuário. Neste estudo, objetivou-se compreender a relação entre auxiliar de enfermagem e usuário através das representações sociais do ato de tocar, construídas por esses profissionais no contexto do Programa Saúde da Família (PSF). Trata-se de uma pesquisa quali-quantitativa com 25 profissionais. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: associação livre de palavras, entrevista e questionário. Evidenciou-se que o toque representa possibilidades de aproximação entre profissional-usuário, expressando-se na prática cotidiana, pois auxilia na cura do usuário e humaniza a relação.

Los profesionales de la enfermería se han responsabilizado por el “arte” de cuidar, dedicando la mayor parte de su tiempo al usuario. El objetivo de este trabajo es comprender la relación entre auxiliar de enfermería-usuario por las representaciones sociales del acto de tocar construidas por esos profesionales en el Programa Salud de la Familia. Se trata de una investigacióncualitativo-cuantitativa con 25 profesionales. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron: asociación libre de palabras, entrevista y cuestionario. Se evidenció que el toque representa posibilidades de aproximación entre profesional-usuario, expresándose enla práctica cotidiana, pues posibilita la cura del usuario y humaniza la relación.

Nursing professionals have themselves held liable for the “art” of take care of the users and are the ones who dedicate the major part of their time to them. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between the nursing assistant and the user expressed by the social representations of the touch act by these professionals in the Family Health Program context. The qualitative-quantitative research involved 25 nursing assistants. The instruments utilized were: free word association,interview, and questionnaire. It was observed that the touch represents possibilities of approximation between the professional and the user, as it helps in the user’s cure and humanizes the relationship.

[Social representations of the relationship between the nursing assistant and the user in the Family Health Program context]. / Representações sociais da relação auxiliar de enfermagem-usuário no contexto do Programa Saúde da Família.

Nursing professionals have themselves held liable for the "art" of take care of the users and are the ones who dedicate the major part of their time to them. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between the nursing assistant and the user expressed by the social representations of the touch act by these professionals in the Family Health Program context. The qualitative-quantitative research involved 25 nursing assistants. The instruments utilized were: free word association, interview, and questionnaire. It was observed that the touch represents possibilities of approximation between the professional and the user as it helps in the user's cure and humanizes the relationship.