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We investigated the influence of corn steep liquor (CSL) and cassava waste water (CWW) as carbon and nitrogen sources on the morphology and production of biomass and chitosan by Mucor subtilissimus UCP 1262 and Lichtheimia hyalospora UCP 1266. The highest biomass yields of 4.832 g/L (M. subtilissimus UCP 1262) and 6.345 g/L (L. hyalospora UCP 1266) were produced in assay 2 (6% CSL and 4% CWW), factorial design 22, and also favored higher chitosan production (32.471 mg/g) for M. subtilissimus. The highest chitosan production (44.91 mg/g) by L. hyalospora (UCP 1266) was obtained at the central point (4% of CWW and 6% of CSL). The statistical analysis, the higher concentration of CSL, and lower concentration of CWW significantly contributed to the growth of the strains. The FTIR bands confirmed the deacetylation degree of 80.29% and 83.61% of the chitosan produced by M. subtilissimus (UCP 1262) and L. hyalospora (UCP 1266), respectively. M. subtilissimus (UCP 1262) showed dimorphism in assay 4–6% CSL and 8% CWW and central point. L. hyalospora (UCP 1266) was optimized using a central composite rotational design, and the highest yield of chitosan (63.18 mg/g) was obtained in medium containing 8.82% CSL and 7% CWW. The experimental data suggest that the use of CSL and CWW is a promising association to chitosan production.

The current work aimed to use agro-industrial wastes as a strategy to obtain biosurfactant from a new Candida tropicalis UCP 1613 isolated from mangrove sediments of Rio Formoso, Pernambuco State, Brazil. The yeast was identified based on 18S rRNA sequencing method and blast homology search. The promising strain showed the ability to use an optimal composition of a cheap medium containing whey (3%), cassava wastewater (7%) and soybean post frying oil (10%) during 96h which reduced significantly the surface tension from 70 to 28.8 mN/m. The yield of the biosurfactant obtained was 4.9 g/L and the minimum value of critical micelle concentration was 1.5%. In addition, this was isolated and characterized as an anionic polymeric molecule, composed of proteins (51%), lipids (37%) and carbohydrates (11%), and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Also, biosurfactant was capable in forming stable emulsions at different ranges of temperature, pH and salinity. Alternatively, the biosurfactant displayed no toxicity against the different vegetable evaluated seeds Brassica oleracea, Lactuca sativa L. and Solanum lycopersicum. The antimicrobial activity of this biosurfactant was verified showing the main efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria besides inhibiting the antifungal activity against the yeast tested. The results obtained suggest its potential application to pharmaceutical, as well as environmental area.

Objetivo: O presente trabalho dá prosseguimento ao estudo da validade de equações para valores teóricos (VT) para cálculos espirométricos na população brasileira. Foi feita a comparação entre as equações propostas por Mallozzi (VT-M) para população brasileira e as de Polgar (VT-P), utilizadas especialmente na Europa e Estados Unidos. Métodos: Foram analisados os VT medidos em 185 pacientes de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 6 e 17 anos, sendo 89 meninos e 96 meninas. Para cada paciente foi feito o cálculo do VT para CVF, VEF 1 e FEF 25-75 segundo as equações de Mallozi VT-M e de Polgar VT-P. Em seguida foram comparados os laudos obtidos por um e por outro, segundo o Consenso de Espirometria da SBPT. Resultados: O VT-M para CVF é 0,38% maior para os meninos e 2,19% para as meninas que o calculado segundo Polgar. Os VT-P para o VEF 1 são 6,67% (p < 0,05) menores para as meninas e 7,26% para os meninos. Para o FEF 25-75 os valores diferem apenas em 0,35 e 0,43% para cada um dos sexos, sem significância estatística. Conclusão: Os VTs de CVF e VEF 1 para crianças brasileiras, avaliados segundo Mallozzi, diferem significativamente quanto aos VTs de Polgar. Como conseqüência, encontramos, utilizando as equações de Mallozzi, tendência maior em diagnosticar dificuldade obstrutiva e menor em achados de insuficiência ventilatória restritiva. (J Pneumol 2002;28(3):125-130) Comparison between the theoretical values for spirometric data in children determined by Mallozi's and Polgar's equations Objective: This paper is a continuation of the study on the validity of equations of predicted value (PV) for the Brazilian population. A comparison was made between the equations proposed by Mallozi and byPolgar for the Brazilian population, which are mainly used in the United States and Europe. Methods: PVs of 185 patients of both sexes (89 boys and 96 girls), ages between 6 and 17 years, were analyzed. For each subject, the PVs for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at 1 sec. (FEV 1 ), and the medium expiratory flow (MEF) were calculated according to the equations proposed by Mallozi and Polgar. Results were compared. Diagnoses were made according to the Brazilian Consensus of Spirometry. Results: The PV-M for FVC is 0.38% higher for boys and 2.19% higher for girls than that determined by Polgar. The PV-P for FEV 1 is 6.67% (p < 0.05) lower for girls, suggesting an underassessment of the obstructive impairment. For boys, a mean lower value of 7.26% as compared to the VT-M is at the limit of significance (0.05 < p < 0.01). No significant difference between the two equations analyzed was found for MEF. Conclusions: The PVs for CVF and VEF 1 for Brazilian children, according to Mallozzi, are significantly different when compared to those published by authors like Polgar. As a result, the authors found that Mallozzi's equations are more likely to detect obstructive impairment and less likely to diagnose restrictive ventilatory insufficiency.ARTIGO ORIGINAL

Carotenoids are isoprenoid pigments used in food, chemical, textile, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. They act not only as dyes and provitamins A but also have antioxidants, photoprotective, antimicrobial properties, among others. This class of pigment can be obtained traditionally by plants or chemical synthesis, but they have some disadvantages. In recent years, search for alternative sources has been an important strategy for the carotenoid industries. Microbial synthesis is an alternative that has shown good yields, speed, and reduced production costs. Hostile environments, such as the Caatinga domain, represent an interesting source of microorganisms that produce biomolecules, especially carotenoids, because of oxidative stress caused by sunlight. Thus, this region has been attracting the attention of the scientific community and industry for the use of these organisms in the production of carotenoids and applications in cosmetic products; since these compounds have interesting antioxidant and photoprotective properties. In this review, general characteristics of carotenoids, sources of production, industrial applicability, and commercialization will be discussed, as well as perspectives on the production of carotenoids from microorganisms isolated from the Caatinga and their application in anti-UV products.

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