Abstract This study evaluated the production of endoxylanases by Streptomyces malaysiensis AMT-3 in submerged fermentation using by-products of the food industry at 28ºC. In shake-flasks experiments, the highest endoxylanase activity of 45.8 U.mL-1 was observed within 6 days in a medium containing (w/v) 2.5% wheat bran and 1.2% corn steep liquor. The same culture conditions were used to evaluate the enzyme production in a 2 L stirred tank reactor under different agitation (300, 450 and 600 rev.min-1) and aeration (30 and 60 L.h-1) conditions. The use of 450 rev.min-1 coupled to an aeration of 90 L.h-1 resulted on 81.3 U.mL-1 endoxylanase activity within 5 days. The effect of temperature and pH on endoxylanase activity and stability showed the highest activity at 60 ºC and pH 6.0. Zymography showed the presence of three xylanolytic bands with molecular masses of 690, 180 and 142 kDa. The results showed that the thermotolerant actinobacterial endoxylanase can be produced in high titers using by-product of the food industry.

Background: The production of ethanol by a Consolidated Bioprocessing (CBP) strategy, which simultaneously combines cellulase production, lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis and fermentation of released sugars to ethanol in one bioreactor, is a promising technology for cost reduction in the biological processing of biomass, specially using agroindustrial residues. Clostridium thermocellum is an anaerobic, thermophilic, strictly fermentative gram positive bacterium that meets all the requirements for CBP. Results: Ethanol concentration obtained in the non-stirred fermentation process in flasks with raw bagasse was two times greater than that in the stirred system. The results observed using a pretreated sugarcane bagasse in non-stirred flasks regarding ethanol concentration, were slightly lower than with raw bagasse. The sparging of exogenous H2 into the medium at atmospheric pressure inside the bioreactor showed to be unfavourable to achieve higher ethanol yields. Conclusions: The strain investigated is a promising candidate for thermophilic fermentative ethanol production from dried ground raw sugarcane bagasse in a CBP strategy, although the alcohol concentrations need to be further improved. In future studies, it is recommended to investigate different modes of operation of the fermentation process, including pressurized conditions, as well as to use wet raw sugarcane bagasse aiming to achieve additional improvement in ethanol production and to reduce the costs of the process.

The aim of this paper was to select the most interesting Brazilian biopharmaceuticals, with the best market opportunity for production. The biopharmaceuticals filgrastim, infliximab, somatropin, imiglucerase, betainterferon and factor VIII were selected because they are not produced in Brazil and thus could increase the technological capacity of domestic production. The use of a data mining tool facilitated the results achieved here, using the patents deposited in several banks worldwide as the source information. The prospects and trends of producing biopharmaceuticals in Brazil are of great interest to the country to establish a competitive industry and reduce the vulnerability of the National Health System, such as display windows of opportunity, showing the possibility of moving towards the production of biopharmaceuticals.

This paper presents a study on knowledge management and the analysis of scientific biotechnology trends in Venezuela. It provides an overview of the science profile as well as its regional development and its relation to issues of topics covered by biotechnology, based on the analysis of scientific publications for the period 1995-2010. The survey was accomplished through the database ISI Web of Science, using 60 terms selected by experts in biotechnology. A set of 803 registers has been organized. Scientific indicators were produced using data/text mining tools in order to perform an analysis of knowledge management and scientific trends. This made possible the finding of a greater number of scientific publications in areas such as Ecology and Health, showing a greater frequency in terms competence (such as DNA, PCR and Biodiversity). Results pointed out that the United States is the main foreign partner-country of scientific publications, followed by Spain and France. A cooperation network with other Latin American countries (Brazil, Colombia and Chile) was also verified. Results showed that scientific knowledge is being developed by certain public institutions such as universities and government research centers, especiall the Universidad Central de Venezuela and the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas.

Este artigo apresenta um estudo da gestão do conhecimento e análise de tendências científicas em Biotecnologia na Venezuela, provendo uma visão do perfil de desenvolvimento regional científico e em relação aos temas que englobam as áreas abrangidas pela Biotecnologia, ambos baseados na análise de publicações científicas do país no período de 1995 a 2010. A pesquisa foi realizada na base de dados ISIWeb of Science utilizando 60 termos selecionados por especialistas em Biotecnologia. Um conjunto de 803 registros foi organizado e indicadores científicos foram produzidos através da utilização de ferramentas de mineração de dados/textos e uma análise da gestão do conhecimento e tendências científicas foi realizada. Foi possível observar número maior de publicações nas áreas: Ecologia e Ciências da Vida, com maior freqüência de termos em competência PCR, DNA e Biodiversidade. Os resultados apontam os Estados Unidos como principal país parceiro externo nas publicações científicas, seguido da Espanha e da França. Também foi possível verificar grande rede de cooperações com outros países latino-americanos como Brasil, Colômbia e Chile. Constatou-se que o conhecimento científico em Biotecnologia na Venezuela é desenvolvido por instituições públicas: universidades e centros de pesquisas governamentais, destacando-se: Universidad Central de Venezuela e Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas.

This paper presents a study on knowledge management and analysis of scientific Biotechnology trends in Venezuela, providing an overview of the science profile as well as regional development and its relation to issues of topics covered by Biotechnology based on the analysis of scientific publications for the period of 1995 to 2010. The survey was accomplished in database ISI/Web of Science using 60 terms selected by experts in Biotechnology and 803 register has been organized. Scientific indicators were produced using data/ text mining tools. It was possible to find a greater number of scientific publications in areas such as Ecology and Health, showing a greater frequency in these terms: DNA, PCR and Biodiversity. Results pointed out The United States of America as the main foreign partner-country of scientific publications followed by Spain and France. It was possible to verify cooperation network with others Latin American countries: Brazil, Colombia and Chile.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is among the most significant causes of bacterial disease in humans. Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) production is essential for pneumococcal virulence. Pneumococcal CPS has been widely used as vaccine antigen. This study is focused on the influence of culture conditions of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14 as for developing an industrial method for polysaccharide production. The pH proved to be a highly important variable in batchwise culture. Using the pH control all glucose added was consumed resulting in a four-fold increase in polysaccharide productivity relative to cultivation without pH control. S. pneumoniae is a lactic acid bacterium, so named for its primary metabolic byproduct (lactate), which has an inhibitory effect on cell growth in concentrations ranging from 4 to 5 g/L. An increase of 30% in polysaccharide productivity was observed using glucose pulses with 5.5 hrs of growth, resulting in a maximum polysaccharide concentration of 185.2 mg/L. Our data suggest the possibility of using a medium of non-animal origin and employing pH control for the cultivation of pneumococcus to produce a polysaccharide vaccine.

Sugar cane bagasse is produced in Brazil as waste of the sugar and ethanol industries. This lignocellulosic material is a potential source for second-generation ethanol production; however a pretreatment stage is essential, which aims at removing the hemicellulose component by disorganizing the lignocellulosic complex. In this work sugar cane bagasse was pretreated by diluted acid hydrolysis resulting in xylose-rich hydrolysates, which could be fermented to ethanol by a strain of the yeast Pichia stipitis. Statistical approach was used to investigate the effects of factors associated with the diluted acid hydrolysis process (acid concentration, solid:liquid ratio and time of exposure) on the fermentability of different hydrolysates. The statistical analysis was useful for determining the effects of the individual factors and their interactions on the response variables. An acid concentration of 1.09% (v/v), a solid:liquid ratio of 1:2.8 (g:ml), and an exposure time of 27 min were established and validated as the optimum pretreatment conditions for ethanol production from hemicellulose hydrolysates of sugar cane bagasse. Under these conditions, a hydrolysate with 50 g/l of xylose, 6.04 g/l of acetic acid, 0.55 g/l of hydroxylmethylfurfural and 0.09 g/l of furfural was obtained and its fermentation yielded roughly 20 g/l of ethanol in 40 hrs.

Tons of sugar cane bagasse are produced in Brazil as waste of the sugar and ethanol industries. This lignocellulosic material is a potential source for second-generation ethanol production. Diluted acid hydrolysis is one of the most efficient pretreatments for hemicellulosic solubilization. The hydrolysate obtained is rich in xylose, which can be converted to ethanol by Pichia stipitis. This work used a statistical approach and the severity factor to investigate the effects of factors associated with the diluted acid hydrolysis process (acid concentration, solid:liquid ratio and time of exposure) on various response variables (xylose concentration, hydrolysis yield, inhibitor concentration and hydrolysate fermentability). The severity factor had a strong influence on the generation of inhibitors. The statistical analysis was useful for determining the effects of the individual factors and their interactions on the response variables. An acid concentration of 1.09% (vv), an S:L ratio of 1:2.8 (g:ml), and an exposure time of 27 min were established and validated as the optimum pretreatment conditions for the generation of hydrolysates with high xylose concentration and low contents of inhibitors. In such conditions, hydrolysate with 50 g/l of xylose was obtained.

In Brazil, the production of ethanol from sugarcane produces large amounts of lignocellulosic residues (bagasse and straw), which have been driving research and development for the production of second generation ethanol. In the present work, a recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain expressing the β-glucosidase gene from Humicola grisea was used for ethanol production from three different cellulosic sources by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. Initially, a enzymatic pre-hydrolysis step was done with a solid:liquid ratio of 1:4, and an enzymatic load of 25 filter paper activity (FPU).g-1 of cellulosic substrate. Using sugarcane bagasse pretreated cellulignin, crystalline cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose, 51.7 g L-1, 41.7 g L-1 and 13.8 g L-1 of ethanol was obtained, respectively, at the end of 55 hrs of fermentation. The highest ethanol productivity (0.94 g L-1 hrs-1) was achieved using sugarcane bagasse pretreated cellulignin. The use of a recombinant S. cerevisiae led to extremely low glucose concentrations when compared to other works reported in literature.

Cellulases have been intensively studied in the past few years, due to the interests in biofuels production from lignocellulosic materials, since they permit maintaining mild conditions during the conversion process. These enzymes can be produced by a broad variety of naturally occurring microorganisms, such as from genera Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Penicillium and Humicola. Targeting the increasing of expression levels, molecular biology tools have been used for heterologous genes insertion in host cells, e. g., Pichia pastoris and Escherichia coli. Enzymes from fungal cellulolytic complex usually act best at pH between 4 and 5 under temperatures from 40 to 60 °C and can be used for either sequential (SHF) or simultaneous (SSF) hydrolysis together alcoholic fermentation. In this review, the main raw materials for production of cellulases are identified, as well as the state of art of enzymes' properties, production and main applications.

O presente estudo objetivou a investigação da capacidade degradadora de uma linhagem bacteriana autóctone (isolada de amostras de solo contaminadas com derivados de petróleo) contra hidrocarbonetos de querosene de aviação. A linhagem foi caracterizada como Nocardia sp. A avaliação do seu potencial degradador deu-se realizada mediante testes com indicador redox e observações na redução da tensão superficial na fase aquosa. A degradação do querosene foi avaliada por métodos cromatográficos. Os experimentos foram realizados utilizando-se duas taxas de bioestímulo. Uma linhagem bacteriana Pseudomonas aeruginosa UFPEDA 39 foi utilizada como referência. A linhagem autóctone demonstrou alta eficiência na degradação de hidrocarbonetos do querosene bem como para produzir compostos ativos de superfície quando comparada com a linhagem de referência.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of degradation of an autochthonous bacterial strain, isolated from petroleum derivatives contaminated soil samples against jet fuel hydrocarbons. The autochthonous bacterial strain was characterized as Nocardia sp. Evaluation of their degrading abilities was carried out by presumptive assays as redox indicator test and by observations of surface tension decreases in aqueous medium. Degradation of jet fuel hydrocarbons was evaluated by chromatographic methods. Experiments were performed in flasks at two biostimulation rates. A bacterial strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa UFPEDA 39 was utilized as a reference microorganism. The bacterial strain, identified as Nocardia sp, demonstrate high ability to degrade jet fuel compounds as well as to produce surface active compounds when compared to the reference microrganism.

O processo de hidrólise do amido da torta de mamona por ácido e pela combinação de a-amilase, glicoamilase e pululanase foi realizado, seguindo de etapa de fermentação. A hidrólise química resultou em 27.3 g L-1 de açúcares com 33.4% de eficiência de hidrólise. O hidrolisado obtido foi fermentado originando 11 g L-1 de etanol (Y P/S=0.48 g g-1). A melhor condição de hidrólise enzimática foi (por grama de torta de mamona): 200 µL de a-amilase, a 90 ºC; 200 µL de glicoamilase e 100 µL de pullulanase, ambas a 60 °C, que resultou em 75 g L-1 de açúcares redutores totais, que corresponde a 91.4% de eficiência de hidrólise. Esses açúcares em seguida foram convertidos em 34.5 g L-1 etanol. O processo de hidrólise ácida foi capaz de promover a destoxificação da torta de mamona.

The starch hydrolysis process of Castor Bean Cake by (CBC) acid or enzymatic combination of alpha-amylase, glucoamylase and pullulanase was evaluated and followed by fermentation. The chemical hydrolysis resulted in 27.3 g L-1 of sugars with 33.4% of hydrolysis efficiency. The generated hydrolyzate was fermented yielding 11 g L-1 of ethanol (Y P/S=0.48 g g-1). The best enzymatic hydrolysis condition was as follows (per gram of CBC): 200 µL of a-amylase, at 90 ºC; 200 µL of glucoamylase and 100 µL of pullulanase, both at 60 °C, which yielded 75 g L-1 of total reducing sugars corresponding to 91.4 % of hydrolysis efficiency. These sugars were subsequently converted to 34.5 g L-1 of ethanol. The acid hydrolysis process was also capable to allow the detoxification of the Castor Bean Cake.

The castor bean cake is rich in starch (48 ± 0.53%) and bears a problem linked to the occurrence of a toxic protein (ricin). The chemical hydrolysis (ratio solid:liquid = 1:6; H2SO4= 0.1 mol L-1; 120 °C; 40 min) generated a medium with 27 g L-1 of reducing sugars (hydrolysis efficiency= 32%). The hydrolyzed product was fermented and produced 11 g L-1 of ethanol (volumetric productivity=1.38 g L-1 h-1 and ethanol yield on substrate consumed=0.45 g g-1). In vivo experiments (DL50) revealed a reduction of roughly 240 times in the CBC toxicity (2.11 µg g-1).

Nos últimos anos tem crescido o uso de xilanases em muitas indústrias, tais como polpa e papel, alimentos e têxtil. Thermomyces lanuginosus IOC-4145 foi capaz de produzir um alto nível de xilanase livre de celulase em culturas agitadas usando sabugo de milho como substrato (500 U/mL). Procedeu-se, inicialmente, à otimização da composição do meio de produção em fermentação submersa, com o intuito de alcançar uma composição de meio de produção de baixo custo para produção da enzima. Para este propósito, utilizou-se planejamento estatístico de experimentos. O sabugo de milho revelou-se como a mais importante variável que afeta a produção enzimática. Adicionalmente, a influência de vários reagentes na atividade xilanásica foi investigada no extrato bruto. Um pequeno estímulo na atividade enzimática (5-15%) foi observado para NaCl e uréia, ambos nas concentrações de 3 e 5 mM. Por outro lado, ditiotreitol e beta-mercaptoetanol 5mM causaram um grande estímulo na atividade xilanásica (40-53%). A xilanase produzida apresentou apreciável termoestabilidade, retendo quase 50% da atividade inicial durante 24 horas de incubação a 50ºC e, aproximadamente, 50% da atividade foram mantidos a 60ºC, mesmo após 4 horas de incubação. A enzima também exibiu boa estabilidade à estocagem a -20ºC na ausência de qualquer agente estabilizante.

In recent years, xylanases have expanded their use in many processing industries, such as pulp and paper, food and textile. Thermomyces lanuginosus IOC-4145 was able to produce a very high level of cellulase-free xylanase in shaken cultures using corncob as substrate (500 U/mL). An optimization of the medium composition in submerged fermentation was carried out aiming at a low cost medium composition for enzyme production. Statistical experiment design was employed for this purpose, pointing out corncob as the most important parameter, which affects enzyme production. Additionally, the influence of several chemicals on xylanase activity was investigated in the crude extract. A slight stimulation of the enzyme (5-15%) was achieved with NaCl and urea, both at 3 and 5 mM of concentration. On the other hand, dithiothreitol and beta-mercaptoethanol at a molarity of 5mM have caused a strong stimulation of the enzyme (40-53%). The crude xylanase displayed appreciable thermostability, retaining almost 50% of activity during 24 hours of incubation at 50ºC; about 50% of activity was present at 60ºC even after 4 hours of incubation. The enzyme also exhibited good storage stability at -20ºC without any stabilizing agent.

Microrganismos termofílicos e hipertermofílicos são encontrados como habitantes normais de áreas vulcânicas continentais e submarinas, sedimentos marinhos com aquecimento geotermal e ventos hidrotermais; portanto, são considerados extremofílicos. Diversas aplicações presentes ou potenciais de enzimas de extremofílicos são revisadas, especialmente enzimas que hidrolizam polímeros, tais como amilases e hemicelulases. São também apresentadas as variações das características morfológicas e metabólicas entre estes organismos que crescem entre 70oC e 100°C e indicadas as oportunidades potenciais de aplicações derivadas destas características.

Thermophilic and hyperthermophilic microorganisms are found as normal inhabitants of continental and submarine volcanic areas, geothermally heated sea-sediments and hydrothermal vents and thus are considered extremophiles. Several present or potential applications of extremophilic enzymes are reviewed, especially polymer-hydrolysing enzymes, such as amylolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes. The purpose of this review is to present the range of morphological and metabolic features among those microorganisms growing from 70oC to 100°C and to indicate potential opportunities for useful applications derived from these features.