Showing papers by "Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto published in 2020"

Nanocellulose Production: Exploring the Enzymatic Route and Residues of Pulp and Paper Industry.

Abstract: Increasing environmental and sustainability concerns, caused by current population growth, has promoted a raising utilization of renewable bio-resources for the production of materials and energy. Recently, nanocellulose (NC) has been receiving great attention due to its many attractive features such as non-toxic nature, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, associated with its mechanical properties and those related to its nanoscale, emerging as a promising material in many sectors, namely packaging, regenerative medicine, and electronics, among others. Nanofibers and nanocrystals, derived from cellulose sources, have been mainly produced by mechanical and chemical treatments; however, the use of cellulases to obtain NC attracted much attention due to their environmentally friendly character. This review presents an overview of general concepts in NC production. Especial emphasis is given to enzymatic hydrolysis processes using cellulases and the utilization of pulp and paper industry residues. Integrated process for the production of NC and other high-value products through enzymatic hydrolysis is also approached. Major challenges found in this context are discussed along with its properties, potential application, and future perspectives of the use of enzymatic hydrolysis as a pretreatment in the scale-up of NC production.

The effect of suppressing funeral rituals during the COVID-19 pandemic on bereaved families.

Abstract: Objective amidst the greatest health crisis in history triggered by COVID-19, this documental study was intended to understand the meanings individuals who have lost loved ones in this context assign to the phenomenon of suppressed funeral rituals. Method based on the theory of grief, the corpus of this study was composed of documents published in digital media containing personal writings and reports of experiences freely and easily available to the public. Two researchers with expertise in the field used inductive thematic analysis to interpret data. Results the experiences shared in the reports reflect the suffering experienced by the sudden death of a significant person, which is amplified by the absence or impediment to performing familial farewell rituals. The suppression or abbreviation of funeral rituals is a traumatic experience because family members are prevented from fulfilling their last homage to the loved one who has suddenly passed away, causing feelings of disbelief and indignation. Conclusion alternatives and new ways to celebrate passage rituals in emergencies of strong social commotion such as a pandemic are needed to provide support and comfort to family members, friends, and relatives. These rituals help survivors to overcome the critical moment, decreasing the risk of developing complicated grief.

Enantioseparation of pesticides: A critical review

Abstract: The potential of chiral pesticides to exhibit stereoselective behavior in regards to activity, toxicity, degradation, bioaccumulation, and/or metabolism has inspired numerous studies, e.g., several works have investigated the contamination of water, food, and soil by chiral pesticides and the consequences of non-targeted species (including human) exposure to these chemicals. As these studies typically rely on enantioselective separation methods such as liquid chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, gas chromatography, and capillary electromigration techniques, this review aims to provide a critical point of view on these analytical techniques used for the enantioselective analysis of pesticides. Accordingly, we selected papers from different areas and several issues (as chiral stationary phases or chiral selectors, mobile phases, and method detectability) regarding each technique were critically discussed. Finally, we outlined the future trends for each technique in the chiral analysis of pesticides.

Chemometric methods in antimalarial drug design from 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes analogues.

Abstract: A set of 23 steroidal 1,2,4,5-tetraoxane analogues were studied using quantum-chemical method (B3LYP/6-31 G*) and multivariate analyses (PCA, HCA, KNN and SIMCA) in order to calculate the propertie...

Pump-Free Microfluidic Rapid Mixer Combined with a Paper-Based Channel.

Abstract: Capillary forces are commonly employed to transport fluids in pump-free microfluidic platforms such as paper-based microfluidics However, since paper is a porous material consisting of nonuniform cellulose fibers, it has some limitations in performing stable flow functions like mixing Here, we developed a pump-free microfluidic device that enables rapid mixing by combining paper and plastic The device was fabricated by laminating transparency film and double-sided adhesive and is composed of an overlapping inlet ending in a paper-based reaction area The mixing performance of the developed device was confirmed experimentally using aqueous dyes and pH indicators In addition, the absolute mixing index was evaluated by numerically calculating the concentration field across the microfluidic channels To demonstrate the utility of the new approach, the detection of an organophosphate pesticide was carried out using a colorimetric enzymatic inhibition assay The developed device and a smartphone application were used to detect organophosphate pesticide on food samples, demonstrating the potential for onsite analysis

Trametes versicolor laccase production using agricultural wastes: a comparative study in Erlenmeyer flasks, bioreactor and tray

Abstract: Laccases are very interesting biocatalysts of recognized importance for several industrial applications. Its production by Trametes versicolor, a white-rot fungus, was induced by a combination of cotton gin wastes (1%), a lignocellulosic waste, and vinasse (15%), an industrial by-product from sugarcane industry. The use of these agro-industrial wastes are interesting, since it helps in reducing the enzyme production costs, due to their low cost and wide availability, as well as the environmental contamination issues, due to their improper disposal. Thus, laccase production was studied in submerged fermentation of T. versicolor using these agro-industrial wastes (cotton gin waste and vinasse) as carbon source and an additional nitrogen source (0.1% peptone). Three different bioreactors were evaluated for laccase production, such as BioFlo 310 bioreactor, aluminium tray and Erlenmeyer flasks to achieve high levels of laccase production. The highest specific production of laccase was found in BioFlo 310 bioreactor with 12 days of fermentation (55.24 U/mg prot.), which has been shown to be closely related to the oxygen supply to the microorganism through aeration of the fermentation medium. This study brings new insights into green biotechnology regarding vinasse utilization, which is frequently discharged in soils, rivers, and lakes causing adverse effects on agricultural soils and biota, as well as the cotton gin waste recovery.

Water diversion in Brazil threatens biodiversity

Abstract: Construction of water diversions is a common response to the increasing demands for freshwater, often resulting in benefits to communities but with the risk of multiple environmental, economic, and social impacts. Water-diversion projects can favor massive introductions and accelerate biotic homogenization. This study provides empirical evidence on the consequences of a proposed law intended to divert water from two large and historically isolated river basins in Brazil: Tocantins to Sao Francisco. Compositional similarity (CS) and β-diversity were quantified encompassing aquatic organisms: mollusks, zooplankton, crustaceans, insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and plants. For CS we (i) considered only native species, and (ii) simulated the introduction of non-natives and assumed the extinction of threatened species due to this water-diversion project. We highlight the environmental risks of such large-scale projects, which are expected to cause impacts on biodiversity linked to bioinvasion and homogenization, and we recommend alternatives in order to solve water-demand conflicts.

Urbanization homogenizes the interactions of plant-frugivore bird networks

Abstract: Anthropogenic activities are the main cause of habitat loss and fragmentation, which directly affects biodiversity. Disruption in landscape connectivity among populations may affect complex interactions between species and ecosystem functions, such as pollination and seed dispersal, and ultimately result in secondary extinctions. Urbanization, one of the most intense forms of landscapes changes, has been reported to negatively affect bird and plant diversity. Still, little is known about the effects of urban landscapes on interaction networks. We investigated the relationship between urban landscape structure and plant-frugivore networks at different spatial scales. Coupling interaction data from urban areas and a model selection approach, we evaluated which landscape factors best explained the variation in urban networks properties. Our results indicate that urbanization decreases bird richness, mainly through the loss of habitat specialist species, which results in networks being composed mainly of birds well adapted to urban dwelling. We found that interaction evenness, a measure of homogeneity of interaction distribution between species, increases with urbanization. This is due to the strong dominance that generalist birds had in network composition because they foraged on all available fruits, including exotic plants. The ensuing homogenization of interactions can reduce the resilience of networks and affect the efficiency of ecosystems functions. Thus, urbanization plans should consider the proportion and distribution of green areas within cities, coupling human and ecosystem wellbeing.

High-Quantum-Yield Upconverting Er3+/Yb3+-Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Dual Coatings for Real-Time Temperature Sensing and Photothermal Conversion

Abstract: Flexible coatings with dual capabilities for remote real-time temperature sensing and photothermal conversion have a huge potential in the field of advanced thermal actuated optoelectronic applicat...

Oral Cannabidiol Does Not Convert to Δ8-THC or Δ9-THC in Humans: A Pharmacokinetic Study in Healthy Subjects.

Abstract: Introduction: Recent studies have suggested that cannabidiol (CBD) could interconvert into Delta-8- and Delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol. Materials and Methods: Thus, we tested the plasma samples of 120 healthy human subjects (60 male and 60 female), 60 in fasting and the other 60 under normal feeding conditions after acute administration of an oral solution containing CBD 300 mg. To do this, we developed a bioanalytical method to determine CBD and the presence of THC in plasma samples by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Results: The results showed that THC was not detected in plasma after the administration of CBD, and those study participants did not present psychotomimetic effects. Conclusions: The findings presented here are consistent with previous evidence suggesting that the oral administration of CBD in a corn oil formulation is a safe route for the administration of the active substance without bioconversion to THC in humans.

Vegetation pattern modulates ground arthropod diversity in semi-arid Mediterranean steppes

Abstract: The ecological functioning of dryland ecosystems is closely related to the spatial pattern of the vegetation, which is typically structured in patches. Ground arthropods mediate key soil functions and ecological processes, yet little is known about the influence of dryland vegetation pattern on their abundance and diversity. Here, we investigate how patch size and cover, and distance between patches relate to the abundance and diversity of meso-and microarthropods in semi-arid steppes. We found that species richness and abundance of ground arthropods exponentially increase with vegetation cover, patch size, and patch closeness. The communities under vegetation patches mainly respond to patch size, while the communities in the bare-soil interpatches are mostly controlled by the average distance between patches, independently of the concurrent changes in vegetation cover. Large patches seem to play a critical role as reserve and source of ground arthropod diversity. Our results suggest that decreasing vegetation cover and/or changes in vegetation pattern towards small and over-dispersed vegetation patches can fast lead to a significant loss of ground arthropods diversity in drylands.

Meliponamycins: Antimicrobials from Stingless Bee-Associated Streptomyces sp.

Abstract: Social insects establish complex interactions with microorganisms, some of which play defensive roles in colony protection. The important role of pollinators such as the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris in nature encouraged us to pursue efforts to study its associated microbiota. Here we describe the discovery of two novel cyclic hexadepsipeptides, meliponamycin A (1) and meliponamycin B (2), from Streptomyces sp. ICBG1318 isolated from M. scutellaris nurse bees. Their structures were established by interpretation of NMR and MS data, and the absolute configuration of the constituent amino acids was determined by the advanced Marfey's method. Compounds 1 and 2 showed strong activity against the entomopathogen Paenibacillus larvae and human pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Leishmania infantum.

Photoinactivation of Salmonella enterica (serovar Typhimurium) by tetra-cationic porphyrins containing peripheral [Ru(bpy)2Cl]+ units

Abstract: In the last years, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has been considered as one important alternative to be used in antimicrobial treatments. In the present work we report the first photoinactivation of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (Salmonella Typhimurium) by cationic free-base meso-tetra-(phenyl)porphyrin and its Zn(II) complex containing peripheral Ru(II)-bipyridyl complexes. Bacterial inoculum (107 CFU mL-1) was incubated with the porphyrins (25 μM) with an irradiation system containing a halogen lamp with fluence values of 0, 180, 360, 720 and 1080 J cm-2. Both porphyrins demonstrate phototoxicity against bacteria, but higher efficiency was observed by Zn(II) complex. It was demonstrated that RuTPyP and ZnRuTPyP phototoxicity is due to their photodynamic activity associated with the formation of singlet oxygen, anion superoxide and hydroxyl radical at their irradiation by visible light. The formation of these reactive species was confirmed using flash-photolysis technique and spin-trap electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The singlet oxygen quantum yield was determined by indirect method using the uric acid as singlet oxygen scavenger. Besides the characterization of optical absorption and fluorescence RuTPyP and ZnRuTPyP properties were realized using optical absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies. It was observed that complexation with Zn(II) ion increases the quantum yields of porphyrin fluorescence and singlet oxygen formation.

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Abstract: Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data.

Wing Geometric Morphometrics of Workers and Drones and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Provide Similar Genetic Structure in the Iberian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera iberiensis).

Abstract: Wing geometric morphometrics has been applied to honey bees (Apis mellifera) in identification of evolutionary lineages or subspecies and, to a lesser extent, in assessing genetic structure within subspecies. Due to bias in the production of sterile females (workers) in a colony, most studies have used workers leaving the males (drones) as a neglected group. However, considering their importance as reproductive individuals, the use of drones should be incorporated in these analyses in order to better understand diversity patterns and underlying evolutionary processes. Here, we assessed the usefulness of drone wings, as well as the power of wing geometric morphometrics, in capturing the signature of complex evolutionary processes by examining wing shape data, integrated with geographical information, from 711 colonies sampled across the entire distributional range of Apis mellifera iberiensis in Iberia. We compared the genetic patterns reconstructed from spatially-explicit shape variation extracted from wings of both sexes with that previously reported using 383 genome-wide SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). Our results indicate that the spatial structure retrieved from wings of drones and workers was similar (r = 0.93) and congruent with that inferred from SNPs (r = 0.90 for drones; r = 0.87 for workers), corroborating the clinal pattern that has been described for A. m. iberiensis using other genetic markers. In addition to showing that drone wings carry valuable genetic information, this study highlights the capability of wing geometric morphometrics in capturing complex genetic patterns, offering a reliable and low-cost alternative for preliminary estimation of population structure.

Conformational dynamics of a G protein–coupled receptor helix 8 in lipid membranes

Abstract: G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest and pharmaceutically most important class of membrane proteins encoded in the human genome, characterized by a seven-transmembrane helix architecture and a C-terminal amphipathic helix 8 (H8). In a minority of GPCR structures solved to date, H8 either is absent or adopts an unusual conformation. The controversial existence of H8 of the class A GPCR neurotensin receptor 1 (NTS1) has been examined here for the nonthermostabilized receptor in a functionally supporting membrane environment using electron paramagnetic resonance, molecular dynamics simulations, and circular dichroism. Lipid-protein interactions with phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine lipids, in particular, stabilize the residues 374 to 390 of NTS1 into forming a helix. Furthermore, introduction of a helix-breaking proline residue in H8 elicited an increase in s-arrestin–NTS1 interactions observed in pull-down assays, suggesting that the structure and/or dynamics of H8 might play an important role in GPCR signaling.

LPMO AfAA9_B and Cellobiohydrolase AfCel6A from A. fumigatus Boost Enzymatic Saccharification Activity of Cellulase Cocktail.

Abstract: Cellulose is the most abundant polysaccharide in lignocellulosic biomass, where it is interlinked with lignin and hemicellulose. Bioethanol can be produced from biomass. Since breaking down biomass is difficult, cellulose-active enzymes secreted by filamentous fungi play an important role in degrading recalcitrant lignocellulosic biomass. We characterized a cellobiohydrolase (AfCel6A) and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase LPMO (AfAA9_B) from Aspergillus fumigatus after they were expressed in Pichia pastoris and purified. The biochemical parameters suggested that the enzymes were stable; the optimal temperature was ~60 °C. Further characterization revealed high turnover numbers (kcat of 147.9 s-1 and 0.64 s-1, respectively). Surprisingly, when combined, AfCel6A and AfAA9_B did not act synergistically. AfCel6A and AfAA9_B association inhibited AfCel6A activity, an outcome that needs to be further investigated. However, AfCel6A or AfAA9_B addition boosted the enzymatic saccharification activity of a cellulase cocktail and the activity of cellulase Af-EGL7. Enzymatic cocktail supplementation with AfCel6A or AfAA9_B boosted the yield of fermentable sugars from complex substrates, especially sugarcane exploded bagasse, by up to 95%. The synergism between the cellulase cocktail and AfAA9_B was enzyme- and substrate-specific, which suggests a specific enzymatic cocktail for each biomass by up to 95%. The synergism between the cellulase cocktail and AfAA9_B was enzyme- and substrate-specific, which suggests a specific enzymatic cocktail for each biomass.

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Abstract: Biodiversity loss is currently one of the most important societal concerns worldwide, and it is caused mainly by habitat loss and fragmentation, biological invasion, and climate change (Vitousek et al. 1996, Newbold et al. 2015, Bellard et al. 2016). Introduced species can have positive effects on human well-being, especially when used for livelihoods benefits (Shackleton et al. 2019). However, introduced species become invasive when they disrupt ecosystem processes by negatively affecting native species through direct, indirect or apparent competition, predation, habitat modification, and alteration of nutrient and water cycles (Long 2003, Mooney et al. 2005, Clout and Rusell 2007, Bellard et al. 2016).

Inflammasome activation in COVID-19 patients

Abstract: Severe cases of COVID-19 are characterized by a strong inflammatory process that may ultimately lead to organ failure and patient death. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a molecular platform that promotes inflammation via cleavage and activation of key inflammatory molecules including active caspase-1 (Casp1p20), IL-1β and IL-18. Although the participation of the inflammasome in COVID-19 has been highly speculated, the inflammasome activation and participation in the outcome of the disease is unknown. Here we demonstrate that the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and it is active in COVID-19, influencing the clinical outcome of the disease. Studying moderate and severe COVID-19 patients, we found active NLRP3 inflammasome in PBMCs and tissues of post-mortem patients upon autopsy. Inflammasome-derived products such as Casp1p20 and IL-18 in the sera correlated with the markers of COVID-19 severity, including IL-6 and LDH. Moreover, higher levels of IL-18 and Casp1p20 are associated with disease severity and poor clinical outcome. Our results suggest that the inflammasome is key in the pathophysiology of the disease, indicating this platform as a marker of disease severity and a potential therapeutic target for COVID-19.

Green patches among a grey patchwork: the importance of preserving natural habitats to harbour cavity-nesting bees and wasps (Hymenoptera) and their natural enemies in urban areas

Abstract: Urbanisation is fast-growing worldwide characterised by the conversion of natural vegetation ecosystems into densely paved areas with a high concentration of human constructions and few remnants of natural habitats. This phenomenon may threaten wildlife, especially high trophic level organisms such as predators and parasitoids, which are known to be more sensitive to habitat fragmentation. We investigated the influence of urbanisation on the community of trap-nesting bees and wasps as well as on their parasites in an urban area. Trap-nests were installed in 11 areas within the perimeter of the city of Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. Fourteen land cover categories were distinguished and their percentages calculated for each area from satellite images. The community sampled consisted of 20 wasp and 12 bee species, as well as 25 natural enemy species that attacked 9.75% of the nests. The highest diversity of bees and wasps was observed in areas with higher percentages of natural vegetation, i.e., forests, wastelands, and neighbourhoods with extensive green areas. Rates of parasitism, measured by the abundance and richness of parasites, was positively correlated with the proportion of green areas in the landscape. Even though predatory wasps constitute a higher trophic level than bees they were not more negatively impacted by urbanisation. Our results demonstrate that natural habitats and extensive green areas can host diverse communities of cavity-nesting bees, wasps, and their parasites within a city. The conservation of green areas in urbanised landscapes should be considered as essential to maintain the populations of these important insects.

A New Rhynchocephalian from the Late Triassic of Southern Brazil Enhances Eusphenodontian Diversity

Abstract: We describe a new eusphenodontian, Lanceirosphenodon ferigoloi gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Triassic (Norian) Riograndia Assemblage Zone (AZ) of the Candelaria Sequence (Santa Maria Supersequen...