Araceli Tomasini

High lovastatin production by Aspergillus terreus in solid-state fermentation on polyurethane foam: An artificial inert support

A novel solid-state fermentation (SSF) process, using high-density polyurethane foam (PUF) as an inert support, was developed for the production of lovastatin. Results indicated that forced aeration is not conducive to metabolite production since it reduces the solid mediums moisture content. The highest level of production was achieved in closed flasks (CF), in which 7.5 mg of lovastatin was generated per gram of dry culture, equivalent to 493 mug/mg dry mycelium. However, since mycelial growth is aeration-dependent, the CF cultures presented the lowest level of growth: 15.19 mg/gdc (milligrams per gram of dry culture). It was possible to increase the biomass concentration to 24.4 mg/gdc by increasing the culture medium concentration to 2.5x and the initial moisture content of the solid medium to 85%. Results also revealed that the density of the culture support is a key parameter in determining lovastatin production; high yields were only obtained on PUF at a density of 17 or 20 kg/m(3). SSF using the latter reached a lovastatin level of 19.95 mg/gdc, with specific production of 815 mug/mg dry mycelium. A comparative study showed that lovastatin production during PUF SSF was two-fold higher than that of the better-known system of bagasse SSF. Moreover, lovastatin yields on PUF were 30 times higher than those of liquid submerged fermentation (SmF; 0.57 mg/ml) and lovastatin biomass was almost 15 times more productive.

An isolate of Rhizopus nigricans capable of tolerating and removing pentachlorophenol

Rhizopusnigricans, isolated from an industrial effluent (paper mill), was resistant to pentachlorophenol (PCP) in Petri dishes and in submerged cultures (100 and 25 mg l−1 respectively). It was shown that this strain of R. nigricans can remove PCP in submerged culture. When 12.5 mg of PCPl−1 were added at 48 h, this compound had been completely removed by 144h. Results indicated that the fungus did not produce extracellular lignin peroxidase (LiP) and laccase, but extracellular phenoloxidase production was observed. The synthesis of the latter enzyme was stimulated by the presence of PCP and/or tyrosine. These results indicate that this fungus, and probably other filamentous fungi, have an interesting potential to be used in processes for chlorophenol biodegradation.

Cr(VI) reduction by an Aspergillus tubingensis strain: Role of carboxylic acids and implications for natural attenuation and biotreatment of Cr(VI) contamination

Experiments conducted in shake flask cultures, in minimal medium of pH 5.3 containing 50 microg mL(-1)Cr(VI) with glucose as a carbon source, indicated that the biomass of Aspergillus sp. strain Ed8, a chromate-tolerant fungal strain previously isolated from a chromium-polluted soil, responds to the presence of citrate in the medium by increasing the rate of Cr(VI) reduction; this effect required the use of live biomass and was not observed in medium with lactate. Other natural carboxylic acids or non-natural metal chelating agents showed a stimulatory effect of Cr(VI) reduction by Ed8 biomass; salicylate, tartrate and citrate were the stronger stimulators of the specific rate of Cr(VI) reduction, with about 12, 8 and 7-fold stimulatory effects, respectively, as compared to control cultures without additions. A procedure for Cr(VI) removal from a diluted electroplating effluent was devised, based on the use of growth medium amended with citrate or a mixture of salycilate-tartrate and cycles of recharge of growth medium-diluted effluent. In addition, conditions were adjusted in a 2-L bioreactor to reach a 20-fold increase in the volume of the reduction system with no loss of efficiency. Strain Ed8 was identified as an Aspergillus tubingensis isolate (included in Aspergillus niger species complex) on the basis of the ITS1-5.8s rDNA-ITS2 sequence similarity.

Influence of pH regulation and nutrient content on cephalosporin C production in solid‐state fermentation by Acremonium chrysogenum C10

Aims:  To investigate the effect of pH regulation and nutrient concentration on cephalosporin C (CPC) production in solid‐state fermentation (SSF), using sugarcane bagasse as inert support, impregnated with liquid medium.

Environmental and nutritional factors controlling aflatoxin production in cassava solid state fermentation

Abstract A physiological study of Aspergillus parasiticus on cassava solid state fermentation was performed to evaluate the risks of aflatoxin (AT) contamination of the cassava protein enrichment process with Aspergillus niger. The effects of key environmental (temperature, initial moisture content, aeration rate), nutritional (nitrogen and phosphorous source concentration) and ecological (mixed cultures using A. niger and different amounts of A. parasiticus) factors on aflatoxin production by A. parasiticus in this culture system were evaluated. It was found that A. parasiticus can grow and produce aflatoxins in this system. However, the operation temperature of the protein enrichment process (35°C) drastically reduces potential toxin production. Although N and P concentrations in the medium are partially inhibitory for AT biosynthesis, very high production can be attained anyway. The best toxicological protection was the strain itself (A. niger no. 10). When these two species grew together in solid state fermentation, aflatoxin production was completely inhibited.

Pentachlorophenol sorption in nylon fiber and removal by immobilized Rhizopus oryzae ENHE

This study describes pentachlophenol (PCP) sorption in nylon fiber in which Rhizopus oryzae ENHE was immobilized to remove the chemical compound. The experimental sorption data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich-Peterson isotherm models using non-linear error functions to fit the experimental data to the three models. Results showed that the isotherm obtained from the data fitted the three models used. However, the g parameter from Redlich-Peterson model showed that the isotherm obtained approaches the Freundlich model. This support reached the sorption equilibrium concentration at 3mg PCPg(-1)nylon. To study PCP removal capability by R. oryzae ENHE and to eliminate the error caused by PCP sorbed by the nylon fiber during its quantification, nylon fiber at PCP equilibrium sorption concentration was used to immobilize R. oryzae ENHE. It was found that this fungus grew within nylon fiber cubes in presence or not of PCP, even when PCP caused growth inhibition. Maximum biomass accumulated into nylon cubes without PCP was of 32 mg biomass g(-1)nylon and into nylon cubes at PCP equilibrium concentration was of 18 mg g(-1)nylon. The results showed that R. oryzae ENHE immobilized into nylon fiber removed 88.6% and 92% of PCP in cultures with 12.5 and 25 mg PCPL(-1), as initial concentration, respectively. This is the first work to report that a zygomycete, such as R. oryzae ENHE, immobilized into nylon fiber kept its potential to remove PCP.

Application of 2III7-3 fractional factorial experimental design to enhance enzymatic activities of Pleurotus ostreatus with high concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls.

A 2III 7−3 fractional factorial experimental design was used to establish 16 culture media, with and without PCBs to enhance the activities of laccase (Lac), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and versatile peroxidase (VP) produced by the white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus. The culture was added to 10,000 mg L−1 of transformer oil, containing 71% of the identified Arochlor 1242. The culture conditions were established with eight variables at two values (levels); pH (4 and 6), agitation (100 and 200 rpm), CuSO4 (150 and 250 mg L−1), MnSO4 (50 and 200 mg L−1), Tween 80 (13 and 3500 mg L−1), wheat straw (0 and 2.5 g L−1), sugarcane bagasse (0 and 2.5 g L−1),and Arochlor 1242 (0 and 7100 mg L−1) at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 days old culture. Laccase activity was enhanced at a high value of pH and low value of agitation (P<0.001) and correlated positively (R2= 0.9; α=0.05) with the removal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). VP activity was enhanced 27-fold with PCBs, Tween 80 and pH. The MnP activity was increased 1.2-fold with PCBs. The fractional factorial experimental design methodology allowed us to determine the P. ostreatus culture media conditions to enhance Lac and VP activities for efficient removal of Arochlor 1242 (one of the most recalcitrant organochloride pollutants). The factors that shown the greatest effect on Lac activity were: pH, agitation and high concentrations of Arochlor 1242.