Célio Fernando Figueiredo Angolini

Direct Protocol for Ambient Mass Spectrometry Imaging on Agar Culture

Herein we describe a new protocol that allows direct mass spectrometry imaging (IMS) of agar cultures. A simple sample dehydration leads to a thin solid agar, which enables the direct use of spray-based ambient mass spectrometry techniques. To demonstrate its applicability, metal scavengers siderophores were imaged directly from agar culture of S. wadayamensis, and well resolved and intense images were obtained using both desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and easy ambient sonic-spray ionization (EASI) with well-defined selective spatial distributions for the free and the metal-bound molecules, providing clues for their roles in cellular metabolism.

Searching for monooxygenases and hydrolases in bacteria from an extreme environment.

Microbial oxidation potentials of extremophiles recovered from Pampo Sul oil field, Campos Basin, Brazil, in pure culture or in consortia, were investigated using high-throughput screening (HTS) and multibioreactions. Camphor (1), cis-jasmone (2), 2-methyl-cyclohexanone (3), 1,2-epoxyoctane (4), phenylethyl acetate (5), phenylethyl propionate (6), and phenylethyl octanoate (7) were used to perform multibioreaction assays. Eighty-two bacterial isolates were recovered from oil and formation water samples and those presenting outstanding activities in HTS assays were identified by sequencing their 16S rRNA genes. These results revealed that most microorganisms belonged to the genus Bacillus and presented alcohol dehydrogenase, monooxygenase, epoxide hydrolase, esterase, and lipase activities.

Taxonomic Diversity and Biodegradation Potential of Bacteria Isolated from Oil Reservoirs of an Offshore Southern Brazilian Basin

This study aimed at the taxonomic characterization of a collection with 98 bacteria isolated from oil and formation water samples from petroleum reservoirs of the Campos Basin (Brazil), as well as the evaluation of their degradation potential of petroleum biomarkers. The genomic DNA extracted from all isolates was employed in PCR reactions for amplification of the 16S rRNA gene and subsequent screening by ARDRA (Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis), in order to detect potentially distinct taxonomic groups. Further 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 39 isolates representing different ribotypes revealed that these isolates belonged to 10 different genera, encompassing Marinobacter, Halomonas, Citreicella, Stenotrophomonas, Achromobacter, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Kocuria and Streptomyces, affiliated to the three phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. RAPD analysis enabled the discrimination of the isolates at the infraspecific level, allowing the identification of 45 distinct genetic band patterns. The chromatographic results showed the preference of all of bacteria to biodegrade nonadecanoic acid and squalane when grown in biomarker mixture. The results of this study provide further insight into the taxonomy of the cultivated fraction of microbial communities of Brazilian oil reservoirs and may offer potential tools for future application in bioremediation processes.

Identification of oxidoreductases from the petroleum Bacillus safensis strain

Highlights • A bacterium responsible for degradation of the petroleum aromatic fractions was isolated.• The bacterium was identified as Bacillus safensis.• Enzymatic assays revealed the presence of two oxidoreductases.• The B. safensis strain can be used for bioremediation of petroleum-polluted environment.

Genome Sequence of Bacillus safensis CFA06, Isolated from Biodegraded Petroleum in Brazil

ABSTRACT Bacillus safensis is a microorganism recognized for its biotechnological and industrial potential due to its interesting enzymatic portfolio. Here, as a means of gathering information about the importance of this species in oil biodegradation, we report a draft genome sequence of a strain isolated from petroleum.

Genome Mining of Endophytic Streptomyces wadayamensis Reveals High Antibiotic Production Capability

The actinobacteria Streptomyces wadayamensis A23, an endophitic strain, was recently sequenced and previous work showed qualitatively that the strain inhibits the growth of some pathogens. Herein we report the genome analysis of S. wadayamensis which reveals several antibiotic biosynthetic pathways. Using mass spectrometry, we were able to identify desferoxamines, several antimycins and candicidin, as predicted. Additionally, it was possible to confirm that the biosynthetic machinery of the strain when compared to identified known metabolites is far underestimated. As suggested by biochemical qualitative tests, genome encoded information reveals that the strain A23 has high capability to produce antibiotics.

Plasma Lipidomic Signature of Rectal Adenocarcinoma Reveals Potential Biomarkers

Background Rectal adenocarcinoma (RAC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract and survival is highly dependent upon stage of disease at diagnosis. Lipidomic strategy can be used to identify potential biomarkers for establishing early diagnosis or therapeutic programs for RAC. Objective To evaluate the lipoperoxidation biomarkers and lipidomic signature in the plasma of patients with RAC (n = 23) and healthy controls (n = 18). Methods Lipoperoxidation was evaluated based on malondialdehyde (MDA) and F2-isoprostane levels and the lipidomic profile obtained by gas chromatography and high resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-q-TOF) associated with a multivariate statistical technique. Results The most abundant ions identified in the RAC patients were those of protonated phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. It was found that a lisophosphatidylcholine (LPC) plasmalogen containing palmitoleic acid [LPC (P-16:1)], with highest variable importance projection score, showed a tendency to be lower in the cancer patients. A reduction of n − 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was observed in the plasma of these patients. MDA levels were higher in patients with advanced cancer (stages III/IV) than in the early stages groups and the healthy group (p < 0.05). No differences in F2-isoprostane levels were observed among these groups. Conclusion This study shows that the reduction in plasma levels of LPC plasmalogens associated with an increase in MDA levels may indicate increased oxidative stress in these patients and identify the metabolite LPC (P-16:1) as a putatively novel lipid signature for RAC.

Criegee mechanism as a safe pathway of color reduction in sugarcane juice by ozonation

The production of crystal sugar is based on sugarcane juice clarification through sulphitation, that is, heat treatment with sulfur dioxide. The use of ozonation as an alternative to sulphitation aims to eliminate the disadvantageous presence of residual sulfite in crystal sugar. Both treatments are used to reduce color of sugarcane juice. The objective of this work was to evaluate two process parameters (temperature and pH) to reduce gallic acid, a low molecular weight pigment (MW 170gmol-1) widely found in sugarcane. Gallic acid was used as a model compound in sucrose solutions. The results showed that degradation of gallic acid was favored from pH 7.0 to 7.82 and temperature values between 50 and 70°C. The reaction mechanism was proposed for gallic acid degradation by ozone based on Criegee mechanism. Ozonation was an efficient method to reduce the potential low molecular weight pigment present in the sugarcane.

Characterization of Acidic Compounds in Brazilian Tar Sand Bitumens by LTQ Orbitrap XL: Assessing Biodegradation Using Petroleomics

A set of eight tar sand samples with identical source, from sedimentary facies of the Piramboia Formation, Parana Basin, provides an interesting opportunity to assess the biodegradation extent of bitumens using high-resolution mass spectrometry with Orbitrap mass analyzer. The results suggest that acidic compounds have been degraded by microorganisms, since the O2 and O3 classes were lower to bitumens from dry interdune facies, the most biodegraded. It was also proposed a new parameter to evaluate biodegradation, DBE ratio (ratio between acidic species with the same number of double bond equivalent), that was used together with the already proposed A/C ratio (acyclic to cyclic naphthenic acids), both obtained from O2 class distribution. The bitumens from dry interdune facies presented the highest DBE ratios and lowest A/C ratios, which suggested that these parameters can be used to assess the extent of bitumen biodegradation in which the DBE ratios increase and the A/C ratios decrease with increasing biodegradation.

Antioxidative, Antiproliferative and Antimicrobial Activities of Phenolic Compounds from Three Myrcia Species

Myrcia bella Cambess., Myrcia fallax (Rich.) DC. and Myrcia guianensis (Aubl.) DC. (Myrtaceae) are trees found in Brazilian Cerrado. They have been widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, hemorrhagic and infectious diseases. Few reports have been found in the literature connecting their phenolic composition and biological activities. In this regard, we have profiled the main phenolic constituents of Myrcia spp. leaves extracts by ESI(−)Q-TOF-MS. The main constituents found were ellagic acid (M. bella), galloyl glucose isomers (M. guianensis) and hexahydroxydiphenic (HHDP) acid derivatives (M. fallax). In addition, quercetin and myricetin derivatives were also found in all Myrcia spp. extracts. The most promising antioxidant activity, measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, was found for M. fallax extracts (EC50 8.61 ± 0.22 µg·mL−1), being slightly less active than quercetin and gallic acid (EC50 2.96 ± 0.17 and 2.03 ± 0.02 µg·mL−1, respectively). For in vitro antiproliferative activity, M. guianensis showed good activity against leukemia (K562 TGI = 7.45 µg·mL−1). The best antimicrobial activity was observed for M. bella and M. fallax to Escherichia coli (300 and 250 µg·mL−1, respectively). In conclusion, the activities found are closely related to the phenolic composition of these plants.