Federal University of Tocantins

This study investigates the diversity of filamentous fungi in the Amazon biome, particularly the genus Fusarium , known for producing biotechnologically valuable metabolites. The research aimed to isolate and identify fungi from Oenocarpus bacaba Mart. fruits and analyze the biochemical properties of lipase produced by the strains (maximum activity of 1750 U mL⁻¹). Two isolates, FF1 and FF2, were identified using morphological and molecular techniques, with ITS sequence data suggesting they belong to the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex, though the exact species remains unconfirmed. This is the first report that highlights the biotechnological potential of the F. fujikuroi complex isolated from Oenocarpus bacaba , emphasizing the relevance of Amazonian biodiversity as a source of microorganisms with promising applications in sustainable industrial processes. The results show that native fruits, such as bacaba, are effective matrices for prospecting filamentous fungi producers of enzymes of biotechnological interest, such as lipases. These findings reinforce the importance of rational exploitation of the Amazonian microbiota for the development of bioproducts and eco‐efficient industrial processes.

The present work aimed to evaluate the post-harvest behavior of mangaba (Hancornia speciosa) subjected to different storage temperatures. For that, the fruits were stored for 20 days at 0, 6, 12, and 24 °C. Color parameters, soluble solids, total soluble sugars, titratable acidity, firmness, total pectin, and polygalacturonase activity were carried out. The results indicated that fruits kept under refrigeration showed normal ripening throughout storage based on physical, physico-chemical, and chemical analysis. Nevertheless, the lower the temperature used (0 and 6 °C), the greater the browning caused by mangaba fruits. Therefore, a temperature of 12 °C is considered the optimal condition for preserving mangaba, as it effectively delays the ripening process while preventing surface darkening, thereby maintaining the fruit’s quality for a longer period.

The gall wasp Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a major limiting factor in the cultivation of eucalyptus both in Brazil and across the world. This insect induces a gall formation on the principal veins of leaves, apices and petioles. This study investigated the impact of inoculating the fungus T. harzianum on plant growth and defense responses of Eucalyptus to Leptocybe invasa. Two hybrid eucalypt clones (Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. × Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.) were used to produce seedlings. Plants were inoculated by spraying the T. harzianum conidial suspension onto the fourth, fifth and sixth fully expanded leaves. Evaluations of ovipositions and galls were carried out 7 and 44 days after infestation (d.a.i), and growth parameters were assessed at six points during the experiment: 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 d.a.i. Our findings show that susceptible and resistant non-inoculated Eucalyptus plants infested by L. invasa developed galls. However, only oviposition marks were observed in inoculated plants without gall formation, indicating that T. harzianum inoculation enhances Eucalyptus resistance to L. invasa. Additionally, inoculated plants showed increased height, leaf count and branch growth. The findings of this study suggest that T. harzianum has significant potential for controlling L. invasa infestations in susceptible Eucalyptus plantations and the added advantage of enhanced plant growth.

The objective of the study was to describe the dietary intake of Brazilian pregnant women assisted by primary healthcare, focusing on the degree of food processing. Data from the cross‐sectional multicenter study of iodine deficiency were analyzed. Participants were selected from basic health units in 11 research centers and completed questionnaires regarding socioeconomic status, demographics, and health. Dietary intake information was collected through 24 h recall and analyzed using GloboDiet software. Descriptive analyses estimated the average energy contribution and confidence interval (%) of NOVA food groups in total energy intake, considering the research center, sociodemographic factors, health status, and pregnancy characteristics. The analysis included 2247 pregnant women without history of thyroid disease or surgery, hypothyroidism, or hypertension. Unprocessed or minimally processed foods accounted for 62.1% of total energy intake, while ultraprocessed foods accounted for 23.8%. Food consumption predominantly occurred at home across all NOVA food groups. Ultraprocessed food consumption was lower during lunch and dinner but higher after dinner and when consumed outside the home, particularly in street settings, markets, parks, and/or beaches, compared with other food groups. This pattern was more prevalent among younger pregnant women ( p < 0.001), those of white or yellow race ( p = 0.007), residing in urban areas ( p = 0.03), and with higher monthly household income ( p = 0.001). These findings indicate a significant impact on the overall nutritional quality of the diet among pregnant women, with variations based on factors such as age, place of residence, race, income, place of consumption, and occasion of consumption.

In this study, nanocomposites based on silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) and calcium molybdate (CaMoO4) were synthesized to enhance the stability and photocatalytic efficiency of Ag3PO4. All samples were synthesized via the coprecipitation method, obtaining nanocomposites of varying mass proportions of Ag3PO4 and CaMoO4. The structural characterization of samples was performed using X-ray diffraction, Rietveld refinement, Raman, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopies. Their optical properties were evaluated via the ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance region and photoluminescence. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy provided insights into the morphological aspects of samples. In nanocomposites, Ag3PO4 nanoparticles of approximately 10 nm were dispersed on the CaMoO4 surface, indicating the formation of a heterojunction. The degradation efficiency of samples was investigated against the degradation of the dye rhodamine B (RhB). The nanocomposite with the highest CaMoO4 mass (75%; AgMo75) exhibited a reduction in photocatalytic activity compared with other samples. Specifically, AgMo75 achieved a 60% RhB discoloration efficiency in 60 min, while the other samples reached 99% within the same time. However, AgMo75 demonstrated excellent stability in catalyst recycling tests, maintaining only an ~ 4% decrease in photocatalytic activity after three cycles. The possibility of reusing the photocatalyst is an important aspect for environmental applications, such as the photocatalysis of organic contaminants. Additionally, a possible photocatalytic mechanism for the AgMo75 nanocomposite was presented, where photogenerated holes served as the main pathway for the degradation of the dye by the pure Ag3PO4 and AgMo75 nanocomposite.

Currently, predicted changes to the climate scenario are alarming, and the search for technologies to mitigate the effects of heat stress on crops is a necessity to maintain the global food supply. Thus, understanding the underlying mechanisms that act in the regulation of elevated temperature stress in large crops such as coffee plants is relevant and may be useful for this purpose, which can be expanded to other plants. MiRNAs are small molecules that act in the post-transcriptional regulation of their target genes and have already been reported to act in the thermal regulation of many species. In this context and considering intra- and inter-specific differences, we used three different genotypes of Coffea arabica and also one of C. canephora, the two mainly cultivated species of coffee, to investigate the mechanisms of warming response. A possible scenario of future climate change was simulated by subjecting four genotypes (the C. arabica cvs. Mundo Novo, Catuaí Vermelho, and Arara, and also the C. canephora cv. Robusta Tropical) to a temperature ramp variating from the optimal growth temperature, 19 °C/23 °C dark/light, until reaching 27 °C/31 °C (dark/light), and then returning to optimal (19 °C/23 °C dark/light) in a growth chamber. Physiological and biochemical parameters were evaluated revealing similar patterns of warming response for C. arabica genotypes but different from C. canephora. Through RNA-Seq analysis, we identified eight temperature-responsive miRNAs differentially expressed between genotypes and possibly related to thermosensitivity or thermoregulation. From this, we selected one novel and one conserved miRNA, car-miR060-5p, and car-miR828a-5p, respectively, to explore in detail. Analysis of miRNA targets suggested that car-miR060-5p may be involved in the regulation of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) pathway, while car-miR828a-5p appears to be associated with regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis, both of which are linked to warming responses in other plants. Interestingly, the overexpression of the conserved miRNA car-miR828a-5p increased the survival rate in Arabidopsis plants grown under high temperatures, which indicates increased tolerance to heat stress. In conclusion, our results contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding miRNAs and their responses to elevated temperatures, shedding light on potential regulatory mechanisms. These findings provide valuable insights and a foundation for future research. Such studies will be crucial for developing crop breeding strategies aimed at enhancing tolerance to climate changes and ensuring agricultural sustainability.

Background Brazilian waters are home to various venomous fish species, each with its unique venom composition. Although common, envenomation cases are largely underreported, leading to a lack of public health policies for prevention and treatment. Some of the most clinically relevant fish in Brazil include the stingray Potamotrygon orbignyi, the toadfish Thalassophryne nattereri, the scorpionfish Scorpaena plumieri, and the catfish Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum and Cathorops spixii. Methods We comprehensively searched reports about accidents involving venomous fish in Brazil and compared the toxic activities of some medically relevant species. Results From the biochemical and toxicological evaluation, we found that venoms show a hierarchy in the ability to induce local toxic effects in mice, probably related to the venom compound diversity with species-specific toxins. T. nattereri venom presents greater toxicity, causing more severe local responses than that of P. orbignyi, C. spixii, and P. fasciatum, which cause moderate reactions. The S. plumieri venom induced only a moderate level of edema and could not cause nociception or necrosis. These results highlight that envenomation by P. orbigny, C. spixii, and S. plumieri is marked by proteins with intense hemolytic/proteolytic and phospholipase activity. On the other hand, T. nattereri and P. fasciatum offered a broader panel of new toxin families. Conclusion Knowledge of fish venom biochemical and toxicological activities is crucial to antivenom therapy development and helps endorse the study of venomous fish and their impact on the public health system.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of by-product from biscuit manufacture (BBM) as an alternative to corn with different replacement levels on the nutritional and metabolic parameters of sheep. The diets were formulated to meet the requirements of finishing lambs aiming at a weight gain of 200 g/day, based on Tifton 85 grass hay, soybean meal, and BBM replacing corn at 0, 15, 30, and 45%. A digestion system (TE-150, TECNAL®) was used for the in vitro digestibility analysis. The experiment was conducted in two parts: incubation of the feed and incubation of the diets. For the in vivo studies, twenty 4-month-old non-castrated male Morada Nova lambs, weighing on average 17.1 kg were used. A trial of nutrient intake and apparent digestibility was conducted over a period of 21 days, with a 15-day adaptation period a 7-day sample collection period. For the assessment of ingestive behavior, the time spent on different activities was recorded through visual observation of the animals every five minutes, for three full 24-h periods. Data were subjected to regression analysis. For the metabolic parameter trial, rumen fluid and blood were collected at pre-established times: 0 h (pre-prandial) and 2, 5, 8 h post-prandial, and the data recorded were subjected to split-plot analysis. The different substitution levels showed similarities in nutrient intake and apparent digestibility (P < 0.05). There was a positive linear effect of diets containing BBM on the efficiency of dry matter intake and neutral detergent fiber rumination. Substituting corn with BBM up to 45% in sheep diets maintained similar nutritional and metabolic parameters as well as ingestive behavior compared to a diet containing only corn as the energy source.

Unesp-Botucatu sheep acute pain scale (USAPS) was validated for assessing postoperative abdominal pain. We aimed to investigate the clinical applicability and test the psychometric properties of USAPS to assess postoperative pain in sheep submitted to orthopedic surgery. Twenty-three healthy sheep undergoing patellofemoral joint arthrotomy were video-recorded for three minutes before and after surgery, after postoperative analgesic rescue, and 24 hours post-surgery. Four evaluators, unaware of the recording time points, randomly assessed all videos twice at one-month intervals. Intra-observer reliability based on the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was very good for all evaluators (ICC: 0.82–0.93). Inter-observer reliability was very good for four of six pairs of evaluators (ICC: 0.84–0.9) and good for two (ICC: 0.77 and 0.80). Principal component analyses and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the USAPS´s unidimensional structure. The concurrent criterion validity had a strong Spearman correlation (rho: 0.80) between the USAPS and the Visual Analogue Scale. Responsiveness was evidenced by the highest USAPS total score 2 and 24 hours after surgery, and intermediate scores after analgesic rescue. USAPS items had an acceptable Spearman item-total correlation (rho: 0.38–0.64), except appetite (rho: 0.25). Internal consistency was excellent according to Cronbach’s alpha (α: 0.84) and acceptable according to McDonald’s omega coefficients (ω: 0.75). Specificity was 100% and sensitivity was 71%. USAPS cut-off point was ≥ 4 of 10, the same applied for soft tissue surgery. The area under the curve of 0.91 demonstrates the high discriminatory capacity of the scale. The item appetite can be excluded without affecting the USAPS cut-off point. We concluded that USAPS had satisfactory psychometric properties and, is a valid and reliable clinical tool for assessing pain in sheep undergoing orthopedic surgery.

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) find wide application in conventional agroecosystems due to their effective mode of action. The impact of herbicides on bees may be underestimated due to the scarcity of studies assessing various exposure routes to GBHs, including contact and ingestion of contaminated food. This study evaluated the survival, food consumption, and body weight of honey bee populations in three different locations, characterized by different degrees of exposure to GBHs. In bioassays, honey bees were exposed to diets containing sucrose solutions infused with glyphosate, with dosages ranging from 0 to 14 mg (a.i./bee). During the experiment, the honey bee population had a period of exposure (6 h) to the syrup infused with glyphosate. Mortality counts and feeder weight measurements were performed to assess the effects. A significant reduction in syrup intake was observed in all three bee populations during the Roundup exposure phase, leading to a decrease in GBH intake. Notably, the decrease in syrup consumption emerged as the main factor contributing to the lower body weight observed among honey bees from low-and high-impact locations, persisting into the post-exposure period. Overall, the results demonstrate that honey bees in the high-impact region are more sensitive to Roundup. However, studies using biochemical biomarkers are still necessary to unravel how glyphosate interferes with the acquisition and expenditure of energy during periods of exposure of honey bees and which physiological changes allow them to adapt to inhabited places with high agricultural pressure.

This study reports the development of printable magnetic nanocomposites designed with a novel nanotextured surface, featuring nanospikes—composed of iron oxide magnetic nanorods—distributed with a subtle vertical alignment tendency, inspired by the Beam Drop Inhotim artwork,termed here “Beam Drop Inhotim Surfaces” (BDIS). The nanorods were synthesized via reflux and hydrothermal routes, then incorporated into a commercial photopolymerizable resin, forming a printable magnetic nanocomposite. It was printed using masked stereolithography (MSLA) 3D printing process, with real-time application of a neodymium magnet-induced magnetic field during photopolymerization—an innovative approach compared to plasma or laser surface treatments used in other studies. Characterizations of the nanorods, photosensitive resin, and nanocomposite, conducted via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, magnetic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry, confirmed successful nanocomposite production without compromising printability, enabling a unique nanotextured surface. Graphical Abstract

Nanomaterials have numerous applications. One material that deserves to be highlighted is reduced graphite oxide (rGO) due to its excellent adsorption capacity. Among the emerging contaminants, bisphenol A (BPA) generates numerous problems for human health, such as hormonal changes, immune dysfunction, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this context, the adsorption of BPA and its form with an anionic oxygen and a protonated oxygen were studied to simulate the effect of pH on the adsorption process, elucidated through computational simulations using density functional theory. The binding energies (ΔEBind) and enthalpy variation (ΔH) for all complexes were less than zero, ΔEBind and ΔH < 0.00 kcal mol⁻¹, showing that interactions can occur and that they are exothermic. The Gibbs energy values showed that only the interactions of anionic and protonated oxygen with the matrix were spontaneous. The structural parameters were identified, and the protonation or deprotonation of the BPA hydroxyl forms stronger bonds/interactions with the rGO matrix, showing a positive effect of pH on adsorption. From the analysis of the topological parameters of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules and the non-covalent interaction, it was possible to demonstrate that the interactions are electrostatic, with the exception of those that occur between the protonation or deprotonation of the BPA hydroxyl with the matrix that forms bonds. Finally, based on the theoretical results, it can be concluded that the rGO matrix can interact with BPA and that the effect of pH improves the adsorption process. Therefore, this study could support new experimental tests for removing this emerging contaminant from effluents.

Aquaponics integrates aquaculture and hydroponics, promoting circularity through the recirculation of water and nutrients. However, waste management remains a challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the anaerobic digestion (AD) of aquaponic effluent (AE) combined with cattle manure (CM) for biogas production. An Indian model biodigester was fed with AE, CM and 1:1, 1:3, and 3:1 W (Water):CM, under anaerobic mono-digestion (MoAD) and 1:1, 1:3, and 3:1 AE:CM under anaerobic co-digestion (CoAD) conditions. The chemical characteristics of the substrates and digestates were assessed, as well as the potential for biogas production over 19 weeks. Overall, CoAD provided better results regarding the chemical characterization of the substrates aimed at biogas production. Notably, the 1:3 AE:CM ratio resulted in the most promising outcomes among the tested conditions. This ratio demonstrated higher efficiency, initiating biogas production by the third week and reaching the highest accumulated volume. It is probable that AE increased the dissolved organic load, optimizing the conversion of organic matter and eliminating the need for additional water in the process. Thus, the CoAD of AE and CM emerged as a promising alternative for waste valorization in aquaponics, contributing to renewable energy generation, agricultural sustainability, and the promotion of the circular economy.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) are carbohydrates of high nutritional value with various prebiotic properties. Optimizing their production process is of significant interest for expanding commercial-scale production. This review discusses the properties and potential applications of FOSs, addressing production challenges and providing an economic market analysis. Bibliometric analysis of data concerning the functional properties, production, purification, and applications of FOSs revealed an over 87% increase in the number of worldwide publications from 2012 to 2022, rising from 88 to 165. Furthermore, contributions from ninety-three countries were identified up to 2024, with Brazil ranking first, with 326 publications. Furthermore, Aureobasidium sp. and Aspergillus sp. have shown the best results for FOS production, with reported conversion in the order of 0.66 g FOS/g sucrose. Nevertheless, the formation of by-products or co-products requiring separation from the medium remains a challenge. Activated carbon, cation exchange resins, and zeolites are highlighted as key adsorbents, with the adsorption process achieving FOS purity exceeding 90%. Furthermore, membrane technology is identified as a more efficient and promising separation method. Addressing these limitations will facilitate the further expansion of the growing global FOS market, promoting a sustainable approach and their integration with biorefineries, which can enable the development of a wider range of value-added products.

This study aimed to microencapsulate carotenoids extracted from peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) peels for potential application as natural dyes in the food industry, addressing the increasing demand for functional foods and natural alternatives. Carotenoid extraction was carried out through enzymatic treatment with pectinase (Aspergillus niger), and the extracted compounds were subsequently microencapsulated by spray drying using gum arabic and maltodextrin as carrier materials. The physicochemical analyses showed that the moisture content, solubility, spherical morphology and microparticles size (9.17 µm for GA 1:1, 8.30 µm for GA 1:3, and 13.92 µm for MD-GA 1:1) were influenced by the concentration of the encapsulating agents. The combination of gum arabic and maltodextrin (MD-GA 1:1) exhibited the highest encapsulation efficiency (72.50%), enhanced thermal stability and superior carotenoid retention (1701.74 µg g−1), ensuring good antioxidant activity. Stability was optimized under refrigerated conditions (4 ± 2 °C) and in the absence of light, which effectively minimized the oxidative degradation of carotenoids in the microparticles. When incorporated into margarine, the microparticles conferred a stable yellow coloration, exhibiting only a slight variation in brightness over 30 days, thereby demonstrating their viability for application in food products.

Eucalypt wastes (EW), comprising bark, leaf and branches, when retained and distributed on-site are a valuable source of nutrients for soil and microbial biomass. This study investigates the acceleration of EW biodegradation through the introduction of the edible fungus Lentinula edodes in-vitro cultures. Production of enzymes, ergosterol and organic matter consumption (OMC) were assessed in the spent mushroom compost over 90-days incubation. Concurrently, the residual solid decreased to 71.9%, with 35% reduction in lignin and hemicellulose and 28.5% loss of cellulose. EW substrate was supplemented with rice bran (RB) and soybean bran (SB) in different ratios to explore L. edodes enzyme production during substrate decomposition. Composition of EW supplemented with cereal brans (CB) provided high production of endoglucanase (2,300 U / kg) within 45 days, β-glucosidase (375 U / kg) in 60 days. Productions of 80,000 U / kg of xylanase and 195 U / kg of β-xylosidase occurred in 45 days of cultivation. Laccase (3,750 U / kg) was determined in 60 days, along with manganese peroxidase (MnP) (6,000 U / kg) in 75 days in EW: SB (90:10). Ergosterol extraction (45 mg / kg) and L. edodes mycelial biomass (11 g / kg) was obtained in all combinations of EW and CB. The maximum biological efficiency (BE) of 67% was achieved in a single cycle with EW: RB 90:10. Overall, L. edodes emerges as a promising resource for EW biodegradation, and this work sheds light on applications for fungus-based degradation in forest eucalypt plantations. For fungus-based degradation in forest eucalyptus plantations. Parte superior do formulário.

The effect of agricultural practices on soil bacterial communities is not constant and depends a lot on the climatic context, changes in the soil characteristics, land use, and agricultural strategy. Thus, knowledge about how different land use systems in the Cerrado influence the diversity and taxonomic structure of microbial communities under the same soil type remains limited. In this context, the objective of this work was to analyze and compare the bacterial communities of Cerrado soil under two different land use systems (cover crop and potato cultivation) and in a neighboring native Cerrado area. For this, we used high-throughput amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes (metabarcoding) to characterize the bacterial community at different taxonomic levels in a native Cerrado area, in a potato crop area, and in an area with cover crops. Our data indicated significant impacts on soil physicochemical properties and enzymatic activity, which directly reflect the dynamics of bacterial communities. The three bacterial phyla with the highest relative abundance in the three areas were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Acidobacteriota. At the taxonomic class level, small variations were observed among areas, while at the amplicon sequence variant (ASV) level, these variations were more pronounced. The alpha diversity indices showed that the bacterial communities among the areas are rich and diverse. Bray–Curtis and Jaccard distance-based PCoA demonstrated an overlap of bacterial communities present in the cover crop area with the native Cerrado area and separation from the potato cultivation area. The in silico prediction demonstrated that the native Cerrado area presented the highest values of functional diversity of the soil bacterial community compared to the others. Thus, our results provide a holistic view of how different land use systems in the Cerrado can influence the taxonomic and functional diversity of soil bacterial communities.