Search

The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of marine bacteria isolated from harbor region of Fortaleza, Ceará, to produce biosurfactants compounds using kerosene as the carbon source. Twenty-two strains were used, of which 14 from water samples and 8 from sediment samples. The microorganisms were grown for 72 hours in Luria Bertani (LB) using kerosene 2% as the only carbon source (v/v). The ability of these strains to produce biosurfactant compounds was investigated using the extracted supernatant from bacterial cultures (metabolic liquid, ML) through the following tests: drop collapse test, emulsification activity, formation hability and emulsion stability. The isolated bacterias hability to produce hemolysis in Blood Agar medium, indicative of biosurfactant production, was evaluated. A total of 36% of strains showed strong activity in the drop collapse test, while about 50% of strains produced emulsions higher than 40%, showing good stability until 168 hours of observation and 63% produced hemolytic activity. The isolated strains showed good results in the performed tests indicating biotechnological potential to degrade kerosene and using it as a source of carbon and produce biosurfactant/bioemulsificants compounds Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a capacidade de bactérias marinhas, isoladas de região portuária de Fortaleza, Ceará, em produzir compostos biossurfactantes utilizando querosene comercial como fonte de carbono. Foram utilizadas 22 cepas bacterianas, sendo 14 provenientes de amostras de água e 8 de sedimento. Os microrganismos foram crescidos por um período de 72 horas em meio de cultura Luria Bertani (LB) tendo como única fonte de carbono o querosene na concentração de 2%. Com o sobrenandante (líquido metabólico - LM) das culturas bacterianas foram realizados os seguintes testes de avaliação da produção de biossurfactantes: colapso da gota, atividade de emulsificação, capacidade de formação e estabilidade de emulsão. Foi avaliada a capacidade dos isolados em produzir hemólise em meio Ágar Sangue, indicativo da produção de biossurfacatntes. Do total de isolados, 36% obtiveram forte atividade no teste do colapso da gota, 50% produziram boas emulsões (acima de 40%), apresentando boa estabilidade até 168 horas de observação e 63% dos isolados produziram halos de hemólise. As cepas obtiveram bons resultados nos testes realizados, indicando um potencial em degradar querosene comercial, utilizando-o como fonte de carbono e produzindo compostos biossurfactantes/bioemulsificantes.

Little is known about health providers' attitudes toward visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and cryotherapy in the prevention of cervical cancer, as most research in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has examined attitudes of the general population. This study describes attitudes of Bolivian health professionals toward new technologies for cervical cancer prevention, focusing on VIA and cryotherapy.Between February 2011 and March 2012, we surveyed 7 nurses and 35 physicians who participated in 5-day workshops on VIA and cryotherapy conducted in Bolivia. Multiple choice and open-ended questions were used to assess participants' acceptability of these procedures and the feasibility of their implementation in the context of perceived barriers for the early detection of cervical cancer in this country.Most believed that cultural factors represent the main barrier for the early detection of cervical cancer (70%), although all stated that VIA and cryotherapy would be accepted by women, citing the advantages of VIA over cytology for this belief. Most also believed their colleagues would accept VIA and cryotherapy (71%) and that VIA should replace Pap testing (61%), reiterating the advantages of VIA for these beliefs. Those who believed the contrary expressed a general resistance to change associated with an already existing cytology program and national norms prioritizing Pap testing.Most participants had favorable attitudes toward VIA and cryotherapy; however, a sizable minority cited challenges to their adoption by colleagues and believed VIA should not replace cytology. This report can inform the development of strategies to expand the use of alternative cervical cancer screening methods in LAC and Bolivia.