In this work it was investigated the potential of Mucorales fungi isolated from the Caatinga of Pernambuco state for production of biosurfactants using renewable substrates. The strains (Mucor circinelloides UCP 0005, M. circinelloides UCP 0006 and Rhizopus arrhizus UCP 1609) were cultivated in alternative culture media consisting of instant noodle waste (INW), corn steep liquor (CSL) and post-frying soybean oil (PFSO), according to conditions established by a 23 full-factorial design (FFD). The production of biosurfactants was evaluated by determining surface tension and emulsification index (EI24) and statistical analysis was performed using Pareto diagram. The presence of the main sources of carbon and nitrogen in production medium was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. According to the results, the three fungi evaluated were able of produce biosurfactant in media containing renewable sources. However, the strain that showed the greatest reduction in surface tension (72 to 27 mN/m) was M. circinelloides UCP 0006 in condition 3 of the FFD (1% INW and 4% CSL, in absence of PFSO). The infrared analysis of the INW showed the presence of carbohydrates, fatty acids and proteins, proving that this is a suitable substrate for the cultivation of fungi. The biosurfactants produced by M. circinelloides UCP 0005 and M. circinelloides UCP 0006 were able to form water-in-oil emulsions and the biosurfactant from R. arrhizus UCP 1609 formed oil-in-water emulsions. The present study demonstrated that the three Mucorales fungi tested were able to produce biosurfactants from renewable sources, with emphasis on M. circinelloides UCP 0006.

Global demand for natural pigments and dyes has increased much in recent years, driven by a heightened awareness of the toxic effects of various synthetic dyes on pollution of the environment and health human. The pigments and colorants obtained through plants and microbes are the primary source exploited by modern industries. Among the other non-conventional sources, filamentous fungi particularly are known to produce an extraordinary range of colors including several chemical classes of pigments such as melanins, azaphilones, flavins, phenazines, and quinines. The objective of this work was to evaluate the production of pigments produced by Talaromyces spp. and its antimicrobial activity. In this context, strains of the fungi Talaromyces spp. were isolated from soil of biome Caatinga and showed production of dark red, red and yellow pigments. Almost all fungi were able to grow and produce soluble pigments in the solid medium containing different carbon sources (sucrose, fructose, glucose, maltose, and starch), as well as in different salinity concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 2%, 4% and 6%), kept at room temperature (28ºC). All the extracted pigments showed antimicrobial activity against to bacteria Gram negative, as well as to yeasts, evidencing the high potential of application in the textile industry to produce antimicrobial fabrics.

HMG-CoA reductase (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase) is the enzyme that plays a limiting role in cholesterol biosynthesis. Among the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor molecules, statins stand out, a class of drug used in the treatment of atherosclerosis and in the reduction of high cholesterol levels, therefore they are biomolecules of medical and pharmaceutical importance. In this context, this work aimed to carry out a systematic mapping of patents and scientific articles related to the biosynthesis of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. The search was carried out in the databases of the National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI), the European Patent Office (Espacenet), the Derwent Innovations Index, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and also articles indexed in Scielo and Pubmed using as descriptors “statins”, “production and statins and fungi”, “statins and fungus”. Of the 2561 cataloged patents, 09 were included because they met the inclusion criteria. The number of scientific articles found in the databases was higher (2820) when compared to the number of patents. As a country, China represents the largest holder on the subject, corresponding to 88.9% of patented products. Based on the mapping, advances in the search for strategies for the biotechnological production of statins can be highlighted. Some of the inventions used microorganisms such as filamentous fungi associated with agro-industrial substrates as an alternative and low-cost source for the production of statins to replace synthetic sources. However, future studies can be carried out using new fungi and new renewable substrates, considering the existing biodiversity worldwide.

Pernambuco é conhecido pela beleza de suas praias de altas temperaturas, que são frequentadas para realização de atividades de lazer. Desse modo, as praias tornaram-se um ambiente de grande circulação, além da expansão de indústrias, agricultura, pecuária e centros urbanos, contribuindo para o impacto dos ecossistemas. O conjunto desses fatores influenciam diretamente na ascensão da taxa de contaminação da água salina, em razão do descarte de resíduos inorgânicos no mar. Desta forma, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar ao parâmetros físico-químicos e microbiológicos da água do mar de praias do litoral de Pernambuco. As coletas foram realizadas nos meses de abril a maio de 2022 nas Praias de Candeias (P1 e P2) e na Praia do Paiva (P3) e foram submetidos a análises físico-químicas e microbiológicas. Os parâmetros de acidez, alcalinidade, cloretos, sulfatos, cálcio, magnésio, dureza total, sódio, potássio, a série de sólidos, DQO e DBO, apesar de não serem controlados pela portaria 357/2005 do CONAMA para águas salinas classe 1,2 e 3, apresentam valores elevados, principalmente nos pontos (P1 e P2), indicando a presença de despejos de efluentes no litoral. As análises microbiológicas constaram a presença de coliformes totais, fecais em todos os pontos, sendo bactérias identificadas como Escherichia coli variedade I, Enterobacter aerogenes variedade I e Enterobacter aerogenes variedade II. Neste sentido, as análises microbiológicas evidenciaram a existência de um alto nível de contaminação nas praias do litoral Pernambucano, faz-se necessário um monitoramento das águas salinas contaminadas para garantir qualidade sanitária para uso.

Most lipases used for commercial purposes are isolated from microorganisms due to their stability and easy recovery, new residues have been studied to obtain enzymes to reduce production costs. Therefore, this work investigated the biotechnological potential of filamentous fungi isolated from the Igarassu River in the conversion of coffee grounds into lipase in solid state fermentation. The fungi were isolated, identified and submitted to a preliminary assay with 10g of coffee grounds, moisture 60% at 28 °C for 144 h to select the filamentous fungus with the highest potential for lipase production. A factorial design of 2³ was carried out to evaluate the influence of the variables moisture, temperature and residue concentration on lipase production by the selected species. Five filamentous fungi were isolated and identified: A. flavus UCP 0316, A. fumigatus UCP 0327, P. variotii UCP 0334, M. hiemalis f. luteis UCP 0343 and A. foetidus UCP 0360. All filamentous fungi cultivated on coffee grounds were able to grow and produce lipase, however A. foetidus exhibited higher enzymatic activity of 514.29 U/mL. We observed that the production of lipase was higher (2941.87 U/mL) when A. foetidus was cultivated in 25 g of coffee grounds, 37 °C and 50% moisture. Therefore, we emphasize that coffee grounds are a promising agro-industrial residue to lipase production, contributing to the reduction of environmental pollution and generating value-added products for the industry.

This study presents the production, characterization, and potential pharmaceutical application of a bioemulsifier synthesized by Aspergillus niger UCP 1064 by submerged fermentation using agro-industrial residues (cassava wastewater and soluble starch). The compound exhibited a high emulsification index (EI₂₄ > 88%) against hydrophobic substrates, effectively reduced surface tension, and remained stable across a wide range of pH (2–12), temperatures (5–100 °C), and salinity levels (0–20% NaCl). Microscopic analysis confirmed the formation of stable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, while biochemical tests identified the compound as a glycolipoprotein. Rheological assays demonstrated a significant reduction in oil viscosity, enhancing fluidity. Through factorial design and response surface methodology, production conditions were optimized, achieving yields of up to 3.18 g/L. A theoretical scale-up indicated technical feasibility for pharmaceutical applications; however, challenges such as process reproducibility, sterility, and regulatory compliance persist. These findings highlight the bioemulsifier’s potential as a sustainable and biocompatible alternative for drug delivery systems.