Abstract Cyclodextrins (CDs) have the ability to encapsulate numerous molecules and have applicability in several industrial areas, however, their cost has made their use difficult. To seek alternatives that may enable the use of DCs, the present study evaluated the efficiency of the ultrafiltration process in a continuous system to produce CDs from the enzyme cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) from recombinant Bacillus subtilis WB800. The possibility of using the crude enzyme as an alternative means of producing CDs was also evaluated. All strategies evaluated in this research proved to be promising for the production of CDs, with the production of β-CD being the most efficient (average of 15 mmol/L) using crude recombinant enzyme and a temperature of 50 °C. Therefore, the results obtained can contribute to the reduction of stages and costs of production of CDs, favoring their industrial application.

A repetitive batch process was employed followed by membrane ultrafiltration system to produce low-cost cyclodextrins (CDs) using commercial enzymes Toruzyme® cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) and its kinetic parameters were determined. The ultrafiltration system enabled the removalof inhibitory products from the reaction medium, allowing the enzyme to be recovered for reuse. A 10 kDa membrane was used to separate the different CDs produced by the CGTase. The substrates evaluated were maltodextrin, corn starch and cassava starch at 5, 10 and 15% (w/V), in the presence and absence of 10% (V/V) ethanol. After reaction for 132 h, 10% (w/V) cassava starch in the presence of ethanol provided the best results with 32.1 mg/mL of β-CD. Maximum production occurred after 72 h of reaction, with a yield of 87.4% of β-CD and an α-CD, β-CD and γ-CD production ratio of 1:1:0.08 g, respectively. When eight repetitive batches of 72 h followed by ultrafiltration and crystallization of β-CD were performed, 2.1 g of precipitate was obtained with a purity of 67.6% β-CD. The supernatant from the crystallization process was lyophilized and resulted in 35.3% α-CD. The developed model can be used industrially for the production of low cost CDs from easily obtained raw material.

Abstract The occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the municipalities of Jaboti, Japira, Pinhalão, and Tomazina in the North Pioneer of the State of Paraná, where this disease is endemic, prompted the investigation of sandfly fauna, their population changes throughout the year, and their behavior in and around human accommodation. In these municipalities, the collection of sandflies was conducted using Falcão traps from 7 pm to 6 am once a month. 32,994 sandflies, 18,442 males and 14,552 females, were collected and represented by the species Brumptomyia brumpti, Brumptomyia cunhai, Evandromyia correalimai, Evandromyia cortelezzii, Expapillata firmatoi, Micropygomyia ferreirana, Migonemyia migonei, Nyssomyia neivai, Nyssomyia whitmani, Pintomyia fischeri, Pintomyia monticola, Pintomyia pessoai, and Psathyromyia bigeniculata. Ny. neivai (SISA = 0.9808) predominated in Japira (46.9%), Pinhalão (53.1%), and Tomazina (38.9%), while Ny. whitmani (SISA = 0.9423) predominated in Jaboti (53.8%). Most sandflies were captured in domestic animal shelters, with a peak in September. The high number of sandflies collected in domestic animal shelters, species richness, and presence of species involved in the epidemiology of CL reveal the need for permanent entomological surveillance in the municipalities mentioned. The use of phlebotomine control measures in these municipalities should be considered in conjunction with the anthropogenic actions that have resulted in changes to sandfly fauna and behavior.

INTRODUÇÃO: Relatam-se os resultados de coletas de flebotomíneos na Fazenda Santa Juliana, município de Sarandi, Estado do Paraná, Brasil, onde se verificou a fauna, a sazonalidade e a frequência desses insetos nos ambientes florestal e extraflorestal. MÉTODOS: O trabalho foi realizado nesta fazenda pela inexistência de registro de casos de LTA e por diferir de outras áreas onde foram realizadas pesquisas com flebotomíneos, no Paraná, e pela limpeza e organização do peridomicílio. As coletas foram realizadas com sete armadilhas luminosas de Falcão, quinzenalmente das 22 às 2 horas, de novembro de 2007 a novembro de 2008. RESULTADOS: Foram capturados 4.506 flebotomíneos de 13 espécies, com predomínio de Nyssomyia whitmani (71,8%). Coletou-se maior proporção de flebotomíneos no ambiente florestal (52,6%) do que no extraflorestal (residências e chiqueiro) (47,4%), entretanto a proporção de Ny. whitmani coletada foi maior no ambiente extraflorestal (38,3%) do que no florestal (33,5%). A maioria dos flebotomíneos foi coletada nos meses mais quentes e com quedas regulares de chuva. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados sugerem que a limpeza e a organização do peridomicílio podem auxiliar a reduzir a população de flebotomíneos no domicílio e no peridomicílio, recomendando-se que a construção de abrigos de animais guarde a distância aproximada de 100m das residências, para evitar a invasão desses insetos, uma vez que nesta fazenda existe uma área de mata de preservação, com a presença de animais silvestres e flebotomíneos, que mantem o ciclo enzoótico de Leishmania.

INTRODUCTION: Sandflies caught in Santa Juliana Farm in Sarandi, State of Paraná, Brazil, were assessed in terms of their fauna, seasonality, and frequency in the homes and in shelters of domestic animals around the homes, as well as in the nearby forest. METHODS: In Santa Juliana Farm, there are no records of cases of ACL, differing from other relatively clean and organized areas where surveys of sandflies have been conducted in Paraná. Samples were collected with Falcão light traps, fortnightly from 22:00 to 02:00 hours, from November 2007 to November 2008. RESULTS: A total of 4,506 sandflies were captured, representing 13 species, predominantly Nyssomyia whitmani (71.8%). More sandflies were collected in the forest (52.6%) than outside the forest (residences and pigsty) (47.4%). However, Ny. whitmani was collected in greater numbers outside (38.3%) than inside the forest (33.5%). Most sandflies were collected in the warmer months and during periods with regular rainfall. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that cleaning and organization around the houses could reduce sandfly population in peridomicile. Constructing shelters for animal at a distance of approximately 100m from domiciles is recommended to prevent the invasion of sandflies, as this farm has an area of preserved forest, with wild animals and sandflies present to maintain the enzootic cycle of Leishmania.