Submerged cultivation of fungi Neofusicoccum parvum and Fusarium sp for exopolysaccharides production of biotechnological interest

• Grant number: 14/01072-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Biochemistry of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Ana Flora Dalberto Vasconcelos
• Grantee: Jéssica Moreli Ferreira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The filamentous fungi are micro-organism that are able of generating interesting molecules, such as exopolysaccharides, that can substitute vegetable gums, which can be applied in many different areas such as food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical. The production of these substances is mainly carried out by submerged cultivation, a fermentation process where the medium is a liquid source of dissolved nutrients, which promotes the synthesis and extraction of biologically active products. In this context, main goal of this project is the cultivation of filamentous fungi Neofusicoccum parvum e Fusarium sp for the production of extracellular polysaccharides. The submerged cultivation will be held on a minimal salts medium, and glucose will be the carbon source. Cultivation time and inoculum concentration should be analysed to determine the influence of these parameters on the production of polysaccharides by fungi. Quantification of exopolysaccharides will be performed by determination of total sugar. The purity degree and homogeneity as well as the monosacaridic composition will be determined. These results will be important for structural characterization and biotechnological applications.