Person:
Pérez Uz, María Blanca

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First Name
María Blanca
Last Name
Pérez Uz
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/74448
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Ciencias Biológicas
Department
Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología
Area
Microbiología
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Author: Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes × Subject: 579.68 ×

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    Ciliate contributions to bioaggregation: laboratory assays with axenic cultures of Tetrahymena thermophila
    (INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY, 2007) Arregui García-Roves, Lucía; Serrano Barrero, Susana Lourdes; Linares Gómez, María; Pérez Uz, María Blanca; Guinea Díaz, Almudena
    Protists, mainly ciliates, play several essential roles in biological wastewater treatment, such as the transfer of matter and energy, bacterial predation, and the removal of organic material. Moreover, during the treatment process, the formation of bioaggregates—flocs and biofilms—is essential to obtaining high-quality effluents. In the present study, Tetrahymena thermophila was used as a model organism to demonstrate the contribution of ciliates to bioflocculation. Axenic cultures of this species were exposed to chemical and mechanical stimuli that promote bioaggregation. In either case, the secretion of a capsulate mucous material by the ciliates or by particle aggregation was detected. Numerous, small, loosely compacted flocs were observed under shaking conditions and in the presence of latex beads. The composition of the exopolymeric material secreted by ciliates was analyzed by a series of fluorochromes and colorimetric methods, which showed that carbohydrates and nucleic acids were the main components involved in matrix formation and particle adhesion.