Experimental Design for Optimization of β-Xylosidase Production by A. fumigatus Isolated from the Atlantic Forest (Brazil)

The production of β-Xylosidase by a new strain of Aspergillus fumigatus (PC-7S-2 M), isolated from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, was analyzed at 28°C using modified Czapeck media supplemented with different agroindustrial residues at 1% (w/v). Conidia were inoculated for 7 days, and the best activity for β- Xylosidase was obtained in the presence of barley brewing residue after 4 days (15 U mL-1). To optimize the production of β-Xylosidase, this carbon source was used for a central composite rotational design (CCRD) to obtain a significance level of p < 0.10, which predicted an enzyme activity of 245.04 U mL-1. The model validation revealed β-Xylosidase activity was optimized at 229.06 U mL-1. Furthermore, the production of intracellular A. fumigatus β-Xylosidase increased by 1,500% (15 times) over that initially obtained, achieving 93.47% of the predicted model. This finding obtained during two years emphasizes the availability of A. fumigatus β-Xylosidase production with possible applications in biotechnological processes.