Selection of starter lactic acid bacteria capable of forming biofilms on wooden vat prototypes for their future application in traditional Sicilian goat's milk cheese making.

In this study, 327 presumptive lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from goats' milk acid curds produced at a Sicilian dairy farm with the aim to identify potential starter cultures for traditional cheeses. All isolates were first processed by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR analysis. This approach identified 63 distinct strains which were evaluated for their acidifying capacity. Only 15 strains specifically stood out for their acidification capacity and were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Lactococcus lactis (11 strains) Enterococcus faecalis (three strains), and Ligilactobacillus animalis (one strain). Notably, all 15 LAB isolates produced bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances and anti-biofilm compounds, against both planktonic and biofilm forms of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, albeit at varying levels. Among these 15 LAB, En. faecalis RGM25 and Lc. lactis RGM55, susceptible to five antibiotics tested, were put in contact with wooden vat prototypes, because all equipment used in traditional cheese production in Sicily are made of wood. Scanning electron microscopy and bacterial plate counts of the wooden vat prototypes showed the development of biofilms at levels of approximately 6.0 log CFU/cm2. Overall, this study contributes to establishing a custom-made LAB starter cultures with bio-preservatives properties for Sicilian cheese productions.

Analysis on Isotropic and Anisotropic Samples of Polypropylene/Polyethyleneterephthalate Blend/Graphene Nanoplatelets Nanocomposites: Effects of a Rubbery Compatibilizer.

Over the past few years, polymer nanocomposites have garnered a significant amount of interest from both the scientific community and industry due to their remarkable versatility and wide range of potential uses in various fields, including automotive, electronics, medicine, textiles and environmental applications. In this regard, this study focuses on the influence of a compatibilizer rubber on a nanocomposite incorporating graphene nanoparticles (GNPs), with a polymer matrix based on a blend of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This effect has been investigated on both isotropic samples and on anisotropic/spun fiber samples. The influence of the compatibilizer rubber on morphological, rheological and mechanical properties was analysed and discussed. Mechanical and morphological properties were evaluated on both isotropic samples obtained by compression moulding and melt-spun fibers. The addition of the rubbery compatibilizer increased the viscosity, improving interfacial adhesion, and the same effect was observed for the melt strength and breaking stretching ratios. Mechanical properties, including the elastic modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break, improved in both types of samples but more significantly in the fibers. These improvements were attributed to the orientation of the matrix, the formation of PET microfibrils, and the reduction in the size of graphene nanoparticles due to the action of the elongational flow. This reduction, facilitated by the elongation flow and the action of the compatibilizer, improved matrix-nanofiller adhesion due to the increased contact area between the two polymeric phases and between the filler and matrix. Finally, a transition from brittle to ductile behaviour was observed, particularly in the system with the compatibilizer, attributed to defect reduction and improved stress transmission.

Toward the Decarbonization of Plastic: Monopolymer Blend of Virgin and Recycled Bio-Based, Biodegradable Polymer.

Decarbonization of plastics is based on two main pillars: bio-based polymers and recycling. Mechanical recycling of biodegradable polymers could improve the social, economic and environmental impact of the use of these materials. In this regard, the aim of this study was to investigate whether concentrations of the same recycled biopolymer could significantly affect the rheological and mechanical properties of biodegradable monopolymer blends. Monopolymer blends are blends made of the same polymers, virgin and recycled. A sample of commercially available biodegradable blend was reprocessed in a single-screw extruder until two extrusion cycles were completed. These samples were exposed to grinding and melt reprocessed with 75% and 90% of the same virgin polymer. The blends were characterized by tensile tests and rheological tests. The results obtained showed that while multiple extrusions affected the mechanical and rheological properties of the polymer, the concentration of the reprocessed material present in the blends only very slightly affected the properties of the virgin material. In addition, the experimentally observed trends were accurately predicted by the additive model adopted.

Green and Integrated Wearable Electrochemical Sensor for Chloride Detection in Sweat.

Wearable sensors for sweat biomarkers can provide facile analyte capability and monitoring for several diseases. In this work, a green wearable sensor for sweat absorption and chloride sensing is presented. In order to produce a sustainable device, polylactic acid (PLA) was used for both the substrate and the sweat absorption pad fabrication. The sensor material for chloride detection consisted of silver-based reference, working, and counter electrodes obtained from upcycled compact discs. The PLA substrates were prepared by thermal bonding of PLA sheets obtained via a flat die extruder, prototyped in single functional layers via CO2 laser cutting, and bonded via hot-press. The effect of cold plasma treatment on the transparency and bonding strength of PLA sheets was investigated. The PLA membrane, to act as a sweat absorption pad, was directly deposited onto the membrane holder layer by means of an electrolyte-assisted electrospinning technique. The membrane adhesion capacity was investigated by indentation tests in both dry and wet modes. The integrated device made of PLA and silver-based electrodes was used to quantify chloride ions. The calibration tests revealed that the proposed sensor platform could quantify chloride ions in a sensitive and reproducible way. The chloride ions were also quantified in a real sweat sample collected from a healthy volunteer. Therefore, we demonstrated the feasibility of a green and integrated sweat sensor that can be applied directly on human skin to quantify chloride ions.

Compatibilization of Polylactide/Poly(ethylene 2,5-furanoate) (PLA/PEF) Blends for Sustainable and Bioderived Packaging.

Despite the advantages of polylactide (PLA), its inadequate UV-shielding and gas-barrier properties undermine its wide application as a flexible packaging film for perishable items. These issues are addressed in this work by investigating the properties of melt-mixed, fully bioderived blends of polylactide (PLA) and poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF), as a function of the PEF weight fraction (1-30 wt %) and the amount of the commercial compatibilizer/chain extender Joncryl ADR 4468 (J, 0.25-1 phr). J mitigates the immiscibility of the two polymer phases by decreasing and homogenizing the PEF domain size; for the blend containing 10 wt % of PEF, the PEF domain size drops from 0.67 ± 0.46 µm of the uncompatibilized blend to 0.26 ± 0.14 with 1 phr of J. Moreover, the increase in the complex viscosity of PLA and PLA/PEF blends with the J content evidences the effectiveness of J as a chain extender. This dual positive contribution of J is reflected in the mechanical properties of PLA/PEF blends. Whereas the uncompatibilized blend with 10 wt % of PEF shows lower mechanical performance than neat PLA, all the compatibilized blends show higher tensile strength and strain at break, while retaining their high elastic moduli. The effects of PEF on the UV- and oxygen-barrier properties of PLA are also remarkable. Adding only 1 wt % of PEF makes the blend an excellent barrier for UV rays, with the transmittance at 320 nm dropping from 52.8% of neat PLA to 0.4% of the sample with 1 wt % PEF, while keeping good transparency in the visible region. PEF is also responsible for a sensible decrease in the oxygen transmission rate, which decreases from 189 cc/m2·day for neat PLA to 144 cc/m2·day with only 1 wt % of PEF. This work emphasizes the synergistic effects of PEF and J in enhancing the thermal, mechanical, UV-shielding, and gas-barrier properties of PLA, which results in bioderived blends that are very promising for packaging applications.

Biochar Particles Obtained from Agricultural Carob Waste as a Suitable Filler for Sustainable Biocomposite Formulations.

In the context of sustainable and circular economy, the recovery of biowaste for sustainable biocomposites formulation is a challenging issue. The aim of this work is to give a new life to agricultural carob waste after glucose extraction carried out by a local factory for carob candy production. A pyrolysis process was carried out on bio-waste to produce biofuel and, later, the solid residual fraction of pyrolysis process was used as interesting filler for biocomposites production. In this work, biochar particles (BC) as a pyrolysis product, after fuels recovery of organic biowaste, specifically, pyrolyzed carobs after glucose extraction, were added on poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate), (PBAT), at two different concentrations, i.e., 10 and 20 wt%. The BC have been produced using three pyrolysis processing temperatures (i.e., 280, 340 and 400 °C) to optimize the compositions of produced solid fractions and biofuels. The resulting particles from the pyrolysis process (BC280, BC340 and BC400) were considered as suitable fillers for PBAT. Firstly, the BC particles properties were characterized by elemental composition and spectroscopy analysis, particle size measurements and evaluation of radical scavenging activity and efficiency. Moreover, PBAT/BC composites were subjected to analysis of their rheological and thermal behavior, morphologies and mechanical properties. In addition, accelerated weathering, monitored by both tensile test and spectroscopic analysis, was carried out, and obtained results show that the biochar particles can exert a beneficial effect on photo-oxidation delay of PBAT matrix.

Biocomposite PBAT/lignin blown films with enhanced photo-stability.

Lignin can be obtained as a byproduct during cellulose-rich pulp fibers production and it is habitually treated as waste or intended for low-value destinations. However, due to UV absorption and mechanical properties, lignin can contribute to the fabrication of biodegradable blown films with superior performances. In this study, it was established the suitability of lignin for manufacturing biocomposite PBAT blown films with higher stiffness and photo-oxidation resistance. The effect of the filler concentration on the melt rheological behavior in non-isothermal elongational flow was investigated. The results allowed us to choose the correct filler concentration for producing films through a film blowing operation. The PBAT/lignin blown film composites displayed an increase of the elastic modulus if compared to neat PBAT films without affecting their elongation at break. Furthermore, the filler delayed the photo-oxidative degradation of PBAT hence potentially allowing open-air applications.

Streptomyces coelicolor Vesicles: Many Molecules To Be Delivered.

Streptomyces coelicolor is a model organism for the study of Streptomyces, a genus of Gram-positive bacteria that undergoes a complex life cycle and produces a broad repertoire of bioactive metabolites and extracellular enzymes. This study investigated the production and characterization of membrane vesicles (MVs) in liquid cultures of S. coelicolor M145 from a structural and biochemical point of view; this was achieved by combining microscopic, physical and -omics analyses. Two main populations of MVs, with different sizes and cargos, were isolated and purified. S. coelicolor MV cargo was determined to be complex, containing different kinds of proteins and metabolites. In particular, a total of 166 proteins involved in cell metabolism/differentiation, molecular processing/transport, and stress response were identified in MVs, the latter functional class also being important for bacterial morpho-physiological differentiation. A subset of these proteins was protected from degradation following treatment of MVs with proteinase K, indicating their localization inside the vesicles. Moreover, S. coelicolor MVs contained an array of metabolites, such as antibiotics, vitamins, amino acids, and components of carbon metabolism. In conclusion, this analysis provides detailed information on S. coelicolor MVs under basal conditions and on their corresponding content, which may be useful in the near future to elucidate vesicle biogenesis and functions. IMPORTANCE Streptomycetes are widely distributed in nature and characterized by a complex life cycle that involves morphological differentiation. They are very relevant in industry because they produce about half of all clinically used antibiotics, as well as other important pharmaceutical products of natural origin. Streptomyces coelicolor is a model organism for the study of bacterial differentiation and bioactive molecule production. S. coelicolor produces extracellular vesicles that carry many molecules, such as proteins and metabolites, including antibiotics. The elucidation of S. coelicolor extracellular vesicle cargo will help us to understand different aspects of streptomycete physiology, such as cell communication during differentiation and response to environmental stimuli. Moreover, the capability of these vesicles for carrying different kinds of biomolecules opens up new biotechnological possibilities related to drug delivery. Indeed, decoding the molecular mechanisms involved in cargo selection may lead to the customization of extracellular vesicle content.

Use of Biochar as Filler for Biocomposite Blown Films: Structure-Processing-Properties Relationships.

In this work, biocomposite blown films based on poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) as biopolymeric matrix and biochar (BC) as filler were successfully fabricated. The materials were subjected to a film-blowing process after being compounded in a twin-screw extruder. The preliminary investigations conducted on melt-mixed PBAT/BC composites allowed PBAT/BC 5% and PBAT/BC 10% to be identified as the most appropriate formulations to be processed via film blowing. The blown films exhibited mechanical performances adequate for possible application as film for packaging, agricultural, and compost bags. The addition of BC led to an improvement of the elastic modulus, still maintaining high values of deformation. Water contact angle measurements revealed an increase in the hydrophobic behavior of the biocomposite films compared to PBAT. Additionally, accelerated degradative tests monitored by tensile tests and spectroscopic analysis revealed that the filler induced a photo-oxidative resistance on PBAT by delaying the degradation phenomena.

Morphology, Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Isotropic and Anisotropic PP/rPET/GnP Nanocomposite Samples.

The effect of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) on the morphology, rheological, and mechanical properties of isotropic and anisotropic polypropylene (PP)/recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET)-based nanocomposite are reported. All the samples were prepared by melt mixing. PP/rPET and PP/rPET/GnP isotropic sheets were prepared by compression molding, whereas the anisotropic fibers were spun using a drawing module of a capillary viscometer. The results obtained showed that the viscosity of the blend is reduced by the presence of GnP due to the lubricating effect of the graphene platelets. However, the Cox-Merz rule is not respected. Compared to the PP/rPET blend, the GnP led to a slight increase in the elastic modulus. However, it causes a slight decrease in elongation at break. Morphological analysis revealed a poor adhesion between the PP and PET phases. Moreover, GnPs distribute around the droplets of the PET phase with a honey-like appearance. Finally, the effect of the orientation on both systems gives rise not only to fibers with higher modulus values, but also with high deformability and a fibrillar morphology of the dispersed PET phase. A fragile-ductile transition driven by the orientation was observed in both systems.

Combining carvacrol and nisin in biodegradable films for antibacterial packaging applications.

In this work, the feasibility of antibacterial biopolymeric films containing carvacrol (CRV) and a nisin commercial formulation (Nis) for potential food packaging applications was investigated. As polymer matrix, a commercial biodegradable polymer formulation of Mater-Bi (MB) was chosen due to its significant food packaging applications. CRV and Nis were chosen due to their well-established antibacterial properties and their potential synergistic effect. MB/CRV, MB/Nis, and MB/CRV/Nis systems were produced by melt mixing and compression molding. The mechanical properties of the films were evaluated by tensile tests. Differential scanning calorimetry was assessed aiming at investigating the effect of the two compounds and their mixture on the thermal properties of MB. The release profile of CRV and Nis from the MB-based films was evaluated in water at 4 °C by UV-Vis measurements and it was fitted with a power-law model. The antibacterial activity of MB-based films was tested in vitro against Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The combination of CRV and Nis strongly affected the properties of the MB-based films and ensured higher antibacterial activity if compared to MB/CRV and MB/Nis systems.

In-Depth Investigation of the Safety of Wooden Shelves Used for Traditional Cheese Ripening.

The main goal of this research was to characterize the bacterial diversity of the wooden boards used for aging traditional Sicilian cheeses and to evaluate whether pathogenic bacteria are associated with these surfaces. Eighteen cheese dairy factories producing three traditional cheese typologies (PDO Pecorino Siciliano, PDO Piacentinu Ennese, and Caciocavallo Palermitano) were selected within the region of Sicily. The wooden shelf surfaces were sampled by a destructive method to detach wood splinters as well as by a nondestructive brushing to collect microbial cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of almost continuous bacterial formations on the majority of the shelves analyzed. Yeasts and fungal hyphae were also visualized, indicating the complexity of the plank communities. The amplicon library of the 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region was paired-end sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq system, allowing the identification of 14 phyla, 32 classes, 52 orders, 93 families, and 137 genera. Staphylococcus equorum was identified from all wooden surfaces, with a maximum abundance of 64.75%. Among cheese-surface-ripening bacteria, Brevibacterium and Corynebacterium were detected in almost all samples. Several halophilic (Halomonas, Tetragenococcus halophilus, Chromohalobacter, Salimicrobium, Marinococcus, Salegentibacter, Haererehalobacter, Marinobacter, and Idiomarinaceae) and moderately halophilic (Salinicoccus, Psychrobacter, and Salinisphaera) bacteria were frequently identified. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were present at low percentages in the genera Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Streptococcus. The levels of viable microorganisms on the wooden shelves ranged between 2.4 and 7.8 log CFU/cm2. In some cases, LAB were counted at very high levels (8.2 log CFU/cm2). Members of the Enterobacteriaceae family were detected in a viable state for only six samples. Coagulase-positive staphylococci, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected. Seventy-five strains belonged to the genera Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, Pediococcus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, and Weissella. IMPORTANCE This study provides evidence for the lack of pathogenic bacteria on the wooden shelves used to ripen internal bacterially ripened semihard and hard cheeses produced in Sicily. These three cheeses are not inoculated on their surfaces, and surface ripening is not considered to occur or, at least, does not occur at the same extent as surface-inoculated smear cheeses. Several bacterial groups identified from the wooden shelves are typically associated with smear cheeses, strongly suggesting that PDO Pecorino Siciliano, PDO Piacentinu Ennese, and Caciocavallo Palermitano cheese rind contributes to their final organoleptic profiles.

PBAT Based Composites Reinforced with Microcrystalline Cellulose Obtained from Softwood Almond Shells.

This study explores the processability, mechanical, and thermal properties of biocompostable composites based on poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) as polymer matrix and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derived from softwood almond (Prunus dulcis) shells (as-MCC) as filler at two different weight concentration, i.e., 10 wt% and 20 wt%. The materials were processed by melt mixing and a commercial MCC (c-MCC) was used as filler comparison. The fibrillar shape of as-MCC particles was found to change the rheological behavior of PBAT, particularly at the highest concentration. The melt mixing processing allowed obtaining a uniform dispersion of both kinds of fillers, slightly reducing the L/D ratio of as-MCC fibers. The as-MCC particles led to a higher increase of the elastic modulus of PBAT if compared to the c-MCC counterparts. Both the MCC fillers caused a drastic reduction of the elongation at break, although it was higher than 120% also at the highest filler concentrations. DSC analysis revealed that both MCC fillers poorly affected the matrix crystallinity, although as-MCC induced a slight PBAT crystallinity increase from 8.8% up to 10.9% for PBAT/as-MCC 20%. Therefore, this work demonstrates the great potential of MCC particles derived from almond shells as filler for biocompostable composites fabrication.

Investigation on the Properties and on the Photo-Oxidation Behaviour of Polypropylene/Fumed Silica Nanocomposites.

This work investigates the effects of very small amounts of fumed silica on the morphology and on the rheological and mechanical behaviour of polypropylene nanocomposites and on their photo-oxidation behaviour. Polypropylene nanocomposites were prepared using a twin-screw corotating extruder with 0, 1 and 2 wt/wt% of SiO2. Morphological, mechanical, thermomechanical and rheological properties were examined. It was found that the viscosity of the matrix is reduced by the presence of the silica nanoparticles, suggesting a poor adhesion between the two phases and probably some lubricating effect. On the contrary, the mechanical and, in particular, the thermomechanical properties of the matrix are considerably improved by the presence of the silica. In particular, elastic modulus and tensile strength increases remarkably, and this effect becomes more and more remarkable with an increasing temperature. As for the photo-oxidation behaviour, the presence of silica improves the photostability of the polypropylene matrix. This effect has been attributed to both the barrier to the oxygen and to the absorbance of the UV radiation from the silica nanoparticles. Finally, no significant effect of the silica nanoparticles has been put in evidence on the crystallisation behaviour of the polypropylene. As for the effect of the silica content, the difference in the properties of the two nanocomposites is relatively small and all the measured properties depend much less than linearly with its amount. This has been correlated with the reaggregation of the nanoparticles that, having a larger size, decrease the contact area between the matrix and the filler.

Physical and biological properties of electrospun poly(d,l-lactide)/nanoclay and poly(d,l-lactide)/nanosilica nanofibrous scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

Electrospun scaffolds exhibiting high physical performances with the ability to support cell attachment and proliferation are attracting more and more scientific interest for tissue engineering applications. The inclusion of inorganic nanoparticles such as nanosilica and nanoclay into electrospun biopolymeric matrices can meet these challenging requirements. The silica and clay incorporation into polymeric nanofibers has been reported to enhance and improve the mechanical properties as well as the osteogenic properties of the scaffolds. In this work, for the first time, the physical and biological properties of polylactic acid (PLA) electrospun mats filled with different concentrations of nanosilica and nanoclay were evaluated and compared. The inclusion of the particles was evaluated through morphological investigations and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphology of nanofibers was differently affected by the amount and kind of fillers and it was correlated to the viscosity of the polymeric suspensions. The wettability of the scaffolds, evaluated through wet contact angle measurements, slightly increased for both the nanocomposites. The crystallinity of the systems was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry highlighting the nucleating action of both nanosilica and nanoclay on PLA. Scaffolds were mechanically characterized with tensile tests to evaluate the reinforcing action of the fillers. Finally, cell culture assays with pre-osteoblastic cells were conducted on a selected composite scaffold in order to compare the cell proliferation and morphology with that of neat PLA scaffolds. Based on the results, we can convince that nanosilica and nanoclay can be both considered great potential fillers for electrospun systems engineered for bone tissue regeneration.

Structure-Property Relationships in Bionanocomposites for Pipe Extrusion Applications.

In this work, bionanocomposites based on different biodegradable polymers and two types of nanofillers, namely a nanosized calcium carbonate and an organomodified nanoclay, were produced through melt extrusion, with the aim to evaluate the possible applications of these materials as a potential alternative to traditional fossil fuel-derived polyolefins, for the production of irrigation pipes. The rheological behavior of the formulated systems was thoroughly evaluated by exploiting different flow regimes, and the obtained results indicated a remarkable effect of the introduced nanofillers on the low-frequency rheological response, especially in nanoclay-based bionanocomposites. Conversely, the shear viscosity at a high shear rate was almost unaffected by the presence of both types of nanofillers, as well as the rheological response under nonisothermal elongational flow. In addition, the analysis of the mechanical properties of the formulated materials indicated that the embedded nanofillers increased the elastic modulus when compared to the unfilled counterparts, notwithstanding a slight decrease of the material ductility. Finally, the processing behavior of unfilled biopolymers and bionanocomposites was evaluated, allowing for selecting the most suitable material and thus fulfilling the processability requirements for pipe extrusion applications.

Bionanocomposite Blown Films: Insights on the Rheological and Mechanical Behavior.

In this work, bionanocomposites based on two different types of biopolymers belonging to the MaterBi® family and containing two kinds of modified nanoclays were compounded in a twin-screw extruder and then subjected to a film blowing process, aiming at obtaining sustainable films potentially suitable for packaging applications. The preliminary characterization of the extruded bionanocomposites allowed establishing some correlations between the obtained morphology and the material rheological and mechanical behavior. More specifically, the morphological analysis showed that, regardless of the type of biopolymeric matrix, a homogeneous nanofiller dispersion was achieved; furthermore, the established biopolymer/nanofiller interactions caused a restrain of the dynamics of the biopolymer chains, thus inducing a significant modification of the material rheological response, which involves the appearance of an apparent yield stress and the amplification of the elastic feature of the viscoelastic behavior. Besides, the rheological characterization under non-isothermal elongational flow revealed a marginal effect of the embedded nanofillers on the biopolymers behavior, thus indicating their suitability for film blowing processing. Additionally, the processing behavior of the bionanocomposites was evaluated and compared to that of similar systems based on a low-density polyethylene matrix: this way, it was possible to identify the most suitable materials for film blowing operations. Finally, the assessment of the mechanical properties of the produced blown films documented the potential exploitation of the selected materials for packaging applications, also at an industrial level.

Recycling of a Biodegradable Polymer Blend.

Mechanical recycling is one of the possible ways to enhance the value of postconsumer plastic materials. However, the final performance of the recycled material will strongly depend on the quality of the selection made on the recycled product and on the degradation of the properties. In this context, the present study examines the effect of reprocessing for five successive extrusion cycles on the rheological, mechanical and thermal properties of a poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)-based blend on samples reprocessed in both dry and wet conditions. The results showed that when the sample was processed after drying, degradation of the material was less than when it was processed in wet conditions. However, the experimental results showed that the decrease of rheological and mechanical properties was not so dramatic, and therefore the material could be reused in both cases.

Solid state 13C-NMR methodology for the cellulose composition studies of the shells of Prunus dulcis and their derived cellulosic materials.

Lignocellulosic fibers and microcellulose have been obtained by simple alkaline treatment from softwood almond shells. In particular, the Prunus dulcis Miller (D.A.) Webb. was considered as a agro industrial waste largely available in southern Italy. The materials before and after purification have been characterized by 13C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy methodology. A proper data analysis provided the relative composition of lignin and holocellulose at each purification step and the results were compared with thermogravimetric analysis and FT-IR. To value the possibility of using this material in a circular economy framework, the fibrous cellulosic material was used to manufacture a handmade cardboard. The tensile performances on the prepared cardboard proved its suitability for packaging purposes as a sustainable material. These fibers along with the obtained microcellulose can represent a new use for the almond shells that are mainly used as firewood.

The Streptomyces coelicolor Small ORF trpM Stimulates Growth and Morphological Development and Exerts Opposite Effects on Actinorhodin and Calcium-Dependent Antibiotic Production.

In actinomycetes, antibiotic production is often associated with a morpho-physiological differentiation program that is regulated by complex molecular and metabolic networks. Many aspects of these regulatory circuits have been already elucidated and many others still deserve further investigations. In this regard, the possible role of many small open reading frames (smORFs) in actinomycete morpho-physiological differentiation is still elusive. In Streptomyces coelicolor, inactivation of the smORF trpM (SCO2038) - whose product modulates L-tryptophan biosynthesis - impairs production of antibiotics and morphological differentiation. Indeed, it was demonstrated that TrpM is able to interact with PepA (SCO2179), a putative cytosol aminopeptidase playing a key role in antibiotic production and sporulation. In this work, a S. coelicolor trpM knock-in (Sco-trpMKI) mutant strain was generated by cloning trpM into overexpressing vector to further investigate the role of trpM in actinomycete growth and morpho-physiological differentiation. Results highlighted that trpM: (i) stimulates growth and actinorhodin (ACT) production; (ii) decreases calcium-dependent antibiotic (CDA) production; (iii) has no effect on undecylprodigiosin production. Metabolic pathways influenced by trpM knock-in were investigated by combining two-difference in gel electrophoresis/nanoliquid chromatography coupled to electrospray linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (2D-DIGE/nanoLC-ESI-LIT-MS/MS) and by LC-ESI-MS/MS procedures, respectively. These analyses demonstrated that over-expression of trpM causes an over-representation of factors involved in protein synthesis and nucleotide metabolism as well as a down-representation of proteins involved in central carbon and amino acid metabolism. At the metabolic level, this corresponded to a differential accumulation pattern of different amino acids - including aromatic ones but tryptophan - and central carbon intermediates. PepA was also down-represented in Sco-trpMKI. The latter was produced as recombinant His-tagged protein and was originally proven having the predicted aminopeptidase activity. Altogether, these results highlight the stimulatory effect of trpM in S. coelicolor growth and ACT biosynthesis, which are elicited through the modulation of various metabolic pathways and PepA representation, further confirming the complexity of regulatory networks that control antibiotic production in actinomycetes.