Typhoid Fever and Non-typhoidal Salmonella Outbreaks: A Portrait of Regional Socioeconomic Inequalities in Brazil.

Typhoid fever occurs in an endemic form in Brazil and is a serious public health problem in some regions. In this scenario, further research is urgently needed to identify the associations between socioeconomic factors and typhoid fever, contributing to guiding policy decisions in the country. We aimed to investigate the influence of socioeconomic disparities on the prevalence of typhoid fever and non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) in Brazil. A search for data from 2010 to 2019 was carried out with the national health and human development agencies. As milk and derivatives are the fourth food incriminated in food outbreaks in Brazil, analyses for detecting Salmonella spp. in commercial dairy products allowed us to assess whether the outbreaks associated with these foods are due to inadequacies in sanitary control in dairy establishments or whether they are mainly home-based outbreaks. Predictive models validated by the bootstrapping method demonstrate an association of NTS prevalence reduction with improvements in the Sanitation Service Index (Rv ≥ -8 0.686; p ≤ 0.01) and Municipal Human Development Index - MHDI - (Rv = -0.789; p ≤ 0.02). In the North, typhoid fever prevalence had seasonal variability with the rainfall, while sanitation services (Rv ≥-0.684; p ≤ 0.04) and MHDI (Rv ≥-0.949; p ≤ 0.003) directly influenced Northeast and South Brazil. Thus, the unequal distribution of investments in the sanitation sector contributed to disparities in typhoid fever prevalence among Brazilian regions. The absence of Salmonella spp. in commercial samples ratified the collected data that the outbreaks of Salmonella spp. in the Brazilian population occur mainly at residences. These findings show that implementing public health education and increasing investments in sanitation in regions with poor service can control outbreaks of Salmonella spp. in Brazilian endemic areas.

Biofilm-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4 overcomes bile salts toxicity by expressing virulence and resistance proteins.

We investigated bile salts' ability to induce phenotypic changes in biofilm production and protein expression of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. For this purpose, 82 pathogenic E. coli strains isolated from humans (n = 70), and animals (n = 12), were examined for their ability to form biofilms in the presence or absence of bile salts. We also identified bacterial proteins expressed in response to bile salts using sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-electrophoresis) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Lastly, we evaluated the ability of these strains to adhere to Caco-2 epithelial cells in the presence of bile salts. Regarding biofilm formation, two strains isolated from an outbreak in Republic of Georgia in 2009 were the only ones that showed a high and moderate capacity to form biofilm in the presence of bile salts. Further, we observed that those isolates, when in the presence of bile salts, expressed different proteins identified as outer membrane proteins (i.e. OmpC), and resistance to adverse growth conditions (i.e. F0F1, HN-S, and L7/L12). We also found that these isolates exhibited high adhesion to epithelial cells in the presence of bile salts. Together, these results contribute to the phenotypic characterization of E. coli O104: H4 strains.

Can Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli with Heat Resistance Profile Overcome Nonthermal Technologies?

Ultraviolet-C light-emitting diode (UVC-LED) and ultrasound (US) are two nonthermal technologies with the potential to destroy pathogens. However, little is known about their effectiveness in strains with a history of heat resistance. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the phenotype and genotype of heat-resistant extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) with heat resistance genes after the application of US, UVC-LED, and UVC-LED+US. For this, two central composite rotatable designs were used to optimize the UVC-LED and US conditions in four ExPEC isolated from beef. From the genome of these isolates obtained in a previous study, possible genes for UVC resistance were analyzed. Results showed that US was ineffective in reducing >0.30 log colony-forming unit/mL, and that when used after UVC-LED, it showed a nonsynergic or antagonistic effect. Also, UVC-LED had the greatest effect at the maximum dose (4950 mJ/cm2 from 1.65 mW/cm2 for 50 min). However, the strains showed some recovery after that, which could be implicated in the expression of genes included in SOS system genes, some others present in the transmissible Locus of Stress Tolerance (trxBC and degP), and others (terC). Thus, ExPEC can overcome the conditions used in this study for US, UVC-LED, and UVC-LED+US, probably due to the history of resistance to other cellular damage. The result of this study will contribute to future studies that aim to find better treatment conditions for each food product.

Genomic features and heat resistance profiles of Escherichia coli isolated from Brazilian beef.

AIMS: Characterize Escherichia coli and E. coli -producing (STEC) isolates from Brazilian beef to determine heat resistance and the presence of the transmissible locus of stress tolerance (tLST). METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-two STEC previously isolated from beef and characterized as STEC by PCR were subjected to different heat survival challenges (60°C and 71°C). Furthermore, the three tLST-positive isolates and one tLST-negative isolate by PCR were selected for WGS analysis. Phenotypic results indicated that 3/22 (13.64%) were heat resistant, 12/22 (54.54%) were moderately resistant, and 7/22 (31.82%) were sensitive to heat treatments. WGS analyses showed that three isolates with heat resistance showed tLST with up to 80% and 42% of similarity by BLAST analysis, with the major tLST genes being responsible for the homeostasis module. However, WGS showed the absence of stx genes associated with tLST-positive isolates, albeit with virulence and resistance genes found in extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the presence of heat-resistant E. coli as well as confirm some tLST genes in E. coli isolated from Brazilian beef.

Occurrence of phthalates in different food matrices: A systematic review of the main sources of contamination and potential risks.

This systematic review aimed to investigate the occurrence of phthalates (phthalic acid esters [PAEs]) in different food matrices, as well as report the main sources of PAEs in food, the potential risks to the population, and the factors that influence its migration from food contact materials (FCMs) to food. Nineteen PAEs were identified, including di-(2-ehtylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl-phthalate (DBP), benzylbutyl phthalate (BBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) in fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products, cereals, meat, fish, fat and oils, snacks, condiments and sauces, miscellaneous, and baby food. Fifty-seven values of PAEs were above the legal limits of countries. DEHP is the PAE with the highest incidence, with maximum concentrations above the specific migration limit (SML) for milk and dairy products, oils and fats, fish, cereals, condiments and sauces, meat, and fruits and vegetables. The risk of exceeding the tolerable daily intake (TDI) was high for DEHP and DBP in fish, fat and oils, cereals, and milk and dairy products for children and adults. Fat and oils are the most critical food for DEHP, DBP, BBP, and DINP. Comparing the estimated daily intake (EDI) with the TDI, there was a risk for "milk and dairy products" in adults and for "cereal and cereal products" in children concerning DEHP. "Cereal and cereal products" presented a risk in children and adults concerning DBP. The "fat and oils" category presented a risk in children and adults about DBP and DINP. Temperature, contact time between food and the FCM, fat percent, and acidity positively correlate with the PAE's migration. The contamination occurs in many steps of the production chain.

Staphylococcus aureus biofilm: the role in disseminating antimicrobial resistance over the meat chain.

Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for severe skin and respiratory infections and food poisoning, resulting in hospitalizations and high morbidity worldwide. Staphylococci have extensive virulence mechanisms and antimicrobial resistance that pose a global challenge to contain the spread of infectious outbreaks. Antimicrobials are used as growth promoters, and for prevention and treatment of infections in animals that provide us with food. The improvement of animal health is undeniable, but the selection of multidrug-resistant strains that can spread resistance genes among microorganisms is undesirable. The administration of sublethal doses of antimicrobials in farm animals causes stress to Staphylococci inducing the formation of a complex extracellular polymeric structure called biofilm. Such a structure may favor the persistence of infection by disseminating antimicrobial-resistant strains that can be consumed in contaminated food of animal origin. In ruminant mastitis and hospitals, the potential of the biofilm structure in the persistence of infections, especially those caused by S. aureus, has already been demonstrated, as well as its role as a source of resistant genes. In the meat production chain, the potential for persistent contamination by biofilm structure is evidently a worrying health risk . This review brings together studies demonstrating that biofilm production facilitates the exchange of mobile genetic elements and random mutations in S. aureus strains within the structure. This contributes to the emergence of more resistant clonal complexes and, with biofilm support, persists in the meat production chain.

Nano-delivery systems for food bioactive compounds in cancer: prevention, therapy, and clinical applications.

Bioactive compounds represent a broad class of dietary metabolites derived from fruits and vegetables, such as polyphenols, carotenoids and glucosinolates with potential for cancer prevention. Curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, and ß-carotene have been the most widely applied bioactive compounds in chemoprevention. Lately, many approaches to encapsulating bioactive components in nano-delivery systems have improved biomolecules' stability and targeted delivery. In this review, we critically analyze nano-delivery systems for bioactive compounds, including polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), liposomes, niosomes, and nanoemulsions (NEs) for potential use in cancer therapy. Efficacy studies of the nanoformulations using cancer cell lines and in vivo models and updated human clinical trials are also discussed. Nano-delivery systems were found to improve the therapeutic efficacy of bioactive molecules against various types of cancer (e.g., breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancer) mainly due to the antiproliferation and pro-apoptotic effects of tumor cells. Furthermore, some bioactive compounds have promised combination therapy with standard chemotherapeutic agents, with increased tumor efficiency and fewer side effects. These opportunities were identified and developed to ensure more excellent safety and efficacy of novel herbal medicines enabling novel insights for designing nano-delivery systems for bioactive compounds applied in clinical cancer therapy.

Can droplet size influence antibacterial activity in ultrasound-prepared essential oil nanoemulsions?

Essential oil nanoemulsion may have improved antibacterial properties over pure oil and can be used for food preservation. Ultrasonic cavitation is the most common mechanism for producing nanoemulsions, and the impact of processing parameters on droplet properties needs to be elucidated. A systematic literature search was performed in four databases (Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed), and 987 articles were found, 16 of which were eligible for the present study. A meta-analysis was performed to qualitatively assess which process parameters (power, sonication time, essential oil, and tween 80 concentration) can influence the final droplet size and polydispersity and how droplet size is associated with antibacterial activity. We observed that power, essential oil, and tween 80 concentrations added during processing are the critical variables for forming smaller droplets. Ratios of up to 3:1 (surfactant:oil) can produce droplets smaller than 180 nm with antibacterial properties superior to pure oil or isolated compounds. The improved properties of nanoemulsions are associated with the size and chemical composition of the droplet since the proportion of the hydrophobic core (EO) and the hydrophilic outer layer (Tween 80) directly influences the antibacterial mechanism of action.

Effect of dietary nitrate ingestion on muscular performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Dietary nitrate consumption from foods such as beetroot has been associated with many physiological benefits including improvements in vascular health and exercise performance. More recently, attention has been given to the use of dietary nitrate as a nutritional strategy to optimize muscular performance during resistance exercise. Our purpose was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the research literature assessing the effect of dietary nitrate ingestion on muscular strength and muscular endurance. A structured search was carried out in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and from the total included studies (n = 34 studies), 12 studies had data for both measurement of strength and muscular endurance outcomes, 14 studies had data only for muscular strength outcome, and 8 studies had data only for muscular endurance outcome. Standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated and meta-analyses were performed by using a random-effects model. Dietary nitrate ingestion was found to result in a trivial but significant effect on muscular strength (overall SMD = 0.08, P = 0.0240). Regarding muscular endurance dietary nitrate was found to promote a small but significant effect (overall SMD = 0.31, P < 0.0001). Dosage, frequency of ingestion, training level, muscle group, or type of contraction did not affect the findings, except for a greater improvement in muscle endurance during isometric and isotonic when compared to isokinetic contractions. Dietary nitrate seems to have a positive effect on muscular strength and muscular endurance, which is mostly unaffected by dosage, frequency of ingestion, training level, muscle group, or type of contraction. However, given the trivial to small effect, further experimental research on this topic is warranted.

E-sensing and nanoscale-sensing devices associated with data processing algorithms applied to food quality control: a systematic review.

Devices of human-based senses such as e-noses, e-tongues and e-eyes can be used to analyze different compounds in several food matrices. These sensors allow the detection of one or more compounds present in complex food samples, and the responses obtained can be used for several goals when different chemometric tools are applied. In this systematic review, we used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, to address issues such as e-sensing with chemometric methods for food quality control (FQC). A total of 109 eligible articles were selected from PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. Thus, we predicted that the association between e-sensing and chemometric tools is essential for FQC. Most studies have applied preliminary approaches like exploratory analysis, while the classification/regression methods have been less investigated. It is worth mentioning that non-linear methods based on artificial intelligence/machine learning, in most cases, had classification/regression performances superior to non-liner, although their applications were seen less often. Another approach that has generated promising results is the data fusion between e-sensing devices or in conjunction with other analytical techniques. Furthermore, some future trends in the application of miniaturized devices and nanoscale sensors are also discussed.

The effect of dietary nitrate on macro- and microvascular function: A systematic review.

Previous studies have investigated the impact of dietary nitrate on vascular function due to the association between dietary nitrate ingestion and improvement in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Considering that NO can present different effects through vascular beds (macro- vs. microvasculature) due to the specific characteristic (function and morphology) that each vessel exhibits, it is crucial to investigate the effect of dietary nitrate ingestion on the macro- and microvascular function to understand the effect of nitrate on vascular function. For this reason, this review aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary nitrate on macro- and microvascular function in humans. A total of 29 studies were included in the systematic review, of which 19 studies evaluated the effect of nitrate supplementation on macrovascular function, eight studies evaluated the effect on microvascular function, and two studies evaluated the impact on both macro- and microvascular function. The literature suggests that dietary nitrate ingestion seems to improve the vascular function in macrovasculature, whereas microvascular function appears to be modest. Future studies investigating the effect of nitrate ingestion on vascular function should focus on measuring macro- and microvascular function whenever possible so that the impact of nitrate-rich foods on vascular segments could be better understood.

Global distribution of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance mcr gene in Salmonella: A systematic review.

This systematic review focuses on obtaining the most relevant information from multiple studies that detected a mobilized colistin resistance mcr gene in Salmonella for a better comprehension of its global distribution. A group of strategic and systematic keywords were combined to retrieve research data on the detection frequency of the mcr gene globally from four database platforms (Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed and Scielo). Forty-eight studies attended all the eligibility criteria and were selected. China was the country with the highest frequency of Salmonella strains with the mcr gene, and Europe exhibited a wide diversity of countries with positive mcr strains. In addition, animals and humans carried the highest frequency of positive strains for the mcr gene. Salmonella Typhimurium was the most frequent serovar carrying the mcr gene. Apparently, colistin overuse in animal husbandry has increased the selective pressure of antimicrobial resistance, resulting in the emergence of a plasmid-mediated colistin resistance mcr gene in China. The mcr-positive Salmonella strains are recently predominant worldwide, which is probably due to the capacity of this gene to be swiftly horizontally transmissible. The transmission ability of mcr-positive Salmonella strains to humans through the consumption of contaminated animal-based food is a public health concern.

Aldehyde Accumulation in Aged Alcoholic Beer: Addressing Acetaldehyde Impacts on Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancer Risks.

Aldehydes, particularly acetaldehyde, are carcinogenic molecules and their concentrations in foodstuffs should be controlled to avoid upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) and liver cancers. Highly reactive, acetaldehyde forms DNA and protein adducts, impairing physiological functions and leading to the development of pathological conditions. The consumption of aged beer, outside of the ethanol metabolism, exposes habitual drinkers to this carcinogen, whose concentrations can be over-increased due to post-brewing chemical and biochemical reactions. Storage-related changes are a challenge faced by the brewing industry, impacting volatile compound formation and triggering flavor instability. Aldehydes are among the volatile compounds formed during beer aging, recognized as off-flavor compounds. To track and understand aldehyde formation through multiple pathways during beer storage, consequent changes in flavor but particularly quality losses and harmful compound formation, this systematic review reunited data on volatile compound profiles through gas chromatography analyses from 2011 to 2021. Conditions to avoid flavor instability and successful methods for reducing beer staling, and consequent acetaldehyde accumulation, were raised by exploring the dynamic conversion between free and bound-state aldehydes. Future research should focus on implementing sensory analyses to investigate whether adding aldehyde-binding agents, e.g., cysteine and bisulfite, would contribute to consumer acceptance, restore beer flavor, and minimize acetaldehyde-related health damage.

Upgrading Common Wheat Pasta by Fiber-Rich Fraction of Potato Peel Byproduct at Different Particle Sizes: Effects on Physicochemical, Thermal, and Sensory Properties.

Fiber-enriched food has numerous health benefits. This study develops functional fiber-enriched pasta (FEP) by partially substituting wheat flour for alcohol-insoluble residue prepared from potato processing byproducts (AIR-PPB) at various particle sizes (PS). The independent variables' effects, AIR-PPB at 2-15% substitution levels, and PS 40-250 µm were investigated in terms of chemical, cooking, thermal, and sensory properties. AIR-PPB is rich in total dietary fibers (TDF) (83%), exhibiting high water-holding capacity (WHC) and vibrant colors. Different concentrations of AIR-PPB increase TDF content in FEPs by 7-21 times compared to the control pasta (CP). Although the optimal cooking time (OCT) decreases by 15-18% compared to CP, where a lower OCT should reduce cooking time and save energy, cooking loss (Cl) increases slightly but remains within an acceptable range of 8%. Additionally, AIR-PPB altered the texture properties of FEP, with a moderate decrease in mass increase index (MII), firmness, and stickiness. AIR-PPB impairs the gluten network's structure in pasta due to AIR-PPB's WHC, which competes with starch for water binding, increasing the starch gelatinization temperature. FEPs show an increased lightness and yellowness and improved sensory properties. Highly acceptable FEPs were obtained for the following substitution levels: FEP11 (AIR-PPB at 2% and PS of 145 µm), FEP9 (AIR-PPB 4% level with PS of 70 µm), FEP6 (AIR-PPB of 4% level with 219 µm PS), and FEP1 (AIR-PPB = 8.5% with 40 µm PS), as compared to other FEPs.

Chemical Profiling, Formulation Development, In Vitro Evaluation and Molecular Docking of Piper nigrum Seeds Extract Loaded Emulgel for Anti-Aging.

Emulgel is a new innovatory technique for drug development permitting controlled release of active ingredients for topical administration. We report a stable emulgel of 4% Piper nigrum extract (PNE) prepared using 80% ethanol. The PNE-loaded formulation had an antioxidant activity of 84% and tyrosinase inhibition was 82%. Prepared formulation rendered spherical-shaped globules with high zeta potential (-45.5 mV) indicative of a stable system. Total phenolic contents were 58.01 mg GAE/g of dry extract whereas total flavonoid content was 52.63 mg QE/g of dry extract. Sun protection factor for PNE-loaded emulgel was 7.512 and formulation was stable without any evidence of physical and chemical changes following 90 days of storage. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) revealed seventeen bioactive compounds in the PNE including monoterpenoids, triterpenoids, a tertiary alcohol, fatty acid esters, and phytosterols. In silico studies of GC-MS identified compounds show higher binding affinity in comparison to standard kojic acid indicating tyrosinase inhibition. It can be concluded that PNE-loaded emulgel had prominent antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibition and can be utilized as a promising topical system for anti-aging skin formulation.

Recent advances in biobased and biodegradable polymer nanocomposites, nanoparticles, and natural antioxidants for antibacterial and antioxidant food packaging applications.

Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) and natural antioxidant compounds are an emerging trend in the food industry. Incorporating these substances in biobased and biodegradable matrices as polysaccharides (e.g., starch, cellulose, and chitosan) and proteins has highlighted the potential in active food packaging applications due to more significant antimicrobial, antioxidant, UV blocking, oxygen scavenging, water vapor permeability effects, and low environmental impact. In recent years, the migration of metal NPs and metal oxides in food contact packaging and their toxicological potential have raised concerns about the safety of the nanomaterials. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the main biobased and biodegradable polymer nanocomposites, inorganic NPs, natural antioxidants, and their potential use in active food packaging. The intrinsic properties of NPs and natural antioxidant actives in packaging materials are evaluated to extend shelf-life, safety, and food quality. Toxicological and safety aspects of inorganic NPs are highlighted to understand the current controversy on applying some nanomaterials in food packaging. The synergism of inorganic NPs and plant-derived natural antioxidant actives (e.g., vitamins, polyphenols, and carotenoids) and essential oils (EOs) potentiated the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of biodegradable nanocomposite films. Biodegradable packaging films based on green NPs-this is biosynthesized from plant extracts-showed suitable mechanical and barrier properties and had a lower environmental impact and offered efficient food protection. Furthermore, AgNPs and TiO2 NPs released metal ions from packaging into contents insufficiently to cause harm to human cells, which could be helpful to understanding critical gaps and provide progress in the packaging field.

COVID-19 contamination through food: A study with Brazilian consumers of different socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.

This study aimed to investigate through free word association the perception of Brazilian consumers regarding the possibility of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus through food. One thousand individuals answered the questionnaire via an online platform. Most cited terms (hygiene-8%, fear-8%, caution-5%) and categories (negative attitudes and feeling-72% and sanitization-60%) were related to overall COVID-19 infection rather than their specific infection through the food. The perception of the possibility of risk of this type of cross-contamination was greater for male participants, within the food field, with high income (>10 minimum wages), and from the midwest region. Nonetheless, there are still doubts regarding this possibility, especially for participants with low income (≤10 minimum wages), females, higher education (≥secondary school), who exercise professional activity outside the food sector and from most regions of Brazil. Practical applications: Although the SARS-CoV-2 virus was discovered 2 years ago, the emergence of new variants such as Omicron has increased infection and mortality rates worldwide. A possible way of COVID-19 infection is cross-contamination through food handling and contact surfaces if preventive measures are not applied. In this context, understanding the consumer perception from a continental-size country such as Brazil, with a wide variety of socioeconomic profiles, is crucial to minimize the severe impacts of the pandemic. Our study demonstrates the need to disseminate scientific information in different media to reduce misinformation, especially social media because most Brazilian consumers had doubts and uncertainties about the possibility of COVID-19 infection from cross-contamination through food.

Everybody loves cheese: crosslink between persistence and virulence of Shiga-toxin Escherichia coli.

General cheese manufacturing involves high temperatures, fermentation and ripening steps that function as hurdles to microbial growth. On the other hand, the application of several different formulations and manufacturing techniques may create a bacterial protective environment. In cheese, the persistent behavior of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) relies on complex mechanisms that enable bacteria to respond to stressful conditions found in cheese matrix. In this review, we discuss how STEC manages to survive to high and low temperatures, hyperosmotic conditions, exposure to weak organic acids, and pH decreasing related to cheese manufacturing, the cheese matrix itself and storage. Moreover, we discuss how these stress responses interact with each other by enhancing adaptation and consequently, the persistence of STEC in cheese. Further, we show how virulence genes eae and tir are affected by stress response mechanisms, increasing either cell adherence or virulence factors production, which leads to a selection of more resistant and virulent pathogens in the cheese industry, leading to a public health issue.

A Systematic Review on Nanoencapsulation Natural Antimicrobials in Foods: In Vitro versus In Situ Evaluation, Mechanisms of Action and Implications on Physical-Chemical Quality.

Natural antimicrobials (NA) have stood out in the last decade due to the growing demand for reducing chemical preservatives in food. Once solubility, stability, and changes in sensory attributes could limit their applications in foods, several studies were published suggesting micro-/nanoencapsulation to overcome such challenges. Thus, for our systematic review the Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, and Pub Med databases were chosen to recover papers published from 2010 to 2020. After reviewing all titles/abstracts and keywords for the full-text papers, key data were extracted and synthesized. The systematic review proposed to compare the antimicrobial efficacy between nanoencapsulated NA (nNA) and its free form in vitro and in situ studies, since although in vitro studies are often used in studies, they present characteristics and properties that are different from those found in foods; providing a comprehensive understanding of primary mechanisms of action of the nNA in foods; and analyzing the effects on quality parameters of foods. Essential oils and nanoemulsions (10.9-100 nm) have received significant attention and showed higher antimicrobial efficacy without sensory impairments compared to free NA. Regarding nNA mechanisms: (i) nanoencapsulation provides a slow-prolonged release to promote antimicrobial action over time, and (ii) prevents interactions with food constituents that in turn impair antimicrobial action. Besides in vitro antifungal and antibacterial, nNA also demonstrated antioxidant activity-potential to shelf life extension in food. However, of the studies involving nanoencapsulated natural antimicrobials used in this review, little attention was placed on proximate composition, sensory, and rheological evaluation. We encourage further in situ studies once data differ from in vitro assay, suggesting food matrix greatly influences NA mechanisms.

An overview of research of essential oils by self-organizing maps: A novel approach for meta-analysis study.

Essential oils (EOs) are commercially important products, sources of compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities considered indispensable for several fields, such as the food industry, cosmetics, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, sanitary and agricultural industries. In this context, this systematic review and meta-analysis, a novel approach will be presented using chemometric tools to verify and recognize patterns of antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities of EOs according to their geographic, botanical, chemical, and microbiological distribution. Scientific papers were selected following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses statement flow diagram, and the data were evaluated by the self-organizing map and hierarchical cluster analysis. Overall, this novel approach allowed us to draw an overview of antioxidants and antimicrobials activities of EOs reported in 2019, through 585 articles evaluated, obtaining a dataset with more than 10,000 data, distributed in more than 80 countries, 290 plant genera, 150 chemical compounds, 30 genera of bacteria, and 10 genera of fungi. The networks for geographic, botanical, chemical, and microbiological distribution indicated that Brazil, Asia, the botanical genus Thymus, species Thymus vulgaris L. "thyme," the Lamiaceae family, limonene, and the oxygenated monoterpene class were the most representative in the dataset, while the species Escherichia coli and Candida albicans were the most used to assess the antimicrobial activity of EOs. This work can be seen as a guide for the processing of metadata using a novel approach with non-conventional statistical methods. However, this preliminary approach with EOs can be extended to other sources or areas of food science.