Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effect of a mixture of probiotic strains on symptom severity and use of corticosteroids in children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: The intestinal microbiota is altered in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) when compared with those of the healthy population. Some interventions with specific probiotic preparations already demonstrate a change in composition of this microbiota accompanied by improvement in the disease. OBJECTIVES: This research work was designed to evaluate clinical efficacy of the probiotic preparation, and to measure the effect of the intervention on the total dose of corticosteroids administered to subjects. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial including 70 participants with AD aged 4-17 years was designed to evaluate the clinical effect, compared with placebo, of a probiotic mixture of Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus casei at a total daily consumption of 1 × 109 colony-forming units per capsule, over 12 weeks. After randomization and exclusion, 35 patients were allocated to probiotic and 35 to placebo. Clinical variables analysed were SCORAD (SCORing of Atopic Dermatitis) and Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) indices; effect on the amount of topical corticosteroids used; and assessment of safety. RESULTS: Mean SCORAD index at 12 weeks showed a statistically significant difference of -5.43 (95% confidence interval -10.65 to -0.21) between probiotic (SCORAD 13.52) and placebo groups (SCORAD 18.96); P = 0.04. Comparison between groups showed a statistically significant difference in the number of patients with IGA score improvement over the 12-week intervention: 29 of 32 (90.5%) in the probiotic group vs. 17 of 30 (56.7%) in the placebo group (P < 0.002). A comparison between groups of the proportions of days using corticosteroids and the total dose (g) of corticosteroids between baseline and end of study showed no significant difference, but between weeks 6 and 12 there was a statistically significant reduction in the probiotic group when compared with the placebo group in both variables. Numbers of adverse events were similar in both groups of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The probiotic mix used in this clinical trial demonstrated efficacy on the change in activity index of AD compared with placebo. Furthermore, the total number of days and total amount of topical corticosteroids required by participants in the probiotic group showed a significant reduction compared with placebo between 6 and 12 weeks.

Effects of daily consumption of the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 on anthropometric adiposity biomarkers in abdominally obese subjects: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The effects of probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 (Ba8145) and those of its heat-killed form (h-k Ba8145) on human anthropometric adiposity biomarkers are unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of Ba8145 and h-k Ba8145 ingestion on anthropometric adiposity biomarkers. DESIGN: Randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with abdominally obese individuals. Participants (n = 135) consumed 1 capsule/day containing 1010 colony forming unit (CFU) of Ba8145, 1010 CFU of h-k Ba8145, or placebo (maltodextrin) for 3 months. RESULTS: Ba8145 ingestion decreased waist circumference, waist circumference/height ratio, and Conicity index (P < 0.05) versus its baseline. Changes versus the placebo group reached significance (P < 0.05) after the h-k Ba8145 treatment. Ba8145 decreased the body mass index compared with baseline and placebo group (P < 0.05). The decrease in visceral fat area after Ba8145 treatments reached significance (P < 0.05) only after h-k Ba8145. When analyses by gender were performed, significance remained only for women. Diastolic blood pressure and HOMA index decreased (P < 0.05) after h-k Ba8145. Gut microbiome analyses showed an increase in Akkermansia spp. after Ba8145 treatment, particularly in the live form, which was inversely related to weight (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In abdominally obese individuals, consumption of Ba8145, both as viable and mainly as heat-killed cells, improves anthropometric adiposity biomarkers, particularly in women. An increase in the gut Akkermansia genus appears as a possible mechanism involved. Our results support Ba8145 probiotic as a complementary strategy in obesity management.

Toxicological assessment of mesoporous silica particles in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Here we report the toxicological evaluation of mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) in the nematode C. elegans. Specifically, we have investigated the effect of bare micro- (M0) and nano-sized (N0) MSPs, and their corresponding functionalized particles with a starch derivative (Glu-N) (M1 and N1, respectively) on C. elegans ageing parameters. The toxicity of MSPs, their impact on C. elegans lifespan, movement capacity, progeny and ability to survive upon exposure to acute oxidative stress were assessed. This study demonstrated that both size particles assayed (M0 and N0), labeled with rhodamine and monitored through fluorescence microscopy, are ingested by the nematode. Moreover, toxicity assays indicated that bare nano-sized particles (N0) have a negative impact on the C. elegans lifespan, reducing mobility and progeny production. By contrast, micro-sized particles (M0) proved innocuous for the nematodes. Furthermore, functionalization of nanoparticles with starch derivative reduced their toxicity in C. elegans. Thus, oral intake of N1 comparatively increased the mean lifespan and activity rates as well as resistance to oxidative stress. The overall findings presented here demonstrate the influence of MSP size and surface on their potential toxicity in vivo and indicate the silica-based mesoporous particles to be a potential support for encapsulation in oral delivery applications. Furthermore, the good correlation obtained between healthy aging variables and viability (mean lifespan) validates the use of C. elegans as a multicellular organism for nanotoxicology studies of MSPs.

Tryptophan-Containing Dual Neuroprotective Peptides: Prolyl Endopeptidase Inhibition and Caenorhabditis elegans Protection from ß-Amyloid Peptide Toxicity.

Neuroprotective peptides represent an attractive pharmacological strategy for the prevention or treatment of age-related diseases, for which there are currently few effective therapies. Lactoferrin (LF)-derived peptides (PKHs) and a set of six rationally-designed tryptophan (W)-containing heptapeptides (PACEIs) were characterized as prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) inhibitors, and their effect on ß-amyloid peptide (Aß) toxicity in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) was evaluated. Two LF-derived sequences, PKH8 and PKH11, sharing a W at the C-terminal end, and the six PACEI heptapeptides (PACEI48L to PACEI53L) exhibited significant in vitro PEP inhibition. The inhibitory peptides PKH11 and PACEI50L also alleviated Aß-induced paralysis in the in vivo C. elegans model of AD. Partial or total loss of the inhibitory effect on PEP was achieved by the substitution of W residues in PKH11 and PACEI50L and correlated with the loss of protection against Aß toxicity, pointing out the relevance of W on the neuroprotective activity. Further experiments suggest that C. elegans protection might not be mediated by an antioxidant mechanism but rather by inhibition of Aß oligomerization and thus, amyloid deposition. In conclusion, novel natural and rationally-designed W-containing peptides are suitable starting leads to design effective neuroprotective agents.

Coffee Silverskin Extract Protects against Accelerated Aging Caused by Oxidative Agents.

Nowadays, coffee beans are almost exclusively used for the preparation of the beverage. The sustainability of coffee production can be achieved introducing new applications for the valorization of coffee by-products. Coffee silverskin is the by-product generated during roasting, and because of its powerful antioxidant capacity, coffee silverskin aqueous extract (CSE) may be used for other applications, such as antiaging cosmetics and dermaceutics. This study aims to contribute to the coffee sector's sustainability through the application of CSE to preserve skin health. Preclinical data regarding the antiaging properties of CSE employing human keratinocytes and Caenorhabditis elegans are collected during the present study. Accelerated aging was induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH) in HaCaT cells and by ultraviolet radiation C (UVC) in C. elegans. Results suggest that the tested concentrations of coffee extracts were not cytotoxic, and CSE 1 mg/mL gave resistance to skin cells when oxidative damage was induced by t-BOOH. On the other hand, nematodes treated with CSE (1 mg/mL) showed a significant increased longevity compared to those cultured on a standard diet. In conclusion, our results support the antiaging properties of the CSE and its great potential for improving skin health due to its antioxidant character associated with phenols among other bioactive compounds present in the botanical material.

Metabolic engineering of ß-carotene in orange fruit increases its in vivo antioxidant properties.

Orange is a major crop and an important source of health-promoting bioactive compounds. Increasing the levels of specific antioxidants in orange fruit through metabolic engineering could strengthen the fruit's health benefits. In this work, we have afforded enhancing the ß-carotene content of orange fruit through blocking by RNA interference the expression of an endogenous ß-carotene hydroxylase gene (Csß-CHX) that is involved in the conversion of ß-carotene into xanthophylls. Additionally, we have simultaneously overexpressed a key regulator gene of flowering transition, the FLOWERING LOCUS T from sweet orange (CsFT), in the transgenic juvenile plants, which allowed us to obtain fruit in an extremely short period of time. Silencing the Csß-CHX gene resulted in oranges with a deep yellow ('golden') phenotype and significant increases (up to 36-fold) in ß-carotene content in the pulp. The capacity of ß-carotene-enriched oranges for protection against oxidative stress in vivo was assessed using Caenorhabditis elegans as experimental animal model. Golden oranges induced a 20% higher antioxidant effect than the isogenic control. This is the first example of the successful metabolic engineering of the ß-carotene content (or the content of any other phytonutrient) in oranges and demonstrates the potential of genetic engineering for the nutritional enhancement of fruit tree crops.

Isolation, identification and characterisation of three novel probiotic strains (Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-4034, Bifidobacterium breve CNCM I-4035 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-4036) from the faeces of exclusively breast-fed infants.

The aim of the present study was to isolate, identify and characterise novel strains of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria with probiotic properties from the faeces of exclusively breast-fed infants. Of the 4680 isolated colonies, 758 exhibited resistance to low pH and tolerance to high concentrations of bile salts; of these, only forty-two exhibited a strong ability to adhere to enterocytes in vitro. The identities of the isolates were confirmed by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing, which permitted the grouping of the forty-two bacteria into three different strains that showed more than 99 % sequence identity with Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium breve, respectively. The strain identification was confirmed by sequencing the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer regions. Strains were assayed for enzymatic activity and carbohydrate utilisation, and they were deposited in the Collection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganismes (CNCM) of the Institute Pasteur and named L. paracasei CNCM I-4034, B. breve CNCM I-4035 and L. rhamnosus CNCM I-4036. The strains were susceptible to antibiotics and did not produce undesirable metabolites, and their safety was assessed by acute ingestion in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed BALB/c mouse models. The three novel strains inhibited in vitro the meningitis aetiological agent Listeria monocytogenes and human rotavirus infections. B. breve CNCM I-4035 led to a higher IgA concentration in faeces and plasma of mice. Overall, these results suggest that L. paracasei CNCM I-4034, B. breve CNCM I-4035 and L. rhamnosus CNCM I-4036 should be considered as probiotic strains, and their human health benefits should be further evaluated.

Competitive inhibition of three novel bacteria isolated from faeces of breast milk-fed infants against selected enteropathogens.

Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies conducted using different probiotic micro-organisms have demonstrated their ability to interfere with the growth and virulence of a variety of enteropathogens. The reported beneficial effects of the use of probiotics to complement antibiotic therapy or prevent diarrhoea or gastrointestinal infection in infants have increased in recent years. In the present study, we demonstrated the capacity of supernatants obtained from three novel probiotics (Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-4034, Bifidobacterium breve CNCM I-4035 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-4036) isolated from the faeces of breastfed infants to inhibit the growth of enterotoxigenic and enteropathogenic (EPEC) bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Shigella. To assess their potential antimicrobial activity, the 17 and 24 h cell-free supernatants broth concentrates (10×) having 1, 2 or 4 % of the three probiotics were incubated with EPEC bacteria strains. After 17 h of co-culture, the supernatants were able to inhibit the growth of E. coli, Salmonella and Shigella up to 40, 55 and 81 %, respectively. However, the inhibitory capacity of some supernatants was maintained or completely lost when the supernatants (pH 3·0) were neutralised (pH 6·5). Overall, these results demonstrated that L. paracasei CNCM I-4034, B. breve CNCM I-4035 and L. rhamnosus CNCM I-4036 produce compounds that exhibited strain-specific inhibition of enterobacteria and have the potential to be used as probiotics in functional foods.

Novel probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CECT 7210 strain active against rotavirus infections.

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe acute gastroenteritis among children worldwide. It is well known that breast-feeding and vaccination afford infants protection. Since breast-feeding has drastically decreased in developed countries, efforts have been focused on the potential use of probiotics as preventive agents. In this study, a novel Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis strain was isolated from infant feces and selected, based on its capacity to inhibit in vitro rotavirus Wa replication (up to 36.05% infectious foci reduction) and also to protect cells from virus infection (up to 48.50% infectious foci reduction) in both MA-104 and HT-29 cell lines. Furthermore, studies using a BALB/c mouse model have proved that this strain provides preliminary in vivo protection against rotavirus infection. The strain has been deposited in the Spanish Type Culture Collection under the accession number CECT 7210. This novel strain has the main properties required of a probiotic, such as resistance to gastrointestinal juices, biliary salts, NaCl, and low pH, as well as adhesion to intestinal mucus and sensitivity to antibiotics. The food safety status has been confirmed by the absence of undesirable metabolite production and in acute ingestion studies of mice. Overall, these results demonstrate that Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CECT 7210 can be considered a probiotic able to inhibit rotavirus infection.

Effects of Whole-Grain and Sugar Content in Infant Cereals on Gut Microbiota at Weaning: A Randomized Trial.

The introduction of complementary foods during infancy marks an important step in the development of the infant gut microbiome. Infant cereals are popular weaning foods but consistent evidence on their effect on the intestinal microbiota, especially when differing in nutritional quality, is lacking. Fecal samples from 4-7-month-old Spanish infants who consumed infant cereals differing in whole grain and sugar content as first weaning foods were analyzed on changes in microbial composition by massively parallel sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene at baseline and after 7 weeks of intervention. Samples were obtained from a previous trial conducted in Spain demonstrating whole-grain cereal acceptability. In total, samples of 18 infants consuming 0% whole grain cereals with 24 g sugar (0-WG) and 25 infants consuming 50% whole grain cereals with 12 g sugar (50-WG) were analyzed. Microbial composition changed significantly over time (p = 0.001), per intervention group (p = 0.029) and per infant (p = 0.001). Abundance of genus Veillonella increased in both groups while Enterococcus decreased. Within the 0-WG group, phylum Actinobacteria decreased along with genus Bifidobacterium. In the 50-WG, we observed an increase in Lachnoclostridium and Bacteroides. In addition, 50-WG decreased Proteobacteria and Escherichia to levels lower than 0-WG. Although weaning itself appeared to be responsible for most changes, the increased presence of anaerobic fermenters together with inhibition of pathogenic Escherichia may indicate a supporting effect of infant cereals with 50% whole grains and a reduced sugar content over infant cereals manufactured with refined hydrolyzed flours on the infant microbiota. In fact, using a novel methodology for the identification of microbial signatures, we found two groups of microbial taxa predictive of infants consuming enriched whole-grain infant cereals with a high predictive value of about 93%.

Changes in Gut Microbiota Correlates with Response to Treatment with Probiotics in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis. A Post Hoc Analysis of a Clinical Trial.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease with a high impact on the comfort of those who are affected and long-term treated with corticosteroids with limited efficacy and a high prevalence of relapses. Because of the limited effectiveness of these treatments, new strategies for recovery from AD lesions are continually being explored. In this article, we describe the gut microbiome changes achieved in a recently published clinical trial with the probiotic formulation Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145, Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347, and Lacticaseibacillus casei CECT 9104 (formerly Lactobacillus casei CECT 9104), showing a significant improvement in SCORAD (scoring atopic dermatitis) index in children (4-17 years) with AD (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02585986). The present gut microbiome post hoc study showed no significant changes in diversity (Shannon and Simpson indexes) after probiotic consumption. In the probiotic group, genera Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, and Bifidobacterium significantly increased their levels while Faecalibacterium decreased, compared to the placebo group. Faecalibacterium showed the highest presence and significant positive correlation with AD severity (SCORAD index), whereas Abyssivirga, Bifidobacterium, and Lactococcus were inversely correlated. The results suggest that the consumption of the probiotic formulation here assayed modulates the gut microbiome with significant changes in genera Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium. In turn, the improvement in SCORAD correlates with a decrease in Faecalibacterium and an increase in Bifidobacterium, among others.

Antioxidant Effect of a Probiotic Product on a Model of Oxidative Stress Induced by High-Intensity and Duration Physical Exercise.

This randomized double-blind and controlled single-center clinical trial was designed to evaluate the effect of a 6-week intake of a probiotic product (1 capsule/day) vs. a placebo on an oxidative stress model of physical exercise (high intensity and duration) in male cyclists (probiotic group, n = 22; placebo, n = 21). This probiotic included three lyophilized strains (Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347, Lactobacillus casei CECT 9104, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CECT 8361). Study variables were urinary isoprostane, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), serum oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxiguanosine (8-OHdG), serum protein carbonyl, serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD). At 6 weeks, as compared with baseline, significant differences in 8-OHdG (Δ mean difference -10.9 (95% CI -14.5 to -7.3); p < 0.001), MDA (Δ mean difference -207.6 (95% CI -349.1 to -66.1; p < 0.05), and Ox-LDL (Δ mean difference -122.5 (95% CI -240 to -4.5); p < 0.05) were found in the probiotic group only. Serum GPx did not increase in the probiotic group, whereas the mean difference was significant in the placebo group (477.8 (95% CI 112.5 to 843.2); p < 0.05). These findings suggest an antioxidant effect of this probiotic on underlying interacting oxidative stress mechanisms and their modulation in healthy subjects. The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03798821).

Evaluation of Carotenoids Protection Against Oxidative Stress in the Animal Model Caenorhabditis elegans.

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a versatile and powerful model organism for animal experimental research and, despite being an invertebrate, displays remarkably similar molecular bases and conserved cellular pathways to those of humans. Oxidative stress is an etiological factor that influences numerous diseases, degenerative processes and aging. C. elegans has revealed as an opportune and feasible organism to investigate the antioxidant effects of different bioactives or complex food matrices, and a number of protocols have been developed by using different oxidative stressors. Carotenoids are recognized as quenchers and scavengers of reactive oxygen species, and many of their related health benefits attributed in the diet are tightly linked to their antioxidant properties. In this chapter, we report a simple and rapid assay to evaluate the protection capacity of pure carotenoids or complex carotenoid extracts against oxidative stress in the model system C. elegans. The protocol describes a representative feeding experiment by adding carotenoids to the nematode growth medium and after an incubation period, the C. elegans populations fed with carotenoids are exposed to an acute oxidative stress by using H2O2 as oxidative agent. The protection against oxidative stress is evaluated as the survival rate of the nematodes fed with the carotenoid prior to receiving oxidative treatment compared with the survival rate of control nematode population. In order to confirm the carotenoid intake by the nematodes during the feeding experiment a bioassimilation experiment is also reported.

An Infant Milk Formula Supplemented with Heat-Treated Probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145, Reduces Fat Deposition in C. elegans and Augments Acetate and Lactate in a Fermented Infant Slurry.

Pediatric obesity has a growing health and socio-economical impact due to cardiovascular and metabolic complications in adult life. Some recent studies suggest that live or heat-treated probiotics have beneficial effects in preventing fat deposition and obesity in preclinical and clinical sets. Here, we have explored the effects of heat-treated probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 (HT-BPL1), added as a supplement on an infant milk formula (HT-BPL1-IN), on Caenorhabditis elegans fat deposition and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and lactate, using fermented baby fecal slurries. We have found that HT-BPL1-IN significantly reduced fat deposition in C. elegans, at the time it drastically augmented the generation of some SCFAs, particulary acetate and organic acid lactate. Data suggest that heat-treated BPL1 maintains its functional activities when added to an infant powder milk formula.

ß-Cryptoxanthin Reduces Body Fat and Increases Oxidative Stress Response in Caenorhabditis elegans Model.

ß-Cryptoxanthin (BCX) is a major dietary pro-vitamin A carotenoid, found mainly in fruits and vegetables. Several studies showed the beneficial effects of BCX on different aspects of human health. In spite of the evidence, the molecular mechanisms of action of BCX need to be further investigated. The Caenorhabditis elegans model was used to analyze in vivo the activity of BCX on fat reduction and protection to oxidative stress. Dose-response assays provided evidence of the efficacy of BCX at very low dose (0.025 µg/mL) (p < 0.001) on these processes. Moreover, a comparative analysis with other carotenoids, such as lycopene and ß-carotene, showed a stronger effect of BCX. Furthermore, a transcriptomic analysis of wild-type nematodes supplemented with BCX revealed upregulation of the energy metabolism, response to stress, and protein homeostasis as the main metabolic targets of this xanthophyll. Collectively, this study provides new in vivo evidence of the potential therapeutic use of BCX in the prevention of diseases related to metabolic syndrome and aging.

Bioprospecting the Solar Panel Microbiome: High-Throughput Screening for Antioxidant Bacteria in a Caenorhabditis elegans Model.

Microbial communities that are exposed to sunlight typically share a series of adaptations to deal with the radiation they are exposed to, including efficient DNA repair systems, pigment production and protection against oxidative stress, which makes these environments good candidates for the search of novel antioxidant microorganisms. In this research project, we isolated potential antioxidant pigmented bacteria from a dry and highly-irradiated extreme environment: solar panels. High-throughput in vivo assays using Caenorhabditis elegans as an experimental model demonstrated the high antioxidant and ultraviolet-protection properties of these bacterial isolates that proved to be rich in carotenoids. Our results suggest that solar panels harbor a microbial community that includes strains with potential applications as antioxidants.

Selection of New Probiotics for Endometrial Health.

Microbiota is a crucial player in gynecologic health, in which bacteria can shift to a dysbiotic state triggering a pathogenic process. Based on an ecological understanding of the problem, the aim of this study is to select a potential probiotic strain to improve female reproductive tract based on its capacity to initially lower pH and to promote the reduction of pathogenic bacteria. Based on this rationale, strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus BPL005 was initially selected for its capacity to reduce in vitro pH levels and produce organic acids. Subsequently, strain L. rhamnosus BPL005 (CECT 8800) was demonstrated to have a protective role on endometrial infections in an in vitro model of bacterial colonization of primary endometrial epithelial cells with Atopobium vaginae, Gardnerella vaginalis, Propionibacterium acnes, and Streptococcus agalactiae. In this model, BPL005 when co-cultured with those pathogens was shown to lower pH and to produce organic acids, being lactic acid the most relevant. The co-cultivation of strain L. rhamnosus BPL005 with tested reference pathogens produced a significant reduction in P. acnes and St. agalactiae levels and a non-significant reduction in A. vaginae and G. vaginalis. The colonization of L. rhamnosus BPL005 in the culture decreased IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1, heightened in the presence of pathogens, and increased IL-1RA and IL-1 beta. Finally, safety was evaluated showing no signs of cytotoxicity, irritation in vaginal tests, or allergic contact dermatitis potential through the Local Lymph Node Assay. Overall, these results show the potential of L. rhamnosus BPL005 strain as a probiotic in gynecological health.

Rational selection of non-Saccharomyces wine yeasts for mixed starters based on ester formation and enological traits.

Thirty-eight yeast strains belonging to the genera Candida, Hanseniaspora, Pichia, Torulaspora and Zygosaccharomyces were screened for ester formation on synthetic microbiological medium. The genera Hanseniaspora and Pichia stood out as the best acetate ester producers. Based on the ester profile Hanseniaspora guilliermondii 11027 and 11102, Hanseniaspora osmophila 1471 and Pichia membranifaciens 10113 and 10550 were selected for further characterization of enological traits. When growing on must H. osmophila 1471, which displayed a glucophilic nature and was able to consume more than 90% of initial must sugars, produced levels of acetic acid, medium chain fatty acids and ethyl acetate, within the ranges described for wine. On the other hand, it was found to be a strong producer of 2-phenylethyl acetate. Our data suggest that H. osmophila 1471 is a good candidate for mixed starters, although the possible interactions with S. cerevisiae deserve further research.

Use of Medaka Fish as Vertebrate Model to Study the Effect of Cocoa Polyphenols in the Resistance to Oxidative Stress and Life Span Extension.

Oxidative stress (OS) can induce cell apoptosis and thus plays an important role in aging. Antioxidant foods protect tissues from OS and contribute to a healthier lifestyle. In this study, we described the used of medaka embryos (Oryzias latipes) to study the putative antioxidant capacity of dietary cocoa extract in vertebrates. A polyphenol-enriched cocoa extract regulated the expression of several genes implicated in OS, thereby protecting fish embryos from induced OS. The cocoa extract activated superoxide dismutase enzyme activity in embryos and adult fish tissues, suggesting a common mechanism for protection during embryonic development and adulthood. Furthermore, long-term feeding of the cocoa extract increased fish life span. Our study demonstrates that the polyphenol-enriched cocoa extract decreases OS and extends life span in medaka fish, validating the use of medaka embryos as an economical platform to screen the antioxidant capacity of food compounds.

Gut microbial composition in patients with psoriasis.

Since the last 5-10 years the relevance of the gut microbiome on different intestinal illnesses has been revealed. Recent findings indicate the effect of gut microbiome on certain dermatological diseases such as atopic dermatitis. However, data on other skin diseases such as psoriasis are limited. This is the first time attempting to reveal the gut microbiome composition of psoriatic patients with a prospective study including a group of patients with plaque psoriasis, analyzing their gut microbiome and the relationship between the microbiome composition and bacterial translocation. The microbiome of a cohort of 52 psoriatic patients (PASI score ≥6) was obtained by 16s rRNA massive sequencing with MiSeq platform (Illumina inc, San Diego) with an average of 85,000 sequences per sample. The study of the gut microbiome and enterotype shows from the first time a specific "psoriatic core intestinal microbiome" that clearly differs from the one present in healthy population. In addition, those psoriatic patients classified as belonging to enterotype 2 tended to experience more frequent bacterial translocation and higher inflammatory status (71%) than patients with other enterotypes (16% for enterotype 1; and 21% for enterotype 3).