Physicochemical properties, degradation kinetics, and antioxidant capacity of aqueous anthocyanin-based extracts from purple carrots compared to synthetic and natural food colorants.

As a means to evaluate the potential of carrot anthocyanins as food colorants and nutraceutical agents, we investigated the physicochemical stability and antioxidant capacity of purple carrot extracts under different pH (2.5-7.0) and temperature (4-40 °C) conditions, in comparison to a commercial synthetic (E131) and a natural grape-based (GRP) colorant. During incubation, the colorants were weekly-monitored for various color parameters, concentration of anthocyanins and phenolics, and antioxidant capacity. Carrot colorants were more stable than GRP; and their thermal stability was equal (at 4 °C) or higher than that of E131 (at 25-40 °C). Carrot anthocyanins had lower degradation rate at low pH and temperature, with acylated anthocyanins (AA) being significantly more stable than non-acylated anthocyanins (NAA). Anthocyanins acylated with feruloyl and coumaroyl glycosides were the most stable carrot pigments. The higher stability of carrot colorants is likely due to their richness in AA and -to a lesser extent- copigmentation with other phenolics.

Frecuencia y susceptibilidad antifúngica de Candida spp. (no C. albicans ) aislada de pacientes de unidades de cuidados críticos de un hospital de tercer nivel del norte del Perú / Frequency and antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp. (other than C. albicans ) isolated from patients admitted to critical care units of a third-level hospital in northern Peru

RESUMEN Objetivo Determinar la frecuencia y susceptibilidad antifúngica de Candida spp. (no C. albicans) aisladas de muestras de pacientes en cuidados críticos de un hospital de tercer nivel del norte del Perú. Materiales y métodos Se realizó un estudio transversal entre febrero del 2018 y mayo del 2019 en 232 muestras de pacientes hospitalizados en unidades de cuidados críticos del Hospital Regional Lambayeque (HRL). Candida ssp. (no C. albicans) fue identificada mediante las pruebas fenotípicas. La susceptibilidad antifúngica al fluconazol y voriconazol se determinó según la interpretación de los puntos de corte del documento M44-A2 del CLSI (por sus siglas en inglés, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute). Resultados Se estudiaron 232 muestras. La frecuencia de Candida spp. (no C. albicans) fue de 19,82 % (46) y C. albicans de 11,20 % (26). Las especies de Candida spp. (no C. albicans) fueron las siguientes: Treintaiuna de C. tropicalis (67,39 %), ocho de C. glabrata (17,39 %), cinco de C. parapsilosis (10,86 %) y dos de C. krusei (4,34 %). Los pacientes en quienes se aisló Candida spp. (no C. albicans) se caracterizaron por ser, en su mayoría, mujeres (56,52 %), que previamente habían usado antimicrobianos (67,39 %), y de 60 años a más (36,95 %). La muestra en la que se aisló en microorganismo con mayor frecuencia fue la orina (45,65 %). Respecto a la susceptibilidad antifúngica de las especies de Candida spp. (no C. albicans), encontramos resistencia a fluconazol (19,56 %) y a voriconazol (21,73 %). Conclusiones La alta frecuencia y predominio de especies de Candida spp. (no C. albicans) en pacientes de unidades de cuidados críticos de un hospital de tercer nivel en Chiclayo, y la resistencia que muestran a la acción de fluconazol y voriconazol son características de gran importancia en la morbilidad y mortalidad en estos pacientes.

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the frequency and antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp. (other than C. albicans) isolated from samples of patients admitted to critical care units of a third-level hospital in northern Peru. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2018 and May 2019 in 232 samples of patients admitted to critical care units of the Hospital Regional Lambayeque (HRL). Candida spp. (other than C. albicans) were identified using phenotypic tests. The antifungal susceptibility to fluconazole and voriconazole was determined according to the epidemiological cut-off values of CLSI document M44-A2. Results Two hundred thirty-two (232) samples were analyzed. The frequency of Candida spp. (other than C. albicans) was 19.82 % (46/232) and C. albicans was 11.20 % (26/232). Candida spp. (other than C. albicans) were the following: C. tropicalis (67.39 %, 31/46), C. glabrata (17.39 %, 8/46), C. parapsilosis (10.86 %, 5/46) and C. krusei (4.34 %, 2/46). Patients from whom Candida spp. (other than C. albicans) were isolated were mostly females (56.52 %), had a history of antimicrobial drugs consumption (67.39 %) and were 60 years of age and older (36.95 %). Most microorganisms were isolated from urine samples (45.65 %). Regarding the antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp. (other than C. albicans), 19.56 % and 21.73 % were resistant to fluconazole and voriconazole, respectively. Conclusions The high incidence and prevalence of Candida spp. (other than C. albicans) in patients admitted to critical care units of a third-level hospital in Chiclayo, together with resistance to fluconazole and voriconazole, are significant in the morbidity and mortality of these patients.

Microsatellite analysis and marker development in garlic: distribution in EST sequence, genetic diversity analysis, and marker transferability across Alliaceae.

Allium vegetables, such as garlic and onion, have understudied genomes and limited molecular resources, hindering advances in genetic research and breeding of these species. In this study, we characterized and compared the simple sequence repeats (SSR) landscape in the transcriptomes of garlic and related Allium (A. cepa, A. fistulosum, and A. tuberosum) and non-Allium monocot species. In addition, 110 SSR markers were developed from garlic ESTs, and they were characterized-along with 112 previously developed SSRs-at various levels, including transferability across Alliaceae species, and their usefulness for genetic diversity analysis. Among the Allium species analyzed, garlic ESTs had the highest overall SSR density, the lowest frequency of trinucleotides, and the highest of di- and tetranucleotides. When compared to more distantly related monocots, outside the Asparagales order, it was evident that ESTs of Allium species shared major commonalities with regards to SSR density, frequency distribution, sequence motifs, and GC content. A significant fraction of the SSR markers were successfully transferred across Allium species, including crops for which no SSR markers have been developed yet, such as leek, shallot, chives, and elephant garlic. Diversity analysis of garlic cultivars with selected SSRs revealed 36 alleles, with 2-5 alleles/locus, and PIC = 0.38. Cluster analysis grouped the accessions according to their flowering behavior, botanical variety, and ecophysiological characteristics. Results from this study contribute to the characterization of Allium transcriptomes. The new SSR markers developed, along with the data from the polymorphism and transferability analyses, will aid in assisting genetic research and breeding in garlic and other Allium.