Aflatoxins biodetoxification strategies based on probiotic bacteria.

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi that are the most dangerous mycotoxin and food safety challenges. Human exposure to mycotoxins occurs directly throughout the intake of contaminated agricultural products or indirectly throughout the consumption of products prepared with animal origin or obtained from animals that were fed with contaminated material. For detoxification and reducing threats to public health and the economic damage caused by the aflatoxins in animal and plants food products, different techniques (physical, chemical and biological) has been studied. All of these methods, by modifying and destroying the toxin molecular structure, would inhibit its transfer to the digestive system and could reduce the accessibility of toxins to the target tissue and eliminate it. In terms of the overarching challenges presented by the aflatoxins (AFs) contamination in foods and feeds, there is an urgent need to evolve cost-effective and appropriate strategies to combat this hazard. The review addresses have been noted the pathogenicity of AFs and the plausible mechanism of their-induced toxicity. Furthermore, assessed the AFs degradation using probiotic bacteria of their biological substance, and converting it into non-toxic or less toxic products, as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategy of detoxification method for providing appropriate solutions.

Bifidobacterium animalis in combination with human origin of Lactobacillus plantarum ameliorate neuroinflammation in experimental model of multiple sclerosis by altering CD4+ T cell subset balance.

BACKGROUND: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Recent reports have shown that probiotics can induce immunomodulatory activity with promising effects in inflammatory diseases. This study was designed to reveal the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum A7, which comprises human commensal bacteria, and Bifidobacterium animalis, a potential probiotic strain, on alleviation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. METHODS: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of probiotic strains, female C57BL/6 mice (8-10 wks old) received Lactobacillus plantarum A7, Bifidobacterium animalis PTCC 1631or a mixture of both strains through oral administration daily for 22days beginning simultaneous with induction of EAE. The clinical parameters were recorded daily. On Day 22, each mouse was bled, and their spinal cord was removed for histology analysis. The effects of the treatments on regulatory T (Treg) cells level were evaluated using flow cytometry, and T-cell proliferation was assessed using a BrdU incorporation assay. The supernatants of spleen and lymph nodes cultured and mononuclear cells were collected for quantification of different panel of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines by ELISA. The analysis of gene expression was performed at RNA level for transcription factors by real-time PCR. RESULTS: The results showed that treatment with a mixture of the two strains caused a more significant delay in the time of disease onset and clinical score compared to when the strains were used alone. The pathological features of the disease, such as mononuclear infiltration into the CNS, were also inhibited more significantly by the combinational approach. The results also revealed that treatment with combination of both strains enhanced the population of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+-expressing T-cells in the lymph nodes and the spleen. TREATMENT: with our probiotic strains markedly inhibited disease associated cytokines while increased anti-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, L. plantarumA7 and B. animalis ameliorated EAE condition by favoring Th2 and Treg differentiation via up-regulation of Foxp3 and GATA3 in the brain and spleen as well as inhibited the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The current research provided evidence that probiotic therapy with L. plantarum and B. animalis can effectively attenuate EAE progression as well as reinforce the polarization of regulatory T-cells.

Influence of processing on the allergenic properties of pistachio nut assessed in vitro.

Pistachio (Pistacia vera) is a tree nut that has been reported to cause IgE-mediated allergic reactions. This study was undertaken to investigate the distinctions between different cultivars of pistachio nut and the influence of different processing on the IgE-binding capacity of whole pistachio protein extracts. The influence of different processes on allergenicity was investigated using competitive inhibition ELISA and Western blotting assays. The Western blotting results of extracts from pistachio cultivars showed no marked difference among them. The IgE-binding capacity was significantly lower for the protein extract prepared from steam-roasted than from raw and dry-roasted pistachio nuts. The results of sensory evaluation analysis and hedonic rating proved no significant differences in color, taste, flavor, and overall quality of raw, roasted, and steam-roasted pistachio nut treatments. The most significant finding of the present study was the successful reduction of IgE-binding by pistachio extracts using steam-roast processing without any significant changes in sensory quality of product.