Clean labelling sodium nitrite at pilot scale: In-situ reduction of nitrate from plant sources and its effects on the overall quality and safety of restructured cooked ham.

Growing health and environmental concerns have increased demand for all-natural products, with a focus on clean labelling. Sodium nitrite is the most widely used additive in the meat industry because it imparts the typical cured flavour and colour to meat products and, most importantly, their microbiological safety. However, due to health concerns, the European Commission is proposing revised regulations to reduce nitrate and nitrite levels in meat products. As a result, the meat industry is actively seeking alternatives. This study explored the production of four cooked hams utilising nitrate-rich vegetable sources combined with two different nitrate-reducing commercial food cultures, alongside a control ham prepared with sodium nitrite (150 ppm). Microbiological, physico-chemical (pH, water activity, nitrate and nitrite concentration, lipid profile, lipid oxidation) and sensory (texture and colour profile) characterisation of the products was carried out. Challenge tests for Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium sporogenes and Clostridium perfringens have been performed to assess the growth of pathogens, if present in the products. Results revealed comparable microbiological and physico-chemical profiles across ham formulations, with minor differences observed in colour parameters for sample C. The sensory analysis showed that for the pilot ham formulations A and D, there were no significant differences in consumer perception compared to the control ham. In the challenge tests, L. monocytogenes levels were similar in both control and tested hams. There were no significant differences in C. sporogenes and C. perfringens counts at any temperature or between test and control samples. These results indicate that this technology has a potential future in the cured meat sector, as regulators mandate the reduction of added synthetic chemicals and consumers seek healthier and more natural ingredients in their daily diets.

The relationship between social capital and inflammatory biomarkers in early adulthood: A longitudinal study.

Higher levels of social capital (SC) are associated with better health status. However, there is little evidence of the impact of SC on biological health outcomes in the early ages. To identify the association between SC in adolescence and inflammation levels in early adulthood. Prospective study using data from 2435 participants from the Epidemiological Health Investigation of Teenagers in Porto cohort. SC was assessed at age 17 through a self-administered questionnaire, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and leucocytes were measured in a fasting blood sample at 17 and 21 years-old. A principal components analysis was performed to identify the domains of SC. Simple linear regressions were performed to assess the association between SC components and inflammatory status at 17 and 21 years old. Pathway analysis was performed to assess the direct, indirect, and total effects of SC on hs-CRP and leucocyte levels. We did not find a significant total effect between SC at 17 years-old and hs-CRP at 21 years-old. However, the Trust/Reciprocity dimension showed a significant direct effect between SC and hs-CRP levels at 21 (ß = -0.065, 95% CI: -0.129; -0.001), as well as a significant total effect (ß = -0.075, 95% CI: -0.139; -0.011). Regarding leucocyte levels, total SC at 17 years-old was associated with leucocytes levels at 21 (ß = -0.115, 95% CI: -0.205; -0.024). Significant direct (ß = -0.104, 95% CI: -0.194; -0.014) and total effect (ß = -0.107, 95% CI: -0.199; -0.015) of Trust/Reciprocity on leucocyte levels were observed. Adolescents with higher SC have a low inflammatory level in early adulthood, especially those with greater levels of trust/reciprocity.

Antitumoral activity of different Amaryllidaceae alkaloids: In vitro and in silico assays.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: The plants of Amaryllidaceae family, such as Amaryllis belladonna L., have been used as herbal remedies for thousands of years to address various disorders, including diseases that might today be identified as cancer. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of three Amaryllidaceae alkaloids against four cancer cell lines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The alkaloids lycorine, 1-O-acetylcaranine, and montanine were evaluated in vitro against colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HCT-116) and breast carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7, MDAMB231, and Hs578T). Computational experiments (target prediction and molecular docking) were conducted to gain a deeper comprehension of possible interactions between these alkaloids and potential targets associated with these tumor cells. RESULTS: Montanine presented the best results against HCT-116, MDAMB231, and Hs578T cell lines, while lycorine was the most active against MCF-7. In alignment with the target prediction outcomes and existing literature, four potential targets were chosen for the molecular docking analysis: CDK8, EGFR, ER-alpha, and dCK. The docking scores revealed two potential targets for the alkaloids with scores similar to co-crystallized inhibitors and substrates: CDK8 and dCK. A visual analysis of the optimal docked configurations indicates that the alkaloids may interact with some key residues in contrast to the other docked compounds. This observation implies their potential to bind effectively to both targets. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro and in silico results corroborate with data literature suggesting the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids as interesting molecules with antitumoral properties, especially montanine, which showed the best in vitro results against colorectal and breast carcinoma. More studies are necessary to confirm the targets and pharmaceutical potential of montanine against these cancer cell lines.

Optimizing Antimicrobial Efficacy: Investigating the Impact of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Shape and Size.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been investigated due to their distinct properties, variety of structures and sizes, and mainly for their antimicrobial activity. They have received a positive safety evaluation from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for packaging applications as transparent ultraviolet (UV) light absorbers based on the absence of significant migration of zinc oxide in particulate form. ZnO NPs with different morphologies (spherical, flower, and sheet) have been synthesized via different sol-gel methods and extensively characterized by several solid-state techniques, namely vibrational spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The ZnO NPs were assessed for their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (gram-negative bacteria) and Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive bacteria) to study the influence of morphology and size on efficacy. ZnO NPs with different morphologies and sizes demonstrated antimicrobial activity against both bacteria. The highest microbial cell reduction rate (7-8 log CFU mL-1 for E. coli and 6-7 log CFU mL-1 for S. aureus) was obtained for the sheet- and spherical-shaped NPs as a result of the high specific surface area. In fact, the higher surface areas of the sheet- and spherical-shaped nanoparticles (18.5 and 13.4 m2 g-1, respectively), compared to the flower-shaped NPs (5.3 m2g-1), seem to promote more efficient bacterial cell reduction. The spherical-shaped particles were also smaller (31 nm) compared with the flower-shaped (233 × 249 nm) ones. The flower ZnO NP resulted in a 4-5 log CFU mL-1 reduction for E. coli and 3-4 log CFU mL-1 reduction for S. aureus. The lower apparent antibacterial activity of the flower-shaped could be associated with either the lack of defects on the particle core or the shape shielding effect. Compared to S. aureus, E. coli seems to be less resistant to ZnO NPs, which may be explained by the characteristics of its cell membrane. With simple synthesis techniques, which do not allow the size and shape of the nanoparticles to be controlled simultaneously, it is a challenge to elucidate the effect of each of these two parameters on antibacterial performance.

c-di-AMP determines the hierarchical organization of bacterial RCK proteins.

In bacteria, intracellular K+ is involved in the regulation of membrane potential, cytosolic pH, and cell turgor as well as in spore germination, environmental adaptation, cell-to-cell communication in biofilms, antibiotic sensitivity, and infectivity. The second messenger cyclic-di-AMP (c-di-AMP) has a central role in modulating the intracellular K+ concentration in many bacterial species, controlling transcription and function of K+ channels and transporters. However, our understanding of how this regulatory network responds to c-di-AMP remains poor. We used the RCK (Regulator of Conductance of K+) proteins that control the activity of Ktr channels in Bacillus subtilis as a model system to analyze the regulatory function of c-di-AMP with a combination of in vivo and in vitro functional and structural characterization. We determined that the two RCK proteins (KtrA and KtrC) are neither physiologically redundant or functionally equivalent. KtrC is the physiologically dominant RCK protein in the regulation of Ktr channel activity. In explaining this hierarchical organization, we found that, unlike KtrA, KtrC is very sensitive to c-di-AMP inactivation and lack of c-di-AMP regulation results in RCK protein toxicity, most likely due to unregulated K+ flux. We also found that KtrC can assemble with KtrA, conferring c-di-AMP regulation to the functional KtrA/KtrC heteromers and potentially compensating KtrA toxicity. Altogether, we propose that the central role of c-di-AMP in the control of the K+ machinery, by modulating protein levels through gene transcription and by regulating protein activity, has determined the evolutionary selection of KtrC as the dominant RCK protein, shaping the hierarchical organization of regulatory components of the K+ machinery.

Antiprotozoal potential of Vismia species (Hypericaceae), medicinal plants used to fight cutaneous leishmaniasis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Species of Vismia (Hypericaceae), known in Brazil as "lacre", are commonly used in traditional Amazonian medicine for the treatment of skin lesions, including those caused by Leishmania infection. AIM OF THE STUDY: Hexane extracts from the leaves of Vismia cayennensis, V. gracilis, V. sandwithii and V. guianensis, as well as from the fruits of the latter, in addition to the anthraquinones vismiaquinone, physcion and chrysophanol isolated from these species were explored for their anti-promastigote and anti-amastigote activity on Leishmania amazonensis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracts were prepared by static maceration with n-hexane. The compounds, isolated by chromatographic techniques, were identified by spectroscopic methods (1H and 13C NMR). Promastigotes of L.amazonensis were incubated with hexane extracts (1-50 µg/mL) or anthraquinones (1-50 µM) and the parasite survival analyzed. The action of compounds on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and membrane integrity of promastigotes were evaluated by flow cytometer, and the cytotoxicity on mammalian cells using MTT assay. Furthermore, the activity of compounds against amastigotes and nitric oxide production were also investigated. RESULTS: Vismiaquinone and physcion were obtained from the leaves of V. guianensis. Physcion, as well as chrysophanol, were isolated from V. sandwithii. Vismia cayennensis and V. gracilis also showed vismiaquinone, compound detected in lower quantity in the fruits of V. guianensis. All extracts were active against the parasite, corroborating the popular use. The greatest activity against promastigotes was achieved with V. guianensis extract (IC50 4.3 µg/mL), precisely the most used Vismia species for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis. Vismiaquinone and physcion exhibited relevant activity with IC50 12.6 and 2.6 µM, respectively. Moreover, all extracts and anthraquinones tested induced ROS production, mitochondrial dysfunction, membrane disruption and were able to kill intracellular amastigote forms, being worthy of further in vivo studies as potential antileishmanial drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The overall data achieved in the current investigation scientifically validate the traditional use of Vismia species, mainly V. guianensis, as an anti-Leishmania agent. Furthermore, the promising results presented here indicate species of Vismia as potentially useful resources of Brazilian flora for the discovery of therapeutic solutions for neglected diseases.

Excess of body weight is associated with accelerated T-cell senescence in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: Several risk factors have been involved in the poor clinical progression of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), including ageing, and obesity. SARS-CoV-2 may compromise lung function through cell damage and paracrine inflammation; and obesity has been associated with premature immunosenescence, microbial translocation, and dysfunctional innate immune responses leading to poor immune response against a range of viruses and bacterial infections. Here, we have comprehensively characterized the immunosenescence, microbial translocation, and immune dysregulation established in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with different degrees of body weight. RESULTS: Hospitalised COVID-19 patients with overweight and obesity had similarly higher plasma LPS and sCD14 levels than controls (all p < 0.01). Patients with obesity had higher leptin levels than controls. Obesity and overweight patients had similarly higher expansions of classical monocytes and immature natural killer (NK) cells (CD56+CD16-) than controls. In contrast, reduced proportions of intermediate monocytes, mature NK cells (CD56+CD16+), and NKT were found in both groups of patients than controls. As expected, COVID-19 patients had a robust expansion of plasmablasts, contrasting to lower proportions of major T-cell subsets (CD4 + and CD8+) than controls. Concerning T-cell activation, overweight and obese patients had lower proportions of CD4+CD38+ cells than controls. Contrasting changes were reported in CD25+CD127low/neg regulatory T cells, with increased and decreased proportions found in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, respectively. There were similar proportions of T cells expressing checkpoint inhibitors across all groups. We also investigated distinct stages of T-cell differentiation (early, intermediate, and late-differentiated - TEMRA). The intermediate-differentiated CD4 + T cells and TEMRA cells (CD4+ and CD8+) were expanded in patients compared to controls. Senescent T cells can also express NK receptors (NKG2A/D), and patients had a robust expansion of CD8+CD57+NKG2A+ cells than controls. Unbiased immune profiling further confirmed the expansions of senescent T cells in COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that dysregulated immune cells, microbial translocation, and T-cell senescence may partially explain the increased vulnerability to COVID-19 in subjects with excess of body weight.

Long-term lifestyle intervention can reduce the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in subjects with prediabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) on the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in prediabetes (PD). METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central, Embase, MEDLINE, and Web of Science (until February 2024) to include RCTs of adults with PD, comparing ILI vs. general advice on the incidence of T2D. Two authors extracted the data, applied the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) 2.0 tool and the GRADE framework. Meta-analysis was performed using random effects models, estimating relative risk (RR) and the 95%CI. RESULTS: Fifteen studies (n = 8,563, 46.7 % female, 53.3 ± 8.7 years, BMI 26.7 ± 5.4 Kg/m2) were included. ILI reduced T2D risk by 22 % when compared with general advice (RR 0.78; 95 %CI 0.72-0.85; I2 = 40 %; low certainty of evidence). Most studies had high risk of bias or raised some concerns. Sensitivity analysis showed that studies with mostly female populations and those using the WHO 1985 criteria for T2D had lower risk of the disease and that the longer the follow-up, the lower the protection. CONCLUSION: ILI can prevent T2D in subjects with PD. Healthcare teams should aim for structured ILI to maintain long-term lifestyle improvements.

microbeMASST: a taxonomically informed mass spectrometry search tool for microbial metabolomics data.

microbeMASST, a taxonomically informed mass spectrometry (MS) search tool, tackles limited microbial metabolite annotation in untargeted metabolomics experiments. Leveraging a curated database of >60,000 microbial monocultures, users can search known and unknown MS/MS spectra and link them to their respective microbial producers via MS/MS fragmentation patterns. Identification of microbe-derived metabolites and relative producers without a priori knowledge will vastly enhance the understanding of microorganisms' role in ecology and human health.

Lactic Acid Bacteria isolated from traditional and innovative alheiras as potential biocontrol agents.

From a selection of seven traditional and 14 innovative alheiras, 491 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated and tested for their antimicrobial activity against several food-borne pathogens. Among these, six strains revealed antimicrobial activity through potential bacteriocin production against 14 Listeria monocytogenes strains, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Clostridium sporogenes ESB050, and Clostridium perfringens ESB054. Through whole genome sequencing (WGS), these strains were identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (2), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (1), and Pediococcus acidilactici (3). Furthermore, several orthologues of class II bacteriocins genes were identified, including Plantaricin E, Plantaricin F, Pediocin PA, Enterocin X, Leucocin A, and Coagulin A. No virulence or antibiotic resistance genes' orthologues were detected by WGS analysis. However, the selected LAB strains showed variable phenotypic patterns related to virulence genes and antibiotic resistance when assessed through classical methodologies. None of these strains demonstrated the production of biogenic amines, gelatinase or DNase. Additionally, no hemolytic activity or lipase enzyme production was observed. However, only Lpb. plantarum 9A3 was sensitive to all tested antibiotics and was thus chosen for further examination. The bacteriocins produced by Lpb. plantarum (9A3) exhibited stability across a broad range of conditions, including temperatures from 4 to 100 °C, pH values ranging from 2 to 8, exposure to surfactants and detergents (Tween 20 and 80, SDS, EDTA 0.1, 2 and 5 mM, urea and sodium deoxycholate), and enzymes (papain and catalase). Their maximum activity (AU/mL = 12,800) against four L. monocytogenes strains was observed between 21 and 36 h of growth of Lbp. plantarum 9A3, indicating a bacteriostatic mode of action. Therefore, this strain appears to be a robust candidate for potential application as a protective strain to be used in the food industry. Not only is it safe, but it also produces stable bacteriocins (harbouring genes encoding for the production of three) effectively inhibiting significant pathogens such as L. monocytogenes and C. perfringens.

Assessing Antimicrobial Efficacy on Plastics and Other Non-Porous Surfaces: A Closer Look at Studies Using the ISO 22196:2011 Standard.

The survival and spread of foodborne and nosocomial-associated bacteria through high-touch surfaces or contamination-prone sites, in either healthcare, domestic or food industry settings, are not always prevented by the employment of sanitary hygiene protocols. Antimicrobial surface coatings have emerged as a solution to eradicate pathogenic bacteria and prevent future infections and even outbreaks. Standardised antimicrobial testing methods play a crucial role in validating the effectiveness of these materials and enabling their application in real-life settings, providing reliable results that allow for comparison between antimicrobial surfaces while assuring end-use product safety. This review provides an insight into the studies using ISO 22196, which is considered the gold standard for antimicrobial surface coatings and examines the current state of the art in antimicrobial testing methods. It primarily focuses on identifying pitfalls and how even small variations in methods can lead to different results, affecting the assessment of the antimicrobial activity of a particular product.

Microbial, Physicochemical Profile and Sensory Perception of Dry-Aged Beef Quality: A Preliminary Portuguese Contribution to the Validation of the Dry Aging Process.

Beef dry-aging consists of a selection of unpackaged prime cuts placed in a controlled environment cold room for several weeks. The goals are to concentrate flavors like nutty and beefy and to improve tenderness. The aim of this study was to verify the microbiological and physicochemical behavior and sensory perception of meat during a sample process example of meat dry-aging. Twelve beef loins were selected for 90 days of dry aging and placed in a cold room with average temperature, relative humidity and forced air 3.2 ± 0.7 °C, 60.7 ± 4.2% and 0.5-2 m/s, respectively. Samples of crust and lean meat were collected on days 1, 14, 21, 35, 60 and 90 of the dry aging process for microbiological, physicochemical (pH, aw, color L*a*b*) and sensory analysis. During drying, no pathogenic bacteria were detected, and the average counts were higher for the crust. The average values for water activity (aw) and pH were 0.98 ± 0.02 and 5.77 ± 0.015, respectively. A slight decrease in aw and an increase in pH were observed over the aging period (p < 0.05). The lower microbial counts on the lean meat and the overall assessment of freshness confirm the importance of good manufacturing and storage practices during dry aging.

Understanding the Role of Mono and Ternary Alkali Metal Salts on CO2 Uptake of MgO Sorbents.

CO2 uptake by MgO-based sorbents at intermediate temperatures is attractive for pre- and post-combustion CO2 capture applications. However, besides the high CO2 uptake potential of these materials (1.1 g CO2 g-1 sorbent), in practice, the realistic CO2 capture is far from that of the theorical values. In this work, the sol-gel method was used to synthetize unsupported and supported MgO sorbents (10% Ca- or 10% Ce- support, mol) that were impregnated with different fractions (15, 25, and 35; % mol) of a NaNO3 single salt or a ternary alkali salt (NaNO3, LiNO3 and KNO3 (18/30/52; % mol)). To understand the role of alkali metal salts (AMSs) in the MgO sorbents' performance, the working and decomposition temperature ranges of AMS under different atmospheres (CO2 and air) were evaluated. The findings show that the CO2 uptake temperature range and maximum uptake (20-500 °C, CO2 atmosphere) of sorbents are correlated. The cyclic CO2 uptake of the most promising sorbents was tested along five carbonation-calcination cycles. For the first and fifth cycles, respectively, the 15 (Na, K, Li)-MgO sorbents showed the highest carrying capacity, i.e., 460-330 mg CO2 g-1 sorbent, while for the 15 (Na, K, Li)-MgO-Ca sorbents, it was 375-275 mg CO2 g-1. However, after the first cycle, the carbonation occurred faster for the 15 (Na, K, Li)-MgO-Ca sorbents, meaning that it can be a path to overpassing carbonation kinetics limitations of the MgO sorbent, making it viable for industrial applications.

Characterization of the Toxigenic Potential of Bacillus cereus sensu lato Isolated from Raw Berries and Their Products.

Bacillus cereus is estimated to be responsible for 1.4-12% of all food poisoning outbreaks worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate the toxigenic potential of 181 isolates of B. cereus previously recovered from different types of berries and berry products (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries) by assessing the presence of enterotoxin genes (hblA, hblC, hblD, nheA, nheB, nheC, and cytK) and an emetic toxin cereulide synthetase gene (ces). The cytotoxic activity on Caco-2 cells was also evaluated for the two isolates containing the gene cytK. Twenty-three toxigenic profiles were found. The nheABC (91.7%) and hblACD (89.0%) complexes were the most prevalent among the isolates, while the cytK and ces genes were detected in low percentages, 1.1% and 3.3%, respectively. In addition, the nheABC/hblACD complex and ces genes were detected in isolates recovered throughout the production process of blackberries and strawberries. The cytotoxic activity on Caco-2 cells was also observed to be greater than 60% for isolates containing the cytK gene.

Is binge eating associated with poor weight loss outcomes in people with a high body weight? A systematic review with meta-analyses.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to compare the weight change in people with or without binge eating who underwent various weight loss treatments. METHODS: We searched for studies in PubMed, American Psychological Association, and Embase from inception to January 2022. The studies selected included assessment of binge eating and body weight before and after weight loss treatment in people of any age. The meta-analyses were conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA). We used Egger's regression test, the funnel plot, and the Trim and Fill test to assess the risk of publication bias. RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were included in the systematic review, with a total of 10.184 participants. The included studies were divided into three categories according to types of weight loss treatments, namely, (1) bariatric surgery; (2) pharmacotherapy isolated or combined with behavioral interventions; and (3) behavioral and/or nutritional interventions. The meta-analyses showed no significant difference in weight loss between people with or without binge eating engaged in weight loss treatments, with an overall effect size of - 0.117 (95% CI - 0.405 to 0.171; P = 0.426). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed no difference in weight loss in people with or without pre-treatment binge eating who received various weight loss treatments. Weight loss treatments should not be withheld on the basis that they will not be effective in people with pre-treatment binge eating, albeit their safety and longer term impacts are unclear. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, at least one properly designed randomized controlled trials; systematic reviews and meta-analyses; experimental studies.

Exploiting Potential Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Chlorella vulgaris Photobioreactors as Promising Vitamin B12 Producers.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been documented as potential vitamin B12 producers and may constitute an exogenous source of cobalamin for the microalga Chlorella vulgaris, which has been described as being able to perform vitamin uptake. Hence, there is an interest in discovering novel B12-producing probiotic LAB. Therefore, the purpose of the current work was to perform a phenotype-genotype analysis of the vitamin B12 biosynthesis capacity of LAB isolated from C. vulgaris bioreactors, and investigate their probiotic potential. Among the selected strains, Lactococcus lactis E32, Levilactobacillus brevis G31, and Pediococcus pentosaceus L51 demonstrated vitamin B12 biosynthesis capacity, with the latter producing the highest (28.19 ± 2.27 pg mL-1). The genomic analysis confirmed the presence of pivotal genes involved in different steps of the biosynthetic pathway (hemL, cbiT, cobC, and cobD). Notably, P. pentosaceus L51 was the only strain harboring cobA, pduU, and pduV genes, which may provide evidence for the presence of the cobalamin operon. All strains demonstrated the capability to withstand harsh gastrointestinal conditions, although P. pentosaceus L51 was more resilient. The potential for de novo cobalamin biosynthesis and remarkable probiotic features highlighted that P. pentosaceus L51 may be considered the most promising candidate strain for developing high-content vitamin B12 formulations.

The Impact of HPP-Assisted Biocontrol Approach on the Bacterial Communities' Dynamics and Quality Parameters of a Fermented Meat Sausage Model.

Traditional foods are increasingly valued by consumers, whose attention and purchase willingness are highly influenced by other claims such as 'natural', 'sustainable', and 'clean label'. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a novel non-thermal food processing method (i.e., HPP-assisted biocontrol combining mild high hydrostatic pressure, listeriophage Listex, and pediocin PA-1 producing Pediococcus acidilactici) on the succession of bacterial communities and quality of a fermented sausage model. A comparative analysis of instrumental color, texture, and lipid peroxidation revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in these quality parameters between non- and minimally processed fermented sausages throughout 60-day refrigerated storage (4 °C). The microbiota dynamics of biotreated and untreated fermented sausages were assessed by 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing, and the alpha and beta diversity analyses revealed no dissimilarity in the structure and composition of the bacterial communities over the analyzed period. The innovative multi-hurdle technology proposed herein holds valuable potential for the manufacture of traditional fermented sausages while preserving their unique intrinsic characteristics.

The effect of lifestyle interventions on depressive symptom severity in individuals with type-2 diabetes: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a severe metabolic condition which is commonly comorbid with depression. Lifestyle factors are involved in the pathophysiology of both conditions; however, the role of lifestyle interventions remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to systematically review the literature on randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of lifestyle interventions on depressive scores in patients with T2DM. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in computerized databases before October 2022. A random-effects model was used to investigate the effect of lifestyle interventions on depression scores and meta-regression was conducted to assess the influence of age and disease onset. RESULTS: Six trials met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. A statistically significant reduction in depression scores was found for groups receiving lifestyle interventions compared to controls (SMD = -0.49 [95%CI -0.89 to -0.08]; p = 0.0269]). Interventions increased in efficacy with the age of the participants but no significant correlation was found with years since disease onset. Participants in a control group receiving a less intense lifestyle intervention demonstrated improved depression scores when compared to those who received standard care or no intervention at all. Trial design and outcome measurement tools were heterogeneous between studies and limited data on antidepressant use was available which may introduce bias into the results. CONCLUSION: Lifestyle interventions were effective at improving depressive symptom severity in patients with T2DM.

A Taxonomically-informed Mass Spectrometry Search Tool for Microbial Metabolomics Data.

MicrobeMASST, a taxonomically-informed mass spectrometry (MS) search tool, tackles limited microbial metabolite annotation in untargeted metabolomics experiments. Leveraging a curated database of >60,000 microbial monocultures, users can search known and unknown MS/MS spectra and link them to their respective microbial producers via MS/MS fragmentation patterns. Identification of microbial-derived metabolites and relative producers, without a priori knowledge, will vastly enhance the understanding of microorganisms' role in ecology and human health.

Access to Information, and Concerns, Myths and Truths about Food Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Overview of the Portuguese Population.

The COVID-19 pandemic raised questions and concerns about the possibility of the virus being transmitted through food, as the virus was found in sewage, shrimps and packages of frozen food. During the first wave of COVID-19, concerns about the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through food arose. As the number of cases began to increase rapidly, so did the availability of information regarding the virus and ways to prevent infection. A significant portion of this information was disseminated by the media and the general public. Identifying and understanding the main doubts and concerns about food hygiene and safety raised by the Portuguese population during the first wave of COVID-19 is important in order to understand whether these issues have influenced their practices and what lessons can be learnt for food safety and hygiene education. The aims of this work were (1) to understand the doubts and concerns of the Portuguese population regarding food safety and hygiene during the first wave of COVID-19, and how these issues were clarified, (2) to analyze the population's opinion on food/hygiene myths and truths related to the transmission and prevention of the infection, and (3) to understand how the first wave of COVID-19 may have influenced the population's practices linked to food handling and consumption. The main doubts of the respondents were related to food handling (41.6%) and the possibility of transmission of COVID-19 through food (17%). Television was the main source of information used to clarify these doubts (32.9%), followed by a guideline issued by the Directorate-General of Health (30.7%). However, most respondents (50.9%) said that they had only found answers to some of their questions. Most respondents reported washing and disinfecting hands before (85% and 63.4%, respectively) and after (73.8% and 57.3%, respectively) the handling and organization of food purchases. Most respondents did not believe the myths about COVID-19 and food safety, but this depended on their level of education. Some practices may have changed as a result of the pandemic, particularly with regard to washing and disinfecting hands and food, as well as kitchen hygiene.