Probiotic properties of yeasts isolated from Brazilian fermented table olives.

AIMS: To investigate the probiotic potential of yeasts isolated from naturally fermented Brazilian table olives. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighteen yeast strains were tested in terms of: safety; survival of gastrointestinal and digestion conditions; antimicrobial activity; cellular hydrophobicity; autoaggregation ability and adhesion to epithelial cells; coaggregation and inhibition of pathogenic bacteria adhesion. Six yeasts showed favourable results for all probiotic attributes: Saccharomyces cerevisiae CCMA 1746, Pichia guilliermondii CCMA 1753, Candida orthopsilosis CCMA 1748, Candida tropicalis CCMA 1751, Meyerozyma caribbica CCMA 1758 and Debaryomyces hansenii CCMA 1761. These yeasts demonstrated resistance to 37°C, pH 2·0 and bile salts, and survived in vitro digestion (≥106  CFU per ml). Furthermore, the yeasts exhibited a hydrophobic cell surface (42·5-92·2%), autoaggregation capacity (41·0-91·0%) and adhesion to Caco-2 (62·0-82·8%) and HT-29 (57·6-87·3%) epithelial cell lines. Also, the strains showed antimicrobial activity against Salmonella Enteritidis as well as the ability to coaggregate and reduce the adhesion of this pathogen to intestinal cells. CONCLUSIONS: Autochthonous yeasts from naturally fermented Brazilian table olives have probiotic properties, with potential for development of new probiotic food products. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: These data are important and contribute to the knowledge of new potential probiotic yeasts capable of surviving gastrointestinal tract conditions and inhibiting pathogenic bacteria.

Biofilm contamination of high-touched surfaces in intensive care units: epidemiology and potential impacts.

The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology (location, microbial load, microbiome, presence/absence of biofilm and pathogens, including ESKAPE-Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles) of the bacterial contamination on intensive care units (ICUs) surfaces. Fifty-seven high-touched surfaces were collected from adult, paediatric and neonatal ICUs from two large public Brazilian hospitals from central and north regions. Samples (c. 4 cm2 ) were subjected to culture (qualitative), qPCR targeting 16s rRNA gene (microbial load-bacteria per cm2 ), 16s rRNA amplicon sequencing (microbiome analysis) and scanning electron (SEM) or confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) (biofilm presence). Multidrug resistant organisms (MROs) were detected using specific chromogenic agar. The average bacterial load was 1·32 × 104 bacteria per cm2 , container for newborn feeding bottles, stretcher mattress, humidicrib mattress filling and computer keyboards presented the higher bioburden. However, only 45·6% (26/57) were culture-positive, including 4/26 with MROs. ESKAPE organisms were detected in 51·8% of the samples subjected to next-generation sequencing. Viability staining and CLSM demonstrated live bacteria on 76·7% of culture-negative samples. Biofilm was present on all surfaces subjected to microscopy (n = 56), demonstrating that current cleaning practices are suboptimal and reinforcing that MROs are incorporated into hospital surfaces biofilm. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Contamination of healthcare facilities surfaces has been shown to play a major role in transmission of pathogens. The findings of this study show that dry surface biofilms are widespread and can incorporate pathogens and multidrug-resistant organisms (MROs). Biofilms on highly touched surfaces pose a risk to patients, as dry surface biofilms persist for long period and micro-organisms within biofilm have been shown to be transmitted. This study also provides a better understanding of microbial populations in hospital environments, reinforcing that pathogens and MROs are found incorporated into biofilm, which impacts the difficulty in cleaning/disinfection.

Distinct beneficial effects of continuous vs accumulated exercise training on cardiovascular risk factors in Wistar rats.

We compared the effects of continuous exercise (CE) vs accumulated exercise (AE) training on CVD risk factors and heart of young male Wistar rats. The exercise training (ET) was performed in a swimming pool for 30-60 min/day, 5 days/week over 15 weeks. CE group performed the ET in a single long daily session (30-60 min), while AE group performed the ET at the same frequency, intensity, and duration of CE rats, but in three short bouts over the course of a day (10-20 min in three daily sessions). AE training was more efficient than CE in attenuating body and fat weight gain and inhibiting visceral adipocyte hypertrophy at the same food intake level. CE training was more efficient in improving systolic blood pressure, LDL/HDL cholesterol, and serum triglyceride. Both ET protocols increased heart function, decreased lipid peroxidation, and increased intracellular Hsp72 content in the heart. This work shows distinct beneficial effects of CE vs AE training suggesting that the prescription of one or other may be preferred to prevent the increase of a specific CVD risk factor.

Effects of dietary protein concentration and balance of absorbable amino acids on productive responses of dairy cows fed corn silage-based diets.

A cyclical changeover design experiment (3-wk periods; 12-wk total) was conducted to evaluate whether improving the balance of absorbable AA would allow the feeding of less crude protein (CP) without compromising production, thereby reducing the potential environmental pollution from dairy farms. Sixteen multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to 1 of 8 dietary treatments as total mixed rations (TMR) containing [dry matter (DM) basis] 45% corn silage, 5% coarsely chopped wheat straw, and 50% concentrate mixture. The 8 treatments were formulated to differ in dietary CP (14 and 16%; DM basis) and in the balance of absorbable AA achieved by changing the main protein source (MPS) of the concentrate mixtures [replacing soybean meal (SBM) with corn byproducts (CBP), dried corn distillers grains (DDG), and some corn gluten meal], and by adding a mixture of rumen-protected Lys and Met (RPLM). Feeding lactating dairy cows corn silage-based diets with 16% CP promoted significantly higher DM intakes and milk yields, and lower feed N-use efficiency than feeding diets with 14% CP. Replacing SBM with CBP significantly increased milk yields and decreased milk fat and protein concentrations, but had no effect on the efficiency of conversion of feed N into milk N. With 16% CP diets, the addition of RPLM decreased feed N use efficiency. A significant effect was observed for the MPS × RPLM interaction on milk protein concentrations. Plasma Lys concentration was lower with diets based on CBP, and plasma Met increased with RPLM. We did not find clear benefits of RPLM in facilitating a reduction of dietary protein without loss of production.

Qualidade da carne de suínos com uso de glicerina na alimentação / Meat quality of swine with the use of glycerin in feeding

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do fornecimento de diferentes níveis de glicerina na alimentação sobre a qualidade da carne de suínos em terminação. Foram utilizados 30 machos castrados e 30 fêmeas que apresentaram peso inicial de 79,3±4,0kg. Utilizou-se delineamento em blocos casualizados (peso inicial) em esquema fatorial 2 × 4 + 2, sendo duas categorias sexuais (macho castrado e fêmea), quatro níveis de glicerina bruta (50, 100, 150 e 200g/kg) e dois grupos controle (macho castrado e fêmea alimentados com dieta sem glicerina), totalizando dez tratamentos com seis repetições e a unidade experimental representada por um animal. Após o abate, foram realizadas as análises físico-químicas e centesimais dos músculos Longissimus dorsi (lombo) e Semimembranosus (pernil) do lado esquerdo das carcaças. Os resultados mostraram interação entre os níveis de glicerina e sexo para a intensidade de vermelho e cinzas no pernil. Observou-se que, nos corte do lombo, o pH final dos machos castrados foi maior do que o das fêmeas suínas. Os resultados indicaram que suínos machos castrados apresentaram maior teor de extrato etéreo no pernil e no lombo quando comparados às fêmeas. No pernil, o teor de cinzas das fêmeas suínas foi superior ao dos machos castrados. Entretanto, no lombo, não se verificou influência dos níveis de glicerina sobre a composição centesimal. Contudo, apesar de o uso da glicerina ter ocasionado modificação na cor vermelha e teor de cinzas no pernil de machos castrados, de forma geral não provocou mudanças relevantes sobre as características físico-químicas e centesimais da carne de suínos, podendo ser utilizada até o nível de 200g/kg na alimentação desses animais...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of providing different levels of glycerin in the diet on meat quality of finishing pigs. 30 barrow and 30 female pigs were used, with initial weight of 79.3±4.0kg. A randomized block design was used (initial weight) in a factorial 2 x 4 + 2, being two sex categories (barrow and female), four levels of crude glycerin (50, 100, 150 and 200g/kg) and two control groups (barrow and female fed diet without glycerin), in a total of ten treatments with six replications and the experimental unit represented by an animal. After slaughter were carried out the physico-chemical and centesimal analysis of Longissimus dorsi (loin) and Semimembranosus (ham) on the left side of the carcasses. The results showed interaction between barrows and levels of glycerin to the redness and ash of the ham. It was observed that in the loin cut the final pH of the barrows was higher than the female pigs. The results indicate that barrows had higher ether extract content in the ham and loin compared to females. In the shank, the ash content of sows was higher than that of barrows. However, in the loin, there was no influence of the levels of glycerin on chemical composition. Nevertheless, despite the use of glycerin having caused changes in the red color and ash content in the leg of castrated males, in general it did not cause significant changes on the physico-chemical and centesimal characteristics of pork and can be used up to the level of 200g/kg in the feed of these animals...