Millet Fermented by Different Combinations of Yeasts and Lactobacilli: Effects on Phenolic Composition, Starch, Mineral Content and Prebiotic Activity.

Millet is the sixth-highest yielding grain in the world and a staple crop for millions of people. Fermentation was applied in this study to improve the nutritional properties of pearl millet. Three microorganism combinations were tested: Saccharomyces boulardii (FPM1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae plus Campanilactobacillus paralimentarius (FPM2) and Hanseniaspora uvarum plus Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis (FPM3). All the fermentation processes led to an increase in minerals. An increase was observed for calcium: 254 ppm in FPM1, 282 ppm in FPM2 and 156 ppm in the unfermented sample. Iron increased in FPM2 and FPM3 (approx. 100 ppm) with respect the unfermented sample (71 ppm). FPM2 and FPM3 resulted in richer total phenols (up to 2.74 mg/g) compared to the unfermented sample (2.24 mg/g). Depending on the microorganisms, it was possible to obtain different oligopeptides with a mass cut off ≤10 kDalton that was not detected in the unfermented sample. FPM2 showed the highest resistant starch content (9.83 g/100 g) and a prebiotic activity on Bifidobacterium breve B632, showing a significant growth at 48 h and 72 h compared to glucose (p < 0.05). Millet fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae plus Campanilactobacillus paralimentarius can be proposed as a new food with improved nutritional properties to increase the quality of the diet of people who already use millet as a staple food.

Low-Abundant Microorganisms: The Human Microbiome's Dark Matter, a Scoping Review.

Research on the human microbiome has mainly been restricted to the identification of most abundant microbiota associated with health or disease. Their abundance may reflect their capacity to exploit their niche, however, metabolic functions exerted by low-abundant microrganisms can impact the dysbiotic signature of local microbial habitats. This scoping review aims to map the literature regarding the management of low-abundant microorganisms in studies investigating human microbiome samples. A systematic literature search was performed in 5 electronic databases, as well as grey literature. We selected clinical microbiome studies targeting human participants of any age, from any body site. We also included studies with secondary data which originated from human biofilm samples. All of the papers used next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques in their methodology. A total of 826 manuscripts were retrieved, of which 42 were included in this review and 22 reported low-abundant bacteria (LB) in samples taken from 7 body sites (breast, gut, oral cavity, skin, stomach, upper respiratory tract (URT), and vagina). Four studies reported microbes at abundance levels between 5 and 20%, 8 studies reported between 1 and 5%, and 18 studies reported below 1%. Fifteen papers mentioned fungi and/or archaea, and from those only 4 (fungi) and 2 (archaea) produced data regarding the abundance of these domains. While most studies were directed towards describing the taxonomy, diversity and abundance of the highly abundant species, low-abundant species have largely been overlooked. Indeed, most studies select a cut-off value at <1% for low-abundant organisms to be excluded in their analyses. This practice may compromise the true diversity and influence of all members of the human microbiota. Despite their low abundance and signature in biofilms, they may generate important markers contributing to dysbiosis, in a sort of 'butterfly effect'. A detailed snapshot of the physiological, biological mechanisms at play, including virulence determinants in the context of a dysbiotic community, may help better understand the health-disease transition.

Comparison of UV, Peracetic Acid and Sodium Hypochlorite Treatment in the Disinfection of Urban Wastewater.

One source of water contamination is the release of wastewater that has not undergone efficient treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reduction obtained with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), UV and peracetic acid disinfection treatment of Salmonella spp., pathogenic Campylobacter, STEC and bacterial indicators in three full-scale municipal wastewater plants. A general reduction in Salmonella was observed after disinfection, but these bacteria were detected in one UV-treated sample (culture method) and in 33%, 50% and 17% of samples collected after NaClO, UV and PAA disinfection treatments, respectively (PCR method). A better reduction was also observed under NaClO disinfection for the microbial indicators. Independent of the disinfection treatment, E. coli O157:H7 was not detected in the disinfected samples, whereas some samples treated with UV and PAA showed the presence of the stx1 gene. No reduction in the presence of stx2 genes was verified for any of the disinfection treatments. Campylobacter was not detected in any of the analysed samples. The overall results highlight a better reduction in microbiological parameters with a NaClO disinfection treatment in a full-scale municipal wastewater plant compared with UV and PAA. However, the results indicate that a complete and specific monitoring program is necessary to prevent a possible risk to public health.

Site-specific delivery of polymeric encapsulated microorganisms: a patent evaluation of US20170165201A1.

INTRODUCTION: Probiotics inculde live microorganisms therapeutically effective in the treatment of wide range of diseases. Probiotics possibly stimulates the growth of preferred microorganisms, crowds out potentially harmful microorganisms, and reinforces the body's natural defense mechanisms. Microencapsulation of probiotic microorganisms protects them from the destructive environment and prolongs their survival. Use of mucoadhesive and pH responsive polymers could impart extended retention, pH sensitive release and mucoadhesive properties to the system. The probiotic formulations could be used for therapeutic, diagnostic, and prophylactic purposes. Areas covered: Layer-by-layer techology was developed for encapsulating Bacillus coagulans employing chitosan and alginate as mucoadhesive polymers (for attachment to the gastrointestinal mucosa) and Eudragit EPO and Eudragit L100 as pH responsive polymers (for site-specific delivery). The formulation was evaluated for layer stability, mucoadhesion capability, protection of microorganisms from biological insults, pH responsive layer removal, in vitro evaluation in three-dimensional intestinal tissue model, probiotic bacterial delivery. Expert opinion: In this patent, a unique layer-by-layer assembly of two differently charged polymers (mucoadhesive and pH repsonsive) was achieved for encapsulating the probiotic microorganism. For assessing the clinical applicability of the invention, further studies may be needed since the conclusions are drawn solely based on in vitro data.

Qualidade microbiológica de tapiocas com recheio de frango comercializadas em feira livre de Ji-Paraná, RO / Microbiological quality of tapioca with chicken filling marketed at a fair in Ji-Paraná, RO

A segurança dos alimentos é garantida principalmente pelo controle da origem, do processo, da formulação do produto e pela aplicação de Boas Práticas de Higiene (BPF) na produção, no processamento, na manipulação, na distribuição, no armazenamento, na comercialização, na preparação e no uso. Este trabalho avaliou a qualidade de 15 tapiocas com recheios a base de frango comercializadas em uma feira livre, por meio de análise microbiológica preconizada na RDC 12 (BRASIL, 2001), para micro-organismos Coliformes a 45ºC (UFC/g), Estafilococos coagulase positiva (UFC/g), Bacillus cereus 30 ºC (UFC/g), Clostridium sulfito redutor (UFC/g) e Salmonella sp (25g) avaliando a eficiência do processo de produção e manipulação das tapiocas. Observou-se que uma amostra apresentou resultado acima do padrão (7,8 x 103 UFC/g) estabelecido em legislação para Estaf.coag.positiva. O resultado representa 6,7% fora do padrão das amostras analisadas para Estaf. coag.positiva e 1,3% do total geral das amostras analisadas. Tais achados demonstraram que o processo de produção e manipulação das tapiocas podem causar riscos para os seus consumidores por apresentarem contaminação por Estaf.coag.positiva, que sintetizam enterotoxinas e podem ser danosas à saúde.

Food safety is mainly ensured by control of the origin, process, product formulation and application of Good Hygiene Practices (GMP) in production, processing, handling, distribution, storage, marketing, preparation and in use. This work evaluated the quality of 15 tapiocas with chickenbased fillings marketed in a free market, through microbiological analysis recommended in RDC 12 (BRASIL, 2001), for Coliform microorganisms at 45ºC (UFC / g), Staphylococcus coagulase positive UFC / g), Bacillus cereus 30ºC (UFC / g), Clostridium sulfite reductant (UFC / g) and Salmonella sp (25g) evaluating the efficiency of the tapioca production and manipulation process. It was observed that one sample had an above-standard result (7.8 x 103 UFC / g) established in legislation for Estaf.coag.positiva. The result represents 6.7% of the samples analyzed for Estaf.coag.positiva and 1.3% of the total of the analyzed samples. These findings showed that the production process and manipulation of the tapiocas can cause risks for its consumers because they are contaminated by Estaf.coag.positiva, which synthesize entertoxins and can be harmful to health.

Arrranjos supramoleculares de lípide catiônico, antibióticos e polímeros: preparação, caracterização e atividade contra bactérias multirresistentes e micobactérias de crescimento rápido / Supramolecular assemblies of cationic lipid, antibiotics and polymers: preparation, characterization and activity against multidrug resistant bacteria and fast growing mycobacteria

Arranjos supramoleculares combinando o lípide catiônico brometo de dioctadecildimetilamônio (DOD) com polímeros, como carboximetilcelulose (CMC) e cloreto de poli(dialildimetilamônio) (PDDA), foram preparados na forma de nanopartículas (NPs), na ausência ou presença de antimicrobiano tradicional, como a claritromicina (CLA). NPs preparadas por atração eletrostática entre os fragmentos de bicamada (BF) de DOD, CMC e PDDA foram avaliadas, in vitro, quanto à atividade contra isolados clínicos de micro-organismos multirresistentes (MR) a antimicrobianos, como Pseudomonas aeruginosa MR, Klebsiella pneumoniae produtora da enzima carbapenemase do tipo KPC, Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina/oxacilina (MRSA) e Candida albicans resistente ao fluconazol, através do método de plaqueamento e contagem de viáveis. As NPs de DOD BF/CMC/PDDA apresentam alta atividade de amplo espectro contra micro-organismos MR, em que o PDDA é o componente responsável pela excelente atividade biocida das NPs. O mecanismo de ação antimicrobiana indica a dissociação dessas NPs na presença dos micro-organismos, com a remoção de biopolímeros da parede celular microbiana pelo PDDA, conforme visualizado por microscopia eletrônica de varredura, ocorrendo lise da membrana microbiana e liberação de compostos fosforilados para o meio extracelular. Também foram desenvolvidas neste trabalho NPs carreadoras de CLA à base de DOD e polímeros. Solução etanólica contendo CLA/DOD foi injetada em solução aquosa de CMC, formando arranjos coloidalmente estáveis e aniônicos, que posteriormente foram adicionados de solução de PDDA, para a obtenção de arranjos estáveis e catiônicos. CLA/DOD/CMC e CLA/DOD/CMC/PDDA NPs incorporaram CLA em quantidade suficiente para inibir o crescimento de M. abscessus no interior de macrófagos bem como evitar a formação de biofilmes, sendo que altas doses de CLA foram tóxicas aos macrófagos, enquanto doses menores apresentaram baixa toxicidade e boa atividade antimicrobiana. NPs catiônicas carreando CLA foram tóxicas aos macrófagos nas concentrações de PDDA testadas. A natureza particulada das CLA NPs possivelmente aumenta a retenção intracelular de CLA em comparação com CLA livre, podendo prolongar atividade da CLA contra patógenos intracelulares. Desta maneira, arranjos supramoleculares combinando lípide e polímeros, com ou sem antimicrobianos tradicionais poderão encontrar diversas aplicações nas áreas farmacêutica, médica, alimentícia e biotecnológica

Supramolecular assemblies combining cationic lipid dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DOD) and polymers, such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA), were prepared as nanoparticles (NPs), in the absence or presence of traditional antibiotic, such as clarithromycin (CLA). NPs prepared by electrostatic attraction between DOD bilayer fragments (BF), CMC and PDDA were evaluated against clinical strains of multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganisms, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa MDR, Klebsiella pneumoniae producer of KPC carbapenemase enzyme, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Candida albicans fluconazole resistant, by plating and colony forming unities counting. DOD BF/CMC/PDDA NPs display high and broad-spectrum activity against MDR microrganisms, and PDDA is the excellent biocidal component in the NPs. The mechanism of antimicrobial action shows that NPs disassembly in the presence of microrganisms, with biopolymers withdrawn from the cell wall, as observed by scanning electron microscopy, consecutively lysing bacterial membrane as determined from the leakage of inner phosphorylated compounds. In this work there have also been developed NPs, based on lipid and polymers, as carriers for CLA. Ethanolic solution co-solubilizing CLA/DOD was injected in CMC aqueous solution, yielding colloidaly stable and anionic NPs, that were further added of PDDA solution, yielding stable and cationic NPs. CLA/DOD/CMC NPs and CLA/DOD/CMC/PDDA NPs incorporated CLA at doses high enough to inhibit M. abscessus growth inside macrophages or in biofilms. Larger CLA doses were toxic to macrophages while lower CLA doses reduced toxicity to macrophages despite their high antimicrobial activity. Cationic CLA NPs exhibited substantial toxicity against macrophages at the PDDA concentrations tested. The particulate nature of these CLA NPs possibly increases intracellular CLA retention in comparison to free CLA, probably extending CLA activity against intracellular pathogens. In conclusion, supramolecular assemblies combining cationic lipid and polymers, with or without traditional antibiotics, may find multiple possibilities of applications at pharmaceutical, medical, food and biotecnological fields

Caracterização microbiológica e sorológica de linhagens de Escherichia coli, isolada de carne moída comercializada em Pelotas, RS / Microbiological characterization and sorologica of lineages of Escherichia coli, isolated of meat traded in Pelotas, RS city

Neste trabalho, objetivou-se o isolamento e a identificação de Escherichia coli em carne moída de primeira e de segunda qualidade comercializada em Pelotas, totalizando 33 amostras de cada categoria. As amostras foram coletadas em casas especializadas na venda de carnes e processadas no Laboratório de Microbiologia do Instituto de Biologia da UFPel. Das 66 amostras analisadas, 48 (72,73 por cento) encontravam-se contaminadas com E. coli. Os resultados nos indicam que o alimento analisado apresentou contaminação por E. coli. Contaminação maior se deu na carne moída de primeira qualidade, a qual apresentou 48 isolados positivos, enquanto que a de segunda qualidade foram 30 isolados. Um total de 46 isolados foram submetidos à sorologia, onde 34 foram confirmadas como EPEC, sendo 16, 17, 01 como EPEC PoliA, B e C, respectivamente, e outros 02 isolados como 0157 e os restantes, (10 isolados) não soroaglutinaram com nenhum dos anti-soros testados. Dos 78 isolados, apenas 05 apresentaram capacidade hemolítica e a maioria das cepas testadas apresentou um grau elevado de sensibilidade á gentamicina 98,7 por cento (77 isolados), enquanto que 72 por cento (56 isolados) apresentou resistência à ampicilina.

In this work, it was aimed at the isolation and the identification of Escherichia coli in worn out meat of first and second quality marketed in Pelotas, totaling 33 samples of each category. The samples were collected specialized homes in the sale of meats and processed at the Laboratory of Microbiology of the Institute of Biology of UFPel. Of the 66 analyzed samples, 48 (72,73%) they were polluted with E. coli. The results indicate us that the analyzed food presented high level of contamination for E. coli. Larger contamination felt in the worn out meat of first quality, which presented 48 positive isolations, while the one of second quality was 30 isolations. A total of 46 isolated was submitted to the serology, where 34 were confirmed like EPEC, being 16, 17, 01 as EPEC Polished, B and C respectively, and other 02 isolated as 0157, and the remaining (10 isolated) no soro aglutinaram with none of the tested antiserums. Of the 78 only isolated 05 presented capacity hemolytic, and most of the tested stumps presented a high degree of sensibility the gentamicina 98,7% (77 isolated), while 72% (56 isolated) it presented resistance the ampicilína.

Contaminantes microbiológicos em detergentes e seus congêneres / Microbiological contaminants in detergents and similars

A finalidade do presente trabalho foi verificar a qualidade microbiológica de detergentes e seus congêneres destinados à limpeza, higienização ou alvejamento de objetos inanimados e/ou ambientes de uso comum ou coletivo, fornecendo subsídios para ações de Vigilância Sanitária. Foram analisadas 57 amostras, no período de dezembro de 2001 a abril de 2002, tendo sido observadas evidências de contaminação microbiológica em 42 por cento dos produtos analisados, sendo que entre estes 38 por cento corresponderam a detergentes para lavar louças, 29 por cento a amaciantes de roupas e 25 por cento a detergentes para limpeza geral. Os dados obtidos indicam a necessidade de um controle mais rígido quanto às BPF e C, para garantir a segurança de uso destes produtos. (AU)

The scope of this work was to verify the microbiological quality of detergents and similarsused to cleaness, hygienical purposes or to whitish objects or rooms to subsidize actions by the SanitaryVigilance. Fifty seven samples were analyzed in the period from December, 2001 to April, 2002 and it wasobserved microbiological contamination in 42% of the products analyzed; from these,38% were detergentsdestinated to washing dishes, 29% of clothes softening and 25% of detergents for general purposes. Theconclusion was that there is the necessity of more rigid control of these commercial products in order toguarantee the quality and be sure about the safety of them. (AU)