Fate of Listeria monocytogenes during the manufacture and ripening of Parmesan cheese

Parmesan cheese was made from a mixture of pasteurized whole and skim milk that was inoculated to contain ca. 10(4) to 10(5) cells of Listeria monocytogenes/ml. Curd was cooked at 51 degrees C (124 degrees F) for ca. 45 min. During cheese making, maximum numbers of L. monocytogenes appeared just before cooking; at this point, the increase over initial numbers was a .61 to 1.0 order of magnitude. During cooking of curd, the average decrease in numbers of L. monocytogenes was a .22 order of magnitude. During cheese ripening, numbers of L. monocytogenes decreased almost linearly and faster than reported for other hard cheeses. Listeria monocytogenes strain California died faster than did strain V7. Listeria monocytogenes were not detected in cheese after 2 to 16 wk of ripening, depending on the strain of the pathogen and the lot of cheese. Parmesan cheese made in this study was not a favorable medium for survival of L. monocytogenes.     

Inhibition of growth and aflatoxin production of Aspergillus parasiticus by citrus oils

Summary Aspergillus parasiticus was inoculated into grapefruit juice and a glucose-yeast extract medium; both contained 500–7000 ppm of citrus oils that were incorporated into the media by sonication. Orange and lemon oil were more inhibitory to mold growth and aflatoxin production than was d-limonene, the main constituent of the two peel oils. After 7 days at 28° C, 2000 ppm of lemon and 3000 ppm of orange oil in grapefruit juice afforded maximum suppression of mold growth and toxin formation. When the glucose-yeast extract medium was used, 3000 ppm of either oil were needed to achieve the same result. After 4 days at 28° C, orange oil at 3500 ppm in either medium markedly inhibited mold growth (as evidenced by dry weight of mold mycelium) and aflatoxin production (only 14 and 1% of the amount normally produced in the juice and artificial medium, respectively). Higher concentrations of orange oil further reduced mold growth and aflatoxin production and also delayed the onset of sporulation, if it occurred. Although aflatoxin was detected in all samples, only 0.2 to 0.5% of the amount found in controls (without the citrus oil) was present when the medium contained 7000 ppm orange oil. The mold consistently grew, albeit very poorly, on the glass at the liquid-atmosphere interface even when the substrate contained a large amount of citrus oil.

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Hemmung des Wachstums und der Aflatoxinproduktion von Aspergillus parasiticus durch Orangenöl, Citronenöl und d-Limonen

Zusammenfassung Pampelmusensaft und ein Glucose-Hefeextrakt-Medium wurden beide mit 500–7000 ppm Orangenöl, Citronenöl oder d-Limonen angereichert und dann mitAspergillus parasiticus beimpft. Wachstum und Aflatoxinproduktion des Pilzes wurden stärker durch die Öle als durch d-Limonen gehemmt, obwohl dieser der Hauptbestandteil der beiden Öle ist. 2000 ppm Citronenöl bzw. 3000 ppm Orangenöl in Pampelmusensaft genügten zur starken Hemmung der Wachstums- and der Aflatoxinproduktion vonA. parasiticus während 7 Tage bei 28° C. Wenn Glucose-Hefeextrakt als Nährboden diente, dann wiesen bei 3000 ppm beide Öle gleiche Hemmung auf. Wenn beide Nahrboden nur 4 Tage bei 28° C gehalten wurden, dann waren 3500 ppm Orangendl notwendig, um Wachstum and Aflatoxinproduktion zu hemmen. Pampelmusensaft mit einem Orangenöl-Gehalt von 3500 ppm enthielt nur 14% der Aflatoxin-Menge des beimpften Saftes ohne Öl. Das Medium mit Glucose, Hefeextrakt und Orangendl hatte nur 1 % des Aflatoxin-Gehaltes der Kontrolle. Höhere Konzentrationen von Orangenöl hemmten noch stärker und verzögerten den Beginn der Konidienbildung. Wenn das Medium 7000 ppm Orangenöl enthielt, dann konnte nur geringes Pilzwachstum und Aflatoxinproduktion (0,2–0,5% der Kontrolle) beobachtet wurden; das minimale Wachstum des Pilzes geschah an der Grenzfläche Nährboden und Atmosphare.

     

Application of heterogeneous nucleation theory to precipitate nucleation at GP zones

The accelerated nucleation of precipitates at GP zones is explained using heterogeneous nucleation theory. Nucleation at zone : matrix boundaries is encouraged by several factors: 1) the chemical interfacial energy of zone : matrix boundaries can significantly decrease the interfacial energy barrier to nucleation; 2) destruction of quenched-in excess vacancies at incoherent portions of the nucleus surface may make the change in the volume free energy significantly more negative; 3) the crystal structures of the zone and matrix are identical and parallel which permits the nucleus to be faceted in both phases. Some additional assistance to nucleation at GP zones is provided by: 4) the accelerated diffusivity resulting from the presence of excess vacancies and 5) the large area of zone : matrix boundary per unit volume of matrix. These factors can more than compensate for the decreased solute supersaturation due to the formation of GP zones and provide an explanation for the enhanced nucleation of precipitates in the presence of GP zones.     

Maternal Heat Stress Alters Expression of Genes Associated with Nutrient Transport Activity and Metabolism in Female Placentae from Mid-Gestating Pigs

Placental insufficiency is a known consequence of maternal heat stress during gestation in farm animals. The molecular regulation of placentae during the stress response is little known in pigs. This study aims to identify differential gene expression in pig placentae caused by maternal heat exposure during early to mid-gestation. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on female placental samples from pregnant pigs exposed to thermoneutral control (CON; constant 20 °C; n = 5) or cyclic heat stress (HS; cyclic 28 to 33 °C; n = 5) conditions between d40 and d60 of gestation. On d60 of gestation, placental efficiency (fetal/placental weight) was decreased (p = 0.023) by maternal HS. A total of 169 genes were differentially expressed (FDR ≤ 0.1) between CON and HS placentae of female fetuses, of which 35 genes were upregulated and 134 genes were downregulated by maternal HS. The current data revealed transport activity (FDR = 0.027), glycoprotein biosynthetic process (FDR = 0.044), and carbohydrate metabolic process (FDR = 0.049) among the terms enriched by the downregulated genes (HS vs. CON). In addition, solute carrier (SLC)-mediated transmembrane transport (FDR = 0.008) and glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis (FDR = 0.027), which modulates placental stroma synthesis, were identified among the pathways enriched by the downregulated genes. These findings provide evidence that heat-stress induced placental inefficiency may be underpinned by altered expression of genes associated with placental nutrient transport capacity and metabolism. A further understanding of the molecular mechanism contributes to the identification of placental gene signatures of summer infertility in pigs.     

Concentrations of viable airborne fungal spores and trichloroanisole in wine cellars

In wineries, unwanted microorganisms present not only hygienic problems but also have a negative influence on wine quality. An evaluation of Austrian/Styrian wine cellars with regard to the volume and the composition of the mycoflora is very important both for the process of wine production and for occupational safety.Thirty-six wine cellars of 20 vintners were investigated with regard to microorganisms in the air and on material surfaces. Moreover, the presence of trichloroanisole in the air was determined by means of solid-phase micro-extraction. Microorganisms were sampled using the six-stage Andersen-Cascade impactor.The results showed that the concentrations of xerophilic fungi in the air of cellars with large visible mold areas (> 80%) reached values up to 1.4 × 10⁴ colony forming units per m³. In the wine cellars fourteen predominant fungal genera were found in the indoor air, the most frequent was Penicillium. Trichloroanisole was detected in the air of wine cellars with large visible moldy patches. The spore concentrations in the cellar air were two times higher in cellars with Zasmidium cellare growth than in cellars without Z. cellare.These results will serve as a database for further studies.     

Methods to purify and determine rubratoxins

Rubratoxin were recovered from cultures of Penicillium rubrum after the mold grew in natural substrates, a semi-synthetic medium, and a glucosemineral salts broth. Substrates that contained rubratoxins were extracted with: diethyl ether, ethyl acetate-benzene, ethanol (100%), ethanol-acetone, acetonitrile, or diethyl ether with refluxing at 45 degrees C. Extracts were screened for rubratoxins by thin-layer chromatography. Some extracts were partially purified with a column of silicic acid using acetone as the eluant. Other extracts were purified (primarily removal of pigments) using columns of silica gel plus Celite and gradient solvent elution. Most rubratoxin B (1.9 mg/g or 0.77 mg/ml) was recovered when corn, rice, or glucose-salts broth were extracted successively with diethyl ether, ethyl acetate-benzene, and diethyl ether or when samples were adjusted to pH 1.5 before refluxing with diethyl ether at 45 degrees C for 1--4h. Most rubratoxin A (0.1--0.15 mg/ml or 1.0 mg/g) was obtained from samples of corn extracted twice each with ethyl alcohol, acetone, and ethyl acetate; from glucose-mineral salts broth extracted with diethyl ether; or from yeast extract sucrose broth extracted with diethyl ether and refluxed for 4 h at 45 degrees C. Large amounts of fairly pure rubratoxin A (up to 400 mg) and rubratoxin B (greater than lg) were obtained with a combination of preparative thin-layer and column chromatography.     

Core 2 oligosaccharide biosynthesis distinguishes between selectin ligands essential for leukocyte homing and inflammation

Mammalian serine/threonine-linked oligosaccharides (O-glycans) are commonly synthesized with the Golgi enzyme core 2 beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (C2 GlcNAcT). Core 2 O-glycans have been hypothesized to be essential for mucin production and selectin ligand biosynthesis. We report that mice lacking C2 GlcNAcT exhibit a restricted phenotype with neutrophilia and a partial deficiency of selectin ligands. Loss of core 2 oligosaccharides reduces neutrophil rolling on substrata bearing E-, L-, and P-selectins and neutrophil recruitment to sites of inflammation. However, the diminished presence of L-selectin ligands on lymph node high endothelial venules does not affect lymphocyte homing. These studies indicate that core 2 oligosaccharide biosynthesis segregates the physiologic roles of selectins and reveal a function for the C2 GlcNAcT in myeloid homeostasis and inflammation.