Screening of lactic acid bacteria isolates from dairy and cereal products for exopolysaccharide production and genes involved

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed that exposure to 4lethal alkaline stress induced statistically significant (P < 0.05) changes in mean cell length, radius and volume in Listeria monocytogenes and a derived σ^B deficient mutant. Bacterial morphology was altered at pH values above 9.0, to include single filamentous or elongated chain forms. Such filamentation and chain formation was observed in the parent strain and in the σ^B deficient strain, and in buffered and non-buffered media. Giemsa staining revealed that the filaments were multi-nucleate, with nucleoids spaced along the length of the atypical cells. In buffered media, longer alkaline exposure was associated with increases in the frequency and length of filamentation. In non-buffered medium, longer exposure was associated with gradual decline in length and the frequency of observation of filaments. Transfer of alkaline treated cells to neutral conditions was associated with the formation of septa within filaments, cell division, and a rapid return to normal morphology, i.e. within 3 h. The observed effects, and their reversibility, may be important in increasing the alkaline tolerance of this pathogen during phagocytosis within the innate human immune system response, and in adaptation/survival in food environments treated with alkali detergents and/or sanitisers. Such atypical cells may be associated with increased survival of L. monocytogenes in adverse environments and may also contribute to qualitative and quantitative underestimation of this important pathogen in food processing environments, with potential implications in public health.     

Development and Evaluation of a Film and Edible Coating Obtained from the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cajanus cajan</Emphasis> Seed Applied to Fresh Strawberry Fruit

The aim of this work was to develop and evaluate the effect of an edible coating produced with protein isolate and gum from the Cajanus cajan seed to be applied to strawberries (Fragaria spp.). The films were formulated using 1 and 2% gum, and 5 and 10% protein isolate, as well as glycerol (2%) as a plasticizer. The formulated films were evaluated in terms of water vapor permeability (WVP), opacity, color, scanning electron microscopy, and texture. Once the ideal formulation with sufficiently low WVP and opacity was selected, it was applied to the strawberries, which were evaluated in terms of mass loss, color, firmness, acidity, pH, soluble solids, anthocyanin content, vitamin C content, and acceptability degree by an untrained consumer panel. Results showed that film made from 5% of protein isolate and 1% of gum had the lowest WVP of all treatments. Applied to strawberries, the coating resulted in a reduction of the total soluble solid content, the consumption of citric acid, and the mass loss of coated with respect to uncoated strawberries after 10 days of storage at 5 °C, without causing sensorial changes.     

Morphologic and functional changes in the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion rat model for Parkinson’s disease discerned with μSPECT and quantitative MRI

Object

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of neurodegeneration of the nigrostriatal tract in a rodent model of Parkinson’s disease on the different MR contrasts (T₂, T₁, CBF and CBV) measured in the striatum.

Material and methods

Animals were injected with 6-hydroxydopamine (6OHDA) in the substantia nigra resulting in massive loss of nigrostriatal neurons and hence dopamine depletion in the ipsilateral striatum. Using 7T MRI imaging, we have quantified T₂, T₁, CBF and CBV in the striata of 6OHDA and control rats. To validate the lesion size, behavioral testing, dopamine transporter μSPECT and tyrosine hydroxylase staining were performed.

Results

No significant differences were demonstrated in the absolute MRI values between 6OHDA animals and controls; however, 6OHDA animals showed significant striatal asymmetry for all MRI parameters in contrast to controls.

Conclusions

These PD-related asymmetry ratios might be the result of counteracting changes in both intact and affected striatum and allowed us to diagnose PD lesions. As lateralization is known to occur also in PD patients and might be expected in transgenic PD models as well, we propose that MR-derived asymmetry ratios in the striatum might be a useful tool for in vivo phenotyping of animal models of PD.