Coculture-inducible bacteriocin activity of Lactobacillus plantarum strain J23 isolated from grape must

Detection and characterization of bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus plantarum strain J23, recovered from a grape must sample in Spain, have been carried out. Bacteriocin activity was degraded by proteolytic enzymes (trypsin, alfa-chymotrypsin, papaine, protease, proteinase K and acid proteases), and it was stable at high temperatures (121 degrees C, 20min), in a wide range of pH (1-12), and after treatment with organic solvents. L. plantarum J23 showed antimicrobial activity against Oenococcus oeni, and a range of Lactobacillus and Pediococcus species. Bacteriocin production was detected in liquid media only when J23 was cocultivated with some inducing bacteria, and induction took place when intact cells or 55 degrees C heated cells of the inducer were cocultivated with J23, but not with their autoclaved cells. Bacteriocin activity of J23 was not induced by high initial J23 inocula, and it was detected in cocultures during the exponential phase. The presence of ethanol or acidic pH in the media reduced bacteriocin production in the cocultures of J23 with the inducing bacteria. The presence of plantaricin-related plnEF and plnJ genes was detected by PCR and sequencing. Nevertheless, negative results were obtained for plnA, plnK, plNC8, plS and plW genes.     

Why are some Spanish regions more resilient than others?

Which of a region's characteristics most strongly influence its degree of resilience? This study constructs a composite resilience index for the Spanish regions and uses Multiple Factor Analysis to compare it with the Martin resilience index (Martin, 2012). The results of a Principal Components Analysis to measure the relative contributions of potential regional resilience drivers indicate that, during recovery periods, it is market- service focused regional economies that show stronger resilience, while, in crisis periods, it is regions with a more highly-educated workforce.     

Fernblock, a nutriceutical with photoprotective properties and potential preventive agent for skin photoaging and photoinduced skin cancers

Many phytochemicals are endowed with photoprotective properties, i.e., the capability to prevent the harmful effects of excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. These effects include photoaging and skin cancer, and immunosuppression. Photoprotection is endowed through two major modes of action: UV absorption or reflection/scattering; and tissue repair post-exposure. We and others have uncovered the photoprotective properties of an extract of the fern Polypodium leucotomos (commercial name Fernblock). Fernblock is an all-natural antioxidant extract, administered both topically (on the skin) or orally. It inhibits generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by UV including superoxide anion. It also prevents damage to the DNA, inhibits UV-induced AP1 and NF-κB, and protects endogenous skin natural antioxidant systems, i.e., CAT, GSH, and GSSR. Its photoprotective effects at a cellular level include a marked decrease of UV-mediated cellular apoptosis and necrosis and a profound inhibition of extracellular matrix remodeling. These molecular and cellular effects translate into long-term inhibition of photoaging and carcinogenesis that, together with its lack of toxicity, postulate its use as a novel-generation photoprotective nutriceutical of phytochemical origin.     

Highly selective palladium supported catalyst for hydrogenation of phenol in aqueous phase

Hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanone in aqueous phase, under mild conditions, has been carried out using palladium on different supports such as hydroxyapatite (HA), carbon (C), alumina (γ-Al₂O₃) and Al₂O₃-CWE synthesized with high surface area. High activity (100%) and selectivity (98%) to cyclohexanone was obtained using Pd/ Al₂O₃-CWE catalyst in 50 min under mild reaction conditions.     

Volatile composition and sensory properties of industrially produced Idiazabal cheese

The volatile composition and sensory properties of industrially produced Idiazabal cheeses made from ewes’ raw milk (RM) or pasteurised milk (PM) and with addition of different starter cultures were compared. Cheeses were analysed at 90 and 180 d of ripening. Acids were the major volatile compounds in RM cheeses. Methyl ketones were the major volatile compounds in PM cheeses at 90 ripening days. However, the content of acids strongly increased with ripening whereas the content of ketones decreased in PM cheeses. The concentration of esters was higher in RM cheeses than in PM cheeses. No differences were found in the content of alcohols. Most aldehydes, hydrocarbons, terpenes and furans identified were minor volatile compounds in both RM and PM cheeses. In RM cheeses, characteristic sensory attributes for the aroma of Idiazabal cheese were present at 3 months, whereas in PM cheeses those desirable sensory attributes did not appear until 6 months of ripening.     

Chromium–protein complexation studies by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry and MALDI-TOF–MS

A methodology using stripping voltammetry has been elaborated to enable sensitive and reliable protein–chromium complexation measurements. Disturbing effects caused by adsorption of proteins on the mercury electrode were addressed. At low concentrations of proteins (<60–85 nM), chromium–protein complexation measurements were possible. Chromium(VI) complexation was quantitatively determined using differently sized, charged, and structured proteins: serum albumin (human and bovine), lysozyme, and mucin. Generated results showed a strong relation between complexation and protein size, concentration, and the number of amino acids per protein mass. Complexation increased nonlinearly with increasing protein concentrations. The nature of this complexation was based on weak interactions judged from combined results with MALDI-TOF–MS and adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry.     

Bactericidal and Anticorrosion Properties in PVK/MWNT Nanocomposite Coatings on Stainless Steel

A PVK/MWNT nanocomposite coating on stainless steel is developed and tested for antimicrobial and anticorrosion properties. The coating is prepared via electrochemical deposition onto SS surfaces and is monitored using cyclic voltammetry. High‐resolution XPS measurements of the C 1s and N 1s regions are used to estimate the film composition. AFM shows a homogeneous thin film of several µm thickness with well‐defined globular domains. The bactericidal functionality of the electrodeposited film is demonstrated by its antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, even with low MWNT loading (≈6%). The excellent anticorrosion property of the coating is demonstrated after 7 d of exposure to NaCl (0.5 M ) solution.

     

Magnetic anisotropy in isotropic and nanopatterned strongly exchange-coupled nanolayers

In this study, the fabrication of magnetic multilayers with a controlled value of the in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy field in the range of 12 to 72 kA/m was achieved. This fabrication was accomplished by the deposition of bilayers consisting of an obliquely deposited (54°) 8-nm-thick anisotropic Co layer and a second isotropic Co layer that was deposited at a normal incidence over the first layer. By changing the thickness value of this second Co layer (X) by modifying the deposition time, the value of the anisotropy field of the sample could be controlled. For each sample, the thickness of each bilayer did not exceed the value of the exchange correlation length calculated for these Co bilayers. To increase the volume of the magnetic films without further modification of their magnetic properties, a Ta spacer layer was deposited between successive Co bilayers at 54° to prevent direct exchange coupling between consecutive Co bilayers. This step was accomplished through the deposition of multilayered films consisting of several (Co_{8 nm-54°}/Co_{X nm-0°}/Ta_{6 nm-54°}) trilayers.     

Microbiological evaluation and molecular characterization of bifidobacteria strains in commercial fermented milks

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis in commercial dairy products using different molecular techniques. We analyzed the microbiological composition of 13 commercial fermented milks available in the Spanish market. Thirteen strains of genus Bifidobacterium were isolated from these products and were identified by genus-specific PCR, by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), by multiplex PCR and amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). The same sets of strains were typed by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and by amplified fragment length polymorphism technique (AFLP). All strains were identified as B. animalis subsp. lactis using ARDRA and multiplex PCR techniques. Similarity between strains was evaluated based on RAPD and AFLP profiles. The isolated strains showed similar profiles by using these techniques, revealing the reduced genetic variability existing among commercial strains, and all these profiles were reproducible in repeated analysis. ARDRA and multiplex PCR are techniques that allow differentiation of the bifidobacteria at genus and species level, but do not indicate if they are different strains, for which reason the RAPD technique is very useful. All bifidobacteria isolated from commercial fermented milks in Spain belong to the same species B. animalis subsp. lactis. Our results demonstrate the necessity to control the presence of bifidobacteria in commercial fermented milks, not only at species level but also at strain level. Multiplex PCR and RAPDs are the most suitable, rapid and precise techniques to identify all bifidobacteria contained in fermented milk products at genus-, species-, and strain levels.     

Escherichia coli of poultry food origin as reservoir of sulphonamide resistance genes and integrons

The antimicrobial resistance phenotype and genotype, the flanking regions of sulphonamide resistance genes and the integrons were analyzed in 166 Escherichia coli isolates recovered from poultry meat in Tunisia. High percentages of resistance were detected to ampicillin, streptomycin, nalidixic acid, sulphonamide and tetracycline (66-95%), and lower percentages to gentamicin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefoxitin (1-4%). The bla_TEM, tet(A)/tet(B), aph(3′)-Ia, aac(6′)-Ib-cr, aac(3)-II and cmlA genes were identified in 92, 82, 29, 2, 2 and 7 isolates, respectively. Class 1 and/or class 2 integrons were detected in 52% of E. coli isolates and five different gene cassette arrangements were identified in the variable regions of class 1 integrons, which included antimicrobial resistance determinants. Sixty-eight isolates contained the sul1 gene and 37 of them presented this gene into a class 1 integron structure. The sul3 gene was detected associated with non-classic class 1 integrons in 4 out of 46 sul3-positive isolates. The sul2 gene was detected in 66 isolates, 51 of them were linked to strA/B genes in seven different genetic structures. Seventy-three-per-cent of integron-positive isolates presented resistance to at least five different antimicrobial families versus 38.7% of integron-negative isolates. Our study highlights the role of commensal E. coli isolates from poultry meat as an important reservoir for sulphonamide resistance genes and integrons carrying antimicrobial resistance genes.