Identification of Bulgarian Sourdough Microbiota by Metagenomic Approach Using Three Commercially Available DNA Extraction Protocols.

Research Background: Sourdough is a spontaneously formed, complex microbial ecosystem of various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast which, by producing specific metabolites, determines the quality of the baked products. In order to design and control the sourdough with preferred nutritional characteristics, it is crucial that the LAB diversity of the product of interest be elucidated.

Experimental Approach: Using the opportunities of next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the V1-V3 hypervariable gene region of 16S rRNA, we studied the microbial ecosystem of a whole grain sourdough made of , originating from Southwestern Bulgaria.

16S-rRNA-Based Metagenomic Profiling of the Bacterial Communities in Traditional Bulgarian Sourdoughs.

Sourdoughs (SDs) are spontaneously formed microbial ecosystems composed of various species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and acid-tolerant yeasts in food matrices of cereal flours mixed with water. To date, more than 90 LAB species have been isolated, significantly impacting the organoleptic characteristics, shelf life, and health properties of bakery products. To learn more about the unique bacterial communities involved in creating regional Bulgarian sourdoughs, we examined the metacommunities of five sourdoughs produced by spontaneous fermentation and maintained by backslopping in bakeries from three geographic locations.

Methods To Improve Molecular Detection of Salmonella in Complex Herbal Matrices Containing Inhibitors.

Abstract: Salmonella is one of the main causes of foodborne diseases worldwide. Molecular tests such as the PCR assay are rapid and sensitive and are increasingly becoming the preferred method for pathogen detection. However, the presence in the analyzed samples of substances that reduce the sensitivity of the assay or totally inhibit PCR amplification might result in failure of pathogen detection.

Molecular pathogenesis of spontaneous abortions - Whole genome copy number analysis and expression of angiogenic factors.

Objective: To study two major molecular alterations in spontaneous abortions (SA) with unexplained etiology - fetal genomic anomalies and the endometrial expression of main angiogenic factors VEGFA/VEGFR2 and chemokines SDF-1/CXCR4.

Materials And Methods: Whole genome copy number analysis by arrayCGH or Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was applied for detection of fetal genomic imbalances. The abortive decidua of SA without fetal aneuploidies was further investigated for expression levels of the abovementioned factors using real time PCR analysis.

Epigenetic alterations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Epigenetic changes, in particular DNA methylation processes, play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) linking genetic and environmental factors. To clarify this role, we have analyzed in patients with different duration of T2DM: (i) expression levels of methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2 () as marker of DNA methylation, and ii) methylation changes in 22 genes connected to cellular stress and toxicity. We have analyzed mRNA expression levels in16 patients and 12 controls and the methylation status of stress and toxicity genes in four DNA pools: (i) controls; (ii) newly-diagnosed T2DM patients; (iii) patients with T2DM duration of <5 years and (iv) of >5 years.