Deciphering Staphylococcus xylosus and Staphylococcus equorum mode of action against Penicillium nordicum in a dry-cured ham model system.

Penicillium nordicum is one of the major producers of ochratoxin A (OTA) in dry-cured ham. Staphylococcus xylosus Sx8 and Staphylococcus equorum Se31 have been previously proposed as biocontrol agents (BCAs) to prevent the OTA contamination, although their antifungal mode of action has not been established yet. Thus, the aim of this work was to elucidate their mode of action against P.

Biocontrol of Pathogen Microorganisms in Ripened Foods of Animal Origin.

Ripened foods of animal origin comprise meat products and dairy products, being transformed by the wild microbiota which populates the raw materials, generating highly appreciated products over the world. Together with this beneficial microbiota, both pathogenic and toxigenic microorganisms such as , , , , , spp., spp.

Proteomics as a New-Generation Tool for Studying Moulds Related to Food Safety and Quality.

Mould development in foodstuffs is linked to both spoilage and the production of mycotoxins, provoking food quality and food safety concerns, respectively. The high-throughput technology proteomics applied to foodborne moulds is of great interest to address such issues. This review presents proteomics approaches useful for boosting strategies to minimise the mould spoilage and the hazard related to mycotoxins in food.

Biocontrol of ochratoxigenic Penicillium nordicum in dry-cured fermented sausages by Debaryomyces hansenii and Staphylococcus xylosus.

Penicillium nordicum is the main ochratoxin A (OTA) producing mould in dry-cured meat products. The use of autochthonous microorganisms as protective cultures is a promising strategy to control this hazard. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of Debaryomyces hansenii and Staphylococcus xylosus isolated from dry-cured meat products as biocontrol agents (BCAs) against P.

Predictors of individual quality of life in young people with Down syndrome.

Purpose/objective: Although the concept of quality of life (QoL) has become a reference framework for the provision of support and services to people with intellectual disability (ID), its conceptualization and application for persons with Down syndrome (DS) have received little attention. This study analyzed QoL outcomes in children and young people with DS and examined the influence of several individual and environmental variables on QoL.

Research Method/design: A cross-sectional study was conducted.

Potential of Near Infrared Spectroscopy as a Rapid Method to Discriminate OTA and Non-OTA-Producing Mould Species in a Dry-Cured Ham Model System.

The ripening process of dry-cured meat products is characterised by the development of fungi on the product's surface. This population plays a beneficial role, but, uncontrolled moulds represent a health risk, since some of them may produce mycotoxins, such as ochratoxin A (OTA). The aim of the present work is to assess the potential of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for the detection of OTA-producing mould species on dry-cured ham-based agar.

Competitiveness of three biocontrol candidates against ochratoxigenic Penicillium nordicum under dry-cured meat environmental and nutritional conditions.

The environmental conditions during the ripening of dry-cured meats and their nutritional composition promote the colonisation of their surface by Penicillium spp., including P. nordicum producer of ochratoxin A (OTA).

Microbial Signature in Adipose Tissue of Crohn's Disease Patients.

Crohn's disease (CD) is characterized by compromised immune tolerance to the intestinal commensal microbiota, intestinal barrier inflammation, and hyperplasia of creeping fat (CF) and mesenteric adipose tissue (AT), which seems to be directly related to disease activity. Gut microbiota dysbiosis might be a determining factor in CD etiology, manifesting as a low microbial diversity and a high abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria. We tested the hypothesis that CF is a reservoir of bacteria through 16S-rRNA sequencing of several AT depots of patients with active and inactive disease and controls.

Impaired Succinate Response to a Mixed Meal in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Is Normalized After Metabolic Surgery.

Objective: To explore the meal response of circulating succinate in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes undergoing bariatric surgery and to examine the role of gastrointestinal glucose sensing in succinate dynamics in healthy subjects.

Research Design And Methods: Cohort I comprised 45 patients with morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes (BMI 39.4 ± 1.

Selection and Evaluation of as a Biocontrol Agent against Toxigenic Moulds in a Dry-Cured Ham Model System.

Toxigenic moulds can develop on the surface of dry-cured meat products during ripening due to their ecological conditions, which constitutes a risk for consumers. A promising strategy to control this hazard is the use of antifungal microorganisms usually found in these foods. However, to date, the effectiveness of gram-positive catalase-positive cocci (GCC+) has not been explored.

Novel Approaches to Minimizing Mycotoxin Contamination.

Contamination of foods and agricultural commodities by various types of toxigenic fungi is a concerning issue for human and animal health [...

Efficacy of the Combined Protective Cultures of and for the Control of Ochratoxin A Hazards in Dry-Cured Ham.

The ecological conditions during the ripening of dry-cured ham favour the development of moulds on its surface, being frequently the presence of , a producer of ochratoxin A (OTA). Biocontrol using moulds and yeasts usually found in dry-cured ham is a promising strategy to minimize this hazard. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of previously selected and strains on growth, OTA production, and relative expression of genes involved in the OTA biosynthesis by .

Enterococcus faecium: a promising protective culture to control growth of ochratoxigenic moulds and mycotoxin production in dry-fermented sausages.

Moulds positively contribute to the development of typical characteristic flavour and aroma of dry-fermented sausages. However, some mould species, such as Penicillium nordicum and Penicillium verrucosum, may contaminate this product with ochratoxin A (OTA). For this reason, the control of toxigenic moulds is needed.

Relationship between cyclopiazonic acid production and gene expression in Penicillium griseofulvum under dry-cured ham processing environmental conditions.

Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA)-producing Penicillium griseofulvum is usually found on the dry-cured ham surface during its ripening. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of temperature and water activity (a) of dry-cured ham processing on growth, CPA production, and temporal relative expression of genes involved in CPA biosynthesis on dry-cured meat-based media. P.

SUCNR1 controls an anti-inflammatory program in macrophages to regulate the metabolic response to obesity.

Succinate is a signaling metabolite sensed extracellularly by succinate receptor 1 (SUNCR1). The accumulation of succinate in macrophages is known to activate a pro-inflammatory program; however, the contribution of SUCNR1 to macrophage phenotype and function has remained unclear. Here we found that activation of SUCNR1 had a critical role in the anti-inflammatory responses in macrophages.

Biocontrol of Penicillium griseofulvum to reduce cyclopiazonic acid contamination in dry-fermented sausages.

Dry-fermented sausages are very appreciated by consumers. The environmental conditions during its ripening favor colonization of their surface by toxigenic molds. These molds contribute to the development of sensory characteristics; however, some of them could produce mycotoxins such as cyclopiazonic acid (CPA).

Sensitive determination of cyclopiazonic acid in dry-cured ham using a QuEChERS method and UHPLC-MS/MS.

An extraction method and an UHPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of CPA in dry-cured ham were developed and validated. To optimise detection and quantification of CPA, the composition of mobile phase, flow rates, gradient-related factors and solvents used for resuspension of dry extracts were evaluated. Besides, four extraction methods were tested.

Detection of changes in mould cell wall stress-related gene expression by a novel reverse transcription real-time PCR method.

The cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway is activated in response to cell wall stresses due to different food-related environments. Rho1 is one of the main regulators within such pathway. The objective of this work was to design an easy-to-use RT-qPCR technique for the evaluation of the Rho1 gene expression useful to measure responses to the presence of cell wall stressors such as the antifungal protein PgAFP.

Influence of ochratoxin A on adaptation of Penicillium nordicum on a NaCl-rich dry-cured ham-based medium.

Iberian dry-cured ham is an important meat product with high consumption worldwide. The special ecological conditions occurring throughout its ripening favour surface colonisation of filamentous fungi. Normally, moulds contribute to the development of the sensory qualities of the ham; however, some toxigenic species, such as Penicillium nordicum, are able to successfully adapt to the NaCl-rich environment found in dry-cured ham and produce ochratoxin A (OTA) in this product.

Gene expression as a good indicator of aflatoxin contamination in dry-cured ham.

Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are mould species producers of aflatoxins (AFs) and may grow on dry-cured ham during the ripening process. In this study, the influence of different water activity (a) and temperatures on the temporal relative expression of three genes involved in AFs biosynthesis and their relationship with AFs production on dry-cured ham-based medium were evaluated. In general, the regulatory aflR and aflS genes showed similar expression patterns, and the expression of the structural aflP gene was much higher than that obtained for aflR and aflS genes.

Multiplex Detection of Toxigenic Penicillium Species.

Multiplex PCR-based methods for simultaneous detection and quantification of different mycotoxin-producing Penicillia are useful tools to be used in food safety programs. These rapid and sensitive techniques allow taking corrective actions during food processing or storage for avoiding accumulation of mycotoxins in them. In this chapter, three multiplex PCR-based methods to detect at least patulin- and ochratoxin A-producing Penicillia are detailed.

Targeting Other Mycotoxin Biosynthetic Genes.

Real-time PCR (qPCR) methods are adequate tools for sensitive and rapid detection and quantification of toxigenic molds contaminating food commodities. Methods of qPCR for quantifying zearalenone (ZEA)-, sterigmatocystin (ST)-, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA)-, and patulin (PAT)-producing molds have been designed on the basis of specific target genes involved in the biosynthesis of these mycotoxins. In this chapter reliable qPCR protocols to detect and quantify such toxigenic molds are described.

Effect of temperature and water activity on growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus on cured meat model systems.

Dry-cured hams may be colonised by aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus during the ripening process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction between non-ionic water stress and temperatures may have on lag phases prior to growth, growth rates and aflatoxin production by two strains of each A. parasiticus and A.

Changes in Kidney Function and in the Rate of Tubular Dysfunction After Tenofovir Withdrawal or Continuation in HIV-Infected Patients.

Introduction: Longitudinal data on the changes in kidney function and tubular abnormalities in case of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) withdrawal or continuation are scarce.

Methods: Prospective study of 228 patients receiving TDF, with 3 sequential determinations of serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), phosphatemia, and different urinary parameters (protein, albumin, phosphaturia, uricosuria, and glycosuria). Changes were analyzed in patients who interrupted TDF as compared to those who continued the same regimen.