Publications by authors named "Mariaelena Di Biase"

The aim of this study was to develop an innovative sourdough using dehydrated okra ( L.) pod flour and to use it in the production of bread. Three different flours (sun-dried S, freeze-dried F, oven-dried O) were individually mixed at 9% with wheat flour (Dough Yield 300) and fermented (N: 8.

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In the current study, the prebiotic potential of an innovative functional pasta enriched with 12% (/) inulin was investigated. To this aim, pasta was subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion followed by simulated gut fermentation compared to the control pasta (CTRL) not containing inulin. The incorporation of inulin positively ( < 0.

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The application of mathematical modeling to study and characterize lactic acid bacterial strains with pro-technological and functional features has gained attention in recent years to solve the problems relevant to the variabilities of the fermentation processes of sourdough. Since the key factors contributing to the sourdough quality are relevant to the starter strain growth and its metabolic activity, in this study, the cardinal growth parameters for , temperature (), water activity (), and undissociated lactic acid of the sourdough strain ITM21B, were determined. The strain growth, , organic acids (lactic, acetic, phenyllactic, and hydroxy-phenyllactic), total free amino acids, and proteins were monitored during fermentation of a liquid sourdough based on wheat flour and gluten (Bio21B) after changing the starting , , and inoculum load.

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A metabolic feature of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs), which have technological and functional properties of interest to the food sector. The present study focused on the characterization of the strain C43-11, a high EPS producer in the presence of sucrose, in comparison with a low-producing strain (C2-32), and on possible genetic regulatory elements responsible for the modulation of () genes expression. NMR analysis of the polymeric material produced by the C43-11 strain indicated the presence of dextran consisting mainly of a linear scaffold formed by α-(1-6) glycosidic linkages and a smaller amounts of branches derived from α-(1-2), α-(1-3), and α-(1-4) linkages.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on four bacterial strains used in food fermentation and probiotics, specifically examining their growth in varying temperatures (5.5°C to 40°C) and pH levels (3.2 to 9.1).
  • Researchers found that strain P40 had a narrow temperature growth range, while IMPC4.1 could survive under extreme conditions, highlighting the importance of understanding each strain's growth parameters.
  • By developing models to predict growth and calculate time to reach desired probiotic levels in food (like white cabbage), the study illustrates how predictive microbiology can enhance fermentation processes.
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Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are known for their positive contribute to the technological properties of many foods, including bakery products. These molecules can be obtained performing piloted fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB). In order to select strains able to produce EPS, a screening test in agar medium containing sucrose, fructose or glucose as carbohydrate source was performed on 21 LAB strains.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on determining quality indicators for fat and low-fat raw ground beef by examining changes in various physicochemical and microbiological parameters during refrigerated storage.
  • The meat was stored in air-permeable film at different temperatures, and a specific level of spoilage was identified based on microbial counts, revealing correlations between microbial growth and certain quality indicators like water-holding capacity and color.
  • Two modeling approaches, including partial least squares regression and a square-root-type model, effectively predicted the microbiological status of the ground beef, indicating that both methods can be used to assess meat quality based on different input data.
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In this study, chitosan (C) tripolyphosphate (T) sub-micro particles containing ungeremine (CTUn), an alkaloid particularly active against Penicilliumroqueforti, a fungus responsible of the bakery products deterioration, were prepared through external gelation crosslinking process. The particles were included in a thermoplastic starch based polymer Mater-Bi (MBi), and MBi/CTUn bioactive biocomposites were obtained. The films showed bioactivity against P.

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The study aimed at improving the nutritional profile of yeast leavened salt reduced sliced bread and puccia type bread fortified with a wheat-based ITM21B fermentation product (Bio21B). The protein content of bread made under laboratory conditions was increased by using: (i) chickpea flour (CF) (15% wt/wt flour) and Bio21B or (ii) the Bio21B containing a fungal protease to favour the gluten hydrolysis. Products showed increased protein and total amino acid content and improved protein digestibility.

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In this study, chitosan based microbeads containing Ungeremine, an antimicrobial alkaloid particularly active against Penicillium roqueforti, a filamentous fungus responsible of the bakery products deterioration, were prepared by external gelation by using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as crosslinking agent. The stability of the beads, as well as the loading efficiency of the bioactive molecule, were assessed at different pH and TPP concentrations resulting particularly enhanced at low pH. All the microbeads evidenced antimicrobial activity against Penicillium roqueforti.

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In this paper, a novel and sustainable process for the fruit dehydration was described. Specifically, edible coatings based on pectin and honey were prepared and used as dehydrating and antimicrobial agents of cut fruit samples, in this way promoting the fruit preservation from irreversible deteriorative processes. Pectin-honey coating was tested on apple, cantaloupe melon, mango and pineapple.

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Article Synopsis
  • A fermentation product called Bio21B, made from Lactobacillus plantarum and wheat flour, was used as a flavor enhancer in yeast-leavened bread with reduced salt levels (20% and 50%).
  • Sensory tests showed that the bread with 50% less salt still had a pleasant taste comparable to the regular bread without the fermentation product.
  • Bio21B breads contained unique acids not found in regular bread, while both types had similar amino acids and other compounds that may help balance the taste when salt is reduced.
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The aim of the current study was to improve the antifungal activity of eight lactic acid bacterial (LAB) strains by the addition of phenylpyruvic acid (PPA), a precursor of the antifungal compound phenyllactic acid (PLA), to a defined growth medium (DM). The effect of PPA addition on the LABs antifungal activity related to the production of organic acids (PLA, d-lactic, l-lactic, acetic, citric, formic and 4-hydroxy-phenyllactic acids) and of other phenylpyruvic-derived molecules, was investigated. In the presence of PPA the inhibitory activity (expressed as growth inhibition percentage) against fungal bread contaminants Aspergillus niger and Penicillium roqueforti significantly increased and was, even if not completely, associated to PLA increase (from a mean value of 0.

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Fifty-four spore-forming bacterial strains isolated from bread ingredients and bread, mainly belonging to the genus Bacillus (including Bacillus cereus), together with 11 reference strains were investigated to evaluate their cytotoxic potential and heat survival in order to ascertain if they could represent a risk for consumer health. Therefore, we performed a screening test of cytotoxic activity on HT-29 cells using bacterial culture filtrates after growing bacterial cells in Brain Heart Infusion medium and in the bread-based medium Bread Extract Broth (BEB). Moreover, immunoassays and PCR analyses, specifically targeting already known toxins and related genes of B.

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The survival of 3 pathogens Listeria monocytogenes ATCC19115, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ATCC13311, and Escherichia coli ATCC8739 was evaluated over time in ready-to-eat (RTE) artichoke products processed or not with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei LMGP22043. Both probiotic and standard products (final pH about 4.

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