Antimicrobial films based on cellulose-derived hydrocolloids. A synergetic effect of host-guest interactions on quality and functionality.

A series of active films based on biodegradable cellulose-derived hydrocolloids capable of controlled release of antimicrobial propionic acid (PA) was prepared. β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD), usually used for encapsulation of lipophilic compounds, was utilized in this research to host the hydrophilic PA. It was found that addition of β-CD to the film forming solutions notably enhanced the hydrocolloid matrix capacity and resulted in up to a ten-fold increase in the amount of uploaded PA.

Possible synergistic effect of nisin and propionic acid on the growth of the mycotoxigenic fungi Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus ochraceus, and Fusarium moniliforme.

The effects of nisin and propionic acid (PA) on aflatoxin production and on mycelial growth and spore germination of the mycotoxigenic fungi Aspergillus parasiticus, A. ochraceus, and Fusarium moniliforme were investigated. The growth of A.

Development of polyclonal antibodies for detection of aflatoxigenic molds involving culture filtrate and chimeric proteins expressed in Escherichia coli.

Polyclonal antibodies (PAb) were raised against an aflatoxigenic strain of Aspergillus parasiticus by using two different sources for antibody elicitation: (i) filtrate of a culture on which the fungus had been grown (ii) and two chimeric proteins, expressed in Escherichia coli as separate products, of the genes ver-1 and apa-2, which are involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis. The gene products were amplified by PCR, and each was cloned into the E. coli expression vector pGEX2T.

Detection of aflatoxigenic molds in grains by PCR.

Aflatoxins are carcinogenic metabolites produced by several members of the Aspergillus flavus group in grains and floods. Three genes, ver-1, omt-1, and apa-2, coding for key enzymes and a regulatory factor in aflatoxin biosynthesis, respectively, have been identified, and their DNA sequences have been published. In the present study, three primer pairs, each complementing the coding portion of one of the genes, were generated.