Publications by authors named "Pedro V Martinez-Culebras"

Edible Insects (EIs) are an alternative source of bioactive compounds such as proteins or fatty acids and micronutrients as vitamins or minerals, thus showing potential to replace traditional foodstuffs in an economical and environmentally friendly way. Nonetheless, EIs can accumulate hazardous chemicals such as mycotoxins and heavy metals. The aim of the present study is to determine mycotoxins and heavy metal content in raw insect samples and those resulting products obtained after supercritical fluid extraction (SFE).

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The control of heat-resistant fungi (HRFs), which cause spoilage of heat-treated fruit products, is considered a challenge for the fruit juice and beverage industry and requires new strategies for the development of antifungal compounds. In this study, four antifungal proteins (AFPs) from Penicillium digitatum (PdAfpB) and Penicillium expansum (PeAfpA, PeAfpB and PeAfpC), were evaluated against conidia from a representative collection of HRFs. A total of 19 strains from 16 different species belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Hamigera, Paecilomyces, Rasamsonia, Sarocladium, Talaromyces and Thermoascus were included in the study.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on identifying fungal species responsible for spoilage in sliced bread and assessing the effectiveness of antifungal proteins (AFPs) derived from fungi against these species.
  • The main fungal culprits identified were various Penicillium species, including P. roqueforti and P. chrysogenum, as well as some Aspergillus species.
  • Among the AFPs tested, PdAfpB and PeAfpA exhibited strong antifungal properties, with PdAfpB showing notable efficacy in reducing spoilage fungal growth in bread, indicating its potential as a natural preservative to extend shelf life.
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Fungal antifungal proteins (AFPs) have attracted attention as novel biofungicides. Their exploitation requires safe and cost-effective producing biofactories. Previously, Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium digitatum produced recombinant AFPs with the use of a P.

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The global challenge to prevent fungal spoilage and mycotoxin contamination on food and feed requires the development of new antifungal strategies. Antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs) with antifungal activity are gaining much interest as natural antifungal compounds due to their properties such as structure diversity and function, antifungal spectrum, mechanism of action, high stability and the availability of biotechnological production methods. Given their multistep mode of action, the development of fungal resistance to AMPs is presumed to be slow or delayed compared to conventional fungicides.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study addresses the need for new antifungal strategies to combat fungal spoilage and mycotoxin contamination in food and feed.
  • Researchers tested four antifungal proteins (AFPs) from two types of Penicillium fungi against a wide range of harmful mycotoxin-producing fungi.
  • Results showed that one protein, PeAfpA, effectively inhibited the growth of all tested fungi, while other proteins also displayed significant antifungal activity, highlighting their potential for future applications in food preservation and crop protection.
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The present study addressed the protective effects against oxidative stress (OS) of a cocoa powder extract (CPEX) on the protein expression profile of . A proteomic analysis was performed after culture preincubation with CPEX either without stress (-OS) or under stress conditions (+OS) (5 mM of HO). LC-MS/MS identified 33 differentially expressed proteins (-OS: 14, +OS: 19) that were included By Gene Ontology analysis in biological processes: biosynthesis of amino acids, carbohydrate metabolism and reactive oxygen species metabolic process.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates how oxidative stress affects the production of ochratoxin A (OTA) in the fungus Aspergillus carbonarius, using the oxidant menadione and various antioxidants like BHT, catechin, and resveratrol.
  • - Results showed that menadione increases both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and OTA levels while negatively impacting fungal growth, and that certain antioxidants can also lead to higher OTA levels despite minimal impact on growth at low concentrations.
  • - Ultimately, the findings suggest that oxidative stress enhances OTA production in the fungus, and relying solely on natural antioxidants to control OTA contamination in grapes is ineffective.
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Aspergillus carbonarius is the main species responsible for ochratoxin A accumulation in wine grapes and consequently, its rapid and sensitive detection is increasingly investigated. A new real-time PCR (RTi-PCR) based procedure was developed for the rapid and specific detection and quantification of A. carbonarius in wine grapes.

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The population structure and genetic variation of two begomoviruses: tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV) and tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) in tomato crops of Spain were studied from 1997 until 2001. Restriction digestion of a genomic region comprised of the CP coat protein gene (CPR) of 358 TYLC virus isolates enabled us to classify them into 14 haplotypes. Nucleotide sequences of two genomic regions: CPR, and the surrounding intergenic region (SIR) were determined for at least two isolates per haplotype.

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