Search results for "UCON"

Development of enzymatically-active bacterial cellulose membranes through stable immobilization of an engineered beta-galactosidase

2018

Enzymatically-active bacterial cellulose (BC) was prepared by non-covalent immobilization of a hybrid enzyme composed by a β-galactosidase from Thermotoga maritima (TmLac) and a carbohydrate binding module (CBM2) from Pyrococcus furiosus. TmLac-CBM2 protein was bound to BC, with higher affinity at pH 6.5 than at pH 8.5 and with high specificity compared to the non-engineered enzyme. Both hydrated (HBC) and freeze-dried (DBC) bacterial cellulose showed equivalent enzyme binding efficiencies. Initial reaction rate of HBC-bound enzyme was higher than DBC-bound and both of them were lower than the free enzyme. However, enzyme performance was similar in all three cases for the hydrolysis of 5% l…

Polyphasic approach to study physico-chemical, microbiological and sensorial characteristics of artisanal Nicastrese goat's cheese

2018

Abstract Nicastrese goat's cheese is produced in the South of Italy under traditional procedures, from raw goat milk without any starter cultures addition. Samples from milk to ripened cheese provided by 4 different farms were subjected to a polyphasic approach to study their physico-chemical, microbiological and sensorial characteristics. In addition, volatile organic compounds formation in the final products was studied. Overall, gross composition and microbiological data revealed a significant variability among samples, which was confirmed by both the volatile organic compounds generated in the final products and by the sensorial data. Conventional technique allowed us to identify 720 is…

A concept of mould spoilage prevention and acrylamide reduction in wheat bread: application of lactobacilli in combination with a cranberry coating

2018

In this study, a concept for wheat bread moulding prevention and acrylamide reduction has been developed. It includes various lactic acid bacteria (LAB), selected according to their technological, antifungal and acrylamide-lowering properties, in combination with an antifungal cranberry coating for wheat bread surface treatment. All the tested strains (Pediococcus pentosaceus LUHS183, Pediococcus acidilactici LUHS29, Lactobacillus paracasei LUHS244, Lactobacillus brevis LUHS173, Lactobacillus plantarum LUHS135 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides LUHS242) showed antifungal activities against Aspergillus nidulans, Penicillium funiculosum and Fusarium poae. However, L. brevis LUHS173 and Leu. mesent…

Monitoring of wheat lactic acid bacteria from the field until the first step of dough fermentation.

2017

The present work was carried out to retrieve the origin of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in sourdough. To this purpose, wheat LAB were monitored from ear harvest until the first step of fermentation for sourdough development. The influence of the geographical area and variety on LAB species/strain composition was also determined. The ears of four Triticum durum varieties (Duilio, Iride, Saragolla and Simeto) were collected from several fields located within the Palermo province (Sicily, Italy) and microbiologically investigated. In order to trace the transfer of LAB during the consecutive steps of manipulation, ears were transformed aseptically and, after threshing, milling and fermentation, s…

Glycolysis/gluconeogenesis- and tricarboxylic acid cycle–related metabolites, Mediterranean diet, and type 2 diabetes

2020

Background: Glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites have been associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the associations of these metabolites with T2D incidence and the potential effect of dietary interventions remain unclear. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the association of baseline and 1-y changes in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and TCA cycle metabolites with insulin resistance and T2D incidence, and the potential modifying effect of Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) interventions. Methods: We included 251 incident T2D cases and 638 noncases in a nested case-cohort study within the PREDIMED Study during median follow-up of 3.8 y. Participants were alloc…

Antifungal prophylaxis: update on an old strategy.

2016

Characteristics and Management of Candidaemia Episodes in an Established Candida auris Outbreak

2020

The multi-resistant yeast Candida auris has become a global public health threat because of its ease to persist and spread in clinical environments, especially in intensive care units. One of the most severe manifestations of invasive candidiasis is candidaemia, whose epidemiology has evolved to more resistant non-albicansCandida species, such as C. auris. It is crucial to establish infection control policies in order to control an outbreak due to nosocomial pathogens, including the implementation of screening colonisation studies. We describe here our experience in managing a C. auris outbreak lasting more than two and a half years which, despite our efforts in establishing control measure…

Probiotic Potential of Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides and Lactobacillus Strains Isolated From Yaks

2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity and safety of bacterias with probiotic potential isolated from free-ranging Tibetan yaks in high altitude regions of Tibet. For this purpose, one Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides strain (named P1) and two Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus mucosae strains (named LY1 and LY2), respectively, were isolated from fecal samples of Tibetan yaks. The antibacterial activity of the isolates was studied using Escherichia coli (E. coli ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus ATCC 26112), and Salmonella enteritidis (S. enteritidis NCTC 13349) as indicator pathogens. The results showed that LY1 had high antibacterial efficac…

The hydrolysis of 6-phosphogluconolactone in the second step of pentose phosphate pathway occurs via a two-water mechanism.

2018

Hydrolysis reaction marks the basis of life yet the mechanism of this crucial biochemical reaction is not completely understood. We recently reported the mechanisms of hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphate and phosphate monoester. These two reactions hydrolyze P-O-P and P-O-C linkages, respectively. Here, we present the mechanism of hydrolysis of δ-6-phosphogluconolactone, which is an important precursor in the second step of the pentose phosphate pathway. Its hydrolysis requires the cleavage of C-O-C linkage and its mechanism is hitherto unknown. We report three mechanisms of hydrolysis of δ-6-phosphogluconolactone based on density functional computations. In the energetically most favorab…

Temperature changes in 2% chlorhexidine gluconate using two activation methods with different intensity levels

2018

Background Chlorhexidine is an irrigant solution widely used in root canal treatment because of its good antimicrobial properties. However, its mixture with sodium hypochlorite results in the appearance of substance called p-chloroaniline, a cytotoxic substance. This is also found when chlorhexidine is heated. The use of passive ultrasonic irrigation is related to an irrigant thermal increase, which can cause the appearance of p-chloroaniline. Thus, the objective is to establish the influence of ultrasonic and sonic activation, with the use of different intensities, upon the temperature of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX). Material and methods The following groups were established: control (wi…