Harmful Microbes Research Articles

Exploring the Potential of Probiotics as Biocontrol Agent

Threats from pathogenic microbes could affect the food and agricultural sectors. Pathogenic bacteria have the ability to contaminate food at any stage of the production process. Conventional techniques are frequently employed as microbial control measures, including those utilizing antibiotics, disinfectants, and physical procedures. Many nations have passed rules and regulations banning their usage due to the drawbacks of these technologies, including the formation of resistance, low effectiveness, high expense, and negative impacts on food, health, and the environment. An affordable, ecologically friendly alternative strategy is urgently required to solve these issues. When ingested in sufficient proportions, probiotics are live bacteria that protect the host against pathogens and provide nutritional advantages. Probiotic use in animals reduces zoonotic infections in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of animals, preventing the spread of these pathogens through food, according to the food microbiology perspective. In order to improve food safety and healthcare, probiotics have been suggested as an alternative antibacterial method of protection against harmful microbes. With a accentuate the meals and agricultural (livestock and aquaculture sectors) areas, we cover probiotics, their criterion for choosing, their modes of activity, and potential as alternative biocontrol agents in this review

Isolation and characterization of bacteria residing in the oral, gut, and fecal samples of different pheasant species.

There is a paucity of research conducted on microbial prevalence in pheasants. The microbiota of captive birds has zoonotic significance and must be characterize. Present study is therefore planned to assess the microbiota from oral, fecal and gut content of captive avian species. It will be helpful in characterization of harmful microbes. Different samples taken from oral, gut and feces of ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), green pheasants (Phasianus versicolor), golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) and silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera). Samples were collected, diluted, and inoculated onto different agar plates (MacConkey, SS agar, MSA and nutrient agar) for cultivation of bacterial species. Colonies of E.coli, Staphylococcus spp. Brachyspira spp. and Campylobacter spp were observed based on colony morphology. Colony forming unit showed E. coli as frequently found bacteria in fecal, oral and gut contents of all the above pheasants. The overall significance difference was found among bacterial species of golden pheasants, green pheasant, ring-necked pheasant, and silver pheasants. It was concluded that E.coli is predominant isolated from heathy pheasants followed by Campylobacter, Staphylococcus and Brachyspira.

Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Aerobic Nasal Microflora of Nigerian Indigenous Pigs

There is increasing global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mostly with regards to the exchange of potentially harmful microbes across human and animal populations. There is also limited information in literature on the microbial population of Nigerian Indigenous Pigs (NIP). This study was designed as a preliminary investigation to provide baseline information on the AMR profile of nasal flora of NIP. Thirty-one nasal swabs were collected from NIPs on the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Bacteria were isolated, characterized and identified using cultural and biochemical characteristics. Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST) was carried out on the pure strains of bacteria using the gram positive and negative antibiotic sensitivity discs. Three media were used for isolation; Nutrient agar, MacConkey agar and Mannitol Salt Agar. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Ten multi-drug resistant bacteria were identified; Staphylococcus aureus (96.8%), Escherichia coli (87.1%), Shigella species (80.6%), Bacillus species 51.6% (16/31) and Serratia species 51.6% (16/31) were the most frequently isolated. Of the isolated organisms, the gram positive organisms showed high resistance to Ceftazidime (81.1%), Ceftriaxone (86.9%), Cloxacilin (93.4%), Augmentin (100%), and Cefuroxime (100%) with considerable sensitivity to Ofloxacin (74.6%) and Gentamicin (80.9%). While the gram negative bacteria were highly resistant to Tetracycline (77.6%), Cefuroxime (90%), Ceftriaxone (87.1%), Sulbactarm (83.2%) and Ampiclox (85.7%) with considerable sensitivity to Levofloxacin (78.9%) and Nitrofurantoin (93.4%). This study reveals a high microbial load of AMR bacteria in the nasal cavity of NIPs making them a possible reservoir. These findings unveil the need for genetic data to determine the pattern, extent and basis of AMR resistance in the nasal flora of NIPs. We therefore recommend more rational use of antibiotics in pigs and other food animals to safeguard animal and human health.

Gut microbiota mediates positive effects of liraglutide on dyslipidemia in mice fed a high-fat diet.

Except for improving glycemic control, liraglutide, one of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, has exerted promising therapeutic effects for dyslipidemia. It has been proved that gut microbiota plays a dramatic role in regulating lipid metabolism. This study aims to explore whether liraglutide could improve dyslipidemia by modulating the gut microbiota in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). The C57BL/6 mice were fed a HFD to establish an animal model of dyslipidemia, and then administered with liraglutide or normal saline (NS) for 12 weeks. Indices of glucolipid metabolism were evaluated. Gut microbiota of the mice was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Compared with HFD group, liraglutide significantly alleviated weight, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels, meanwhile elevating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) levels (all p < 0.05). The gut microbiota analysis revealed that liraglutide greatly reduced the relative abundance of Firmicutes and augmented that of Bacteroidetes, with a concomitant drop in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Meanwhile, liraglutide dramatically changed the overall composition, promoted the growth of beneficial microbes (Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, Parabacteroides, Oscillospira, etc.), and inhibited the growth of harmful microbes (AF12, Shigella, Proteobacteria, Xenorhabdus, etc.). Especially, the relative abundance of Akkermansia increased the most after liraglutide treatment. Correlation analysis suggested that TC and LDL were positively correlated with some harmful bacteria, and negatively associated with beneficial bacteria. This study confirmed that liraglutide had a certain therapeutic effect on dyslipidemia in HFD-fed mice and could regulate the composition of the gut microbiota associated with lipid metabolism, especially Akkermansia. Thus, affecting gut microbiota might be a potential mechanism of liraglutide in attenuating dyslipidemia.

Potential environmental and human health risks caused by heavy metals and pathogens from illegal landfill sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, several illegal waste dumps pose a significant threat to soil and water contamination. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of heavy metal contamination of soils and microbiological contamination of water near investigated landfills. The goal was to identify the harmful effects of illegal landfills on the environment and public health, as well as assessing the potential of contaminants to pollute soil and water resources. Using an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, the amounts and distribution of four heavy metals (Cd, Co, Pb, and Cr) in soil at four illegal landfills in Central Bosnia were studied. Three water samples collected near the dumpsites studied were tested for microbes. Bacteriological analyses of water included determination of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, total coliform and fecal coliform bacteria and fecal enterococci. Quantitative results were analyzed using an analysis of variance and Tukey HSD post hoc test. Concentrations of Cd (4.96 mg/kg) and Pb (206.97 mg/kg) recorded in soil at particular sites were above the limits of maximum allowable concentration. Cr and Pb values in soil samples were relatively higher on average than that of Cd and Co. Enrichment factor and pollution load index indicated high concentration of heavy metals in soil, especially Cd. Based on these results, waste from illegal landfills may release considerable amounts of harmful metals and microbes into the environment.

Active Agents Incorporated in Polymeric Substrates to Enhance Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties in Food Packaging Applications

Active packaging has played a significant role in consumers’ health and green environment over the years. Synthetic polymers, such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), etc., and naturally derived ones, such as cellulose, starch, chitosan, etc., are extensively used as packaging materials due to their broad range of desired properties (transparence, processability, gas barrier properties, mechanical strength, etc.). In recent years, the food packaging field has been challenged to deliver food products free from microbes that cause health hazards. However, most of the used polymers lack such properties. Owing to this, active agents such as antimicrobial agents and antioxidants have been broadly used as potential additives in food packaging substrates, to increase the shelf life, the quality and the safety of food products. Both synthetic active agents, such as Ag, Cu, ZnO, TiO2, nanoclays, and natural active agents, such as essential oils, catechin, curcumin, tannin, gallic acid, etc., exhibit a broad spectrum of antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, while restricting the growth of harmful microbes. Various bulk processing techniques have been developed over the years to produce appropriate food packaging products and to add active agents on polymer matrices or on their surface. Among these techniques, extrusion molding is the most used method for mass production of food packaging with incorporated active agents into polymer substrates, while injection molding, thermoforming, blow molding, electrospinning, etc., are used to a lower extent. This review intends to study the antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of various active agents incorporated into polymeric substrates and their bulk processing technologies involved in the field of food packaging.

Antimicrobial peptide surrogates based on active moiety of dermasetin s4: A history in Peptide-mimetics Research

I am occupied with this problem for over 20 years now, I hope the remedy is found for all that are victims of the harmful microbes, but the problem is really huge and worldwide. I am an example that in 2012 survived blood-sepsis but was treated.as a last resort, with veterinary medicine used for pigs and chicken, COLISTIN (POLYMYXIN B). Waving for 1 week from worlds (saw the Whalefish and the wild Oxen) to this world (BIBI, SURE).

Bacteriophages diversity in India's major river Ganga: a repository to regulate pathogenic bacteria in the aquatic environment.

Bacteriophages are key viruses that can kill thousands of harmful microbes generally present at polluted sites. Such bacteriophages are abundantly present in the river Ganga, where millions of people in India and abroad drink its water and take baths every day for spiritual reasons. Besides bacteriophages, several pathogenic and zoonotic microbes are present in the river Ganga. It is interesting to study the diversity and abundance of bacteria and their respective phages present in polluted or non-polluted sites. Thus, the metagenomics study was carried out at the most polluted sites of river Ganga near Kanpur and non-polluted sites at Farakka, which harbors several harmful bacteria and their phages. The results revealed a significantly higher percentage of Microviridae phage family, ssDNA viruses, and Mimiviridae virus family near Kanpur than Farakka. In addition, compared to Kanpur, Farakka has a more significant percentage of Myoviridae, an unidentified phage family, and Retroviridae viral families. Despite heavy drainage of untreated and contaminated effluents from the leather industry, pesticide industry, paper mills, metropolitan cities, and other sources, the vast number of said phages kills several harmful pathogenic microbes in polluted sites to maintain the Ganga water's healing power or natural sterility. In a polluted aquatic environment, the varieties of bacteriophages were identified in the Ganga and their interaction with the microbial host. The taxonomic diversity of several bacteriophages found in pathogenic host systems was investigated to get exceptional knowledge of these small viruses in the aquatic environment.

Hydrophobic-hydrophilic Alternation: An effective Pattern to de novo Designed Antimicrobial Peptides.

The antimicrobial peptide (AMP) is a class of molecules that are active against a variety of microorganisms, from bacterial and cancer cells to fungi. Most AMPs are natural products, as part of an organism's own defense system against harmful microbes. However, the growing prevalence of drug resistance has forced researchers to design more promising engineered antimicrobial agents. Inspired by the amphiphilic detergents, the hydrophobic-hydrophilic alternation pattern was considered to be a simple but effective way to de novo design AMPs. In this model, hydrophobic amino acids (leucine, isoleucine etc.) and hydrophilic amino acids (arginine, lysine etc.) were arranged in an alternating way in the peptide sequence. The majority of this type of peptides have a clear hydrophilic-hydrophobic interface, which allows the molecules to have good solubility in both water and organic solvents. When they come into contact with hydrophobic membranes, many peptides undergo a conformational transformation, facilitating themself to insert into the cellular envelope. Moreover, positive-charged peptide amphiphiles tended to have an affinity with negatively-charged membrane interfaces and further led to envelope damage and cell death. Herein, several typical design patterns have been reviewed. Though varying in amino acid sequence, they all basically follow the rule of alternating arrangement of hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues. Based on that, researchers synthesized some lead compounds with favorable antimicrobial activities and preliminarily investigated their possible mode of action. Besides membrane disruption, these AMPs are proven to kill microbes in multiple mechanisms. These results deepened our understanding of AMPs' design and provided a theoretical basis for constructing peptide candidates with better biocompatibility and therapeutic potential.

In vitro fermentation of fructooligosaccharide and galactooligosaccharide and their effects on gut microbiota and SCFAs in infants

• Gut microbes can degrade FOS and GOS to produce SCFAs and lactate. • The change of intestinal flora were the main factors affecting SCFAs accumulation. • The abundance of CAZymes was significantly higher in the GOS and FOS + GOS groups. • FOS and GOS may increase beneficial microbes and inhibit harmful microbes. Oligosaccharides are widely added to infant formula milk powders as prebiotics for intestinal health. Using in vitro fermentation conditions, this study investigated the fermentation characteristics of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) with infant fecal inoculum. The changes in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and lactate production were monitored by HPLC. The contents of SCFAs and lactate increased significantly in the GOS and FOS + GOS groups. Furthermore, the metagenomic analysis revealed that microbial communities were distinctively different. Most bacteria were significantly positively correlated with SCFAs production and negatively correlated with pH, particularly Bifidobacterium , Enterococcus , Weissella and Streptococcus . More importantly, the relative abundance of most carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes, EC:2.3.1.54, EC:2.3.1.9 and EC:2.8.3.8, etc.) were significantly higher in the GOS and FOS + GOS groups. These results suggested that FOS and GOS had a significant regulatory effect on the composition and metabolism of the intestinal microbiota, further promoting the production of SCFAs and lactate.

Pomegranate Pomace Extract with Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, and Antiviral Activity Enhances the Quality of Strawberry-Yogurt Smoothie.

Valorizing the wastes of the food industry sector as additives in foods and beverages enhances human health and preserves the environment. In this study, pomegranate pomace (PP) was obtained from the company Schweppes and exposed to the production of polyphenols and fiber-enriched fractions, which were subsequently included in a strawberry-yogurt smoothie (SYS). The PP is rich in carbohydrates and fibers and has high water-absorption capacity (WAC) and oil-absorption capacity (OAC) values. The LC/MS phenolic profile of the PP extract indicated that punicalagin (199 g/L) was the main compound, followed by granatin B (60 g/L) and pedunculagin A (52 g/L). Because of the high phenolic content of PP extract, it (p ≤ 0.05) has high antioxidant activity with SC50 of 200 µg/mL, besides scavenging 95% of DPPH radicals compared to ascorbic acid (92%); consequently, it reduced lung cancer cell lines' viability to 86%, and increased caspase-3 activity. Additionally, it inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi i.e., L. monocytogenes, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia, A. niger, and C. glabrata, in the 45-160 µg/mL concentration range while killing the tested isolates with 80-290 µg/mL concentrations. These isolates were selected based on the microbial count of spoiled smoothie samples and were identified at the gene level by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The interaction between Spike and ACE2 was inhibited by 75.6%. The PP extract at four levels (0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.4 mg/mL) was added to strawberry-yogurt smoothie formulations. During 2 months storage at 4 °C, the pH values, vitamin C, and total sugars of all SYS decreased. However, the decreases were gradually mitigated in PP-SYS because of the high phenolic content in the PP extract compared to the control. The PP-SYS3 and PP-SYS4 scored higher in flavor, color, and texture than in other samples. In contrast, acidity, fat, and total soluble solids (TSS) increased at the end of the storage period. High fat and TSS content are observed in PP-SYS because of the high fiber content in PP. The PP extract (1.2 and 1.6 mg/mL) decreases the color differences and reduces harmful microbes in PP-SYS compared to the control. Using pomegranate pomace as a source of polyphenols and fiber in functional foods enhances SYS's physiochemical and sensory qualities.

Effects of exopolysaccharides from Antrodia cinnamomea on inflammation and intestinal microbiota disturbance induced by antibiotics in mice

Antrodia cinnamomea is an important edible and medicinal mushroom, and it exhibits multiple biological activities, such as hepatoprotection, antitumor, antivirus, and immunoregulation. Polysaccharides are the main products of A. cinnamomea in submerged fermentation. In this work, exopolysaccharides from A. cinnamomea (AEPS) were extracted and purified by alcohol precipitation and Sevag method. Composition analysis revealed that AEPS were primarily composed of three distinct polysaccharides with mean molecular weights of 1,013, 233, and 28,743 kDa, accounting for 78%, 18%, and 4% of AEPS, respectively. The AEPS have β-type glycosidic bonds and relatively strong resistance to digestion. In vivo experiments showed that the intragastric administration of AEPS in mice with medium dose (0.25 g/kg body weight of mice) has the following effects: remarkably alleviate lincomycin hydrochloride (LIH)-induced injuries to immune organs; enhance the relative abundance of beneficial microorganisms such as Lactobacillus, Roseburia, Ligilactobacillus, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group in the intestinal tract; greatly reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and the relative abundances of harmful microbes such as Enterococcus and Shigella; regulate the balance of the gut microflora; and relieve LIH-induced symptoms such as diarrhea, inflammation, and weight loss. These findings might represent a new alternative to develop novel multifunctional carbohydrate prebiotics.

Functional organic fertilizers can alleviate tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) continuous cropping obstacle via ameliorating soil physicochemical properties and bacterial community structure.

Continuous cropping obstacle (CCO) in tobacco is a prevalent and intractable issue and has not yet been effectively solved. Many researchers have favored exploring environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions to CCO (e.g, the application of (bio-) organic fertilizers). Therefore, to study the effects of functional organic fertilizers (FOFs) on tobacco CCO, we applied five types of fertilizers in a tobacco continuous cropping field with red soil (i.e., CF: tobacco-special chemical fertilizers; VOF: vermicompost-based FOF; HOF: humic acid-based FOF; WOF: wood biochar-based FOF; COF: compound FOF). The tobacco plant agronomic traits, leaf yield, economic value, and chemical quality (nicotine, total sugar, K2O, Cl contents, etc.) were evaluated via the continuous flow method. Meanwhile, we determined rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties, phenolic acids content, and bacterial community diversity by high-throughput sequencing. The results show that FOFs improved the tobacco plant agronomic traits, leaf yield (by 2.9-42.8%), value (by 1.2-47.4%), and chemical quality when compared with CF. More content of NH4 +-N, available P, and available K were discovered in the rhizosphere soil in VOF, HOF, and WOF. The rhizosphere sinapic acid and total phenolic acids content declined in the FOF treatments (1.23-1.56 and 7.95-8.43mgkg-1 dry soil, respectively) versus those in the CF treatment (2.01 and 10.10mgkg-1 dry soil, respectively). Moreover, the rhizosphere bacterial community structure changed under FOF functions: the beneficial microbes Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Streptomyces, and Bacillus increased, and the harmful microbes Acidobacteria and Gemmatimonadota decreased in abundance. There was a positive correlation between the tobacco leaf yield and soil NH4 +-N, TC content, and the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota. In summary, the application of VOF and WOF is a modest, practical, and environmentally friendly strategy to alleviate tobacco CCO from the standpoint of recycling solid waste.

Endophytes and their potential in biotic stress management and crop production.

Biotic stress is caused by harmful microbes that prevent plants from growing normally and also having numerous negative effects on agriculture crops globally. Many biotic factors such as bacteria, fungi, virus, weeds, insects, and nematodes are the major constrains of stress that tends to increase the reactive oxygen species that affect the physiological and molecular functioning of plants and also led to the decrease in crop productivity. Bacterial and fungal endophytes are the solution to overcome the tasks faced with conventional farming, and these are environment friendly microbial commodities that colonize in plant tissues without causing any damage. Endophytes play an important role in host fitness, uptake of nutrients, synthesis of phytohormone and diminish the injury triggered by pathogens via antibiosis, production of lytic enzymes, secondary metabolites, and hormone activation. They are also reported to help plants in coping with biotic stress, improving crops and soil health, respectively. Therefore, usage of endophytes as biofertilizers and biocontrol agent have developed an eco-friendly substitute to destructive chemicals for plant development and also in mitigation of biotic stress. Thus, this review highlighted the potential role of endophytes as biofertilizers, biocontrol agent, and in mitigation of biotic stress for maintenance of plant development and soil health for sustainable agriculture.

Sequestration of gut pathobionts in intraluminal casts, a mechanism to avoid dysregulated T cell activation by pathobionts

T cells that express the transcription factor RORγ, regulatory (Treg), or conventional (Th17) are strongly influenced by intestinal symbionts. In a genetic approach to identify mechanisms underlying this influence, we performed a screen for microbial genes implicated, in germfree mice monocolonized with Escherichia coli Nissle. The loss of capsule-synthesis genes impaired clonal expansion and differentiation of intestinal RORγ+ T cells. Mechanistic exploration revealed that the capsule-less mutants remained able to induce species-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) and were highly IgA-coated. They could still trigger myeloid cells, and more effectively damaged epithelial cells invitro. Unlike wild-type microbes, capsule-less mutants were mostly engulfed in intraluminal casts, large agglomerates composed of myeloid cells extravasated into the gut lumen. We speculate that sequestration in luminal casts of potentially harmful microbes, favored by IgA binding, reduces the immune system's actual exposure, preserving host-microbe equilibrium. The variable immunostimulation by microbes that has been charted in recent years may not solely be conditioned by triggering molecules or metabolites but also by physical limits to immune system exposure.

The Seafarer’s Level of Understanding on Ballast Water Management Convention

Due to practical and economic considerations, the sea transportation is increasingly in demand as a means of transporting world trade activities. The ships without cargo will use ballast water as a stabilizer. Ballast water is often carried by various foreign microorganisms that harm the ecosystem. IMO promulgated the 8 September 2017 Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention to prevent the spread of harmful pathogenic microbes. This study aims to determine the understanding of seafarers of the provisions of BWM. The descriptive-analytical method used a cross-sectional approach using questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The sample consisted of 47 seafarers; 3 samples were removed because they did not meet the requirements. The results show that most respondents do not understand the provisions of BWM correctly. None of the respondents knew when the BWM was enacted. In some questions, less than 10% of the answers are correct. However, on the importance of handling ballast water, there is 43.18% answered correctly, meaning that there is a concern for respondents about the dangers of it, and it is essential to address it immediately. We suggest that socialization among seafarers can be through seminars or special training on ballast water.

Upgrading the physiochemical and sensory quality of yogurt by incorporating polyphenol-enriched citrus pomaces with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities.

Industrial pomaces are cheap sources of phenolic compounds and fibers but dumping them in landfills has negative environmental and health consequences. Therefore, valorizing these wastes in the food industry as additives significantly enhances the final product. In this study, the citrus pomaces, orange pomace (OP), mandarin pomace (MP), and lemon pomace (LP) were collected by a juice company and subjected to producing polyphenols and fiber-enriched fractions, which are included in functional yogurt; the pomace powder with different levels (1, 3, and 5%) was homogenized in cooled pasteurized milk with other ingredients (sugar and starter) before processing the yogurt fermentation. The HPLC phenolic profile showed higher phenolic content in OP extract, i.e., gallic acid (1,702.65), chlorogenic acid (1,256.22), naringenin (6,450.57), catechin (1,680.65), and propyl gallate (1,120.37) ppm with massive increases over MP (1.34–37 times) and LP (1.49–5 times). The OP extract successfully scavenged 87% of DPPH with a relative increase of about 16 and 32% over LP and MP, respectively. Additionally, it inhibits 77–90% of microbial growth at 5–8 μg/mL while killing them in the 9–14 μg/mL range. Furthermore, OP extract successfully reduced 77% of human breast carcinoma. Each of pomace powder sample (OP, MP, LP) was added to yogurt at three levels; 1, 3, and 5%, while the physiochemical, sensorial, and microbial changes were monitored during 21 days of cold storage. OP yogurt had the highest pH and lowest acidity, while LP yogurt recorded the reverse. High fat and total soluble solids (TSS) content are observed in OP yogurt because of the high fiber content in OP. The pH values of all yogurt samples decreased, while acidity, fat, and TSS increased at the end of the storage period. The OP yogurts 1 and 3% scored higher in color, flavor, and structure than other samples. By measuring the microbial load of yogurt samples, the OP (1 and 3%) contributes to the growth of probiotics (Lactobacillus spp) in yogurt samples and reduces harmful microbes. Using citrus pomace as a source of polyphenols and fiber in functional foods is recommended to enhance their physiochemical and sensory quality.

A Comprehensive Review on the Processing of Dried Fish and the Associated Chemical and Nutritional Changes.

Fish is a good source of nutrients, although it is easily spoiled. As such, drying is a common method of preserving fish to compensate for its perishability. Dried fish exists in different cultures with varying types of fish used and drying methods. These delicacies are not only consumed for their convenience and for their health benefits, as discussed in this review. Most commonly, salt and spices are added to dried fish to enhance the flavours and to decrease the water activity (aw) of the fish, which further aids the drying process. For fish to be dried effectively, the temperature, drying environment, and time need to be considered along with the butchering method used on the raw fish prior to drying. Considering the various contributing factors, several physicochemical and biochemical changes will certainly occur in the fish. In this review, the pH, water activity (aw), lipid oxidation, and colour changes in fish drying are discussed as well as the proximate composition of dried fish. With these characteristic changes in dried fish, the sensory, microbial and safety aspects of dried fish are also affected, revolving around the preferences of consumers and their health concerns, especially based on how drying is efficient in eliminating/reducing harmful microbes from the fish. Interestingly, several studies have focused on upscaling the efficiency of dried fish production to generate a safer line of dried fish products with less effort and time. An exploratory approach of the published literature was conducted to achieve the purpose of this review. This evaluation gathers important information from all available library databases from 1990 to 2022. In general, this review will benefit the fishery and food industry by enabling them to enhance the efficiency and safety of fish drying, hence minimising food waste without compromising the quality and nutritional values of dried fish.

Insights into the deriving of rhizosphere microenvironments and its effects on the growth of authentic Angelica sinensis seedlings under continuous monoculture

PurposeContinuous monoculture leads to deterioration of soil microenvironment, which can severely threat the quality and efficiency of Angelica sinensis (A. sinensis), especially for seedlings production. However, little attention has been paid to investigate how continuous monocropping affects the growth of A. sinensis seedling, rhizosphere microbial populations, and nutrient status.MethodsA field experiment consisting of two different planting patterns — raising A. sinensis seedlings in reclamation alpine uncultivated meadow (RW) and 1-year continuous monoculture (CC), was carried out at Min County, Gansu province, China.ResultThe results showed that compared with RW, the growth rate and valid quantity of A. sinensis seedlings were significantly reduced by 195.4% and 36.7% in CC, respectively. Continuous monocropping significantly increased the rhizosphere soil pH value during the growing season, ranging from 6.18 to 7.10, while reducing the content of SOM, total N, and available P and K. Glomalin, AMF spore densities, and the number of actinomycetes, ammonifiers, and azotobacter were also decreased by CC. The CC treatment significantly increased the abundance of fungi. The diversity and richness of bacteria in CC were lower than RW. Furthermore, the composition and structure of bacterial and fungal flora also changed and that the abundance of beneficial bacteria decreased, while the abundance of pathogens increased in CC. Thus, CC appeared to completely upend the relationship between soil nutrient availability and microbial activity.ConclusionThe results illustrated that continuous monoculture led the flora of bacteria and fungi to changed dramatically, with the abundance of beneficial bacteria decreased and the abundance of harmful microbes, such as Lasiosphaeriaceae, Vishniacozyma, Myrmecridium, and Hypocreales, increased. The function of microbial population has changed from “beneficial bacteria dominated” to “harmful microbes dominant.” We concluded that continuous monoculture significantly reduced the growth and the efficiency of A. sinensis seedlings and deteriorated the rhizosphere soil microenvironment by increasing pH and decreasing nutrient availability, as well as altering the function of interactions between soil nutrients and microbial populations, thereby resulting in an unsuitable microenvironment for A. sinensis seedlings growth.

Food irradiation: an effective but under-utilized technique for food preservations.

While food borne pathogens constitute a major public health problem world-wide, food post-harvest losses is considered to be the leading cause of hunger and malnutrition globally. Food irradiation is a process of preserving food in which food are exposed to appropriate doses of ionizing radiation in order to kill insects, molds and other potentially harmful microbes and allergens. The process involves carefully exposing food to a measured amount of ionizing radiation in a special processing room on a conveyor belt for a specified duration. The radiation sources could be gamma ray, electron beam or X-ray. The radiation doses could be high, low or medium depending on the products to be irradiated and the target organism to be eradicated. Irradiation technology has various applications including sprout inhibition in root and tubers, disinfestation in cereals and pulses, reduction or elimination of food borne pathogens in vegetables and animal products and delayed ripening of fruits. All these applications are intended to increase shelf life and eliminate food allegenicity. Despite consumer concern on the safety and quality of irradiated foods, it is gradually gaining acceptance due to increased awareness and the perceived safety and quality as symbolized by the Radura symbol. With the increasing acceptance and commercialization of food irradiation, it could play an important role in solving the problems of food insecurity and food borne illnesses in the world.