Functional characterization of the riboflavin-overproducing and dextran-producing Weissella cibaria BAL3C-5 C120T strain for the development of biofortified plant-based beverages

17 p.-8 fig.-5 tab.Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is essential for human beings and it has to be provided by healthy nutrition. The use of fermentation with riboflavin-overproducing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) represents an ideal strategy to generate, by in situ biofortification, functional drinks. These beverages can positively contribute to consumer health and address nutritional deficiencies. In the present work, the functional capabilities of Weissella cibaria BAL3C-5 C120T for riboflavin-overproduction and dextran-production during fermentation of oat-, rice-, soybean- and almond-based drinks have been evaluated. It was confirmed that the strain was capable of producing riboflavin and dextran in the analysed drinks. This property was especially pronounced in the oat-based drink, where after 24 h of fermentation the strain was able to increase riboflavin and dextran levels up to 3.4 mg/L and 3.2 g/L, respectively. Moreover, under optimized conditions the strain was able to enrich the fermented oat-based drinks with the prebiotic oligosaccharide panose (up to 6.6 g/L). In addition, in the oat-based drinks BAL3C-5 C120T showed a good pH-lowering ability (from 7.0 to 3.8) as well as a high 80 % cell viability after one month of storage. Rheological analysis of the resulting fermented oat-based beverages revealed a thixotropic structure related to a gel-like behaviour which was not observed in the non-fermented control drinks. In summary, these results confirmed the unique characteristics of W. cibaria BAL3C-5 C120T strain for the development of biofortified and functional plant-based beverages with improved nutritional and rheological properties. Analysis of the BAL3C-5 C120T strain survival under gastrointestinal conditions and its autoaggregation properties, also indicated its potential use as a probiotic delivered in an oat-based fermented beverage. In this context, this study also promotes the utilization of W. cibaria species in health and food industries where it has not yet been used as a starter or adjunct culture.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, [grant RTI2018-097114-B-I00], CSIC [grant COOPA20488] and the Basque Government [grants IT1662-22 and PIBA_2020_1_0032]. I.D.O. is the beneficiary of a postdoctoral grant Margarita Salas by UPV-EHU [MARSA21/25] in the framework of the requalification of the Spanish university system funded by the European Union -NextGenerationEU. P.R. is the beneficiary of a grant by the University of Milan in the framework of “Linea 2—A. 2022”.Peer reviewe

Experiences of a changing environment: Strange beauty and normal change in the fire-adapted forests of Victoria, Australia

12 Pág.Natural environments are changing with shifts in fire regimes. A little-understood impact is change to the interactions people have with forests. Generally, forests invoke positive feelings, but wildfire changes both forests and people's experiences of them. These were investigated with attention to the ever-changing physical characteristics of fire-adapted forests. In a mixed method approach, interviews were used to explore the subjective experiences of 57 adults in forests at different times since fire. A photo-based survey with 529 responses enabled further analysis of forest characteristics in experience. The Human-Environment Interaction (HEI) model guided analysis of experience events on four factors which shape them: the physical environment, activities undertaken, personal resources and social support. We found that bushfires create potent environments by changing the sense of enclosure, colours and dead trees in forests. Different levels of environmental potency combine with activities and personal resources to invoke different types of experience, the main ones being aesthetic (feelings of pleasure) restorative (relaxation) and loss/recovery (sadness mixed with hope). Personal resources are particularly important in the loss/recovery type. People who are connected to nature (one such resource), feel the loss of forest elements, but also notice forest recovery, which inspires hope. As fire frequency increases with climate change, experiences can be expected to become more negative overall. However, thought-based adaptations may be occurring in the spread of beliefs that forests are inherently dynamic and in the emergence of a fire aesthetic. Forest managers can assist people to come to terms with wildfires by providing access to forests postfire and by engagement to encourage adaptation.This work was funded by the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) through the Integrated Forest Ecosystem Research program [Project name: Incorporating values in bushfire risk decision-making: Further development of tools and strategies]. The project was approved by The University of Melbourne Faculty of Science Human Ethics Advisory Group [Ethics ID 1853178.1]. The authors appreciate the assistance provided by DELWP and community organisations in distributing the online survey link and the contributions of the many people who participated in interviews or the survey. We thank three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on earlier versions of this paper.Peer reviewe

Laser engineered architectures for magnetic flux manipulation on superconducting Nb thin films

Custom shaped magnetic flux guiding channels have been fabricated on superconducting Nb thin films by laser nanopatterning of their surface. Preferential pathways are defined by suitable combination of imprinted anisotropic pinning domains through laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS). Generated by the selective energy deposition of femtosecond UV laser pulses, quasi-parallel ripple structures are formed under optimized irradiation conditions. On average, each domain is formed by grooves with a lateral period of 260–270 nm and a depth about 80 nm. By combination of scanning and transmission electron microscopy, magneto-optical imaging, and conductive atomic force microscopy techniques, we conclude that the boundaries of the LIPSS-covered domains play a prominent role in the magnetic flux diversion process within the film. This is confirmed by dedicated modeling of the flux dynamics, combined with the inversion of the magneto-optical signal. The created metasurfaces enable control of the flux penetration process at the microscale.Financial support from Spanish MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (project PID2020-113034RB-I00), Gobierno de Aragón (research group T54-23R), Belgian FNRS Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (project O.0028.22 and PDR T.0204.21), and Hi-Scale COST action (CA19108) are to be ackowledged. N. L. acknowledges support from FRS-FNRS (Research Fellowships FRIA). J. F. and L. P.-V. acknowledge support from Gobierno de Aragón, Spain through the predoctoral contracts programme. The authors also would like to acknowledge the use of Servicio General de Apoyo a la Investigación-SAI and Laboratorio de Microscopías Avanzadas, Universidad de Zaragoza.Peer reviewe

Management of meat by- and co-products for an improved meat processing sustainability

Large amounts of meat by- and co-products are generated during slaughtering and meat processing, and require rational management of these products for an ecological disposal. Efficient solutions are very important for sustainability and innovative developments create high added-value from meat by-products with the least environmental impact, handling and disposal costs, in its transition to bioeconomy. Some proteins have relevant technological uses for gelation, foaming and emulsification while protein hydrolyzates may contribute to a better digestibility and palatability. Protein hydrolysis generate added-value products such as bioactive peptides with relevant physiological effects of interest for applications in the food, pet food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. Inedible fats are increasingly used as raw material for the generation of biodiesel. Other applications are focused on the development of new biodegradable plastics that can constitute an alternative to petroleum-based plastics. This manuscript presents the latest developments for adding value to meat by- and co-products and discusses opportunities for making meat production and processing more sustainable.Grant from AGL2017-89831-R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitivity and FEDER funds.Peer reviewe

SeqIA - Annotated drought-related news articles

Peer reviewe

Comparative metabolomic analysis of the phloem sap of nine citrus relatives with different degrees of susceptibility to Huanglongbing disease

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, also known as “citrus greening”, is currently considered the most devastating citrus disease due to its rapid spread, and high severity. Presently, research efforts are focused on searching for either curative treatments or resistant cultivars to combat the HLB-associated bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas). Metabolomics can help to unravel the mechanisms supporting the potential tolerance/resistance of citrus relatives. Herein, we carried out a metabolomic analysis to determine whether the level of resistance of nine citrus-related genotypes is influenced by their pre-existing metabolic background before infection. For this purpose, the healthy phloem of nine Citrinae genotypes previously categorized according to their different responses to HLB was analyzed. A total of 53 different metabolites were targeted, including amino acids, organic and inorganic acids, and sugars. Interestingly, we observed that resistant and partially resistant genotypes exhibited higher accumulations of organic acids such as quinic acid and citric acid. In contrast, the amount of total sugars showed a clear upward trend in the susceptible genotypes. Notably, within this last group of metabolites, sugar acids increase in both partially resistant and resistant accessions, being more evident in the resistant group. Alterations potentially linked to resistance levels were detected in specific amino acids belonging to the aspartate and glutamate families. Notably, only lysine levels exhibited a significant increase in the susceptible cultivars. The evaluation of five genes associated with lysine catabolism by RT-qPCR revealed differences in transcript abundance between resistant and susceptible samples suggesting a potential key role in plant defence. These findings open a new avenue to identify metabolites and/or substances that could aid in developing resistance strategies to this devastating disease.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. This work was funded by grant no. 817526 (PRE-HLB) from the European Union H2020 Innovation Action Program.Peer reviewe

Contributions of a feminist perspective to the analysis of farm viability: the livelihoods reproduction framework

The agrarian question dealing with peasants’ reproduction in adverse global conditions is a topic of deep debate closely linked to farm viability. Approaches that define viability in monetary terms cannot explain peasants’ way of farming. Holistic approaches can better analyse this question but existing frameworks leave aside aspects of reproduction. Here, we revise sustainable livelihoods and resilience frameworks through a feminist lens and propose livelihoods reproduction to address some blind spots. We do so through a literature review and a case study of olive oil farms in Spain. Our analysis highlights the importance of household labour distribution for farm viability.This work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación: [Grant Number CSO2016-78827-R]; the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades): [Grant Number PCI2018-093179]; and ARIMNet2 (ERA-NET no. 618127).Peer reviewe

Impact of maternal Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and scGOS/lcFOS supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the maternal immune system and milk composition

Introduction: Maternal synbiotic supplementation during pregnancy and lactation can significantly influence the immune system. Prebiotics and probiotics have a positive impact on the immune system by preventing or ameliorating among others intestinal disorders. This study focused on the immunomodulatory effects of B. breve M-16V and short chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS)/long chain fructo-oligosachairdes (lcFOS), including systemic and mucosal compartments and milk composition. Methods: Lewis rats were orally administered with the synbiotic or vehicle during pregnancy (21 days) and lactation (21 days). At the weaning day, small intestine (SI), mammary gland (MG), adipose tissue, milk, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), salivary gland (SG), feces and cecal content were collected from the mothers. Results: The immunoglobulinome profile showed increased IgG2c in plasma and milk, as well as elevated sIgA in feces at weaning. The supplementation improved lipid metabolism through enhanced brown adipose tissue activity and reinforced the intestinal barrier by increasing the expression of Muc3, Cldn4, and Ocln. The higher production of short chain fatty acids in the cecum and increased Bifidobacterium counts suggest a potential positive impact on the gastrointestinal tract. Discussion: These findings indicate that maternal synbiotic supplementation during gestation and lactation improves their immunological status and improved milk composition.The research described in this paper was supported by La Marató-TV3 (DIM-2-ELI, ref. 2018–27/30–31). LS-F holds a fellowship from the Generalitat de Catalunya, FI-SDUR (2023 FISDU 00035). The INSA-UB acknowledge the Maria de Maeztu Unit of Excellence (Grant CEX2021–001234-M) funded by MICIN/AEI/FEDER, UE. The IATA-CSIC authors also acknowledge the Spanish government MCIN/AEI to the Center of Excellence Accreditation Severo Ochoa (CEX2021–001189-S/MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033).With funding from the Spanish government through the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2021-001189-S and CEX2021-001234-M)Peer reviewe

DATA MANAGEMENT PLAN. Project Number: 101098597. Piezo4Spine. Piezo-driven theramesh: A revolutionary multifaceted actuator to repair the injured spinal cord

[EN] Initial version specifically related to data generated by the CSIC team in the Piezo4Spine project, elaborated from deliverable 7.3 (DMP) of the project already submitted to the EC. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe condition that results from damage to the spinal cord caused by trauma, disease, or degeneration. SCI is associated with a wide range of physical impairments, such as paralysis and loss of sensation. Currently, there is no cure for SCI, with available treatments focusing on managing symptoms and preventing further injury. Funded by the European Innovation Council, the Piezo4Spine project aims to develop a 3D bioprinted mesh that contains nanocarriers with therapeutic agents. The idea is to facilitate neural repair and promote functional recovery by targeting multiple cells in the spinal cord. The generated technology will be wirelessly powered and offer the option to control the time and dosage of therapeutics. The Data Management Plan (DMP) is a living document that describes the data management starting from its collection, including its processing and handling during Piezo4Spine and, finally, its later archiving and dissemination.Peer reviewe

Functional Hybrid Nanopaper by Assembling Nanofibers of Cellulose and Sepiolite

[EN] Functional heterofibrous hybrid materials are prepared in an integrative approach from aqueous dispersions of nanofibrillated cellulose and sepiolite by applying high shear homogenization and ultrasound irradiation. Both types of nanofibers remain physically cross-linked forming homogeneous and very stable high-viscosity gels that can be shaped as films and considered as “hybrid nanopapers” as well. The presence of sepiolite modifies the surface roughness of the films resulting from the casting process, which can be rendered hydrophobic, as the hydrophilic characteristics of both components resulted modulated. In addition, these fibrous hybrid systems can benefit from the properties provided by the two components, such as mechanical behavior, surface properties, and chemical reactivity. Moreover, further assembly of these hybrid nanopapers to other particulate solids, such as carbon nanotubes, magnetite, or ZnO nanoparticles, results in multifunctional hybrid nanopapers, opening a versatile way for developing other numerous organic–inorganic materials of interest in diverse applications.This work was supported by the MINECO (Spain) projects MAT2012-31759 and MAT2015-71117-R. M.M.G.C. acknowledges the PhD fellowship BES-2013-064677 (MINECO, Spain)