Screening of chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities in pomegranate, quince, and persimmon leaf, peel, and seed: valorization of autumn fruits by-products for a one health perspective

Antimicrobial resistance is increasing globally and is now one of the major public health problems. Therefore, there is a need to search for new antimicrobial agents. The food industry generates large amounts of by-products that are rich in bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, which are known to have several health benefits, including antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Thus, we aimed to characterize the phenolic compounds present in pomegranate, quince, and persimmon by-products, as well as their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Phenolic compounds were extracted from pomegranate, quince, and persimmon leaves, seeds, and peels using a mixture of ethanol/water (80/20). The polyphenol profile of the extracts was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. In general, leaves showed higher concentrations of phenolics than the peel and seeds of fruits. In total, 23 phenolic compounds were identified and quantified, with sanguiin and apigenin-3-O-galactoside being present in the highest concentrations. Leaf extracts of pomegranate showed higher antioxidant activities than the other components in all methods used. In general, all extracts had a greater antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Persimmon leaf and seed extracts inhibited a greater number of bacteria, both Gram-positive and -negative. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) detected among Gram-positive and -negative bacteria was 10 mg/mL for pomegranate peel and leaf extracts against Staphylococcus aureus and S. pseudintermedius and for pomegranate leaf extract against Escherichia coli. Our results reinforce the need to value food industry by-products that could be used as food preservatives and antibiotic adjuvants against multiresistant bacteria.This work was supported by projects UIDP/00772/2020 and LA/P/0059/2020, funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), and by LAQV-REQUIMTE, which is financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020). This work was also supported by National Funds from the FCT–Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under project UIDB/04033/2020, as also to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020), SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020), and for L. Barros institutional contract; to FEDER through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, under the Project GreenHealth, Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000042.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of the phenolic profile of Castanea sativa mill. By-products and their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity against multiresistant bacteria

The chestnut industry generates a large amount of by-products. These agro-industrial wastes have been described as potential sources of phenolic compounds with high bioactive potential. Therefore, we aimed to extract the phenolic compounds from chestnut by-products and assess their antioxidant potential and evaluate their antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant bacteria. The individual phenolic compounds in the ethanolic extracts of chestnut shell, inner shell, bur, and leaves were characterized by HPLC-DAD/electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS. The antioxidant properties were determined by DPPH and ABTS assays. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the antimicrobial susceptibility was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disc di usion method against 10 bacterial strains. The major phenolic compounds identified in the extracts were trigalloyl-HHDP-glucose, gallic acid, quercetin, and myricetin glycoside derivatives. All chestnut by-products presented promising antioxidant activity in both assays, with leaf samples the ones presenting the highest antioxidant capacity. The inner shell’s extract was e ective against all Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria; nevertheless, all extracts showed antibacterial activity. Staphylococcus epidermidis showed susceptibility to all extracts while none of the extracts was able to suppress the growth of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis. Chestnut by-products are a source of phenolic compounds with prominent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Nevertheless, further studies should be conducted to assess the correlation between phenolic compounds and the bioactivities obtained.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comparative insight upon chitosan solution and chitosan nanoparticles application on the phenolic content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of individual grape components of Sousão variety

Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide, has been previously proposed as an elicitor in plants to prevent pathogen infections. The present study aimed to analyze the e ect of chitosan solution and chitosan nanoparticles treatment applied on the grapevine variety Sousão with respect to the phenolic composition, antioxidant potential and antibacterial activity of its individual grape components. Grapevine plants of selected lines were sprayed with chitosan solution and chitosan nanoparticles, and ethanolic extracts of stems, seeds and skins were prepared from grapevines treated and not treated with chitosan. Total phenolic, anthocyanin and tannin contents were studied, and the identification of the individual phenolic compounds was performed by HPLC-DAD. The antimicrobial susceptibility method was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc di usion method against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Overall, there was small increase in the concentration of phenolic compounds, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities in grape components treated with chitosan solution. Seed extracts showed the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The studied individual components obtained from chitosan-treated grapevines could represent an added value due to the increased antioxidant and antibacterial potentials. The phenolic compounds found in components may be used in food and pharmaceutical industries as natural food preservers and antibiotic adjuvants.This research was founded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain, Project RTI2018-098267-R-C33) and the Junta de Castilla y León (Consejería de Educación, Spain, Project LE164G18). This work was supported by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV which is financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UID/QUI/50006/2019). Vanessa Silva is grateful to FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) for her PhD grant SFRH/BD/137947/2018.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of the Phenolic Profile of Castanea sativa Mill. By-Products and Their Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity against Multiresistant Bacteria

[EN] The chestnut industry generates a large amount of by-products. These agro-industrial wastes have been described as potential sources of phenolic compounds with high bioactive potential. Therefore, we aimed to extract the phenolic compounds from chestnut by-products and assess their antioxidant potential and evaluate their antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant bacteria. The individual phenolic compounds in the ethanolic extracts of chestnut shell, inner shell, bur, and leaves were characterized by HPLC-DAD/electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS. The antioxidant properties were determined by DPPH and ABTS assays. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the antimicrobial susceptibility was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method against 10 bacterial strains. The major phenolic compounds identified in the extracts were trigalloyl-HHDP-glucose, gallic acid, quercetin, and myricetin glycoside derivatives. All chestnut by-products presented promising antioxidant activity in both assays, with leaf samples the ones presenting the highest antioxidant capacity. The inner shell’s extract was effective against all Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria; nevertheless, all extracts showed antibacterial activity. Staphylococcus epidermidis showed susceptibility to all extracts while none of the extracts was able to suppress the growth of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis. Chestnut by-products are a source of phenolic compounds with prominent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Nevertheless, further studies should be conducted to assess the correlation between phenolic compounds and the bioactivities obtainedSIThe authors are grateful to FCT, Portugal and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV (UID/QUI/50006/2019) and CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019). This research was also funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain, Project RTI2018-098267-R-C33), and the Junta de Castilla y León (Consejería de Educación, Spain, Project LE164G18). V. Silva is grateful to FCT for her PhD grant (SFRH/BD/137947/2018), and L. Barros and M.I. Dias thank the national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract. The authors also thank FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal for financial support to the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E and TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_

Comparative Insight upon Chitosan Solution and Chitosan Nanoparticles Application on the Phenolic Content, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Individual Grape Components of Sousão Variety

[EN] Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide, has been previously proposed as an elicitor in plants to prevent pathogen infections. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of chitosan solution and chitosan nanoparticles treatment applied on the grapevine variety Sousão with respect to the phenolic composition, antioxidant potential and antibacterial activity of its individual grape components. Grapevine plants of selected lines were sprayed with chitosan solution and chitosan nanoparticles, and ethanolic extracts of stems, seeds and skins were prepared from grapevines treated and not treated with chitosan. Total phenolic, anthocyanin and tannin contents were studied, and the identification of the individual phenolic compounds was performed by HPLC-DAD. The antimicrobial susceptibility method was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Overall, there was small increase in the concentration of phenolic compounds, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities in grape components treated with chitosan solution. Seed extracts showed the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The studied individual components obtained from chitosan-treated grapevines could represent an added value due to the increased antioxidant and antibacterial potentials. The phenolic compounds found in components may be used in food and pharmaceutical industries as natural food preservers and antibiotic adjuvantsSIThis research was founded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain, Project RTI2018-098267-R-C33) and the Junta de Castilla y León (Consejería de Educación, Spain, Project LE164G18

The Deleterious Effects of Shiga Toxin Type 2 Are Neutralized In Vitro by FabF8:Stx2 Recombinant Monoclonal Antibody

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) associated with Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) infections is the principal cause of acute renal injury in pediatric age groups. Shiga toxin type 2 (Stx2) has in vitro cytotoxic effects on kidney cells, including human glomerular endothelial (HGEC) and Vero cells. Neither a licensed vaccine nor effective therapy for HUS is available for humans. Recombinant antibodies against Stx2, produced in bacteria, appeared as the utmost tool to prevent HUS. Therefore, in this work, a recombinant FabF8:Stx2 was selected from a human Fab antibody library by phage display, characterized, and analyzed for its ability to neutralize the Stx activity from different STEC-Stx2 and Stx1/Stx2 producing strains in a gold standard Vero cell assay, and the Stx2 cytotoxic effects on primary cultures of HGEC. This recombinant Fab showed a dissociation constant of 13.8 nM and a half maximum effective concentration (EC50 ) of 160 ng/mL to Stx2. Additionally, FabF8:Stx2 neutralized, in different percentages, the cytotoxic effects of Stx2 and Stx1/2 from different STEC strains on Vero cells. Moreover, it significantly prevented the deleterious effects of Stx2 in a dose-dependent manner (up to 83%) in HGEC and protected this cell up to 90% from apoptosis and necrosis. Therefore, this novel and simple anti-Stx2 biomolecule will allow further investigation as a new therapeutic option that could improve STEC and HUS patient outcomes.Fil: Luz, Daniela. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Gomez, Fernando Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Ferreira, Raissa L.. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Melo, Bruna S.. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Guth, Beatriz E. C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Quintilio, Wagner. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Moro, Ana Maria. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Presta, Agostina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Sacerdoti, Flavia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Ibarra, Cristina Adriana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Chen, Gang. University of Toronto; CanadáFil: Sidhu, Sachdev S.. University of Toronto; CanadáFil: Amaral, María Marta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Fontes Piazza, Roxane María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay; Argentin

Measurements of CFTR-Mediated Cl- Secretion in Human Rectal Biopsies Constitute a Robust Biomarker for Cystic Fibrosis Diagnosis and Prognosis

BACKGROUND: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is caused by ∼1,900 mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene encoding for a cAMP-regulated chloride (Cl(-)) channel expressed in several epithelia. Clinical features are dominated by respiratory symptoms, but there is variable organ involvement thus causing diagnostic dilemmas, especially for non-classic cases. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To further establish measurement of CFTR function as a sensitive and robust biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of CF, we herein assessed cholinergic and cAMP-CFTR-mediated Cl(-) secretion in 524 freshly excised rectal biopsies from 118 individuals, including patients with confirmed CF clinical diagnosis (n=51), individuals with clinical CF suspicion (n=49) and age-matched non-CF controls (n=18). Conclusive measurements were obtained for 96% of cases. Patients with "Classic CF", presenting earlier onset of symptoms, pancreatic insufficiency, severe lung disease and low Shwachman-Kulczycki scores were found to lack CFTR-mediated Cl(-) secretion (<5%). Individuals with milder CF disease presented residual CFTR-mediated Cl(-) secretion (10-57%) and non-CF controls show CFTR-mediated Cl(-) secretion ≥ 30-35% and data evidenced good correlations with various clinical parameters. Finally, comparison of these values with those in "CF suspicion" individuals allowed to confirm CF in 16/49 individuals (33%) and exclude it in 28/49 (57%). Statistical discriminant analyses showed that colonic measurements of CFTR-mediated Cl(-) secretion are the best discriminator among Classic/Non-Classic CF and non-CF groups. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Determination of CFTR-mediated Cl(-) secretion in rectal biopsies is demonstrated here to be a sensitive, reproducible and robust predictive biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of CF. The method also has very high potential for (pre-)clinical trials of CFTR-modulator therapies.This work was supported by grants TargetScreen2 (EU/FP6/LSH/2005/037365), PIC/IC/83103/2007; PTDC/MAT/118335/2010; PEstOE/BIA/UI4046/2011 (to BioFIG) and PEstOE/MAT/UI0006/2011 (to CEAUL) from FCT (Portugal); and FAPESP (SPRF, Brazil), CNPq (40.8924/2006/3, Brazil) and Mukoviszidose e.V. S02/10 (Germany). MS and IU are recipients of SFRH/BD/35936/2007 and SFRH/BD/69180/2010 PhD fellowships (FCT, Portugal), respectively. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

The threats endangering Australia's at-risk fauna

Reducing the rate of species extinctions is one of the great challenges of our time. Understanding patterns in the distribution and frequency of both threatened species and the threatening processes affecting them improves our ability to mitigate threats and prioritize management actions. In this quantitative synthesis of processes threatening Australian at-risk fauna, we find that species are impacted by a median of six threats (range 1–19), though there is considerable variation in numbers of threats among major taxonomic groups. Invasive species, habitat loss, biological resource use, natural systems modification and climate change are the processes most commonly affecting Australian threatened species. We identified an uneven distribution of research knowledge among species, with half of the total number of species-specific peer-reviewed scientific publications associated with only 11 threatened species (2.7%). Furthermore, the number of threats associated with each species was correlated with the research effort for that species, and research effort was correlated with body mass. Hence, there appears to be a research bias towards larger-bodied species, and certain charismatic species, that could result in inferences biased towards these favored species. However, after accounting for these effects we found that for birds, amphibians, reptiles and marine mammals body mass is positively correlated with the number of threats associated with each species. Many threats also co-occur, indicating that threat syndromes may be common

Comparison of respiratory muscle strength between fragility subgroups in community elderly

A fragilidade ? composta por um trip? constitu?do por: sarcopenia, disfun??o imunol?gica e desregula??o neuroend?crina. A sarcopenia ? definida como uma diminui??o na for?a e na pot?ncia muscular, sendo que os m?sculos respirat?rios tamb?m s?o afetados. O objetivo foi comparar a for?a muscular respirat?ria (FMR) em idosas residentes na comunidade, classificadas como n?o fr?geis (NF), pr?-fr?geis (PF) e fr?geis (F) e correlacionar a FMR com a for?a de preens?o manual (FPM). O estudo foi do tipo transversal, com uma amostra de conveni?ncia composta por 106 idosas. As participantes foram classificadas quanto ao fen?tipo de fragilidade. A FMR foi avaliada por meio da press?o inspirat?ria m?xima (PIm?x) e da press?o expirat?ria m?xima (PEm?x). Foram encontradas diferen?as significativas da FMR entre os grupos NF e F (PIm?x: p=0,001 e PEm?x: p<0,001) e entre os grupos PF e F (PIm?x: p<0,001 e PEm?x: p<0,001). Em rela??o ? FPM, foram observadas diferen?as significativas entre todos os grupos (p<0,001). Houve correla??o entre FMR e FPM apenas no grupo fr?gil. Desta forma, a FPM pode ser importante na pr?tica cl?nica para diferenciar os subgrupos de fragilidade e identificar a perda de for?a muscular, incluindo a perda da FMR.Funda??o de Amparo ? Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecu?ria de Minas Gerais (EPAMIG)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico (CNPq)Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES)The fragility consist in a tripod comprising: sarcopenia, immune dysregulation, and neuroendocrine dysfunction. Sarcopenia is defined as a decrease in strength and muscle power, so that the respiratory muscles are also affected. The aim was to compare respiratory muscle strength (RMS) in elderly community residents, classified as nonfrail (NF), pre frail (PF) and frail (F), and correlate RMS with the handgrip strength (HS). The study was cross-sectional, with a convenience sample of 106 elderly women. Participants were classified according to the phenotype of frailty. The RMS was assessed by maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP). Significant differences were found in RMS between groups NF and F (MIP: p=0.001 and MEP: p<0.001) and between groups PF and F (MIP: p<0.001 and MEP: p<0.001). In relation to HS, significant differences were observed between all groups (p<0.001). There was correlation between HS and RMS only in the frail group. Thus, the HS may be important in the clinical evaluation to differentiate subgroups of fragility and identify the loss of muscle strength, including the loss of RMS

The ocean sampling day consortium

Ocean Sampling Day was initiated by the EU-funded Micro B3 (Marine Microbial Biodiversity, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology) project to obtain a snapshot of the marine microbial biodiversity and function of the world’s oceans. It is a simultaneous global mega-sequencing campaign aiming to generate the largest standardized microbial data set in a single day. This will be achievable only through the coordinated efforts of an Ocean Sampling Day Consortium, supportive partnerships and networks between sites. This commentary outlines the establishment, function and aims of the Consortium and describes our vision for a sustainable study of marine microbial communities and their embedded functional traits