In vitro evaluation of caseinophosphopeptides from different genetic variants on bone mineralization

Casein phosphopeptides (CPPs) have been shown to enhance calcium solubility and to increase the calcification by in vitro analyses. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of four selected casein peptides, which differ in the number of phosphorylated serines, on osteoblast mineralization in vitro. The chosen peptides, related to different casein genetic variants, were obtained by chemical synthesis and tested on murine osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1). Our results suggest that the distinct peptides in protein hydrolysates may differentially affect calcium deposition in the extracellular matrix and that the genetic variation within the considered peptides is involved in their differential effect

Optimization of Esterase Production in Solid-State Fermentation of Agricultural Digestate

The continuous increase in biogas production poses the need for innovative applications for its by-products. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) has regained attention in the development of several products because of the possibility to use low-cost and easily available substrates, such as organic wastes. SSF represents a valuable process for agricultural digestate valorization in terms of enzyme production. In the present study, cellulase and esterase were produced by Trichoderma asperellum R on a digestate-based substrate in SSF, with esterase as the highest obtained activity. After assessing the effect of light on it, the esterase production in SSF was optimized using response surface methodology. The influence of substrate composition, temperature and humidity on the enzyme production was evaluated on two sets of data generated based on digestate concentration (50% and 70% w/w). The statistical analyses revealed that these parameters affected esterase production only when Trichoderma asperellum grew on substrate containing 50% w/w of digestate. The best esterase activity (264.6 mU/mg total protein) was achieved with the following optimized SSF parameters: 50% digestate, 50% fruits, 10% sawdust, 30 & DEG;C. The current finding of esterase production on digestate-based substrates makes the SSF method presented here a sustainable and completely circular technology

Effect of Preharvest Abiotic Stresses on the Accumulation of Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Produce

The quality of horticultural products is the result of the interaction of different factors, including grower\u2019s crop management ability, genotype, and environment. Sub-optimal environmental conditions during plant growth can induce abiotic stresses and reduce the crop performance with yield reduction and quality losses. However, abiotic stresses can induce several physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses in plants, aiming to cope with the stressful conditions. It is well known that these abiotic stresses are also elicitors of the biosynthesis of many metabolites in plants, including a wide range of bioactive compounds, which firstly serve as functional molecules for crop adaptation, but they have also a great interest for their beneficial effects on human health. Nowadays, the consumer is oriented to low-energy foods with low fat content, but at the same time, growing attention is paid to the presence of bioactive molecules, which are recognized as health-related compounds and concur to the nutraceutical value of plant-derived foods. In this context, fruit and vegetables play an important role as sources of bioactive ingredients in the diet. At the cultivation level, the understanding of crop responses to abiotic stresses and how they act in the biosynthesis/accumulation of these bioactive compounds is crucial. In fact, controlled abiotic stresses can be used as tools for improving the nutraceutical value of fruit and vegetables. This review focuses on the quality of vegetables and fruits as affected by preharvest abiotic stressors, with particular attention to the effect on the nutraceutical aspects

Green Technology: Bacteria-Based Approach Could Lead to Unsuspected Microbe–Plant–Animal Interactions

The recent and massive revival of green strategies to control plant diseases, mainly as a consequence of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) rules issued in 2009 by the European Community and the increased consumer awareness of organic products, poses new challenges for human health and food security that need to be addressed in the near future. One of the most important green technologies is biocontrol. This approach is based on living organisms and how these biocontrol agents (BCAs) directly or indirectly interact as a community to control plant pathogens and pest. Although most BCAs have been isolated from plant microbiomes, they share some genomic features, virulence factors, and trans-kingdom infection abilities with human pathogenic microorganisms, thus, their potential impact on human health should be addressed. This evidence, in combination with the outbreaks of human infections associated with consumption of raw fruits and vegetables, opens new questions regarding the role of plants in the human pathogen infection cycle. Moreover, whether BCAs could alter the endophytic bacterial community, thereby leading to the development of new potential human pathogens, is still unclear. In this review, all these issues are debated, highlighting that the research on BCAs and their formulation should include these possible long-lasting consequences of their massive spread in the environment

Rumen-protected methionine compared with rumen-protected choline improves immunometabolic status in dairy cows during the peripartal period.

The immunometabolic status of peripartal cows is altered due to changes in liver function, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Nutritional management during this physiological state can affect the biological components of immunometabolism. The objectives of this study were to measure concentrations of biomarkers in plasma, liver tissue, and milk, and also polymorphonuclear leukocyte function to assess the immunometabolic status of cows supplemented with rumen-protected methionine (Met) or choline (CHOL). Forty-eight multiparous Holstein cows were used in a randomized complete block design with 2×2 factorial arrangement of Met (Smartamine M, Adisseo NA, Alpharetta, GA) and CHOL (ReaShure, Balchem Inc., New Hampton, NY) level (with or without). Treatments (12 cows each) were control (CON), no Met or CHOL; CON and Met (SMA); CON and CHOL (REA); and CON and Met and CHOL (MIX). From -50 to -21d before expected calving, all cows received the same diet [1.40Mcal of net energy for lactation (NEL)/kg of DM] with no Met or CHOL. From -21d to calving, cows received the same close-up diet (1.52Mcal of NEL/kg of DM) and were assigned randomly to each treatment. From calving to 30d, cows were on the same postpartal diet (1.71Mcal of NEL/kg of DM) and continued to receive the same treatments until 30d. The Met supplementation was adjusted daily at 0.08% DM of diet, and CHOL was supplemented at 60g/cow per day. Liver (-10, 7, 21, and 30d) and blood (-10, 4, 8, 20, and 30d) samples were harvested for biomarker analyses. Neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis and oxidative burst were assessed at d 1, 4, 14, and 28d. The Met-supplemented cows tended to have greater plasma paraoxonase. Greater plasma albumin and IL-6 as well as a tendency for lower haptoglobin were detected in Met- but not CHOL-supplemented cows. Similarly, cows fed Met compared with CHOL had greater concentrations of total and reduced glutathione (a potent intracellular antioxidant) in liver tissue. Upon a pathogen challenge in vitro, blood polymorphonuclear leukocyte phagocytosis capacity and oxidative burst activity were greater in Met-supplemented cows. Overall, liver and blood biomarker analyses revealed favorable changes in liver function, inflammation status, and immune response in Met-supplemented cows

Curtobacterium sp. genome sequencing underlines plant growth promotion-related traits

Endophytic bacteria are microorganisms residing in plant tissues without causing disease symptoms. Here, we provide the high-quality genome sequence of Curtobacterium sp. strain S6, isolated from grapevine plant. The genome assembly contains 2,759,404 bp in 13 contigs and 2,456 predicted genes

The human-associated bacterium Propionibacterium acnes as a grapevine endophyte

Animals and plants have established a long-lasting cohabitation with a variety of microbes, including pathogens, commensals and beneficials. Studies investigating such associations documented numerous cases of bacterial host switches (usually from domestic animals to humans). The exchange of microbial symbionts between humans and plants is much less investigated. We reported a surprising example of horizontal interkingdom transfer of the human opportunistic pathogen (P. acnes) to grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). P. acnes was interestingly most common inside the plant's pith tissue. Phylogenetic and population analyses place that the establishment of the grapevine-associated P. acnes likely during the Neolithic, when grapevine was domesticated. The endophytic subspecies of P. acnes was named P. Zappae. An analysis of Propionibacteria in the grapevine endosphere showed that P. Zappae is far from being the only species present in this plant as an endophyt

Prevalence and correlates of depressive disorders in people with Type 2 diabetes: results from the International Prevalence and Treatment of Diabetes and Depression (INTERPRET‐DD) study, a collaborative study carried out in 14 countries

Aims To assess the prevalence and management of depressive disorders in people with Type 2 diabetes in different countries. Methods People with diabetes aged 18–65 years and treated in outpatient settings were recruited in 14 countries and underwent a psychiatric interview. Participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Problem Areas in Diabetes scale. Demographic and medical record data were collected. Results A total of 2783 people with Type 2 diabetes (45.3% men, mean duration of diabetes 8.8 years) participated. Overall, 10.6% were diagnosed with current major depressive disorder and 17.0% reported moderate to severe levels of depressive symptomatology (Patient Health Questionnaire scores >9). Multivariable analyses showed that, after controlling for country, current major depressive disorder was significantly associated with gender (women) (PPPPP<0.0001). The proportion of those with either current major depressive disorder or moderate to severe levels of depressive symptomatology who had a diagnosis or any treatment for their depression recorded in their medical records was extremely low and non-existent in many countries (0–29.6%). Conclusions Our international study, the largest of this type ever undertaken, shows that people with diabetes frequently have depressive disorders and also significant levels of depressive symptoms. Our findings indicate that the identification and appropriate care for psychological and psychiatric problems is not the norm and suggest a lack of the comprehensive approach to diabetes management that is needed to improve clinical outcomes

Effect of temperature and cut size on the volatile organic compound profile, and expression of Chorismate synthase in fresh-cut melon

The postharvest quality of fresh-cut melon is strongly affected by storage conditions to which it is subjected. During postharvest, fruit undergoes several stresses and its physiology is similar to that in senescent tissues. This affects both its biochemistry and the expression of genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been used previously to assess quality of fresh cut melon as they reflect changes in flavor and also changes in overall metabolism. Chorismate synthase (CS) is a key enzyme in the shikimate pathway and catalyzes the formation of chorismate, which is the precursor of numerous aromatic compounds in plants. In this work the effects of different storage temperatures and cut-sizes were studied, with the aim of identifying effects on flavor through changes in VOCs, and molecular responses of the CmCS gene to different postharvest conditions. Melon (Cucumis melo L. 'Macigno') fruits were harvested at a fully ripened commercial stage, were washed in a chlorine water solution, and the mesocarp (pulp) was cut in cube-shaped portions; two sizes were chosen, 1×1 and 3×2 cm. Melon cubes were then stored at 20 or 4°C. VOCs were assessed in the 3×2 cut size at both temperatures and showed clear changes during storage. A subset of VOCs were shown to correlate negatively with storage time and temperature and from these, specific compounds can be identified that act as markers for an overall change in VOC profiles. CmCS was more affected by temperature, showing decreased levels of expression during storage at 20°C with respect to harvest and to cold storage. On the other hand, cut-size did not result in changes in its expression in 3×2 cut size

A complex interaction between pre-harvest and post-harvest factors determines fresh-cut melon quality and aroma

Melons are prized for their characteristic aroma, however, pre-harvest growth, stage of ripening at harvest, post-harvest processing and storage conditions lead to quality changes in fresh-cut fruit. We considered changes in metabolites and gene expression over 14 days storage to assess underlying mechanisms and identify potential quality markers. Overall, 99 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected and VOC profiles discriminated between two melon seasons, cut-size, storage temperatures and storage time, although season affected their discriminatory power. Abundance of two VOCs fell rapidly and was not associated with cut size, indicating their use as markers for early changes post-processing. Non-acetate to acetate ester ratio differed between the seasons and correlated with changes in alcohol acyl-transferase (CmAAT1) gene expression. Furthermore, CmAAT1 expression clustered with two ester VOCs that may be potential new products of this enzyme. Season also strongly affected post-harvest sugar content, most likely attributable to meteorological differences during growth. Storage temperature and cut size affected expression of transcription factors ERF71, ERF106, and TINY, whose expression generally rose during storage, probably related to increased stress. Thus, although time × temperature of storage are key factors, pre-harvest conditions and fruit processing impact significantly gene expression and aroma loss post-harvest