Dissemination and survival of commercial wine yeast in the vineyard: a large-scale, three years study

The use of commercial wine yeast strains as starters has been extensively generalised over the past two decades. In this study, a large-scale sampling plan was devised over a period of three years in six different vineyards to evaluate the dynamics and survival of industrial yeast strains in the vineyard. A total of 198 grape samples were collected at various distances from the wineries, before and after harvest, and yeast strains isolated after spontaneous fermentation were subsequently identified by molecular methods. Among 3780 yeast strains identified, 296 isolates had a genetic profile identical to that of commercial yeast strains. For a large majority (94%), these strains were recovered at very close proximity to the winery (10-200m). Commercial strains were mostly found in the post harvest samples, reflecting immediate dissemination. Analysis of population variations from year to year indicated that permanent implantation of commercial strains in the vineyard did not occur, but instead that these strains were subject to natural fluctuations of periodical appearance/disappearance like autochthonous strains. Our data show that dissemination of commercial yeast in the vineyard is restricted to short distances and limited periods of times and is largely favoured by the presence of water runoff.ENOSAFE (Nº 762, Programa AGRO, medida 8.1) and the grant nº 657 C2 from the cooperation agreement between the Portuguese Institute for International Scientific and Technological Cooperation (ICCTI) and the French Embassy in Lisbon and the Marie Curie Fellowship of the European Community programme of Quality of Life under Contract QLK4-CT-2001-51873

The AnimALT-ZEBET Database: A Unique Resource for Comprehensive and Value-Added Information on 3R Alternatives

Evaluation of value-added databases represents the most reasonable starting point for any structured search for information on suitable alternative methods. This source provides clear, comprehensive and reliable reviews on the most advanced procedures with relevance to the 3R concept.At the forefront of these essential resources is the AnimAlt-ZEBET database offered by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and accessible online free of charge. The documents of this database compiled by scientific experts provide selected and condensed high-quality information in compliance with specific requirements of scientists, competent authorities and others who are obliged to consider the applicability of specific alternative methods. Thus, the focus of AnimAlt-ZEBET is on (1) essential technical key points, (2) application domains, (3) advances/limitations of the most elaborate protocols, (4) prediction models, (5) opinion(s) of expert panels (e.g. ESAC; ICCVAM), (6) status of validation and acceptance and, most notably, (7) contribution of the respective methods to 3R. Because the documents of the database are written in a structured manner, they can be used as the feedstock for any up-to-date text mining application, like "semantic landscape"-producing tools. The database currently holds some 140 documents focusing on safety testing of chemicals and drugs, but soon will be expanded to basic sciences as wel

Unlocking the potential of Euglena gracilis cultivated in piggery wastewater: biomass production, nutrient removal, and biostimulant potential in lettuce and tomato plants

ABSTRACT: Microalgae are increasingly recognized as a valuable resource for bolstering sustainability in agriculture. However, current research and patents primarily focus on Chlorella spp., Scenedesmus spp., and Spirulina spp., thus leaving the vast diversity of microalgae relatively unexplored for agricultural applications. Euglena gracilis (Euglenophyta) is a microalga renowned for its resilience to diverse environmental stressors and capability to produce a variety of bioactive metabolites. This study investigated the potential of cultivating E. gracilis in piggery wastewater for nutrient recycling and as a source of beneficial biomolecules, particularly for biostimulant use. Utilizing raw wastewater diluted to 25% (P25) and pre-treated wastewater with photo-Fenton (PF), the research found that E. gracilis exhibited elevated cell density, biomass concentration, and overall cell health in both wastewaters compared to a synthetic medium (BG11-NPK). This was due to its efficient removal of nutrients, especially ammoniacal-nitrogen and phosphate, resulting in a biomass rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, amino acids, and paramylon content. The whole-cell biomass significantly enhanced the germination index of lettuce and tomato seeds compared to the water control. Additionally, it promoted cell expansion and root formation in cucumber cotyledons, exhibiting similarities to phytohormones such as gibberellin, cytokinin, and auxin. Furthermore, it is suggested that E. gracilis biomass contains molecules related to resistance to environmental stresses, particularly in tomatoes, given the enhancement in the seedling vigor index. E. gracilis exhibited remarkable adaptability to piggery wastewater, recycling nutrients and yielding biomass rich in bioactive molecules with potential as plant biostimulants. These findings significantly contribute to understanding E. gracilis's potential applications in agriculture and developing a circular bioeconomy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Innovative approach in sustainable agriculture: Harnessing microalgae potential via subcritical water extraction

ABSTRACT: Microalgae can contribute to sustainable agriculture and wastewater treatment. This study investigated Tetradesmus obliquus, grown in piggery wastewater (To-PWW), as a biostimulant/biofertilizer compared to biomass grown in synthetic medium (To-B). Subcritical water extraction was tested for disruption/hydrolysis of wet biomass, at three temperatures (120, 170, and 220 °C) and two biomass loads (1:10 and 1:80 (g dry biomass/mL water)). Extracts were evaluated for germination, and root formation/expansion. Residues were quantified for nutrient composition to assess their biofertilizer potential and tested for their affinity to oil compounds for bioremediation. The best germination was achieved by To-B extracts at 170 °C (1:10: 148 % at 0.2 g/L, 1:80: 145 % at 0.5 g/L). Only To-PWW extracts at 0.2 g/L had a significant germination effect (120 °C: 120–123 % for both loads; 170 °C: 115 % for 1:80). To-PWW extract at 120 °C and 1:10 significantly affected cucumber and mung bean root formation (224 and 268 %, respectively). Most extracts significantly enhanced root expansion, with all To-B extracts at 1:10 showing the best results (139–181 %). The residues contained essential nutrients (NPK), indicating their biofertilizer potential, helping decrease synthetic fertilizers demands. To-B residues had high affinity to toluene and diesel but lower to used cooking and car oils. To-PWW showed very low affinity to all oil compounds. Finally, all residues were only able to form stable emulsions with the used car oil. This study fully exploits the use of microalgal biomass in sustainable agriculture, producing biostimulant extracts, and residues for biofertilizer and bioremediation, from a low-cost wastewater source.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of an Antimicrobial L-Amino Acid Oxidase and Peptide Derivatives from Bothropoides mattogrosensis Pitviper Venom

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The prevalence of bacterial resistance to common antibiotics has increased in recent years, highlighting the need to develop novel alternatives for controlling these pathogens. Pitviper venoms are composed of a multifaceted mixture of peptides, proteins and inorganic components. L-amino oxidase (LAO) is a multifunctional enzyme that is able to develop different activities including antibacterial activity. In this study a novel LAO from Bothrops mattogrosensis (BmLAO) was isolated and biochemically characterized. Partial enzyme sequence showed full identity to Bothrops pauloensis LAO. Moreover, LAO here isolated showed remarkable antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, clearly suggesting a secondary protective function. Otherwise, no cytotoxic activities against macrophages and erythrocytes were observed. Finally, some LAO fragments (BmLAO-f1, BmLAO-f2 and BmLAO-f3) were synthesized and further evaluated, also showing enhanced antimicrobial activity. Peptide fragments, which are the key residues involved in antimicrobial activity, were also structurally studied by using theoretical models. The fragments reported here may be promising candidates in the rational design of new antibiotics that could be used to control resistant microorganisms

Exploring the chemistry of uncultivated bacterial symbionts: Antitumor polyketides of the pederin family

Symbiotic bacteria have long been proposed as being responsible for the production of numerous natural products isolated from invertebrate animals. However, systematic studies of invertebrate-symbiont associations are usually associated with serious te