Avaliação de ensaios analíticos para detecção de coliformes fecais em queijo Minas

Foram submetidas à pesquisa de coliformes fecais, utilizando-se a técnica do número mais provável (NMP/g), 168 amostras de variedades de queijo Minas (20 frescal, 48 canastra e 100 padronizado) coletadas em Belo Horizonte. Para a comparação de diferentes ensaios em temperatura elevada, utilizou-se o caldo EC isoladamente, e caldos EC e triptofano em paralelo. Visando à pesquisa de indol foi realizado ensaio para confirmação de produção de beta-D-glucuronidase e indol em caldo fluorocult lauril sulfato. Os resultados demonstraram não haver diferença estatística significativa entre as três metodologias utilizadas para a pesquisa de coliformes fecais, considerando os índices de aceitação definidos pelos padrões legais de inspeção de queijo Minas. A facilidade de execução do ensaio da beta-D-glucuronidase em caldo fluorocult lauril sulfato, associada à confiabilidade dos resultados e demanda de tempo (redução de 96 para até 48h), permitem sugeri-lo como método de escolha para enumeração de coliformes em queijo Minas

Groundwater Transport of Sulphates in the Estonian Oil Shale Mining Area

The development of Estonian power engineering onthe basis of oil shale has caused several changes in theenvironment. One phenomena which accompanies oil shalemining is heightened content of sulphates in groundwater andsurface water.The aim of this research is to give an overview of groundwaterand surface water transport of sulphates in the Estonian oil shale mining area and find out the regularity of its distribution during the time. As is known the aquifer containing the exploitable oil shale seam is influenced by mining activities the most, but also the quality of upper and lower aquifers can change. It is very important to clear up the vertical distribution of sulphates indifferent water-bearing horizons.The phosphorite mining area which finished its activity in 1991is also included in the research. The aim is to clear up to whatextent environmental conditions have become better and draw conclusions on the ground of old closed mines for working mines for getting to know how much time it will take for self-cleaning of the environment

Antimicrobial activity of essential oils isolated from Portuguese endemic species of Thymus

Aims: Thymus species are wild species mostly found in the arid lands of Portugal. Possible antimicrobial properties of Thymus essential oils have been investigated. The chemical composition of the essential oils and the antimicrobial activity of Thymus mastichina (L) L. subsp. mastichina , T. camphoratus and T. lotocephalus from different regions of Portugal were analysed. Methods and Results: Hydrodistillation was used to isolate the essential oils and the chemical analyses were performed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC coupled to mass spectrometry. The antimicrobial activity was tested by the disc agar diffusion technique against Candida albicans , Escherichia coli , Listeria monocytogenes , Proteus mirabilis , Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus . Pure linalool, 1,8-cineole and a mixture (1:1) of these compounds were included. Linalool, 1,8-cineole or linalool/1,8-cineole and linalool/1,8-cineole/linalyl acetate were the major components of the essential oils, depending on the species or sampling place. The essential oils isolated from the Thymus species studied demonstrated antimicrobial activity but the micro-organisms tested had significantly different sensitivities. Conclusions: The antimicrobial activity of essential oils may be related to more than one component. Significance and Impact of the Study: Portuguese endemic species of Thymus can be used for essential oil production for food spoilage control, cosmetics and pharmaceutical use. Further studies will be required to elucidate the cell targets of the essential oil components

Effectiveness of cell-adsorbed bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus curvatus CWBI-B28 and selected essential oils to control Listeria monocytogenes in pork meat during cold storage.

Aims: To study the effectiveness of a combination of cell-adsorbed bacteriocin (CAB; a suspension of producer cells on which maximum bacteriocin has been immobilized by pH adjustments) of a Lactobacillus curvatus strain with oregano or savory essential oil to control Listeria monocytogenes in pork meat at 4 C