1,336 research outputs found
Synergism between fungal enzymes and bacterial antibiotics may enhance biocontrol
The interactions between biocontrol fungi and bacteria may play a key role in the natural process of biocontrol, although the molecular mechanisms involved are still largely unknown. Synergism can occur when different agents are applied together, and cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) produced by fungi can increase the efficacy of bacteria. Pseudomonas spp. produce membrane-disrupting lipodepsipeptides (LDPs) syringotoxins (SP) and syringomycins (SR). SR are considered responsible for the antimicrobial activity, and SP for the phytotoxicity. CWDEs of Trichoderma spp. synergistically increased the toxicity Of SP25-A or SRE purified from P. syringae against fungal pathogens. For instance, the fungal enzymes made Botrytis cinerea and other phytopathogenic fungi, normally resistant to SP25-A alone, more susceptible to this antibiotic. Pseudomonas produced CWDEs in culture conditions that allow the synthesis of the LDPs. Purified bacterial enzymes and metabolites were also synergistic against fungal pathogens, although this mixture was less powerful than the combination with the Trichoderma CWDEs. The positive interaction between LDPs and CWDEs may be part of the biocontrol mechanism in some Pseudomonas strains, and co-induction of different antifungal compounds in both biocontrol bacteria and fungi may occur
Correction:Carbonyl trapping and antiglycative activities of olive oil mill wastewater
Correction for ‘Carbonyl trapping and antiglycative activities of olive oil mill wastewater’ by Marta Navarro et al., Food Funct., 2015, 6, 574–583
Quantification of Nε-(2-Furoylmethyl)-L-lysine (furosine), Nε-(Carboxymethyl)-L-lysine (CML), Nε-(Carboxyethyl)-L-lysine (CEL) and total lysine through stable isotope dilution assay and tandem mass spectrometry
The control of Maillard reaction (MR) is a key point to ensure processed foods quality. Due to the presence of a primary amino group on its side chain, lysine is particularly prone to chemical modifications with the formation of Amadori products (AP), Nε-(Carboxymethyl)-L-lysine (CML), Nε-(Carboxyethyl)-L-lysine (CEL). A new analytical strategy was proposed which allowed to simultaneously quantify lysine, CML, CEL and the Nε-(2-Furoylmethyl)-L-lysine (furosine), the indirect marker of AP. The procedure is based on stable isotope dilution assay followed by, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. It showed high sensitivity and good reproducibility and repeatability in different foods. The limit of detection and the RSD% were lower than 5 ppb and below 8%, respectively. Results obtained with the new procedure not only improved the knowledge about the reliability of thermal treatment markers, but also defined new insights in the relationship between Maillard reaction products and their precursors
Evolution of protein bound Maillard reaction end-products and free Amadori compounds in low lactose milk in presence of fructosamine oxidase I
Thermal treatments and storage influence milk quality, particularly in low lactose milk as the higher concentration of reducing sugars can lead to the increased formation of the Maillard reaction products (MRPs). The control of the Amadori products (APs) formation is the key step to mitigate the Maillard reaction (MR) in milk. The use of fructosamine oxidases, (Faox) provided promising results. In this paper, the effects of Faox I were evaluated by monitoring the concentration of free and bound MRPs in low lactose milk during shelf life. Results showed that the enzyme reduced the formation of protein-bound MRPs down to 79% after six days at 37 °C. Faox I lowered the glycation of almost all the free amino acids resulting effective on basic and polar amino acids. Data here reported corroborate previous findings on the potentiality of Faox enzymes in controlling the early stage of the MR in foods
Estimation of dietary intake of melanoidins from coffee and bread
Melanoidins are defined as polymeric high molecular weight, brown-coloured Maillard reaction end-products, containing nitrogen. They escape digestion and pass through the upper gastrointestinal tract and can interact with the different microbial species present in the colon. Major dietary sources of melanoidins are coffee and bread crust. Both coffee and bread crust melanoidins can be fermented by the human hindgut microflora thus sharing some of the properties attributed to dietary fibre. Despite the emerging positive physiological properties of such dietary constituents their intake has not been estimated yet. To this aim melanoidin content in different type of coffee brews, bread and dry biscuits was determined by sequential ultrafiltration and enzymatic digestion. Despite some drawbacks and limiting steps in the calculation, such as the lack of a reference material, an educated guess on the dietary intake of melanoidins has been put forward. Data indicated that the intake of coffee melanoidins ranged between 0.5 to 2.0 g per day for moderate and heavy consumers, respectively. For bread and dry biscuits an intake in the ranges of 1.8-15.0 and 3.2-8.5 g per day has been calculated. These figures suggest that a realistic estimation of melanoidins dietary intake for general population would be close to 10 g per day considering all the possible alimentary sources. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.Peer Reviewe
Designing food structure to slow down digestion in starch-rich products
The category of starch-rich foods is on the spot for its role in the development of obesity and related diseases. Therefore, the priority of modern food industry. In this paper, three different food design strategies that can be used to modulate the release of glucose during the gastrointestinal process of starch-rich foods, are illustrated. The structure of the starch granules can be modified by controlling processing parameters (i.e. moisture, temperature and shear) thus influencing the gelatinization and retrogradation behavior. The intactness of plant cell walls hindering the access of amylases to the starch granules and the formation of a stiffed food matrix using the crosslinking between proteins and the melanoidins generated by Maillard reaction are also very effective approaches. Following these food design strategies several practical approaches can be pursued by food designers to find reliable
solutions combining the consumers request of palatable and rewarding foods with the public health demand of having food products with better nutritional profile
Potential of Insect-Derived Ingredients for Food Applications
Insects are a sustainable and efficient protein and lipid source, compared with conventional livestock. Moreover, insect proteins and lipids are highly nutritional. Therefore, insect proteins and lipids can find its place as food ingredients. The use of insect proteins and lipids as food ingredients requires a deep understanding on the chemical and physical characteristics of these ingredients, as well as its functionality. Information on the chemical and physical characteristics of insect proteins and oils will help to assess the possibilities of its use on different food applications. In this chapter, we briefly review the nutritional aspects of insect proteins and lipids, insect processing, protein and lipid extraction as well as the perspectives of food applications of insect protein and lipids. Future studies should delve into extraction methods and into intrinsic properties of insect ingredients. This knowledge will be useful to introduce insect ingredients into various food preparations. Also valuable will be the study of other insect species with perspectives for its commercial rearing
Modelling the kinetics of osmotic dehydration of mango: Optimizing process conditions and pre-treatment for health aspects
The kinetics of mass transfer and vitamin C loss in mango during osmotic dehydration (OD) were described by mathematical models. Water loss (WL) and weight reduction (WR) was modelled by Weibull's model, soluble solid gain (SSG) was better described by Peleg's model. Vitamin C loss was described by a multiresponse model incorporating both degradation and leaching processes into the OD-solution. Effects of vacuum impregnation (VI) and pectin methylesterase (PME) addition on the model parameters were evaluated. VI increases SSG indicated by a 55% lower value of k2 in the Peleg model (P < 0.05). PME addition showed no significant effect on the mass transfer kinetics. The major mechanism of vitamin C loss during OD was degradation. The pretreatments have no significant effect on degradation and leaching rate constants of vitamin C. The combination of modelling the mass transfer and vitamin C retention was shown to be valuable in optimizing the OD process design to enhance the health-promoting value of OD mango (sugar content, vitamin C) and processing time.</p
Cavity Optomechanics with a Polymer Coated Nanomembrane
The emerging fields of cavity optomechanics explores the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and nano or micromechanical motion. The variety of experimental systems and possible applications range from gravitational-wave interferometry to the experimental demonstration of the quantum ground state of a mechanical resonator, from ultrasensitive measurement to fundamental questions in quantum physics.
Optomechanical interaction are mediated by radiation pressure or photothermal forces. In our experiment we focused on the latter in the case of a Fabry-Pérot hemiconfocal cavity, where the plain mirror of the cavity was a polymer coated nanomembrane. Starting from the build up and configuration of the whole apparatus, we have been studying the bolometric effect for two different laser wavelengths, that is for two different absorption rates of the polymer, as well as the transmission and reflection properties of the membrane. Working in the high vacuum regime we moved on to the study of the actual optomechanical phenomena: we have been able to observe cooling effects on the first normal mode of the membrane and we have studied the dynamics of nonlinear effects typical of a slow-fast systems
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