La inoculación con bacterias del ácido acético mejora la calidad de las aceitunas de mesa verdes naturales

This study aims to develop a method for the preparation of natural table olives using locally selected microorganisms and without resorting to the usual techniques which employ lye treatment and acids. The effects of parameters, such as lye treatment, inoculation with yeasts, substitution of organic acids with vinegar and/or acetic acid bacteria, and finally alternating aeration have been assessed. Four different combinations were applied to the “Picholine marocaine” olive variety using indigenous strains, namely Lactobacillus plantarum S1, Saccharomyces cerevisiae LD01 and Acetobacter pasteurianus KU710511 (CV01) isolated respectively from olive brine, Bouslikhen dates and Cactus. Two control tests, referring to traditional and industrial processes, were used as references. Microbial and physicochemical tests showed that the L3V combination (inoculated with A. pasteurianus KU710511 and L. plantarum S1 under the optimal growth conditions of the Acetic Acid Bacteria (AAB) strain with 6% NaCl) was found to be favorable for the growth of the Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) strain which plays the key role in olive fermentation. This result was confirmed by sensory evaluation, placing L3V at the top of the evaluated samples, surpassing the industrial one where a chemical debittering treatment with lye was used. In addition, alternating aeration served to increase the microbial biomass of both AAB and LAB strains along with Saccharomyces cerevisiae LD01 strain, but also to use lower concentration of NaCl and to reduce the deterioration of olives compared to the anaerobic fermentation process. Finally, a mixed starter containing the three strains was prepared in a 10-L Lab-fermenter from the L3V sample in order to improve it in subsequent studies. The prepared starter mixture could be suitable for use as a parental strain to prepare table olives for artisan and industrial application in Morocco.Este estudio tiene como objetivo desarrollar un método para la preparación de aceitunas de mesa naturales utilizando microorganismos seleccionados localmente y sin recurrir a las técnicas habituales que utilizan el tratamiento con lejía y ácidos. Se han evaluado los efectos de parámetros como el tratamiento con lejía, la inoculación con levaduras, la sustitución de ácidos orgánicos por bacterias de vinagre y/o ácido acético, y finalmente la aireación alterna. Se ensayaron cuatro combinaciones diferentes en la variedad de aceituna «Picholine marocaine» utilizando cepas autóctonas, como Lactobacillus plantarum S1, Saccharomyces cerevisiae LD01 y Acetobacter pasteurianus KU710511 (CV01) aisladas respectivamente de salmuera de aceitunas, Bouslikhen y Cactus. Se utilizaron como referencia dos pruebas de control, referidas a procesos tradicionales e industriales. Las pruebas microbianas y fisicoquímicas mostraron que la combinación L3V (inoculada con A. pasteurianus KU710511 y L. plantarum S1 en las condiciones óptimas de crecimiento de la bacteria del ácido acético (AAB) con NaCl al 6%) resultó ser favorable para el crecimiento del Láctico. Las cepas de bacterias ácidas (LAB) juegan un papel clave en la fermentación de las aceitunas. Este resultado fue confirmado por la evaluación sensorial colocando L3V en la parte superior de las muestras evaluadas, superando a la industrial, donde se usó un tratamiento de eliminación química con lejía. Además, la aireación alterna permitió aumentar la biomasa microbiana de las cepas AAB y LAB junto con la cepa Saccharomyces cerevisiae LD01, también usar una concentración más baja de NaCl y reducir el deterioro de las aceitunas, en comparación con la operación de fermentación anaerobia. Finalmente, se preparó un iniciador mixto que contenía las tres cepas en un fermentador de laboratorio de 10-L a partir de la muestra L3V con el objeto de mejorarlo en los estudios posteriores. El iniciador de mezcla preparado podría ser adecuado para usarse como una cepa parental para preparar aceitunas de mesa para aplicaciones artesanales e industriales en Marruecos

Potentiel de biodégradation de corynébactéries isolées d'une zone polluée par les hydrocarbures du pétrole

Le degré de pollution engendré par l’effluent de la raffinerie de pétrole de Sidi Kacem (Maroc) a été estimé pendant l’année 1997. La détermination de l’oxygène dissous, de la demande chimique et biochimique en oxygène, ainsi que d’autres caractères physico-chimiques, a montré que l’effluent brut de la raffinerie est fortement pollué et que cette pollution se répercute sur la qualité des eaux de l’oued Rdom recevant cet effluent. Une collection de souches bactériennes capables de croître en présence du pétrole brut comme seule source de carbone a été isolée à partir de différentes stations de la zone polluée. L’identification des bactéries à Gram positif a été réalisée à l’aide de galeries d’identification. L’utilisation de la réaction en chaîne de la polymérase (PCR) et les Primers “ERIC” a montré que les bactéries isolées possèdent les séquences consensus inversées répétées. Ces séquences engendrent un profil en accord avec l’identification de quatre espèces appartenant au genre Corynebacterium : C. diphteriae, C. fascians, C. pseudotuberculosis, C. xerosis, d’une souche de Rhodoccocus equi et d’un Actynomyces. Le pourcentage de biodégradation du pétrole brut a été déterminé, il est de l’ordre de 40 % en quatre semaines pour les corynébactéries et la souche de Rhodoccocus et il est inférieur à 10 % pour la souche d’Actinomyces sp. Ces résultats sont en faveur d’un rôle de la flore à Gram positif dans la bioremédiation du site pollué

The susceptibility of Escherichia coli strains to essential oils of Rormarinus officinalis and Eucalyptus globulus

Essential oils are frequently used for flavour and fragrance in the perfume, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. They are also suitable raw material for production of new synthetic agents. The antibacterial activity of the essential oils obtained by steam distillation of Rosmarinus officinalis L and Eucalyptus globules collected in south Morocco was studied by micro-atmospheric technique against Escherichia coli CIP54127 and E. coli isolated from urine and resistant to several antibiotics. Both essential oils were effective against the two strains bacteria in particularly against E. coli CIP54127. MIQ of both oils ranged from 60 to 70 ìl for both bacteria. In conclusion, results show that essential oils are effective and could be considered as a natural antimicrobial source that can be used on production of natural antimicrobial agents

Toxicity of south Morocco Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil: antibacterial and histopathological effects

Le romarin (Rosmarinus officinalis) possède de nombreuses propriétés médicinales. Il est connu pour ses effets antimicrobiens et anti-oxydatifs. Le but de ce travail est d’étudier la toxicité de son huile essentielle (HE) via un test antibactérien selon la technique de micro-atmosphère et un autre histopathologique au niveau des organes de souris (Swiss albinos). L’analyse de la composition chimique de cette HE a été effectuée par CPG. Les constituants majoritaires de l’HE de R. officinalis sont le 1,8-cinéole (42%), l’alpha-pinène (11,92%) et le camphre (13.99%). Les quantités minimales inhibitrices des souches bactériennes testées varient entre 40 ?l et 90 ?l. Au plan histopathologique, une dilatation des alvéoles pulmonaires et une hypertrophie des cellules corticales et médullaires des surrénales ont été relevées. En conclusion, l’HE de R. officinalis ne présente pas de toxicité à la dose 50 ?l/g mais possède des effets stimulants des glandes surrénales et du système respiratoire

Typical investigational medicinal products follow relatively uniform regulations in 10 European Clinical Research Infrastructures Network (ECRIN) countries

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In order to facilitate multinational clinical research, regulatory requirements need to become international and harmonised. The EU introduced the Directive 2001/20/EC in 2004, regulating investigational medicinal products in Europe.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a survey in order to identify the national regulatory requirements for major categories of clinical research in ten European Clinical Research Infrastructures Network (ECRIN) countries-Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom-covering approximately 70% of the EU population. Here we describe the results for regulatory requirements for typical investigational medicinal products, in the ten countries.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results show that the ten countries have fairly harmonised definitions of typical investigational medicinal products. Clinical trials assessing typical investigational medicinal products require authorisation from a national competent authority in each of the countries surveyed. The opinion of the competent authorities is communicated to the trial sponsor within the same timelines, i.e., no more than 60 days, in all ten countries. The authority to which the application has to be sent to in the different countries is not fully harmonised.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The Directive 2001/20/EC defined the term 'investigational medicinal product' and all regulatory requirements described therein are applicable to investigational medicinal products. Our survey showed, however, that those requirements had been adopted in ten European countries, not for investigational medicinal products overall, but rather a narrower category which we term 'typical' investigational medicinal products. The result is partial EU harmonisation of requirements and a relatively navigable landscape for the sponsor regarding typical investigational medicinal products.</p

Ortholog of the polymerase theta helicase domain modulates DNA replication in Trypanosoma cruzi

DNA polymerase theta (Polθ), a member of the DNA polymerase family A, exhibits a polymerase C-terminal domain, a central domain, and an N-terminal helicase domain. Polθ plays important roles in DNA repair via its polymerase domain, regulating genome integrity. In addition, in mammals, Polθ modulates origin firing timing and MCM helicase recruitment to chromatin. In contrast, as a model eukaryote, Trypanosoma cruzi exhibits two individual putative orthologs of Polθ in different genomic loci; one ortholog is homologous to the Polθ C-terminal polymerase domain, and the other is homologous to the Polθ helicase domain, called Polθ-polymerase and Polθ-helicase, respectively. A pull-down assay using the T. cruzi component of the prereplication complex Orc1/Cdc6 as bait captured Polθ-helicase from the nuclear extract. Orc1/Cdc6 and Polθ-helicase directly interacted, and Polθ-helicase presented DNA unwinding and ATPase activities. A T. cruzi strain overexpressing the Polθ-helicase domain exhibited a significantly decreased amount of DNA-bound MCM7 and impaired replication origin firing. Taken together, these data suggest that Polθ-helicase modulates DNA replication by directly interacting with Orc1/Cdc6, which reduces the binding of MCM7 to DNA and thereby impairs the firing of replication origins

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection