Antiviral edible coatings and films: A strategy to ensure food safety

Background Pathological viral transmission via food has been a problem throughout humankind's evolutionary history, impacting food safety and public health. Fresh produce can be contaminated at any stage from pre- to post-harvest and frequently goes through little to no processing, imposing a high risk for contamination by foodborne viruses. Also, due to the globalization of the food industry and supply networks, the spread of enteric virus-related foodborne disorders has worsened. The current understanding of the transmission of viruses through contaminated foods needs more information regarding the potential infectivity, and it is essential to have effective ways to prevent viral transmission and minimize its adverse effects on human and animal health. Scope and approach This review addresses the global public health issue related to foodborne viruses and the current challenges of food safety. It provides an overview of food-grade and naturally occurring antiviral compounds with good antimicrobial activity and emphasizes how edible films and coatings with embedded antiviral agents can reduce the transmission of foodborne illness. Key findings and conclusions Antiviral edible films and coatings can be developed using plant-based compounds and their derived-products, like essential oils and extracts, with bioactive properties. Their use in food products and food contact materials can contribute to developing strategies to contain infectious outbreaks. Results show that these compounds interact with the viral particle, causing some damage to the virus integrity and affecting its infectivity. The development of antiviral edible films and coatings containing these bioactive compounds showed great potential against enteric viruses that cause foodborne illness, specifically norovirus and hepatitis A virus. However, some antiviral agents have also been shown to be very effective against other pathogenic viruses of great importance, some of which are not typically foodborne but can also be dangerous to humans.This work received funding from EIT Food (Grant agreement ID: 20400), the innovation community on Food of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the EU, under Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tunning pectinase activity under the effects of electric fields in the enhanced clarification of wine must

Introduction: Pectinolytic enzymes are of great importance for the clarification process of “Vinho Verde” wine must, contributing to the reduction of haze development. During the last decade, a growing body of knowledge has been established about the effects of electric fields on the activation of important food enzymes. However, the influence of electrical parameters on catalytic activity is enzyme-dependent and should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This work describes, for the first time, the effects of electric fields and electrical frequency on the activity of pectinase (PEC) in the accelerated clarification of “Vinho Verde” must. Method: Moderate electric fields (MEF) with intensities below 20 V/cm and at electrical frequencies ranging from 50 to 20 kHz were applied at temperatures between 15 and 35°C. Enzymatic activity was measured for 25 min, and the initial rate of reaction was determined by the coefficient of the linear plot of galacturonic acid (GAL) production as a function of time. Results: The results show that electrical frequency can increase enzymatic activity depending on temperature conditions; at 20°C and with electrical frequencies of 2 and 20 kHz, enzymatic activity increased by up to 40 and 20%, respectively, when compared with the control sample (without the application of MEF). Temperature dependence was evaluated through the Arrhenius equation, showing that energy of activation (Ea) can be reduced from 9.2 to 6.6 kJ/mol at sub-optimal temperatures for PEC activity when MEF is applied. Discussion: Electrical parameters, when combined with temperatures below 20°C, reduced pectin concentration in “Vinho Verde” wine must by up to 42% of its initial content. This emergent treatment can be integrated in relevant environmental conditions, presenting an opportunity to increase enzyme efficiency even in low-temperature conditions, which favors the winemaking process.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit, LABBELSAssociate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020, and funded by BIOECONORTE (ref. NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000070) with a funding body from the Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N), NORTE2020, Portugal 2020 and ESIF - European Structural and Investment Funds.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Electrical fields in the processing of protein-based foods

Electric field-based technologies offer interesting perspectives which include controlled heat dissipation (via the ohmic heating effect) and the influence of electrical variables (e.g., electroporation). These factors collectively provide an opportunity to modify the functional and technological properties of numerous food proteins, including ones from emergent plant- and microbial-based sources. Currently, numerous scientific studies are underway, contributing to the emerging body of knowledge about the effects on protein properties. In this review, "Electric Field Processing" acknowledges the broader range of technologies that fall under the umbrella of using the direct passage of electrical current in food material, giving particular focus to the ones that are industrially implemented. The structural and biological effects of electric field processing (thermal and non-thermal) on protein fractions from various sources will be addressed. For a more comprehensive contextualization of the significance of these effects, both conventional and alternative protein sources, along with their respective ingredients, will be introduced initially.Rita Leal, Ana Catarina Leite, and Zita Avelar acknowledge the FCT for the scholarship with references 2023.01115.BD, 2023.00408.BD, and SFRH/BD/146347/2019, respectively. Ricardo N. Pereira acknowledges the FCT for its Assistant Research program under the scope of Scientific Stimulus Employment with the reference CEECIND/02903/2017/CP1458/CT0006 (https://doi.org/10.54499/CEECIND/02903/2017/CP1458/CT0006, accessed on 31 December 2023)

Effects of Triiodothyronine Treatment in an Animal Model of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

© Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.,[Background]: Low levels of triiodothyronine (T3) are common in patients with heart failure (HF). Our aim was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with low and replacement doses of T3 in an animal model of HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).[Methods]: We evaluated four groups: ZSF1 Lean (n = 8, Lean-Ctrl), ZSF1 Obese (rat model of metabolic-induced HFpEF, n = 13, HFpEF), ZSF1 Obese treated with a replacement dose of T3 (n = 8, HFpEF-T3high), and ZSF1 Obese treated with a low-dose of T3 (n = 8, HFpEF-T3low). T3 was administered in drinking water from weeks 13 to 24. The animals underwent anthropometric and metabolic assessments, echocardiography, and peak effort testing with maximum O2 consumption (VO2max) determination at 22 weeks, and a terminal hemodynamic evaluation at 24 weeks. Afterwhile myocardial samples were collected for single cardiomyocyte evaluation and molecular studies.[Results]: HFpEF animals showed lower serum and myocardial thyroid hormone levels than Lean-Ctrl. Treatment with T3 did not normalize serum T3 levels, but increased myocardial T3 levels to normal levels in the HFpEF-T3high group. Body weight was significantly decreased in both the T3-treated groups, comparing with HFpEF. An improvement in glucose metabolism was observed only in HFpEF-T3high. Both the treated groups had improved diastolic and systolic function in vivo, as well as improved Ca2+ transients and sarcomere shortening and relaxation in vitro. Comparing with HFpEF animals, HFpEF-T3high had increased heart rate and a higher rate of premature ventricular contractions. Animals treated with T3 had higher myocardial expression of calcium transporter ryanodine receptor 2 (RYR2) and α-myosin heavy chain (MHC), with a lower expression of β-MHC. VO2max was not influenced by treatment with T3. Myocardial fibrosis was reduced in both the treated groups. Three animals died in the HFpEF-T3high group.[Conclusions]: Treatment with T3 was shown to improve metabolic profile, myocardial calcium handling, and cardiac function. While the low dose was well-tolerated and safe, the replacement dose was associated with increased heart rate, and increased risk of arrhythmias and sudden death. Modulation of thyroid hormones may be a potential therapeutic target in HFpEF; however, it is important to take into account the narrow therapeutic window of T3 in this condition.This study was supported by grants from the European Union (FP7-HEALTH-2010-MEDIA), and national funds through FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (UIDB/00051/2020, UIDP/00051/2020, 2021. 06947.BD., PTDC/DTP-PIC/4104/2014, NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000003-DocNET, SAICT-PAC/0047/2015, and 01/ 12/2016-NETDIAMOND) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN)/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (Grant No. SAF2017-86342-R).Peer reviewe

Os principais tipos e manifestações da Cirrose Hepática: uma atualização clínica

Introdução: A cirrose hepática é um processo patológica crônico, considerado a hepatopatia mais comum, definido como a conversão difusa morfoestrutural por nódulos de arquitetura anômalo envoltos por fibrose. Objetivou-se descrever os tipos mais relevantes de cirrose e suas devidas manifestações. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma revisão bibliográfica, fundamentada nas plataformas do SciELO, PubMed, Scopus, utilizando os termos “hepatical cirrhosis”, “liver disease” e “hepatocellular insufficiency” a qual através da revisão narrativa, abordou amplamente a respeito da contextualização da cirrose e as principais etiologias. Resultados e Discussão: Foi analisado que tal condição afeta qualquer faixa etária, sexo, etnia e independe da classe socioeconômica, mas as diversas etiologias impõem um perfil epidemiológico específico conforme a aparição. As principais origens abordam o tipo alcoólico, hepatite, aplicação crônica de alguns fármacos e esteatose gordurosa ou não. Ademais, estima-se que estas afetam a anatomofuncionalidade do órgão responsável por grande parte da homeostase, culminando em diversas manifestações clínicas.  Conclusão: A cirrose é uma consequência grave de fatores de base em estágio avançado, a qual devido ao seu curso geralmente silencioso culmina no desenvolvimento e progressão clínica. Neste contexto, a atenção aos fatores predisponentes como alimentação rica em lipídios, estilismo, negligência a exames de rotina, sedentarismo e obesidade contribuem constituem medidas eficazes de prevenção primária.&nbsp

Revestimentos edíveis sustentáveis com atividade antimicrobiana

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Biológica (especialização em Tecnologia Química e Alimentar)Nos últimos anos, o interesse pelo uso de biopolímeros biodegradáveis para aplicação em embalagens de alimentos tem aumentado, principalmente na produção de embalagens ativas, como revestimentos comestíveis com compostos ativos incorporados. Os revestimentos comestíveis ativos, produzidos a partir de materiais biológicos, como proteínas, polissacarídeos e lípidos, são uma tecnologia ambientalmente correta que oferece vantagens substanciais no aumento da vida útil e na melhoria da qualidade e segurança alimentar de frutas e vegetais, atuando como uma barreira contra a difusão de gases e, retardando, ainda, a deterioração e crescimento superficial de bactérias, leveduras e bolores numa ampla gama de produtos. Além do mais, os surtos microbiológicos de origem alimentar e a atual pandemia de coronavírus (SARS-CoV2) são um sério problema de saúde pública. Dados e pesquisas experimentais mostraram que compostos de origem natural, como ácidos fenólicos e flavonóides, têm potencial antiviral promissor, no entanto ainda não existem estudos sobre a eficácia de revestimentos ativos contra este vírus. Assim, surgiu a motivação para este trabalho, onde se pretende avaliar a eficácia de revestimentos ativos comestíveis contra o coronavírus e na preservação e aumento do tempo de prateleira de peras. Neste sentido, esta dissertação visa o desenvolvimento de três revestimentos à base de alginato de sódio e de éster de sacarose com compostos ativos incorporados, nomeadamente o ácido gálico, o geraniol, e o extrato de chá verde. Estes revestimentos foram avaliados em termos de capacidade antiviral contra o coronavírus, e em paralelo determinou-se a sua atividade antioxidante. A partir dos testes antioxidantes concluiu-se que o ácido gálico apresenta uma maior capacidade antioxidante, e, a partir dos testes antivirais, determinou-se que o ácido gálico é o composto ativo mais eficaz, na concentração crítica de 12,5 g/L, pelo que se usou esta condição em posteriores testes antibacterianos, contra a Escherichia coli e Staphylococcus aureus, nos quais apresentou um efeito inibitório forte, e em testes de tempo de prateleira. Neste último, o revestimento à base de 10 g/L de alginato, 5 g/L de éster de sacarose (m/v) e 12,5 g/L de ácido gálico foi aplicado em peras, nas quais se procedeu à análise da sua variação de massa, firmeza, teor de acidez titulável, pH, conteúdo de sólidos solúveis e aparência ao longo de 45 dias de armazenamento. Constatou-se que o revestimento ativo não teve efeito no prolongamento do tempo de prateleira nem na melhoria dos seus atributos de qualidade, provavelmente devido a fatores externos.In recent years, the interest in the use of biodegradable biopolymers for food packaging applications has increased, particularly in the production of active packaging, such as edible coatings with embedded active compounds. Active edible coatings, produced from bio-based materials such as proteins, polysaccharides and lipids, are an environmentally friendly technology that offers substantial advantages in increasing the shelf-life and improving the quality and food safety of fruits and vegetables by acting as a barrier against mass diffusion (moisture and gases) and also by retarding spoilage and surface growth of bacteria, yeasts and molds on a wide range of products. Furthermore, food-borne microbiological outbreaks and the current coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV2) are a serious public health problem. Some works have shown that compounds of natural origin, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, have promising antiviral potential, however, there are still no studies on the efficacy of active coatings against this virus. Thus, the motivation for this work arose, where it was intended to evaluate the efficacy of edible active coatings against coronavirus and in the preservation and increasing of pears’ shelf life. In this sense, this dissertation aimed to evaluate three coatings based on sodium alginate and sucrose ester incorporated with active compounds, namely gallic acid, geraniol, and green tea extract. These coatings were evaluated in terms of their antiviral ability against coronavirus SARS-CoV2, and, in parallel, their antioxidant activity was determined. From the antioxidant tests, it was concluded that gallic acid has the highest antioxidant capacity, and from the antiviral tests it was determined that gallic acid is the most effective active compound at the critical concentration of 12,5 g/L, so this condition was used in further antibacterial tests, against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, in which it showed a strong inhibitory effect, and in shelf-life tests. In this latter, the coating based on 10 g/L alginate, 5 g/L sucrose ester and 12,5 g/L gallic acid was applied to pears, which were analyzed for their change in mass, firmness, titratable acidity content, pH, soluble solids content and appearance over 45 days of storage. It was found that, probably due to external factors, the active coating had no effect in extending shelf life or improving their quality attributes

The role of emergent processing technologies in beer production

The brewing industry is regarded as a fiercely competitive and insatiable sector of activity, driven by the significant technological improvements observed in recent years and the most recent consumer trends pointing to a sharp demand for sensory enhanced beers. Some emergent and sustainable technologies regarding food processing such as pulsed electric fields (PEF), ultrasound (US), thermosonication (TS), high-pressure processing (HPP), and ohmic heating (OH) have shown the potential to contribute to the development of currently employed brewing methodologies by both enhancing the quality of beer and contributing to processing efficiency with a promise of being more environmentally friendly. Some of these technologies have not yet found their way into the industrial brewing process but already show potential to be embedded in continuous thermal and non-thermal unit operations such as pasteurization, boiling and sterilization, resulting in beer with improved organoleptic properties. This review article aims to explore the potential of different advanced processing technologies for industrial application in several key stages of brewing, with particular emphasis on continuous beer production.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and by LABBELS—Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechnaical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020. Ricardo N. Pereira acknowledges FCT for its Assistant Research program under the scope of Scientific Stimulus Employment with reference CEECIND/02903/2017.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Thyroid function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) – evaluation of serum and myocardial thyroid hormones in an animal model of HFpEF

Trabajo presentado en el 19th European Congress of Endocrinology, celebrado en Lisboa (Portugal) del 20 al 23 de mayo de 2017.[Introduction]: Thyroid hormones play a central role in the regulation of the cardiovascular system. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is responsible for more than 50% of all heart failure cases and its main pathophysiological alteration is diastolic dysfunction. Diminished thyroid function is known to predominantly impair diastolic function, however the thyroid hormone status in HFpEF remains largely unknown.[Methods]: We evaluated an animal model of HFpEF, ZSF1 Obese rats (ZSF1-Ob, n=13), and their control group, ZSF1 Lean rats (ZSF1-Ln, n=11), with serial echocardiography followed by invasive hemodynamic recordings and tissue collections at 20 weeks. Serum TSH was quantified by ELISA. Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were quantified in serum, left ventricle and visceral adipose tissue by radioimmunoassay (RIA).[Results]: At 20 weeks of age, ZSF1-Ob group developed HF with diastolic dysfunction, as shown by an increased E/E’ on echocardiography, a prolonged time constant of isovolumetric relaxation, an elevated end-diastolic pressure and upward shifted end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship on invasive hemodynamic evaluation. Serum levels of thyroid hormones were significantly decreased in ZSF1-Ob rats (T3: 5.96±4.65 vs 35.85±9.39 ng/dL in ZSF1-Ln, P<0.001; T4: 1.51±0.64 vs 3.49±1.35 μg/dl in ZSF1-Ln, P<0.001), while the levels of serum TSH were not significantly different between the two groups (0.65±0.38 ng/ml in ZSF1-Ln vs 0.79±0.57 ng/ml in ZSF1-Ob, P=0.531). Left ventricle levels of thyroid hormones were significantly decreased in ZSF1-Ob rats (T3: 3.87±0.85 vs 10.51±7.91 ng/g in ZSF1-Ln, P=0.012; T4: 0.99±0.43 vs 2.02±0.60 ng/g in ZSF1-Ln, P=0.016). The levels of T3 and T4 in visceral adipose tissue were not significantly different between the two groups.[Conclusion]: We observed a decrease in serum and myocardial thyroid hormone levels in an animal model of HFpEF. This may contribute to impaired diastolic function and, therefore, may constitute an interesting therapeutic target in HFpEF.Peer reviewe

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora