Cucurbitaceae Seed Protein Hydrolysates as a Potential Source of Bioactive Peptides with Functional Properties

Seeds from Cucurbitaceae plants (squashes, pumpkins, melons, etc.) have been used both as protein-rich food ingredients and nutraceutical agents by many indigenous cultures for millennia. However, relatively little is known about the bioactive components (e.g., peptides) of the Cucurbitaceae seed proteins (CSP) and their specific effects on human health. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of latest research on bioactive and functional properties of CSP isolates and hydrolysates. Enzymatic hydrolysis can introduce a series of changes to the CSP structure and improve its bioactive and functional properties, including the enhanced protein solubility over a wide range of pH values. Small-sized peptides in CSP hydrolysates seem to enhance their bioactive properties but adversely affect their functional properties. Therefore, medium degrees of hydrolysis seem to benefit the overall improvement of bioactive and functional properties of CSP hydrolysates. Among the reported bioactive properties of CSP isolates and hydrolysates, their antioxidant, antihypertensive, and antihyperglycaemic activities stand out. Therefore, they could potentially substitute synthetic antioxidants and drugs which might have adverse secondary effects on human health. CSP isolates and hydrolysates could also be implemented as functional food ingredients, thanks to their favorable amino acid composition and good emulsifying and foaming properties

Characterization and Identification of Cryptic Biopeptides in Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh K. Koch) Storage Proteins

The objective of this research was to identify and characterize the encoded peptides present in nut storage proteins of Carya illinoinensis. It was found, through in silico prediction, proteomic analysis, and MS spectrometry, that bioactive peptides were mainly found in albumin and glutelin fractions. Glutelin was the major fraction with ~53% of the nut storage proteins containing at least 21 peptides with different putative biological activities, including antihypertensives, antioxidants, immunomodulators, protease inhibitors, and inhibitors of cell cycle progression in cancer cells. Data showed that using 50 μg/mL tryptic digests of enriched peptides obtained from nut glutelins is able to induce up to 19% of apoptosis in both HeLa and CasKi cervical cancer cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report that shows the potential value of the nut-encoded peptides to be considered as adjuvants in cancer therapies

VIRUS FITOPATÓGENOS EN INSECTOS ASOCIADOS AL AJO

La propagación vegetativa del ajo ( Allium sativum ) es la principal vía de transmisión de virus para este cultivo. No obs - tante, no se debe descartar la dispersión por insectos vectores. El objetivo del presente estudio fue detectar, mediante la prueba de ELISA, la presencia de virus en insectos colectados en plantas de ajo. El experimento se llevó a cabo durante el ciclo Otoño-Invierno 2008-2009. La toma de muestras de insectos se realizó en tres fechas después de la siembra. La identificación de las especies de insectos se realizó utilizando un estereomicroscopio Zeiss de 30X y claves taxonómicas. La detección de virus fue mediante la técnica de DAS-ELISA para los potyvirus Virus del rayado amarillo del puerro ( Leek yellow spot virus : LYSV) y Virus del enanismo amarillo de la cebolla ( Onion yellow dwarf virus: OYDV); los carlavirus Virus latente común del ajo ( Garlic common latent virus : GCLV) y Virus latente del chalote ( Shallot latent virus : SLV); y el tospovirus Virus del manchado amarillo del iris ( Iris yellow spot virus : IYSV). Se identificaron 19 especies de insectos, de los que destacaron Thrips tabaci Lindeman, como positivo en 18 muestras para GCLV y dos muestras para IYSV, y Collops quadrimaculatus , como positivo en una muestra para GCLV

Molecular Detection and Sensitivity to Antibiotics and Bacteriocins of Pathogens Isolated from Bovine Mastitis in Family Dairy Herds of Central Mexico

Thirty-two farms (n=535 cows) located in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, were sampled. Pathogens from bovine subclinical mastitis (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CLM) were identified by 16S rDNA and the sensitivity to both antibiotics and bacteriocins of Bacillus thuringiensis was tested. Forty-six milk samples were selected for their positive California Mastitis Test (CMT) (≥3) and any abnormality in the udder or milk. The frequency of SCM and CLM was 39.1% and 9.3%, respectively. Averages for test day milk yield (MY), lactation number (LN), herd size (HS), and number of days in milk (DM) were 20.6 kg, 2.8 lactations, 16.7 animals, and 164.1 days, respectively. MY was dependent on dairy herd (DH), LN, HS, and DM P<0.01, and correlations between udder quarters from the CMT were around 0.49 P<0.01. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were mainly identified, as well as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, Brevibacterium stationis, B. conglomeratum, and Staphylococcus agnetis. Bacterial isolates were resistant to penicillin, clindamycin, ampicillin, and cefotaxime. Bacteriocins synthesized by Bacillus thuringiensis inhibited the growth of multiantibiotic resistance bacteria such as S. agnetis, S. equorum, Streptococcus uberis, Brevibacterium stationis, and Brachybacterium conglomeratum, but they were not active against S. sciuri, a microorganism that showed an 84% resistance to antibiotics tested in this study