A study of lactobacilli from the normal vagina and various gynaecological conditions.

The purpose of this study was to compare the species of Lactobacillus present in the vagina of gynaecologically normal women with those isolated from women with certain gynaecological conditions. Fifty-nine strains, isolated from gynaecologically normal women, and seventeen reference strains were characterised by 71 morphological, biochemical and nutritional tests. Groups of isolates, produced by computer-aided principal components and cluster analyses of the data, correlated well with the species identification, made according to a few conventionally used tests. The species of Lactobacillus isolated most frequently were L. acidophilus (35.6 per cent.), L. jensenii (23.7 per cent.) and L. fermentum (15.3 per cent.). Antisera raised against representatives of these species showed that L. jensenii, a species previously reported from this habitat only twice and little studied, was serologically distinct from the other isolates. Lactobacilli were also isolated from women with four gynaecological conditions, namely infections with Candida albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis respectively, pregnancy and abnormalities of the uterine cervix. These isolates were speciated using a reduced list of characterisation tests. No significant differences were found between the species of Lactobacillus from these women and those from gynaecologically normal women. No relationship could be established between the forms of lactobacilli isolated and clinical characteristics or other microorganisms isolated from the vagina. Women from whom lactobacilli were not isolated had a significantly higher vaginal pH and greater incidence of potentially pathogenic organisms. Estimations of the abundance of vaginal isolates showed that some organisms were consistently present in greater numbers than others. Individual species of Lactobacillus also showed definite tendencies to be present in particular grades of abundancy

Hlapljivi organski spojevi u mlijeku dobivenom prirodnom fermentacijom i fermentacijom s pomoću pojedinačnih ili mješovitih kultura kvasaca i mliječno-kiselih bakterija

The volatile organic compounds present in 18 Zimbabwean naturally fermented milk (amasi) samples and those produced by various yeasts, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast/ LAB combinations were determined using headspace gas chromatography. The yeast strains used were: Candida kefyr 23, C. lipolytica 57, Saccharomyces cerevisiae 71, C. lusitaniae 68, C. tropicalis 78, C. lusitaniae 63, C. colliculosa 41, S. dairenensis 32, and Dekkera bruxellensis 43, and were coded Y1 to Y9, respectively. The LAB strains used were Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis Lc39, L. lactis subsp. lactis Lc261, Lactobacillus paracasei Lb11, and L. lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis C1, and were coded B1 to B4, respectively. Some of the volatile organic compounds found in amasi were acetaldehyde, ethanol, acetone, 2-methyl propanal, 2-methyl-1-propanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol. However, the levels of volatile organic compounds in the naturally fermented milk (NFM) samples varied from one sample to another, with acetaldehyde ranging from 0.1–18.4 ppm, 3-methyl butanal from <0.1–0.47 ppm and ethanol from 39.3–656 ppm. The LAB/C. kefyr 23 (B/Y1) co-cultures produced significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of acetaldehyde and ethanol than the levels found in the NFM. The acetaldehyde levels in the B/Y1 samples ranged from 26.7–87.7 ppm, with L. lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis C1 (B4) producing the highest level of acetaldehyde in combination with C. kefyr 23 (Y1). Using principal component analysis (PCA), most of the NFM samples were grouped together with single and co-cultures of Lc261, Lb11 and the non-lactose fermenting yeasts, mainly because of the low levels of ethanol and similar levels of 3-methyl butanal. Chromatograms of amasi showed prominent peak of methyl aldehydes and their alcohols including 3-methyl-butanal and 3-methyl-butanol, suggesting that these compounds are important attributes of Zimbabwean naturally fermented milk.Hlapljivi organski proizvodi, u 18 uzoraka prirodno fermentiranog mlijeka iz Zimbabvea (amasi) i mlijeka dobivenog fermentacijom s pomoću kvasaca, mliječno-kiselih bakterija (LAB) i kombinacijom kvasaca i mliječno-kiselih bakterija određeni su plinskom kromatografijom na čvrstoj fazi. Upotrijebljeni su ovi sojevi kvasaca: Candida kefyr 23, C. lipolytica 57, Saccharomyces cerevisiae 71, C. lusitaniae 68, C. tropicalis 78, C. lusitaniae 63, C. colliculosa 41, S. dairenensis 32 i Dekkera bruxellensis 43, te su označeni s Y1 do Y9. Od LAB korišteni su sojevi Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis Lc39, L. lactis subsp. lactis Lc261, Lactobacillus paracasei Lb11 i L. lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis C1, označeni s B1 do B4. Acetaldehid, etanol, aceton, 2-metilpropanal, 2-metil-1-propanol i 3-metil-1-butanol su neki hlapljivi organskih spojevi pronađeni u prirodno fermentiranom mlijeku amasi. Količina hlapljivih organskih spojeva u prirodno fermentiranom mlijeku (naturally fermented milk – NFM) razlikovala se od uzorka do uzorka, te je iznosila 0,1-18,4 ppm acetaldehida, <0,1-0,47 ppm 3-metilbutanala i 39,3-656 ppm etanola. Upotrebom kulture LAB/C. kefyr 23 (B/Y1) proizvedena je kudikamo veća (p<0,05) količina acetaldehida i etanola nego u NFM. Količina acetaldehida u uzorcima B/Y1 iznosila je 26,7-87,7 ppm, a najviše acetaldehida dobiveno je fermentacijom s pomoću L. lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis C1 (B4) u kombinaciji s C. kefyr 23 (Y1). Metodom glavnih komponenata (principal component analysis – PCA) svrstana je većina NFM uzoraka s pojedinačnim i mješovitim kulturama Lc261, Lb11 i kvascima koji ne fermentiraju laktozu, prema malim količinama etanola i sličnom udjelu 3-metilbutanala. Kromatogram prirodno fermentiranog mlijeka amasi pokazuje visok pik metilaldehida i njihovih alkohola, uključujući 3-metilbutanal i 3-metilbutanol, čime je dokazano da su ti spojevi značajni za mlijeko amasi

Response from The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety, Panel of nutrition, dietetic products, novel food and allergy, on the Discussion Paper on setting of maximum and minimum amounts for vitamins and minerals in foodstuffs.

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Response from The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety, Panel of nutrition, dietetic products, novel food and allergy, on the Discussion Paper on setting of maximum and minimum amounts for vitamins and minerals in foodstuffs.

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Comments from the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety, Panel on Nutrition, dietetic products, Novel Food and Allergy (Panel 7) on the setting of maximum limits for vitamins and minerals in foods

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Risk assessment on use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG) as an ingredient in infant formula and baby foods. The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety Panel on Nutrition, Dietetic products, Novel food and Allergy

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Assessment of creatine in sports products

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Vurdering av Draft Revised Discussion Paper on the Application of Risk Analysis to the work of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses

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Forespørsel om vurdering av 4 ny mat produkter

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CWD in Norway. Opinion of the Panel on Biological Hazards of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) and Norwegian Environmental Authority (NEA) asked the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) for an opinion on factors associated with the introduction of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) to Norway. VKM appointed a working group consisting of two members of the Panel on Biological Hazards, one member of Panel on Animal Health and Welfare, and two external experts to prepare the answer to the questions. The Panel on Biological Hazards has reviewed and revised the draft prepared by the working group and approved the opinion. CWD was diagnosed in March 2016 in a wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) from the Nordfjella mountain area in Norway and in May and June in two mooses (Alces alces) in Selbu in South Trøndelag County, approximately 300 km north from the first case. There is currently no information to determine the origin(s) of CWD agents in Norway. However, the sporadic or genetic (somatic mutation) occurrence of prion disease in cervids cannot be excluded, nor can introduction from North America or other countries. Furthermore, there is no evidence that it has not been circulating at low levels in the Norwegian cervid populations for years, but has not previously been identified. In this scientific opinion, information on prion diseases in general, and CWD in particular, is presented in the light of experiences with this disease in North America. Prions are among the most resilient pathogens known and dissemination of prions into ecosystems is likely to result in long-term problems. Prions bind strongly to soil and remain infectious. In CWD, prions are present in most peripheral organs and also shed into the environment via saliva, faeces, and urine, as well as with the placenta. CWD transmits easily among cervids, either through direct contact, or indirectly via the environment. Migration of animals is relevant for the spread between areas. Strain diversification might occur in CWD and may influence transmission properties of the agents. Clinical signs of CWD are non-specific and do not alone enable confirmation of the diagnosis. Analysis of tissue from the brainstem at the level of the obex by approved methods is necessary for diagnosis of CWD. Prion infectivity is assessed by bioassays, often involving transgenic mice. In vitro conversion assays, like protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), provide sensitive quantification of converting activity, which is a good approximation of infectivity. Genetic variation (polymorphisms) in the gene that encodes PrP (PRNP) can modulate sensitivity towards CWD. The level of such genetic variation in Norwegian wild and semi- domesticated cervids is currently unknown. Cattle and sheep are at very low risk of developing CWD and it is highly unlikely that prion diseases in sheep or cattle are the origin of CWD. VKM Report 2016: 26 6 Although transmission of CWD to humans has never been known to occur, and animals other than cervids have not been found to be infected, indicating a species barrier, this possibility cannot be excluded. Thus, measures for reduction of human exposure are recommended. Taking into account uncertainties regarding the plasticity of the CWD agents and the lack of transmission data from the Norwegian isolates, this scientific opinion considers the zoonotic risk of CWD to be very low.publishedVersio