scholarly journals Influence of Food Matrices and the Population of Interfering Microorganisms on the Determination of Listeria monocytogenes by Conventional Methods and VIDAS

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 3021
Author(s):  
Maribel Estévez ◽  
Fernando García-Viejo ◽  
Mª Carmen López ◽  
Rafael Jordano ◽  
Luis M. Medina

In this study, the possible influence of the food matrix and the interfering population of microorganisms on the detection and count of Listeria monocytogenes in three common foods of the Spanish diet (Spanish omelette, fresh cheese and vegetable salad) was determined. Four groups were assayed: one control, two groups with interfering microorganisms (Salmonella Enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis) with different levels of L. monocytogenes and a final group only contaminated with L. monocytogenes. The samples were analyzed with the normalized method (UNE-EN ISO 11290:2018) and with an alternative technique (VIDAS). The results show that the presence of interfering microorganisms did not seem to interfere with the determination of L. monocytogenes. Furthermore, the type of food did not seem to influence the determination of L. monocytogenes, but the culture media used showed differences. In fact, regardless of the type of food, the ALOA medium showed higher sensitivity than the other media, with higher recovery in 100% of samples (only for the Spanish omelette in Group B was the result the same as that for PALCAM, −8.11 log cfu/g). The results obtained using the VIDAS were not influenced by any of the factors or conditions used and show 100% efficiency.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zenghui Yang

Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods partition the system into active and environmental regions and treat them with different levels of theory, achieving accuracy and efficiency at the same time. Adaptive-partitioning (AP) QM/MM methods allow on-the-fly changes to the QM/MM partitioning of the system. Many of the available energy-based AP-QM/MM methods partition the system according to distances to pre-chosen centers of active regions. For such AP-QM/MM methods, I develop an adaptive-center (AC) method that allows on-the-fly determination of the centers of active regions according to general geometrical or potential-related criteria, extending the range of application of energy-based AP-QM/MM methods to systems where active regions may occur or vanish during the simulation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-105
Author(s):  
Ramji Rathod ◽  
Faraat Ali ◽  
Amrish Chandra ◽  
Robin Kumar ◽  
Meenakshi Dahiya ◽  
...  

Background: A simple and sensitive Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry method was developed and validated to measure the concentrations of Alogliptin (ALO), Linagliptin (LIN), Saxagliptin (SAX), and Sitagliptin (SIT) using Pioglitazone (PIO) as an internal standard. Methods: Chromatographic separation of six gliptins was achieved on a C-18 column (100×2.1 mm, 2.7 μm) using a mobile phase consisting of formic acid in water, 0.1%v/v: acetonitrile in gradient elution. Electrospray ionization (ESI) source was operated in the positive ion mode. Targeted MS/MS mode on a QTOF MS was used to quantify the drug utilizing the transitions of 340.1(m/z), 473.2 (m/z), 316.2 (m/z), 408.1 (m/z), and 357.1 (m/z) for ALO, LIN, SAX, SIT and PIO respectively. Results: As per ICH Q2R1 guidelines, a detailed validation of the method was carried out and the standard curves were found to be linear over the concentration ranges of 1516.0-4548.1 ng mL-1, 519.8- 1559.4 ng mL-1, 1531.4-4594.3 ng mL-1and 1519.6-4558.8 ng mL-1 for ALO, LIN, SAX and SIT respectively. Precision and accuracy results were within the acceptable limits. The mean recovery was found to be 98.8 _ 0.76 % (GEM), 102.2 _ 1.59 % (LIN), 95.3 _ 2.74 % (SAX) and 99.2 _ 1.75 % (SIT) respectively. Conclusions: The optimized validated UPLC QTOF-MS/MS method offered the advantage of shorter analytical times and higher sensitivity and selectivity. The optimized method is suitable for application in quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical dosage forms for QC laboratory.


Author(s):  
Katharina Kerschan-Schindl ◽  
Ursula Föger-Samwald ◽  
Andreas Gleiss ◽  
Stefan Kudlacek ◽  
Jacqueline Wallwitz ◽  
...  

Summary Background Circulating serum sclerostin levels are supposed to give a good estimation of the levels of this negative regulator of bone mass within bone. Most studies evaluating total serum sclerostin found different levels in males compared to females and in older compared to younger subjects. Besides an ELISA detecting total sclerostin an ELISA determining bioactive sclerostin has been developed. The aim of this study was to investigate serum levels of bioactive sclerostin in an Austrian population-based cohort. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in 235 healthy subjects. Using the bioactive ELISA assay (Biomedica) bioactive sclerostin levels were evaluated. Results Serum levels of bioactive sclerostin were higher in men than in women (24%). The levels correlated positively with age (r = 0.47). A positive correlation could also be detected with body mass index and bone mineral density. Conclusion Using the ELISA detecting bioactive sclerostin our results are consistent with data in the literature obtained by different sclerostin assays. The determination of sclerostin concentrations in peripheral blood thus appears to be a robust parameter of bone metabolism.


LWT ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 111881
Author(s):  
Jessica Audrey Feijó Corrêa ◽  
João Vitor Garcia dos Santos ◽  
Alberto Gonçalves Evangelista ◽  
Anne Caroline Schoch Marques Pinto ◽  
Renata Ernlund Freitas de Macedo ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 108201322110132
Author(s):  
Mariem Somrani ◽  
Hajer Debbabi ◽  
Alfredo Palop

The antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of essential oil of clove against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Enteritidis were investigated. The chemical composition of the oil was characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Stock solution of the essential oil of clove was prepared in 95% (v/v) ethanol (EOC). The antibacterial assays were performed by disk diffusion assay and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). The biomass of adhered cells and preformed biofilms after incubation with different concentrations of EOC was assessed by crystal violet. Eugenol was the major bioactive compound of clove essential oil, accounting for 78.85% of the total composition. The MIC values for L. monocytogenes and S. Enteritidis were 0.05 mg/ml and 0.1 mg/ml, respectively. The initial cell adhesion at MIC was inhibited by 61.8% for L. monocytogenes and 49.8% for S. Enteritidis. However, the effect of EOC was less marked on biofilm eradication than on cell adhesion. At MIC and within 1 hour of incubation with the EOC, the preformed biofilms were reduced by 30.2% and 20.3% for L. monocytogenes and S. Enteritidis, respectively. These results suggest that sanitizers based on clove essential oil could be a potential strategy to control biofilms in food-related environments.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 164
Author(s):  
Labrini V. Athanasiou ◽  
Victoria M. Spanou ◽  
Eleni G. Katsogiannou ◽  
Panagiotis D. Katsoulos

Exposure of sheep to Borreliaburgdorferi sensulato (s.I.) complex, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis (LB), has been reported in tick-abundant areas worldwide, while no data have been reported in Greece. The aim of the study was to identify the hematological alterations in sheep with seropositivity against Borrelia burgdorferi (s.I.). Blood samples were obtained from 318 tick infested sheep for blood analysis and serological determination of IgG and IgM antibodies against B. burgdorferi by indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) assay after exclusion of endo-ectoparasites and other tick-borne infections. A total number of 162 sheep met the inclusion criteria, allocated in four groups based on the presence or absence of IgG and/or IgM; sheep found negative for IgM and IgG (Group A), positive for IgM (Group B), positive for both IgM and IgG (Group C) and positive for IgG (Group D). Anemia, thrombocytopenia and normal or decreased leukocyte count, mainly due to lymphopenia were the main hematological features observed in seropositive sheep. The presence of these features raises the suspicion of Borrelia infection in tick infested sheep. The seropositivity of 23.58% in sheep raises concerns of Borrelia circulation, especially in rural areas and potential risk of transmission to humans.


2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dae Young Lee ◽  
Bo-Ram Choi ◽  
Jae Won Lee ◽  
Yurry Um ◽  
Dahye Yoon ◽  
...  

Abstract In Platycodi Radix (root of Platycodon grandiflorum), there are a number of platycosides that consist of a pentacyclic triterpenoid aglycone and two sugar moieties. Due to the pharmacological activities of platycosides, it is critical to assess their contents in PR, and develop an effective method to profile various platycosides is required. In this study, an analytical method based on ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) with an in-house library was developed and applied to profile various platycosides from four different Platycodi Radix cultivars. As a result, platycosides, including six isomeric pairs, were successfully analyzed in the PRs. In the principal component analysis, several platycosides were represented as main variables to differentiate the four Platycodi Radix cultivars. Their different levels of platycosides were also represented by relative quantification. Finally, this study indicated the proposed method based on the UPLC-QTOF/MS can be an effective tool for identifying the detail characterization of various platycosides in the Platycodi Radix.


2021 ◽  
pp. 088532822110038
Author(s):  
Mohammad Yousef Memar ◽  
Mina Yekani ◽  
Hadi Ghanbari ◽  
Edris Nabizadeh ◽  
Sepideh Zununi Vahed ◽  
...  

The aims of the present study were the determination of antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects of meropenem-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) on carbapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( P. aeruginosa) and cytotoxicity properties in vitro. The meropenem-loaded MSNs had shown antibacterial and biofilm inhibitory activities on all isolates at different levels lower than MICs and BICs of meropenem. The viability of HC-04 cells treated with serial concentrations as MICs and BICs of meropenem-loaded MSNs was 92–100%. According to the obtained results, meropenem-loaded MSNs display the significant antibacterial and antibiofilm effects against carbapenem resistant and biofilm forming P. aeruginosa and low cell toxicity in vitro. Then, the prepared system can be an appropriate option for the delivery of carbapenem for further evaluation in vivo assays.


2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 2423-2435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorsaf Hmidi ◽  
Dorsaf Messedi ◽  
Claire Corratg�-Faillie ◽  
Th�o Marhuenda ◽  
C�cile Fizames ◽  
...  

Abstract Control of K+ and Na+ transport plays a central role in plant adaptation to salinity. In the halophyte Hordeum maritimum, we have characterized a transporter gene, named HmHKT2;1, whose homolog HvHKT2;1 in cultivated barley, Hordeum vulgare, was known to give rise to increased salt tolerance when overexpressed. The encoded protein is strictly identical in two H. maritimum ecotypes, from two biotopes (Tunisian sebkhas) affected by different levels of salinity. These two ecotypes were found to display distinctive responses to salt stress in terms of biomass production, Na+ contents, K+ contents and K+ absorption efficiency. Electrophysiological analysis of HmHKT2;1 in Xenopus oocytes revealed distinctive properties when compared with HvHKT2;1 and other transporters from the same group, especially a much higher affinity for both Na+ and K+, and an Na+–K+ symporter behavior in a very broad range of Na+ and K+ concentrations, due to reduced K+ blockage of the transport pathway. Domain swapping experiments identified the region including the fifth transmembrane segment and the adjacent extracellular loop as playing a major role in the determination of the affinity for Na+ and the level of K+ blockage in these HKT2;1 transporters. The analysis (quantitative reverse transcription-PCR; qRT-PCR) of HmHKT2;1 expression in the two ecotypes submitted to saline conditions revealed that the levels of HmHKT2;1 transcripts were maintained constant in the most salt-tolerant ecotype whereas they decreased in the less tolerant one. Both the unique functional properties of HmHKT2;1 and the regulation of the expression of the encoding gene could contribute to H. maritimum adaptation to salinity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 14-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Barreto ◽  
J.P. Cruz-Tirado ◽  
Raúl Siche ◽  
Roberto Quevedo

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