Cellulose-containing waste recycling using fungi

Accumulation of plant waste is a serious environmental problem. Mushrooms with high cellulolytic activity can process it into valuable products that will be useful in solving various industries and agriculture problems. The enzymes of the cellulolytic complex include 1,4-β-D-glucan-4-glucanohydrolase, exo-1,4-β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, β-glucosidase. 1,4-β-D-glucan-4-glucanohydrolases destroy β-1,4-glycosidic bonds within the chain of cellulose and lichenin polysaccharides. Exoglucanases destroy β-1,3- and β-1,4-glycosidic bonds at the end of the molecule. Cellobiohydrolases cleave β-1,4-glycosidic bonds to form cellobiose and glucose. β-glucosidase complete the process of destruction. Fungi with high cellulolytic activity include both representatives of the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota divisions. Ascomycete Chaetomium globosum produces endoglucanases of two families and 8 cellobiohydrolases. Myceliophthora thermophila also produces endoglucanases and cellobiohydrolases, the most abundant of which is Mt Cel7A. The fungus is a promising producer of thermostable enzymes. Trichoderma reesei has a long history of safe use as a source of highly active cellulolytic enzymes and other valuable metabolites. LPMOs of the cellulolytic fungus Thielavia terrestris are considered auxiliary enzymes, but can negatively affect the main enzymes of the complex. Irpex lacteus also produces LPMO and a complete cellulolytic enzyme complex. The cellulolytic activity of fungi and their ability to grow on cheap substrates can be used to bioconvert plant waste into valuable products. One of the ways to utilize them is to convert into compound feed with a high protein content through the use of starter cultures. The use of mushrooms will increase the content of protein and simple carbohydrates, enrich the feed with fats. Another method is to obtain cellulases, which are widely used in many industries. Thanks to the production of biodiesel and bioethanol from cellulose-containing raw materials it is possible to solve the problem of lack of fuel by replacing energy carriers from non-renewable energy sources with their environmentally friendly counterparts. They are less toxic than diesel and gasoline and are also made from renewable resources.

Captivity Influences the Gut Microbiome of Rhinopithecus roxellana

Ex situ (captivity in zoos) is regarded as an important form of conservation for endangered animals. Many studies have compared differences in the gut microbiome between captive and wild animals, but few have explained those differences at the functional level due to the limited amount of 16S rRNA data. Here, we compared the gut microbiome of captive and wild Rhinopithecus roxellana, whose high degree of dietary specificity makes it a good subject to observe the effects of the captive environment on their gut microbiome, by performing a metagenome-wide association study (MWAS). The Chao1 index was significantly higher in the captive R. roxellana cohort than in the wild cohort, and the Shannon index of captive R. roxellana was higher than that of the wild cohort but the difference was not significant. A significantly increased ratio of Prevotella/Bacteroides, which revealed an increased ability to digest simple carbohydrates, was found in the captive cohort. A significant decrease in the abundance of Firmicutes and enrichment of genes related to the pentose phosphate pathway were noted in the captive cohort, indicating a decreased ability of captive monkeys to digest fiber. Additionally, genes required for glutamate biosynthesis were also significantly more abundant in the captive cohort than in the wild cohort. These changes in the gut microbiome correspond to changes in the composition of the diet in captive animals, which has more simple carbohydrates and less crude fiber and protein than the diet of the wild animals. In addition, more unique bacteria in captive R. roxellana were involved in antibiotic resistance (Acinetobacter) and diarrhea (Desulfovibrio piger), and in the prevention of diarrhea (Phascolarctobacterium succinatutens) caused by Clostridioides difficile. Accordingly, our data reveal the cause-and-effect relationships between changes in the exact dietary composition and changes in the gut microbiome on both the structural and functional levels by comparing of captive and wild R. roxellana.

The structure of nutrition of Russian students as a risk factor for the development of nutritional diseases

The paper analyzes the literature data on the peculiarities of nutrition of students studying in higher educational institutions of various regions of Russia, and the risks of developing food-related diseases. They are largely associated with the adaptation of students to study at a university, the lack of self-organization skills and a lack of knowledge in matters of rational nutrition. The actual nutrition of students, on the one hand, is characterized by a lack of macronutrients and micronutrients intake, on the other hand, by excessive consumption of substances that contribute to the development of obesity. The results of numerous studies show a general pattern of unbalanced nutrition of students in terms of the ratio of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, insufficient consumption of dietary fiber, full-fledged proteins, and excessive intake of simple carbohydrates. Dietary fiber deficiency can lead to changes in the composition of the microbiocenosis of the digestive tract, a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids, and consequently, the imbalance of fatty acid composition of the blood cell membrane. 20–40 % of Russian students show signs of severe hypovitaminosis, especially calciferol, which is caused not only by its deficiency in the diet, but also by physical, geographical, climatic and seasonal factors. The analysis of the content of the main minerals in students shows a sufficient content of calcium in the body, an excess of sodium and a lack of magnesium, potassium and iron, which is due to both the composition of the food consumed and the peculiarities of the accumulation and excretion of these ions. An analysis of the actual nutrition of students shows the need for counseling young people, especially in the first years of study. The introduction of an educational program on optimal nutrition is possible through the practice of curatorial work during the adaptation of the first-year students to student’s life.

The Membrane Proteome of Spores and Vegetative Cells of the Food-Borne Pathogen Bacillus cereus

Membrane proteins are fascinating since they play an important role in diverse cellular functions and constitute many drug targets. Membrane proteins are challenging to analyze. The spore, the most resistant form of known life, harbors a compressed inner membrane. This membrane acts not only as a barrier for undesired molecules but also as a scaffold for proteins involved in signal transduction and the transport of metabolites during spore germination and subsequent vegetative growth. In this study, we adapted a membrane enrichment method to study the membrane proteome of spores and cells of the food-borne pathogen Bacillus cereus using quantitative proteomics. Using bioinformatics filtering we identify and quantify 498 vegetative cell membrane proteins and 244 spore inner membrane proteins. Comparison of vegetative and spore membrane proteins showed there were 54 spore membrane-specific and 308 cell membrane-specific proteins. Functional characterization of these proteins showed that the cell membrane proteome has a far larger number of transporters, receptors and proteins related to cell division and motility. This was also reflected in the much higher expression level of many of these proteins in the cellular membrane for those proteins that were in common with the spore inner membrane. The spore inner membrane had specific expression of several germinant receptors and spore-specific proteins, but also seemed to show a preference towards the use of simple carbohydrates like glucose and fructose owing to only expressing transporters for these. These results show the differences in membrane proteome composition and show us the specific proteins necessary in the inner membrane of a dormant spore of this toxigenic spore-forming bacterium to survive adverse conditions.

Changes in body composition depending on the rs1801282 PPARG polymorphism in patients with different variants of treatment of early carbohydrate metabolism disorders

Objective: To study the effect of the rs1801282 PPARG polymorphism on changes in the body composition of patients with early carbohydrate metabolism disorders in groups with different variants of treatment.Materials and Methods: The study involved 64 patients (8 men and 56 women) with early carbohydrate metabolism disorders. At baseline, all patients underwent genotyping for the rs1801282 PPARG polymorphism and body composition determination with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Then, the patients were divided into two groups depending on the type of therapy. The patients from Group 1 (40 subjects, mean age 45.2±15.4 years) kept a generally accepted diet with the exclusion of simple carbohydrates and limitation of complex carbohydrates and fats. The patients from Group 2 (24 subjects, mean age 51.2±14.5 years) took metformin in addition to the diet therapy. The effects of different types of treatment on body composition changes were assessed with follow-up BIA 3 months after the start of treatment.Results: Carriers of the mutant G allele of rs1801282 PPARG in the metformin and diet therapy group showed a significant increase in the content of body cell mass (1.28±0.51% vs 0.36±0.37%; P = 0.021) compared with CC homozygotes in the absence of differences in body weight changes (P > 0.05).Conclusions: The presence of the mutant allele G of rs1801282 PPARG promotes the increase in body cell mass in case of adding metformin to the diet therapy in patients with early carbohydrate metabolism disorders.

PENGARUH DOSIS FRUKTOSA TERHADAP INDEKS MASSA TUBUH, PROFIL GLUKOSA DARAH DAN KADAR TRIGLISERID (Studi pada Tikus Wistar yang Diinduksi High Fat Fructose Diet )

Fructose or often called fruit sugar is one part of simple carbohydrates calledmonosaccharides (Almatsir 2009). Currently, many food and beverage industries usefructose sugar as a sweetener. (Prahstuti 2011). Consumption of high-fructose productsof more than 85 grams per day or more than 25% of caloric needs can lead to increasedtriglyceride levels and insulin resistance (Prahastuti 2011). The purpose of this study wasto evaluate changes in obesity status, fasting blood glucose levels and triglyceride levelsin wistar rats induced with a high fat fructose diet, by giving different doses. Research methods.The design in this study was a Randomized Control Trial(RCT), double bline pre post control design using male wistar rats, aged 6-7 weeksweighing 90-150 grams, totaling 15 individuals divided into 3 groups. Group 1 is a groupof rats fed HFFD with 1% fructose, group 2 is rats fed HFFD with 2% fructose, group 3is rats fed standard feed. Before the treatment, adaptation was carried out for 1 week, afterthat a pre-test was carried out which included measurements of body weight, body length,fasting data glucose levels, and triglyceride levels. The treatment was given for 60 days,in the middle the measurements of body weight, length, fasting data glucose levels, andtriglyceride levels were also carried out. The research location was in the clinicalpathology laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Muhammadiyah University, Surakarta. The results of the study The administration of fructose at a dose of 2% / kg BWincreased fasting blood glucose and triglyceride levels higher than the administration of1%. kgBB. Upgrade has started since day 30 Keywords: Fructose dose, Body Mass Index, fasting blood glucose level, Triglyceride level,Wistar rats, induced High fat fructose diet

INTAKE OF ULTRAPROCESSED FOODS IS ASSOCIATED WITH INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN BRAZILIAN ADOLESCENTS

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the association of the consumption of foods of the ultra-processed group (UPF) with inflammatory markers in the adolescent population in Northeastern Brazil. Design: A cross-sectional population-based study. Food consumption was evaluated using two 24-hour dietary recalls using the NOVA classification for food processing levels. The following inflammatory markers were evaluated: adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). Multivariate linear regression was used to investigate the association between the percentage of UPF energy contribution and inflammatory markers. Setting: São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. Participants: The sample consisted of 391 male and female adolescents, aged from 17 to 18 years. Results: The average daily energy consumption by adolescents was 8032.9 kJ/day, of which 26.1% originated from UPF. The upper tertile (T3) of UPF consumption presented higher intake of simple carbohydrates, lipids, saturated fat, and sodium and lower protein intake. Individuals in T3 presented higher serum leptin and CRP levels (p <0.05). Adolescents with UPF energy consumption ≥30.0% (Tertile 3 of UPF) had a 79% [exp(0.58)=1.79] increase in IL-8 levels when compared to adolescents in Tertile 1 of UPF (p = 0.013). Conclusions: The association between the consumption of UPF, poor quality diet, and pro-inflammatory markers have important harmful effects that can be observed as early as in adolescence.

Dielectric Properties of Phosphatidylcholine Membranes and the Effect of Sugars

Simple carbohydrates are associated with the enhanced risk of cardiovascular disease and adverse changes in lipoproteins in the organism. Conversely, sugars are known to exert a stabilizing effect on biological membranes, and this effect is widely exploited in medicine and industry for cryopreservation of tissues and materials. In view of elucidating molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction of mono- and disaccharides with biomimetic lipid systems, we study the alteration of dielectric properties, the degree of hydration, and the rotational order parameter and dipole potential of lipid bilayers in the presence of sugars. Frequency-dependent deformation of cell-size unilamellar lipid vesicles in alternating electric fields and fast Fourier transform electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are applied to measure the specific capacitance of phosphatidylcholine lipid bilayers in sucrose, glucose and fructose aqueous solutions. Alteration of membrane specific capacitance is reported in sucrose solutions, while preservation of membrane dielectric properties is established in the presence of glucose and fructose. We address the effect of sugars on the hydration and the rotational order parameter for 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine (POPC) and 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine (SOPC). An increased degree of lipid packing is reported in sucrose solutions. The obtained results provide evidence that some small carbohydrates are able to change membrane dielectric properties, structure, and order related to membrane homeostasis. The reported data are also relevant to future developments based on the response of lipid bilayers to external physical stimuli such as electric fields and temperature changes.