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The effect of phenols on the microbial growth is still debated, as they could act as antimicrobials or as protective agents. In this study, we evaluated the survival of different lyophilised probiotic strains in dark chocolate with 80% cocoa and high total phenols content. Our results showed that the survivability of probiotics in dark chocolate stored at 18 °C for 90 d is a strain-dependent character and is strongly influenced by the inoculum mode, whereas phenols did not seem to influence the survival. In particular, the pre-suspension of probiotics in UHT milk before the addition to dark chocolate caused a great loss of survival during the storage, even if metabolic activities of possibly reactivated cells were not observed. The probiotic chocolates were characterised, for the entire storage period, by an excellent sensory quality. Moreover, the dark chocolate offered a good protection to probiotics during the simulated gastrointestinal transit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was the investigation of the antimicrobial activity expressed by Lactobacillus plantarum strains isolated from different fermented matrices (wines, cheese, fermented sausages, and sourdoughs). A total of 106 strains of Lb. plantarum (producers) were tested against 33 undesirable microorganisms (indicators), including both moulds and bacteria. The antimicrobial activity exerted by growing cells (GC) was evaluated by the spot-on-thelawn, while the activity of cell free supernatants (CFS), neutralised CFS (nCFS) and CFS treated with proteases (pCFS) was assessed by the agar well diffusion assay. The antagonistic effect produced by GC of Lb. plantarum isolated from wines was higher than that exibited by cells isolated from other fermented matrices. Moreover, 5 CFS - all from wine strains - as well as the corresponding nCFS and pCFS were able to inhibit different bacteria and moulds. The results suggested a relationship between the origin of Lb. plantarum strains and their antimicrobial properties, while no relation was found between the intensity of inhibition and the origin of indicator strains. This fact highlights that the knowledge of conditions characterising different ecosystems can be helpful in the detection and isolation of Lb. plantarum strains to be used as protective agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Extracts of the bulbs of Italian ecotypes of Allium sativum were analysed to determine their phenolic profiles, antioxidant activities, ascorbic acid and allicin content, and in vitro antibacterial and anti-proliferative activities. Ultra performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (UPLC-DAD) was used to detect and quantify gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, epicatechin, hyperoside, ferulic acid, apigenin, p -coumaric acid and allyl isothiocyanate. All extracts exhibited antioxidant activity with concentrations necessary to inhibit the activity of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical by 50% (EC 50 ) ranging from 60 to 114 mg. Ascorbic acid and allicin ranged between 0.268 and 0.658 mg/g, and between 0.411 and 1.105%, respectively. Extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa more so than against Bacillus cereus . 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays demonstrated that the extracts inhibited the proliferation of the human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells in time- and dose-dependent manners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay proposes the practice of window shopping, systematically switching between various modes of inquiry to understand and evaluate evidence of student learning in interdisciplinary courses. Because interdisciplinarity by nature is epistemologically flexible and often yields fluid subject matter content, it can complicate (and dissuade) scholars from undertaking SoTL. This essay addresses this problem, particularly in respect to the issue of 'novice-stry'. In addition, it offers window shopping as a practice that can support instructors grappling with what constitutes actual 'data' of substantive interdisciplinary learning intimately connected to local contexts and pedagogic reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study aimed to compare phenotypic and genetic characteristics of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains isolated at the end of the ripening of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and to investigate an important prerequisite of probiotic interest, such as the capability to survive at low pH and in presence of bile salts. The use of API 50 CH, RAPD-PCR analysis and species-specific PCR allowed to ascertain the identity of 63 L. rhamnosus strains. Three L. rhamnosus strains isolated from Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, L. rhamnosus ATCC 7469T and the commercial strain L. GG were assayed to estimate the resistance to various stress factors reproducing in vitro some conditions of the gastro-intestinal environment such as low pH and different amounts of bile salts and acids. The behaviour of almost all the tested strains isolated from Parmigiano Reggiano cheese resulted analogous to that showed by L. GG. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Scamorza is a pasta filata cheese produced in Southern Italy and eaten after a short ripening. The ripening phase is critical in defining the main qualitative features of the Scamorza cheese. The success of this operation is conditioned not only by the process parameters, but also by the characteristics of the ripening room in which different microclimates originate. This work intended to evaluate the influence of the different positions of cheeses within the ripening room on the evolution of their qualitative characteristics during the process of drying/ripening. For this purpose, samples of Scamorza cheese, produced in the Molise Region (Italy), were divided into two batches (C and L) and subjected to ripening for seven days in a thermo thermo-regulated room. The two batches were placed in different points of the room: the batch C in the central area and the batch L in the lateral area. During the ripening, temperature, humidity and air flow were monitored and the Scamorza cheeses were analysed to assess some qualitative characteristics. In a ripening room, the created microclimates are able to influence the quality of the product, as demonstrated by data related to temperature, humidity and air flow. In fact, from the results obtained, some appreciable differences among products from batches C and L were observed for the weight loss, the water activity and the colorimetric indexes. Differences in the behaviour of mesophilic lactic acid bacteria, pH and acidity were also found. The more rapid loss of water, characterizing the batch C, resulted in an evolution of physicochemical, physical and microbiological features, which resulted different from those observed in the samples from the batch L. Therefore, the results obtained in this study point out that, within the ripening room, the formation of different micro-environments is able to strongly influence the definition of the qualitative characteristics of the products placed in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the FAO/WHO guidelines, selection of probiotics requires the assessment of survival under gastrointestinal stress and adhesion to human epithelial cells. These attributes were evaluated on Akkermansia muciniphila ATCC BAA-835 simulating the gastrointestinal transit (GIT) immediately followed by adhesion to human intestinal cell lines (CaCo2, HT-29, and HT-29-MTX) as an alternative approach to in vitro methods performed with fresh cells in each trial. The survival rate after GIT, as determined by plate counts and fluorescent probes, was significantly higher for A. muciniphila (about 8 Log CFU/mL) than for the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 (about 3 Log CFU/mL). The use of Live/Dead assay highlighted that A. muciniphila forms cell aggregates in the gastric phase as protective mechanism, explaining its high viability in the intestine. The rate of adhesion to human cell lines was always lower for strains tested after simulated GIT than for strains that did not undergo simulated GIT. Akkermansia muciniphila exhibited significantly higher adhesion than Lbs. rhamnosus GG, particularly to the mucus-secreting HT-29-MTX cells across a range of concentrations (2-8 Log CFU/mL). Finally, the bioinformatic analysis of A. muciniphila proteome confirmed the Amuc_1434 as a potential factor in binding to the human MUC2 protein., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Vergalito, Bagnoli, Maiuro, Pannella, Palombo, Testa, Coppola, Di Marco, Tremonte, Lombardi, Iorizzo, Coppola and Succi.)

The present study aimed to find solutions based on the use of plant-based ingredients that would improve the nutritional quality of meat products as well as ensure sensory and microbiological quality. Two fat replacers, lemon albedo ( Citrus lemon ) and carob seed gum ( Ceratonia siliqua ), were investigated by chemical analysis and panel testing to evaluate their effect on the nutritional and sensory quality of beef burgers. The antimicrobial activity of two plant extracts, from nettle ( Urtica dioica ) leaves and medlar ( Eriobotrya japonica ) seeds, was studied, evaluating the intensity of inhibitory action and the minimum inhibitory concentration against Pseudomonas spp. and Listeria innocua strains by plate test. In addition, the antioxidant activity of both extracts was evaluated. Based on the results, lemon albedo and medlar seed extracts were validated in a food model (beef burger) by a storage test and a challenge test. The storage test results highlight that medlar seed extract prevents the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) and ensures microbiological quality, inhibiting Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp. Anti- Listeria efficacy was confirmed in situ by challenge test results. In conclusion, although fat replacers ensure nutritional and sensory quality, they do not satisfy microbiological quality. This study clearly demonstrates that the safety of low-fat burgers can only be achieved through the combination of appropriate fat replacers with well-selected natural antimicrobial extracts.

Grape-associated microbial community is influenced by a combination of viticultural, climatic, pedological and anthropological factors, collectively known as terroir . Therefore, grapes of the same cultivar grown in different areas can be appreciated for their distinctive biogeographic characteristics. In our previous study, we showed that the phenotypic response of Aglianico and Cabernet grapevines from Molise and Sicily regions is significantly influenced by the prevailing pedoclimatic conditions, particularly soil physical properties. However, the scale at which microbial communities differ could be important in clarifying the concept of terroir , including whether it is linked to the grape variety present in a particular vineyard. To explore this further, in the research presented here, a comparative study on the fungal communities inhabiting the berry surfaces of Cabernet and Aglianico cultivars was conducted on different vineyards located in Southern Italy (Molise, Sicily and Campania regions, the first two of which had been involved in our previous study) by using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and multivariate data analysis. The descriptive approach through relative abundance analysis showed the most abundant phyla (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Chytridiomycota), families ( Cladosporiaceae , Saccotheciaceae , Pleosporaceae , Saccharomycodaceae , Sporidiobolaceae , Didymellaceae , Filobasidiaceae , Bulleribasidiaceae , and Saccharomycetaceae ) and genera ( Cladosporium , Aureobasidium , Alternaria , Stemphylium and Filobasidium ) detected on grape berries. The multivariate data analysis performed by using different packages (phyloseq, Vegan, mixOmics, microbiomeMarker and ggplot2) highlighted that the variable "vineyard location" significantly affect the fungal community, while the variable "grape variety" has no significant effect. Thus, some taxa are found to be part of specific vineyard ecosystems rather than specific grape varieties, giving additional information on the microbial contribution to wine quality, thanks to the presence of fermentative yeasts or, conversely, to the involvement in negative or detrimental roles, due to the presence of grape-deriving fungi implied in the spoilage of wine or in grapevine pathogenesis. In this connection, the main functions of core taxa fungi, whose role in the vineyard environment is still poorly understood, are also described., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Iorizzo, Bagnoli, Vergalito, Testa, Tremonte, Succi, Pannella, Letizia, Albanese, Lombardi and Coppola.)

The cultivated grapevine, Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera , possesses a rich biodiversity with numerous varieties. Each variety adapts differently to varying pedoclimatic conditions, which greatly influence the terroir expression of wine regions. These conditions impact vine growth, physiology, and berry composition, ultimately shaping the unique characteristics and typicity of the wines produced. Nowadays, the potential of the different adaptation capacities of grape varieties has not yet been thoroughly investigated. We addressed this issue by studying two grape varieties, Aglianico and Cabernet Sauvignon, in two different pedoclimatic conditions of Southern Italy. We evaluated and compared the effect of different pedoclimatic conditions on plant physiology, the microbial quality of grapes using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology, the expression trends of key genes in ripe berries and the concentration of phenolic compounds in grapes and wines by HPLC-MS, HPLC-DAD, NMR and spectrophotometric analyses. Metabolomic and microbiome data were integrated with quantitative gene expression analyses to examine varietal differences and plasticity of genes involved in important oenological pathways. The data collected showed that the phenotypic response of studied grapes in terms of vigor, production, and fruit quality is strongly influenced by the pedoclimatic conditions and, in particular, by soil physical properties. Furthermore, Aglianico grape variety was more influenced than the Cabernet Sauvignon by environmental conditions. In conclusion, the obtained findings not only reinforce the terroir concept and our comprehension of grape's ability to adapt to climate variations but can also have implications for the future usage of grape genetic resources., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Iorizzo, Sicilia, Nicolosi, Forino, Picariello, Lo Piero, Vitale, Monaco, Ferlito, Succi, Tremonte, Gambuti, Villano, Bonfante, Aversano and Coppola.)

Coppa Piacentina is considered a peculiar dry cured salami, since it is manufactured by the entire neck muscles stuffed and matured in natural casings, the same as dry cured ham and fermented dry cured sausages. In this work the proteolysis of external and internal portions was investigated by a proteomic approach and by amino acids analysis. Samples of "Coppa Piacentina" were analyzed at 0 days and after 5 and 8 months of ripening through mono- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Image analysis of 2D electrophoretic maps indicated a more intense enzyme activity on the external part, mainly due to endogenous enzymes. They favored, respectively, myofibrillar or sarcoplasmic proteins at 5 or 8 months of ripening. Free amino acids determination proved that lysine and glutamic acid were the most represented ones, followed by a free amino acids sequence like that of dry cured ham. The peculiarities of "Coppa Piacentina" were characterized by a slow proteolysis, due to sacking and binding of the whole cut of the pork neck., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The European Union (EU) adopts the One Health (OH) approach, based on the relationships between human, animal, and environmental health. OH concerns a multitude of aspects, some of which are discussed here. OH overlaps the European Green Deal plan and its relaunched Farm to Fork Strategy, which aims at spreading organic farms adopting the circular economy, in order to improve human health through both better environmental conditions and healthier food. Nevertheless, zoonoses cause sanitary cost in terms of infected farm personnel, lower productivity, and lower fertility of infected farm animals. In such scenarios, the decreased breeding yield and the lower income induce higher cost of farm products, meaning that the market price rises, becoming uncompetitive when compared to the prices of industrial products. Consequently, lower revenues can hinder the farm growth expected in the framework of the EU Green Deal. Since zoonosis control is a key element in aligning EU policies aimed at achieving the EU Green Deal goal of "ZERO environmental impact" by 2050, the authors suggest the inclusion of the parameter economic health in the OH approach, in order to individuate EU Member States (MSs) economically unable to conduct eradication programmes and to finance them. Economic health is here considered as a starting point of the new ethical and science-based One Health Financial Model that the authors suggest as an in-embryo model, in which specific rules should regulate public funds, private investments, and trading, which should exclusively concern public services and private enterprises complying with most of the OH parameters. In this way, economic losses due to collateral negative effects deriving from human activities can be progressively decreased, and the entire planet will benefit from the process. Despite the considerable efforts being carried out in the context of the OH approach, war causes tragic and devastating effects on the physical and mental health of human beings, on their lives, on pandemic and zoonotic threats, on animals, on plants and, last but not least, on the environment. War is incompatible with OH. Enormous efforts for peace are therefore urgently needed.

In recent years, alongside the conventional screening procedures for the evaluation of probiotics for human usage, the pharmaceutical and food industries have encouraged scientific research towards the selection of new probiotic bacterial strains with particular functional features. Therefore, this study intended to explore novel functional properties of five Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains isolated from bee bread. Specifically, antioxidant, antimicrobial and β-glucosidase activities, exopolysaccharides (EPS) production and the ability to synthesize γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the investigated L. plantarum strains were effective in inhibiting the growth of some human opportunistic pathogens in vitro ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Escherichia coli , Proteus mirabilis , Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus ). Moreover, the evaluation of antioxidant and β-glucosidase activity and of EPS and GABA production, revealed a different behavior among the strains, testifying how these properties are strongly strain-dependent. This suggests that a careful selection within a given species is important in order to identify appropriate strains for specific biotechnological applications. The results highlighted that the five strains of L. plantarum are promising candidates for application as dietary supplements in the human diet and as microbial cultures in specific food productions.

The present study evaluated the fungal contamination of ready-to-eat dried hazelnuts considering for the first time the application of the same condition drying process of several hazelnut cultivars from different boreal hemisphere areas. Fifty lots of hazelnuts ( Corylus avellana ), belonging to eight cultivars from seven regions in four countries, were analyzed for fungal microbiota, describing both load levels and species diversity. For this purpose, a polyphasic approach consisting of morphological examination (optical and scanning electron microscope observation) and molecular characterization [PCR-DGGE analysis and sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)] was performed. The results show that different fungal populations occur in dried hazelnuts regardless of their geographical area of production. Although some varieties appear to be relatively less susceptible, species related to Aspergillus , such as A. commune and A. ochraceus , Penicillium , including P. commune, P. solitum , and P. expansum , and Rhizopus , for instance, R. stolonifer and R. oryzae , have generally been found. A related character "hazelnut cultivar-fungi" was found for species related to the genera Trichoderma and Fusarium , including F. oxyxporum , F. solani , and F. falciforme . All 14 species found are known to host pathogenic strains. Therefore, their presence in a ready-to-eat product, such as dried hazelnuts, can pose a real danger to the consumer. Based on these considerations, the development of new protective strategies seems highly desirable. The species-level description of the contaminating fungal community acquired through this study is the starting point for the development of tailor-made protective biotechnologies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Lombardi, Pannella, Tremonte, Mercurio, Vergalito, Caturano, Maiuro, Iorizzo, Succi, Sorrentino and Coppola.)

Dietary probiotic supplementation has the potential to enhance the health of fish and their disease resistance. In this study, some properties of ten Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains have been evaluated, for their potential use as probiotics in freshwater fish diet. In particular, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, the potentiality to survive the gastrointestinal transit and persist in the intestine, were evaluated in vitro. The experimental tests were carried out at 15 °C and 30 °C to determine the suitability of these lactic acid bacteria to be used as probiotics in the diet of fish grown at different temperatures. The results demonstrated that the evaluated Lp. plantarum strains, which often have significant differences among themselves, are characterized by important functional characteristics such as cell surface properties (auto-aggregation and hydrophobicity), ability to produce antioxidant substances, capacity to survive in the presence of 0.3% bile salts and acidic environment (2.5 pH), antagonistic activity against some fish opportunistic pathogens ( A. salmonicida , Ps. aeruginosa , E. coli and C. freundii ) and other unwanted bacteria present in fish products ( S. aureus and L. innocua ). The outcomes suggest that these Lp. plantarum strains may be candidates as probiotics in warm- and cold-water aquaculture.