Search

The objectives of this study were to (i) test the in vitro inhibitory activity of fermented consortia of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (syn. Spirulina platensis) and two selected strains of the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly Lactobacillus plantarum) against a set of toxigenic fungal plant pathogens, including Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Fusarium graminearum, Giberella zeae, Penicillium commune, and P. expansum, (ii) assess the efficacy of consortia fermentates in preventing infections of F. graminearum and P. expansum on maize cobs and lemon fruits, respectively, and (iii) identify and quantify antifungal compounds and secondary metabolites produced by these consortia. A noticeably inhibitory activity of the fermented consortia, as determined by the agar diffusion test, was observed for all the fungal pathogens tested. Fusarium graminearum and G. zeae were the most sensitive, while A. flavus and A. niger were the least sensitive. Cell-free supernatants (CFSs) of fermentates showed the highest antifungal activity after 24 and 48 h of incubation. Their MIC and MFC values ranged from 3.13 (G. zeae) to 25 g L−1 (A. niger) and from 3.13 (G. zeae) to 100 g L−1 (Aspergillus and Penicillium species), respectively. CFSs of fermentates were also effective in preventing infections by two very common toxigenic fungi, F. graminearum and P. expansum, in maize cobs and lemon fruits, respectively. Results of chemical analyses suggest the antifungal activity of fermentates depend, at least in part, on the presence of high levels of lactic acid and significantly higher concentrations of some phenolic compounds, including DL-3-phenallactic acid, benzoic acid and 3–4-dihydroxy hydrocinnamic acid. Among the 66 secondary metabolites detected in fermentates by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis, only benzoic acid, leucine, oleic acid, and proline possess antifungal activity. Overall, results of this study reveal the potential of fermented microbial consortia as BCAs to prevent post-harvest fungal diseases and contamination by mycotoxins of food and agricultural produces.

The aim of the study was to develop an effective bio-formulation for preventing post-harvest fungal rots in fresh citrus fruit through a multi-step process that includes isolation and characterization of lactic acid bacteria (LABs) from citrus fruit peel, selection of LAB strains with high antifungal activity, chemical characterization of cell free supernatants (CFS), formulation of a lemon peel powdery-based medium (LM) activated with LAB fermentates, chemical characterization of fermented LM, and evaluation of the efficacy of the new bio-formulation against blue mold. Thirteen LABs were recovered from the rind of citrus fruit and identified by the peptide mass fingerprinting method. The antifungal activity of LABs, isolated from citrus fruit, as well as cell free supernatants (CFSs), obtained from their liquid cultures, was tested against diverse plant pathogenic fungi and oomycetes, using the dual-culture overlay and the diffusion agar assays, respectively. Two isolates designated as N3B2 and M2B2, both identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, were selected among the others for their relevant antifungal activity. Both isolates showed a broad spectrum antagonistic activity comprising also major postharvest pathogens of citrus fruit, such as Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum, the causal agents of green and blue moulds, respectively, Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. karsti, Phytophthora citrophthora and Ph. nicotianae. The N3B2 and M2B2 isolates were used as starter cultures to ferment a lemon peel powder medium enriched with a nutrient water solution (LM). The two formulations obtained by fermenting LM with the N3B2 and M2B2 isolates showed a strong in vitro inhibitory activity on the same broad range of pathogens used in the preliminary screening of LABs. Moreover, the two LM-based formulations reduced the severity of blue mold infection and inhibited the sporulation of P. italicum on artificially inoculated lemon fruit. The chemical analysis of LM-based bioformulations revealed their antifungal activity was very probably due to the LAB-derived acidic components, including lactic, acetic, DL-3-phenyllactic, 3-4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic, salicylic acid vanillic acids. These innovative LM-based bioformulations activated with LAB-derived antifungal compounds will be exploited as edible and biodegradable fruit coatings to prolong the shelf-life and prevent post-harvest rots of fresh citrus fruit.

Filamentous fungi exhibit remarkable adaptability to diverse substrates and can synthesize a plethora of secondary metabolites. These metabolites, produced in response to environmental stimuli, not only confer selective advantages but also encompass potentially deleterious mycotoxins. Mycotoxins, exemplified by those originating from Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium species, represent challenging hazards to both human and animal health, thus warranting stringent regulatory control. Despite regulatory frameworks, mycotoxin contamination remains a pressing global challenge, particularly within cereal-based matrices and their derived by-products, integral components of animal diets. Strategies aimed at mitigating mycotoxin contamination encompass multifaceted approaches, including biological control modalities, detoxification procedures, and innovative interventions like essential oils. However, hurdles persist, underscoring the imperative for innovative interventions. This review elucidated the prevalence, health ramifications, regulatory paradigms, and evolving preventive strategies about two prominent mycotoxins, aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. Furthermore, it explored the emergence of new fungal species, and biocontrol methods using lactic acid bacteria and essential mustard oil, emphasizing their efficacy in mitigating fungal spoilage and mycotoxin production. Through an integrative examination of these facets, this review endeavored to furnish a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted challenges posed by mycotoxin contamination and the emergent strategies poised to ameliorate its impact on food and feed safety.

Abstract This study aimed to analyze the reliability of the tests included in the motor competence assessment (MCA) battery and compare the effects of the number of trials per test. Thirty female volleyball players (14.6 ± 1.3 years of age) were tested. The participants performed two or three trials of each test. Intra-class correlation (ICC) was calculated, and a paired sample t-test analyzed the variations between trials (1st vs. 2nd vs. 3rd). Results revealed a significant difference between the first and the second trials for jumping sideways [t(29) = -4.108, p

Probiotics are increasingly recognized for their potential in managing bacterial challenges in animal production. This study aimed to evaluate the probiotic potential of Bacillus and Streptomyces strains, specifically their bioprotective ability against Salmonella. In agar inhibition assays, these bacteria supported Salmonella-inhibition zones, ranging from 2.5 ± 0.5 to 6.3 ± 2.0 mm. Analyses of antimicrobial metabolites revealed their capacity to produce compounds with anti-Salmonella properties, except for Bacillus subtilis MLB2. When Salmonella was exposed to lyophilized metabolites, inhibition occurred in both liquid (at concentrations between 250 and 500 g/L) and solid cultures (at 500 g/L). To confirm their probiotic potential, the S. griseus and Bacillus strains underwent evaluations for antimicrobial resistance, bile salt tolerance, auto- and co-aggregation, pH resistance, and their ability to adhere to and inhibit Salmonella in Caco-2 cells. These assessments confirmed their probiotic potential. The probiotic strains were further encapsulated and subjected to simulated swine and poultry digestion. They demonstrated survival potential through the gastrointestinal tract and significantly reduced the Salmonella population. Thus, these strains exhibit considerable promise for producing biotechnological products aimed at controlling Salmonella in animal production. This approach ensures the health and hygiene of farming facilities, mitigates the spread of zoonotic bacteria, and contributes positively to public health.

Introduction: Anastomotic leak (AL) is a dangerous complication in the early postoperative period after total gastrectomy or esophagectomy being associated with high mortality. Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) play a significant role in AL management. Only one case report described the use of Mega-Stent in AL setting. The authors report a two-case series with different applications of a Niti-S esophageal Mega-Stent in AL management. Case Report: Case 1 is a 67-year-old male who underwent an esophagectomy due to a squamous cell carcinoma of the distal esophagus. The early postoperative period was complicated with AL and gastropleural fistula. Initially, an OTSC was deployed in the dehiscence but failed to resolve AL. The esophageal Mega-Stent was further placed in-between the esophagus and the bulbus. Post-stenting contrast studies confirmed no further AL.Case 2 is an 86-year-old woman who underwent total gastrectomy with roux-en-y esophagojejunostomy due to a gastric adenocarcinoma, complicated with AL. A partially covered metal stent (PCMS) was placed to cover the anastomosis. Computed tomography confirmed leakage persistence and a second PCMS was deployed, resolving the AL. Several weeks later, both PCMSs presented ingrowth from granulation tissue. An esophageal Mega-Stent was placed (stent-in-stent technique) and 2 weeks later, all stents were removed, with no AL recurrence. Discussion/Conclusion: SEMS placement for AL is a safe, well-established therapeutic technique. Limitations include stent migration and incomplete cover of large AL. Mega-Stent can be an emerging tool for endoscopic AL management.

This study identified secondary metabolites produced by Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Penicillium digitatum in fruits of two blood orange cultivars before harvest. Analysis was performed by UHPLC–Q-TOF-MS. Three types of fruits were selected, asymptomatic, symptomatic showing necrotic lesions caused by hail, and mummified. Extracts from peel and juice were analyzed separately. Penicillium digitatum was the prevalent species recovered from mummified and hail-injured fruits. Among 47 secondary metabolites identified, 16, 18, and 13 were of A. alternata, C. gloeosporioides, and P. digitatum, respectively. Consistently with isolations, indicating the presence of these fungi also in asymptomatic fruits, the metabolic profiles of the peel of hail-injured and asymptomatic fruits did not differ substantially. Major differences were found in the profiles of juice from hail-injured and mummified fruits, such as a significant higher presence of 5,4-dihydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxy-6C-methylflavone and Atrovenetin, particularly in the juice of mummified fruits of the Tarocco Lempso cultivar. Moreover, the mycotoxins patulin and Rubratoxin B were detected exclusively in mummified fruits. Patulin was detected in both the juice and peel, with a higher relative abundance in the juice, while Rubratoxin B was detected only in the juice. These findings provide basic information for evaluating and preventing the risk of contamination by mycotoxins in the citrus fresh fruit supply chain and juice industry.

A competência motora é um importante componente para o desenvolvimento infantil relacionando-se a performance nos mais variados esportes. Esse estudo examinou a relação entre a prática do futsal e a competência motora de meninos dos seis aos 10 anos. Participaram 99 crianças com idade média de 8,15±1,18 anos, as quais foram divididas em dois grupos (praticantes de futsal vs. não praticantes). Para a avaliação da competência motora foi utilizado o Motor Competence Assessment (MCA). Os resultados indicam que os praticantes de futsal apresentam melhores resultados comparativamente às crianças que apenas participam das aulas de educação física. Em relação as categorias e a Competência Motora total, os resultados mostram que os praticantes de futsal obtiveram melhores resultados. Assim, esse estudo mostra que as crianças inseridas na prática de futsal possuem maiores níveis de competência nos testes de locomoção, de estabilização e de manipulação de objetos, bem como na competência motora total.

The growing interest in functional foods has fueled the hunt for novel lactic acid bacteria (LAB) found in natural sources such as fermented foods. Thus, the aims of this study were to isolate, identify, characterize, and quantify LAB’s antifungal activity and formulate an ingredient for meat product applications. The overlay method performed a logical initial screening by assessing isolated bacteria’s antifungal activity in vitro. Next, the antifungal activity of the fermented bacteria-free supernatants (BFS) was evaluated by agar diffusion assay against six toxigenic fungi. Subsequently, the antifungal activity of the most antifungal BFS was quantified using the microdilution method in 96-well microplates. The meat broth that showed higher antifungal activity was selected to elaborate on an ingredient to be applied to meat products. Finally, antifungal compounds such as organic acids, phenolic acids, and volatile organic compounds were identified in the chosen-fermented meat broth. The most promising biological candidates belonged to the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus. P. pentosaceus C15 distinguished from other bacteria by the production of antifungal compounds such as nonanoic acid and phenyl ethyl alcohol, as well as the higher production of lactic and acetic acid.

Traditional sourdough is obtained using a mixture of flour and water stored at room temperature until acidification. Therefore, adding lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can improve the quality and safety of sourdough bread. Faced with this problem, four drying techniques—freeze-drying, spray-drying, low-temperature drying, and drying at low humidity—have been applied. Our goals were to isolate LAB strains with antifungal potential against Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi. The antifungal capacity was evaluated with agar diffusion, co-culture in overlay agar, and a microdilution susceptibility assay. In addition, the antifungal compounds generated in sourdough were analyzed. As a result, dried sourdoughs were prepared with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TN10, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TF2, Pediococcus pentosaceus TF8, Pediococcus acidilactici TE4, and Pediococcus pentosaceus TI6. The minimum fungicidal concentrations ranged from 25 g/L versus P. verrucosum and 100 g/L against A. flavus. A total of 27 volatile organic compounds were produced. Moreover, the lactic acid content reached 26 g/kg of dry product, and the phenyllactic concentration was significantly higher than the control. The P. pentosaceus TI6 exhibited a higher antifungal capacity in vitro and demonstrated a higher production of antifungal compounds compared to the other strains; therefore, further studies will evaluate the impact of this sourdough in bread manufacture.

Nowadays, the consumer seeks to replace synthetic preservatives with biopreservation methods, such as sourdough in bread. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are used as starter cultures in many food products. In this work, commercial yeast bread and sourdough breads were prepared as controls, as well as sourdough breads with L. plantarum 5L1 lyophilized. The impact of L. plantarum 5L1 on the properties of bread was studied. Antifungal compounds and the impact on the protein fraction by the different treatments in doughs and breads were also analyzed. In addition, the biopreservation capacity of the treatments in breads contaminated with fungi was studied and the mycotoxin content was analyzed. The results showed significant differences with respect to the controls in the properties of the bread and a higher total phenolic and lactic acid content in breads with higher amounts of L. plantarum 5L1. In addition, there was a higher content of alcohol and esters. Furthermore, adding this starter culture produced hydrolysis of the 50 kDa band proteins. Finally, the higher concentration of L. plantarum 5L1 delayed fungal growth and reduced the content of AFB1 and AFB2 compared to the control.

Abstract Objective: Verify whether the practice of physical activity, before the social distancing imposed by COVID-19, influences children’s routines during this period, in children of different ages. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out with an online questionnaire from LimeSurvey and disseminated for four months during social distancing. The questionnaire contained questions about family composition, household characteristics, household and children’s routines, including habits such as sleeping, physical activity, intellectual activity, playing with and without physical activity, and screen time. The final sample consisted of 916 participating families that answered about the physical activity habits of their respective children before the pandemic. Children were divided into three age groups (three to five years, six to nine years, and ten to twelve years). Independent Student’s t-tests were performed to investigate whether the previous practice of scheduled physical activity group and the no physical activity group differed as to the time dedicated to children’s activities and routines (intellectual activity, sleeping, screen time, playing with and without physical activity), by age groups, during social distancing. Results: There was a decrease in the levels of physical activity undertaken by Brazilian children during social distancing. There was no difference when both groups. The children with previous practice of scheduled physical activity did not display different habits from the children who did not adopt this practice. Conclusions: The practice of physical activity before social distancing did not influence the level of physical activity and other habits during social distancing. Healthy habits should be encouraged and targeted for all children during the pandemic. These findings can contribute to the formulation of public policies for children during pandemic times.

This study examined the relationship between the quality of the kindergarten physical and social environment to promote physical activity (PA) and preschoolers’ motor and social-emotional competence. Two Portuguese kindergartens (Gondomar city) were selected from a pool of seventeen with an assessment of kindergarten PA best practices (one with high PA practices, the other with low). Thirty-six children (M = 4.42; SD = 1.00 years) without neuromotor disorders participated in this study. Motor and social-emotional competence were assessed with standardized motor skills tasks and parent report of child behaviors. Children from the kindergarten with higher compliance with PA best practices showed significantly better motor competence. No statistically significant differences were found for social-emotional competence scores. These findings emphasize the critical importance of kindergarten in promoting preschoolers’ motor competence by assuring a physical and social environment that enhances their PA practice. This is a particularly relevant concern for directors and teachers during the post-pandemic period, given the developmental delays and decreases in physical activity preschool children experienced across the pandemic period.

The Motor Competence Assessment (MCA) is a quantitative test battery that assesses motor competence across the whole lifespan. It is composed of three sub-scales: locomotor, stability, and manipulative, each of them assessed by two different objectively measured tests. The MCA construct validity for children and adolescents, having normative values from 3 to 23 years of age, and the configural invariance between age groups, were recently established. The aim of this study is to expand the MCA’s development and validation by defining the best and leanest method to score and classify MCA sub-scales and total score. One thousand participants from 3 to 22 years of age, randomly selected from the Portuguese database on MC, participated in the study. Three different procedures to calculate the sub-scales and total MCA values were tested according to alternative models. Results were compared to the reference method, and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, Cronbach’s Alpha, and Bland–Altman statistics were used to describe agreement between the three methods. The analysis showed no substantial differences between the three methods. Reliability values were perfect (0.999 to 1.000) for all models, implying that all the methods were able to classify everyone in the same way. We recommend implementing the most economic and efficient algorithm, i.e., the configural model algorithm, averaging the percentile scores of the two tests to assess each MCA sub-scale and total scores.

A total of seven strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from breast milk, were investigated for their probiotic properties. Lactobacillus plantarum 5H1 and 5L1 were selected for their beneficial properties and used for probiotic fermented milk manufacture. The fermentation parameters (pH and lactic acid) and LAB viability during fermented milk processing and storage were evaluated. The results showed that the strains had a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and toxigenic fungi. These also evidenced capacity of adhesion and reduction of Salmonella adhesion to Caco-2 cells. During milk fermentation process, an increase in lactic acid content, a decrease in milk pH, and an increase in the total bacterial count were evidenced. LAB viability in fermented milk during storage remained around 8 log10 CFU/mL. This workflow can be useful for the isolation of new probiotics and the development of fermented milks with probiotic properties to promote host health.

Background: Motor competence and health-related fitness are important components for the development and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle in children. This study examined cross-cultural performances on motor competence and health-related fitness between Portuguese and U.S. children. Methods: Portuguese (n = 508; 10.14 ± 2.13 years , mean ± SD) and U.S. (n = 710; 9.48 ± 1.62 years) children performed tests of cardiorespiratory fitness (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run), upper body strength (handgrip), locomotor skill performance (standing long jump), and object projection skill performance (throwing and kicking). Portuguese and U.S. children were divided into 2 age groups (6–9 and 10–13 years) for data analysis purposes. A two–factor one–way analysis of covariance (ANOVA) was conducted with the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run, handgrip, standing long jump scores, kicking, and throwing speed (km/h) as dependent variables. Results: Results indicated that Portuguese children, irrespective of sex, presented better performances in locomotor and cardiorespiratory performance (standing long jump and Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run) than U.S. children in both age bands. U.S. children outperformed Portuguese children during throwing and handgrip tests. Kicking tests presented gender differences: Portuguese boys and U.S. girls outperformed their internationally matched counterparts. Conclusion: Cultural differences in physical education curricula and sports participation may impact differences in motor competence and fitness development in these countries. Keywords: Children, Cross-cultural comparison, Health-related fitness, Motor competence

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to compare the MC levels of Brazilian and Portuguese schoolchildren from 4 to 11 years. Methods: One hundred and forty-eight Brazilian children were evaluated using the Motor Competence Assessment (MCA) instrument and were later compared to the existent normative values of Portuguese children for a similar age range. Results: Our findings showed that MC increased with age, and boys outperformed girls, especially in the older age group. The distribution of the Brazilian children showed that while Brazilian boys perform above Portuguese normative values in 4 of the 6 tasks of the MCA, Brazilian girls perform below those values in all tasks, except for the standing long jump. Conclusion: The differences found, especially in girls, may be related to differences in the Physical Education curricula and how school recess periods are used.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate if the variables child’s sex, age, presence of siblings, parents working remotely, and external space affect the level of physical activity (PA) of Brazilian children during social distancing imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online questionnaire was applied by the LimeSurvey software from March to April 2020. Children were divided into four age groups, and the questionnaire comprised questions on family and household characteristics, domestic and children’s routines in the period of Brazilian social distancing. Based on the answers concerning children’s activities, the following variable was created: percentage of physical activity (%PA) in one-day period. Analysis of variance and regression analysis were performed to investigate the effect of demographic and parental activities on %PA. Results: The %PA decreases with increasing age, but increases with the availability of external space at home. No significant or interaction effects were observed for other variables. Age and external space at home are predictors of %PA. Conclusions: Household and personal characteristics of Brazilian children influence the level of physical activity performed by them during social distancing. Preventive measures can be adopted in the face of another similar period.

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify how Brazilian families with children aged under 13 years face the period of social isolation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially regarding the time spent on physical activity (PA), intellectual activity, games, outdoor activities and screen. Methods: An anonymous online survey was launched on March 24, 2020 in Brazil to assess how families with children aged up to 12 years are adjusting their daily routines to this situation. In the survey, each family reported the daily time each child spent in sedentary activity (sum of intellectual activities, play time on screen, playing without PA) and PA (sum of playing with PA and PA). Results: The main findings based on data from 816 children indicate that most parents consider there was a reduction in the time that children spend practicing PA; increase in screen play time and family activities, differences between sex were found regarding screen play time (boys>girls) and in playing without PA (girls>boys), and there was an age effect for all categories analyzed, with a tendency to increase the total time of sedentary lifestyle and complementary reducing the time of PA over age. Conclusions: The household routines of families during the period of social isolation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic confirm the general reduction tendency in PA time during childhood.

(1) Background: This study was aimed at determining the in vitro inhibitory effect of new natural substances obtained by minimal processing from shrimp wastes on fungi and oomycetes in the genera Alternaria, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Penicillium, Plenodomus and Phytophthora; the effectiveness of the substance with the highest in vitro activity in preventing citrus and apple fruit rot incited by P. digitatum and P. expansum, respectively, was also evaluated. (2) Methods: The four tested substances, water-extract, EtOAc-extract, MetOH-extract and nitric-extract, were analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS-TOF; in vitro preliminary tests were carried out to determine the minimal inhibitory/fungicidal concentrations (MIC and MFC, respectively) of the raw dry powder, EtOAc-extract, MetOH-extract and nitric-extract for each pathogen. (3) Results: in the agar-diffusion-assay, nitric-extract showed an inhibitory effect on all pathogens, at all concentrations tested (100, 75, 50 and 25%); the maximum activity was on Plenodomus tracheiphilus, C. gloeosporioides and Ph. nicotianae; the diameters of inhibition halos were directly proportional to the extract concentration; values of MIC and MFC of this extract for all pathogens ranged from 2 to 3.5%; the highest concentrations (50 to 100%) tested in vivo were effective in preventing citrus and apple fruit molds. (4) Conclusions: This study contributes to the search for natural and ecofriendly substances for the control of pre- and post-harvest plant pathogens.

Food bio-preservatives are requested as substituents of chemical pesticides in food. The aim of this study was to carry out a screening of twenty biocontrol agents (BCAs) for their potential fungicidal activity in vitro. Twenty BCAs were tested against ten pathogenic fungi. Some of the cell-free supernatants (CFS) tested showed in vitro antifungal activity versus pathogenic fungi. The highest fungicidal activity was observed in the fermented CFS of Paenibacillus chibensis CECT 375, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT 493, and Pantoea agglomerans CECT 850, which showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values of 125 and 250 g/L, respectively. The compounds responsible for the antifungal activity, such as organic and phenolic acids, were determined. Lactic acid, acetic acid, benzoic acid, and phenyllactic acid among others can be related to antifungal activity. HPLC-MS/MS analysis showed a reduction of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) up to 26% (Paenibacillus alvei CECT 2) and 55% (Paenibacillus polymyxa CECT 155), respectively. The present study prompts that metabolism products of BCAs are propitious for the bioconservation of food, due to their ability to reduce the proliferation of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins production.

Post-harvest fungal diseases of plant products are a serious concern leading to economic losses and health risks. Moreover, the use of synthetic chemical fungicides to prevent these diseases is limited due to toxic residues. This study aimed at determining the effective dose of extracts of Trichoderma asperellum IMI393899 (TE1) and Trichoderma atroviride TS (TE2) in inhibiting the contamination by mycotoxigenic fungi on different plant matrices. Extracts were tested on tomatoes contaminated by Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium graminearum, wheat contaminated by Penicillium verrucosum and maize contaminated by Aspergillus flavus. The efficacy of extracts was evaluated at two time intervals after treatment, 4 and 11 days for tomato, and 10 and 20 days for both wheat and maize. Both extracts showed a significant inhibitory activity on mycotoxigenic pathogens and significantly reduced Log CFU/g compared to the control. Moreover, the extracts reduced mycotoxin production in a dose dependent manner and with a long-lasting effect. The ochratoxin A was reduced by both extracts but only the extract TE2 was effective in reducing aflatoxins, whereas TE1 treatment increased their synthesis.

Fungal spoilage is one of the main reasons of economic losses in the food industry, especially in the wine sector. Consequently, the search for safer and new preservation techniques has gained importance in recent years. The objective of this study was to investigate the antifungal and anti-mycotoxigenic activity from 28 microorganisms (MO) isolated from red grape. The antifungal activity of a cell free supernatant of fermented medium by the isolated MO (CFS) was tested with the agar diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) assay. Additionally, different antifungal compounds from the CFS were identified and quantified (organic acids, phenolic compounds, and volatile organic compounds). Finally, the most active CFS were tested as red grape bio-preservative agents. Results evidenced that CFS fermented by the strain UTA 6 had the highest antifungal activity, above all isolates, and produced a wide pool of antifungal compounds. The use of UTA 6 CFS as bio-preservative agent showed a reduction of 0.4 and 0.6 log10 spores per gram of fruit in grapes contaminated by A. flavus and B. cinerea, respectively. Moreover, UTA 6 CFS treatment reduced the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin (B2, B3, and B4) production in grapes contaminated by 28–100%.

The number of single-child families has been rising steadily in recent years, resulting in a childhood absent of sibling relationships. Being an only child has been shown to have a negative impact on physical fitness, somatic fitness, and motor development. In this study, we aimed to understand how living with and without siblings can impact the motor competence of children. One hundred and sixty-one children (87 boys, 74 girls) from 3.0 to 6.0 years of age (34 only children, 125 siblings) and with no known motor or cognitive disability were assessed using the Motor Competence Assessment (MCA). Their standardized results on the three MCA subscales (stability, locomotor, and manipulative) and total MCA were used to group them into high, average, and low motor competence groups. Motor competence percentile distribution of the sibling and only child group condition was compared using chi-square tests. Results showed a significative and positive association between the sibling condition and the distribution between the three MC groups (chi-square = 6.29; p = 0.043), showing that children in a household with siblings, independent of their age and sex, show a clear tendency for developing better motor competence.

During long periods without school, children are more susceptible to unhealthy behaviors, such as an increase in sedentary behaviors, which has a negative impact on children’s motor competence (MC). The COVID-19 lockdown offered us a unique opportunity to test, in a quasi-experimental setting, the impact of lockdown movement restrictions on children’s MC. We assessed the motor competence of 114 children aged 6–9 years using the motor competence assessment. All children were tested before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. Chi-square and 2 × 2 ANOVA (sex by moment) were used to further analyze the data. Regardless of sex, motor performances in all tests (except for jumping sideways in boys) were lower when compared with performances before lockdown. There was a marked decreasing trend in children’s levels of MC, shifting from an upper to a lower quartile in different tests. The results after the lockdown were always significantly inferior to the results before lockdown in all motor tests (except jumping sideways), in the three components of MC, and in global MC. Children’s global MC score decreased by an average of 13 points in boys and 16 points in girls. The imposed movement restrictions had a negative effect on children’s motor competence development.

During fish production processes, great amounts of by-products are generated, representing ≈30–70% of the initial weight. Thus, this research study is investigating 30 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) derived from the sea bass gastrointestinal tract, for anti-fungal activity. It has been previously suggested that LAB showing high proteolitic activity are the most suitable candidates for such an investigation. The isolation was made using a MRS (Man Rogosa Sharpe) broth cultivation medium at 37 ºC under anaerobiosis conditions, while the evaluation of the enzymatic activity was made using the API® ZYM kit. Taking into account the selected bacteria, a growing research was made fermenting two kinds of broths: (i) by-products (WB), and (ii) meat (MB). Both were fermented at three different times (24, 48 and 72 h). Then, the antifungal activities of both fermented by-products and meat broths were determined qualitatively and quantitatively in solid and liquid medium against two different strains of the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus and Fusarium. After the experiments, a total of 30 colonies were isolated, observing a proteolytic activity in 7 of the isolated strains, which belong to Lactobacillus genus, and the two more active strains were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as L. plantarum. Several strains evidenced antifungal activity showing an inhibition halo and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) values between 1–32 g/L and 8–32 g/L, respectively. In conclusion, the isolated bacteria of sea bass had the ability to promote the antifungal activity after the fermentation process, thus being a useful tool to give an added value to fish industry by-products.

The aim of the present research was to obtain antioxidant compounds through the fermentation of fish byproducts by bacteria isolated from sea bass viscera. To that purpose, bacteria from sea bass stomach, intestine, and colon were isolated. With the selected bacteria, growing research was undertaken, fermenting different broths prepared with sea bass meat or byproducts. After the fermentation, the antioxidant activity, phenolic acids, and some proteins were evaluated. The main phenolic acids obtained were DL-3-phenyl-lactic acid and benzoic acid at a maximum concentration of 466 and 314 ppb, respectively. The best antioxidant activity was found in the extracts obtained after the fermentation of fish byproducts broth by bacteria isolated from the colon (6502 μM TE) and stomach (4797 μM TE). Moreover, a positive correlation was found between phenolic acids obtained after the fermentation process and the antioxidant activity of the samples. It was also concluded that the lactic acid bacteria isolated from sea bass had an important proteolytic capacity and were able to synthesize phenolic acids with antioxidant capacity. This work has shown the relevance of fermentation as a useful tool to valorize fish byproducts, giving them an added economic value and reducing their environmental impact.

The development of motor competence (MC) is essential in childhood. In this respect, previous studies have found several positive associations of the MC with physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical fitness, and perceived physical competence, as well as an inverse association with weight status. The lack of MC during this stage might, therefore, compromise the future adoption of active and healthier lifestyles. This review aimed at listing and examining the different instruments that have been used to evaluate MC in typically developing children, pointing the weakness and strengths from the perspective of Physical Education (PE) teachers. A systematic search of six electronic databases was conducted. Research designs included cross-sectional, longitudinal or experimental/quasi-experimental. Forty-two articles were identified according to the inclusion criteria. A preference for quantitative measures (27 studies) was verified comparatively to a more qualitative approach (7 studies), although eight studies used both measures. Additionally, we have found that 34 studies used standardized protocol tests and eight studies used protocols developed by the authors. In general the protocols exhibited some strong points, however several presented weaknesses that can limit their application in PE classes, such as the excessive amount of time required, the large number of tasks, the ceiling or floor effects, and the fact that not all MC components are simultaneously evaluated. Different instruments and methodologies have been used to evaluate MC. Finally, a quantitative standardized protocol test is suggested, with proper reliability and validity, which can be used by physical education professionals.

Fungal spoilage is an important issue for the food industry, leading to food sensory defects, food waste, economic losses and public health concern through the production of mycotoxins. Concomitantly, the search for safer natural products has gained importance since consumers began to look for less processed and chemically treated foods. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and antimycotoxigenic effect of seven strains of Lactobacillus plantarum. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were grown on Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth at 37 °C in anaerobic conditions. After that, the cell-free supernatant (CFS) were recovered to determine its antifungal activity by halo diffusion agar test. In addition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was determined for each L. plantarum CFS by 96-well microplates method. Additionally, CFS was used as a natural biocontrol agent on corn kernels and corn ears contaminated with Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides, respectively. The L. plantarum CECT 749 CFS showed the highest antifungal effect against all essayed strains. Moreover, the employment of this CFS in food reduced the mycotoxin production at a percentage ranging from 73.7 to 99.7%. These results suggest that the L. plantarum CECT 749 CFS could be promising for the biocontrol of corn.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the antifungal activity of the bioactive compound allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) against Aspergillus flavus (8111 ISPA) aflatoxins (AFs) producer and Penicillium verrucosum (D-01847 VTT) ochratoxin A (OTA) producer on corn, barley, and wheat. The experiments were carried out initially in a simulated silo system for laboratory scale composed of glass jars (1 L). Barley and wheat were contaminated with P. verrucosum and corn with A. flavus. The cereals were treated with a hydroxyethylcellulose gel disk to which 500 µL/L of AITC were added; the silo system was closed and incubated for 30 days at 21 °C. After that, simulated silos of 100 L capacity were used. Barley, wheat, and corn were contaminated under the same conditions as the previous trial and treated with disks with 5 mL of AITC, closed and incubated for 90 days at 21 °C. In both cases, the control test did not receive any antifungal treatment. The growth of the inoculated fungi and the reduction in the formation of AFs and OTA were determined. In the lab scale silo system, complete inhibition of fungal growth at 30 days has been observed. In corn, the reduction of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was 98.5%. In the 100 L plastic drums, a significant reduction in the growth of A. flavus was observed, as well as the OTA formation in wheat (99.5%) and barley (92.0%).

In the last twenty years, there has been increasing evidence that Motor Competence (MC) is vital for developing an active and healthy lifestyle. This study analyses the associations between motor competence and its components, with health-related fitness (HRF).A random sample of 546 children (278 males, mean = 10.77 years) divided into four age groups (7-8; 9-10; 11-12; 13-14 years old) was evaluated. A quantitative MC instrument (evaluating stability, locomotor and manipulative skills), a maximal multistage 20-m shuttle-run test and the handgrip test, height and BMI were used in the analyses. Pearson correlations and standard regression modelling were performed to explore the associations between variables.Moderate to strong significant correlations (0.49 < r < 0.73) were found between MC and HRF, for both sexes, and correlation values were stable across the age groups. The MC model explained 74% of the HRF variance, with the locomotor component being the highest predictor for the entire sample (β = .302; p < .001). Gender-related differences were found when boys and girls were analysed at each age group. Locomotor MC for girls was the most consistent significant predictor of HRF across all age groups (0.47 < β < 0.65; all p≤.001). For boys, significant predictors were locomotor and manipulative MC (0.21 < β < 0.49; all p < .05) in the two younger age groups (7-8 and 9-10 years) and stability (0.50 < β < 0.54; all p≤.001) for the older two age groups (11-12 and 13-14 years).These results support the idea that: (1) the relationship between overall MC and HRF is strong and stable across childhood and early adolescence; (2) when accounting for the different MC components, boys and girls show different relationship patterns with HFR across age.

Wheat, the main source of carbohydrates worldwide, can be attacked by a wide number of phytopathogenic fungi, included Alternaria species. Alternaria species commonly occur on wheat worldwide and produce several mycotoxins such as tenuazonic acid (TA), alternariol (AOH), alternariol-monomethyl ether (AME), and altenuene (ALT), provided of haemato-toxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic activities. The contamination by Alternaria species of wheat kernels, collected in Tuscany, Italy, from 2013 to 2016, was evaluated. Alternaria contamination was detected in 93 out of 100 field samples, with values ranging between 1 and 73% (mean of 18%). Selected strains were genetically characterized by multi-locus gene sequencing approach through combined sequences of allergen alt1a, glyceraldeyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and translation elongation factor 1α genes. Two well defined groups were generated; namely sections Alternaria and Infectoriae. Representative strains were analyzed for mycotoxin production. A different mycotoxin profile between the sections was shown. Of the 54 strains analyzed for mycotoxins, all strains included in Section Alternaria produced AOH and AME, 40 strains (99%) produced TA, and 26 strains (63%) produced ALT. On the other hand, only a very low capability to produce both AOH and AME was recorded among the Section Infectoriae strains. These data show that a potential mycotoxin risk related to the consumption of Alternaria contaminated wheat is high.

This study examined motor competence (MC) behavior in 6- to 14-year-old children, and investigated the differences in health-related fitness (HRF) between high and low MC groups, according to sex and age. A sample of 564 children (288 males) participated in this study, divided into three age groups (6–8 years; 9–11 years; 12–14 years). Total MC and its three components (stability, locomotor, and manipulative) were assessed with a quantitative instrument. HRF was evaluated using a maximal multistage 20-m shuttle-run test and the handgrip test. Participants were divided into tertiles according to their MC level and high and low MC groups were analyzed. Overall, MC increased across age groups for both sexes, but boys presented better results than girls. The high MC group outperformed their low MC peers in all HRF variables, independent of their age group. Although cardiovascular fitness increased with age for both the high and low MC groups, the differences between these groups were greater in older children compared to younger children, within the study age range. The findings suggest that MC interventions should be considered as an important strategy to enhance HRF, and girls at a young age should be a priority target.

RESUMO Adaptou-se para o português do Brasil o Motor Competence Assessment (MCA). Dois profissionais proficientes em português do Brasil traduziram, de forma independente, o MCA para a língua portuguesa (T1 e T2). Em seguida, gerou-se a versão traduzida de consenso (TU). Dois tradutores realizaram duas retroversões para português de Portugal (RT1 e RT2) da versão TU. Um novo processo de consenso entre tradutores e pesquisadores resultou em uma versão em português de Portugal (RTfinal), que foi comparada à versão original em busca de possíveis diferenças semânticas. A versão do instrumento em português do Brasil (TU), denominada “Avaliação da Competência Motora”, foi revisada por uma comissão de especialistas composta por um fisioterapeuta e dois educadores físicos para verificação do conteúdo, o que gerou a segunda versão de concordância (Tfinal). A Tfinal foi encaminhada a um dos autores da avaliação original para verificar a pertinência da versão em português do Brasil. Após essa etapa, 20 fisioterapeutas e 20 educadores físicos verificaram a aplicabilidade da avaliação. O MCA foi, então, adaptado culturalmente para o Brasil, sendo um instrumento relevante dado que ele avalia a competência motora sem limite de idade, podendo auxiliar no acompanhamento do desenvolvimento motor de indivíduos.