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ispartof: Acs Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering vol:10 issue:9 pages:3048-3056 status: published

Grasses, legumes and green plant wastes represent a ubiquitous feedstock for developing a bioeconomy in regions across Europe. These feedstocks are often an important source of ruminant feed, although much remains unused or underutilised. In addition to proteins, these materials are rich in fibres, sugars, minerals and other components that could also be used as inputs for bio-based product development. Green Biorefinery processes and initiatives are being developed to better capitalise on the potential of these feedstocks to produce sustainable food, feed, materials and energy in an integrated way. Such systems may support a more sustainable primary production sector, enable the valorisation of green waste streams, and provide new business models for farmers. This review presents the current developments in Green Biorefining, focusing on a broad feedstock and product base to include different models of Green Biorefinery. It demonstrates the potential and wide applicability of Green Biorefinery systems, the range of bio-based product opportunities and highlights the way forward for their broader implementation. While the potential for new products is extensive, quality control approval will be required prior to market entry.

Solid tumors are generally characterized by an acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) that favors cancer progression, therapy resistance and immune evasion. By single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis in individuals with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), we reveal solute carrier family 4 member 4 (SLC4A4) as the most abundant bicarbonate transporter, predominantly expressed by epithelial ductal cells. Functionally, SLC4A4 inhibition in PDAC cancer cells mitigates the acidosis of the TME due to bicarbonate accumulation in the extracellular space and a decrease in lactate production by cancer cells as the result of reduced glycolysis. In PDAC-bearing mice, genetic or pharmacological SLC4A4 targeting improves T cell-mediated immune response and breaches macrophage-mediated immunosuppression, thus inhibiting tumor growth and metastases. In addition, Slc4a4 targeting in combination with immune checkpoint blockade is able to overcome immunotherapy resistance and prolong survival. Overall, our data propose SLC4A4 as a therapeutic target to unleash an antitumor immune response in PDAC. ispartof: NATURE CANCER vol:3 issue:12 ispartof: location:England status: Published online

This study was designed to determine the effect of decontamination on the shelf life of whole rainbow trouts. For this purpose 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), 10% trisodium phosphate (TSP), 2.5% acetic acid (AA), 2.5% lactic acid (LA), 1200 ppm acidified sodium chloride (ASC) and control (tap water) were used as decontaminants. After the decontamination process, the samples were stored in cold storage and subjected to microbiological and chemical analyzes on days 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15. Mesophilic bacteria, psychrophilic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacteriaceae and coliform bacteria were enumerated for the evaluation of microbiological quality, whereas pH, total volatile alkaline nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid (TBA) were determined for the evaluation of the chemical quality of fish samples. The study was repeated 3 times and 6 fish were used in each group corresponding to 108 fish in total. Microbiological samples were evaluated with a modification in USDA/FSIS chicken carcass method. The data of microbiological analysis showed that decontamination provided a significant improvement on the microbiological quality and the decontaminants used in this study extended the microbiological shelf life of rainbow trout. However, acidic decontaminants and TSP caused some changes in the physical properties of rainbow trouts. On the other hand, the use of CPC extended the shelf life of rainbow trouts without adversely affecting the texture. The microbiological sampling protocol used in this study was proved to be easier to apply and gave coherent results.

In this report, promising carbon-based novel metal phthalocyanine catalysts were prepared and tested in glucose dehydration at low temperatures (90-130 degrees C) under atmospheric conditions. Most of the prepared phthalocyanines exhibited high conversions in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). A complete conversion of glucose was obtained over Aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPcCl) and Tin phthalocyanine (SnPcCl2) catalysts. AlPcCl also provided the highest HMF yield (53% in 3 h at 130 degrees C). Al3+ cations promoted the glucose conversion and Cl- anions played an active role in 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) formation. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as a solvent, was also found effective with phthalocyanines for high 5-HMF yield by stabilizing its structure. Thus, the 5-HMF yield was observed high (53.0% at 130 degrees C for 3 h) over AlPcCl in DMSO. Kinetic studies showed that the optimum reaction temperature was 130 degrees C at 1/5 catalyst/glucose ratio for 3 h. Dehydration reactions, performed in the aqueous phase, exhibited higher fructose selectivities with AlPcCl catalyst.

Recent works have established bio-based carboxylic acids as adaptable precursors to renewable biofuels and chemicals. However, the separation of carboxylic acids is a major energy and cost driver, accounting for 20-40% of the entire processing cost. Improved downstream separation technologies that reduce operating costs compared to conventional approaches are needed, particularly to enable bio-based commodity fuels and chemicals. Here, we combine techno-economic analysis (TEA) and an energy and environmental assessment with experimental results to compare weak-base adsorption (WBA) processes with the conventional strong ion exchange (IX) process for the recovery of the exemplary product, butyric acid. TEA indicates that WBA has the potential to reduce operating expenses from 34% to 6% relative to the selling price of butyric acid ($1.8 kg(-1)). Our energy analysis shows that the WBA process has 12.2-fold energy reduction and 9.2-fold GHG emission reduction compared to the conventional IX process.

The maintenance of tissue homeostasis and health relies on the efficient removal of damaged or otherwise suboptimal cells. One way this is achieved is through cell competition, a fitness quality control mechanism that eliminates cells that are less fit than their neighbours. Through this process, cell competition has been shown to play diverse roles in development and in the adult, including in homeostasis and tumour suppression. However, over the last few years it has also become apparent that certain oncogenic mutations can provide cells with a competitive advantage that promotes their expansion via the elimination of surrounding wild-type cells. Thus, understanding how this process is initiated and regulated will provide important insights with relevance to a number of different research areas. A key question in cell competition is what determines the competitive fitness of a cell. Here, we will review what is known about this question by focussing on two non-mutually exclusive possibilities; first, that the activity of a subset of transcription factors determines competitive fitness, and second, that the outcome of cell competition is determined by the relative cellular metabolic status.

ispartof: Chemcatchem vol:14 issue:8 status: published

The effects of different potassium lactate (PL) and NaCl combinations on free amino acid profile and quality properties of Turkish pastirma were determined in this study. The PL used in pastirma manufacturing had significant effects on lysine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, glycine, proline (p < .01), histidine, methionine, alanine, cystine (p < .05), moisture, TBARS, pH, residual nitrite, salt, a*, b* (p < .01), L* (p < .05), TAMB, LAB, M/S, and Y-M counts (p < .01). TBARS, residual nitrite, and a* values of pastirma samples produced with PL were lower than those of control pastirma (Tc). The differences among pastirma groups were not significant (p > .05) in sensory scores. However, brittleness, palatability, salinity, and overall acceptability scores of Tc pastirma samples were generally higher than that of PL groups. When all results were evaluated together, it was concluded that it would be appropriate to use 0.5% or 1.0% PL instead of NaCl for pastirma. Novelty impact statement The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of appropriate substitution by reducing the high NaCl amount in pastirma to protect consumer health. The high levels of potassium lactate did not adversely affect the sensory properties of pastirma. The lowest amount of essential and non-essential amino acids were determined in the control group., Ataturk Universitesi [2012/260], Ataturk Universitesi, Grant/Award Number: 2012/260

Combined preservation methods have awakened a growing interest in low-acid pasteurized sauces under ambient storage, aiming to produce more 'natural' foods with enhanced microbial stability. However, limited information and predictive models are available to assess the microbial stability of this kind of products, for which the spoilage is mainly caused by acid-tolerant spore-forming spoilage bacteria (ATSSB). In this study, a set of growth/no growth (G/NG) models developed previously (Sun et al., 2021a) for spores of two ATSSB strains (Bacillus velezensis and Bacillus subtilis) from pasteurized sauces were upgraded to incorporate the effect of water activity (aw). The growth from heat-treated spores (80 C, 10 min) was assessed during three months in Nutrient Broth under 320 combinations of storage temperatures (22 and 30 C), aw (0.95 and 0.965), pH (4.4-5.6), total acetic acid (0.0-0.3 % (w/w)), and total lactic acid (0.00-1.00 % (w/w)). Twelve replicates were tested for each combination. After merging the dataset collected previously at aw 0.98, a set of 4-variate (4V) models were developed for each strain under a single temperature after 30, 60 and 90 days separately. Additionally, the developed models were validated by challenge tests in different industrially produced low-acid pasteurized sauces for three months.The results showed that lowering aw significantly enhanced the antimicrobial effect of decreased pH and the addition of acetic and lactic acid against the ATSSB spores, while the enhancement was less evident at high acetic acid concentrations. In the challenge tests, the developed models exhibited accurate predictions for the sauces, with the % correct-predicted values >= 90 %. The developed models can be used in microbiological risk assessments or the innovation of preservation strategies for low-acid pasteurized sauces.

Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) is a very versatile and widely used lipase in the aroma and flavor industry, the fat and oil industry, the pharmaceutical industry and is also applicable as a biosensor....

Food and kitchen waste - omnipresent in every corner of the world serve as an excellent source of value added products owing to high organic content. Regardless of existence of various traditional methods of land filling or biogas production used to harness food waste energy, effective conversion of food to valuable resources is often challenged by its heterogenous nature and high moisture content. The current paper tries to lay down the prospects and consequences associated with food waste management. The various social, economical and environmental concerns associated with food waste management especially in terms of green house gas emission and extended rate of leachate generation also has been discussed. The difficulties in proper collection, storage and bioconversion of food waste to valuable by-products are pointed as a big hurdle in proper waste management. Finally, the wide array of value added products developed from food waste after pretreatment are also enlisted to emphasis the prospects of food waste management.

Although the vast majority of women encounters at least one vaginal infection during their life, the amount of microbiome-related research performed in this area lags behind compared to alternative niches such as the intestinal tract. As a result, effective means of diagnosis and treatment, especially of recurrent infections, are limited. The role of the metabolome in vaginal health is largely elusive. It has been shown that lactate produced by the numerous lactobacilli present promotes health by limiting the chance of infection. Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) have been mainly linked to dysbiosis, although the causality of this relationship is still under debate. In this review, we aim to bring together information on the role of the vaginal metabolome and microbiome in infections caused by Candida. Vulvovaginal candidiasis affects near to 70% of all women at least once in their life with a significant proportion of women suffering from the recurrent variant. We assess the role of fatty acid metabolites, mainly SCFA and lactate, in onset of infection and virulence of the fungal pathogen. In addition, we pinpoint where lack of research limits our understanding of the molecular processes involved and restricts the possibility of developing novel treatment strategies. ispartof: FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY vol:12 ispartof: location:Switzerland status: published

In the Middle East and North Africa, dates are a traditional and economically valuable crop, playing an essential role in people's daily diets. Date fruit production and related processing industry generate a large quantity of waste; for illustration, the date juicing industry produces roughly 17–28% Date press cake (DPC), which is mainly discarded in open lands and drains. Considering the generation volume and the nutrient content of DPC, this organic by-product stream can be valorized through the production of a wide range of products with a great market appeal, such as volatile fatty acids, activated carbon, organic acids, etc. To provide an insight into the feasibility of the application DPC as a green precursor for various chemical and biological processes, the chemical and nutritional composition of dates and DPC, an overview of the date processing industries, and common practices conducted for DPC valorization addressed and thoroughly discussed, in this review.

In evolution, genes survived that could code for metabolic pathways, promoting long term survival during famines or fasting when suffering from trauma, disease or during physiological growth. This requires utilization of substrates, already present in some form in the body. Carbohydrate stores are limited and to survive long, their utilization is restricted to survival pathways, by inhibiting glucose oxidation and glycogen synthesis. This leads to insulin resistance and spares muscle protein, because being the main supplier of carbon for new glucose production.In these survival pathways, part of the glucose is degraded in glycolysis in peripheral (muscle) tissues to pyruvate and lactate (Warburg effect), which are partly reutilized for glucose formation in liver and kidney, completing the Cori-cycle. Another part of the glucose taken up by muscle contributes, together with muscle derived amino acids, to the production of substrates consisting of a complete amino acid mix but extra non-essential amino acids like glutamine, alanine, glycine and proline. These support cell proliferation, matrix deposition and redox regulation in tissues, specifically active in host response and during growth. In these tissues, also glucose is taken up delivering glycolytic intermediates, that branch off and act as building blocks and produce reducing equivalents. Lactate is also produced and released in the circu-lation, adding to the lactate released by muscle in the Cori-cycle and completing secondary glucose cycles. Increased fluxes through these cycles lead to modest hyperglycemia and hyperlactatemia in states of healthy growth and disease and are often misinterpreted as induced by hypoxia.(c) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

[EN] The food packaging industry faces the current challenge of developing biodegradable packaging materials and reducing the use of conventional slow-degrading plastics. Likewise, the use of synthetic preservatives in food products must be reduced to respond to consumer demands for healthier and safer foods. In this sense, it is interesting to develop new biodegradable packaging materials that incorporate active compounds of natural origin such as phenolic acids. To produce such materials, biodegradable polyesters obtained from natural resources such as poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) could be used. To improve the functional properties of PLA and PHBV, in previous studies films mixtures of these polyesters and a plasticizer have been obtained. In addition, to increase the shelf-life and maintain the quality of the foods packaged with these materials, active compounds with proven antibacterial activity, such as phenolic acids, could be incorporated into the polyester blend., [ES] La industria de fabricación de materiales para el envasado de alimentos se enfrenta al desafío actual de desarrollar envases biodegradables y disminuir el uso de plásticos convencionales de degradación lenta. Asimismo, el uso de conservantes sintéticos en productos alimentarios debe reducirse para responder a las demandas de los consumidores de alimentos más sanos y seguros. En este sentido, es interesante desarrollar nuevos materiales biodegradables de envasado que incorporen compuestos activos de origen natural como los ácidos fenólicos. Para producir dichos materiales se podrían utilizar poliésteres biodegradables obtenidos a partir de recursos naturales como el poli (ácido láctico) (PLA) y el poli (3-hidroxibutirato-co-3-hidroxivalerato) (PHBV). Para mejorar las propiedades funcionales de PLA y PHBV, en estudios previos se han obtenido films formados por mezclas de dichos poliésteres y un plastificante. Además, para aumentar la vida útil y mantener la calidad de conservación de los alimentos envasados con estos materiales, se podrían incorporar a la mezcla de poliésteres compuestos activos con actividad antibacteriana demostrada, como es el caso de los ácidos fenólicos. En este trabajo se han obtenido films a partir de mezclas de PLA-PHBV que incorporaron ácidos fenólicos (ácido ferúlico, ácido p-cumárico y ácido protocatecuico) mediante mezclado en fundido y moldeo por compresión. Los films se evaluaron en cuanto a la cinética de liberación de los ácidos fenólicos en diferentes simulantes alimentarios. Se obtuvo la Concentración Mínima Inhibitoria (CMI) de estos ácidos fenólicos frente a Listeria innocua así como la actividad antibacteriana de los films en ensayos in vitro en medio de cultivo. En los dos simulantes evaluados (A: solución acuosa de etanol al 10% y D: solución acuosa de etanol al 50%), se obtuvo la mayor velocidad de liberación y la mayor proporción de activo liberado para el ácido ferúlico, mientras que el ácido protocatecuico mostró la menor velocidad de liberación y menor proporción de activo liberado. En general, tanto la velocidad como la proporción de activo liberada aumentaron cuando disminuyó la polaridad del simulante. Los tres ácidos fenólicos exhibieron actividad antibacteriana contra Listeria innocua, con valores de CMI que oscilaron entre 700 y 900 mg / L, siendo el valor de CMI más alto el obtenido para el ácido p-cumárico. La eficacia antilisteria de los tres ácidos fenólicos cuando se incorporaron en los films de poliésteres fue significativa, pero la inhibición del crecimiento con respecto al control (films sin ácido fenólico) fue inferior a 2 logaritmos. Este escaso efecto antibacteriano de los films podría atribuirse a la baja velocidad de liberación inicial y la baja cantidad total de activo liberada, especialmente en sistemas polares como el medio de cultivo utilizado.

The management of municipal solid waste is a major logistic and environmental problem worldwide. Nonetheless, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is a valuable source of nutrients which can be used for a variety of purposes, according to the Circular Economy paradigm. Among the possible applications, the bioproduction of a biodegradable polyester, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)], using OFMSW as carbon platform is a promising strategy. Here, an economic and environmental assessment of bacterial P(3HB) production from OFMSW is presented based on previously published results. The SuperPro Designer (R) software was used to simulate P(3HB) production under our experimental parameters. Two scenarios were proposed depending on the fermentation medium: (1) enzymatic hydrolysate of OFMSW supplemented with glucose and plum waste juice; and (2) basal medium supplemented with glucose and plum waste juice. According to our results, both scenarios are not economically feasible under our experimental parameters. In Scenario 1, the low fermentation yield, the cost of the enzymes, the labour cost and the energy consumption are the factors that most contribute to that result. In Scenario 2, the cost of the extraction solvent and the low fermentation yield are the most limiting factors. The possibility of using process waste as raw material for the generation of other products must be investigated to enhance economic feasibility. From an environmental viewpoint, the photochemical oxidation potential (derived from the use of anisole as extraction solvent) and the generation of acid rain and global warming effect (caused by the burning of fuels for power generation) are the most relevant impacts associated to P(3HB) production under our experimental parameters. Jon Kepa Izaguirre was the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the Basque Government

L- and D-lactide polymerization kinetics using phenoxy-imine ligands of the type Me2Al[O-2-tert-Bu-6-(C6F5N=CH)C6H3] in the presence of n-butanol and benzyl alcohol by ring-opening polymerization into polylactide are investigated. Effects of initiator concentration, catalyst concentration, polymerization temperature, and time on the molecular weight of poly-L-lactide are also investigated. Purification and drying of L-lactide are found to significantly influence the polymerization kinetics and the final molecular weight achieved. Ultrahigh molecular weight poly(L-lactic acid) PLLA (M-w = 1.4 x 10(6) g/mol with D = 1.8) and ultrahigh molecular weight poly(D-lactic acid) PDLA (M-w = 1.3 x 10(6) g/mol with D = 2.0) are obtained when polymerization is performed with a molar ratio of monomer to catalyst (LA/Al) of 8000 for 72 h at 120 degrees C in the presence of benzyl alcohol with conversions of 96 and 91%, respectively. We report for the first time the synthesis of ultrahigh molecular weight poly-L- and D-lactide using the Me2Al[O-2-tert-Bu-6-(C6F5N=CH)C6H3] catalyst. The identified catalyst is found to be suitable for the synthesis of a broad range of molecular weights.

Melanoma is an immunogenic neoplasm infiltrated by T cells, although these adaptive T cells usually fail to eradicate the tumor. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are potent regulators of the adaptive immune response and can eliminate melanoma cells via TLR-mediated effector functions. The PDC compartment is maintained by progressively restricted bone marrow progenitors. Terminally differentiated PDCs exit the bone marrow into the circulation, then home to lymph nodes and inflamed peripheral tissues. Infiltration by PDCs is documented in various cancers. However, their role within the melanoma immune contexture is not completely known. We found that in locoregional primary cutaneous melanoma (PCM), PDC infiltration was heterogeneous, occurred early, and was recurrently localized at the invasive margin, the site where PDCs interact with CD8+ T cells. A reduced PDC density was coupled with an increased Breslow thickness and somatic mutations at the NRAS p.Q61 codon. Compared with what was seen in PCM, high numbers of PDCs were found in regional lymph nodes, as also identified by in silico analysis. In contrast, in metastatic melanoma patients, PDCs were mostly absent in the tumor tissues and were significantly reduced in the circulation, particularly in the advanced M1c group. Exposure of circulating PDCs to melanoma cell supernatant (SN-mel) depleted of extracellular vesicles resulted in significant PDC death. SN-mel exposure also resulted in a defect of PDC differentiation from CD34+ progenitors. These findings indicate that soluble components released by melanoma cells support the collapse of the PDC compartment, with clinical implications for refining TLR agonist–based trials.

BACKGROUND: Fast pyrolysis of lignocellulosics has provided an abundant sugar source for production of value-added chemicals, and levoglucosan is the most representative sugar in pyrolysis liquid (bio oil). This paper explored the potential for producing methyl lactate from levoglucosan by employing the mixed catalysts of zeolite tin beta (Sn-Beta) and zeolite hydrogen beta (H-Beta). RESULTS: Under the optimal conditions (at 200 °C and mixed catalysts with H-Beta:Sn-Beta ratio of 1:5), the yield of methyl lactate obtained from levoglucosan conversion was as high as 35%. And the yield was comparable to that of methyl lactate obtained from glucose conversion under the similar conditions (at 200 °C and pure Sn-Beta). In order to investigate the reason, a contrasting experiment with glucose as substrate also was carried out with the mixed catalysts. The results indicated that during the levoglucosan conversion process, ‘the methanolysis of levoglucosan’ was likely to compete with ‘the dehydration of glucose’ for the Brønsted acid sites of H-Beta. In addition, the catalytic functions of H-Beta and Sn-Beta, and the reaction pathway were deeply investigated through tracking and comparing the conversion of levoglucosan over mixed H-Beta/Sn-Beta and over pure Sn-Beta catalysts, respectively. CONCLUSION: The appropriately lower ratio of H-Beta:Sn-Beta and relatively higher temperature were favorable for the reaction. H-Beta containing Brønsted acid could remarkably accelerate the conversion of levoglucosan and methyl-glucosides to glucose. Sn-Beta containing Lewis acid mainly promoted the retro-aldol condensation of glucose and formation of methyl lactate.

Objective: This study was carried out to determine the effects of cumin essential oil on the silage fermentation, aerobic stability and in vitro digestibility of alfalfa silages. Methods: Alfalfa was harvested at early bloom (5th cutting) stage in October and wilted for about 3 hours. The research was carried out at three groups which were the control group where no additive control was done (CON), cumin essential oil (CMN3) with 300 mg/kg and CMN5 with 500 mg/kg cumin essential oil addition. Alfalfa was ensiled in plastic bags. The packages were stored at 8 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C under laboratory conditions. All groups were sampled for physical, chemical and microbiological analysis 120th day after ensiling. At the end of the ensiling period, all silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test for 7 days. In addition, enzimatic solubility of organic matter (ESOM), metabolizable energy (ME), and relative feed value (RFV) of these silages were determined. Results: pH level decreased in the cumin groups compared to CON (p

Amino acids are the building blocks for protein biosynthesis and find use in myriad industrial applications including in food for humans, in animal feed, and as precursors for bio-based plastics, among others. However, the development of efficient chemical methods to convert abundant and renewable feedstocks into amino acids has been largely unsuccessful to date. To that end, here we report a heterogeneous catalyst that directly transforms lignocellulosic biomass-derived a-hydroxyl acids into a-amino acids, including alanine, leucine, valine, aspartic acid, and phenylalanine in high yields. The reaction follows a dehydrogenation-reductive amination pathway, with dehydrogenation as the rate-determining step. Ruthenium nano-particles supported on carbon nanotubes (Ru/CNT) exhibit exceptional efficiency compared with catalysts based on other metals, due to the unique, reversible enhancement effect of NH3 on Ru in dehydrogenation. Based on the catalytic system, a two-step chemical process was designed to convert glucose into alanine in 43% yield, comparable with the well-established microbial cultivation process, and therefore, the present strategy enables a route for the production of amino acids from renewable feedstocks. Moreover, a conceptual process design employing membrane distillation to facilitate product purification is proposed and validated. Overall, this study offers a rapid and potentially more efficient chemical method to produce amino acids from woody biomass components.

Background: Exploring different microbial sources for biotechnological production of organic acids is important. Dutch and Thai cow rumen samples were used as inocula to produce organic acid from starch waste in anaerobic reactors. Organic acid production profiles were determined and microbial communities were compared using 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene amplicon pyrosequencing. Results In both reactors, lactate was the main initial product and was associated with growth of Streptococcus spp. (86% average relative abundance). Subsequently, lactate served as a substrate for secondary fermentations. In the reactor inoculated with rumen fluid from the Dutch cow, the relative abundance of Bacillus and Streptococcus increased from the start, and lactate, acetate, formate and ethanol were produced. From day 1.33 to 2, lactate and acetate were degraded, resulting in butyrate production. Butyrate production coincided with a decrease in relative abundance of Streptococcus spp. and increased relative abundances of bacteria of other groups, including Parabacteroides, Sporanaerobacter, Helicobacteraceae, Peptostreptococcaceae and Porphyromonadaceae. In the reactor with the Thai cow inoculum, Streptococcus spp. also increased from the start. When lactate was consumed, acetate, propionate and butyrate were produced (day 34). After day 3, bacteria belonging to five dominant groups, Bacteroides, Pseudoramibacter_Eubacterium, Dysgonomonas, Enterobacteriaceae and Porphyromonadaceae, were detected and these showed significant positive correlations with acetate, propionate and butyrate levels. Conclusions The complexity of rumen microorganisms with high adaptation capacity makes rumen fluid a suitable source to convert organic waste into valuable products without the addition of hydrolytic enzymes. Starch waste is a source for organic acid production, especially lactate., Susakul Palakawong Na Ayudthaya was financially supported by a Royal Thai Government Scholarship, Thailand. We thank Stang Pumisutapon at The Charoen Pokphand Group, Thailand and Rik Verkerk at the Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University for providing rumen fluids, Detmer Sipkema for his help with pyrosequencing analysis and Gerben Hermes for his support using the CANOCO program and Bart Nijsse for technical support. Research of Alfons J. M. Stams is supported by ERC Grant Project 323009. Alfons J. M. Stams and Willem M. de Vos are supported by Gravitation Grant Project 024.002.002 from the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

In this review, for the first time, the conjugation of the major types of enzymes used in biorefineries and the membrane processes to develop different configurations of MBRs, was analyzedfor the production of biofuels, phytotherapics and food ingredients. In particular, the aim is to critically review all the works related to the application of MBR in biorefinery, highlighting the advantages and the main drawbacks which can interfere with the development of this system at industrial scale. Alternatives strategies to overcome main limits will be also described in the different application fields, such as the use of biofunctionalized magnetic nanoparticles associated with membrane processes for enzyme re-use and membrane cleaning or the membrane fouling control by the use of integrated membrane process associated with MBR. ispartof: BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY vol:335 ispartof: location:England status: published

WOS: 000401456800018, PubMed ID: 28017541, The purpose of this study was to investigate the production of flavor compounds from olive mill waste by microbial fermentation of Rhizopus oryzae and Candida tropicalis. Olive mill waste fermentations were performed in shake and bioreactor cultures. Production of flavor compounds from olive mill waste was followed by Gas Chromatography Mass spectrometry, Gas chromatography- olfactometry and Spectrum Sensory Analysis. As a result, 1.73-log and 3.23-log cfu/mL increases were observed in the microbial populations of R. oryzae and C. tropicalis during shake cultures, respectively. C. tropicalis can produce a higher concentration of n-limonene from olive mill waste than R. oryzae in shake cultures. The concentration of n-limonene was determined as 185.56 and 249.54 mu g/kg in the fermented olive mill waste by R. oryzae and C. tropicalis in shake cultures respectively. In contrast, R. oryzae can produce a higher concentration of n-limonene (87.73 mu g/kg) n-limonene than C. tropicalis (11.95 mu g/kg) in bioreactor cultures. Based on sensory analysis, unripe olive, wet towel, sweet aromatic, fermented aromas were determined at high intensity in olive mill waste fermented with R. oryzae meanwhile olive mill waste fermented with C. tropicalis had only a high intensity of unripe olive and oily aroma. (C) 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda., Scientific and Technological Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, Ankara Turkey)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [1100903 COST], This study was funded by The Scientific and Technological Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, Ankara Turkey; Project No. 1100903 COST). The authors would like to thank Bioflavour COST Action FA0907 for technical supporting of this scientific work.

Cereals are one of the major food sources in human diet and a large quantity of by-products is generated throughout their processing chain. These by-products mostly consist of the germ and outer layers (bran), deriving from dry and wet milling of grains, brewers’ spent grain originating from brewing industry, or others originating during bread-making and starch production. Cereal industry by-products are rich in nutrients, but still they end up as feed, fuel, substrates for biorefinery, or waste. The above uses, however, only provide a partial recycle. Although cereal processing industry side streams can potentially provide essential compounds for the diet, their use in food production is limited by their challenging technological properties. For this reason, the development of innovative biotechnologies is essential to upgrade these by-products, potentially leading to the design of novel and commercially competitive functional foods. Fermentation has been proven as a very feasible option to enhance the technological, sensory, and especially nutritional and functional features of the cereal industry by-products. Through the increase of minerals, phenolics and vitamins bioavailability, proteins digestibility, and the degradation of antinutritional compounds as phytic acid, fermentation can lead to improved nutritional quality of the matrix. In some cases, more compelling benefits have been discovered, such as the synthesis of bioactive compounds acting as antimicrobial, antitumoral, antioxidant agents. When used for baked-goods manufacturing, fermented cereal by-products have enhanced their nutritional profile. The key factor of a successful use of cereal by-products in food applications is the use of a proper bioprocessing technology, including fermentation with selected starters. In the journey toward a more efficient food chain, biotechnological approaches for the valorization of agricultural side streams can be considered a very valuable help.

In this work, a series of oxalamide based organic compounds (OBOC) are synthesized and their capability to enhance the nucleation of polylactide is reported. The OBOCs are soluble in the polylactide melt and crystallize upon cooling, providing surface for heterogeneous nucleation to the polylactide matrix. One interesting observation is that the nucleation efficiency of the OBOCs increases at high cooling rates, making the use of OBOCs as a nucleating agent attractive for industrial processing conditions. The paper addresses the mechanism involved in the cooling rate dependence on the nucleation efficiency of the OBOC: The nucleation efficiency of polylactide is significantly enhanced in the presence of OBOC crystals, as a transcrystalline PLA morphology grows from the OBOC crystal surface (at relatively low supercooling from the equilibrium melting temperature of PLA). However, such crystallization of PLA occurs only when the OBOC crystals are formed at or below 145 degrees C while cooling at 10 degrees C/min. In contrast, when the OBOC crystals are formed above 145 degrees C (i.e. from a lower supersaturated state), the OBOC crystals display a significantly reduced capability for PLA nucleation. These findings override the possibility of both epitaxy and soft-epitaxy as a plausible nucleation mechanism. Supported by polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, plate-plate rheology and molecular modelling we evaluate the possibility of nucleation resulting from local stresses imposed on the polylactide melt invoking stress-enhanced nucleation. The imposed local shear rates, facilitated by the rapid growth of the OBOC crystals, are found high enough to facilitate contour orientation of the high molecular weight PLA chains next to the growing OBOC crystals, confirming the possibility for stress-enhanced nucleation. In addition, we identify surface roughness of OBOC crystals as a second parameter that influences the PLA nucleation process; the OBOC crystallization at high supersaturation is expected to yield smaller/defected OBOC crystals, which are presumed to provide high surface area and surface roughness. In contrast, when the OBOC crystals are grown at lowered supersaturation (>150 degrees C), they are bound to anneal during crystallization, providing a smoother surface and lower surface area - retrospectively exhibiting a decreased capability to promote the PLA nucleation, irrespective of the PLA supercooling. Interestingly, both the surface roughness of OBOC crystals and the local stresses they impose on the PLA melt increase when the OBOC crystal growth proceeds from a highly supersaturated state, providing an explanation to the cause of the favored crystallization of PLA at the high cooling rates in the presence of the chosen OBOCs.

Administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), at both clinical and neuropathological levels. The therapeutic properties of MSC in EAE are mainly mediated by the modulation of pathogenic immune response, but other neurotropic effects, including decreased demyelination and axonal loss as well as promotion of tissue repair, play also a role. Properly controlled phase II clinical trials to explore the potential of MSC transplantation as a treatment for MS are underway. Interferon beta (IFNβ) is an approved treatment for relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS. Here, we explored the possibility that IFNβ might influence the therapeutic potential of MSC, in view of possible synergistic effects as add-on therapy. IFNβ enhanced the immunomodulatory functions of MSC and induced the expression of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (Slpi) and hepatocyte growth factor (Hgf), two soluble mediators involved in immune and regenerative functions of MSC. At molecular level, IFNβ induced a rapid and transient phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3, the transcription factors responsible for Slpi and Hgf induction. Concomitantly, IFNβ dynamically affected the activity of mTOR, a key checkpoint in the control of metabolic pathways. Indeed, the impairment of mTOR activity observed early upon exposure to IFNβ, was followed by a long-lasting induction of mTOR signaling, that was associated with an increased glycolytic capacity in MSC. When induced to switch their energetic metabolism towards glycolysis, MSC showed an improved ability to control T-cell proliferation. These results suggest that modifications of MSC energetic metabolism induced by IFNβ may contribute to promote MSC immunomodulatory function and support a role for metabolic pathways in the therapeutic function of MSC. Altogether, these findings support the idea of a combined treatment for MS, in which the immunomodulatory and possibly regenerative activity of MSC could be enhanced by the administration of IFNβ.

In this study, we examined the effect of ethyl pyruvate on the efficacy of the inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes on the surface of sausage samples by using quantitative PCR (Q-PCR). Propidium monoazide (PMA) was used for direct quantification of viable and dead cells. The samples inoculated with L. monocytogenes (3 to 4 log CFU/mL) and uninoculated samples were treated with 0, 42, 105, and 420 mg/L vaporized ethyl pyruvate (EP) in 1 L volume containers. Sausage samples were tested on Days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 with regards to changes in microbial, physicochemical, and quality characteristics. As compared with control samples (EP no-applied), 105 and 420 mg/L concentration of vaporized EP applications were provided 1 and 2 log reduction, respectively. The vaporized EP application was considered to be an alternative preservation method for the modified atmosphere and vacuum packaging and could be easily applied, especially in meat products such as sausages. Practical application EP could be used for successful preservation of meat and meat products. Kirklareli University, Scientific Research Projects Coordinatorship [KUBAP-79/02.11.2016] Kirklareli University, Scientific Research Projects Coordinatorship, Grant/Award Number: KUBAP-79/02.11.2016

5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is one of the most important renewable platform-chemicals, a very valuable precursor for the synthesis of bio-fuels and bio-products. In this work, the hydrogenation of HMF to two furan diols, 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF) and 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran (BHMTHF), both promising renewable monomers, was investigated. Three commercial catalysts, Ru/C, Pd/C and Pt/C, were tested in the hydrogenation of aqueous HMF solutions (2–3 wt%), using a metal loading of 1 wt% respect to HMF content. By appropriate tuning of the process conditions, either BHMF or BHMTHF were obtained in good yields, and Ru/C resulted the best catalyst for this purpose, allowing us to obtain BHMF or BHMTHF yields up to 93.0 and 95.3 mol%, respectively. This catalyst was also tested for in the hydrogenation of a crude HMF-rich hydrolyzate, obtained by one-pot the dehydration of fructose. The influence of each component of this hydrolyzate on the hydrogenation efficiency was investigated, including unconverted fructose, rehydration acids and humins, in order to improve the yields towards each furan diol. Moreover, ICP-OES and TEM analysis showed that the catalyst was not subjected to important leaching and sintering phenomena, as further confirmed by catalyst recycling study.

Chronic stress triggers activation of the sympathetic nervous system and drives malignancy. Using an immunodeficient murine system, we showed that chronic stress–induced epinephrine promoted breast cancer stem-like properties via lactate dehydrogenase A–dependent (LDHA-dependent) metabolic rewiring. Chronic stress–induced epinephrine activated LDHA to generate lactate, and the adjusted pH directed USP28-mediated deubiquitination and stabilization of MYC. The SLUG promoter was then activated by MYC, which promoted development of breast cancer stem-like traits. Using a drug screen that targeted LDHA, we found that a chronic stress–induced cancer stem-like phenotype could be reversed by vitamin C. These findings demonstrated the critical importance of psychological factors in promoting stem-like properties in breast cancer cells. Thus, the LDHA-lowering agent vitamin C can be a potential approach for combating stress-associated breast cancer.

We present a fluorescence-based approach for determination of the permeability of small molecules across the membranes of lipid vesicles and living cells. With properly designed experiments, the method allows us to assess the membrane physical properties both in vitro and in vivo. We find that the permeability of weak acids increases in the order of benzoic > acetic > formic > lactic, both in synthetic lipid vesicles and the plasma membrane of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but the permeability is much lower in yeast (one to two orders of magnitude). We observe a relation between the molecule permeability and the saturation of the lipid acyl chain (i.e., lipid packing) in the synthetic lipid vesicles. By analyzing wild-type yeast and a manifold knockout strain lacking all putative lactic acid transporters, we conclude that the yeast plasma membrane is impermeable to lactic acid on timescales up to ∼2.5 h.

Multifunctional catalytic systems consisting of physical mixtures of Au nanoparticles (2-3 nm) supported on metal oxides and Sn-MCM-41 nanoparticles (50-120 nm) were synthesized and investigated for the selective conversion of glycerol to methyl lactate. The Au catalyst promotes the oxidation of glycerol to trioses, whereas the solid acid Sn-MCM-41 catalyzes the rearrangement of the intermediate trioses to methyl lactate. Among the supported Au nanoparticles, Au/CuO led to the highest yield and selectivity toward methyl lactate, while the Sn-MCM-41 nanoparticles showed much better catalytic performance than a benchmark solid acid catalyst (USY zeolite). The activity of the multifunctional catalytic system was further optimized by tuning the calcination temperature, the gold loading in the Au/CuO catalyst, and the Au/Sn molar ratio, reaching 63% yield of methyl lactate (ML) at 95% glycerol conversion. This catalytic system also showed excellent reusability. The catalytic results were rationalized on the basis of a detailed characterization by means of TEM, N2-physisorption, UV-vis spectroscopy, and by FT-IR using probe molecules (CO and ethanol).

Poly(lactic acid), PLA, is a polyester that can be produced from lactic acid derived from renewable resources. This polymer offers attracting uses in packaging industry due to its biodegradability and high tensile strength. However, PLA is quite brittle, which limits its applications. To overcome this drawback, PLA was plasticized with epoxy-type plasticizer derived from a fatty acid, octyl epoxy stearate (OES) at different loadings (1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 phr). The addition of OES decreases the glass transition temperature and provides a remarkable increase in elongation at break and impact-absorbed energy. Plasticizer saturation occurs at relatively low concentrations of about 5 phr OES; higher concentration leads to phase separation as observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Optimum balanced mechanical properties are obtained at relatively low concentrations of OES (5 phr), thus indicating the usefulness of this material as environmentally friendly plasticizer for PLA industrial formulations., This research was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness-MINECO, Ref: MAT2014-59242-C2-1-R. Authors also thank to "Conselleria d'Educacio, Cultura i Esport"-Generalitat Valenciana, Ref: GV/2014/008 for financial support.

Behavioral responses of the malaria mosquito Anopheles coluzzii (An. gambiae sensu stricto molecular 'M form') to an expanded blend of human-derived volatiles were assessed in a dual-port olfactometer. A previously documented attractive three-component blend consisting of NH3, (S)-lactic acid, and tetradecanoic acid served as the basis for expansion. Adding 4.5 % CO2 to the basic blend significantly enhanced its attractiveness. Expansion of the blend with four human-derived C4-volatiles was then assessed, both with and without CO2. Only when CO2 was offered simultaneously, did addition of a specific concentration of 3-methyl-1-butanol or 3-methyl-butanoic acid significantly enhance attraction. The functional group at the terminal C of the 3-methyl-substituted C4 compounds influenced behavioral effectiveness. In the absence of CO2, addition of three concentrations of butan-1-amine caused inhibition when added to the basic blend. In contrast, when CO2 was added, butan-1-amine added to the basic blend strongly enhanced attraction at all five concentrations tested, the lowest being 100,000 times diluted. The reversal of inhibition to attraction by adding CO2 is unique in the class Insecta. We subsequently augmented the three-component basic blend by adding both butan-1-amine and 3-methyl-1-butanol and optimizing their concentrations in the presence of CO2 in order to significantly enhance the attractiveness to An. coluzzii compared to the three- and four-component blends. This novel blend holds potential to enhance malaria vector control based on behavioral disruption.

Thermophilic bacteria are regarded as attractive production organisms for cost-efficient conversion of renewable resources to green chemicals, but their genetic accessibility is a major bottleneck in developing them into versatile platform organisms. In this study, we aimed to isolate thermophilic, facultatively anaerobic bacilli that are genetically accessible and have potential as platform organisms. From compost, we isolated 267 strains that produced acids from C 5 and C 6 sugars at temperatures of 55°C or 65°C. Subsequently, 44 strains that showed the highest production of acids were screened for genetic accessibility by electroporation. Two Geobacillus thermodenitrificans isolates and one Bacillus smithii isolate were found to be transformable with plasmid pNW33n. Of these, B. smithii ET 138 was the best-performing strain in laboratory-scale fermentations and was capable of producing organic acids from glucose as well as from xylose. It is an acidotolerant strain able to produce organic acids until a lower limit of approximately pH 4.5. As genetic accessibility of B. smithii had not been described previously, six other B. smithii strains from the DSMZ culture collection were tested for electroporation efficiencies, and we found the type strain DSM 4216 T and strain DSM 460 to be transformable. The transformation protocol for B. smithii isolate ET 138 was optimized to obtain approximately 5 × 10 3 colonies per μg plasmid pNW33n. Genetic accessibility combined with robust acid production capacities on C 5 and C 6 sugars at a relatively broad pH range make B. smithii ET 138 an attractive biocatalyst for the production of lactic acid and potentially other green chemicals.

Bio-based and bio-degradable plastics such as polybutylene succinate (PBS) have the potential to become sustainable alternatives to petrochemical-based plastics. Polybutylene succinate can be produced from bio-based succinic acid and 1,4-butanediol using fi rst-generation (1G) or secondgeneration (2G) sugars. A cradle-to-grave environmental assessment was performed for PBS products in Europe to investigate the non-renewable energy use (NREU) and greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts. The products investigated are single-use trays and agricultural fi lm, with incineration, industrial composting and degradation on agricultural land as end-of-life scenarios. Both end products manufactured from fully bio-based PBS and from partly bio-based PBS (made from bio-based succinic acid and fossil fuel-based 1,4 butanediol) were analysed. We examine corn (1G) as well as corn stover, wheat straw, miscanthus and hardwood as 2G feedstocks. For the cradle-to-grave system, 1G fully bio-based PBS plastic products were found to have environmental impacts comparable with their petrochemical incumbents, while 2G fully bio-based PBS plastic products allow to reduce NREU and GHG by around one third under the condition of avoidance of concentration of sugars and energy integration of the pretreatment process with monomer production. Without energy integration and with concentration of sugars (i.e., separate production), the impacts of 2G fully bio-based PBS products are approximately 15–20% lower than those of 1G fully bio-based PBS products. The environmental analysis of PBS products supports the value proposition related to PBS products while also pointing out areas requiring further research and development.

Background Medium chain carboxylic acids, such as caproic acid, are conventionally produced from food materials. Caproic acid can be produced through fermentation by the reverse β-oxidation of lactic acid, generated from low value lignocellulosic biomass. In situ extraction of caproic acid can be achieved by membrane electrolysis coupled to the fermentation process, allowing recovery by phase separation. Results Grass was fermented to lactic acid in a leach-bed-type reactor, which was then further converted to caproic acid in a secondary fermenter. The lactic acid concentration was 9.36 ± 0.95 g L−1 over a 33-day semi-continuous operation, and converted to caproic acid at pH 5.5–6.2, with a concentration of 4.09 ± 0.54 g L−1 during stable production. The caproic acid product stream was extracted in its anionic form, concentrated and converted to caproic acid by membrane electrolysis, resulting in a >70 wt% purity solution. In a parallel test exploring the upper limits of production rate through cell retention, we achieved the highest reported caproic acid production rate to date from a lignocellulosic biomass (grass, via a coupled process), at 0.99 ± 0.02 g L−1 h−1. The fermenting microbiome (mainly consisting of Clostridium IV and Lactobacillus) was capable of producing a maximum caproic acid concentration of 10.92 ± 0.62 g L−1 at pH 5.5, at the border of maximum solubility of protonated caproic acid. Conclusions Grass can be utilized as a substrate to produce caproic acid. The biological intermediary steps were enhanced by separating the steps to focus on the lactic acid intermediary. Notably, the pipeline was almost completely powered through electrical inputs, and thus could potentially be driven from sustainable energy without need for chemical input.Graphical abstractMicrobial and electrochemical production of lactic acid, caproic acid and decane from grass. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13068-017-0863-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

10.1021/sc500648g; International audience; Polylactide (PLA) is one of the most mature biobased and biocompostable plastics currently in the market. Despite its mechanical properties comparable to the ones of some mainstream petroleum-based thermoplastics (PS, for instance), PLA inherent brittleness and heat sensitivity are issues for its full industrial development. In this study, we investigated the melt-blending of PLLA (poly-L-lactide) with fatty acid-based flexible polyesters as an efficient way to tailor PLLA toughness. To that aim, a set of aliphatic polyesters has been developed by taking benefit of the large range of biobased building blocks that can be obtained from plant oils. Melt-blending of the so-formed polyesters with PLLA resulted in improved properties that can be finely tailored by varying the structure and the properties of the plant-based polyester additives.

Interest in sustainable development has led to efforts to replace petrochemical-based monomers with biomass-based ones. Itaconic acid, a C5-dicarboxylic acid, is a potential monomer for the chemical industry with many prospective applications. cis-aconitate decarboxylase (CadA) is the key enzyme of itaconate production, converting the citric acid cycle intermediate cis-aconitate into itaconate. Heterologous expression of cadA from Aspergillus terreus in Escherichia coli resulted in low CadA activities and production of trace amounts of itaconate on Luria-Bertani (LB) medium (

In this paper we show that carbon nanofiber supported copper and nickel nanoparticles can selectively transform ethylene glycol and glycerol into value added oxygenates (organic acids) under anaerobic aqueous conditions. During aqueous phase oxidation Cu based catalysts showed a nearly quantitative yield (96% selectivity at 82% conversion) of glycolic acid from ethylene glycol. The reaction was carried out under alkaline conditions at relatively mild temperatures (150-180 °C) and produced H2 as co-product. The high selectivity towards glycolic acid was independent of the temperature. For glycerol oxidation a high selectivity (67% at full conversion) towards lactic acid was observed using Cu with competitive formation of glyceric acid, 1,2-propanediol tartronic acid and formation of H2 as co-product. The activity of Ni was comparable to that of Cu but it was less selective for the formation of desired oxygenates, glycolic acid (31%) and lactic acid (24%), due to the formation of formic acid.