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Despite being a staple in the daily diet of the Brazilian population, industrialized tomatoes and their derivatives are often subject to countless contaminants during their production process, which may affect the final quality of these products. This study aimed to investigate the microbiological quality and the presence of extraneous matter in industrialized tomato sauces commercialized in Brazil. To this end, two samples of 21 different “traditional tomato sauce” brands (a total of 42 samples) commercialized in supermarkets in the municipality of Bauru, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, were analyzed from April to November 2016. Overall, 20 (47.6%) of the 42 samples analyzed were in disagreement with the current Brazilian legislation. After incubation at 35 to 37 °C and 55 °C, no changes in the packages and pH variation >0.2 were observed. However, 9.5% of the samples showed a non-characteristic aspect and 11.9% presented growth of fungi. Regarding the presence of extraneous matter, 11.9% of the samples showed rodent hair above the permitted limit (1 in 100 g) - indicative of risks to human health, whereas 26.2% of them contained non-rodent hair - indicative of failure in adopting good manufacturing practices. Mold filament counting was conducted using the Howard method, and 14.3% of the samples presented values above 40% (acceptable limit) positive microscopic fields. In addition to subsidizing health surveillance actions, such data highlight the need for quality improvement of the raw material used and greater control during the processing of these products.

Chromatoid body (CB) is a cytoplasmic structure of male germ cells that has been indicated as having a role in the RNA and protein storage for the final differentiation of spermatozoa. Recent studies have indicated that some of these macromolecular complex components have nucleolar origin. The aims of the present study were to monitor the expression of fibrillarin nucleolar protein in mammalian seminiferous tubules at different stages of the spermatogenic cycle; to check fibrillarin distribution during the CB assembly; and also its interaction with two well-known CB markers (MIWI and HSP70). Seminiferous tubules were isolated by transilluminating microscope from testis of adult mice. Fibrillarin expression and also co-localization between fibrillarin and MIWI/HSP70 were performed by Western blot (WB) and by immunofluorescence (IF), respectively. Total proteins from testis of adult mice were also used to perform co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) experiments. Our results demonstrated higher fibrillarin expression in seminiferous tubules in stages IV–VI, and a close localization of fibrillarin with MIWI (a protein that plays a role in RNA metabolism in the CB), as well as with HSP70 (a protein that plays a role in the proteasome folding in the CB). We also performed Co-IP between fibrillarin/MIWI and between fibrillarin/HSP70 in order to determine whether MIWI or HSP70 interacts with this nucleolar protein. We found MIWI in the Co-IP precipitate, but not HSP70. In conclusion, our results show that fibrillarin may participate in the physiological activities performed by the CB by interacting with CB components that play a role in RNA metabolism.

The objective of this study was to compare different techniques for counting mould filaments in industrialized tomato sauces available on the Brazilian market. In order to do so, 42 samples of the product “traditional tomato sauce” (from 21 different brands), sold in supermarkets in the municipality of the city of Bauru, Brazil, were collected during the period from April to June, 2016. The mycelial moulds were counted by the Howard method according to the official methodology recommended by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), applying techniques 965.41 and 945.92. Notably, the application of technique 945.92 using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to eliminate the starch in the samples, facilitated counting of the hyphae and, consequently, the percentages of positive fields observed were significantly higher (median = 10%) when compared with the percentages obtained after using technique 965.41 (median = 6%) (p < 0.001). The present findings reveal the need to expand the discussion concerning the application of different techniques for the counting of mould filaments in industrialized tomato sauces, especially in Brazil and in other countries that do not prohibit the addition of starch to this kind of product. Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar diferentes técnicas para a contagem de fungos filamentosos em molhos de tomate industrializados, comercializados no Brasil. Para isso, foram colhidas 42 amostras do produto do tipo “molho de tomate tradicional”, de 21 marcas diferentes, comercializadas em supermercados do município de Bauru-SP, no período de abril a junho de 2016. A contagem de filamentos micelianos pelo método de Howard foi realizada segundo a metodologia oficial, recomendada pela Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), aplicando-se as técnicas 965.41 e 945.92. Notadamente, a aplicação da técnica 945.92, que utiliza hidróxido de sódio (NaOH) para eliminar o amido presente nas amostras, facilitou a contagem das hifas e, consequentemente, as porcentagens de campos positivos observadas foram significativamente maiores (mediana = 10%), quando comparadas com as porcentagens obtidas após a utilização da técnica 965.41 (mediana = 6%) (p < 0,001). Nossos achados apontam a necessidade de se ampliar a discussão sobre a aplicação de diferentes técnicas para a contagem de fungos filamentosos em molhos de tomate industrializados, especialmente no Brasil e em outros países que não proíbem a adição de amido nesse tipo de produto.