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In this study, Asparagus stipularis was characterized concerning its phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, cytotoxicity, and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities. Twenty-seven compounds were identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD-MS in the leaf, stem, pericarp, and rhizome of ethanolic extracts. Seven steroidal saponins were detected, and the highest content was quantified in rhizome and pericap. A. stipularis also contained significant amounts of flavonoids in the aerial part. Isorhamnetin tetra-glycoside, quercetin-3-glucosyl-rutinoside, and rutin were the main flavonoid derivatives in leaf, stem, and pericarp extracts, respectively. In addition, eleven phenolic acids were also detected; among them, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and ferulic acid were the predominant phenolics, with these having the highest amounts quantified in the rhizome extracts. All the tested extracts possessed antioxidant capacities, with pericarp and rhizome extracts exhibiting the highest activity in DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. The extracts from pericarp and rhizome were revealed to also be the strongest inhibitors of pancreatic lipase. The rhizome extracts exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 and HepG2 with IC50 values of 30 and 54 µg/mL after 48 h of treatment. The present study demonstrated that A. stipularis can be used as a new source of natural antioxidants and potential anticancer and antiobesity compounds.

Plant antiviral responses induced by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) include RNA interference (RNAi) and pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), but their relative contributions to antiviral defense are not well understood. We aimed at testing the impact of exogenous applied dsRNA on both layers of defense against Potato virus X expressing GFP (PVX-GFP) in Nicotiana benthamiana. Co-inoculation of PVX-GFP with either virus-specific (RNAi) or nonspecific dsRNA (PTI) showed that nonspecific dsRNA reduced virus accumulation in both inoculated and systemic leaves. However, nonspecific dsRNA was a poor inducer of antiviral immunity compared to a dsRNA capable to trigger the RNAi response, and plants became susceptible to systemic infection. Studies with a PVX mutant unable to move cell-to-cell indicated that the interference with PVX-GFP triggered by nonspecific dsRNA operated at the single-cell level. Next, we performed RNAseq analysis to examine similarities and differences in the transcriptome triggered by dsRNA alone or in combination with homologous and heterologous viruses. Enrichment analysis showed an over-representation of plant-pathogen signaling pathways, such as calcium, ethylene and MAPK signaling, which are typical of antimicrobial PTI. Moreover, the transcriptomic response to the homologous combination had a greater impact on defense than the heterologous combination, highlighting quantitative differences between RNAi and PTI immune responses. In addition, we provide genetic evidence that DICER-like2 and 4 as well as Argonaute2 were positively involved in PTI-based defense against PVX-GFP, and that dsRNA-induced PTI was enhanced by salicylic acid signaling. Together, these results further our understanding of plant antiviral defense, particularly the contribution of nonspecific dsRNA-mediated PTI.

Peach fruit quality is dependent on preharvest treatments and orchard practices. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of preharvest potassium silicon fertilization on fruit postharvest quality. Two peach cultivars (“Early Bomba” and “Plagold 17”) were sprayed with three concentrations of potassium silicon (K-Si) at fruit set, stone hardening, and physiological maturity stages. The applied treatments corresponded to control (T0 = 0% K-Si) pulverized with distilled water and two K-Si treatments (T1 = 3% K-Si and T2 = 4.5% K-Si). The blooming and harvesting dates, vegetative growth and agronomical parameters were analyzed over two growing seasons (2021–2022). Peach fruits were stored at 5 °C and 95% RH during two cold storage periods (2 and 4 weeks) followed by 2 days at room temperatures. The fruit weights (FW), color, firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), pulp stone ratio (P/S) and fruit weight loss (FWL) were evaluated. The anthocyanins, flavonoids, total phenolics, carotenoids and antioxidant capacity (DPPH) were determined. Vitamin B5 and vitamin C were analyzed by HPLC. The ethylene rate and the chilling injury symptoms (CI) were analyzed after two cold storage periods (2 and 4 weeks). Results showed that the applied potassium silicon treatments (3% K-Si and 4.5% K-Si) enhanced the FW, SSC, TA, FWL, fruit composition and CI. Anthocyanins and total phenolics increased after cold storage period under K-Si treatments. The nectarine cultivar (cv) Early Bomba showed low sensibility to chilling injury symptoms as compared to the cv Plagold 17.

Sustainable phosphorus (P) use to meet the global food demand is a major challenge for agriculture. A number of soil microorganisms may influence the plants’ ability to utilize different chemical forms of phosphorus in the rhizosphere. Inoculating phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms together with rock phosphates (RP) has intrigued researchers for over a century. However, microbe-mediated mobilization mechanisms for use of RP remain seldomly comprehensively addressed. This study aimed at elucidating these mechanisms driven by mono- versus mixed-inoculation with a phosphate-solubilizing bacterium (PSB) Pseudomonas corrugata (strain SP77) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Rhizophagus irregularis (strain EEZ58) at the vegetative (Veg) and flowering (Flo) stage of Medicago truncatula cv. Jemalong. Multivariate analysis of combined physiological and symbiotic parameters, nutrients concentrations, and transcriptional changes of P metabolism related genes, showed distinct patterns for the phenological stages. At the Veg stage, P-related mechanisms were inoculation-type dependent (mono- versus mixed-inoculation), whereas, at the Flo stage they were exclusively AMF inoculation-dependent. Competition for resources under mixed-inoculation seems important at the Veg stage. However, positive interactions between the microbial inoculants appear at the Flo stage. Variability of differentially expressed genes related to P transporters, carotenoid dioxygenase genes, strigolactones and abscisic acid (ABA) concentration allowed us to elucidate the crosstalk among the organisms at the Veg and Flo stage. Understanding the interactions of plants with soil microbes allows development of an effective microbial management in agriculture.

This study aimed to review the requirements and difficulties of natural and artificial regeneration of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) in the Mediterranean Basin. Cork oak regeneration is achieved naturally by means of sexual or vegetative reproduction (by seeds or by sprouting), or artificially through direct seeding, or seedling planting. Both natural and artificial regeneration of cork oak fre-quently encounter numerous difficulties which limit the ecological conditions for cork oak regeneration, including acorn predation, slow growth, vegetative competition, browsing of seedlings, fires, pests and diseases, and summer drought. We reviewed the state of the art of these difficulties and s ummarize the potential solutions for each regeneration form.

Aerospores are one of the main components of aeromycobiota that can cause fungal diseases in fruits. Their presence in warehouses limits the storage time of apples and affects their organoleptic properties. Our study was based on previously identified airborne fungi collected from apple warehouses in Tunisia. Fifteen species: Penicillium allii, P. chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P. expansum, P. italicum, P. polonicum, P. solitum, P. steckii, P. sumatraense, P. viridicatum, Aspergillus europaeus, A. flavus, A. niger, A. pulverulentus and Alternaria alternata with different level of pathogenicity were tested for their carbon and nitrogen requirements. The tested compounds were selected for their abundance in apple cell wall: polygalacturonic acid, arabinan, arabinogalactan, fructose, galactose, arabinose, maltose, xylose, sucrose, sorbitol, xylan, cellulose microfibril and cutin. Assimilation tests proved that only P. expansum and P. polonicum, with the highest pathogenicity, were able to assimilate all types of carbohydrates and nitrogen sources present in the apple cell wall. This could be a mean to annotate virulence mechanisms of highly pathogenic fungi during apple colonization.

Many of the current strategies for removing pollutants from water are based on nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Lower values of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in water results in reduction in the amount of oxidizable pollutants. We present a study on the reduction of COD and BOD5 in water from Wadi El Bey River (Tunisia), using magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) and magnetic fields. The COD and BOD5 removal reached values higher than 50% after 60 min, with optimum efficiency at pH values of ≈8 and for MNPs concentrations of 1 g/L. The use of a permanent magnetic field (0.33 T) showed an increase of COD and BOD5 removal from 61% to 76% and from 63% to 78%, respectively. This enhancement is discussed in terms of the MNPs coagulation induced by the magnetic field and the adsorption of ionic species onto the MNPs surface due to Fe3O4 affinity.

A sequential two-step thermochemical process was studied for spent green tea waste (SGTW), involving an initial pyrolysis step followed by thermal or catalytic cracking. This process was carried out in two bench-scale reactors (fixed bed reactor and tubular reactor) serially coupled. At a fixed pyrolysis temperature of SGTW (550 °C), the application of high cracking temperatures (700 and 800 °C) positively affected both the yield and composition of the gas product. Consequently, it has the potential to be used for the production of diverse biofuels and chemicals, or to be partially recycled to optimize the process efficiency. Moreover, the use of inexpensive catalysts, particularly dolomite, was considered advantageous, since the syngas yield (56.5 wt%) and its potential were greatly enhanced, reaching a H2/CO ratio of 1.5. The homogenous biochar obtained, with a calorific value of 26.84 MJ/kg, could be harnessed as good-quality fuel for briquette applications and as a biofuel source for generating stationary power. Furthermore, catalytic cracking pyrolysis was examined for different types of coffee waste, revealing that this process is a simple and clean solution to valorize oxygen-rich lignocellulosic biomass and generate valuable gaseous by-products.

Plants are often subjected to several environmental constraints in the field, often simultaneously, which significantly affect their productivity. Among these constraints, water deficit and heat stress are the main constraints limiting plant yield in the arid regions of the Mediterranean basin. Both of these abiotic factors are exacerbated by climate change. Fodder legumes provide a rich resource of plant nutrition to human diets, and are vital for food security and sustainable cropping. Numerous biochemical, molecular, and physiological responses are evoked by drought and heat stresses, influencing the fodder crop yield and nutritional value. When plants are water stressed, they are unable to maintain good growth and produce high yields. Drought also reduces the protein content of the plants, which can lead to a decrease in forage quality. Heat can negatively affect the productivity of forage legumes. High temperatures can cause heat stress which can lead to decreased photosynthesis and reduced productivity. In addition, high temperatures can result in decreased forage quality and increased nutrient losses. Exposure to combined water stress and heat can reduce the protein, fiber and mineral content of forage legumes and can also reduce their digestibility. This review summarizes the current status of the effects of drought and heat stresses on forage crops productivity and fodder quality.

This work presents refined, updated subregional and regional non-indigenous species (NIS) inventories for the Mediterranean Sea, validated by national and taxonomic experts, with species records observed until December 2020. These datasets will be used as the baselines for the implementation of the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme for the Mediterranean (IMAP) and the Mediterranean Quality Status Report 2023. In total, 1006 non-indigenous species have been found in Mediterranean marine and brackish waters. The highest numbers of NIS were observed in Israel, Türkiye, Lebanon and Italy. Approximately 45 species were categorized as data deficient, either due to lack of consensus on their alien status or the validity of their identification. Polychaeta, Foraminifera and macroalgae were the groups with the highest numbers of controversial species. There was a general increase in the yearly rate of new NIS introductions after the late 1990s, which appears to be slowing down in the last decade, but this may be confounded by reporting lags and differential research efforts. Between 1970 and 2020 there has been a steep increase in the proportion of shared species present throughout all four Mediterranean subregions, which are predominantly transported via shipping and recreational boating. While Lessepsian species are gradually spreading westwards and northwards, there is still a considerable invasion debt accumulating in the eastern and central Mediterranean.

Physicochemical properties, kinetic pyrolysis and thermodynamic study of spent green tea, pure spent coffee grounds, spent coffee grounds blended with 50% torrefied barley and coffee husk were experimentally investigated using thermogravimetric analysis under an inert atmosphere to evaluate their thermochemical application. Five isoconversional methods were applied to determine effective activation energy (Ea) of the pyrolysis processes. All methods showed good agreement by determining fluctuating Ea values (150–500 kJ mol−1). Complex Ea profiles with conversion were divided into four stages corresponding to thermal degradation of main biomass constituents (extractives, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin), indicating that extractives decomposition was the least demanding reaction while lignin decomposition was the most demanding. The kinetic process was verified by reconstruction according to the Friedman parameters. The thermodynamic parameters were evaluated to determine the energy demand and efficiency throughout the process. The values obtained for physicochemical properties such as volatile matter (> 68%) and higher heating value (> 17 MJ kg−1), average Ea (223–319 kJ mol−1) and significant energy efficiency implied that these types of biomass waste have significant reactivity and consequently the highest potential for the production of bioenergy and a range of high-value chemicals and materials.

Leuconostoc lactis is found in vegetables, fruits, and meat and is used by the food industry in the preparation of dairy products, wines, and sugars. We have previously demonstrated that the dextransucrase of Lc. lactis (DsrLL) AV1n produces a high-molecular-weight dextran from sucrose, indicating its potential use as a dextran-forming starter culture. We have also shown that this bacterium was able to produce 10-fold higher levels of dextran at 20°C than at 37°C, at the former temperature accompanied by an increase in dsrLL gene expression. However, the general physiological response of Lc. lactis AV1n to cold temperature in the presence of sucrose, leading to increased production of dextran, has not been yet investigated. Therefore, we have used a quantitative proteomics approach to investigate the cold temperature-induced changes in the proteomic profile of this strain in comparison to its proteomic response at 37°C. In total, 337 proteins were found to be differentially expressed at the applied significance criteria (adjusted p-value ≤ 0.05, FDR 5%, and with a fold-change ≥ 1.5 or ≤ 0.67) with 204 proteins overexpressed, among which 13% were involved in protein as well as cell wall, and envelope component biosynthesis including DsrLL. Proteins implicated in cold stress were expressed at a high level at 20°C and possibly play a role in the upregulation of DsrLL, allowing the efficient synthesis of the protein essential for its adaptation to cold. Post-transcriptional regulation of DsrLL expression also seems to take place through the interplay of exonucleases and endonucleases overexpressed at 20°C, which would influence the half-life of the dsrLL transcript. Furthermore, the mechanism of cold resistance of Lc. lactis AV1n seems to be also based on energy saving through a decrease in growth rate mediated by a decrease in carbohydrate metabolism and its orientation toward the production pathways for storage molecules. Thus, this better understanding of the respons

The present study aims at the integration of the “oxalic conversion” route into “green chemistry” for the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) with controllable structural, morphological, and magnetic properties. Two oxalate-containing precursors (H2C2O4.2H2O and (NH4)2C2O4.H2O) and different volume ratios of a mixed water/glycerol solvent were tested. First, the copper oxalates were synthesized and then subjected to thermal decomposition in air at 400 °C to produce the CuO powders. The purity of the samples was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and the crystallite sizes were calculated using the Scherrer method. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed oval-shaped CuO-NPs, and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that morphological features of copper oxalate precursors and their corresponding oxides were affected by the glycerol (V/V) ratio as well as the type of C2O42− starting material. The magnetic properties of CuO-NPs were determined by measuring the temperature-dependent magnetization and the hysteresis curves at 5 and 300 K. The obtained results indicate the simultaneous coexistence of dominant antiferromagnetic and weak ferromagnetic behavior.

Lupin is a high-protein legume crop that grows in a wide range of edaphoclimatic conditions where other crops are not viable. Its unique seed nutrient profile can promote health benefits, and it has been proposed as a phytoremediation plant. Most rhizobia nodulating Lupinus species belong to the genus Bradyrhizobium, comprising strains that are phylogenetically related to B. cytisi, B. hipponenese, B. rifense, B. iriomotense/B. stylosanthis, B. diazoefficiens, B. japonicum, B. canariense/B. lupini, and B. retamae/B. valentinum. Lupins are also nodulated by fast-growing bacteria within the genera Microvirga, Ochrobactrum, Devosia, Phyllobacterium, Agrobacterium, Rhizobium, and Neorhizobium. Phylogenetic analyses of the nod and nif genes, involved in microbial colonization and symbiotic nitrogen fixation, respectively, suggest that fast-growing lupin-nodulating bacteria have acquired their symbiotic genes from rhizobial genera other than Bradyrhizobium. Horizontal transfer represents a key mechanism allowing lupin to form symbioses with bacteria that were previously considered as non-symbiotic or unable to nodulate lupin, which might favor lupin’s adaptation to specific habitats. The characterization of yet-unstudied Lupinus species, including microsymbiont whole genome analyses, will most likely expand and modify the current lupin microsymbiont taxonomy, and provide additional knowledge that might help to further increase lupin’s adaptability to marginal soils and climates.

[EN] In this study, the effects of Bi and Fe on the optical and electrical qualities of BaTiO3 made with the sol–gel method are examined. On the one hand, UV–visible spectroscopy is used to study the sample's optical behavior. This shows that the band gap energy is lower with Bi and Fe doping than with pure BaTiO3. On the other hand, an impedance spectroscopy investigation is carried out to reveal the conduction processes in the frequency range of 102 to 107 Hz and the temperature range of 450–650 K. This examination is carried out to investigate the conduction mechanisms. The conduction mechanism in the elaborated material is best described by the Overlapping Large Polaron Tunnelling model (OLPT), where the exponent s drops with temperature until reaching a minimal value, at which point it grows again. In addition, the Summerfield scaling method is used to investigate the relationship between conductivity and temperature. When the scaled curves are combined into one master curve, it shows that the time–temperature superposition principle (TTSP) is true and that Koop's concept about how the dielectric constant change with frequency is valid. So, the results give us new information about the optical and dielectric qualities of the functional barium titanate ceramics based on Bi and Fe.

[EN] The present work explores the impact of Fe insertion on the physical properties of Ba0.95Bi0.05Ti1-xFexO3 (x = 0.025, 0.050, and 0.075) prepared via sol gel method. The resulting samples crystallize in the tetragonal structure with space group P4mm and their morphological features point out the variation of the microstructure with Fe content. In turn, the dielectric constant versus temperature plot reveals the existence of two transition phases: the first one is ferroelectric-paraelectric transition phase (TF-P) and the second one is ferroelectric orthorhombic - ferroelectric tetragonal phase (TO-T). Analysis of conductivity curves using Jonscher’s augmented equation (for x = 0.025) and Jonscher’s power law (for x = 0.075) suggests the Non-Overlapping Small Polaron Tunneling (NSPT) model as a conduction mechanism.

The combination of various organic molecules and inorganic fragments into a single hybrid crystalline lattice has sparked much attention for the potential physical properties and applications. The present investigation addresses the characterization of a novel crystalized compound, formulated as (C7H11N2)2CoCl4. In order to characterize the various types of intermolecular interactions in the title compound, the interaction variability of the two independent cations and four chloride atoms is checked via Hirshfeld surface analysis. Indeed, phase structures were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Infrared and Raman data. Furthermore, UV−vis and PL measurements revealed a semiconductor character of the obtained compound. The calculated direct and indirect band gaps (Egd, Egi) were predicted to be 1.45 and 1.56 eV, respectively. In addition, a phase transition was discovered by thermal analysis at 390 K, and comprehensive dielectric research showed a good agreement with thermal data. Impedance spectroscopy measurements were used to study the electrical and dielectric characteristics of the title compound over a wide range of frequencies and temperatures, 40 Hz–10 MHz and 313–483 K, respectively. The Nyquist plot (Z" versus Z′) from the complex impedance spectrum revealed semicircular arcs described by a Cole-Cole model. Using the Z-view software, a series of Nyquist representations were built and fitted to an equivalent circuit that reflected the behavior of this material. The thermal evolution of the conductivity follows an Arrhenius-type behavior. Also, the real and imaginary parts of dielectric permittivity of (C7H11N2)2CoCl4 at different frequencies were discussed. The presence of grain and grain boundaries is confirmed by the modulus investigations. Electric and dielectric analyses highlight the good protonic conduction of this material.

Salinity is a widespread abiotic stress, which has strong adverse effects on plant growth and crop productivity. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) play a crucial role in plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)-mediated improvement of plant stress tolerance. This study aimed to assess whether Glutamicibacter sp. strain producing large amounts of EPS may promote tolerance of common reed, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud., towards salt stress. This halotolerant rizhobacterium showed tolerance to salinity (up to 1 M NaCl) when cultivated on Luria-Bertani (LB) medium. Exposure to high salinity (300 mM NaCl) significantly impacted the plant growth parameters, but this adverse effect was mitigated following inoculation with Glutamicibacter sp., which triggered higher number of leaves and tillers, shoot fresh weight/dry weight, and root fresh weight as compared to non-inoculated plants. Salt stress increased the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), polyphenols, total soluble sugars (TSSs), and free proline in shoots. In comparison, the inoculation with Glutamicibacter sp. further increased shoot polyphenol content, while decreasing MDA and free proline contents. Besides, this bacterial strain increased tissue Ca and K content concomitant to lower shoot Na and root Cl accumulation, thus further highlighting the beneficial effect of Glutamicibacter sp. strain on the plant behavior under salinity. As a whole, our study provides strong arguments for a potential utilization of EPS-producing bacteria as a useful microbial inoculant to alleviate the deleterious effects of salinity on plants.

Nodule endophytes and associated bacteria are non-symbiotic bacteria that colonize legume nodules. They accompany nodulating rhizobia and can form beneficial associations, as some of them are plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that are able to promote germination and plant growth and increase tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. White lupin (Lupinus albus) is a legume crop that is gaining relevance as a suitable alternative to soybean as a plant protein source. Eleven nodule-associated bacteria were isolated from white lupin nodules grown in a Tunisian soil. They belonged to the genera Rhizobium, Ensifer, Pseudomonas and Bacillus. Their plant growth-promoting (PGP) and enzymatic activities were tested in vitro. Strains Pseudomonas sp., L1 and L12, displayed most PGP activities tested, and were selected for in planta assays. Inoculation with strains L1 or L12 increased seed germination and had the same positive effects on all plant growth parameters as did inoculation with symbiotic Bradyrhizobium canariense, with no significant differences among treatments. Inoculation with efficient nitrogen-fixing rhizobia must compete with rhizobia present in the soil that sometimes nodulate efficiently but fix nitrogen poorly, leading to a low response to inoculation. In such cases, inoculation with highly effective PGPR might represent a feasible alternative to boost crop productivity.

The defatted viscera from smooth hound were the raw material used to produce four protein hydrolysates using three different microbial proteases (Neutrase, Esperase and Purafect) and the endogenous enzymes, named VPH-N, VPH-E, VPH-P and VPH-EE, respectively. Hydrolysates showed different degrees of hydrolysis (DH) depending on the enzyme used, where the VPH-P had the highest DH (30%). The amino acids (AA) characterization showed that Gly was the prominent AA (≥ 22%), followed by Ala, Glx, Lys, Asx, and Pro. In addition, the assessment of the antioxidant, ACE-inhibitory and antimicrobial activities revealed the high potentiality of the Purafect-hydrolysate. Therefore, it was selected to be fractionated by ultra-filtration according to their molecular weight (MW). Data showed that FIV (MW < 5 kDa) exhibited the best antioxidant and ACE inhibition potentials. The differences detected in the bio-activities may be attributed, not only to the peptides size, but also to their sequences and hydrophobic AA contents. The antibacterial activity showed that the best inhibition values were recorded with FIV, particularly against S. typhi. Thus, the present results demonstrated the high potential of low MW peptides from viscera hydrolysate to be used as a promising natural source of bioactive agents in functional food formulations. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Temperate trees require low temperatures during winter and subsequent warm conditions in early spring to flower and eventually bear fruit. Many parts of the Mediterranean region feature winters with low and sometimes marginal chill accumulation. To assess historic and future agroclimatic conditions for cultivating temperate trees (including almonds, pistachios, apricots, sweet cherries and apples), we mapped winter chill throughout this important growing region. We used on-site weather records (1974–2020) to calibrate a weather generator and produced data for historic and future scenarios. To broaden our analysis, we spatially interpolated chill for the whole Mediterranean basin. We supplemented our simulation outcomes by collecting expert knowledge (from farmers and researchers) regarding observed climate change impacts on temperate orchards as well as future risks and concerns generated by climate change. Results showed that northern African growing regions have experienced major chill losses, a likely cause of the irregular and delayed bloom highlighted by experts. The same regions, together with southern Europe, may lose up to 30 Chill Portions by 2050 under a moderate warming scenario. For the future, experts foresee increasing risk of spring frost in early-blooming cultivars, exacerbated bloom-related problems and increasing occurrence of heat waves. Our results provide evidence of likely climate change impacts on temperate orchards. Expert knowledge proved instrumental in interpreting the simulation results as well as in orienting climate change adaptation strategies. The results we present are useful for farmers and orchard managers planning new plantings, as well as for researchers and policy makers developing strategies to adapt fruit orchards to the impacts of climate change

Green and Sustainable activated carbons were obtained by one-step alkaline chemical activation process using a food industry lignocellulosic waste (pomegranate peels) as precursor. A non-harmful activating agent (alkali carbonate) was used, a more sustainable alternative to alkali hydroxides. The pomegranate peels-based activated carbons present high carbon content (>94%), low ash content (<0.5%) and significant nitrogen content (>1.0%); this last value is important because they can be highly effective CO2 adsorbents with the aim of improving biogas for renewable energy production. The activated carbons obtained were essentially microporous materials (micropore volume >82%), with BET specific surface area up to 1860 m2/g and total pore volume up to 0.879 cm3/g. These adsorbents were very efficient materials to retain CO2 at high pressure with an adsorption capacity similar or superior to experimental and commercial activated carbons. The CO2 adsorption capacity increased mainly with increasing activation temperature, the highest value being 717 mg/g at 3 MPa and 25 °C. Ultramicropores were very efficient in the CO2 and CH4 adsorption at low pressure while large micropores and small mesopores governed the high-pressure sorption behavior. These materials had negligible H2 adsorption capacity which makes them useful for separating gas mixtures in order to obtain pure H2.

The copper hydrogeno-arsenite tellurate material (CuAsTe) was synthesized and its magnetic properties were investigated. Thermal analyses revealed that no mass loss was recorded before 480 K. Additionally, in this current work, electrical properties based on the impedance measurements were determined. The complex impedance diagram at different temperatures demonstrated a single semicircle, implying that the response originated from a single capacitive element corresponding to the grains. The thermal evolution of the conductivity ¿dc displayed an Arrhenius type behavior and suggested that this material is an ionic protonic conductor at high temperature whereas the ¿ac conductivity was indicative that the conduction mechanism is ensured by the correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model. The variation of M¿ versus frequency proved to be a thermally activated dielectric relaxation process. Notably, we specified determined the direct optical band gap Eg = 2.3 eV in order to characterize the optical properties.

Carbon-vanadium nanocomposites were prepared by sol–gel route after incorporating vanadium pentoxide nanopowder in carbon matrix based on resorcinol–formaldehyde xerogel, followed by thermal treatment. The resulting samples were characterized by different techniques, namely X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, RAMAN spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, and electrical analysis. The X-ray diffraction analysis carried out on our samples that exhibits the pyrolysis temperature brings out the crystal phase change from V2O5 phase to V2O3 phase, also the presence of graphite phase in the samples, and the appearance of vanadium carbide V8C7 phase in sample pyrolyzed at 1000 °C. The Fourier transform infraredspectra are characterized by the appearance of peaks at 997, 792, and 559 cm−1corresponding to V–O stretching modes. RAMAN analysis shows the presence of characteristic peaks of vanadium oxide and the D and G bands characteristic of graphite. The Scanning electron microscopy graphs indicate the presence of macroporous carbon enriched by vanadium oxide in nanofibres shape. In addition, in an interesting way, the obtained material presents a percolation phenomenon in the temperature zone from 600 to 800 °C where the behavior of the material changes from insulator state to conductor one as a function of pyrolysis temperature. For that, the electrical analyses were carried out for the sample prepared at 650 °C. The dc conductance indicates a thermally activated process. The ac conductance shows a semiconductor–metal behavior change at 200 K. Indeed, the transfer of charge carriers is dominated by the correlated barrier hopping conduction model in the prepared material for measurement temperatures below 200 K. The impedance analysis shows a non-Debye relaxation phenomenon in the system. An electrical equivalent circuit has been proposed for the analysis of the impedance results and the determination of the fundamental parameters of the circuit at

The computational study of DNA and its interaction with ligands is a highly relevant area of research, with significant consequences for developing new therapeutic strategies. However, the computational description of such large and complex systems requires considering interactions of different types simultaneously in a balanced way, such as non-covalent weak interactions (namely hydrogen bonds and stacking), metal–ligand interactions, polarisation and charge transfer effects. All these considerations imply a real challenge for computational chemistry. The possibility of studying large biological systems using quantum methods for the entire system requires significant computational resources, with improvements in parallelisation and optimisation of theoretical strategies. Computational methods, such as Linear-Scaling Density Functional Theory (LS-DFT) and DLPNO-CCSD(T), may allow performing ab initio quantum mechanics calculations, including the electronic structure for large biological systems, in a reasonable computing time. In this work, we study the interaction of small molecules and cations with DNA (both duplex DNA and G-quadruplexes), comparing different computational methods: a LS-DFT method at the LMKLL/DZDP level of theory, semi-empirical methods (PM6-DH2 and PM7), mixed QM/MM, and DLPNO-CCSD(T). Our goal is to demonstrate the adequacy of LS-DFT to treat the different types of interactions present in DNA-dependent systems. We show that LMKLL/DZDP using SIESTA can yield very accurate geometries and energetics in all the different systems considered in this work: duplex DNA (dDNA), phenanthroline intercalating dDNA, G-quadruplexes, and metal-G-tetrads considering alkaline metals of different sizes. As far as we know, this is the first time that full G-quadruplex geometry optimisations have been carried out using a DFT method thanks to its linear-scaling capabilities. Moreover, we show that LS-DFT provides high-quality structures, and some semi-empirical Hami

Background: Omics approaches are widely applied in the field of biology for the discovery of potential CAZymes including whole genome sequencing. The aim of this study was to identify protein encoding genes including CAZymes in order to understand glycans-degrading machinery in the thermophilic Caldicoprobacter algeriensis TH7C1T strain., Results: Caldicoprobacter algeriensis TH7C1T is a thermophilic anaerobic bacterium belonging to the Firmicutes phylum, which grows between the temperatures of 55 °C and 75 °C. Next generation sequencing using Illumina technology was performed on the C. algeriensis strain resulting in 45 contigs with an average GC content of 44.9% and a total length of 2,535,023 bp. Genome annotation reveals 2425 protein-coding genes with 97 ORFs coding CAZymes. Many glycoside hydrolases, carbohydrate esterases and glycosyltransferases genes were found linked to genes encoding oligosaccharide transporters and transcriptional regulators; suggesting that CAZyme encoding genes are organized in clusters involved in polysaccharides degradation and transport. In depth analysis of CAZomes content in C. algeriensis genome unveiled 33 CAZyme gene clusters uncovering new enzyme combinations targeting specific substrates., Conclusions: This study is the first targeting CAZymes repertoire of C. algeriensis, it provides insight to the high potential of identified enzymes for plant biomass degradation and their biotechnological applications.

Plant non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are usually defined as small, basic proteins, with a wide distribution in all orders of higher plants. Structurally, nsLTPs contain a conserved motif of eight cysteines, linked by four disulphide bonds, and a hydrophobic cavity in which the ligand is housed. This structure confers stability and enhances the ability to bind and transport a variety of hydrophobic molecules. Their highly conserved structural resemblance but low sequence identity reflects the wide variety of ligands they can carry, as well as the broad biological functions to which they are linked to, such as membrane stabilization, cell wall organization and signal transduction. In addition, they have also been described as essential in resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, plant growth and development, seed development, and germination. Hence, there is growing interest in this family of proteins for their critical roles in plant development and for the many unresolved questions that need to be clarified, regarding their subcellular localization, transfer capacity, expression profile, biological function, and evolution.

Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are small, cysteine-rich proteins, a part of the pathogenesis-related protein family, and numerous of them act as positive regulators during plant disease resistance, growth, and reproduction. These proteins are involved also in the intracellular transfer of lipids, as well as in plant immune responses. Besides their differences in sequences, they show similar features in their structure. However, they show distinct lipid-binding specificities signifying their various biological roles that dictate further structural study. This study reports the identification, in silico characterization and purification of a novel member of the nsLTP2 protein family from durum wheat, TdLTP2. It was generated and purified using the combination of gel filtration chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Its identity was detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). TdLTP2 had been expressed in different stress to detect its localization; therefore, fluor-immunolocalization studies accomplished this data. In this approach, to assess the allergenicity of TdLTP2, thirty patients with baker's asthma were enrolled and ELISA to detect the presence of specific IgE antibodies tested their sera. Moreover, the lipid-binding properties of TdLTP2 were examined in vitro and validated using a molecular docking study. In summary, our results demonstrate a new addition of member in plant nsLTPs family, TdLTP2, which can develop a better understanding about its biological functions and shed light on future applications.

In the current research work, a new organic–inorganic hybrid compound of the formula [C3H5N2S] SbCl4 was successfully synthesized and characterized, where C3H5N2S stands for the cation of 2-aminothiazole. The synthesis was carried out by slow evaporation of raw materials and colourless good-quality crystals were obtained. The single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the crystals demonstrated a 0-dimension structure consisting of Sb2Cl8 dimers separated by 2-aminothiazolecations. The cohesion and stabilization between these entities is performed via N-H···Cl hydrogen bonds. The samples were characterized also by Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) analysis. The functional groups in the complex were confirmed by Fourier transform IR (FT-IR) and Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopies. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed to examine the phase transition, degradation and thermal stability of the material. Optical absorption measurements revealed two absorption bands located at 263 and 234 nm (4.7 and 5.3 eV). The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrum goes in good consistency with the X-ray structure.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are considered as bio-ameliorators that confer better salt resistance to host plants while improving soil biological activity. Despite their importance, data about the likely synergisms between PGPR and halophytes in their native environments are scarce. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of PGPR (Glutamicibacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp.) inoculation on biomass, nutrient uptake, and antioxidant enzymes of Suaeda fruticosa, an obligate halophyte native in salt marshes and arid areas in Tunisia. Besides, the activity of rhizospheric soil enzyme activities upon plant inoculation was determined. Plants were grown in pots filled with soil and irrigated with 600 mM NaCl for 1 month. Inoculation (either with Pseudomonas sp. or Glutamicibacter sp.) resulted in significantly higher shoot dry weight and less accumulation of Na and Cl in shoots of salt-treated plants. Glutamicibacter sp. inoculation significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, while increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase; catalase; ascorbate peroxidase; and glutathione reductase) by up to 100%. This provides strong arguments in favor of a boosting effect of this strain on S. fruticosa challenged with high salinity. Pseudomonas sp. inoculation increased shoot K and Ca content and lowered shoot MDA concentration. Regarding the soil biological activity, Pseudomonas sp. significantly enhanced the activities of three rhizospheric soil enzymes (urease, ß-glucosidase, and dehydrogenase) as compared to their respective non-inoculated saline treatment. Hence, Pseudomonas sp. could have a great potential to be used as bio-inoculants in order to improve plant growth and soil nutrient uptake under salt stress. Indole-3-acetic acid concentration in the soil increased in both bacterial treatments under saline conditions, especially with Glutamicibacter sp. (up to +214%). As a whole, Glutamicibacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp

This manuscript aimed to optimise the encapsulation of Thymus capitatus essential oil into nanoemulsion. Response Surface Methodology results were best fitted into polynomial models with regression coefficient values of more than 0.95. The optimal nanoemulsion showed nanometer-sized droplets (380 nm), a polydispersity index less than 0.5, and a suitable Zeta potential (−10.3 mV). Stability results showed that nanoemulsions stored at 4 °C were stable with the lowest d3,2, PolyDispersity Index (PDI), and pH (day 11). Significant ameliorations in the capacity to neutralise DPPH radical after the encapsulation of the antimicrobial efficacy of thyme essential oil were recorded. S. typhimurium growth inhibition generated by nanoencapsulated thyme essential oil was 17 times higher than by bulk essential oil. The sensory analysis highlighted that the encapsulation of thyme essential oil improved enriched milk’s sensory appreciation. Indeed, 20% of the total population attributed a score of 4 and 5 on the scale used for milk enriched with nanoemulsion. In comparison, only 11% attributed the same score to milk enriched with bulk essential oil. The novel nanometric delivery system presents significant interest for agroalimentary industries.

This study aimed to isolate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from the digestive tract, meat and slime of edible snails (Helix lucorum, Helix aspersa and Eobania vermiculata) and investigate their antagonistic activity against Penicillium expansum. They were then characterized for their probiotic potential. Among 900 bacterial isolates, 47 LAB exhibiting anti-P. expansum activity were identified through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as Levilactobacillus brevis (25), Lactococcus lactis (3), Enterococcus faecium (12), Enterococcus faecalis (4), Enterococcus casseliflavus (1), and Enterococcus mundtii (2). Sixty-two percent of the strains were tolerant to 100 mg/L of lysozyme. Seventy two percent of the isolates were able to survive at pH 3 and most of them tolerate 2.5% bile salt concentration. Moreover, 23% of the strains displayed bile salt hydrolase activity. Interestingly, all strains were biofilm strong producers. However, their auto- and co-aggregation properties were time and pH dependent with high aggregative potentiality at pH 4.5 after 24 h. Remarkably, 48.94% of the strains showed high affinity to chloroform. The safety assessment revealed that the 47 LAB had no hemolytic activity and 64% of them lacked mucin degradation activity. All isolated strains were susceptible to gentamycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Overall, 43 LAB strains showed inhibitory activity against a broad spectrum of pathogenic Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Our findings suggest that L. brevis (EVM12 and EVM14) and Ent. faecium HAS34 strains could be potential candidates for probiotics with interesting antibacterial and anti-P. expansum activities.

In this report, we investigated for the first time the total polyphenols content (TPC) and antioxidant activity before and after digestion of Carapichea ipecacuanha root infusion, better known as ipecac, prepared at different concentrations. An in vitro digestion system coupled to a Caco-2 cell model was applied to study the bioavailability of antioxidant compounds. The ability of ipecac bioaccessible fractions to inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation at cellular level was also evaluated. The findings revealed that water volume of 50 mL g-1 of sample provided the maximum yield of extraction of TPC and antioxidant activity. Polyphenols increased in content and activity after digestion and they were highly bioavailable (75% of intestinal absorption). Polyphenols were also present in the residual parts which indicate a possible local activity. Results also suggest that ipecac infusion could represent a promising source of effective bioavailable antioxidants to be exploited in functional foods field.

Thirty-two bacterial isolates were obtained from root nodules of Lupinus angustifolius growing in Northern Tunisia. Phylogenetic analyses based on recA and gyrB partial gene sequences grouped the strains into six clusters: four clusters belonged to the genus Bradyrhizobium (22 isolates), one to Microvirga (8 isolates) and one to Devosia (2 isolates), a genus that has not been previously reported to nodulate lupin. Representative strains of each group were further characterized. MultiLocus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) based on recA and glnII gene sequences separated the strains within the genus Bradyrhizobium into four divergent clusters related to B. canariense, B. liaoningense, B. lupini, and B. algeriense, respectively. The latter might constitute a new Bradyrhizobium species. The strains in the Microvirga cluster showed high identity with M. tunisiensis. The Devosia isolates might also represent a new species within this genus. An additional phylogenetic analysis based on the symbiotic gene nodC affiliated the strains to symbiovars genistearum, mediterranense, and to a possibly new symbiovar. These results altogether contributed to the existing knowledge on the genetic diversity of lupin-nodulating microsymbionts and revealed a likely new, fast-growing, salt-tolerant rhizobial species within the genus Devosia as a potentially useful inoculant in agricultural practices or landscape restoration.

Medicago truncatula is a forage crop of choice for farmers, and it is a model species for molecular research. The growth and development and subsequent yields are limited by water availability mainly in arid and semi-arid regions. Our study aims to evaluate the morpho-physiological, biochemical and molecular responses to water deficit stress in four lines (TN6.18, JA17, TN1.11 and A10) of M. truncatula. The results showed that the treatment factor explained the majority of the variation for the measured traits. It appeared that the line A10 was the most sensitive and therefore adversely affected by water deficit stress, which reduced its growth and yield parameters, whereas the tolerant line TN6.18 exhibited the highest root biomass production, a significantly higher increase in its total protein and soluble sugar contents, and lower levels of lipid peroxidation with greater cell membrane integrity. The expression analysis of the DREB1B gene using RT-qPCR revealed a tissue-differential expression in the four lines under osmotic stress, with a higher induction rate in roots of TN6.18 and JA17 than in A10 roots, suggesting a key role for DREB1B in water deficit tolerance in M. truncatula.

Narcissus tazetta (Amaryllidaceae) is a medicinal plant widely used for cut flowers and potted ornamental plant in Tunisia flora. The current study evaluated the phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of its flower extracts and investigated its potential protective activity against cadmium chloride (CdCl)–induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Mice were divided into six groups of six each: group 1, serving as negative controls, received by intraperitoneal way only distilled water; group 2 received by intraperitoneal way CdCl (0.16 mg/kg bw); groups 3 and 4 received CdCl at the same dose of group 2 and 100 or 200 mg/kg bw of Narcissus tazetta flower extracts via oral route; groups 5 and 6, serving as positive controls, received only Narcissus tazetta flower extracts. Polyphenolic compounds of the extract were analyzed by colorimetric and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) methods. Total antioxidant activity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging potential of the extract were estimated using colorimetric method. Results indicated that ethanolic flower extract contained high levels of total phenolic and flavonoid along with a strong total antioxidant and DPPH free radical scavenging activities. HPLC-MS analysis identified eight phenolic compounds, including rutin, kaempferol glycosides, and chlorogenic acids. The extract also exhibited marked hepatoprotective effects against CdCl toxicity by reducing hepatic levels of malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein products, hydrogen peroxide, metallothioneins, and DNA degradation. Additionally, co-administration of Narcissus tazetta flower extracts lowered the plasma activities of transaminases, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, and lactate dehydrogenase and increased hepatic levels of reduced glutathione, nonprotein thiols, vitamin C, and catalase activity. The hepatoprotective effects of the extract were demonstrated by histopathological improvement of liver disorders.

We used an integrated morpho-physiological, biochemical, and genetic approach to investigate the salt responses of four lines (TN1.11, TN6.18, JA17, and A10) of Medicago truncatula. Results showed that TN1.11 exhibited a high tolerance to salinity, compared with the other lines, recording a salinity induced an increase in soluble sugars and soluble proteins, a slight decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and less reduction in plant biomass. TN6.18 was the most susceptible to salinity as it showed less plant weight, had elevated levels of MDA, and lower levels of soluble sugars and soluble proteins under salt stress. As transcription factors of the APETALA2/ethylene responsive factor (AP2/ERF) family play important roles in plant growth, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, we performed a functional characterization of MtERF1 gene. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that MtERF1 is mainly expressed in roots and is inducible by NaCl and low temperature. Additionally, under salt stress, a greater increase in the expression of MtERF1 was found in TN1.11 plants than that in TN6.18. Therefore, the MtERF1 pattern of expression may provide a useful marker for discriminating among lines of M. truncatula and can be used as a tool in breeding programs aiming at obtaining Medicago lines with improved salt tolerance.

Host fruit is known to strongly affect the performance of both fruit pests and their potential natural enemies. This is particularly important in the control of tephritid fruit flies, whose larvae develop inside the fruit and thus create a set of foraging problems for parasitoids. In the present study, we assessed the response of female Aganaspis daci (Weld) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae), one of the most promising parasitoids for tephritid biocontrol in the Mediterranean Basin, to different potential host fruit species. We measured the olfactory response to medfly-infested and uninfested fruits, and several biological parameters of A. daci when different infested fruits were offered under both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Our results showed that this parasitoid was significantly more attracted to apples and uninfested fruit. Moreover, parasitic activity was similar among the tested fruits under both conditions, showing very high values in the laboratory and a much poorer performance when conditions were variable. This suggests that A. daci may be a good candidate to be included in mass releases against the medfly regardless of the affected crop, but only when climate conditions are not expected to hinder its normal activity.

A new mixed compound, sodium rubidium phosphate tellurate, was elaborated using the slow evaporation method at room temperature, confirmed by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure of Na2.64Rb0.36PO4.Te(OH)6 is identified for the first time. At 298 K, structural analysis indicates that this compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system with P63 space group. The main feature of these atomic arrangements lies in the coexistence of two different anions (PO3−4 and TeO6−6 groups) in the unit cell, connected by hydrogen bonds which build up the crystal. The O–H…O hydrogen bonds between Te(OH)6 octahedrons and PO4 tetrahedral contribute to the cohesion and the stability of the atomic arrangement. The Na et Rb atoms are intercalating between their planes. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum exhibited characteristic bands corresponding to the tellurate and phosphate group. Thermal studies were carried out to examine the obtained material and yielded the presence of three phase transitions. The protonic conduction phase transition due to the presence of the breaking of O–H…O hydrogen bonds, was regarded as a technologically significant aspect for the new compound. These results corroborate that the new phosphate tellurate can be considered as a promising material in terms of enacting fruitful and constructive applications in advanced technology. The crystal structure was built up from corner-sharing TeOH6 octahedrons, which intercalated by PO4 tetrahedral units. These two groups are connected by hydrogen bonds which make up the building of the crystal, and the Na et Rb atoms are sandwitched between tetrahedral and Te(OH)6 octahedral planes.

The phytochemical composition of leaves, stems, pericarps and rhizomes ethanolic extracts of Asparagus acutifolius were characterized by HPLC-DAD-MS. A. acutifolius samples contain at least eleven simple phenolics, one flavonon, two flavonols and six steroidal saponins. The stem extracts showed the highest total phenolic acid and flavonoid contents, where cafeic acid and rutin were the main compounds. No flavonoids were detected in the leaf, pericarp or rhizome while caffeic acid and ferulic acid were the predominant. Steroidal saponins were detected in the different plant parts of A. acutifolius, and the highest contents were found in the rhizome extracts. The stem extracts exhibited the highest antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the highest 2,2-azino-bis (3 ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging activity was found in the pericarp extracts. The rhizome and leaf extracts showed a potent cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 and HepG2 cell lines. Moreover, the pericarp and rhizome extracts revealed a moderate lipase inhibitory activity. The leaf and rhizome extracts were screened for their antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic isolates. The leaf extract exhibited a powerful inhibitory activity against all the bacteria and fungi tested.

The present study is focused on developing microfibers based on the European fish eel skin gelatin (ESG) using the electrospinning process and evaluating its ability to encapsulate European fish eel oil (EO). Based on the scanning electron microscopy images, electrospinning of 15 % (w/v) gelatin solution in ethanol/water 40 % (v/v) was efficient to produce eco-friendly microfibers. Regarding electrospinning parameters, the increase of the voltage from 10 to 17 kV and the flow rate of feed solution from 0.04 to 0.2 mL/h improved the electrospinnability of ESG solution (15 %, w/v). Furthermore, ESG-based microfibers, loaded with EO, were prepared. The effects of the EO/ESG ratios (1/2 and 1:4, w/w) and two emulsification methods, homogenization (H) and homogenization followed by ultrasonication (HS) treatment, on the electrospun microfibers formation were investigated. The success of EO encapsulation was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy analysis. The data also revealed that the highest microencapsulation efficiency encapsulation (89.79 %) was noted with EO-loaded microfibers prepared at EO/ESG ratio of 1:4 (w/w) by combining the two emulsification processes (HS). These results suggested that EO-loaded microfibers may be promising to be used as active encapsulating materials in food and nutraceutical fields.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) afects predominantly young patients in highly endemic areas. Improved serological methods are needed for the follow-up of CE cases, especially given the high rates of post-surgical relapse that require detection as soon as possible., Methods: We designed a study to investigate the value of antigenic proteins extracted from Echinococcus granu losus (E. granulosus) protoscoleces, and of recombinant B2t and 2B2t proteins, for assessing the efcacy of surgical treatment carried out on CE-afected children. This study was performed on 278 plasma samples collected from 59 Tunisian children surgically treated for CE and monitored for 3 years post-surgery. The patients were classifed according to post-surgical outcomes into a “non-relapsed” (NRCE) and a “relapsed” (RCE) group. We performed in-house ELISAs to measure anti-B2t and anti-2B2t IgG and immunoblotting for the detection of IgG against SDS-PAGE-resolved E. granulosus protoscoleces-specifc antigens. The Wilcoxon test was applied to assess anti-B2t and anti-2B2t IgG levels. We applied the Cochran Q test to compare the distribution of immunoblotting antigenic bands between 1-month and 1-year post-surgery., Results: The probability of being “relapse-free” when a decrease in antibody titers occurred between 1 month and 1 year post-surgery was 81% and 75%, respectively, for anti-B2t and anti-2B2t IgG. We identifed fve protoscolex protein bands of 20, 26/27, 30, 40 and 46 kDa as highly immunoreactive by immunoblot for both RCE and NRCE patients at 1 month post-surgery, and signifcantly lower immunoreactivity after 1 year (p< 10–4) for NRCE compared to RCE patients. The proteins at 26/27 and 40 kDa displayed the best performance in predicting the outcome, with an 84% probability of being relapse-free when the reactivity against the 40 kDa antigen, the doublet at 26/27 kDa, or both was absent or disappeared between 1 month and 1 year post-surgery, and a 93% probability of being relapsed when both bands remained reactive or increased in intensity between the two time points., Conclusions: The B2t protein could be useful for the prediction of CE early post-surgical outcomes. The proteins of E. granulosus protoscoleces, especially the doublet P26/27 and P40, could be promising predictive biomarkers for the post-surgical follow-up of CE cases as well.

Rosmarinus officinalis L. is a widespread aromatic plant commonly consumed as a tea in traditional cuisine and in folk medicine to treat various illnesses due to its therapeutic properties. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on the bioavailability and metabolism of R. officinalis tea polyphenols in humans. This study was aimed at assessing the bioavailability and nutrikinetics of R. officinalis phenolic compounds in healthy humans for the first time. Forty-eight compounds were identified in plasma and urine. Few un-metabolized compounds were detected since rosemary polyphenols were extensively metabolized into phase II conjugates, with rapid appearance and clearance in plasma, pointing to small intestinal absorption. Phase II derivatives of caffeic acid showed kinetics compatible with both intestinal and colonic hydrolysis of rosmarinic acid yielding free caffeic and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-lactic acids, which were absorbed and metabolized into phase II derivatives. These metabolites, along with reduced forms of caffeic acid and their phase II metabolites, and those of hydroxyphenylpropionic, hydroxylphenylacetic, benzoic and hippuric acids, highlight the importance of colonic absorption. Total urinary excretion of the phenols added up to 235 µmol, corresponding to 22.3% of the ingested amount (1055 µM). In conclusion, rosemary tea polyphenols are partially bioavailable and extensively metabolized, mainly by the colonic microbiota.

High molecular weight dextrans improve the rheological properties of fermented products and have immunomodulatory and antiviral activity. We report on 5.84 × 10–2.61 × 10 Da dextrans produced by Leuconostoc lactis AV1n, Weissella cibaria AV2ou and Weissella confusa V30 and FS54 strains. Dextransucrases catalyze dextran synthesis by sucrose hydrolysis concomitant with fructose generation. The four bacteria have dextransucrases with molecular weight of about 160 kDa detected by zymograms. Each bacterium showed different interplay of dextran production and metabolic fluxes. All bacteria produced lactate, and AV2ou apart, synthesized mannitol from fructose. FS54 hydrolyzed dextran blue and the concentration of dextran produced by this bacterium decreased during the stationary phase. The AV1n binding to Caco-2 cells and polystyrene plates was higher under conditions for dextran synthesis. Thus, this is the first instance of a Weissella dextranase, associated with a dextransucrase ability, and of a positive influence of dextran on adhesion and aggregation properties of a bacterium.

Exogenous application of double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) for inducing virus resistance in plants represents an attractive alternative to transgene-based silencing approaches. However, improvement of dsRNA stability in natural conditions is required in order to provide long-term protection against the targeted virus. Here, we tested the protective effect of topical application of Escherichia coli-encapsulated dsRNA compared to naked dsRNA against single and dual infection by Potato virus X expressing the green fluorescent protein (PVX-GFP) and Potato virus Y (PVY) in Nicotiana benthamiana. We found that, in our conditions, the effectiveness of E. coli-encapsulated dsRNA in providing RNAi-mediated protection did not differ from that of naked dsRNA. dsRNA vaccination was partly effective against a dual infection by PVX-GFP and PVY, manifested by a delay in the expression of the synergistic symptoms at early times after inoculation. Using PVX-GFP as a reporter virus together with a suite of RNAi knockdown transgenic lines, we have also shown that RNA-directed RNA polymerase 6 and the combined activities of DICER-like 2 (DCL2) and DCL4 act to promote efficient resistance to virus infection conferred by topical application of dsRNA in N. benthamiana. Our results provide evidence that exogenous dsRNA molecules are processed by the RNA silencing pathways commonly used by the host in response to virus infection.