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Insight on Lugana flavor with a new LC-MS method for the detection of polyfunctional thiols
No full textNew evidence from the northern Apennines, Italy, suggests a southward expansion of Echinococcus multilocularis range in Europe
Get PDFEchinococcus multilocularis (Em) is a neglected zoonotic cestode circulating among wild canids and voles across the northern hemisphere, and is the aetiological agent of alveolar echinococcosis in humans. The expansion of the European distribution of this parasite has been raising public health concerns in recent decades. We aimed to investigate the occurrence of Em and other taeniids in wild carnivore faeces in the Apuan Alps Regional Park and the Monte Pisano mountain chain (northern Tuscany), a few hundred kilometres from the nearest report of Em in Italy. Using standard flotation- sieving and nested PCR of partial cox1 sequences on single harvested Taeniid eggs, we detected several Em haplotypes in red foxes and grey wolves in both study areas, suggesting limited genetic diversity. However, these findings could not be confirmed using more sensitive qPCR probes from the same samples. In addition, we report eggs of Taenia krabbei and T. hydatigena from wolves, Dipylidium caninum and Mesocestoides sp. in foxes, and T. polyacantha and Mesocestoides litteratus in both foxes and mustelids. Further investigation of the distribution of Em in the northern Apennines is necessary to assess if the presence of this potentially lethal zoonotic parasite is stable and expanding southwar
Dual NBT approach in apple: cisgenesis and gene editing to improve resistance to fire blight, apple scab and powdery mildew
Get PDFEffects of roasting level and milk addition on In vivo aroma release and perception of coffee
No full textAdding milk to coffee balances its flavor and reduces unpalatable notes (e.g., burnt aroma, bitterness), but research on how adding milk affects in vivo aroma release and perception is limited. This study analyzed the impact of adding cow or oat milk (30% w/w) on in vivo aroma release and flavor perception in medium and dark roasted Arabica coffees. Temporal dominance of sensations showed that medium roast had bitter and roasted flavors, while bitter and burnt flavors dominated the dark roast. The milks elicited their own inherent notes (dairy-like or caramel-like/vanilla-like) and decreased the perception of coffee-related flavors. Aroma release analysis by proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry provided data on 47 volatiles, with quantitative differences between roasting levels being indicative of the changes in perception. While milk addition strongly affected perception, it did not systematically affect in vivo release of coffee-related volatiles, highlighting the challenges in aligning analytical and sensory data set
Strengthening the reporting of diet item details in feeding studies measuring the dietary metabolome: The DID-METAB core outcome set statement
Get PDFInvestigating leaf-environment surface modulation in apple leaves for enhancing resilience to environmental challenges
Get PDFThe cuticle, a hydrophobic extracellular layer that covers aerial plant organs, plays a crucial role in plant health and development. It serves as a barrier against pathogens, helps prevent water loss, shields the plant from UV radiation, and supports cellular processes essential for photosynthesis. With the epidermal cells, it forms a specialized tissue that originates from the L1 tissue layer, ensuring effective protection and adaptation to environmental conditions. This research aims to investigate the genetic mechanisms involved in biotic and abiotic stress resistance, by modulating the organization of epidermal cells and influencing the structure and composition of the cuticle. Specific genes, such as ROP and RBK, have been linked to responses to fungal infections in Arabidopsis and bacterial resistance in tomato. In Malus domestica, MdROP5 is a member of the ROP family, which functions as a molecular regulator of several cellular processes, including stress responses and development. ROP proteins cycle between an inactive GDP-bound (DN) and an active GTP-bound (CA) state. MdRBK2, a receptor-like cytosolic kinase, has been identified as an interactor of ROP GTPases in Arabidopsis. Anatomical evaluations were conducted on Gala cv. plants overexpressing either the active or inactive forms of MdROP5 and MdRBK2, revealing their influence on epidermal cell organization. In addition, previous studies have shown interactions between MdGPAT6 and the Venturia inaequalis AvrVf gene in Golden Delicious, confirmed by BiFC screening. GPAT6, a membrane-bound enzyme involved in lipid biosynthesis, regulates cutin accumulation and impacts fungal resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana and tomato. A heterologous subcellular localization study of MdGPAT6 was performed, and cisgenic Gala overexpressing MdGPAT6 were generated to assess its potential role in enhancing abiotic stress resilience in apples. These findings provide new insights into the molecular pathways regulating epidermal integrity and stress tolerance, with the potential to improve crop protection and stress resilience strategies in apple cultivatio
Efficient yeast inactivation and protein extraction from wine lees using pulsed electric fields and ultrasound: a comparative energy-based approach
Get PDFThe valorization of wine lees, a major by-product of winemaking, is gaining attention as part of broader initiatives to promote circular economy and sustainable resource use in the agri-food sector. This study assessed ultrasound (US), pulsed electric fields (PEF), and their combination (PEF + US) as non-thermal technologies for promoting yeast autolysis and recovering intracellular proteins from wine lees. All treatments effectively reduced yeast viability, with populations decreasing from ~7.0 to ~4.7 log CFU/mL within 5 min. PEF alone achieved this microbial inactivation with a low energy input of 25–100 kJ/kg. In contrast, US yielded the highest protein release (~5700 μg/mL after 20 min), although it required a substantial energy input (~19,800 kJ/kg). The combined PEF + US method provided comparable protein yields (~5400 μg/mL) while reducing energy consumption by more than 50%. These results demonstrate that PEF is the optimal method for low-energy microbial inactivation, whereas US and PEF + US are more effective for protein recovery. The synergy of the combined approach offers a balanced and scalable solution for sustainable bioprocessing, reinforcing the potential of hybrid technologies in the green extraction of wine industry by-products and their integration into circular bioeconomy strategies
Changes in the milk and fecal microbiota in Holstein cows with subclinical intramammary infection
Get PDFUnderstanding the relationship between microbial community alterations and disease can provide valuable insights for improving diagnostics, prevention, and treatment strategies. This study used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to investigate and compare microbial diversity in the milk and feces of Holstein cows with subclinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae and Prototheca spp. with that of healthy cows. A bacteriological screening identified 50 Holstein cows reared in a commercial dairy farm and classified into 3 experimental groups: (1) animals negative at the bacteriological examination with no history of subclinical mastitis (HLTH; n = 16), (2) animals positive at the bacteriological examination for either Streptococcus agalactiae (STRP; n = 22) or Prototheca spp. (PRTH; n = 12). The milk microbiota showed significant pathogen-specific alterations, with increased Firmicutes in STRP cows (55.6%) and Cyanobacteria in PRTH cows (17.3%), compared with healthy cows (39.2% and 0.7%, respectively). Alpha diversity (observed amplicon sequence variants, Shannon, and evenness indices) was significantly lower in infected cows, confirming a microbial imbalance. Beta diversity analysis (PERMANOVA) revealed significant differences in microbial composition between healthy and infected cows, but no significant differences in fecal microbiota composition. Differential abundance analysis identified Streptococcus (log2fold change [FC] = 7.3) as the most enriched taxon in STRP cows and Cyanobacteria (log2FC = 8.9) as the most enriched in PRTH cows in milk matrix, while Macrococcus caseolyticus was significantly reduced in both infected groups (log2FC = −4.5). These findings suggest that subclinical mastitis leads to significant shifts in the milk microbiota but does not alter the fecal microbiome, supporting a localized rather than systemic microbial response. This study provides novel insights into the microbial dynamics of subclinical mastitis and potential biomarkers for disease monitorin