Antimicrobial and physicochemical characterization of Lactobacillus brevis biofilms as biopreservative agents

Aims@#Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) biofilms constitute one of the most remarkable breakthroughs in the field of food biopreservatives and can be employed to prevent foodborne disease. The purposes of this study were to investigate the efficacy of inhibitory LAB biofilms against foodborne pathogens and evaluate their tolerance to acidic pH and bile salts, as well as their physicochemical properties.@*Methodology and results@#Four strains of Lactobacillus brevis biofilms isolated from kimchi showed antipathogenic activity to the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus FNCC 0049 and Escherichia coli FNCC 0091. These biofilms were also tolerant to pH 2.5, 0.3% bile salt and strong adhesion. Two of the four L. brevis biofilms (L. brevis biofilm KA2 and KB1) produced the highest inhibitory activity against both pathogenic bacterial indicators, tolerance to acidic pH and bile salts, and the strongest adhesion. In addition, based on Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersion X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis, both biofilm strains had a smooth surface texture; the cell morphology was rod-shaped and consisted of several elements such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen, which was built up of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS).@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#The presence of EPS as a constituent of LAB biofilms influenced their survival abilities in an acidic pH and bile salt environment. As a result, the characteristics of L. brevis biofilm KA2 and KB1 made them excellent candidates for use as antimicrobial packaging systems in food biopreservative applications.

Characterization of Conventional and High-Translucency Y-TZP Dental Ceramics Submitted to Air Abrasion

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of air-abrasion on t®m phase transformation, roughness, topography and the elemental composition of three Y-TZP (Yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal) dental ceramics: two conventional (Lava Frame and IPS ZirCad) and one with high-translucency (Lava Plus). Plates obtained from sintered blocks of each ceramic were divided into four groups: AS (as-sintered); 30 (air-abrasion with 30 mm Si-coated Al2O3 particles); 50 (air-abrasion with 50 mm Al2O3 particles) and 150 (air-abrasion with 150 mm Al2O3 particles). After the treatments, the plates were submitted to X-ray diffractometry; 3-D profilometry and SEM/EDS. The AS surfaces were composed of Zr and t phases. All treatments produced t®m phase transformation in the ceramics. The diameter of air-abrasion particles influenced the roughness (150>50>30>AS) and the topography. SEM analysis showed that the three treatments produced groove-shaped microretentions on the ceramic surfaces, which increased with the diameter of air-abrasion particles. EDS showed a decrease in Zr content along with the emergence of O and Al elements after air-abrasion. Presence of Si was also detected on the plates air-abraded with 30 mm Si-coated Al2O3 particles. It was concluded that irrespective of the type and diameter of the particles, air-abrasion produced t®m phase transformation, increased the roughness and changed the elemental composition of the three Y-TZP dental ceramics. Lava Plus also behaved similarly to the conventional Y-TZP ceramics, indicating that this high translucency ceramic could be more suitable to build monolithic ceramic restorations in the aesthetic restorative dentistry field.

Resumo Este estudo avaliou o efeito da abrasão a ar na transformação de fase t®m, na rugosidade, topografia e composição elementar de três cerâmicas Y-TZP (Zircônia tetragonal policristalina estabilizada por ítrio): duas convencionais (Lava Frame e ZirCad) e uma de alta translucidez (Lava Plus). Placas obtidas de blocos sinterizados de cada cerâmica foram divididos em quatro grupos: AS (pré-sinterizado); 30 (jateamento com partículas de Al2O3 de 30 mm cobertas com Si); 50 (jateamento com partículas de Al2O3 de 50 mm) e 150 (jateamento com partículas de Al2O3 de 150 mm). Após os tratamentos, as placas foram submetidas à difratometria de Rx, perfilometria 3-D e microscopia eletrônica de varredura com espectroscopia de energia dispersiva de Rx (SEM/EDS). As superfícies pré-sinterizadas apresentaram predominantemente Zr e fase tetragonal. Todos os tratamentos superficiais produziram transformação t®m nas cerâmicas avaliadas. A topografia e a rugosidade foram influenciadas pelo diâmetro das partículas abrasivas (150>50>30>AS). A análise através de SEM mostrou que os três tratamentos produziram fendas retentivas nas superfícies das cerâmicas, por influência do tamanho das partículas. A análise através de EDS mostrou uma diminuição da concentração de Zr, paralela ao surgimento de O e Al, após o jateamento. No grupo tratado com partículas de Al2O3 de 30 mm cobertas com Si foi também observado um aumento de Si após o jateamento. Concluiu-se que, independente do tipo e do diâmetro das partículas, o jateamento produziu transformação t®m, aumentou a rugosidade e alterou a composição elementar das cerâmicas avaliadas. A Lava Plus apresentou comportamento semelhante às cerâmicas convencionais, indicando que esta cerâmica de alta translucidez pode ser mais adequada à confecção de restaurações monolíticas no campo da odontologia estética restauradora.

Rosetas e concrescências cristalinas silicificadas em Piper (Piperaceae): registros inéditos de macropadrões / Silicified crystal concretions and rosettes in Piper (Piperaceae): unpublished reports on their macropatterns

Piper L. (Piperaceae) is monophyletic, with species of difficult taxonomic distinction, and thus tools that facilitate interspecific identification are needed. The aims of this study were to describe the macropatterns and characterize in situ the chemical composition of leaf and stem crystals of Piper arboreum Aubl. var. arboreum, P. callosum Ruiz & Pav. and P. tuberculatum Jacq., in order to evaluate the use of the crystals on interspecific distinction. Samples were submitted to analyses under light and scanning electron microscopies, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopic microanalyses, and histochemical tests. We observed cuneiform, tabular, cubic, and bipiramidal prismatic crystals; raphides; styloids; blocky crystal druses; styloid crystal rosettes; and crystal concretions. We described 15 crystal macropatterns, which were distributed along three categories. The crystals were chemically classified as: pure calcium oxalate; and mixtures of oxalates and sulfates, and of oxalates, sulfates and silica. Crystal rosettes, silicified crystal concretions, and 14 out of the 15 macropatterns described are unpublished reports on biomineral inclusions in Piper and Piperaceae. The stem and leaf crystal macropatterns observed are constitutive and useful for interspecific separation of the studied species. Moreover, the crystals present relevant functions for the autecology of the analyzed taxa from Piper.

Piper L. (Piperaceae) é monofilético, com espécies de difícil distinção taxonômica, sendo necessários ferramentas que auxiliem a identificação interespecífica. Os objetivos do trabalho foram descrever os macropadrões e caracterizar in situ a composição química dos cristais caulinares e foliares de Piper arboreum Aubl. var. arboreum, P. callosum Ruiz & Pav. e P. tuberculatum Jacq., visando avaliar o uso dos cristais para a separação interespecífica. Para tanto, amostras foram submetidas à análise em microscopias de luz e eletrônica de varredura, microanálises espectroscópicas de raios-X por dispersão de energia e testes histoquímicos. Foram observados cristais prismáticos cuneiformes, tabulares, cúbicos e bipiramidais; ráfides; estiloides; drusas de cristais em bloco; rosetas cristalinas de estiloides e concrescências cristalinas. Foram descritos 15 macropadrões cristalinos reunidos em três categorias. Os cristais foram classificados quimicamente como: puros de oxalato de cálcio e misturas entre oxalatos e sulfatos e entre oxalatos, sulfatos e sílica. Rosetas cristalinas, concrescências cristalinas silicificadas e 14 dos 15 macropadrões cristalinos descritos são registros inéditos para inclusões biominerais de Piper e Piperaceae. Os macropadrões cristalinos caulinares e foliares observados são constitutivos e úteis à separação interespecífica das espécies estudadas. Ademais, os cristais desempenham funções relevantes para a autoecologia dos taxa de Piper analisados.