Inactivation of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris ATCC 49025 spores in apple juice by pulsed light: Influence of initial contamination and required reduction levels / Inactivación de esporas de Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris ATCC 49025 por luz pulsada en jugo de manzana: Influencia de la contaminación inicial y de las reducciones requeridas

The purpose of this study was to analyze the response of different initial contamination levels of Alicydobadllus acidoterrestris ATCC 49025 spores in apple juice as affected by pulsed light treatment (PL, batch mode, xenon lamp, 3pulses/s, 0-71.6 J/cm²). Biphasic and Weibull frequency distribution models were used to characterize the relationship between inoculum size and treatment time with the reductions achieved after PL exposure. Additionally, a second order polynomial model was computed to relate required PL processing time to inoculum size and requested log reductions. PL treatment caused up to 3.0-3.5 log reductions, depending on the initial inoculum size. Inactivation curves corresponding to PL-treated samples were adequately characterized by both Weibull and biphasic models (R²d j 94-96%), and revealed that lower initial inoculum sizes were associated with higher inactivation rates. According to the polynomial model, the predicted time for PL treatment increased exponentially with inoculum size.

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la influencia de la concentración de esporas de Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris ATCC 49025 en la respuesta de inactivación por acción de la luz pulsada (modo estanco, lámpara de xenón, 3 pulsos/s, 0-71,6 J/cm²) en jugo de manzana comercial. Para caracterizar la relación existente entre la concentración de esporas y el tiempo de tratamiento con las reducciones logarítmicas alcanzadas luego de la exposición a la luz pulsada (LP), se aplicaron 2 modelos: el de Weibull y el bifásico. Adicionalmente, se estimó la relación entre el tiempo de tratamiento con LP y la concentración inicial de inoculo en el jugo con las reducciones logarítmicas logradas mediante regresión múltiple y la metodología de superficie de respuesta (MSR). La inactivación por LP provocó entre 3 y 3,5 reducciones logarítmicas, según la concentración inicial de esporas. Las curvas de inactivación fueron adecuadamente caracterizadas por los modelos matemáticos propuestos (Restado = 94-96%). El análisis por MSR permitió predecir un aumento exponencial del tiempo de tratamiento requerido conforme se incrementa el nivel de contaminación inicial.

Lactobacillus plantarum-derived Extracellular Vesicles Protect Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Staphylococcus aureus-derived Extracellular Vesicles

PURPOSE: The microbial environment is an important factor that contributes to the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). Recently, it was revealed that not only bacteria itself but also extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from bacteria affect the allergic inflammation process. However, almost all research carried out so far was related to local microorganisms, not the systemic microbial distribution. We aimed to compare the bacterial EV composition between AD patients and healthy subjects and to experimentally find out the beneficial effect of some bacterial EV composition METHODS: Twenty-seven AD patients and 6 healthy control subjects were enrolled. After urine and serum were obtained, EVs were prepared from samples. Metagenomic analysis of 16s ribosomal DNA extracted from the EVs was performed, and bacteria showing the greatest difference between controls and patients were identified. In vitro and in vivo therapeutic effects of significant bacterial EV were evaluated with keratinocytes and with Staphylococcus aureus-induced mouse AD models, respectively. RESULTS: The proportions of Lactococcus, Leuconostoc and Lactobacillus EVs were significantly higher and those of Alicyclobacillus and Propionibacterium were lower in the control group than in the AD patient group. Therefore, lactic acid bacteria were considered to be important ones that contribute to the difference between the patient and control groups. In vitro, interleukin (IL)-6 from keratinocytes and macrophages decreased and cell viability was restored with Lactobacillus plantarum-derived EV treatment prior to S. aureus EV treatment. In S. aureus-induced mouse AD models, L. plantarum-derived EV administration reduced epidermal thickening and the IL-4 level. CONCLUSIONS: We suggested the protective role of lactic acid bacteria in AD based on metagenomic analysis. Experimental findings further suggest that L. plantarum-derived EV could help prevent skin inflammation.

The microbiome of the lung and its extracellular vesicles in nonsmokers, healthy smokers and COPD patients

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease, and bacterial infection plays a role in its pathogenesis. Bacteria secrete nanometer-sized extracellular vesicles (EVs), which may induce more immune dysfunction and inflammation than the bacteria themselves. We hypothesized that the microbiome of lung EVs might have distinct characteristics depending on the presence of COPD and smoking status. We analyzed and compared the microbiomes of 13 nonsmokers with normal spirometry, 13 smokers with normal spirometry (healthy smokers) and 13 patients with COPD by using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of surgical lung tissue and lung EVs. Subjects were matched for age and sex in all groups and for smoking levels in the COPD and healthy smoker groups. Each group included 12 men and 1 woman with the same mean age of 65.5 years. In all groups, EVs consistently showed more operational taxonomic units (OTUs) than lung tissue. In the healthy smoker and COPD groups, EVs had a higher Shannon index and a lower Simpson index than lung tissue and this trend was more prominent in the COPD group. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed clusters based on sample type rather than participants' clinical characteristics. Stenotrophomonas, Propionibacterium and Alicyclobacillus were the most commonly found genera. Firmicutes were highly present in the EVs of the COPD group compared with other samples or groups. Our analysis of the lung microbiome revealed that the bacterial communities present in the EVs and in the COPD group possessed distinct characteristics with differences in the OTUs, diversity indexes and PCA clustering.

Evaluation of different culture media and enrichment in orange juice upon the growth of Alicyclobacillus spp / Avaliação de diferentes meios de cultura e enriquecimento em suco de laranja sobre o crescimento de Alicyclobacillus spp

Bacteria of the genus Alicyiclobacillus spp. form spores and develop in acid media, leading to the spoilage of citrus juices. Brazil is the largest exporter of orange juice concentrate, and yet, it has been extensively studied due to changes in taste and smell. Several investigations have reported different culture media used to detect and enumerate Alicyiclobacillus spp. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the recovery of Alicyiclobacillus spp. spores grown in ALI, BAT, K agar and YSG media using the methodology suggested by ABECitrus. Five inocula were used, two from reference strains and three from pasteurized concentrated orange juice. Cell recovery after the enrichment in reconstituted orange juice was also analyzed. An initial population of 6 log CFU/mL was inoculated. ALI, BAT and YSG media were able to recover the initial population of all different inocula, with no significant differences between the results. When compared to BAT, however, the preparation of ALI and YSG media was simpler and had more advantages. The recovery with K agar medium was lower than the other media for all the tested inocula, with significant differences found for Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius0298T (3.66 log CFU/mL) and Alicyclobacillus pomorum-like CBMAI 0278 (4.11 log CFU/mL).(AU)

As bactérias do gênero Alicyiclobacillus spp. formam esporos e se desenvolvem em meios ácidos, podendo causar deterioração em sucos cítricos. O Brasil é o maior exportador de suco de laranja concentrado do mundo e, assim, este gênero vem sendo estudado por causar alterações de odor e sabor. Vários estudos relatam diferentes meios de culturas empregados para a detecção e enumeração de Alicyclobacillus spp. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a recuperação de esporos de Alicyclobacillus spp. nos meios ALI, BAT, K ágar e YSG, utilizando a metodologia indicada pela ABECitrus. Cinco inóculos diferentes foram utilizados, sendo dois de linhagens-referência e os outros três isolados de suco concentrado de laranja pasteurizado. Também foi verificada a recuperação das células após o enriquecimento em suco de laranja reconstituído. Foi inoculada uma população inicial de 6 log UFC/mL. Os meios ALI, BAT e YSG conseguiram recuperar esta população nos diferentes inóculos, não existindo diferenças significativas entre os resultados. Contudo, devido à facilidade do preparo, os meios ALI e YSG mostraram-se mais vantajosos quando comparados ao meio BAT. O meio K ágar apresentou recuperação inferior aos outros meios para todos os inóculos, porém, houve diferença significativa apenas para Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius 0298 T (3,66 log UFC/mL) e Alicyclobacillus pomorum-like CBMAI 0278 (4,11 log UFC/mL).(AU)

Survey of molds, yeast and Alicyclobacillus spp. from a concentrated apple juice productive process

Bacteria and molds may spoil and/or contaminate apple juice either by direct microbial action or indirectly by the uptake of metabolites as off-flavours and toxins. Some of these microorganisms and/or metabolites may remain in the food even after extensive procedures. This study aim to identify the presence of molds (including heat resistant species) and Alicyclobacillus spp., during concentrated apple juice processing. Molds were isolated at different steps and then identified by their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics after cultivation on standard media at 5, 25 and 37ºC, during 7 days. Among the 19 isolated found, 63% were identified as Penicillium with 50% belonging to the P. expansum specie. With regards to heat resistant molds, the species Neosartorya fischeri, Byssochlamys fulva and also the genus Eupenicillium sp., Talaromyces sp. and Eurotium sp. were isolated. The thermoacidophilic spore-forming bacteria were identified as A. acidoterrestris by a further investigation based on 16S rRNA sequence similarity. The large contamination found indicates the need for methods to eliminate or prevent the presence of these microorganisms in the processing plants in order to avoid both spoilage of apple juice and toxin production.

Chemicals and lemon essential oil effect on Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris viability

Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is considered to be one of the important target microorganisms in the quality control of acidic canned foods. There is an urgent need to develop a suitable method for inhibiting or controlling the germination and outgrowth of A.acidoterrestris in acidic drinks. The aim of this work was to evaluate the chemicals used in the lemon industry (sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate), and lemon essential oil as a natural compound, against a strain of A.acidoterrestris in MEB medium and in lemon juice concentrate. The results pointed out that sodium benzoate (500-1000-2000 ppm) and lemon essential oil (0.08- 0.12- 0.16%) completely inhibited the germination of A. acidoterrestris spores in MEB medium and LJC for 11 days. Potassium sorbate (600-1200 ppm) was more effective to inhibit the growth of the microbial target in lemon juice than in MEB medium. The effect of sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and essential oil was sporostatic in MEB and LJC as they did not affect spore viability.

Propriedade antimicrobiana do eugenol frente às amostras de Alicyclobacillus spp. isoladas de suco de laranja / Antimicrobial properties of eugenol on Alicyclobacillus spp. isolated from orange juice

Foi avaliada a atividade antimicrobiana do eugenol contra Alicyclobacillus hesperidum, Alicyclobacillus cycloheptanicus, Alicyclobacillus acidiphilus, Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris e de Alicyclobacillus spp., isolados em indústrias de sucos de laranja de várias regiões do Estado de São Paulo. O teste de suscetibilidade para o eugenol foi realizado determinando-se a concentração inibitória mínima (CIM)pela técnica de microdiluição em placas de 96 cavidades. A CIM do eugenol variou de 66,65 a >1066,4μg/mL, evidenciando-se a atividade inibitória forte e moderada frente a todas as amostras testadas e a atividade bactericida. Este estudo demonstrou ser significativa a fonte de isolamento das linhagens de Alicyclobacillus spp. nas indústrias. Conclui-se que o eugenol possui eficaz atividade antimicrobiana contra Alicyclobacillus spp. e sugere-se o uso deste composto para prevenir a deterioração de bebidas acidificadas e para diminuir o custo do controle microbiológico mais especificamente em suco de laranja.