Physicochemical and Volatile Compounds Analysis of Fruit Wines Fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae: FTIR and Microscopy Study with Focus on Anti-Inflammatory Potential.

The growing trend in fruit wine production reflects consumers' interest in novel, diverse drinking experiences and the increasing demand for healthier beverage options. Fruit wines made from kiwi, pomegranates, and persimmons fermented using S. bayanus Lalvin strain EC1118 demonstrate the versatility of winemaking techniques. Kiwifruit, persimmon, and pomegranate wines were analyzed using HPLC and GC-TOFMS analyses to determine their concentrations of phenolic acids and volatile compounds. These results were supported by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to characterize and compare chemical shifts in the polyphenol regions of these wines. The wines' characterization included an anti-inflammatory assay based on NO, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 production in the RAW 264.7 macrophage model. FTIR spectroscopy predicted the antioxidant and phenolic contents in the wines. In terms of polyphenols, predominantly represented by chlorogenic, caffeic, and gallic acids, pomegranate and kiwifruit wines showed greater benefits. However, kiwifruit wines exhibited a highly diverse profile of volatile compounds. Further analysis is necessary, particularly regarding the use of other microorganisms in the fermentation process and non-Saccharomyces strains methods. These wines exhibit high biological antioxidant potential and health properties, providing valuable insights for future endeavors focused on designing healthy functional food products.

Rapid identification of Staphylococcus aureus based on a fluorescence imaging/detection platform that combines loop mediated isothermal amplification assay and the smartphone-based system.

Food associated diseases pose significant public health threat in the United States. Health risks associated with food-borne pathogens drive the need for constant monitoring of food products. An efficient method that can diagnose food-borne pathogens rapidly will be invaluable and in high demand. In this study, we showed the feasibility of a novel rapid detection platform based on fluorescence imaging/detection that combines a user-friendly, portable loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction device and a smartphone-based detection system. The proposed platform was used to detect Staphylococcus aureus which is one of the most important food-borne pathogen especially dairy products. The complete protocol is quicker; the reaction is performed under isothermal conditions and completed in 1 h or less. Experimental results show that LAMP assays were ten-fold more sensitive than PCR-based detection. The proposed smartphone detection system was able to detect and quantify LAMP assay samples containing three different concentrations of S. aureus from 109 CFU/mL down to 103 CFU/mL. The present proof-of-concept study demonstrated that this platform offers a portable, easy to use method for measuring target pathogens with LAMP amplification.

Indomethacin reproducibly induces metamorphosis in Cassiopea xamachana scyphistomae.

Cassiopea xamachana jellyfish are an attractive model system to study metamorphosis and/or cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis due to the ease of cultivation of their planula larvae and scyphistomae through their asexual cycle, in which the latter can bud new larvae and continue the cycle without differentiation into ephyrae. Then, a subsequent induction of metamorphosis and full differentiation into ephyrae is believed to occur when the symbionts are acquired by the scyphistomae. Although strobilation induction and differentiation into ephyrae can be accomplished in various ways, a controlled, reproducible metamorphosis induction has not been reported. Such controlled metamorphosis induction is necessary for an ensured synchronicity and reproducibility of biological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. For this purpose, we tested if differentiation could be pharmacologically stimulated as in Aurelia aurita, by the metamorphic inducers thyroxine, KI, NaI, Lugol's iodine, H2O2, indomethacin, or retinol. We found reproducibly induced strobilation by 50 µM indomethacin after six days of exposure, and 10-25 µM after 7 days. Strobilation under optimal conditions reached 80-100% with subsequent ephyrae release after exposure. Thyroxine yielded inconsistent results as it caused strobilation occasionally, while all other chemicals had no effect. Thus, indomethacin can be used as a convenient tool for assessment of biological phenomena through a controlled metamorphic process in C. xamachana scyphistomae.