The fate of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes in the pulp of eight native Brazilian and exotic fruits.

Despite the wide variety of native and exotic fruits in Brazil, there is limited understanding of their ability to support pathogens during storage. This study aimed to evaluate the behavior of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes inoculated into the pulp of eight fruits native and exotic to Brazil: Jenipapo (Genipa americana L.), Umbu (Spondias tuberosa Arruda), Maná (Solanum sessiliflorum), Cajá-manga (Spondias dulcis), Physalis (Physalis angulata L.), Feijoa (Acca sellowiana), Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) (average pH < 3.3) and in a low acidy fruit: Abiu (Pouteria caimito) (pH 6.11). The pathogens were inoculated into the different fruits and stored at 10, 20, 30 and 37 °C for up to 12 h and 6 days, respectively. Among the fruits evaluated, Abiu was the only one that allowed Salmonella growth, showing higher δ-values at 20 and 30 °C (5.6 log CFU/g for both temperatures). For Physalis and Feijoa, there was a small reduction in the pathogen concentration (<1 log-cycle), mainly at 10 and 20 °C, indicating its ability to remain in the matrices. For the other fruits, notable negative δ-values were obtained, indicating a tendency towards microbial inactivation. The survival potential was significantly affected by temperature in Abiu, Maná, Cupuaçu, and Cajá-manga (p < 0.05). The same phenomena regarding δ-value were observed for L. monocytogenes population, with the greatest survival potential observed at 20 °C in Abiu (3.3 log CFU/g). Regarding the exponential growth rates in Abiu, the highest values were observed at 30 and 37 °C, both for Salmonella (4.6 and 4.9 log (CFU/g)/day, respectively) and for L. monocytogenes (2.8 and 2.7 log (CFU/g)/day, respectively), with no significant difference between both temperatures. Regarding microbial inactivation, L. monocytogenes showed greater resistance than Salmonella in practically all matrices. Jenipapo and Umbu were the pulps that, in general, had the greatest effect on reducing the population of pathogens. Furthermore, the increase in storage temperature seems to favor the increase on inactivation rates. In conclusion, Salmonella and L. monocytogenes can grow only in Abiu pulp, although they can survive in some acidic tropical fruits kept at refrigeration and abusive temperatures.

Investigating desiccation resistance, post-rehydration growth, and heat tolerance in desiccation-injured cells of Salmonella enterica isolated from the soybean production chain.

This study compared the resistance to different desiccation conditions of 190 Salmonella enterica strains previously isolated from the soybean meal production chain and belonging to 23 serovars. Additionally, the post-rehydration growth and heat tolerance of the strains previously exposed to desiccation were determined. Variability in desiccation resistance was observed both within and between serovars. Strains belonging to S. Havana and S. Schwarzengrund serovars were the most resistant, regardless of storage condition. The drying temperature (20 °C and 30 °C) did not influence the desiccation resistance of the Salmonella strains. On the other hand, increasing drying time from 1 to 7 days reduced Salmonella counts. The origin (isolation sources) also influenced the desiccation resistance of the Salmonella strains. The growth of the Salmonella strains after rehydration varied considerably depending on the drying conditions and incubation temperature during cultivation. An increase in the time and temperature of drying led to a reduction in population of most Salmonella strains after rehydration. Salmonella strains previously desiccated also showed differences in the heat tolerance in all temperature-time binomials tested. Some strains were highly resistant to heat tolerance conditions, presenting <1 log CFU/mL reduction from the initial population. The results obtained in this study suggest that the strategies to mitigate Salmonella in low-aw foods must consider the existence of high-stress resistant strains and their multiple-stress adaptability profiles, including effects of processing, food composition, and storage conditions.

Salmonella enterica in soybean production chain: Occurrence, characterization, and survival during soybean storage.

This study aimed to determine Salmonella enterica occurrence along the soybean meal production chain (raw material, in-processing samples, final products, and in the environment of five processing plants), characterize the isolates, and assess the survival of Salmonella Senftenberg 775W in soybeans stored under different temperature conditions. Among 713 samples analyzed, 12.9% (n = 92) were positive for Salmonella enterica. Dust collected inside and outside processing plants (n = 148) comprised the samples with the highest positivity for Salmonella enterica, 47.3%. The occurrence of Salmonella enterica varied among the different processing plants. Twenty-nine (n = 29) Salmonella serotypes were isolated, with S. Mbandaka as the most frequent serotype, whereas S. Typhimurium was mainly linked to final product samples (soybean meal). S. Senftenberg 775W did not survive for a long time in soybean stored at 20-37 °C, but at 20 °C, cells were viable for more than 60 days. This study suggests that soybean meal may harbor Salmonella serotypes related to foodborne disease outbreaks in humans and can be responsible for Salmonella introduction into livestock and, consequently, in foods of animal origin. This study provides crucial data on contamination pathways of Salmonella in the soybean production chain, contributing to the understanding of Salmonella epidemiology which is strategic for the development of preventive and control measures to reduce the burden of salmonellosis linked to products of animal origin.

Purple tea (Camellia sinensis var. assamica) leaves as a potential functional ingredient: From extraction of phenolic compounds to cell-based antioxidant/biological activities.

A statistical optimization study was used to maximize the extraction of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity from green tea derived from purple leaves of Camellia sinensis var. assamica. Simultaneous optimization was applied, and a combination of 60 °C, 15 min, and a mass-solvent ratio of 1 g of dehydrated purple leaves to 62.3 mL of an ethanol/citric acid solution, were determined as the ideal extraction conditions. The optimized extract of purple tea leaves (OEPL) contained showed stability in relation to variations in pH, and lyophilized OEPL exerted cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects against cancerous cells (A549 and HCT8), demonstrated antimicrobial activity towards Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 7644), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 13565) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12288), inhibition of α-amylase and α-glycosidase enzymes and reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, CXCL2/MIP-2, and IL-6) in lipopolysaccharides-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Thus, our results provide a broad assessment of the bioactivity of "green" extracts obtained by a simple and low-cost process using non-toxic solvents, and they have the potential to be used for technological applications.

Toxicological and bioactivity evaluation of blackcurrant press cake, sea buckthorn leaves and bark from Scots pine and Norway spruce extracts under a green integrated approach.

Aqueous extracts from blackcurrant press cake (BC), Norway spruce bark (NS), Scots pine bark (SP), and sea buckthorn leaves (SB) were obtained using maceration and pressurized hot water and tested for their bioactivities. Maceration provided the extraction of higher dry matter contents, including total phenolics (TPC), anthocyanins, and condensed tannins, which also impacted higher antioxidant activity. NS and SB extracts presented the highest mean values of TPC and antioxidant activity. Individually, NS extract presented high contents of proanthocyanidins, resveratrol, and some phenolic acids. In contrast, SB contained a high concentration of ellagitannins, ellagic acid, and quercetin, explaining the antioxidant activity and antibacterial effects. SP and BC extracts had the lowest TPC and antioxidant activity. However, BC had strong antiviral efficacy, whereas SP can be considered a potential ingredient to inhibit α-amylase. Except for BC, the other extracts decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in HCT8 and A549 cells. Extracts did not inhibit the production of TNF-alpha in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated THP-1 macrophages but inhibited the ROS generation during the THP-1 cell respiratory burst. The recovery of antioxidant compounds from these by-products is incentivized for high value-added applications.

The presence of ochratoxin A does not influence Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth kinetics but leads to the formation of modified ochratoxins.

Yeasts are able to reduce the levels of ochratoxin A in fermentative processes; and, through their enzymatic complex, these micro-organisms are also capable of forming modified mycotoxins. These mycotoxins are often underreported, and may increase health risks after ingestion of contaminated food. In this sense, this study aims to evaluate whether the presence of ochratoxin A influences yeast growth kinetic parameters and to elucidate the formation of modified ochratoxin by Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains during fermentation. Three S. cerevisiae strains (12 M, 01 PP, 41 PP) were exposed to OTA at the concentrations of 10, 20 and 30 µg/L. The Baranyi model was fitted to the growth data (Log CFU/mL), and the identification of modified ochratoxins was performed through High Resolution Mass Spectrometry. The presence of ochratoxin A did not influence the growth of S. cerevisiae strains. Four pathways were proposed for the metabolization of OTA: dechlorination, hydrolysis, hydroxylation, and conjugation. Among the elected targets, the following were identified: ochratoxin α, ochratoxin ß, ochratoxin α methyl ester, ochratoxin B methyl ester, ethylamide ochratoxin A, ochratoxin C, hydroxy-ochratoxin A, hydroxy-ochratoxin A methyl ester, and ochratoxin A cellobiose ester. These derivatives formed from yeast metabolism may contribute to the occurrence of underreporting levels of total mycotoxin in fermented products.

Transcriptome sequencing reveals genes and adaptation pathways in Salmonella Typhimurium inoculated in four low water activity foods.

Salmonella enterica serotypes have been reported as the agent of various outbreaks occurred after the consumption of low water activity (aw) foods. When the pathogen encounters harsh conditions, several regulatory networks are activated through dynamic differential gene expression that lead to cell survival for prolonged periods. In this work, the transcriptome of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium using RNA-Seq, after cells' inoculation in four distinct types of low aw foods (milk chocolate, powdered milk, black pepper, and dried pet food), following storage at 25 °C per 24 and 72 h was studied. The findings of this study suggest that gene regulation is influenced by the food composition mainly in the first 24 h post-inoculum, proceeded by the induction of similar genes shared among all samples. It was possible to evaluate the differences on each type of food matrix regarding the bacteria adaptation, as well as the similarities provoked by low aw. The results reveal genes that may play key roles in response to desiccation in Salmonella, as well as the pathways in which they are involved.

Influence of pitanga leaf extracts on lipid and protein oxidation of pork burger during shelf-life.

The effect of pitanga leaf extracts, as source of natural antioxidants, on physicochemical properties as well as lipid and protein oxidation of pork burgers during storage at 2 ±â€¯1 °C, packed under modified atmosphere, was assessed. Formerly, the in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities as well as the phenolic profile of pitanga leaf extracts were also studied. Thereafter, five samples were prepared, including control (without antioxidants), commercial synthetic antioxidant (BHT at 200 mg/kg) and three concentrations of pitanga leaf extracts: PLL (at 250 mg/kg), PLM (at 500 mg/kg) and PLH (at 1000 mg/kg). The predominant phenolic compounds identified in pitanga leaf extracts were hydroxycinnamic acids, followed by tyrosol and other phenolics (alkylmethoxyphenols, hydroxycoumarins and hydroxyphenylpropenes). Pitanga leaf extracts showed a high antioxidant and antimicrobial in vitro activity. The addition of pitanga leaf extracts improved the redness of pork burgers during the whole display. On the other hand, the addition of natural antioxidants decreased the lipid oxidation from day 7 till the end of storage period. Burgers with antioxidant showed a similar protein oxidation level, observing an inhibition between 36% and 49% compared to control treatment. From the results, it can be concluded that pitanga leaf extract is a good alternative to commercial synthetic antioxidants to improve the quality and extend the shelf-life of pork burgers.