Diagnostic approach for detection and identification of emerging enteric pathogens revisited: the (Ali)arcobacter lanthieri case.

An immunocompetent patient without a history of recent travel or animal exposure developed persistent abdominal bloating and cramps without diarrhoea or fever. Negative additional investigations excluded gastritis, infectious colitis, inflammatory bowel disease and neoplasia, but routine stool culture detected a Campylobacter-like organism. The isolate was obtained with use of a polycarbonate filter technique, emphasizing the importance of culture to support and validate the occurrence of emerging and new bacterial enteric pathogens. The ensuing extensive laboratory examinations proved challenging in identifying this potential pathogen. Phylogenetic marker analysis based on the 16S ribosomal RNA and rpoB gene sequences revealed that the isolate was most closely related to Arcobacter lanthieri and Arcobacter faecis. Subsequent analysis of a draft whole genome sequence assigned the isolate to A. lanthieri. We report the presence of five virulence genes, cadF, ciaB, mviN, hecA and iroE, indicating a possible pathogenic nature of this organism. This case demonstrated the importance of the use of agnostic methods for the detection of emerging pathogens in cases of enteric disease with a wide array of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Assessment of microbial communities on freshly killed wild boar meat by MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are the most widely distributed large mammals and recent increase in consumption of wild boar meat urges the need of microbiological quality criteria. The aim of the study was to characterize the initial bacterial contamination on freshly-killed wild boar meat using a culture-dependent approach with ISO-methods combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry identification and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Moreover, the presence of foodborne pathogens was examined using Real-Time-PCR and confirmed by classical isolation. Analysing 22 unrelated wild boar meat samples showed a higher bacterial contamination level compared to pork, with Salmonella present in almost one third of the samples. A great variability of the microbial contamination between the samples was recorded, as well as complementary results between culturing and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing as frequently isolated genera were not always detected, and vice versa. Furthermore, the foodborne pathogen Salmonella was never detected with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, demonstrating the necessity for a cautious approach in the implementation of new analysis techniques in food safety. The present work determines that attention should be paid to the trade of non-inspected meat directly to retail or consumers.

Starch gelatinization in coiled heaters.

A gelatinizing model food derived from a 5% w/w cross-linked waxy maize starch suspension was simulated in coiled heaters to assess the impact of centrifugal forces on flow and heat transfer. For four coil diameters (D = 0.25, 1, 2.5, and infinity m) and three flow rates (w = 0.5, 1, and 2 m/s), heat transfer, viscous development, and the severity of channeling were evaluated. Increasing curvature proved to suppress channeling as a result of more uniform heating and gelatinization. The maximum attainable viscosity was also higher, implying a lower starch consumption for a target viscosity. Higher flow rates necessitated longer heaters, and the maximum viscosity decreased. Moderate product velocities are therefore recommended.

Surface-induced ordering of a molecular fluid of flat hexagonal structure in a narrow graphite slit.

We systematically investigate by Monte Carlo simulations the role of the wall structure on a fluid of flat hexagonal molecules confined between two graphite walls. Our simulations show that the centers of mass of the molecules in different layers undergo an order-disorder transition as the wall separation increases, irrespective of the details of the wall structure. The wall structure thus becomes insignificant for the intervening fluid even down to a surprisingly low wall separation.

Edge contribution to forward scattering by spheres.

Edge functions T1 and T2, which describe the polarization-dependent edge contribution to forward scattering by spheres, are derived from the exact Mie solution. All the relative refractive indices and the 64 < x < 2048 size parameter range are considered. The edge functions significantly improve the approximation methods that can be used to calculate forward-scattering patterns. For m close to 1, an asymptotic approximation is used. Otherwise, the familiar geometrical optics approximation and the similar physical optics approximation for glory rays are used. Both geometrical and physical optics equations can be deduced from the above-mentioned asymptotic approximation.

The hydrolysis of triglycerides by immobilized lipase in a hydrophilic membrane reactor.

In the present article a method is described to immobilize lipase from Candida rugosa on a hollow fiber membrane, and the use of such a system for the hydrolysis of lipids is reported. The membranes were ENKA hydrophilic Cuprophan-type hollow fibers, having a large specific surface area. The immobilized lipase exhibited a high stability: the half-life time was 43 days at a temperature of 30 degrees C. Furthermore, it is proved that kinetic studies can be carried out with this system, operated in a batch or continuous mode. The relation between conversion rate and degree of hydrolysis was determined. On this basis, a dynamic model of the process was developed that describes the relation between reaction conditions and the conversion rate.

Terminal alpha (1 leads to 4)-linked N-acetylglucosamine: a characteristic constituent of duodenal-gland mucous glycoproteins in rat and pig. A high-resolution 1H-NMR study.

The structure of the carbohydrate chains of mucous glycoproteins from the gastro-intestinal tract was examined for species- and tissue-specificity. To this purpose, oligosaccharides were released from purified glycoprotein preparations of rat and pig gastric, duodenal-gland and small-intestinal mucus, by alkaline borohydride reductive cleavage. Based on the results of 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy and of sugar analysis of the total oligosaccharide fractions, terminal GlcNAc, alpha (1 leads to 4)-linked to galactose, appears to be a characteristic constituent of duodenal-gland oligosaccharides. Similarly, NeuAc in alpha (2 leads to 3)-linkage to galactose turns out to be a typical constituent of small-intestinal mucous glycoproteins. In general, glycoproteins from gastric mucus possess larger and more-branched carbohydrate chains than those from duodenal-gland and small-intestinal mucus. Comparing rat and pig, oligosaccharide structures for corresponding tissues are less complex for the former. After fractionation, the rat duodenal-gland oligosaccharides could be characterized by application of 1H-NMR spectroscopy as being branched tetra- up to hexa-saccharide chains, all sharing the italicized trisaccharide element. The chains exhibit microheterogeneity as to the termination by fucose in alpha (1 leads to 2)- or by GlcNAc in alpha (1 leads to 4)-linkage to galactose. The following structures can be proposed for the most abundant rat duodenal-gland oligosaccharides: (table; see text).

Isolation and partial characterization of rat duodenal-gland (Brunner's-gland) mucus glycoprotein.

A mucus glycoprotein was isolated from the duodenal glands of the rat and purified by repeated density-gradient centrifugation. The characterized glycoprotein is unique to the mucous cells of the duodenal glands and is not present in parts of the small intestine devoid of these glands. The chemical composition of the purified glycoprotein is characteristic for glycoproteins of the mucin-type. Its protein content is relatively high and amount to 35% by weight. No neuraminic acid and little sulphate (2%) is present. Evidence is presented that the native glycoprotein is built up from subunits held together via disulphide bridges in a non-glycosylated region of the protein core.