Fermentation with Lactic Acid Bacteria for Bean Flour Improvement: Experimental Study and Molecular Modeling as Complementary Tools.

Pulses are considered superfoods for the future world due to their properties, but they require processing to reduce antinutritional factors (ANFs) and increase bioactivity. In this study, bean flour (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was fermented under different conditions (addition of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CRL 2211 and/or Weissella paramesenteroides CRL 2182, temperature, time and dough yield) to improve its nutri-functional quality. Fermentation for 24 h at 37 °C with the mixed starter increased the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) population, acidity, polyphenol content (TPC) and ANF removal more than spontaneous fermentation. Statistical and rep-PCR analysis showed that fermentation was mainly conducted by Lp. plantarum CRL 2211. Metabolic modeling revealed potential cross-feeding between Lp. plantarum and W. paramesenteroides, while the molecular docking and dynamic simulation of LAB tannases and proteinases involved in ANF removal revealed their chemical affinity to gallocatechin and trypsin inhibitors. Fermentation was better than soaking, germination and cooking for enhancing bean flour properties: it increased the free amino acids content by 50% by releasing glutamine, glutamic acid, arginine, leucine and lysine and modified TPC by increasing gallic acid and decreasing caffeic, ferulic and vanillic acids and quercetin-3-glucoside. The combination of experimental and simulation data may help us to understand fermentation processes and to design products with desirable features.

Inorganic polyphosphate from the immunobiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 prevents inflammatory response in the respiratory tract.

Lactobacillus (L.) rhamnosus CRL1505 accumulates inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) in its cytoplasm in response to environmental stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of polyP from the immunobiotic CRL1505 on an acute respiratory inflammation murine animal model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). First, the presence of polyP granules in the cytoplasm of CRL1505 strain was evidenced by specific staining. Then, it was demonstrated in the intracellular extracts (ICE) of CRL1505 that polyP chain length is greater than 45 phosphate residues. In addition, the functionality of the genes involved in the polyP metabolism (ppk, ppx1 and ppx2) was corroborated by RT-PCR. Finally, the possible effect of the ICE of CRL1505 strain containing polyP and a synthetic polyP was evaluated in vivo using a murine model of acute lung inflammation. It was observed that the level of cytokines pro-inflammatory (IL-17, IL-6, IL-2, IL-4, INF-γ) in serum was normalized in mice treated with ICE, which would indicate that polyP prevents the local inflammatory response in the respiratory tract. The potential application of ICE from L. rhamnosus CRL1505 as a novel bioproduct for the treatment of respiratory diseases is one of the projections of this work.

Creencias sexistas y actitudes de violencia de género. Situación de estudiantes universitarios del área de la salud. Cartagena - Colombia / Sexist beliefs and attitudes of gender violence situation of university students in the health area. Cartagena Colombia

INTRODUCCIÓN: La violencia contra la mujer es un problema que atenta contra la igualdad, el desarrollo y la paz social. Situación que se reconoce como factor asociado al deterioro en la calidad de vida de los individuos en la medida que se constituye en violación de los Derechos Humanos. OBJETIVO: Describir el grado de acuerdo o desacuerdo entre las creencias sexistas y las que conducen a la violencia en estudiantes del área de la salud de una Institución de Educación Superior de Cartagena. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo, transversal, la muestra calculada fue de 509 estudiantes, seleccionados mediante muestreo por conveniencia, se utilizó el cuestionario de Actitudes hacia el Género y la Violencia (C.A.G.V), el cuestionario se dividió en dos secciones, la primera, aborda datos sociodemográficos, la segunda, las creencias sexistas y violencia. RESULTADOS: El factor con mayor desacuerdo y/o rechazo a las creencias sexistas es el factor 1 con un 79% de participantes en desacuerdo, los factores 2, 3 y 4 tiene presentan un alto porcentaje de desacuerdo y actitud indiferente en hombres y mujeres ante las creencias evaluadas. CONCLUSIÓN: Se concluye que existen comportamientos que promueven la violencia, en este estudio se evidenció dominación, aislamiento y conductas que suelen pasar inadvertidas, es así como la violencia contra las mujeres ejercidas por sus parejas o ex parejas abre campos a importantes problemas de salud, problemas que han demostrado un desequilibrio del bienestar psicosocial a corto y/o a largo plazo

INTRODUCTION: Violence towards women is a problem that attempts towards equalness, the development of social peace. Situation that is acknowledged as a factor associated with the deterioration in the quality of life of the individuals as it is constituted a violation of human rights. TARGET: To describe the degree of agreement and disagreement between the sexist beliefs and those that lead students in the health area of superior education institution of Cartagena. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive study, cross-sectional the calculated sample was of 509 students, selected through convenience sampling, the questionnaire of attitudes towards gender and violence was used. (C.A.G.V), the questionnaire was divided in two sections, the first one, deals with social demographics the second, sexist beliefs and violance. RESULTS: The factor with the most disagreement and rejected to sexist beliefs it is factor 1 with 79% of participants in disagreement, the factors 2,3,4 a high percentage is shown of disagreement and indifference in men and women to the evaluated beliefs. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that exists behaviors that promote violence, and this study was evidenced domination, isolation and conducts that pass unnotified, this is how violence against women done by the partner or ex-partner opens fields to important health issues; problems that have shown an unbalanced and well-being psychosocial in long and short term

A genomic view of food-related and probiotic Enterococcus strains.

The study of enterococcal genomes has grown considerably in recent years. While special attention is paid to comparative genomic analysis among clinical relevant isolates, in this study we performed an exhaustive comparative analysis of enterococcal genomes of food origin and/or with potential to be used as probiotics. Beyond common genetic features, we especially aimed to identify those that are specific to enterococcal strains isolated from a certain food-related source as well as features present in a species-specific manner. Thus, the genome sequences of 25 Enterococcus strains, from 7 different species, were examined and compared. Their phylogenetic relationship was reconstructed based on orthologous proteins and whole genomes. Likewise, markers associated with a successful colonization (bacteriocin genes and genomic islands) and genome plasticity (phages and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) were investigated for lifestyle specific genetic features. At the same time, a search for antibiotic resistance genes was carried out, since they are of big concern in the food industry. Finally, it was possible to locate 1617 FIGfam families as a core proteome universally present among the genera and to determine that most of the accessory genes code for hypothetical proteins, providing reasonable hints to support their functional characterization.

Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus reuteri Strain CRL 1098, an Interesting Candidate for Functional Food Development.

We report here the draft genome sequence of Lactobacillus reuteri strain CRL 1098. This strain represents an interesting candidate for functional food development because of its proven probiotic properties. The draft genome sequence is composed of 1,969,471 bp assembled into 45 contigs and an average G+C content of 38.8%.

Ancestral Andean grain quinoa as source of lactic acid bacteria capable to degrade phytate and produce B-group vitamins.

The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) microbiota of quinoa grains (QG) and spontaneous sourdough (QSS) was evaluated. Different strains of Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum (7), L. rhamnosus (5), L. sakei (1), Pediococcus (Ped.) pentosaceus (9), Leuconostoc (Leuc.) mesenteroides (1), Enterococcus (E.) casseliflavus (2), E. mundtii (3), E. hirae (1), E. gallinarum (12), Enterococcus sp. (1), and E. hermanniensis (2) were isolated, identified and characterized. Only four strains isolated from QSS and eight strains isolated from QG showed amylolytic activity. L. plantarum CRL 1973 and CRL 1970, L. rhamnosus CRL 1972 and L. sakei CRL 1978 produced elevated concentrations of folate with strain CRL 1973 producing the highest concentration (143±6ng/ml). L. rhamnosus, isolated from QSS, was the LAB species that produced the most elevated concentrations of total riboflavin (>270ng/ml) with strain CRL 1963 producing the highest amounts (360±10ng/ml). Phytase activity, evaluated in forty-four LAB strains from quinoa, was predominantly detected in L. rhamnosus and Enterococci strains with the highest activities observed in E. mundtii CRL 2007 (957±25U/ml) followed by E. casseliflavus CRL 1988 (684±38U/ml), Leuc. mesenteroides CRL 2012 (617±38U/ml) and L. rhamnosus CRL 1983 (606±79U/ml). In conclusion, this study shows that a diverse LAB microbiota is present in quinoa with important properties; these microorganisms could be used as potential starter cultures to increase the nutritional and functional properties of Andean grains based foods.

Draft Genome Sequence of the Nonstarter Bacteriocin-Producing Strain Enterococcus mundtii CRL35.

Enterococcus mundtii CRL35 is a bacteriocinogenic strain isolated from an artisanal cheese of northwestern Argentina. Here we report its draft genome sequence, consisting of 82 contigs. In silico genomic analysis of biotechnological properties was performed to determine the potential of this microorganism to be used in a food model system.

Draft Genome Sequence of Enterococcus faecium Strain CRL 1879, Isolated from a Northwestern Argentinian Artisanal Cheese.

We report the draft genome sequence of the bacteriocin producer Enterococcus faecium strain CRL 1879, isolated from a northwestern Argentinian artisanal cheese. The draft genome sequence is composed of 73 contigs for 2,886,747 bp, with 3,140 protein-coding genes. Six biosynthetic clusters for bacteriocin class II production were found. Typical virulence determinants, which have relevance in food safety, were not present.