Development of a molecular diagnostic test for the specific detection of Brettanomyces bruxellensis in red wine.

Brettanomyces bruxellensis is considered the main source of spoilage in red wine. This yeast, by producing volatile phenols, is responsible for the development of unpleasant aromas affecting the quality of final products and resulting in substantial economic losses for wine producers. This work therefore describes the development of an easy to-use colorimetric molecular diagnostic test for the rapid and specific detection of B. bruxellensis in wine. Detection was achieved using a sandwich hybridization format in which the target RNA was recognized by an immobilized DNA capture probe and a labelled DNA signal probe. The proposed device was highly specific to B. bruxellensis and showed a linear relationship between measured signal and target RNA concentration in the range 0.1-5 ng µL-1, with a limit of detection value of 0.1 ng µL-1 of total RNA. The colorimetric assay was validated on red wine samples, with a detection limit of 102 CFU mL-1. This study suggests that the reported method could be used for early detection of spoilage yeasts in wine and other alcoholic beverages.

Serotonin signaling regulates actomyosin contractility during morphogenesis in evolutionarily divergent lineages.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that signals through 5-HT receptors to control key functions in the nervous system. Serotonin receptors are also ubiquitously expressed in various organs and have been detected in embryos of different organisms. Potential morphogenetic functions of serotonin signaling have been proposed based on pharmacological studies but a mechanistic understanding is still lacking. Here, we uncover a role of serotonin signaling in axis extension of Drosophila embryos by regulating Myosin II (MyoII) activation, cell contractility and cell intercalation. We find that serotonin and serotonin receptors 5HT2A and 5HT2B form a signaling module that quantitatively regulates the amplitude of planar polarized MyoII contractility specified by Toll receptors and the GPCR Cirl. Remarkably, serotonin signaling also regulates actomyosin contractility at cell junctions, cellular flows and epiblast morphogenesis during chicken gastrulation. This phylogenetically conserved mechanical function of serotonin signaling in regulating actomyosin contractility and tissue flow reveals an ancestral role in morphogenesis of multicellular organisms.

Biosensing platforms for Vibrio bacteria detection based on whole cell and nucleic acid analysis: A review.

Vibrio related illnesses are increasing worldwide in humans and marine animals. The detection of these bacteria is still mainly performed using traditional microbiological methods based on culture grown on differential agar media which are labor intensive, time consuming and unsuitable for in-field and high-throughput analysis. To overcome these limitations, biosensing platforms have emerged as promising alternative tools for rapid, sensitive, and real-time detection of Vibrio species in clinical, food and environmental samples. In this review, we will focus on strip test devices, and on optical and electrochemical biosensors developed for Vibrio analysis. Particular attention is given to sample preparation techniques.

Improvement of exopolysaccharide production by Porphyridium marinum.

With the aim to optimize the production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) by Porphyridium marinum, cultures in photobioreactors were conducted on a modified Provasoli medium (P) and compared to a new medium (Pm) with an elemental composition of N0.0205S0.0597P0.005. Cultivation on this medium allowed the increase of EPS concentration up to 2.5gL(-1), without modification of the EPS productivity (0.096gL(-1)) and EPS structure. In a second time, photosynthetic activity of the strain was monitored as a function of irradiance and temperature, allowing improvement of kinetic parameters of growth and EPS production. A semi-continuous culture, carried out with the Pm medium, an optimal irradiance and temperature of respectively 360µmolphotonsm(-2)s(-1) and 28°C led to an EPS process productivity of 0.031gh(-1) instead of 0.020gh(-1) in batch culture.