Flagellin is essential for initial attachment to mucosal surfaces by Clostridioides difficile.

IMPORTANCE: Clostridioides difficile is one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections worldwide and presents challenges in treatment due to recurrent gastrointestinal disease after treatment with antimicrobials. The mechanisms by which C. difficile colonizes the gut represent a key gap in knowledge, including its association with host cells and mucosa. Our results show the importance of flagellin for specific adhesion to mucosal hydrogels and can help to explain prior observations of adhesive defects in flagellin and pilin mutants.

Effect of Pectin/Nanochitosan-Based Coatings and Storage Temperature on Shelf-Life Extension of "Elephant" Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Fruit.

The aim of extending shelf-life and maintaining quality is one of the major issues regarding mango fruit preservation. The quality of mango fruits is greatly affected by postharvest factors, especially temperature and fruit treatment. In this study, the effect of coating and storage temperature on the characteristics of mango fruits was investigated. The mango fruits were immersed in different concentrations (1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5%) of pectin/nanochitosan dispersion (with ratios of pectin:nanochitosan 50:50), and (0.75%, 1% and 1.25%) of nanochitosan dispersion and stored at 17, 25, and 32 °C for 24 days. Changes in fruit, including weight loss, firmness, color, chemical composition (such as the total soluble solids concentration (TSS)), total sugar, reducing sugar, titratable acidity (TA), and vitamin C were periodically recorded. The results indicated that the pectin/nanochitosan coating significantly prevented reductions in the fruit weight, firmness, TSS, TA, and vitamin C content. Additionally, pectin/nanochitosan at a low temperature (17 °C) had a greater positive effect on fruit shelf-life and weight maintenance than 25 and 32 °C. The coated mango fruits maintained good quality for 24 days at 17 °C, while coated fruits stored at 25 °C and 32 °C, as well as uncoated ones stored at 17 °C, were destroyed after two weeks. At the maximum storage time evaluated, the coating formulations containing pectin and nanochitosan exhibited microbial counts below the storage life limit of 106 CFU/g of fruit. In general, the results showed that the pectin/nanochitosan coating (2%) with a storage temperature of 17 °C is the most effective strategy for improving quality and extending the shelf-life of mango fruits.

Gynura bicolor DC. (Okinawa spinach): A comprehensive review on nutritional constituents, phytochemical compounds, utilization, health benefits, and toxicological evaluation.

Functional food plants are nature's gift to human beings to help them battle against various ailments for thousands of years. With the global pursuit of improving the quality of life, there is an increasing demand for functional plants in the world's diet. There is a long history of using Gyruna bicolor not only as a vegetable but also as a medicinal herb in East and Southeast Asia. It has been found in G. bicolor that there is a broad spectrum of nutrients and plant bioactives. G. bicolor has been acknowledged by local people as a useful source of medicine for several therapeutic treatments. This paper provides a comprehensive review of G. bicolor from updated research literature. Botanical characteristics, cultivation information, traditional uses, phytochemistry, nutrient values, as well as biological activities are discussed. The storage, processes, proposals for product development, and toxic assessment of G. bicolor are also covered. It is expected that the paper will encourage further research thereby contributing to open avenues for scientific applications of G. bicolor as a valuable plant with multiple health benefits.