A phase II, non-comparative randomised trial of two treatments involving liposomal amphotericin B and miltefosine for post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis in India and Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: In Southeast Asia, treatment is recommended for all patients with post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). Adherence to the first-line regimen, twelve weeks of miltefosine (MF), is low and ocular toxicity has been observed with this exposure period. We assessed the safety and efficacy of two shorter-course treatments: liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) alone and combined with MF. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: An open-label, phase II, randomized, parallel-arm, non-comparative trial was conducted in patients with parasitologically confirmed PKDL, 6 to ≤60 years. Patients were assigned to 20 mg/kg LAmB (total dose, in five injections over 15 days) alone or combined with allometric MF (3 weeks). The primary endpoint was definitive cure at 12 months, defined as complete resolution of papular and nodular lesions and >80% re-pigmentation of macular lesions. Definitive cure at 24 months was a secondary efficacy endpoint. 118/126 patients completed the trial. Definitive cure at 12 months was observed in 29% (18/63) patients receiving LAmB and 30% (19/63) receiving LAmB/MF (mITT), increasing to 58% and 66%, respectively, at 24 months. Most lesions had resolved/improved at 12 and 24 months for patients receiving LAmB (90%, 83%) and LAmB/MF (85%, 88%) by qualitative assessment. One death, unrelated to study drugs, was reported; no study drug-related serious adverse events were observed. The most frequent adverse drug reactions were MF-related vomiting and nausea, and LAmB-related hypokalaemia and infusion reactions. Most adverse events were mild; no ocular adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Both regimens are suitably safe and efficacious alternatives to long-course MF for PKDL in South Asia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CTRI/2017/04/008421.

Electro-stimulation of tofu wastewater for the production of single cell protein from various microorganisms.

Tofu wastewater can be utilized as a substrate for microorganisms that produce single-cell proteins (SCPs). Because different microorganisms have different cellular components, the composition of SCPs varies. Electro-stimulation has the potential to speed up fermentation and increase product yield. The goal of this study was to find the best way to produce SCPs from Aspergillus awamori, Rhizopus oryzae, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the tofu wastewater substrate using electro-stimulation. The experimental method was used in the study, the data were analyzed using independent t-test statistical analysis, and the best treatment was identified using the effective index method. This treatment consisted of producing SCP with electro-stimulation of -1.5 V and without electro-stimulation for 72 h for the yeast and 96 h for the mold at 25 °C in tofu wastewater that had already been conditioned to a pH of 5. The parameters measured included measurement of population of microorganism, change in pH, dry biomass weight, carbohydrate content, and protein content. Electro-stimulation reduced the optimum fermentation time of A. awamori SCP from 56 to 32 h, resulting in 0.0406 g/50 mL of dry biomass, 30.09% carbohydrate content, and 6.86% protein content. Meanwhile, the optimal fermentation time on R. oryzae and S. cerevisiae were not accelerated by electro-stimulation. The best treatment was A. awamori without electro-stimulation, which produced 0.0931 g/50 mL of dry biomass, 20.29% carbohydrate, and 7.55% protein.

Recent trends and technological development in plasma as an emerging and promising technology for food biosystems.

The rising need for wholesome, fresh, safe and "minimally-processed" foods has led to pioneering research activities in the emerging non-thermal technology of food processing. Cold plasma is such an innovative and promising technology that offers several potential applications in the food industry. It uses the highly reactive, energetic and charged gas molecules and species to decontaminate the food and package surfaces and preserve the foods without causing thermal damage to the nutritional and quality attributes of food. Cold plasma technology showed promising results about the inactivation of pathogens in the food industry without affecting the food quality. It is highly effective for surface decontamination of fruits and vegetables, but extensive research is required before its commercial utilization. Recent patents are focused on the applications of cold plasma in food processing and preservation. However, further studies are strongly needed to scale up this technology for future commercialization and understand plasma physics for getting better results and expand the applications and benefits. This review summarizes the emerging trends of cold plasma along with its recent applications in the food industry to extend shelf life and improve the quality of food. It also gives an overview of plasma generation and principles including mechanism of action. Further, the patents based on cold plasma technology have also been highlighted comprehensively for the first time.

Recent trends in microbial flavour Compounds: A review on Chemistry, synthesis mechanism and their application in food.

Aroma and flavour represent the key components of food that improves the organoleptic characteristics of food and enhances the acceptability of food to consumers. Commercial manufacturing of aromatic and flavouring compounds is from the industry's microbial source, but since time immemorial, its concept has been behind human practices. The interest in microbial flavour compounds has developed in the past several decades because of its sustainable way to supply natural additives for the food processing sector. There are also numerous health benefits from microbial bioprocess products, ranging from antibiotics to fermented functional foods. This review discusses recent developments and advancements in many microbial aromatic and flavouring compounds, their biosynthesis and production by diverse types of microorganisms, their use in the food industry, and a brief overview of their health benefits for customers.

Evaluating comparative ß-glucan production aptitude of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus oryzae, Xanthomonas campestris, and Bacillus natto.

ß-glucan is a natural polysaccharide derivative composed of a group of glucose monomers with ß-glycoside bonds that can be synthesized intra- or extra-cellular by various microorganisms such as yeasts, bacteria, and moulds. The study aimed to discover the potential of various microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus oryzae, Xanthomonas campestris, and Bacillus natto in producing ß-glucan. The experimental method used and the data were analyzed descriptively. The four microorganisms above were cultured under a submerged state in Yeast glucose (YG) broth for 120 h at 30 °C with 200 rpm agitation. During the growth, several parameters were examined including total population by optical density, the pH, and glucose contents of growth media. ß-glucan was extracted using acid-alkaline methods from the growth media then the weight was measured. The results showed that S. cerevisiae, A. oryzae X. campestris, and B. natto were prospective for ß-glucans production in submerged fermentation up to 120 h. The highest ß-glucans yield was shown by B. natto (20.38%) with the ß-glucans mass of 1.345 ± 0.08 mg and globular diameter of 600 µm. The highest ß-glucan mass was achieved by A. oryzae of 82.5 ± 0.03 mg with the total population in optical density of 0.1246, a final glucose level of 769 ppm, the pH of 6.67, and yield of 13.97% with a globular diameter of 1400 µm.

Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens Kunth) as Source of Bioactive Compounds: A Review.

Lippia graveolens is a traditional crop and a rich source of bioactive compounds with various properties (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, UV defense, anti-glycemic, and cytotoxicity) that is primarily cultivated for essential oil recovery. The isolated bioactive compounds could be useful as additives in the functional food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Carvacrol, thymol, ß-caryophyllene, and p-cymene are terpene compounds contained in oregano essential oil (OEO); flavonoids such as quercetin O-hexoside, pinocembrin, and galangin are flavonoids found in oregano extracts. Furthermore, thermoresistant compounds that remain in the plant matrix following a thermal process can be priced in terms of the circular economy. By using better and more selective extraction conditions, the bioactive compounds present in Mexican oregano can be studied as potential inhibitors of COVID-19. Also, research on extraction technologies should continue to ensure a higher quality of bioactive compounds while preventing an undesired chemical shift (e.g., hydrolysis). The oregano fractions can be used in the food, health, and agricultural industries.