The Probiotic Potential and Metabolite Characterization of Bioprotective Bacillus and Streptomyces for Applications in Animal Production.

Probiotics are increasingly recognized for their potential in managing bacterial challenges in animal production. This study aimed to evaluate the probiotic potential of Bacillus and Streptomyces strains, specifically their bioprotective ability against Salmonella. In agar inhibition assays, these bacteria supported Salmonella-inhibition zones, ranging from 2.5 ± 0.5 to 6.3 ± 2.0 mm. Analyses of antimicrobial metabolites revealed their capacity to produce compounds with anti-Salmonella properties, except for Bacillus subtilis MLB2. When Salmonella was exposed to lyophilized metabolites, inhibition occurred in both liquid (at concentrations between 250 and 500 g/L) and solid cultures (at 500 g/L). To confirm their probiotic potential, the S. griseus and Bacillus strains underwent evaluations for antimicrobial resistance, bile salt tolerance, auto- and co-aggregation, pH resistance, and their ability to adhere to and inhibit Salmonella in Caco-2 cells. These assessments confirmed their probiotic potential. The probiotic strains were further encapsulated and subjected to simulated swine and poultry digestion. They demonstrated survival potential through the gastrointestinal tract and significantly reduced the Salmonella population. Thus, these strains exhibit considerable promise for producing biotechnological products aimed at controlling Salmonella in animal production. This approach ensures the health and hygiene of farming facilities, mitigates the spread of zoonotic bacteria, and contributes positively to public health.

Recent advances in the use of bacterial probiotics in animal production.

Animal husbandry is increasingly under pressure to meet world food demand. Thus, strategies are sought to ensure this productivity increment. The objective of this review was to gather advances in the use of bacterial probiotics in animal production. Lactobacilli correspond to the most used bacterial group, with several beneficial effects already reported and described, as well as the Enterococcus and Pediococcus genera - being the latter expressively used in aquaculture. Research on the Bifidobacterium genus is mostly focused on human health, which demonstrates great effects on blood biochemical parameters. Such results sustain the possibility of expanding its use in veterinary medicine. Other groups commonly assessed for human medicine but with prospective expansion to animal health are the genera Leuconostoc and Streptococcus, which have been demonstrating interesting effects on the prevention of viral diseases, and in dentistry, respectively. Although bacteria from the genera Bacillus and Lactococcus also have great potential for use in animal production, a complete characterization of the candidate strain must be previously made, due to the existence of pathogenic and/or spoilage variants. It is noteworthy that a growing number of studies have investigated the genus Propionibacterium, but still in very early stages. However, the hitherto excellent results endorse its application. In this way, in addition to the fact that bacterial probiotics represent a promising approach to promote productivity increase in animal production, the application of other strains than the traditionally employed genera may allow the exploitation of novel mechanisms and enlighten unexplored possibilities.

Essential oils and essential oil compounds in animal production as antimicrobials and anthelmintics: an updated review.

Several countries have shown an increased prevalence of drug resistance in animal production due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and antiparasitics in human and veterinary medicine. This article aims to review existing methods using naturally occurring essential oils (EOs) and their isolated compounds (EOCs) as alternatives to antimicrobials and antiparasitic compounds in animal production and, consequently, to avoid resistance. The most-reported mechanism of action of EOs and EOCs was cell membrane damage, which leads to the leakage of cytoplasmic content, increased membrane permeability, inhibition of metabolic and genetic pathways, morphologic changes, antibiofilm effects, and damage to the genetic material of infections. In parasites, anticoccidial effects, reduced motility, growth inhibition, and morphologic changes have been reported. Although these compounds regularly show a similar effect to those promoted by traditional drugs, the elucidation of their mechanisms of action is still scarce. The use of EOs and EOCs can also positively influence crucial parameters in animal production, such as body weight gain, feed conversion rate, and cholesterol reduction, which also positively impact meat quality. The application of EOs and EOCs is enhanced by their association with other natural compounds or even by the association with synthetic chemicals, which has been found to cause synergism in their antimicrobial effect. By reducing the effective therapeutical/prophylactic dose, the chances of off-flavors ­ the most common issue in EO and EOC application ­ is greatly mitigated. However, there is very little work on the combination of EOs and EOCs in large in vivo studies. In addition, research must apply the correct methodology to properly understand the observed effects; for example, the use of only high concentrations may mask potential results obtained at lower dosages. Such corrections will also allow the elucidation of finer mechanisms and promote better biotechnologic use of EOs and EOCs. This manuscript presents several information gaps to be filled before the use of EOs and EOCs are fully applicable in animal production.

Influence of red wine polysaccharides on cytochrome P450 enzymes and inflammatory parameters in tumor models.

The soluble fraction of polysaccharides from cabernet franc red wine (SFP) previously showed antitumoral effects by modulating the immune system. The present study tested the hypothesis that the SFP can regulate CYPs in vitro in HepG2 cells and in vivo in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats. The SFP was used in the following protocols: (i) solid tumor, (ii) liquid tumor, and (iii) chemopreventive solid tumor. The SFP reduced solid tumor growth in both solid tumor protocols but did not inhibit liquid tumor development. The SFP reduced total CYP levels in the solid and liquid tumor protocols and reduced the gene expression of Cyp1a1 and Cyp2e1 in rats and CYP1A2 in HepG2 cells. An increase of N-acetylglucosaminidase activity was observed in all SFP-treated rats, and TNF-α levels increased in the solid tumor protocol in the vehicle, SFP, and vincristine (positive control) groups. The chemopreventive solid tumor protocol did not modify CYP levels in the liver or intestine or N-acetylglucosaminidase and myeloperoxidase activity in the liver. The in vitro digestion and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses suggested that SFP was minimally modified in the gastrointestinal system. In conclusion, SFP inhibited CYPs both in vivo and in vitro, likely as a result of its immunoinflammatory actions.

Bioactive Antimicrobial Peptides from Food Proteins: Perspectives and Challenges for Controlling Foodborne Pathogens.

Bioactive peptides (BAPs) derived from food proteins have been extensively studied for their health benefits, majorly exploring their potential use as nutraceuticals and functional food components. These peptides possess a range of beneficial properties, including antihypertensive, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antibacterial activities, and are naturally present within dietary protein sequences. To release food-grade antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), enzymatic protein hydrolysis or microbial fermentation, such as with lactic acid bacteria (LAB), can be employed. The activity of AMPs is influenced by various structural characteristics, including the amino acid composition, three-dimensional conformation, liquid charge, putative domains, and resulting hydrophobicity. This review discusses the synthesis of BAPs and AMPs, their potential for controlling foodborne pathogens, their mechanisms of action, and the challenges and prospects faced by the food industry. BAPs can regulate gut microbiota by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria or by directly inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms. LAB-promoted hydrolysis of dietary proteins occurs naturally in both the matrix and the gastrointestinal tract. However, several obstacles must be overcome before BAPs can replace antimicrobials in food production. These include the high manufacturing costs of current technologies, limited in vivo and matrix data, and the difficulties associated with standardization and commercial-scale production.

Bioprotective potential of lactic acid bacteria for Salmonella biocontrol in vitro.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are an important option for Salmonella control in animal production, resulting in lower antibiotic use. The objective of this research was to isolate LAB from meat products and from commercial probiotics sold as nutritional supplements for in vitro verification of their bioprotective potential. Eleven bacteria were identified as Pediococcus acidilactici, two as Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, one as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei paracasei, one as Limosilactobacillus fermentum, and one as a consortium of Lactobacillus delbrueckii bulgaricus and L. fermentum. All bacteria showed inhibitory activity against Salmonella, with emphasis on the inhibition of P. acidilactici PUCPR 011 against Salmonella Enteritidis 33SUSUP, S. Enteritidis 9SUSP, S. Enteritidis 56301, S. Enteritidis CRIFS 1016, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC™ 14,028®, and Salmonella Gallinarum AL 1138, with inhibition halos of 7.3 ± 0.5 mm, 7.7 ± 1.0 mm, 9.0 ± 1.8 mm, 7.3 ± 0.5 mm, 7.7 ± 1.0 mm, and 7.3 ± 0.5, respectively. The isolates P. acidilactici PUCPR 011, P. acidilactici PUCPR 012, P. acidilactici PUCPR 014, L. fermentum PUCPR 005, L. paracasei paracasei PUCPR 013, and L. rhamnosus PUCPR 010 showed inhibition greater than 2 mm against at least 3 Salmonella and were used for encapsulation and in vitro digestion. The encapsulation efficiency ranged from 76.89 ± 1.54 to 116.48 ± 2.23%, and the population after 12 months of storage was from 5.31 ± 0.17 to 9.46 ± 0.09 log CFU/g. When simulating swine and chicken digestion, there was a large reduction in bacterial viability, stabilizing at concentrations close to 2.5 log CFU/mL after the analyses. The analyzed bacteria showed strong in vitro bioprotective potential; further analyses are required to determine in vivo effectiveness.

Inclusion of Soybean Hulls (Glycine max) and Pupunha Peach Palm (Bactris gasipaes) Nanofibers in the Diet of Growing Rabbits: Effects on Zootechnical Performance and Intestinal Health.

This study evaluated the inclusion of nanofibers from soybean hulls and pupunha peach palm heart sheaths in the diet of growing rabbits. Twenty-four New Zealand White rabbits (male and female) were allocated in three experimental groups: control, fed a basal diet; Nanosoy, fed a diet containing 7% soybean-hull nanofibers; and Nanopupunha, fed a diet containing 7% pupunha palm heart-sheath nanofibers. The Nanosoy-group rabbits showed poorer final weight, daily feed intake, and daily weight gain than those in other groups. In the duodenum, villus height, total mucosal thickness, and villus width were higher in rabbits that received nanofiber-supplemented diets than in the controls. Higher villus density and wall thickness were observed in Nanopupunha-fed rabbits than in the controls. In the jejunum, although the crypt depth was higher in Nanosoy-fed rabbits, the villus height:crypt depth ratio was higher in the Nanopupunha-fed group. Nanosoy-fed animals exhibited increased count Enterobacteriaceae populations. Rabbits in both nanofiber-fed groups exhibited higher lactic-acid bacterial counts than those in the control-diet group. Therefore, although the inclusion of 7% Nanopupunha in the diet of rabbits did not alter the performance, it improved intestinal health and increased the lactic-acid bacterial count in the cecum of growing rabbits.

Carnobacterium as a bioprotective and potential probiotic culture to improve food quality, food safety, and human health - a scoping review.

It is well-known that some bacteria can promote human and animal health. Bacteria of the genus Carnobacterium, while underexplored, have demonstrated significant probiotic and bioprotective potential. In this review, the recent scientific advances in this area are discussed. There are several requirements for a strain to be considered a probiotic or bioprotective agent, including the absence of antimicrobial resistance and the ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract. Several researchers have reported such features in Carnobacterium bacteria, especially with regard to the production of antimicrobial substances. Research into animal production has advanced, especially in the aquaculture field, wherein inhibitory activity has been demonstrated against several important pathogens (for example Vibrio), and improvement in zootechnical indexes is evident. With respect to human health-related applications, research is still in the early stages. However, excellent in vitro results against pathogens, such as Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have been reported. Carnobacterium bacteria have been assessed for a variety of applications in food, including direct application to the matrix and application to smart packaging, with proven effectiveness against Listeria monocytogenes. However, there is a lack of in vivo studies on Carnobacterium applications, which hinders its applications in various industries despite its high potential.

Deoxynivalenol: Toxicology, Degradation by Bacteria, and Phylogenetic Analysis.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by fungi that contaminates many crops, mainly wheat, maize, and barley. It affects animal health, causing intestinal barrier impairment and immunostimulatory effect in low doses and emesis, reduction in feed conversion rate, and immunosuppression in high doses. As it is very hard to completely avoid DON's production in the field, mitigatory methods have been developed. Biodegradation has become a promising method as new microorganisms are studied and new enzymatic routes are described. Understanding the common root of bacteria with DON degradation capability and the relationship with their place of isolation may bring insights for more effective ways to find DON-degrading microorganisms. The purpose of this review is to bring an overview of the occurrence, regulation, metabolism, and toxicology of DON as addressed in recent publications focusing on animal production, as well as to explore the enzymatic routes described for DON's degradation by microorganisms and the phylogenetic relationship among them.

Non-conventional cultures and metabolism-derived compounds for bioprotection of meat and meat products: a review.

Meat and meat products are important nutritional sources for humans; however, they are highly susceptible to pathogenic or spoilage bacteria, which leads to economic losses for the industry and has become a public health threat. Several biological methods have been developed to promote meat safety and to increase shelf life, mostly focusing on lactic acid bacteria from the genera Lactobacillus and Pediococcus. However, little attention has been paid to other groups of microorganisms with potential use as bioprotective cultures. This review aims to discuss the potential use of non-conventional microorganisms and biometabolites for bioprotection in meat and meat products. This review covers recent research involving the use of non-conventional microorganisms to improve the quality and safety of meat products. Bacteria that are often overlooked also have the potential for use in the food industry, either by direct application or by using their metabolites in the product itself or the development of intelligent packaging systems. Hopefully, this review will instigate new studies on emerging biological methods to ensure the safety of food and protect the health of consumers.

The impact of essential oils on antibiotic use in animal production regarding antimicrobial resistance - a review.

Population growth directly affects the global food supply, demanding a higher production efficiency without farmland expansion - in view of limited land resources and biodiversity loss worldwide. In such scenario, intensive agriculture practices have been widely used. A commonly applied method to maximize yield in animal production is the use of subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics as growth promoters. Because of the strong antibiotic selection pressure generated, the intense use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) has been associated to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Also, cross-resistance can occur, leading to the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens and limiting treatment options in both human and animal health. Thereon, alternatives have been studied to replace AGP in animal production. Among such alternatives, essential oils and essential oil components (EOC) stand out positively from others due to, besides antimicrobial effectiveness, improving zootechnical indexes and modulating genes involved in resistance mechanisms. This review summarizes recent studies in essential oils and EOC for zoonotic bacteria control, providing detailed information about the molecular-level effects of their use in regard to AMR, and identifying important gaps to be filled within the animal production area.

Can orange essential oil reduce the severity of parasitic infection in sheep?

In this study, a three-step experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of orange essential oil (OEO) to reduce the severity of parasitic infection in lambs naturally infected with gastrointestinal parasites. In the first and second stages of the experiment, the lambs were distributed in groups (n = 10): without treatment (control), treated with levamisole (7.5 mg/kg), and treated either with 200, 300 or 400 mg/kg OEO in the first stage and with two doses of 300 or 350 mg/kg each of OEO with a six-hour interval in the second stage. In the third stage of the experiment, 20 lambs were distributed into control and treated groups (two doses of 350 mg/kg OEO) and slaughtered for determining the parasite count in the abomasum and small intestine. Evaluations were performed on D0, D3, D7, D10, and D14 by determining the egg count per gram of feces (EPG), and the percentage of EPG reduction was calculated in comparison to D0. Coproculture was performed on days D0 and D14 of the first and second stages of the study. In the first stage, the EPG increased by 20.90 and 100.99% and decreased by 5.54% on D14 in the groups treated with 200, 300, or 400 mg/kg OEO, respectively. At the second stage, the EPG of the OEO groups decreased by more than 96% on D3, but on D14 was decreased by 0.82% and 77.07% in the 2 × 300 and 2 × 350 mg/kg groups, respectively. Haemonchus sp. was the highest percentage of collected larvae in all coproculture tests, ranging from 90 to 100%. In the third stage, there was no difference (P > 0.05) in the mean number of parasites between the OEO groups and the control. Although the decrease in EPG of more than 96% on D3 did not persist in the other evaluations, and immature forms and adult parasites were collected at slaughter, the EPG reduction of 77.07% on D14 with the dose of 700 mg/kg (OEO2 × 350) suggests that OEO can help to reduce the severity of parasitic infection and, consequently, to diminish pastures contamination, when used together with other methods to control gastrointestinal parasites in sheep.

Cell-free supernatants produced by lactic acid bacteria reduce Salmonella population in vitro.

The genus Salmonella is closely associated with foodborne outbreaks and animal diseases, and reports of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella species are frequent. Several alternatives have been developed to control this pathogen, such as cell-free supernatants (CFS). Our objective here was to evaluate the use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) CFS against Salmonella in vitro. Seventeen strains of LAB were used to produce CFS, and their antimicrobial activity was screened towards six strains of Salmonella. In addition, CFS were also pH-neutralized and/or boiled. Those with the best results were lyophilized. MICs of lyophilized CFS were 11.25-22.5 g l-1. Freeze-dried CFS were also used to supplement swine and poultry feed (11.25 g kg-1) and in vitro simulated digestion of both species was performed, with Salmonella contamination of 5×106 and 2×105 c.f.u. g-1 of swine and poultry feed, respectively. In the antimicrobial screening, all acidic CFS were able to inhibit the growth of Salmonella. After pH neutralization, Lactobacillus acidophilus Llorente, Limosilactobacillus fermentum CCT 1629, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PUCPR44, Limosilactobacillus reuteri BioGaia, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469 and Pediococcus pentosaceus UM116 CFS were the only strains that partially maintained their antimicrobial activity and, therefore, were chosen for lyophilization. In the simulated swine digestion, Salmonella counts were reduced ≥1.78 log c.f.u. g-1 in the digesta containing either of the CFS. In the chicken simulation, a significant reduction was obtained with all CFS used (average reduction of 0.59±0.01 log c.f.u. ml-1). In general, the lyophilized CFS of L. fermentum CCT 1629, L. rhamnosus ATCC 7469 and L. acidophilus Llorente presented better antimicrobial activity. In conclusion, CFS show potential as feed additives to control Salmonella in animal production and may be an alternative to the use of antibiotics, minimizing problems related to antimicrobial resistance.

Presença de Salmonella spp. na produção animal e o uso de fermentados bacterianos para mitigação dos riscos ­ revisão de literatura / Presence of Salmonella spp. in animal production and the use of bacterial fermentations to mitigate risks ­ a literature review / Presencia de Salmonella spp. en la producción animal y uso de fermentaciones bacterianas para mitigar riesgos - revisión de la literatura

As bactérias do gênero Salmonella são um dos principais problemas na produção animal e, consequentemente, na produção de alimentos. Elas são causadoras principalmente de gastroenterites, com alguns serovares podendo resultar na morte do animal ou indivíduo afetado. Órgãos governamentais em todo o mundo determinam condições mínimas de segurança alimentar, exigindo a ausência de Salmonella nos alimentos, sendo exigida análise de no mínimo 25 gramas de amostragem a cada lote. Dessa forma, seu controle na produção animal também é necessário, devido à grande prevalência existente. Dentre as várias estratégias de controle apresentadas, destaca-se o uso de sobrenadantes livres de células (SLC) produzidos por bactérias lácticas, com grande número de pesquisas in vitro. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste artigo é revisar os avanços recentes no uso de SLC contra Salmonella. Ao final do trabalho, pode-se observar que os SLC têm grande potencial para utilização na produção animal, embora ainda seja necessária uma completa caracterização da sua ação in vivo.(AU)

Bacteria of the Salmonella genus are one of the main problems in animal production and, consequently, in food production. They mainly cause gastroenteritis, with some serovars that can result in the death of the affected animal or individual. Government agencies around the world determine minimum conditions for food safety, requiring the absence of Salmonella in foods, requiring analysis of at least 25 grams of sampling for each batch. Thus, its control in animal production is also necessary, due to the high prevalence that exists. Among the various control strategies presented, the use of cell-free supernatants (CFS) produced by lactic acid bacteria stands out, with a large number of in vitro research. In this context, the purpose of this article is to review recent advances in the use of CFS against Salmonella. At the end of the research, it can be seen that CFS have great potential for use in animal production, although a complete characterization of their in vivo action is still needed.(AU)

Las bacterias del género Salmonella son uno de los principales problemas en la producción animal y, en consecuencia, en la producción de alimentos. Son principalmente la causa de gastroenteritis, con algunos serovares que pueden resultar en la muerte del animal o individuo afectado. Las agencias gubernamentales de todo el mundo determinan las condiciones mínimas para la seguridad alimentaria, lo que requiere la ausencia de Salmonella en los alimentos, lo que requiere el análisis de al menos 25 gramos de muestreo para cada lote. Por tanto, su control en la producción animal también es necesario, debido a la alta prevalencia que existe. Entre las diversas estrategias de control presentadas, destaca el uso de sobrenadantes libres de células (SLC) producidos por bacterias del ácido láctico, con un gran número de investigaciones in vitro. En este contexto, el propósito de este artículo es revisar los avances recientes en el uso de SLC contra Salmonella. Al final del trabajo, se puede ver que los SLC tienen un gran potencial para su uso en la producción animal, aunque aún se necesita una caracterización completa de su acción in vivo.(AU)

Development of an Antifungal Device Based on Oriental Mustard Flour to Prevent Fungal Growth and Aflatoxin B1 Production in Almonds.

The present study describes the manufacture of an antifungal device composed of oriental mustard flour and hydroxyethyl-cellulose (H-OMF) and evaluates its efficacity in inhibiting Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production in almonds. Additionally, it compares the H-OMF with allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and a freeze-dried extract of yellow mustard flour (YMF-E); such substances were previously described as antifungal. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), Minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), the H-OMF in vitro antifungal activity, and the residual fungal population, as well as the production of AFB1 in almonds were determined. AITC and YMF-E showed significant antifungal activity in vitro. Additionally, the in vitro activity of H-OMF avoided mycelial growth by applying 30 mg/L. Almonds treated with AITC (5.07, 10.13, and 20.26 mg/L) and H-OMF (2000 and 4000 mg/L) showed a reduction in the population of A. flavus and the production of AFB1 to values below the limit of detection. YMF-E showed effectiveness by in vitro methodologies (MIC and MFC) but did not show efficacy when applied in almonds. Our findings indicated that the hydroxyethyl-cellulose-based device containing oriental mustard flour might be utilised as a fumigant to increase the safety of almonds and could be extended to other cereals or dry fruits.

Combination of natural antimicrobials for contamination control in ethanol production.

Presence of bacterial contaminants at levels > 107 colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) during ethanol production processes reduces the alcoholic fermentation yield by 30%. Antibiotics are currently used to control contamination, but their residues may be detected in yeast extract, restricting this by-product trade to several countries. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess antimicrobial activity of the natural compounds hops extract, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, nisin Z, and lysozyme against Lactobacillus fermentum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, aiming development of a formula. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of each antimicrobial was determined for bacteria and subsequently, nisin (30 mg/L) and hops extract (5 mg/L) were tested together, showing inhibitory effects combining doses of each antimicrobial that were equivalent to an eightfold reduction of their original Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (3.75 and 0.625 mg/L, respectively), resulting in a FICIndex of 0.25. Thereon, a formula containing both compounds was developed and tested in fermentation assays, promoting reductions on bacterial population and no severe interferences in yeast viability or population even at extreme doses. Therefore, these compounds have great potential to successfully substitute conventional antibiotics in the ethanol industry.

Development of an Antifungal and Antimycotoxigenic Device Containing Allyl Isothiocyanate for Silo Fumigation.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the antifungal activity of the bioactive compound allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) against Aspergillus flavus (8111 ISPA) aflatoxins (AFs) producer and Penicillium verrucosum (D-01847 VTT) ochratoxin A (OTA) producer on corn, barley, and wheat. The experiments were carried out initially in a simulated silo system for laboratory scale composed of glass jars (1 L). Barley and wheat were contaminated with P. verrucosum and corn with A. flavus. The cereals were treated with a hydroxyethylcellulose gel disk to which 500 µL/L of AITC were added; the silo system was closed and incubated for 30 days at 21 °C. After that, simulated silos of 100 L capacity were used. Barley, wheat, and corn were contaminated under the same conditions as the previous trial and treated with disks with 5 mL of AITC, closed and incubated for 90 days at 21 °C. In both cases, the control test did not receive any antifungal treatment. The growth of the inoculated fungi and the reduction in the formation of AFs and OTA were determined. In the lab scale silo system, complete inhibition of fungal growth at 30 days has been observed. In corn, the reduction of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was 98.5%. In the 100 L plastic drums, a significant reduction in the growth of A. flavus was observed, as well as the OTA formation in wheat (99.5%) and barley (92.0%).

Potential Application of Lactic Acid Bacteria to Reduce Aflatoxin B1 and Fumonisin B1 Occurrence on Corn Kernels and Corn Ears.

Fungal spoilage is an important issue for the food industry, leading to food sensory defects, food waste, economic losses and public health concern through the production of mycotoxins. Concomitantly, the search for safer natural products has gained importance since consumers began to look for less processed and chemically treated foods. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and antimycotoxigenic effect of seven strains of Lactobacillus plantarum. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were grown on Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth at 37 ºC in anaerobic conditions. After that, the cell-free supernatant (CFS) were recovered to determine its antifungal activity by halo diffusion agar test. In addition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was determined for each L. plantarum CFS by 96-well microplates method. Additionally, CFS was used as a natural biocontrol agent on corn kernels and corn ears contaminated with Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides, respectively. The L. plantarum CECT 749 CFS showed the highest antifungal effect against all essayed strains. Moreover, the employment of this CFS in food reduced the mycotoxin production at a percentage ranging from 73.7 to 99.7%. These results suggest that the L. plantarum CECT 749 CFS could be promising for the biocontrol of corn.

Toxicological effects of fumonisin B1 in combination with other Fusarium toxins.

Fusarium is a fungal genus spread worldwide commonly associated to the production of several mycotoxins, where fumonisins (FBs) are of major importance due to its prevalence. Since mycotoxins have been reported to cause deleterious effects on mammalians, including carcinogenic, neurotoxic, estrogenic, and immune-suppressive, many countries had established regulations on the tolerated concentrations of such substances in foods and animal feed. Even though many mycotoxins - especially fusariotoxins - are concomitantly found in a single matrix, there is no regulation on co-occurrence levels. This is possibly a result of the lack of data in the literature on the toxicological interactions between different mycotoxins. Considering this, it is of utmost importance to gather what is currently known about the combination of FBs, considered to be the most ubiquitous mycotoxins, with other frequently reported fusariotoxins, such as zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2 toxin (T-2), and other emerging mycotoxins. This paper gives an overview about the toxic effects of fusariotoxins individually and combined to FB1, also gathering the mechanisms and probable interactions between them. This important information may help to develop regulations covering multi-mycotoxins contamination, a growing concern of current days.

Rhamnogalacturonan, a chemically-defined polysaccharide, improves intestinal barrier function in DSS-induced colitis in mice and human Caco-2 cells.

Natural polysaccharides have emerged as an important class of bioactive compounds due their beneficial biological effects. Here we investigated the protective and healing effects of rhamnogalacturonan (RGal) isolated from Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen leaves in an experimental model of intestinal inflammation in mice and in heterogeneous human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2). The findings demonstrated that RGal treatment for 7 days reduced the severity of DSS-induced colitis by protecting mice from weight loss, macroscopic damage and reduction of colon length. When compared to the DSS group, RGal also protected the colon epithelium and promoted the maintenance of mucosal enterocytes and mucus secreting goblet cells, in addition to conserving collagen homeostasis and increasing cell proliferation. In an in vitro barrier function assay, RGal reduced the cellular permeability after exposure to IL-1ß, while decreasing IL-8 secretion and claudin-1 expression and preserving the distribution of occludin. Furthermore, we also observed that RGal accelerated the wound healing in Caco-2 epithelial cell line. In conclusion, RGal ameliorates intestinal barrier function in vivo and in vitro and may represent an attractive and promising molecule for the therapeutic management of ulcerative colitis.