Spectrophotometric evidence for the solubilization site of betalain pigments in membrane biomimetic systems

The solubilization site of two betalain pigments, namely, betanin and indicaxantin, into l-alpha-dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) vesicles was investigated by a spectrophotometric study. Pigment absorbance was monitored by varying phospholipid concentration, at a constant temperature that was varied in a range including the main phase transition temperature (Tm) of the relevant phospholipid bilayer. Maximum betanin absorption increased with the increase of DPPC concentration within the entire temperature range, reaching a plateau. The binding constant (Kb) of the pigment, calculated according to a pseudo-two-phase model, varied with the temperature, indicating that betanin is located at the hydrophobic interior of the bilayer. Other measurements of binding of betanin to DMPC and of indicaxanthin to either DPPC or DMPC vesicles ruled out that these compounds were solubilized in the hydrophobic interior of these bilayers.     

In silico prediction of Gallibacterium anatis pan-immunogens

The Gram-negative bacterium Gallibacterium anatis is a major cause of salpingitis and peritonitis in commercial egg-layers, leading to reduced egg production and increased mortality. Unfortunately, widespread multidrug resistance and antigenic diversity makes it difficult to control infections and novel prevention strategies are urgently needed. In this study, a pan-genomic reverse vaccinology (RV) approach was used to identify potential vaccine candidates. Firstly, the genomes of 10 selected Gallibacterium strains were analyzed and proteins selected on the following criteria; predicted surface-exposure or secretion, none or one transmembrane helix (TMH), and presence in six or more of the 10 genomes. In total, 42 proteins were selected. The genes encoding 27 of these proteins were successfully cloned in Escherichia coli and the proteins expressed and purified. To reduce the number of vaccine candidates for in vivo testing, each of the purified recombinant proteins was screened by ELISA for their ability to elicit a significant serological response with serum from chickens that had been infected with G. anatis. Additionally, an in silico prediction of the protective potential was carried out based on a protein property prediction method. Of the 27 proteins, two novel putative immunogens were identified; Gab_1309 and Gab_2312. Moreover, three previously characterized virulence factors; GtxA, FlfA and Gab_2156, were identified. Thus, by combining the pan-genomic RV approach with subsequent in vitro and in silico screening, we have narrowed down the pan-proteome of G. anatis to five vaccine candidates. Importantly, preliminary immunization trials indicated an in vivo protective potential of GtxA-N, FlfA and Gab_1309.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-014-0080-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Influence of lambda-carrageenan on the release of systematic series of volatile flavor compounds from viscous food model systems

The effect of lambda-carrageenan addition level (0.1, 0.25, 0.4, and 0.5% w/w) and viscosity on the release of systematic series of aroma compounds (aldehydes, esters, ketones, and alcohols) was studied in thickened viscous solutions containing lambda-carrageenan and 10 wt % of sucrose. Air-liquid partition coefficients K (37 degrees C) of a total of 43 aroma compounds were determined in pure water and in the lambda-carrageenan solutions by static headspace gas chromatography. Mass transfer of the aroma compounds in water and in the thickened lambda-carrageenan solutions which had a wide viscosity range was assessed by dynamic headspace gas chromatography. K (37 degrees C) increased as the carbon chain increased within each homologous series. Esters exhibited the highest volatility, followed by aldehydes, ketones, and alcohols. Under equilibrium, no overall effect of lambda-carrageenan was found, except with the most hydrophobic compounds. Analysis of flavor release under nonequilibrium conditions revealed a suppressing effect of lambda-carrageenan on the release rates of aroma compounds, and the extent of decrease in release rates was dependent on the physicochemical characteristics of the aroma compounds, with the largest effect for the most volatile compounds. However, none of the effects was of a magnitude similar to the obtained changes in the macroscopic viscosity, and the suppressing effects are therefore attributable to the thickener and not the physical properties of the increasingly viscous systems.     

The acquisition of cadmium by Lupinus albus L., Lupinus angustifolius L., and Lolium multiflorum Lam.

Das Cadmiumaneignungsvermögen von Lupinus albus L., Lupinus angustifolius L. und Lolium multiflorum Lam. Mehrere Pflanzenarten mobilisieren Bodenphosphate (P) und Kationen wie Fe und Al durch die Exsudation organischer Anionen und Protonen. Deshalb untersuchten wir das Cd‐Aneignungsver‐mögen von P‐, Fe‐, Al‐mobilisierenden Arten (Lupinus albus L., Lupinus angustifolius L.) im Vergleich zu einer nicht mobili‐sierenden Pflanzenart (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Die Pflanzen wuchsen in zwei stark unterschiedlichen Böden (saurer Humuspodsol, karbonathaltiger Lössunterboden). Die Cd‐Aufnahme in die Sprosse war bei Weidelgras 5 bis 10 mal höher als bei Blauen bzw. Weißen Lupinen. Dieses Ergebnis hat mehrere Ursachen: 1. Das Wurzellängen/Sprossmasseverhältnis des Weidelgrases ist 2—3 mal größer als das der Lupinenpflanzen. 2. Bei Weidelgras wird ein größerer Teil des aufgenommenen Cd in die Sprosse verlagert. 3. Die Cd‐Aufnahme bei Lupinen ist im sauren Boden (Podsol) und bei P‐Mangel auch im Kalkboden niedriger als bei Weidelgras. Während im Podsol die Cd‐Konzentration der Bodenlösung unter Lupine geringer war als in der Kontrolle (Gefäße ohne Pflanzen), war sie im Kalkboden höher. Bei den Lupinen war der Efflux organischer Säureanionen, vor allem Citrat und Malat, um den Faktor 10—100 höher als bei Weidelgras. Diese Exsudation kann zu einer hohen Cd‐Komplexierung, insbesondere durch Citrat, in der Rhizosphärenbodenlösung führen (˜ 85%). Diese Ergebenisse deuten darauf hin, dass das komplexierte Cd von den Wurzeln schlechter aufgenommen wird als das freie Cd.     

Flavor retention of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) essential oil spray-dried in modified starches during encapsulation and storage

The effect of different commercial modified food starch carrier materials on the flavor retention of the essential oil (EO) of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) during spray drying and storage was evaluated. The obtained results revealed that the emulsification and encapsulation efficiencies of peppermint EO were higher for all n-octenyl succinic anhydride (OSAN)-modified starches as compared to those of hydrolyzed starches (dextrins). The compositions of pure, emulsified, and encapsulated peppermint EOs in different matrices were quite similar; however, some changes in the percentages of some individual compounds were observed. Larger differences in the compositions of surface oils from various encapsulation products were obtained. Flavor components were released at different rates by each of the encapsulated products. The aroma binding capacity of different modified starch matrices to lock EO droplets depends on the water activity, and the leakage of aromas from encapsulated powder products during storage increased with increasing water activity.     

Naturally monozygotic quadruplets in a Braford cow confirmed by DNA analysis: A case report

Cattle are a monotocous species, despite naturally conceived multiple births are sometimes observed. Although the number of twins has consistently increased, triplet and quadruplet pregnancies represent 0.015% and 0.004% of the total births, respectively. Multiple births are the result of multiple ovulation and/or the spontaneous cleavage of one fertilized oocyte, which is known as monozygotic (MZ) twinning. In cattle, approximately 5% to 14% of all twin births are MZ, and births with more than two MZ calves are extremely rare. Monozygotic animals are genetically identical, and those derived from two or more zygotes are genetically different. Furthermore, the presence of placental vascular anastomosis can result in foetal chimerism. Notwithstanding, animals born as single calves can be chimeras when one of the foetal twins dies undetected in utero. Here, we used DNA testing to study the zygotic condition of an unusual female quadruplet born from a Braford cow bred in a multi-sire natural mating system without hormone stimulation. Two tissues with different embryological origin were sampled to test zygosity and possible chimerism. The results showed an identical genotype, confirming they all originated in an MZ pregnancy and suggesting the lack of chimerism in all animals. The use of MZ twins in breeding and selection systems provides an alternative to the conventional progeny testing. Some works have suggested a genetic background of MZ twins in humans. This female and her daughters could be the founders of a lineage to study the possible inheritance of MZ multiple births in cattle.     

Genetic variability of Appaloosa horses: a study of a closed breeding population from Argentina

The genetic diversity and structure of 72 Appaloosa horses belonging to a closed breeding population from an ecological reserve in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was investigated using eight microsatellite markers from the International Society for Animal Genetics panel. Our data showed that this Appaloosa horse population had an elevated degree of genetic diversity (He= 0.746) and did not present a significant increase of homozygous individuals (F_IS~0). However, the short tandem repeats, AHT5, ASB2, HTG10 and VHL20, were not in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P-value<0.05). Genetic relationships between this population and other well known horse breeds showed that Appaloosa horses from Argentina could have had their origin in the horses of the Nez Perce’s people in Idaho while other Appaloosa horses may have had influences from Andalusian and Lusitano breeds. This closed breeding population conserves an important degree of Appaloosa genetic diversity and notwithstanding its particular breeding characteristics, represents a valuable genetic resource for conservation.     

Changes in macroscopic viscosity do not affect the release of aroma aldehydes from a pectinaceous food model system of low sucrose content

The effects of pectin and viscosity on the release of a systematic series of aldehydes (alkanals, methyl-alkanals, alkenals, and alkandienals) were studied in a food model system of low sucrose content (10% w/w). The viscosity was varied by adding different amounts of Ca(2+) (0, 13.5, and 27 mg/g pectin) to the model system of constant pectin concentration (0.4% w/w). Air-liquid partition coefficients, K (37 degrees C), of the aroma compounds were determined in aqueous and pectin-thickened solutions. Diffusivities of the aroma compounds in water and three pectin-thickened solutions were estimated from release rate constants that were obtained via timed collection of volatiles in the gas phase and quantifications by dynamic headspace-gas chromatography. The partition coefficients increased as the carbon chain increased within each homologous series. Overall, no significant difference was found between partition coefficients of aldehydes in water and in pectin solutions except for 2-methyl-propanal and butanal that showed higher K values when pectin was present. Furthermore, the diffusional properties of the model system with a constant pectin level (0.4% w/w) remained constant when the viscosity was increased from 0.001 to 150 Pa s. It was concluded that neither pectin nor alterations in macroscopic viscosity as such influenced the release of aldehydes from the pectin-thickened food model system.     

Bocaiuva (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd) improved Vitamin A status in rats

Carotenoid bioavailability is influenced by various factors including the food matrix. The release of those molecules from the food matrix is the initial and most important step in the absorption process. The relative bioavailability of bocaiuva pulp beta-carotene in relation to pure beta-carotene was assayed by a hepatic retinol store, in vitamin A deficient Wistar rats. After the depletion period, the vitamin A deficient rats were separated into two groups and fed an AIN-93G modified diet, which contained 14 400 microg of pure beta-carotene (beta-carotene diet) or 13 475 microg of beta-carotene from 275 g of bocaiuva pulp (bocaiuva diet) per 1 kg of the diet as a vitamin A source. Both experimental diets resulted in similar body weight gains. The bioavailability, estimated as Retinol Accumulation Factor, was 7.3 and 3.5 for the beta-carotene and the Bocaiuva group, respectively. These results show that in spite of the matrix of the bocaiuva pulp, the beta-carotene bioavailability from this fruit was higher than the pure beta-carotene.     

Effect of xanthan on flavor release from thickened viscous food model systems

The influence of xanthan concentration (0, 0.02, 0.1, 0.4, and 0.8% w/w) and bulk viscosity on the release of 20 aroma compounds of different chemical classes (5 aldehydes, 4 esters, 5 ketones, 3 alcohols, and 3 terpenes) was evaluated in xanthan-thickened food model systems having different viscosities. Interactions between flavor compounds and xanthan were assessed by measuring air-liquid partition coefficients, K, of aroma compounds in pure water and in the xanthan solutions by static headspace gas chromatography. Mass transfer of aroma compounds was estimated by dynamic headspace gas chromatography. Notably, limonene and some of the esters and aldehydes exhibited decreased K values in the presence of xanthan, indicating that the release of these volatile aroma compounds was reduced due to interaction with the xanthan matrix. The degree of interaction depended on the physicochemical characteristics of the aroma compounds. A similar tendency was observed at nonequilibrium with the decreases in release rates being most pronounced for limonene, followed by the esters and aldehydes, with no effect for ketones and an apparent "salting out" effect for alcohols. The reduction in flavor release by xanthan was thus dependent on the physicochemical properties of the aroma compounds and was apparently a result of the aroma-xanthan interactions and not influenced by the viscosity of the system itself.