Modifications of wheat flour proteins during in vitro digestion of bread dough, crumb, and crust: an electrophoretic and immunological study

The proteins of wheat flour have several biological activities that can affect human health and physiology when wheat-based foods are consumed. The modifications of bread crumb and crust proteins during an in vitro peptic/pancreatic digestion process were studied by electrophoresis and immunoblotting with polyclonal antibodies specific for single proteins or groups of homologous proteins of the wheat flour, and the results were compared to those obtained for an unheated dough sample. The results show that baking affects the extent of proteolysis and the immunological and physicochemical features of the digestion products in relation to the level of the heat treatment. Therefore, the results concerning the digestion of the unheated wheat flour or dough are not representative of what happens when baked products enter the human digestive tract.     

Spatial distribution and sample size to estimate Euschistus heros population density in wild plants during off-season

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros (F.) is an important pest for many crops in several countries and its ability to survive on associated...     

Identification of the production chain of Asiago d'Allevo cheese by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and principal component analysis

In the present work, a rapid and simple NMR method to discriminate Asiago d'Allevo cheese samples from different production chains is described. A fast and reproducible extraction of the organic fraction was employed. By applying chemometric analysis to NMR data, it is possible to differentiate PDO Asiago cheese produced in alpine farms from that produced in lowland and mountain industrialized factories. PCA of both (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra showed a good separation of alpine farm products from the other ones, whereas the lowland and mountain industrialized cheeses are undistinguishable. The samples were differentiated on the basis of a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids, principally oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and conjugated linoleic acids for the alpine farm cheeses and a higher content of saturated fatty acids for the industrialized products. Conjugated linoleic acid and 1-pentene are also discriminating components.     

Immunochemical and mass spectrometry detection of residual proteins in gluten fined red wine

Recently, wheat gluten has been proposed as technological adjuvant in order to clarify wines. However, the possibility that residual gluten proteins remain in treated wines cannot be excluded, representing a hazard for wheat allergic or celiac disease patients. In this work, commercial wheat glutens, in both partially hydrolyzed (GBS-P51) and nonhydrolyzed (Gluvital 21000) forms, were used as fining agents in red wine at different concentrations. Beside immunoenzymatic analyses using anti-gliadin, anti-prolamin antibodies and pooled sera of wheat allergic patients, a method based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry has been proposed to detect residues of gluten proteins. Residual gluten proteins were detected by anti-prolamin antibodies, anti-gliadin antibodies and sera-IgE only in the wine treated with GBS-P51 at concentration 50, 150, and 300 g/hL, respectively, whereas no residual proteins were detected by these systems in the wine treated with Gluvital 21000. In contrast liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses allowed the detection of proteins in red wines fined down to 1 g/hL of Gluvital 21000 and GBS-P51. Our results indicate that MS methods are superior to immunochemical methods in detecting gluten proteins in wines and that adverse reactions against gluten treated wines cannot be excluded.     

Influence of the Fertilisation System on the Mechanical Damage of Apples

Fuji and Gala apples obtained with different fertilisation systems (soil surface application and fertigation) were submitted to drop tests to analyse the possible difference in susceptibility to damage. The tests were carried out by simulating two impacts of different severity that occur in a packing line. For the Fuji apples, a test was also carried out to assess the effect of a long storage period. For the test with the highest impact severity, the apple acceleration was recorded to describe the mechanical behaviour of the fruit and to correlate it with the damage. Logistic and multiple linear regressions were performed to assess the correlations between probability, extent and nature of damage, fertilisation systems and main characteristics of the fruits. The results show that the resistance to damage of Fuji and Gala apples is influenced by the fertilisation system both in probability and in characteristics of damage. Duration of storage can invert the susceptibility to damage, with the apples having a higher resistance to damage after a longer period of storage. Conventional fertilisation induced a high susceptibility to darkening and fracturing of the apples tissue. The parameters to describe the mechanical behaviour of apples were often correlated with the fertilisation system. However, their influence on extent and nature of damage was not significant or substantial while they can have a high effect on probability of damage. Fuji apples were found to be more susceptible to damage than Gala apples.     

Food allergy to wheat products: the effect of bread baking and in vitro digestion on wheat allergenic proteins. A study with bread dough, crumb, and crust.

The effect of baking and digestion on the allergenicity of wheat flour proteins has been studied. Pooled sera of patients suffering from food allergy to wheat products were tested for IgE binding to the proteins of the wheat dough and of the bread crumb and crust, before and after being in vitro digested. During in vitro digestion, the IgE binding protein components of the unheated dough tended to disappear, whereas a permanence of IgE recognition was evident for both the bread crumb and crust. This indicates that the baking process increases the resistance of the potential allergens of the wheat flour to proteolytic digestion, allowing them to reach the gastrointestinal tract, where they can elicit the immunological response. Therefore, the effects of baking must be carefully considered in studying food allergies to wheat products.     

Distribution of the predatory mite Amblyseius andersoni Chant (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on different apple cultivars

The effect of apple cultivar on the distribution of Amblyseius andersoni was studied in an experimental orchard where tetranychids were virtually absent and eriophyids reached low to moderate populations. Seven apple scab-resistant cultivars, showing some differences in their leaf morphology, were compared. Each cultivar was grafted onto three different rootstocks inducing increasing vigor. The intraplant distribution of A. andersoni was also studied by monitoring predator densities on basal and apical leaves. In the first year, the colonization of different cultivars by A. andersoni showed definite patterns, sometimes associated with the abundance of the eriophyid Aculus schlechtendali. In the second experimental season, eriophyids reached negligible levels and the effect of cultivar on A. andersoni abundance was less clear. Florina and N.Y. 18491 cultivars were colonized in both years by relatively high phytoseiid numbers, while TSR 29T219 and Priscilla showed low populations in at least one season. The results observed on the remaining cultivars were intermediate or indefinite. The role of leaf pubescence on phytoseiid colonization is discussed.     

Distribution of the predatory mite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amblyseius andersoni</Emphasis> Chant (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on different apple cultivars

The effect of apple cultivar on the distribution of Amblyseius andersoni was studied in an experimental orchard where tetranychids were virtually absent and eriophyids reached low to moderate populations. Seven apple scab-resistant cultivars, showing some differences in their leaf morphology, were compared. Each cultivar was grafted onto three different rootstocks inducing increasing vigor. The intraplant distribution of A. andersoni was also studied by monitoring predator densities on basal and apical leaves. In the first year, the colonization of different cultivars by A. andersoni showed definite patterns, sometimes associated with the abundance of the eriophyid Aculus schlechtendali. In the second experimental season, eriophyids reached negligible levels and the effect of cultivar on A. andersoni abundance was less clear. Florina and N.Y. 18?491 cultivars were colonized in both years by relatively high phytoseiid numbers, while TSR 29T219 and Priscilla showed low populations in at least one season. The results observed on the remaining cultivars were intermediate or indefinite. The role of leaf pubescence on phytoseiid colonization is discussed.     

The effect of interplant distance on the effectiveness of honeycomb selection. II. Results of the second selection cycle

Summary For a second consecutive generation, the efficiency of the honeycomb selection procedure was observed at low and at high density, i.e. interplant distance being 100 cm and 15 cm respectively. Progress due to selection was determined for each of the two plant densities applied by comparing the performance of offspring from selected plants with that of offspring from plants taken at random. The relation between selection intensity and selection response was observed to study the relation between competing and yielding ability in presence and in absence of interplant competition.Compared to results obtained in a previous generation, it is now dared to be more positive about the perspectives of selection in absence of interplant competition. It is tentatively concluded that single plant selection for yield at wide spacing gives a higher progress and allows a better identification of outstanding genotypes. However, the superiority of selection at low density is not confirmed neither by any estimator of a quantitative genetic parameter nor by the correlation between single plant yield and plot yield of their offspring. The disturbing factors found already in the former generation, namely variation in seed quality and a biased sample of random plants, exerted a less important role in the estimation of the progress. Nevertheless, it is believed that only when they can be reduced more reliable results can be achieved.     

Vertebral heart size in healthy Australian cattle dog

The vertebral heart score or size (VHS) measurement is routinely used to provide a more objective measurement of cardiomegaly in dogs. However, breed or body conformation can influence the VHS. To assess the specific VHS for the Australian Cattle Dog, left‐to‐right lateral, right‐to‐left lateral, dorsoventral and ventrodorsal thoracic radiographs from 20 individuals free from cardiac and pulmonary disease were obtained. The mean VHS was significantly higher in Australian Cattle Dog (10.5 ± 0.4 vertebrae), when compared with the average VHS for 100 normal dogs of different breeds that had been initially published (9.7 ± 0.5 vertebrae). This emphasizes the importance of breed‐specific VHS ranges. In our study group of normal Australian Cattle Dogs, the mean VHS was 10.5 ± 0.5 vertebrae (mean ±SD) on right lateral and 10.3 ± 0.5 vertebrae on left lateral radiographs. The VHS on right lateral views was significantly larger than on left lateral views. The VHS was 10.5 ± 0.6 vertebrae on dorsoventral and 11.1 ± 0.6 vertebrae on ventrodorsal radiographs. The VHS on ventrodorsal views was significantly larger than on dorsoventral views.