Adsorption of flavonoids on resins: cyanidin 3-glucoside

Adsorption of cyanidin-3-glucoside in aqueous batch solutions was studied at pH 3.5 and 20 degrees C using 13 commercial resins with different hydrophobicity, surface areas (SA, 330-1200 m2/g), and pore radii (PR, 20-260 A). The solute affinity toward different resins was described in terms of Langmuir and Freundlich parameters; experimental data were well-fitted to the two isotherms, which were both utilized to compare resins adsorption capacity. The styrene-divinylbenzene EXA-118 resin (SA, 1200 m2/g; PR, 90 A) showed the maximum effectiveness among the tested resins; a good efficacy for removing cyanidin 3-glucoside was shown also by EXA-90 (SA, 630 m2/g; PR, 105 A). Some experiments on a styrene-divinylbenzene resin and an acrylic one demonstrated that adsorption was not influenced by pH variations of the solution within the range of 1.0-4.5. For the 10 resins having PR < or = 105 A, correlation analysis evidenced the linear increasing dependence of Freundlich constant KF on physical characteristics of surface area and pore radius. The adsorption of cyanidin 3-glucoside at 20 degrees C was compared with that of hesperidin performed in batch runs on the same resins. Moreover, the best resin (EXA-118) was tested with a sample of pigmented orange juice to assess its performance in terms of selectivity, adsorption, and desorption capabilities on a real matrix.     

Rapid detection of kernel rots and mycotoxins in maize by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a practical spectroscopic procedure for the detection of organic compounds in matter. It is particularly useful because of its nondestructiveness, accuracy, rapid response, and easy operation. This work assesses the applicability of NIR for the rapid identification of micotoxigenic fungi and their toxic metabolites produced in naturally and artificially contaminated products. Two hundred and eighty maize samples were collected both from naturally contaminated maize crops grown in 16 areas in north-central Italy and from ears artificially inoculated with Fusarium verticillioides. All samples were analyzed for fungi infection, ergosterol, and fumonisin B1 content. The results obtained indicated that NIR could accurately predict the incidence of kernels infected by fungi, and by F. verticillioides in particular, as well as the quantity of ergosterol and fumonisin B1 in the meal. The statistics of the calibration and of the cross-validation for mold infection and for ergosterol and fumonisin B1 contents were significant. The best predictive ability for the percentage of global fungal infection and F. verticillioides was obtained using a calibration model utilizing maize kernels (r2 = 0.75 and SECV = 7.43) and maize meals (r2 = 0.79 and SECV = 10.95), respectively. This predictive performance was confirmed by the scatter plot of measured F. verticillioides infection versus NIR-predicted values in maize kernel samples (r2 = 0.80). The NIR methodology can be applied for monitoring mold contamination in postharvest maize, in particular F. verticilliodes and fumonisin presence, to distinguish contaminated lots from clean ones, and to avoid cross-contamination with other material during storage and may become a powerful tool for monitoring the safety of the food supply.     

The precision and robustness of published protocols for disc diffusion assays of antimicrobial agent susceptibility: an inter-laboratory study

The precision of the disc diffusion protocols previously published by Alderman and Smith (Aquaculture 196 (2002) 211) was analysed in a seven-laboratory trial using Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 as the test strain. Discs containing seven antimicrobial agents were employed and 2899 zone size measurements were generated. The total data generated in the trial was used to quantify the intra- and inter-laboratory precisions. The study design also facilitated the investigation of the influence of the source of media and the source of discs on zone sizes. A smaller two-laboratory trial was employed to investigate the influence of incubation time of zone size.

The intra-laboratory precision was relatively high with the mean of the coefficients of variation calculated for each laboratory and each agent being 4.7%. In contrast, the inter-laboratory precision was very much lower with the mean of the values for each agent being 11.1%. Significant influences on zone size were detected for all three parameters of the protocol. Media source effects were particularly notable with respect to oxytetracycline and oxolinic acid discs, disc source effects with respect to ampicillin and sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim discs and incubation times with the ampicillin and amoxycillin discs. ANOVA analysis of the total data set confirmed that inter-laboratory variation was the major factor influencing the low precision of the protocol.

The overall precision of the protocols used here was found to be significantly lower than that implied by the control limits associated with the same bacterium in other validated disc diffusion protocols. The implications of these results, for the further development of the protocols under investigation, are discussed.     

Acepromazine‐dexmedetomidine‐ketamine for injectable anaesthesia in captive European brown hares (Lepus europaeus)

ObjectiveTo evaluate a combination of acepromazine, dexmedetomidine and ketamine (ADK) on induction and recovery from anaesthesia, and on physiological parameters in hares undergoing non‐invasive procedures.Study designProspective clinical study.AnimalsSixteen European hares (Lepus europaeus), seven males and nine females, aged (mean ± SD) 3.25 ± 0.9 months and weight 2.1 ± 0.6 kg.MethodsAcepromazine 1% (A), dexmedetomidine 0.05% (D) and ketamine 5% (K) were mixed and given intramuscularly (IM) at 0.25 mL kg^?1, representing 10 mg kg^?1 K, 0.25 mg kg^?1 A, 12.5 μg kg^?1 D. If the righting reflex was present after four minutes, a second injection of 0.15 mL kg^?1 (6 mg kg^?1 K, 0.15 mg kg^?1 A, 7.5 μg kg^?1 D) was administered IM. Surgical anaesthesia was judged as present when righting, palpebral, ear‐pinch and pedal withdrawal reflexes were absent. Anaesthetized hares were tagged, and underwent blood sampling and ocular ultrasound examination. Physiological parameters were recorded every ten minutes, and were compared by Kruskal‐Wallis tests.ResultsA single dose induced loss of righting reflex in 11/16 (69%) hares within four minutes; the second dose was effective in the remaining hares. Ten minutes after the loss of the righting reflex, a surgical plane of anaesthesia was present in all hares. Sleep time to regaining righting reflex was 34 ± 11 (range 21–62) minutes and recovery was calm. Although there were some statistical differences over time, cardiovascular parameters remained within an acceptable range but there was respiratory depression and hares were hypoxemic.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe ADK mixture produced a smooth and rapid induction of anaesthesia, a low incidence of untoward side effects and full recovery after four hours. Supplementary oxygen might be advisable if a deeper plane of anaesthesia was required. Chemical restraint was adequate to perform non‐invasive procedures.     

Draft genome of the filarial nematode parasite Brugia malayi

Parasitic nematodes that cause elephantiasis and river blindness threaten hundreds of millions of people in the developing world. We have sequenced the approximately 90 megabase (Mb) genome of the human filarial parasite Brugia malayi and predict approximately 11,500 protein coding genes in 71 Mb of robustly assembled sequence. Comparative analysis with the free-living, model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans revealed that, despite these genes having maintained little conservation of local synteny during approximately 350 million years of evolution, they largely remain in linkage on chromosomal units. More than 100 conserved operons were identified. Analysis of the predicted proteome provides evidence for adaptations of B. malayi to niches in its human and vector hosts and insights into the molecular basis of a mutualistic relationship with its Wolbachia endosymbiont. These findings offer a foundation for rational drug design.     

Heat treatment effect on Cadophora luteo-olivacea of kiwifruit

Heat treatment represents an alternative method to fungicides to control latent fruit pathogens, such as Cadophora luteo-olivacea of kiwifruit. This study reports the efficacy of different hot water (HW) and hot air (HA) treatments (45, 50, 55, 65, and 70°C with durations of 10, 15 or 20, 5 or 10, 5, and 3 min, respectively) on the conidial and mycelial growth of fungal isolates by in vitro assays. Both treatments at 70°C were the most effective in inhibiting conidial and mycelial growth of C. luteo-olivacea isolates. Treatment efficacy for HW and HA was on average 88% and 71%, respectively, on mycelial growth, and 100% and 91.3%, respectively, on conidial growth. A significant reduction of xylanase and pectinase enzyme activities of the isolates was detected after HW and HA treatment (70°C × 3 min). In most cases, both treatments showed a total reduction, sometimes varying with the target isolate. HA treatment was the most efficient treatment for reducing the skin pitting incidence in in vivo experiments, showing an average efficacy of 46.6%. Results show that heat treatments are effective against C. luteo-olivacea, but the main challenge will be to develop the optimal time × temperature combinations.     

Influence of film wrapping and fludioxonil application on quality of pomegranate fruit

Pomegranates are sensitive to low temperatures. When fruit are exposed to temperatures below 5–6 °C chilling injury appears as pitting of the skin, browning of the white segments separating the arils and discoloration of the arils, and husk scald, which generally is more severe at temperatures of 6–10 °C. The main objective of this work was to assess the effectiveness of individual film packaging, applied as a stand alone treatment or in combination with fludioxonil, on reducing the occurrence of husk scald, weight loss and decay. Fruit were dipped in an aqueous mixture containing 600 mg L^?1 fludioxonil, wrapped or not wrapped with a polyolephinic heat-shrinkable film and stored at 8 °C and 90% RH for 6 or 12 weeks plus one additional week of simulated shelf-life at 20 °C and 65–70% RH. Respiration rate decreased both in cold storage and at 20 °C. Ethylene production was not detected during cold storage; its rate increased upon transfer to 20 °C, but results were inconsistent. Control fruit deteriorated at a very high rate, due to excessive weight loss, skin browning and decay. Film wrapping almost completely inhibited weight loss and husk scald and preserved fruit freshness for the whole storage time. There was no statistical difference in decay incidence between wrapped and control fruit after 6 or 12 weeks of storage and after the first shelf-life, while after the second shelf-life, wrapped fruit had significantly higher decay levels. By contrast, fludioxonil, both alone and in combination with wrapping, effectively controlled mold development, resulting in 50–67% less decay than control fruit after 12 weeks at 8 °C plus one week shelf-life. Control fruit showed minor changes in nutritional compounds as well as in total polyphenols, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity, while higher losses were detected in film-wrapped fruit during storage at 20 °C.     

Detection of helicobacter candidatus suis by PCR in oesophagogastric ulcers of swine in Italy

The aim of this study was to evaluate by PCR the presence of Helicobacter spp. in gastric mucus from the fundic region of the stomach and to investigate its role in oesophagogastric ulcers in swine bred and regularly slaughtered in Piedmont (Northern Italy). Stomachs from 595 regularly slaughtered swine were subjected to gross pathological examination in order to evaluate the presence of gastric ulcers (revealed in 75 cases, 12.6%). Histopathological examination was performed to better characterise erosions and ulcers. DNA extracted from gastric mucus collected from all the ulcer-affected and from 25 normal stomachs was submitted to PCR using Helicobacter spp. 16S rRNA gene target primers. Sixty-three percent (47/75) of the affected stomachs was positive as well as 24% (6/25) of the non-affected ones. Sequence analysis from 5 positive samples showed 99% homology with Helicobacter candidatus suis 16S ribosomal RNA gene.