Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Citrus Essential Oil on the Quality of Vacuum-Packed Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Fillets During Refrigerated Storage

The preservative effect of refrigerated and vacuum-packed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fillets inoculated with four mixtures of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Carnobacterium piscicola) and incorporated with citrus essential oil (CEO) was evaluated on the basis of microbiological and biochemical analysis.

Initially, sea bass fillets showed high nutritional quality. During refrigerated storage, lipid contents did not show a significant decrease in any fish fillets; meanwhile, important proteolysis was observed in untreated control. In addition, results indicated that both CEO and LAB strains exhibited antimicrobial activity against spoilage, pathogenic, and fungi flora. Moreover, the total volatile bases (TVB-N) values were higher in control fillets, and the lowest TVB-N values were observed in Control CEO and C3 + CEO (30.47 ± 0.00 and 32.29 ± 1.12 mg TVB-N/100 g, respectively). Also, the levels of biogenic amines increased in all fillets without exceeding the upper limit of acceptability except for untreated control (sum of about 1396.63 ppm). Furthermore, this combined treatment ameliorated the muscle liquid-holding capacity, which improves technological properties.

Overall, this treatment may open new promising opportunities for the biopreservation of fish products by enhancing the period of storage of refrigerated and vacuum-packed sea bass fillets.     

Regional and maturational effects on essential oils yields and composition of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) fruits

The composition of volatile components of the essential oils extracted from fruits of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) growing in two different Tunisian regions in both Menzel Temime and Borj El Ifaa was studied by GC and GC–MS. The highest oil yields were observed at final stages of maturity: 0.324 ± 0.09% and 0.327 ± 0.08%, in Menzel Temime and Borj El Ifaa, respectively. Essential oil yields were highly (P < 0.001) affected by the growing region, stages of maturity and their interaction. Essential oil composition changed significantly (P < 0.05) among the different stages of maturity and growing region. Linalool and geranyl acetate were the main compounds at full fruit maturity in the two studied regions. Growing region, stages of maturity and their interaction had a strong effect (P < 0.001) on 35 compounds. α-Pinene, sabinene, limonene, γ-terpinene, cis-dihydrocarvone and geranial were insensible to the regional factor.     

Molecular and Structural Characterizations of Lipases from Chlorella by Functional Genomics

Microalgae have been poorly investigated for new-lipolytic enzymes of biotechnological interest. In silico study combining analysis of sequences homologies and bioinformatic tools allowed the identification and preliminary characterization of 14 putative lipases expressed by Chlorella vulagaris. These proteins have different molecular weights, subcellular localizations, low instability index range and at least 40% of sequence identity with other microalgal lipases. Sequence comparison indicated that the catalytic triad corresponded to residues Ser, Asp and His, with the nucleophilic residue Ser positioned within the consensus GXSXG pentapeptide. 3D models were generated using different approaches and templates and demonstrated that these putative enzymes share a similar core with common α/β hydrolases fold belonging to family 3 lipases and class GX. Six lipases were predicted to have a transmembrane domain and a lysosomal acid lipase was identified. A similar mammalian enzyme plays an important role in breaking down cholesteryl esters and triglycerides and its deficiency causes serious digestive problems in human. More structural insight would provide important information on the enzyme characteristics.     

Ultrastructure features of camel cornea--collagen fibril and proteoglycans

Introduction The uniform distribution of collagen fibrils and proteoglycans maintain the transparency of normal cornea. We describe the ultrastructural features of camel cornea including collagen fibrils and proteoglycans (PGs). Methods Camel corneas (of 6‐, 8‐, and 10‐month‐old animals) were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde containing cuprolinic blue in sodium acetate buffer and processed for electron microscopy. The ‘AnalySIS LS Professional’ program was used to analyze the collagen fibril diameter. Results The camel cornea consists of four layers: the epithelium (227 μm), stroma (388 μm), Descemet’s membrane (DM), and endothelium. The epithelium constituted 36% of the camel cornea, whereas corneal stroma constituted 62% of the corneal thickness (629 μm). The PGs in the posterior stroma were significantly larger in number and size compared with the anterior and middle stroma. The collagen fibril diameter was 25 nm and interfibrillar spacing 40 nm. Fibrillar structures are present throughout the DM. Conclusion The structure of the camel cornea is very different from human and other animals. The unique structure of the cornea might be an adaptation to help the camel to survive in a hot and dry climate. The camel cornea may also be a good model to study the effect of hot and dry climates on the cornea.     

Different Culture Metabolites of the Red Sea Fungus Fusarium equiseti Optimize the Inhibition of Hepatitis C Virus NS3/4A Protease (HCV PR)

The endophytic fungus Fusarium equiseti was isolated from the brown alga Padina pavonica, collected from the Red Sea. The fungus was identified by its morphology and 18S rDNA. Cultivation of this fungal strain in biomalt-peptone medium led to isolation of 12 known metabolites of diketopeprazines and anthraquinones. The organic extract and isolated compounds were screened for their inhibition of hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease (HCV PR). As a result, the fungal metabolites showed inhibition of HCV protease (IC₅₀ from 19 to 77 μM), and the fungus was subjected to culture on Czapek’s (Cz) media, with a yield of nine metabolites with potent HCV protease inhibition ranging from IC₅₀ 10 to 37 μM. The Cz culture extract exhibited high-level inhibition of HCV protease (IC₅₀ 27.6 μg/mL) compared to the biomalt culture extract (IC₅₀ 56 μg/mL), and the most potent HCV PR isolated compound (Griseoxanthone C, IC₅₀ 19.8 μM) from the bio-malt culture extract showed less of an inhibitory effect compared to isolated ω-hydroxyemodin (IC₅₀ 10.7 μM) from the optimized Cz culture extract. Both HCV PR active inhibitors ω-hydroxyemodin and griseoxanthone C were considered as the lowest selective safe constituents against Trypsin inhibitory effect with IC₅₀ 48.5 and 51.3 μM, respectively.     

Population decline of Macaca sylvanus in the middle atlas of Morocco

An eight-year-long census and habitat evaluation of the Macaca sylvanus population was conducted in a 484-km² area of the central region of the Middle Atlas Mountains in Morocco between June 1994 and October 2002. The authors walked a 93.5-km circuit - divided into 16 transect segments - 30 times with teams of trained research assistant volunteers, collecting data on a total of 2,805 linear km. Previous studies had reported an average density of 44-70 individuals per km², while data from the present study indicate a progressive population decline, from 25 to 30 individuals per km², down to a current average density of 7-10 I/km². The population decline is attributed to the loss of prime habitat, mainly cedar forest, which has significantly decreased from 1994 to 2002, due to the growing impact of overgrazing by mixed flocks of goats and sheep and consequent forest degradation. At present, human-caused habitat deterioration in the Middle Atlas risks further compromising the future of the world’s only remaining large M. sylvanus population.