The detailed analysis of the microbiome and resistome of artisanal blue-veined cheeses provides evidence on sources and patterns of succession linked with quality and safety traits

BACKGROUND

Artisanal cheeses usually contain a highly diverse microbial community which can significantly impact their quality and safety. Here, we describe a detailed longitudinal study assessing the impact of ripening in three natural caves on the microbiome and resistome succession across three different producers of Cabrales blue-veined cheese.

RESULTS

Both the producer and cave in which cheeses were ripened significantly influenced the cheese microbiome. Lactococcus and the former Lactobacillus genus, among other taxa, showed high abundance in cheeses at initial stages of ripening, either coming from the raw material, starter culture used, and/or the environment of processing plants. Along cheese ripening in caves, these taxa were displaced by other bacteria, such as Tetragenococcus, Corynebacterium, Brevibacterium, Yaniella, and Staphylococcus, predominantly originating from cave environments (mainly food contact surfaces), as demonstrated by source-tracking analysis, strain analysis at read level, and the characterization of 613 metagenome-assembled genomes. The high abundance of Tetragenococcus koreensis and Tetragenococcus halophilus detected in cheese has not been found previously in cheese metagenomes. Furthermore, Tetragenococcus showed a high level of horizontal gene transfer with other members of the cheese microbiome, mainly with Lactococcus and Staphylococcus, involving genes related to carbohydrate metabolism functions. The resistome analysis revealed that raw milk and the associated processing environments are a rich reservoir of antimicrobial resistance determinants, mainly associated with resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, and β-lactam antibiotics and harbored by aerobic gram-negative bacteria of high relevance from a safety point of view, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Acinetobacter, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and that the displacement of most raw milk-associated taxa by cave-associated taxa during ripening gave rise to a significant decrease in the load of ARGs and, therefore, to a safer end product.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the cave environments represented an important source of non-starter microorganisms which may play a relevant role in the quality and safety of the end products. Among them, we have identified novel taxa and taxa not previously regarded as being dominant components of the cheese microbiome (Tetragenococcus spp.), providing very valuable information for the authentication of this protected designation of origin artisanal cheese. Video Abstract.

Characterization of airborne dust emissions from three types of crushed multi-walled carbon nanotube-enhanced concretes

Dispersing Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) into concrete at low (<1 wt% in cement) concentrations may improve concrete performance and properties and provide enhanced functionalities. When MWCNT-enhanced concrete is fragmented during remodelling or demolition, the stiff, fibrous and carcinogenic MWCNTs will, however, also be part of the respirable particulate matter released in the process. Consequently, systematic aerosolizing of crushed MWCNT-enhanced concretes in a controlled environment and measuring the properties of this aerosol can give valuable insights into the characteristics of the emissions such as concentrations, size range and morphology. These properties impact to which extent the emissions can be inhaled as well as where they are expected to deposit in the lung, which is critical to assess whether these materials might constitute a future health risk for construction and demolition workers. In this work, the impact from MWCNTs on aerosol characteristics was assessed for samples of three concrete types with various amounts of MWCNT, using a novel methodology based on the continuous drop method. MWCNT-enhanced concretes were crushed, aerosolized and the emitted particles were characterized with online and offline techniques. For light-weight porous concrete, the addition of MWCNT significantly reduced the respirable mass fraction (RESP) and particle number concentrations (PNC) across all size ranges (7 nm - 20 μm), indicating that MWCNTs dampened the fragmentation process by possibly reinforcing the microstructure of brittle concrete. For normal concrete, the opposite could be seen, where MWCNTs resulted in drastic increases in RESP and PNC, suggesting that the MWCNTs may be acting as defects in the concrete matrix, thus enhancing the fragmentation process. For the high strength concrete, the fragmentation decreased at the lowest MWCNT concentration, but increased again for the highest MWCNT concentration. All tested concrete types emitted <100 nm particles, regardless of CNT content. SEM imaging displayed CNTs protruding from concrete fragments, but no free fibres were detected.

Improved sampling and DNA extraction procedures for microbiome analysis in food-processing environments

Deep investigation of the microbiome of food-production and food-processing environments through whole-metagenome sequencing (WMS) can provide detailed information on the taxonomic composition and functional potential of the microbial communities that inhabit them, with huge potential benefits for environmental monitoring programs. However, certain technical challenges jeopardize the application of WMS technologies with this aim, with the most relevant one being the recovery of a sufficient amount of DNA from the frequently low-biomass samples collected from the equipment, tools and surfaces of food-processing plants. Here, we present the first complete workflow, with optimized DNA-purification methodology, to obtain high-quality WMS sequencing results from samples taken from food-production and food-processing environments and reconstruct metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs). The protocol can yield DNA loads >10 ng in >98% of samples and >500 ng in 57.1% of samples and allows the collection of, on average, 12.2 MAGs per sample (with up to 62 MAGs in a single sample) in ~1 week, including both laboratory and computational work. This markedly improves on results previously obtained in studies performing WMS of processing environments and using other protocols not specifically developed to sequence these types of sample, in which <2 MAGs per sample were obtained. The full protocol has been developed and applied in the framework of the European Union project MASTER (Microbiome applications for sustainable food systems through technologies and enterprise) in 114 food-processing facilities from different production sectors.

Sequencing-based analysis of the microbiomes of Spanish food processing facilities reveals environment-specific variation in the dominant taxa and antibiotic resistance genes

In the last years, advances in high throughput sequencing technologies have opened the possibility to broaden environmental monitoring activities in facilities processing food, offering expanded opportunities for characterizing in an untargeted manner the microbiome and resistome of foods and food processing environments (FPE) with huge potential benefits in food safety management systems. Here the microbiome and resistome of FPE from slaughterhouses (n = 3), dairy (n = 12) and meat (n = 10) processing plants were assessed through whole metagenome sequencing of 2 composite samples for each facility, comprising 10 FPE swabs taken from food contact surfaces and 10 FPE samples from non-food contact surfaces, respectively. FPE from slaughterhouses had more diverse microbiomes and resistomes, while FPE from dairy processing plants showed the highest β-dispersion, consistent with a more heterogeneous microbiome and resistome composition. The predominant bacterial genera depended on the industry type, with Pseudomonas and Psychrobacter being highly dominant in surfaces from slaughterhouses and meat industries, while different lactic acid bacteria predominated in dairy industries. The most abundant antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) found were associated with resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines and quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC). ARGs relating to resistance to aminoglycosides and tetracyclines were significantly more prevalent in slaughterhouses than in food processing plants, while QAC resistance genes were particularly abundant in some food contact surfaces from dairy and meat processing plants, suggesting that daily sanitation under suboptimal conditions may be selecting for persistent microbiota tolerant to these biocides in some facilities. The taxonomic mapping of ARG pointed to specific bacterial genera, such as Escherichia, Bacillus, or Staphylococcus, as carriers of the most relevant resistance determinants. About 63% of all ARG reads were assigned to contigs classified as plasmid-associated, indicating that the resistome of FPE may be strongly shaped through the spread of mobile genetic elements. Overall, the relevance of FPE as reservoirs of ARG was confirmed and it was demonstrated that next generation sequencing technologies allowing a deep characterisation of sources and routes of spread of microorganisms and antimicrobial resistance determinants in food industry settings hold promise to be integrated in monitoring and food safety management programmes.

Selection of lactic acid bacteria as biopreservation agents and optimization of their mode of application for the control of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat cooked meat products

In order to meet consumers´ demands for more natural foods and to find new methods to control foodborne pathogens in them, research is currently being focused on alternative preservation approaches, such as biopreservation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Here, a collection of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates was characterized to identify potential biopreservative agents. Six isolates (one Lactococcus lactis, one Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and four Lactiplantibacillus plantarum) were selected based on their antimicrobial activity in in vitro assays. Whole genome sequencing showed that none of the six LAB isolates carried known virulence factors or acquired antimicrobial resistance genes, and that the L. lactis isolate was potentially a nisin Z producer. Growth of L. monocytogenes was successfully limited by L. lactis ULE383, L. paracasei ULE721 and L. plantarum ULE1599 throughout the shelf-life of cooked ham, meatloaf and roasted pork shoulder. These LAB isolates were also applied individually or as a cocktail at different inoculum concentrations (4, 6 and 8 log10 CFU/g) in challenge test studies involving cooked ham, showing a stronger anti-Listerial activity when a cocktail was used at 8 log10 CFU/g. Thus, a reduction of up to ~5.0 log10 CFU/g in L. monocytogenes growth potential was attained in cooked ham packaged under vacuum, modified atmosphere packaging or vacuum followed by high pressure processing (HPP). Only minor changes in color and texture were induced, although there was a significant acidification of the product when the LAB cultures were applied. Remarkably, this acidification was delayed when HPP was applied to the LAB inoculated batches. Metataxonomic analyses showed that the LAB cocktail was able to grow in the cooked ham and outcompete the indigenous microbiota, including spoilage microorganisms such as Brochothrix. Moreover, none of the batches were considered unacceptable in a sensory evaluation. Overall, this study shows the favourable antilisterial activity of the cocktail of LAB employed, with the combination of HPP and LAB achieving a complete inhibition of the pathogen with no detrimental effects in physico-chemical or sensorial evaluations, highlighting the usefulness of biopreservation approaches involving LAB for enhancing the safety of cooked meat products.

Attitudes scale toward cancer-related cognitive changes - an initial Colombian validation

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop an initial valid tool to measure attitudes toward cancer-related cognitive changes.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

After revising the literature, three main dimensions were hypothesized. Eight judges were contacted to obtain content validity evidence. A robust Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed via a parallel analysis with an Unweighted Least Squares (ULS) estimator and polychoric correlations. The results were crossed with sociodemographic variables to find possible statistical differences and estimate the size effect. Analysis was performed in the software Factor and the statistical package R.

RESULTS

A sample of 374 participants was obtained, involving oncology patients, their caregivers, and people from the general community. A statistical fit was found in two dimensions: Awareness and Judgments [root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.042, standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.02, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.99, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.98] with a moderate correlation between them (r = 0.612). Optimal reliability indices were obtained for the total scale and its dimensions. No real statistical difference was found between sociodemographic variables; the interpretation norms were established via the quartiles.

CONCLUSIONS

The first attempt to measure the construct of interest was developed with two primary validity evidence based on the content and its internal structure. This instrument could help strengthen the prevention of cancer-related cognitive changes. More research is needed to adhere more valid evidence to the scale.

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Bacillus paralicheniformis DSM 5749 and Bacillus subtilis DSM 5750 (BioPlus® 2B) for piglets, calves for fattening and other growing ruminants (Chr. Hansen A/S)

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of two bacilli strains (tradename: BioPlus® 2B) when used in suckling piglets, calves for fattening and other growing ruminants. BioPlus® 2B is composed of viable cells of Bacillus subtilis DSM 5750 and Bacillus licheniformis DSM 5749. In the course of the current assessment, the latest strain was reclassified as Bacillus paralicheniformis. BioPlus® 2B is intended for use in feedingstuffs and water for drinking for the target species at the minimum inclusion level of 1.3 × 10⁹ CFU/kg feed and 6.4 × 10⁸ CFU/l water, respectively. B. paralicheniformis and B. subtilis are considered eligible for the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach. The identity of the active agents was established, and the qualifications regarding the lack of acquired antimicrobial resistance genes, toxigenic potential and bacitracin production ability were complied with. Following the QPS approach, B. paralicheniformis DSM 5749 and B. subtilis DSM 5750 are presumed safe for the target species, consumers and the environment. Since no concerns are expected from the other components of the additive, BioPlus® 2B was also considered safe for the target species, consumers and the environment. BioPlus® 2B is not irritant to the eyes or skin but should be considered a respiratory sensitiser. The Panel could not conclude on the skin sensitisation potential of the additive. BioPlus® 2B when supplemented at 1.3 × 10⁹ CFU/kg complete feed and 6.4 × 10⁸ CFU/l water for drinking has the potential to be efficacious in suckling piglets, calves for fattening and other growing ruminants (e.g. sheep, goat, buffalo) at the same developmental stage.

Susceptibility and transcriptomic response to plasma-activated water of Listeria monocytogenes planktonic and sessile cells

Plasma-Activated Water (PAW) was generated from tap water using a surface dielectric barrier discharge at different discharge power (26 and 36 W) and activation time (5 and 30 min). The inactivation of a three-strain Listeria monocytogenes cocktail in planktonic and biofilm state was evaluated. PAW generated at 36 W-30 min showed the lowest pH and the highest hydrogen peroxide, nitrates, nitrites contents and effectiveness against cells on planktonic state, resulting in 4.6 log reductions after a 15-min treatment. Although the antimicrobial activity in biofilms formed on stainless steel and on polystyrene was lower, increasing the exposure time to 30 min allowed an inactivation >4.5 log cycles. The mechanisms of action of PAW were investigated using chemical solutions that mimic its physico-chemical characteristics and also RNA-seq analysis. The main transcriptomic changes affected carbon metabolism, virulence and general stress response genes, with several overexpressed genes belonging to the cobalamin-dependent gene cluster.

The background microbiota and sanitization agent drive the fate of Listeria monocytogenes in multispecies biofilms formed on a plasma-polymerized coating applied on stainless steel

The present study evaluates the anti-biofilm activity of a coating applied with an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet system on AISI 316 stainless steel (SS) against multispecies biofilms containing Listeria monocytogenes (using background microbiota from three different meat industries) using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. Also, the disinfection effectiveness and biofilm evolution after sanitization with two food industry biocides were assessed. The anti-biofilm activity of the coating against L. monocytogenes, observed on mono-species biofilms (p < 0.05), was lost on the multispecies biofilms developed for 7 days at 12 °C (p > 0.05), with L. monocytogenes counts ranging from 5.5 ± 0.7 to 6.1 ± 0.5 CFU/cm² on the uncoated SS and from 4.4 ± 0.2 to 6.4 ± 0.5 CFU/cm² on the coated SS. The taxonomic composition of the formed biofilms was highly dependent on the industry but not affected by the artificial inoculation with L. monocytogenes and the nature of the surface (coated vs uncoated SS). When L. monocytogenes was artificially inoculated, its growth was partially controlled in the biofilms developed, with the magnitude of this effect being lower (p < 0.05 on coated SS) for the industry with the lowest taxonomy richness and diversity (3.8 ± 0.2 CFU/cm²), as compared the other two sampled industries (2.4 ± 0.4 and 1.6 ± 0.2 CFU/cm²). The 15-min disinfection treatments with either sodium hypochlorite or peracetic acid at 0.5 % resulted in total viable and L. monocytogenes counts below the limit of detection in most cases, immediately after treatment. The subsequent incubation of the sanitized plates for another 7 days at 12 °C in fresh BHI media led to the development of biofilms with lower bacterial richness and alpha diversity, and higher beta diversity. Even though sodium hypochlorite was in general slightly less effective than peracetic acid immediately after application, it caused a stronger growth control (p < 0.05) of the naturally present L. monocytogenes on the multispecies biofilms developed. This finding highlights the importance of understanding the interspecific competitive relationships between the members of the background microbiota and L. monocytogenes for the long-term control of this pathogen in food processing facilities.

Machine learning-based automated planning for hippocampal avoidance prophylactic cranial irradiation

PURPOSE

Design and evaluate a knowledge-based model using commercially available artificial intelligence tools for automated treatment planning to efficiently generate clinically acceptable hippocampal avoidance prophylactic cranial irradiation (HA-PCI) plans in patients with small-cell lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from 44 patients with different grades of head flexion (range 45°) were used as the training datasets. A Rapid Plan knowledge-based planning (KB) routine was applied for a prescription of 25 Gy in 10 fractions using two volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) arcs. The 9 plans used to validate the initial model were added to generate a second version of the RP model (Hippo-MARv2). Automated plans (AP) were compared with manual plans (MP) according to the dose-volume objectives of the PREMER trial. Optimization time and model quality were assessed using 10 patients who were not included in the first 44 datasets.

RESULTS

A 55% reduction in average optimization time was observed for AP compared to MP. (15 vs 33 min; p = 0.001).Statistically significant differences in favor of AP were found for D98% (22.6 vs 20.9 Gy), Homogeneity Index (17.6 vs 23.0) and Hippocampus D mean (11.0 vs 11.7 Gy). The AP met the proposed objectives without significant deviations, while in the case of the MP, significant deviations from the proposed target values were found in 2 cases.

CONCLUSION

The KB model allows automated planning for HA-PCI. Automation of radiotherapy planning improves efficiency, safety, and quality and could facilitate access to new techniques.

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Streptococcus salivarius DSM 13084/ATCC BAA 1024 for dogs and cats (BLIS Technologies Limited)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Streptococcus salivarius DSM 13084/ATCC BAA 1024 as a technological additive (functional group: acidity regulators) in feed for dogs and cats. The additive is intended for use at a proposed minimum concentration of 1 × 1011 CFU/l or kg liquid feed for dogs and cats. Due to the lack of adequate data, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the safety of the additive for the target species. The additive was considered a respiratory sensitiser, but not irritant to skin. No conclusions could be drawn on the potential of the additive to be an eye irritant or a skin sensitiser. No environmental risk assessment is necessary for the use of the additive in feeds for pets. The Panel concluded that the additive has the potential to be efficacious in feeds for dogs and cats at the proposed conditions of use.

Efficacy of the feed additive consisting of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-67257 (Correlink™ ABS747) as a feed additive for all growing poultry species (Elanco GmbH)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the efficacy of a product consisting of viable spores of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-67257 as a zootechnical additive for chickens for fattening, chickens reared for laying, turkeys for fattening, turkeys reared for breeding and minor poultry species. The additive has the tradename Correlink™ ABS747 Bacillus subtilis and is not currently authorised in the European Union. It is intended for use in complete feed for the target species at a minimum inclusion level of 1.5 × 10⁸ CFU/kg complete feed. In a previous opinion the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the efficacy of the additive for the poultry species due to the potential cross-contamination of the control diets in two of the three studies provided. The applicant has provided supplementary information to exclude this possibility. The new data showed that the gene used as marker in the previous analyses is non-specific of the NRRL B-67257 strain, which precluded the adequate quantification of the active agent in the feeds used in the studies. Moreover, in a second analysis, the active agent could not be isolated from the field excreta samples collected from either from the treated or the control group of one of the formerly submitted efficacy studies. The Panel concluded that the methodology was not able to discriminate between the strain under assessment and the background. Therefore, the FEEDAP Panel was not in the position to conclude on the efficacy of Correlink™ ABS747 for all growing poultry species based on the data newly provided.

High pressure processing at the early stages of ripening enhances the safety and quality of dry fermented sausages elaborated with or without starter culture

To study the quality of chorizo de León dry fermented sausages (DFS), high pressure processing (HPP) applied at the early stages of ripening and the use of a functional starter culture were evaluated as additional safety measures. Furthermore, the ability to control the populations of artificially inoculated Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium was investigated and the evolution of microbial communities was assessed by amplicon 16S rRNA metataxonomics. The use of HPP and the starter culture, independently or combined, induced a reduction of Listeria monocytogenes of 1.5, 4.3 and > 4.8 log CFU/g respectively, as compared to control. Salmonella Typhimurium counts were under the detection limit (<1 log) in all treated end-product samples. Both additional measures reduced the activity of undesirable microbiota, such as Serratia and Brochothrix, during the production of DFS. Moreover, the starter culture highly influencedthe taxonomic profile of samples.No adverse sensory effects were observed, and panelists showed preference for HPP treated DFS. In conclusion, this new approach of applying HPP at the early stages of ripening of DFS in combination with the use of a defined starter culture improved the safety and quality of the meat product.

Efficacy of the feed additive consisting of Bacillus velezensisNRRL B-67259 (Correlink™ ABS1781) as a feed additive for all growing poultry species (Elanco GmbH)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the efficacy of a product consisting of spores of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-67257 as a zootechnical additive for chickens for fattening, chickens reared for laying, turkeys for fattening, turkeys reared for breeding and minor poultry species. The additive has the tradename Correlink™ ABS1781 Bacillus subtilis and is not currently authorised in the EU. It is intended for use in complete feed for the target species at a minimum inclusion level of 1.5 × 10⁸ CFU/kg complete feed. In a previous opinion, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the efficacy of the additive for the poultry species due to the potential cross-contamination of the control diets in two of the three studies provided. The applicant has provided supplementary information to exclude this possibility. The new data showed that the gene used as marker in the previous analyses is non-specific of the NRRL B-67259 strain, which precluded the adequate quantification of the active agent in the feeds used in the studies. Moreover, in a second analysis, the active agent could not be isolated from the field excreta samples collected from either the treated or the control group in the two formerly submitted efficacy studies. The Panel concluded that the methodology was not able to discriminate between the strain under assessment and the background. Additionally, two new efficacy trials with chickens for fattening were provided to support the efficacy of the additive. However, none could be further considered since the husbandry conditions in which the birds were kept were non-compliant with Directive 2007/43/EC. Therefore, the FEEDAP Panel was not in the position to conclude on the efficacy of Correlink™ ABS1781 for all growing poultry species.

Assessment of a plasmid conjugation procedure to monitor horizontal transfer of an extended-spectrum β-lactamase resistance gene under food chain scenarios

Plasmids are relevant reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) which confer adaptive advantages to their host and can be horizontally transferred. The aims of this study were to develop a conjugation procedure to monitor the horizontal transfer of a 193 kb plasmid containing the extended-spectrum β-lactamase production gene bla _CTX-M-14 between two Escherichia coli strains under a range of food chain-related scenarios, including temperature (20-37 °C), pH (5.0-9.0) or the presence of some biocidal agents (benzalkonium chloride, sodium hypochlorite or peracetic acid). The average conjugation rate in LB broth after 18 h at 37 °C was 2.09e-04 and similar rates were observed in a food matrix (cow's milk). The conjugation was reduced at temperatures below 37 °C, at alkaline pH (especially at pH 9.0) or in the presence of benzalkonium chloride. Peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite slightly increased conjugation rates, which reached 5.59e-04 and 6.77e-03, respectively. The conjugation procedure described can be used to identify risk scenarios leading to an enhanced ARGs transmission via plasmid conjugation, as well as to identify novel intervention strategies impairing plasmid conjugation and tackling antimicrobial resistance.

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Analysis of Publicly Available Staphylococcus aureus Genomes

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen that can cause severe illness and express resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents. It is part of the ESKAPE organisms and it has been included by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of USA in the list of serious threats to humans. Many antimicrobial mechanisms have been identified, and, in particular, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) can be determined by whole genome sequencing. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) can determine the spread of these ARGs between strains and species and can be identified with bioinformatic analyses. The scope of this work was to analyse publicly available genomes of S. aureus to characterise the occurrence of ARGs present in chromosomes and plasmids in relation to their geographical distribution, isolation sources, clonal complexes, and changes over time. The results showed that from a total of 29,679 S. aureus genomes, 24,765 chromosomes containing 73 different ARGs, and 21,006 plasmidic contigs containing 47 different ARGs were identified. The most abundant ARG in chromosomes was mecA (84%), while blaZ was the most abundant in plasmidic contigs (30%), although it was also abundant in chromosomes (42%). A total of 13 clonal complexes were assigned and differences in ARGs and CC distribution were highlighted among continents. Temporal changes during the past 20 years (from 2001 to 2020) showed that, in plasmids, MRSA and macrolide resistance occurrence decreased, while the occurrence of ARGs associated with aminoglycosides resistance increased. Despite the lack of metadata information in around half of the genomes analysed, the results obtained enable an in-depth analysis of the distribution of ARGs and MGEs throughout different categories to be undertaken through the design and implementation of a relatively simple pipeline, which can be also applied in future works with other pathogens, for surveillance and screening purposes.

Microbiological Safety and Shelf-Life of Low-Salt Meat Products—A Review

Salt is widely employed in different foods, especially in meat products, due to its very diverse and extended functionality. However, the high intake of sodium chloride in human diet has been under consideration for the last years, because it is related to serious health problems. The meat-processing industry and research institutions are evaluating different strategies to overcome the elevated salt concentrations in products without a quality reduction. Several properties could be directly or indirectly affected by a sodium chloride decrease. Among them, microbial stability could be shifted towards pathogen growth, posing a serious public health threat. Nonetheless, the majority of the literature available focuses attention on the sensorial and technological challenges that salt reduction implies. Thereafter, the need to discuss the consequences for shelf-life and microbial safety should be considered. Hence, this review aims to merge all the available knowledge regarding salt reduction in meat products, providing an assessment on how to obtain low salt products that are sensorily accepted by the consumer, technologically feasible from the perspective of the industry, and, in particular, safe with respect to microbial stability.

Clinical Correlates of Cardiac Conduction in Bipolar Disorder

Introduction

Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) have an increased risk for cardiovascular morbimortality. Clinical risk factors, specifically for arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death remain understudied.

Objectives

This study was conducted to assess differences in cardiac conduction among BD patients.

Methods

We included patients with BD in a cross-sectional design, confirmed by structured interview, age 18 through 80. Clinical characteristics were obtained using a structured questionnaire or medical records review. ECG intervals duration and morphology were manually assessed by cardiologists and compared among clinical subgroups using Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskall-Wallis tests. Exploratory multivariable linear and logistic regression models were fitted to adjust for potential confounders.

Results

We included 117 patients (60.7% women, 76.9% bipolar I, 50% history of psychosis, 22.6% suicide attempts). We found a significantly longer QTc interval in BD patients with hypertension (difference: 9.5 ms, p=0.006), obesity (difference: 25 ms, p=0.001), and metabolic syndrome (difference: 13 ms, p=0.007). Hypertension remained a significant predictor of longer QTc after adjusting for age, gender, and antipsychotic use (estimate 17.718, p=0.018). We observed a significantly shorter PR interval in women (difference: 6 ms, p=0.029), early age of onset (difference 6 ms, p=0.025), non-users of lithium (difference 4 ms, p=0.002), and early trauma (difference 4 ms, p=0.038). Finally, we identified significant correlations between symptom severity, blood glucose and PR interval (r=0.298, p=0.001; r=0.278, p=0.003; respectively).

Conclusions

Patients with BD and hypertension may have an increased risk for QTc prolongation. Careful cardiovascular monitoring may be warranted.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Aquaculture and agriculture-by products as sustainable sources of omega-3 fatty acids in the food industry

The valorization of by-products is currently a matter of great concern to improve the sustainability of the food industry. High quality by-products derived from the food chain are omega-3 fatty acids, being fish the main source of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. The search for economic and sustainable sources following the standards of circular economy had led to search for strategies that put in value new resources to obtain different omega-3 fatty acids, which could be further employed in the development of new industrial products without producing more wastes and economic losses. In this sense, seeds and vegetables, fruits and crustaceans by products can be an alternative. This review encompasses all these aspects on omega-3 fatty acids profile from marine and agri-food by-products together with their extraction and purification technologies are reported. These comprise conventional techniques like extraction with solvents, cold press, and wet pressing and, more recently proposed ones like, supercritical fluids fractionation and purification by chromatographic methods. The information collected indicates a trend to combine different conventional and emerging technologies to improve product yields and purity. This paper also addresses encapsulation strategies for their integration in novel foods to achieve maximum consumer acceptance and to ensure their effectiveness.

Clinical and Genetic Correlates of Bipolar Disorder With Childhood-Onset Attention Deficit Disorder

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder (BD) with co-occurring attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with an unfavorable course of illness. We aimed to identify potential clinical and genetic correlates of BD with and without ADHD.

METHODS

Among patients with BD (N = 2,198) enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Bipolar Biobank we identified those with ADHD diagnosed in childhood (BD+cADHD; N = 350), those with adult-onset attention deficit symptoms (BD+aAD; N = 254), and those without ADHD (N = 1,594). We compared the groups using linear or logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, and recruitment site. For genotyped patients (N = 1,443), logistic regression was used to compare ADHD and BD polygenic risk scores (PRSs) between the BD groups, as well as to non-BD controls (N = 777).

RESULTS

Compared to the non-ADHD BD group, BD+cADHD patients were younger, more often men and had a greater number of co-occurring anxiety and substance use disorders (all p < 0.001). Additionally, BD+cADHD patients had poorer responses to lithium and lamotrigine (p = 0.005 and p = 0.007, respectively). In PRS analyses, all BD patient subsets had greater genetic risk for BD and ADHD when compared to non-BD controls (p < 0.001 in all comparisons). BD+cADHD patients had a higher ADHD-PRS than non-ADHD BD patients (p = 0.012). However, BD+aAD patients showed no evidence of higher ADHD-PRS than non-ADHD BD patients (p = 0.38).

CONCLUSIONS

BD+cADHD was associated with a greater number of comorbidities and reduced response to mood stabilizing treatments. The higher ADHD PRS for the BD+cADHD group may reflect a greater influence of genetic factors on early presentation of ADHD symptoms.

Microbial colonization and resistome dynamics in food processing environments of a newly opened pork cutting industry during 1.5 years of activity

BACKGROUND

The microorganisms that inhabit food processing environments (FPE) can strongly influence the associated food quality and safety. In particular, the possibility that FPE may act as a reservoir of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, and a hotspot for the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is a concern in meat processing plants. Here, we monitor microbial succession and resistome dynamics relating to FPE through a detailed analysis of a newly opened pork cutting plant over 1.5 years of activity.

RESULTS

We identified a relatively restricted principal microbiota dominated by Pseudomonas during the first 2 months, while a higher taxonomic diversity, an increased representation of other taxa (e.g., Acinetobacter, Psychrobacter), and a certain degree of microbiome specialization on different surfaces was recorded later on. An increase in total abundance, alpha diversity, and β-dispersion of ARGs, which were predominantly assigned to Acinetobacter and associated with resistance to certain antimicrobials frequently used on pig farms of the region, was detected over time. Moreover, a sharp increase in the occurrence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcaceae was observed when cutting activities started. ARGs associated with resistance to β-lactams, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, and sulphonamides frequently co-occurred, and mobile genetic elements (i.e., plasmids, integrons) and lateral gene transfer events were mainly detected at the later sampling times in drains.

CONCLUSIONS

The observations made suggest that pig carcasses were a source of resistant bacteria that then colonized FPE and that drains, together with some food-contact surfaces, such as equipment and table surfaces, represented a reservoir for the spread of ARGs in the meat processing facility. Video Abstract.

Heterogeneity in biofilm formation and identification of biomarkers of strong biofilm formation among field isolates of Pseudomonas spp

The biofilm formation ability of a collection of thirty-three Pseudomonas spp. isolates from food processing facilities was investigated in order to find biomarkers of strong biofilm production, a characteristic that can determine persistence in food processing environments. The strains were classified according to the colony pigmentation on solid media as green, brown or not pigmented. The biofilm production on stainless steel and polystyrene was assessed by spectrometric determination of the fixed crystal violet, and the biofilm formed on glass, through confocal laser scanning microscopy. Besides, pyoverdine production, catalase activity, RpoS status and cellular hydrophobicity were also monitored. A significantly higher biofilm production level on stainless steel and polystyrene was observed for green-pigmented strains as compared to brown or not pigmented strains. The influence of iron availability on biofilm formation on stainless steel was studied through the addition of the iron scavenger 2,2-bipyridine resulting in a decrease of 40 % in biofilm formation for the not pigmented strains. For most of the potential biomarkers studied (i.e., pyoverdine production, catalase activity, cellular hydrophobicity), the phenotypic heterogeneity observed among strains was mainly dependent on the Pseudomonas species and no strong associations with the biofilm formation capacity were detected. However, the green colony pigmentation on solid media showed good potential as a biomarker of strong biofilm formation on stainless steel and polystyrene both in P. aeruginosa and Pseudomonas spp.

Application of lactic acid bacteria for the biopreservation of meat products: A systematic review

The increasing concern of consumers about food quality and safety and their rejection of chemical additives has promoted the breakthrough of the biopreservation field and the development of studies on the use of beneficial bacteria and their metabolites as potential natural antimicrobials for shelf life extension and enhanced food safety. Control of foodborne pathogens in meat and meat products represents a serious challenge for the food industry which can be addressed through the intelligent use of bio-compounds or biopreservatives. This article aims to systematically review the available knowledge about biological strategies based on the use of lactic acid bacteria to control the proliferation of undesirable microorganisms in different meat products. The outcome of the literature search evidenced the potential of several strains of lactic acid bacteria and their purified or semi-purified antimicrobial metabolites as biopreservatives in meat products for achieving longer shelf life or inhibiting spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, especially when combined with other technologies to achieve a synergistic effect.

Rapid Methods for Antimicrobial Resistance Diagnostics

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most challenging threats in public health; thus, there is a growing demand for methods and technologies that enable rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). The conventional methods and technologies addressing AMR diagnostics and AST employed in clinical microbiology are tedious, with high turnaround times (TAT), and are usually expensive. As a result, empirical antimicrobial therapies are prescribed leading to AMR spread, which in turn causes higher mortality rates and increased healthcare costs. This review describes the developments in current cutting-edge methods and technologies, organized by key enabling research domains, towards fighting the looming AMR menace by employing recent advances in AMR diagnostic tools. First, we summarize the conventional methods addressing AMR detection, surveillance, and AST. Thereafter, we examine more recent non-conventional methods and the advancements in each field, including whole genome sequencing (WGS), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and microfluidics technology. Following, we provide examples of commercially available diagnostic platforms for AST. Finally, perspectives on the implementation of emerging concepts towards developing paradigm-changing technologies and methodologies for AMR diagnostics are discussed.

Unraveling the emergence and population diversity of Listeria monocytogenes in a newly built meat facility through whole genome sequencing

The food processing environments of a newly opened meat processing facility were sampled in ten visits carried out during its first 1.5 years of activity and analyzed for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. A total of 18 L. monocytogenes isolates were obtained from 229 samples, and their genomes were sequenced to perform comparative genomic analyses. An increase in the frequency of isolation of L. monocytogenes and in the diversity of sequence types (STs) detected was observed along time. Although the strains isolated belonged to six different STs (ST8, ST9, ST14, ST37, ST121 and ST155), ST9 was the most abundant (8 out of 18 strains). Low (0 and 2) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) distances were found between two pairs of ST9 strains isolated in both cases 3 months apart from the same processing room (Lm-1267 and Lm-1705, with a 2 SNPs distance in the core genome; Lm-1265 and Lm-1706, with a 0 SNPs distance), which suggests that these strains may be persistent L. monocytogenes strains in the food processing environment. Most strains showed an in silico attenuated virulence potential either through the truncation of InlA (in 67% of the isolates) or the absence of other virulence factors involved in cell adhesion or invasion. Twelve of the eighteen L. monocytogenes isolates contained a plasmid, which ranged in size from 4 to 87 Kb and harbored stress survival, in addition to heavy metals and biocides resistance determinants. Identical or highly similar plasmids were identified for various sets of L. monocytogenes ST9 isolates, which suggests the clonal expansion and persistence of plasmid-containing ST9 strains in the processing environments of the meat facility. Finally, the analysis of the L. monocytogenes genomes available in the NCBI database, and their associated metadata, evidenced that strains from ST9 are more frequently reported in Europe, linked to foods, particularly to meat and pork products, and less represented among clinical isolates than other L. monocytogenes STs. It also showed that the ST9 strains here isolated were more closely related to the European isolates, which clustered together and separated from ST9 North American isolates.

Risk of breast cancer two years after a benign biopsy depends on the mammographic feature prompting recall

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to explore whether the type of mammographic feature prompting a false-positive recall (FPR) during mammography screening influences the risk and timing of breast cancer diagnosis, particularly if assessed with invasive procedures.

STUDY DESIGN

We included information on women screened and recalled for further assessment in Spain between 1994 and 2015, with follow-up until 2017, categorizing FPRs by the assessment (noninvasive or invasive) and mammographic feature prompting the recall.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Breast cancer rates in the first two years after FPR (first period) and after two years (second period).

RESULTS

The study included 99,825 women with FPRs. In both periods, the breast cancer rate was higher in the invasive assessment group than in the noninvasive group (first period 12 ‰ vs 1.9 ‰, p < 0.001; second period 4.4‰ vs 3.1‰, p < 0.001). During the first period, the invasive assessment group showed diverse breast cancer rates for each type of mammographic feature, with a higher rate for asymmetric density (31.9‰). When the second period was compared with the first, the breast cancer rate decreased in the invasive assessment group (from 12‰ to 4.4‰, p < 0.001) and increased in the noninvasive assessment group (from 1.9‰ to 3.1‰, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In the context of mammography screening, the risk of breast cancer diagnosis during the first two years after FPR was particularly high for women undergoing invasive assessment; importantly, the risk was modified by type of mammographic feature prompting the recall. This information could help to individualize follow-up after exclusion of malignancy.

Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL) Producing Escherichia coli in Pigs and Pork Meat in the European Union

The aim of this article is to review the fast and worldwide distribution of ESBL enzymes and to describe the role of the pork production chain as a reservoir and transmission route of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and ESBLs in the European Union (EU). The use of β-lactam antibiotics in swine production and the prevalence of ESBL producing E. coli in fattening pigs and pork meat across Europe is analyzed. Overall, an increasing trend in the prevalence of presumptive ESBL producing E. coli in fattening pigs in the EU has been observed in the last decade, although with major differences among countries, linked to different approaches in the use of antimicrobials in pork production within the EU. Moreover, the various dissemination pathways of these bacteria along the pork production chain are described, along with factors at farm and slaughterhouse level influencing the risk of introducing or spreading ESBL producing bacteria throughout the food chain.

Differences in breast cancer risk after benign breast disease by type of screening diagnosis

Introduction

We aimed to assess differences in breast cancer risk across benign breast disease diagnosed at prevalent or incident screens.

Materials and methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study with data from 629,087 women participating in a long-standing population-based breast cancer screening program in Spain. Each benign breast disease was classified as non-proliferative, proliferative without atypia, or proliferative with atypia, and whether it was diagnosed in a prevalent or incident screen. We used partly conditional Cox hazard regression to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios of the risk of breast cancer.

Results

Compared with women without benign breast disease, the risk of breast cancer was significantly higher (p-value = 0.005) in women with benign breast disease diagnosed in an incident screen (aHR, 2.67; 95%CI: 2.24–3.19) than in those with benign breast disease diagnosed in a prevalent screen (aHR, 1.87; 95%CI: 1.57–2.24). The highest risk was found in women with a proliferative benign breast disease with atypia (aHR, 4.35; 95%CI: 2.09–9.08, and 3.35; 95%CI: 1.51–7.40 for those diagnosed at incident and prevalent screens, respectively), while the lowest was found in women with non-proliferative benign breast disease (aHR, 2.39; 95%CI: 1.95–2.93, and 1.63; 95%CI: 1.32–2.02 for those diagnosed at incident and prevalent screens, respectively).

Conclusion

Our study showed that the risk of breast cancer conferred by a benign breast disease differed according to type of screen (prevalent or incident). To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyse the impact of the screening type on benign breast disease prognosis.

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Breast cancer risk after a benign breast disease varied with the screening type.

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Incident benign breast disease had a higher breast cancer risk than prevalent.

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The risk remained increased regardless of benign breast disease subtype.

Intact gastro-intestinal tract removal from pig carcasses in a novel Meat Factory Cell approach

Conventional automated slaughter lines for pigs are organised as disassembly lines with many specialised machines. High costs and capacities make them relevant only for large scale meat production. The ambition with the novel Meat Factory Cell (MFC) concept is to provide the meat industry with a robust and flexible automation platform that is also relevant for smaller scale production. The MFC process deviates radically from conventional processing of pig carcasses after singeing. In MFC, the limbs are removed first. Then the dorsal muscles along the spinal axis from tail to head are removed with the column and rind in one meat cut, followed by removal of the viscera. Finally, the cut ribs and belly are removed. Such approaches to automation in pig abattoirs and cutting plants are highly needed in smaller scale production, and they should produce meat and offal as hygienically as conventional factories. This case study reports the evisceration of 37 pigs in 9 trials performed in 2019. Several approaches were tested with a prototype carcass holding unit. Evisceration could be undertaken without the need to cut through the gastrointestinal tract from tongue to rectum, reducing the probability of accidental faecal contamination of pork carcasses from the gut content. The Meat Factory Cell procedure is an advance towards automated evisceration of pig carcasses which is both simple and hygienic. The traditional separation of internal organs into a pluck set and a set of stomach and bowels was more prone to leakages.

Call to action regarding the vascular-bipolar link: A report from the Vascular Task Force of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders

OBJECTIVES

The association of bipolar disorder with early and excessive cardiovascular disease was identified over a century ago. Nonetheless, the vascular-bipolar link remains underrecognized, particularly with regard to how this link can contribute to our understanding of pathogenesis and treatment.

METHODS

An international group of experts completed a selective review of the literature, distilling core themes, identifying limitations and gaps in the literature, and highlighting future directions to bridge these gaps.

RESULTS

The association between bipolar disorder and vascular disease is large in magnitude, consistent across studies, and independent of confounding variables where assessed. The vascular-bipolar link is multifactorial and is difficult to study given the latency between the onset of bipolar disorder, often in adolescence or early adulthood, and subsequent vascular disease, which usually occurs decades later. As a result, studies have often focused on risk factors for vascular disease or intermediate phenotypes, such as structural and functional vascular imaging measures. There is interest in identifying the most relevant mediators of this relationship, including lifestyle (eg, smoking, diet, exercise), medications, and systemic biological mediators (eg, inflammation). Nonetheless, there is a paucity of treatment studies that deliberately engage these mediators, and thus far no treatment studies have focused on engaging vascular imaging targets.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research focused on the vascular-bipolar link holds promise for gleaning insights regarding the underlying causes of bipolar disorder, identifying novel treatment approaches, and mitigating disparities in cardiovascular outcomes for people with bipolar disorder.

A European questionnaire-based study on population awareness and risk perception of antimicrobial resistance

To tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is of outmost importance for the general population to understand the severity and the relevance of different routes of transmission. Respondents of different age groups, educational and occupational backgrounds, area of living, diet and household composition participated in an online survey with questions concerning socio-demographics, personal use of antibiotics, awareness, general knowledge, sources of information, behavior and attitude toward antibiotics, and risk perception on antibiotics and AMR. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were carried out. A total of 1252 respondents, mainly from EU, participated in the survey. About 57.7% declared they consumed antibiotics in the last year and some misguided behaviors were identified, especially for those not having a food- or health-related background, who more frequently failed in giving the right answer to uncontroversial true/false questions (ANOVA, P < 0.05). The youngest respondents were less confident on the information received from traditional media (OR = 0.425), the national government (OR = 0.462), and consumer organizations (OR = 0.497), while they frequently obtained information from social networks and online media, which could therefore be exploited as a channel for educational campaigns targeting this population group. New measures, strategies and policy agenda at a European level aimed at improving awareness on AMR among targeted community groups must be taken into consideration.

Potential pharmacogenomic targets in bipolar disorder: considerations for current testing and the development of decision support tools to individualize treatment selection

Background

Treatment in bipolar disorder (BD) is commonly applied as a multimodal therapy based on decision algorithms that lack an integrative understanding of molecular mechanisms or a biomarker associated clinical outcome measure. Pharmacogenetics/genomics study the individual genetic variation associated with drug response. This selective review of pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenomic testing (PGT) in BD will focus on candidate genes and genome wide association studies of pharmacokinetic drug metabolism and pharmacodynamic drug response/adverse event, and the potential role of decision support tools that incorporate multiple genotype/phenotype drug recommendations.

Main body

We searched PubMed from January 2013 to May 2019, to identify studies reporting on BD and pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics and PGT. Studies were selected considering their contribution to the field. We summarize our findings in: targeted candidate genes of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic pathways, genome-wide association studies and, PGT platforms, related to BD treatment. This field has grown from studies of metabolizing enzymes (i.e., pharmacokinetics) and drug transporters (i.e., pharmacodynamics), to untargeted investigations across the entire genome with the potential to merge genomic data with additional biological information.

Conclusions

The complexity of BD genetics and, the heterogeneity in BD drug-related phenotypes, are important considerations for the design and interpretation of BD PGT. The clinical applicability of PGT in psychiatry is in its infancy and is far from reaching the robust impact it has in other medical disciplines. Nonetheless, promising findings are discovered with increasing frequency with remarkable relevance in neuroscience, pharmacology and biology.

Introspective and Neurophysiological Measures of Mind Wandering in Schizophrenia

Patients with schizophrenia have often been considered to be “in their own world”. However, this casual observation has not been proven by scientific evidence so far. This can be explained because scientific research has usually addressed cognition related to the processing of external stimuli, but only recently have efforts been made to explain thoughts, images and feelings not directly related to the external environment. This internally directed cognition has been called mind wandering. In this paper, we have explored mind wandering in schizophrenia under the hypothesis that a predominance of mind wandering would be a core dysfunction in this disorder. To this end, we collected verbal reports and measured electrophysiological signals from patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and matched healthy controls while they were presented with segments of films. The results showed that mind wandering was more frequent in patients than in controls. This higher frequency of mind wandering did not correlate with deficits in attentional, memory or executive functioning. In addition, mind wandering in patients was characterized by a different pattern of Electroencephalography (EEG) complexity in patients than in controls, leading to the suggestion that mind wandering in schizophrenia could be of a different nature. These findings could have relevant implications for the conceptualization of this severe mental disorder.

Disentangling functional trait variation and covariation in epiphytic lichens along a continent-wide latitudinal gradient

Characterizing functional trait variation and covariation, and its drivers, is critical to understand the response of species to changing environmental conditions. Evolutionary and environmental factors determine how traits vary among and within species at multiple scales. However, disentangling their relative contribution is challenging and a comprehensive trait-environment framework addressing such questions is missing in lichens. We investigated the variation in nine traits related to photosynthetic performance, water use and nutrient acquisition applying phylogenetic comparative analyses in lichen epiphytic communities on beech across Europe. These poikilohydric organisms offer a valuable model owing to their inherent limitations to buffer contrasting environmental conditions. Photobiont type and growth form captured differences in certain physiological traits whose variation was largely determined by evolutionary processes (i.e. phylogenetic history), although the intraspecific component was non-negligible. Seasonal temperature fluctuations also had an impact on trait variation, while nitrogen content depended on photobiont type rather than nitrogen deposition. The inconsistency of trait covariation among and within species prevented establishing major resource use strategies in lichens. However, we did identify a general pattern related to the water-use strategy. Thus, to robustly unveil lichen responses under different climatic scenarios, it is necessary to incorporate both among and within-species trait variation and covariation.

When reporting Nocardia spp is not enough. Brain abscess caused by Nocardia farcinica

Abscesses caused by the genus Nocardia spp are relatively rare, accounting for approximately 2 % of all brain abscesses, but with a significantly higher mortality. Special stains of brain abscess material from a 60-year-old man showed Gram-positive branching bacilli and the presence of long, acid-fast branching filamentous bacilli suggesting Nocardia infection. Presented here is a case of multidisciplinary management of a patient who developed cerebral abscesses by Nocardia farcinica, confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), that was susceptible to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, linezolid, imipenem and not susceptible to minocycline. This case highlights the importance of performing subtyping and antimicrobial testing in order to improve clinical and treatment outcomes due to patterns of antibiotics resistance among Nocardia species.

Evaluation of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (CAPP) and plasma-activated water (PAW) as alternative non-thermal decontamination technologies for tofu: Impact on microbiological, sensorial and functional quality attributes

The efficacy of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (CAPP) for the inactivation of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on tofu was evaluated. The potential of using Plasma Activated Water (PAW) as an immersion solution for controlling microbial growth in tofu throughout its shelf-life was also investigated. The effects of these strategies on the physical and functional properties of treated tofu were also studied. CAPP treatment of tofu caused a limited inactivation of microbial populations, with log₁₀ reductions attained ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 log₁₀ for S. Enteritidis and E. coli O157:H7, respectively, after a 15 min treatment. CAPP did not affect tofu's water holding capacity, but it dried it and gave rise to changes in color and texture, which were reverted by immersing the treated product in distilled water. Refrigerated storage of tofu using PAW as an immersion solution was effective in controlling microbial growth. Thus, total counts obtained after 28 days of storage were around 3 log₁₀ units lower than those observed for tofu stored immersed in non-treated deionized water. In addition, this strategy led to a product with a higher functional value than thermally-treated commercial tofu, retaining up to 80% of the initial content of total polyphenols, with better texture properties, less hardness and springiness (approximately 20-30% lower) and with minor changes in its characteristic color. Overall, these results evidence that PAW is a promising non-thermal technology which can facilitate the control of pathogenic microorganisms on tofu while retaining its physical and functional properties.