Food Science Commons^™

Effect Of Cold Plasma On The Techno-Functional Properties Of Animal Protein Food Ingredients, Juan M. Pérez-Andrés, Carlos Álvarez, Patrick J. Cullen, Brijesh K. Tiwari

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Proteins, as food ingredients, are employed in the food industry, not only for their high nutritional value, but also because of their techno-functional properties. Modifications of their native structure due to the action of external factors such as pH, temperature or processing by emerging technologies, can lead to changes in their functionality; and consequently, their applicability. The present study investigates the effects of cold atmospheric air plasma on the techno-functional properties of two common food ingredients (haemoglobin and gelatine from pork), and a novel source of functional proteins extracted from a meat co-product (bovine lung protein). Significant effects were found …

Wholesomeness And Safety Aspects Of Irradiated Foods, Rajeev Ravindran, Amit Jaiswal

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Food processing techniques are inevitable technological measures that aim to increase and sustain the quality of agricultural products. This is traditionally achieved by the application of heat or exposure to chemicals. Since the advent of X-rays, food scientists have been evaluating the prospect of employing ionising radiations for pest removal, sprouting inhibition and shelf-life extension of food products. Gamma radiation, electron beam and X-rays have emerged as the favoured methods of food irradiation in recent years. Several decades of research have endeavoured to determine the advantage and disadvantage of subjecting food materials to radiation. This has resulted in several international …

Evaluation Of Brewer's Spent Grain Hydrolysate As A Substrate For Production Of Thermostable Α-Amylase By Bacillus Stearothermophilus, Rajeev Ravindran, Gwilym A. Williams, Amit Jaiswal

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In the present study, BSG was hydrolysed using cellulolytic enzymes and used as a growth medium supplement for cultivation of the thermophilic bacterium, Bacillus stearothermophilus in the production of α-amylase. A central composite design involving five parameters and four levels viz. starch, peptone, KCl, and MgSO4 along with BSG hydrolysate was used to derive the optimal media composition. The fermentation was conducted using shake flasks for 36 h at a temperature of 50 °C and pH 7.0 at 220 rpm. Optimization trials revealed that maximal amylase production (198.09 U/ml) occurred with a medium composition of starch (0.2% w/v), peptone (0.2% …

Plasma-Treated Air And Water—Assessment Of Synergistic Antimicrobial Effects For Sanitation Of Food Processing Surfaces And Environment, Uta Schnabel, Oliver Handorf, Kateryna Yarova, Björn Zessin, Susann Zechlin, Diana Sydow, Elke Zellmer, Jörg Stachowiak, Mathias Andrasch, Harald Below, Jörg Ehlbeck

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The synergistic antimicrobial effects of plasma-processed air (PPA) and plasma-treated water (PTW), which are indirectly generated by a microwave-induced non-atmospheric pressure plasma, were investigated with the aid of proliferation assays. For this purpose, microorganisms (Listeriamonocytogenes, Escherichiacoli, Pectobacteriumcarotovorum, sporulatedBacillusatrophaeus) were cultivated as monocultures on specimens with polymeric surface structures. Both the distinct and synergistic antimicrobial potential of PPA and PTW were governed by the plasma-on time (5–50 s) and the treatment time of the specimens with PPA/PTW (1–5 min). In single PTW treatment of the bacteria, an elevation of the reduction factor with increasing treatment time could be observed (e.g., reduction …

Direct Analysis Of Calcium In Liquid Infant Formula Via Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (Libs), Xavier Cama-Moncunill, Maria Markiewicz-Keszycka, Patrick J. Cullen, Carl Sullivan, Maria Piedad Casado-Gavalda

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The present work illustrates the potential of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the direct analysis of liquid food products. The aim of the experiment was to predict calcium content in ready-to-feed infant formula. The analysis was performed by a LIBS system coupled to a liquid sample chamber with a rotatory wheel that presents the liquid to the laser beam as a thin film. Multivariate analysis with partial least squares regression (PLSR) was performed to correlate LIBS spectral data to reference calcium contents. The obtained PLSR model exhibited a good fit and linearity, as indicated by the coefficients of determination for …

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy For Food Authentication, Maria Markiewicz-Keszycka, Raquel Cama-Moncunill, Maria Piedad Casado-Gavalda, Carl Sullivan, P. J. Cullen

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With the globalisation of food markets, food authentication has become a significant concern worldwide to ensure food safety and to avoid origin and quality fraud. A multi-elemental fingerprint is a powerful tool for detection of adulterants and geographical origin of foods. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a promising technique that can provide a mineral fingerprint of food products. LIBS allows a rapid, high-throughput, micro-destructive and multi-elemental analysis of a wide range of samples type. It has already been demonstrated by several authors that LIBS can be successfully used for food authentication. Although LIBS shows excellent potential for at-line or portable …

Effect Of Cold Plasma Treatment On The Antigenicity Of Peanut Allergen Ara H 1, Harshitha Venkataratnam, Chaitanya Sarangapani, Orla Cahill, Catherine Barry-Ryan

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The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of cold atmospheric plasma on the antigenicity of protein Ara h 1. Dry, defatted peanut flour (DPF), whole peanut (WP) were subjected to cold atmospheric plasma at voltage of 80 kV for different treatment durations (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min). The allergen samples were analyzed using SDS-PAGE, immunoblot and competitive ELISA. Furthermore, the secondary structure was examined using circular dichroism. SDS-PAGE results revealed no change in the protein intensity bands corresponding to Ara h 1 for both DPF and WP. Competitive ELISA of samples showed a reduction in …

Effect Of Cold Plasma On Polyphenol Oxidase Inactivation In Cloudy Apple Juice And On The Quality Parameters Of The Juice During Storage., A.E. Illera, S. Chaple, M.T. Sanz, S. Ng, P. Lu, J. Jones, E. Carey, Paula Bourke

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Direct cold plasma treatment has been investigated as an alternative non-thermal technology as a means of maintaining and improving quality of fresh cloudy apple juice. Process variables studied included type of plasma discharge, input voltage and treatment time on polyphenol oxidase (PPO) inactivation. Spark discharge plasma at 10.5 kV for 5 min was the best treatment, with near total inactivation of PPO achieved, although good PPO inactivation was also recorded using shorter treatment times. Residual activity (RA) of PPO was 16 and 27.6% after 5 and 4 min of treatment respectively. This PPO inactivation was maintained throughout the storage trials, …

Food Safety Knowledge And Practices Among Saudi Mothers, Wafa O. Ayaz, Anushree Priyadarshini, Amit Jaiswal

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This study examines food safety knowledge and practices of mothers in Saudi Arabia. A total of 979 respondents participated in the study and completed a questionnaire that accessed their knowledge of food storage, food handling, usage and maintenance of kitchen facilities, personal hygiene and food poisoning. Results showed that mothers in Saudi Arabia had moderate knowledge of food storage (passing rate 64.9%) and usage and maintenance of kitchen facilities (passing rate 66.5%). While they had good knowledge of personal hygiene (passing rate 83.8%) and food poisoning (passing rate 78.5%), their knowledge with regard to food handling was poor (passing rate …

The Effect Of Temperature During Retail Display On The Colour Stability Of Co Pretreated Vacuum Packaged Beef Steaks, Lauren Anne Van Rooyen, Paul Allen, Eimear Gallagher, David I. O'Connor

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The effect of CO pretreatments applied to beef striploin steaks (Longissimus thoracis et lumborum, LTL) prior to vacuum packaging and display temperature on colour stability, shelf life and tenderness was determined. Steaks were exposed to 5% CO, 60% CO2 and 35% N2for 3 (CO3), 5 (CO5) or 7 (CO7) h, followed by 28 days display at 2 °C (good industry practice) or 6 °C (mild abuse). CO5 was the optimum exposure time as it induced the desirable colour while not retaining the bright colour, irrespective of display temperature. K/Sratios confirmed that CO pretreatment did not mask spoilage and …

Enzymatic Extraction Of Fucoxanthin From Brown Seaweeds, Emer Shannon, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam

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Brown seaweeds contain a number of bioactive compounds. The xanthophyll, fucoxanthin, has in vivo efficacy against disorders such as type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer. Organic solvents are traditionally employed to extract fucoxanthin, but carry a toxic chemical and environmental burden. The aim of this study was to optimise a fucoxanthin extraction method using enzymes, water, low-temperature dehydration and mechanical blending, to produce yields comparable to those achieved with an organic solvent (acetone). Response surface methodology was applied, using Fucus vesiculosus as a model species. A fucoxanthin yield of 0.657 mg g^-1 (dry mass) was obtained from F. …

Recognizing Food As Part Of Ireland’S Intangible Cultural Heritage, Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire

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Drawing on evidence from across a range of disciplines (literature, folklore, history, sociology, etc.), this paper explores the lack of an iconic link between Ireland and food, explaining the reasons why Ireland and food are not immediately linked in the popular imagination. It argues for recognition of foodways as a significant element in Ireland’s intangible cultural heritage. It highlights and interrogates constructs, such as ‘national’ and ‘regional’ cuisines, charting the growing scholarship around Irish food history from the ground breaking work of A.T. Lucas and Louis Cullen to a recent emerging cluster of doctoral researchers. The paper identifies the potential …

Microencapsulated Ascorbic Acid: Development, Characterization, And Release Profile In Simulated Gastrointestinal Fluids, Michele Cristina Rodrigues Da Cruz, Camila Augusto Perussello, Maria Lúcia Masson

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The aim of this study was to produce ascorbic acid (AA) microcapsules by complex coacervation, characterize them, and evaluate the release profile in simulated gastrointestinal fluids. The microcapsules were made of gelatin and pectin at concentrations of 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0%. The coacervated microcapsules were assessed for morphology (by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy), water activity (Aw), hygroscopicity, solubility, encapsulation efficiency (EE), thermal behavior, and AA release profile. The AA microcapsules were characterized by low solubility, low hygroscopicity, high thermal stability, and low diameter (<10 μm), with EE ranging from 23.7 to 94.3%. The release profile was faster in gastric fluid (pH 1.8) than in intestinal fluid (pH 6.8). The sample containing 2.0% of wall material and 50% (w/w) of the simple emulsion (core) had the highest EE and the best in vitro release profile, with release of only 68% of AA in 120 min in the gastric fluid.

Practical applications Ascorbic acid (AA) is widely used in the food industry as an …

The Relationship Between Early Pregnancy Dietary Intakes And Subsequent Birthweight And Neonatal Adiposity, R.A.K. Kennedy, Laura Mullaney, A.C. O'Higgins, A. Doolan, Daniel Mccartney, M.J. Turner

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Background: Maternal nutrition intakes may influence neonatal birthweight and adiposity; however, inconsistencies within the literature exist. The relationships between maternal dietary intakes in early pregnancy and both birthweight and neonatal adiposity requires elucidation. This study examined the relationship between early pregnancy dietary intakes and subsequent birthweight and neonatal adiposity.

Methods: Women were recruited at their convenience after sonographic confirmation of a singleton pregnancy. Women completed a Willet food frequency questionnaire evaluating habitual food and nutrient intakes at their first antenatal visit. Neonatal body composition was measured using air-displacement plethysmography.

Results: Of the 385 mother-neonate dyads, mean maternal age was 30.8 …

Sodium Caprate Enables The Blood Pressure-Lowering Effect Of Ile- Pro-Pro And Leu-Lys-Pro In Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats By Indirectly Overcoming Pept1 Inhibition, John Gleeson, Jesus Maria Frias, Sinead Ryan, David J. Braydon

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The tripeptides, Ile-Pro-Pro (IPP) and Leu-Lys-Pro (LKP), inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) resulting in lowered blood pressure. Our hypothesis was that the medium chain fatty acid permeation enhancer, sodium caprate (C10), may prevent the decrease in permeability of the tripeptides when PepT1 is inhibited by glycyl-sarcosine (Gly-Sar), a situation that may occur in the presence of food hydrolysates. Using Caco-2 monolayers and isolated rat jejunal tissue, the apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) of [3H]-IPP and [3H]- LKP were assessed in the presence of Gly-Sar with and without C10. Gly-Sar decreased the Papp of both tripeptides across monolayers and isolated jejunal tissue, but …

Lignocellulosic Biorefineries In Europe: Current State And Prospects, Amit Jaiswal, Shady Hassan, Gwilym A. Williams

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In 2012, the European Bioeconomy strategy was launched, defining the bioeconomy as "the 33 production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste 34 streams into value added products". This strategy and its action plans increased the turnover 35 of the total bioeconomy in the EU from 2.09 trillion Euro in 2008 to 2.29 trillion in 2015 .

Translation Of Plasma Technology From The Lab To The Food Industry, Patrick J. Cullen, James Lalor, Laurence Scally, Daniela Boehm, Vladimir Milosavljevic, Paula Bourke, Kevin Keener

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The potential of cold plasma as a food processing aid has been demonstrated for a range of processes and products. The potential applications of plasma technology are extensive and include microbial decontamination, pest control, toxin elimination, food and package functionalisation and many others. However, studies reported to date have principally been at laboratory scale. This paper discusses the status and challenges of transferring the technology to the industry. The major challenges discussed for adoption of atmospheric plasma as a food processing tool by industry are (1) demonstration of product/process specific efficacies; (2) development of process compatible technology designs and scale‐up; …

Lactic Acid Fermentation Of Arthrospira PlatensisIs (Spirulina) Biomass For Probiotic-Based Products, Alberto Niccolai, Emer Shannon, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam, Natascia Biondi, Liliana Rodolfi, Mario R. Tredici

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The first objective of this study was to evaluate the use of lyophilised biomass of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis F&M-C256 as the sole substrate for lactic acid fermentation by the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014. After 48 h of fermentation, the bacterial concentration was 10.6 log CFU mL−1 and lactic acid concentration reached 3.7 g L−1. Lyophilised A. platensis F&M-C256 biomass was shown to be a suitable substrate for L. plantarum ATCC 8014 growth. The second objective of the study was to investigate whether lactic acid fermentation could enhance in vitro digestibility and antioxidant activity of A. platensis biomass. …

The Effect Of Non-Thermal Plasma On The Lipid Oxidation And Microbiological Quality Of Sushi, Piotr Kulawik, Carlos Alvarez, Patrick J. Cullen, Ramon Aznar-Roca, Anne Maria Mullen, Brijesh Tiwari

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The study examined the effect of non-thermal plasma (NTP) on the total viable count and lipid oxidation of two common sushi products: nigiri and hosomaki. Sushi samples were treated with NTP using a dielectric barrier discharge system with 70 and 80kV of potential differences for 5min. The samples were stored at 4°C for 11days and analysed for total aerobic count, moisture and protein content, TBA index and fatty acids composition. Although the effect of NTP on the total aerobic counts was not statistically significant, a tendency in log reduction could be observed, with 1–1.5logcfu/g reduction. Moisture and protein content, as …

Optimisation Of Organosolv Pretreatment For The Extraction Of Polyphenols From Spent Coffee Waste And Subsequent Recovery Of Fermentable Sugars, Rajeev Ravindran, Claire Desmond, Swarna Jaiswal, Amit Jaiswal

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In the present study, organosolv pretreatment strategy was modified for the comprehensive utilisation of spent coffee waste (SCW) for polyphenol extraction and reducing sugar production. A response surface design involving four factors viz. ethanol concentration, temperature, time and H2SO4 concentration was created for optimisation of polyphenol extraction from SCW. 11.2 mg GAE of polyphenol content/g of SCW was obtained using ethanol (68% v/v) at 51 °C for 45 min in the presence of 1.5% H2SO4 as catalyst. Furthermore, 13.78 of QE of Total Flavonoid Content/g of SCW was obtained following this process which was 7.6-fold higher than control (1.81 QE/g …

Combating Staphylococcus Aureus And Its Methicillin Resistance Gene (Meca) With Cold Plasma, Xinyu Liao, Patrick J. Cullen, Donghong Liu, Aliyu Idris Muhammad, Shiguo Chen, Xingqian Ye, Jun Wang, Tian Ding

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The increase in antibiotic resistance has become a global challenge to public health. In this study, an atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) system was applied for combating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its methicillin resistance gene (mecA) during food wastewater treatment. The plate count and flow cytometry methods were employed to estimate the damage in MRSA induced by plasma treatment. A quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) method was used to assess the plasma-induced degradation of the mecA genes. The inactivation of MRSA and degradation of extracellular (e-) and intracellular (i-)mecA genes were investigated in phosphate buffered solution as a function of plasma …

Synthesis, Characterisation And Dna Intercalation Studies Of Regioisomers Of Ruthenium (Ii) Polypyridyl Complexes, Laura Perdisatt, Samar Moqadasi, Luke O'Neill, Gary Hessman, Alessandra Ghion, Muhammad Qasim Mushtaq Warraich, Alan Casey, Christine O'Connor

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Regioisomers of the functional group of the main ligand (L) on a series of [Ru(phen)2L]2+and [Ru(bpy)2L]2+ complexes, where phen is 1,10 phenanthroline and bpy is 2,2′-bipyridine, were synthesised to investigate the interaction with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as potential therapeutics. UV–Vis binding titrations, thermal denaturation and circular dichroism were used to evaluate their interaction with DNA. The conclusions indicated the significance of the auxiliary ligand; especially 1,10-phenanthroline has on the binding constants (Kb). The systematic variation of auxiliary ligand(phen or bpy), and polypyridyl ligand (4-(1H-Imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)benzonitrile (CPIP), 2-(4-formylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-f] [1,10] phenanthroline (FPIP), 2-(4-bromophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline (BPIP) and 2-(4-nitrophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f] [1,10] phenanthroline (NPIP), split in terms of …

Current And Future Technologies For Microbiological Decontamination Of Cereal Grains, Agatha Los, Dana Ziuzina, Paula Bourke

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Cereal grains are the most important staple foods for mankind worldwide. The constantly increasing annual production and yield is matched by demand for cereals, which is expected to increase drastically along with the global population growth. A critical food safety and quality issue is to minimize the microbiological contamination of grains as it affects cereals both quantitatively and qualitatively. Microorganisms present in cereals can affect the safety, quality, and functional properties of grains. Some molds have the potential to produce harmful mycotoxins and pose a serious health risk for consumers. Therefore, it is essential to reduce cereal grain contamination to …

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (Libs) For Rapid Analysis Of Ash, Potassium And Magnesium In Gluten Free Flours, Maria Markiewicz-Keszycka, Maria Piedad Casado-Gavalda, Xavier Cama-Moncunill, Raquel Cama-Moncunill, Yash Dixit, Patrick J. Cullen, Carl Sullivan

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Gluten free (GF) diets are prone to mineral deficiency, thus effective monitoring of the elemental composition of GF products is important to ensure a balanced micronutrient diet. The objective of this study was to test the potential of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis combined with chemometrics for at-line monitoring of ash, potassium and magnesium content of GF flours: tapioca, potato, maize, buckwheat, brown rice and a GF flour mixture. Concentrations of ash, potassium and magnesium were determined with reference methods and LIBS. PCA analysis was performed and presented the potential for discrimination of the six GF flours. For the quantification …

Assessment Of The Disinfection Capacity And Eco-Toxicological Impact Of Atmospheric Cold Plasma For Treatment Of Food Industry Effluents, Apurva Patange, Daniela Boehm, Michelle Giltrap, Peng Lu, Patrick J. Cullen, Paula Bourke

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Generation of wastewater is one of the main environmental sustainability issues across food sector industries. The constituents of food process effluents are often complex and require high energy and processing for regulatory compliance. Wastewater streams are the subject of microbiological and chemical criteria, and can have a significant eco-toxicological impact on the aquatic life. Thus, innovative treatment approaches are required to mitigate environmental impact in an energy efficient manner. Here, dielectric barrier discharge atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) was evaluated for control of key microbial indicators encountered in food industry effluent. This study also investigated the eco-toxicological impact of cold plasma …

The Effects Of Varying Gas Concentrations And Exposure Times On Colour Stability And Shelf-Life Of Vacuum Packaged Beef Steaks Subjected To Carbon Monoxide Pretreatment, Lauren Anne Van Rooyen, Paul Allen, Caragh Kelly-Rees, David I. O'Connor

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There is an emerging demand for more value-added meat packaging technologies which enhance meat quality. Overall, colour is the most important quality trait judged at point of purchase as sensory traits cannot be physically assessed prior to consumption (Carpenter, Cornforth, & Whittier, 2001; Van Rooyen, Allen, Crawley, & O’Connor, 2017). Consumers use colour as an indicator of freshness and wholesomeness and this influences perceived meat quality (Carpenter et al., 2001; Issanchou, 1996), while discoloration is associated with unwholesomeness (Faustman & Cassens, 1990) and leads to economic losses (Kropf, Hunt, & Piske, 1986) and food waste. Packaging directly affects the colour …

The N-Acyltransferase Lnt: Structure-Function Insights From Recent Simultaneous Studies, Wei Chang, Declan A. Doyle, Toufic El Arnaout

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Bacterial lipoproteins have been researched for decades due to their roles in a large number of biological functions. There were no structures of their main three membrane processing enzymes, until 2016 for Lgt and LspA, and then 2017 for Lnt with not one but three simultaneous, independent publications. We have analyzed the recent findings for this apolipoprotein N-acyltransferase Lnt, with comparisons between the novel structures, and with soluble nitrilases, to determine the significance of unique features in terms of substrate's recognition and binding mechanism influenced by exclusive residues, two transmembrane helices, and a flexible loop.

An Investigation Of High Intensity Ultrasonication And Chemical Immersion Treatments On Campylobacter Jejuni And Spoilage Bacteria In Chicken, Ahmed Kassem, Joseph Meade, Kevina Mcgill, Ciara Walsh, James Gibbons, James Lyng, Paul Whyte

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High intensity ultrasonication (US) alone or in combination with chemical immersion treatments of lactic acid (3% LA), sodium decanoate (3% SD) and trisodium phosphate (10% TSP) were investigated to reduce populations of Campylobacter jejuni and spoilage organisms in raw chicken. Different experimental conditions were used including a range of temperatures (4°C, 25°C and 54°C) and exposure times (1, 2 and 3min). All combination treatments significantly reduced C. jejuni compared to their individual treatments while only the combination US+SD significantly reduced Total Viable Count (TVC). Multiple linear regression predicted bacterial reductions resulting from changing treatment, temperature and time or each group …

Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia Coli In Diarrhoeagenic Foals: Pulsotyping, Phylotyping, Serotyping, Antibiotic Resistance And Virulence Profiling, C.A. Kennedy, Ciara Walsh, M. Karczmarczyk, S. O'Brien, N. Akasheh, M. Quirke, S. Farrell-Ward, T. Buckley, U. Fogherty, K. Kavanagh, C.T. Parker, T. Sweeney, S. Fanning

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Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) possess the ability to cause extraintestinal infections such as urinary tract infections, neonatal meningitis and sepsis. While information is readily available describing pathogenic E. coli populations in food-producing animals, studies in companion/sports animals such as horses are limited. In addition, many antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of equine infections are also utilised in human medicine, potentially contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance determinants among pathogenic strains. The aim of this study was to phenotypically and genotypically characterise the multidrug resistance and virulence associated with 83 equine E. coli isolates recovered from foals with …

Plasma Activated Water And Airborne Ultrasound Treatments For Enhanced Germination And Growth Of Soybean, Chiara Lo Porto, Dana Ziuzina, Agata Los, Daniela Boehm, Fabio Palumbo, Pietro Favia, Brijesh Tiwari, Paula Bourke, Patrick J. Cullen

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The effect of two novel technologies, also in combination, on germination and growth of soybeans has been investigated. On one side, ultrasound treatment of the seeds increased water uptake without altering the morphology and the wettability of the seed coat, but also induced slight chemical modifications of the outer part of the seed. Plasma-activated water (PAW), obtained from treating water with non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma in air, increased the rate of germination and subsequent plant growth. Different combinations of these two technologies were tested in order to study their interaction and to identify an optimum treatment process. Industrial relevance A great …