Stela Maris Meister Meira

Anti-adhesion and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles supported on graphene oxide sheets.

This work reports on the preparation, characterization and antibacterial activity of a nanocomposite formed from graphene oxide (GO) sheets decorated with silver nanoparticles (GO-Ag). The GO-Ag nanocomposite was prepared in the presence of AgNO3 and sodium citrate. The physicochemical characterization was performed by UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The average size of the silver nanoparticles anchored on the GO surface was 7.5 nm. Oxidation debris fragments (a byproduct adsorbed on the GO surface) were found to be crucial for the nucleation and growth of the silver nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of the GO and GO-Ag nanocomposite against the microorganism Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated using the standard counting plate methodology. The GO dispersion showed no antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa over the concentration range investigated. On the other hand, the GO-Ag nanocomposite displayed high biocidal activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 2.5 to 5.0 μg/mL. The anti-biofilm activity toward P. aeruginosa adhered on stainless steel surfaces was also investigated. The results showed a 100% inhibition rate of the adhered cells after exposure to the GO-Ag nanocomposite for one hour. To the best of our knowledge, this work provides the first direct evidence that GO-Ag nanocomposites can inhibit the growth of microbial adhered cells, thus preventing the process of biofilm formation. These promising results support the idea that GO-Ag nanocomposites may be applied as antibacterial coatings material to prevent the development of biofilms in food packaging and medical devices.

Probiotic potential of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from Brazilian regional ovine cheese

Twelve Lactobacillus isolates from Brazilian starter-free ovine cheeses were evaluated for their probiotic potential. The strains were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as Lactobacillus plantarum (7), Lb. brevis (2), Lb. casei (2) and Lb. parabuchneri (1). All strains showed variable resistance to gastric juices and relative tolerance to pancreatin and bile salts. Only five strains of Lb. plantarum could not deconjugate the sodium salt of taurodeoxycholic acid. Autoaggregation ability after 24 h was above 50% and hydrophobicity was higher than 60% for most strains. All lactobacilli could inhibit linolenic acid oxidation, except Lb. parabuchneri strain, whereas none of them could scavenge DPPH radical. β-Galactosidase activity ranged from 47·7 to 2503 Miller units. Inhibition of food pathogens Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium was demonstrated and the production of organic acids could be associated with this effect. The Lactobacillus strains from Brazilian regional ovine cheese showed interesting functional characteristics, mainly the strains Lb. brevis SM-B and Lb. plantarum SM-I. Both presented high acid tolerance. In addition, Lb. brevis SM-B also displayed remarkable antioxidant activity and Lb. plantarum SM-I was the highest β-galactosidase producer, exhibited high autoaggregation and hydrophobicity properties.

Production of feather hydrolysates with antioxidant, angiotensin-I converting enzyme- and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV-inhibitory activities

The antioxidant and antihypertensive activities of feather hydrolysates obtained with the bacterium Chryseobacterium sp. kr6 were investigated. Keratin hydrolysates were produced with different concentrations of thermally denatured feathers (10-75 g l(-1)) and initial pH values (6.0-9.0). Soluble proteins accumulated in high amounts in media with 50 and 75 g l(-1) of feathers, reaching values of 18.5 and 22 mg ml(-1), respectively, after 48 hours of cultivation. In media with 50 g l(-1) of feathers, initial pH had minimal effect after 48 hours. Maximal protease production was observed after 24 hours of cultivation, and feather concentration and initial pH values showed no significant effect on enzyme yields at this time. Feather hydrolysates displayed in vitro antioxidant properties, and optimal antioxidant activities were observed in cultures with 50 g l(-1) feathers, at initial pH 8.0, after 48 hours growth at 30°C. Also, feather hydrolysates were demonstrated to inhibit the angiotesin I-converting enzyme by 65% and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV by 44%. The bioconversion of an abundant agroindustrial waste such as chicken feathers can be utilized as a strategy to obtain hydrolysates with antioxidant and antihypertensive activities. Feather hydrolysates might be employed as supplements in animal feed, and also as a potential source of bioactive molecules for feed, food and drug development.

Adsorption of nisin and pediocin on nanoclays

Three different nanoclays (bentonite, octadecylamine-modified montmorillonite and halloysite) were studied as potential carriers for the antimicrobial peptides nisin and pediocin. Adsorption occurred from peptide solutions in contact with nanoclays at room temperature. Higher adsorption of nisin and pediocin was obtained on bentonite. The antimicrobial activity of the resultant bacteriocin-nanoclay systems was analyzed using skimmed milk agar as food simulant and the largest inhibition zones were observed against Gram-positive bacteria for halloysite samples. Bacteriocins were intercalated into the interlayer space of montmorillonites as deduced from the increase of the basal spacing measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD) assay. Infrared spectroscopy suggested non-electrostatic interactions, such as hydrogen bonding between siloxane groups from clays and peptide molecules. Transmission electron microscopy did not show any alteration in morphologies after adsorption of antimicrobial peptides on bentonite and halloysite. These results indicate that nanoclays, especially halloysite, are suitable nanocarriers for nisin and pediocin adsorption.

Active metabolites produced by Penicillium chrysogenum IFL1 growing on agro-industrial residues

Microbial extracts continue to be a productive source of new molecules with biotechnological importance. Fungi of the genus Penicillium are known to produce biologically active secondary metabolites. The goal of this work is verify the production of antimicrobial metabolites by Penicillium chrysogenum IFL1 using agro-industrial residues. P. chrysogenum IFL1 produced active metabolites growing on the agro-industrial residues, grape waste and cheese whey. The 7-day cultures showed antimicrobial activities against bacteria, fungi and amoebae. The filtrate of the cheese whey culture inhibited the growth of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the fungus Fusarium oxysporum and the amoeba Acanthamoeba polyphaga. Due to the greater antimicrobial activity of the cheese whey culture, a footprinting profile was carried out using the ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS techniques. The presence of penicillin G and other metabolites that have antimicrobial activity such as penicillin V and rugulosin can be suggested. P. chrysogenum IFL1 was able to produce a wide variety of antimicrobial compounds on agro-industrial residues, which makes the process ecologically friendly.

Identificação e resistência a barreiras biológicas de bactérias lácticas isoladas de leite e queijo de ovelha

Summary Lactic bacteria isolated from ovine milk and cheese were identified and evaluated in vitro for probiotic characteristics – acid, bile salts and phenol tolerance. Three strains were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum and LCN 27 was not definitively identified. The isolates showed good viability at pH 4 and pH 3, but none of them survived at pH 2 (values below detection limit) after 4 hours of incubation. The lactobacilli were able to resist 0.1 and 0.3% of bile salts and 0.4% of phenol did not affect the viability after 4 h. The strain LCN 56 was studied in simulated gastric and intestinal juices, in which the presence of pancreatin and bile salts did not affect bacterial viability, but the strain resists only for 30 min in pepsin and pH 2.0. The addition of skimmed milk enhanced viability during 4 h of evaluation. These results instigate the continuity of studies of these isolates for food probiotic application.