Probiotic microorganisms were isolated from fermented curd, idli batter, lentils, human milk, and healthy infants’ faecal matter. A total of 27 isolates were screened for acid and bile tolerance, with 12 isolates showing resistance to low pH and bile and nine isolates indicating significant viability during gastro-intestinal simulation. They were further investigated for probiotic properties where isolate B33 (from idli batter) with 66.57 ± 0.05% autoaggregation potential, isolate D25 (from curd) with 93.25 ± 0.60% hydrophobicity, and 75.25 ± 0.21% biofilm-forming potential were observed as significant isolates. Some isolates have shown positive lipolytic, amylolytic, and proteolytic activity and all the isolates have shown negative hemolytic and gelatinase activity. Antibiotic resistance was also analysed using the disc diffusion method, wherein isolates B11, B32, and B34 were most resistant to eight antibiotics. The antibacterial properties of cell-free supernatant (CFS) of isolates were determined against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella Typhimurium by agar well diffusion method, wherein isolates B11, B32, D25, and B34 showed high antibacterial activity. Potential probiotic isolates D25 and B11 were identified using the 16S rRNA sequencing method, and they were identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus, respectively. Application of their CFS (20 µL) for biofilm eradication was also studied on the biofilm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 by 96-well microtiter plate assay, where isolate D25 showed 65 ± 0.20% biofilm eradication. The study suggested that both isolates were potential probiotics and could be applied in food preparation, animal feed, or the pharmaceutical industry.
This novel study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of Iranian mustard seeds and some chemical properties of their oils. Genetic diversity was carried out using trnH-psbA sequences. A phylogenic tree was constructed after sequencing. The chemical compositions of seeds and analytical characteristics of seed oils were determined. Results indicated that PCR products of samples had different patterns and their sequences (MK328472, MK328473) didn’t have 100% identity with related sequences. Samples contained 32.08% and 33.98% oil, respectively. The protein content of samples was in the range of 29.87% and 30.43%. Although mustard seed samples were collected from two different regions of Iran, their investigated chemical compositions were similar (P> 0.05). Acid values of oils were 0.70 and 0.55 mg KOH/g oil, with peroxide values of 2.92 and 3.27 meq O2/kg oil, respectively. The oxidative stability indices were 4.12 and 4.32 hours (p˃0.05). The types and amounts of fatty acids in the oil samples were similar (p˃0.05) and they were rich in unsaturated fatty acids (88.06% and 89.13%), and low contents of saturated fatty acids (10.87% and 11.94%) were observed. Despite the similarities in chemical properties, two samples were not the same in molecular specifications. It seems that they probably belonged to new species/subspecies of the Brassica spp. As future work, it is recommended to investigate the application of Iranian mustard seed or its derivatives in food products.
Foodborne pathogens like Salmonella pose a significant threat to public health due to their ability to survive across diverse temperatures and food matrices. This study investigated the survival and virulence gene expression of Salmonella Weltevreden and Salmonella Typhimurium in four food matrices (fish, shrimp, chicken, and sprouts) stored at 37°C, 4°C, and -20°C. Samples were spiked with both serovars, and their growth and gene expression were monitored over three days using quantitative real-time PCR. Both strains demonstrated the ability to survive and adapt across the tested conditions. Notably, S. Weltevreden exhibited significantly more virulence gene expression in shrimp under cold storage than in other food matrices, suggesting enhanced pathogenic potential in specific food environments. Despite its limited duration, this study highlights the resilience of Salmonella in varied storage conditions and underscores the need for stringent food safety protocols and further research into long-term survival and gene regulation.
Candida albicans, inhabits the urogenital and gastrointestinal tract as a commensal yeast and its growth is limited by the action of immune system. Plant-derived natural products play a vital role in pharmaceutical field, since substantial quantity of contemporary medicines are obtained either from naturally occurring molecules or their byproducts. With this background, Syzygium cumini and Psidium guajava have been selected for the present investigation. We explored whether essential oils (EOs) from leaves of S. cumini and P. guajava can hinder the harmful behaviors of C. albicans, a pathogen that often takes advantage of weakened immune systems. The EOs derived from the leaves of S. cumini and P. guajava were extracted by hydro-distillation method and main components were analyzed using GC–MS. Sub-MIC concentrations of EOs were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the EOs against biofilm formation and hyphal transition of C. albicans. The most dominant components in S. cumini were identified as α-Cadinol (24.33%), Naphthalene (13.878%), Spathulenol (12.47%) and in case of. P. guajava oil, Caryophyllene oxide (36.09%), β-Nerolidol (23.40%), Epoxy farnesol (4.12%), Humulene epoxide (3.89%) and α-Cadinol (3.65%) were identified as major components. In a sub-lethal concentration (4% and 8% v/V), essential oil blocked the hyphal transition, a major virulence factor of C. albicans. The results demonstrated that EOs of the selected plants were able to reduce biofilm formation by as much as 50%, with the effect increasing in a dose-dependent fashion. The molecular docking studies reveal that the dominant compounds had considerable binding affinities against adhesin. These findings indicate that both EOs might possess the capacity to inhibit the growth and colonization of C. albicans, highlighting potential usage for a range of antifungal applications.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fetal number on selected haematological and biochemical blood parameters in late-gestation Ile de France ewes. A total of 40 clinically healthy ewes aged 2–5 years, with an average body weight of 68.0 ± 3.58 kg, were included in the experiment. All ewes were between days 110 and 130 of gestation. Based on ultrasonographic examination, the animals were divided into two groups: ewes carrying a single fetus (n = 20) and ewes carrying twin fetuses (n = 20). The independent samples Student's t-test for comparison of group means was used. Biochemical analysis revealed significant differences between the experimental groups. Ewes carrying a single fetus exhibited significantly higher concentrations of total protein, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose, creatinine, calcium, and iron (P ≤ 0.001). In addition, higher white blood cell, lymphocyte, and granulocyte counts were observed in this group. Conversely, ewes carrying twin fetuses showed significantly higher concentrations of globulin, triglycerides, cholesterol, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), phosphorus, haemoglobin, and platelet counts (P ≤ 0.001). Twin pregnancy markedly affected several metabolic and haematological indicators. Elevated concentrations of BHB and NEFA in twin-bearing ewes indicate increased mobilisation of body fat reserves and the development of a negative energy balance during late gestation.
