Despite advancements in probiotic encapsulation technologies, maintaining probiotic cell viability during gastrointestinal transit, processing, and long-term storage remains a significant challenge. Probiotic microencapsulation using W/O/W double emulsions is currently one of the most promising strategies for enhancing stability, viability, and functional performance in foods and pharmaceutical applications. This comprehensive review fills the literature gap by assessing the impact of W/O/W DE systems, including conventional, Pickering, gel, gel-extrusion, and incorporated nanotechnology systems, on the storage stability and survival of probiotics in the human gastrointestinal tract, which has not been systematically examined in prior reviews. The protective parameters of the polymers, droplet size, surfactants, phase ratios, and gel agents are assessed across different DEs. The findings indicate that multilayered structures, polymeric systems reinforced with proteins, polysaccharides, and nanomaterials, and hybrid systems perform superior. In addition, multifaceted systems exhibit improved resistance to gastric acids and bile salts, high temperatures, and oxidative stress, with better-controlled release in the colon. The incorporation of nanotechnology within DE systems creates the potential to improve the survivability and shelf-life of probiotics under extreme conditions. This review highlights promising pathways for novel DE-based probiotic delivery systems, including improvements in shelf life, survivability, and efficacy in harsh conditions, with an emphasis on incorporating nanotechnology and gelation.

Bacteriocins, a class of ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides, have garnered significant attention in recent years for their potential applications in food preservation and therapeutic interventions. These natural compounds, produced by various bacteria, exhibit a diverse range of antimicrobial activities against closely related species and even pathogenic organisms. This study aimed to optimize the production of bacteriocin produced by Bifidobacterium longum. The cultivation conditions and medium composition were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The Plackett Burman experimental design was effective in identifying significant variables that influence bacteriocin production. The effects of main factors on bacteriocin production were further investigated by the Box-Behnken design (BBD). The predicted optimum values obtained for the maximum production of bacteriocin determined from Quadratic Machine learning methods that rely on neural networks for representation learning are known as deep learning. In the field of bioinformatics, the in silico study using PSIPRED software and DeepMetaPSICOV are two powerful tools used to predict protein structures and interactions. PSIPRED and DeepMetaPSICOV were utilized specifically to predict the secondary structure of bacteriocin family proteins, focusing on Bifidobacterium longum. The trRosetta (transform-restrained Rosetta) server software employs energy minimization algorithms to predict protein structures, while the neural network-based distance predictions help refine these structures further by considering the spatial arrangements of amino acids within the protein.

Background and purpose: Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic, and spiral-shaped bacterium recognized as a major causative agent of gastrointestinal diseases such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. The high prevalence of this infection, particularly in developing countries, combined with the increasing antibiotic resistance of the bacterium, has significantly reduced the effectiveness of current treatment protocols. In this regard, bacteriophages, viruses that specifically target bacteria, have emerged as a promising, targeted, and safe alternative for the treatment of resistant infections. Accordingly, this study was designed to isolate and characterize a lytic bacteriophage with efficacy against H. pylori. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, a wastewater sample was collected from Bou Ali Sina Hospital (Mazandaran Province, Iran). Following phage isolation, the bacteriophage was identified, and its lytic activity was evaluated using the spot test method. Phage titer was determined by the double-layer agar (DLA) assay. The morphology of the phage was observed and classified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, phage stability was assessed under various temperature conditions (4 C, 25 C, 37°C, and 55 C) and pH ranges (3–9). Results: A phage belonging to the Podoviridae family was isolated, with a titer of 10⁶ PFU/mL. The phage structure included an icosahedral head and a short, non-contractile tail. The spot test confirmed strong lytic activity. The phage exhibited the highest stability and lytic activity at 37 C and pH 5. Conclusion: Given its effective lytic activity and favorable stability under physiological conditions, the isolated phage demonstrates significant potential for development as a phage therapy agent targeting H. pylori infections. This approach could serve as a promising strategy for combating antibiotic resistance in the future.

Postbiotics, defined as bioactive compounds derived from probiotics, have gained increasing attention for their potential health benefits. In this study, we investigated the bio-chemical properties and antimicrobial activities of Lactobacillus bulgaricus postbiotics. The postbiotics exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus with the MIC values of 50, 50, and 100 mg/mL, respectively. Antifungal assessments demonstrated growth inhibition of Candida species with the MIC50 ranged from 32 to 128 mg/mL and MIC100 ranged from 128 to 256 mg/mL as well as Aspergillus species with the MIC50 of 64 mg/mL and MIC100 of 128 mg/mL. The postbiotic showed no antiviral effects against SA-11 rotavirus at non-cytotoxic concentrations, and moderate antioxidant properties with a DPPH IC50 of 2.75 mg/mL, which was significantly weaker than quercetin. The postbiotic's chemical composition revealed high levels of acetic acid, lactic acid, and little amount of 3-phenyllactic acid, contributing to its antimicrobial effects. Additionally, biosurfactants present in the postbiotic exhibited hemolytic activity and potential antimicrobial effects. Cytotoxicity analysis on NIH/3T3 cell line revealed that concentrations below 50 mg/mL were non-toxic, whereas higher concentrations showed adverse effects on cell viability. Despite demonstrating significant bioactivity, our findings emphasize the necessity to modulate expectations regarding postbiotics. They hold promise as functional agents but exhibit moderate effects rather than extreme bioactivity. This study underscores the need for further research to optimize postbiotic applications in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Global health concerns persist in the realm of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), necessitating innovative strategies for both prevention and treatment. This narrative review aims to explore the potential of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—namely, acetate, propionate, and butyrate—as agents in the realm of postbiotics for the management of CVDs. We commence our discussion by elucidating the concept of postbiotics and their pivotal significance in mitigating various aspects of cardiovascular diseases. This review centers on a comprehensive examination of diverse SCFAs and their associated receptors, notably GPR41, GPR43, and GPR109a. In addition, we delve into the intricate cellular and pharmacological mechanisms through which these receptors operate, providing insights into their specific roles in managing cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and stroke. The integration of current information in our analysis highlights the potential of both SCFAs and their receptors as a promising path for innovative therapeutic approaches in the field of cardiovascular health. The idea of postbiotics arises as an optimistic and inventive method, presenting new opportunities for preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases.

The presence of aflatoxins in food products can lead to health risks in human societies. Therefore, in the present study, the effect of yeast strains isolated from fermented products and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) was studied on aflatoxin reduction. Yeast strains were isolated from fermented products such as sweet fruits and dairy products and identified using biochemical, ascospore (testing by culture medium optimization V8 which is called V8NLF), and molecular methods. The probiotic activity of four selected yeasts was evaluated. Then, the effect of selected yeast isolates and TiO2-NPs on reducing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the medium was studied by measuring AFB1 using ELISA and HPLC. The results of biochemical and molecular identification experiments indicate that the selected strain (Y1) is Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The selected strains showed good tolerance to different concentrations of bile salt, pH, and NaCl, indicating appropriate probiotic activity. It also showed antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, and Salmonella typhimurium. Selected strain and TiO2-NPs showed AFB1 reducing activity in the medium and when combined, showed synergistic effects in reducing AFB1. TiO2-NPs in combination with selected yeast strains have a high ability to remove AFB1 from the medium and, therefore, can be used for future studies.

Laccase@Ni-3(PO4)(2) hybrid nanoflowers (HNFs) were prepared by the anisotropic growth of biomineralized nickel phosphate. The immobilization yield was 77.5 +/- 3.6 %, and the immobilized enzyme retained 50 % of its initial activity after 18 reusability cycles. The immobilized and free enzymes lost 80 % of their activity after 18 and 6 h incubation in municipal wastewater effluent (MWWE), respectively. The increase in alpha-helix content (8 %) following immobilization led to a more rigid enzyme structure, potentially contributing to its improved stability. The removal of ciprofloxacin from MWWE by laccase@Ni-3(PO4)(2)center dot HNFs/p-coumaric acid oxidation system was optimized using a Box-Behnken design. Under the optimized conditions [initial laccase activity (0.05 U mL(-1)), the concentration of p-coumaric acid (2.9 mM), and treatment time (4.9 h)], the biocatalyst removed 90 % of ciprofloxacin (10 mg L-1) from MWWE. The toxicity of ciprofloxacin against some G(+) and G(-) bacteria was reduced by 35-70 %, depending on their strain. The EC50 of ciprofloxacin for the alga Raphidocelis subcapitata reduced from 3.08 to 1.07 mg L-1 (p-value <0.05) after the bioremoval. Also, the acute and chronic toxicity of identified biodegradation products was lower than ciprofloxacin at three trophic levels, as predicted by ECOSAR software.

Introduction: Genital infections have motivated researchers to explore the role of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of these infections. Aim: Development of a new potent and non-invasive way to prevent HSV-2 by probiotics. Methods: The anti-HSV-2 properties of culture cell-free supernatant (CFS) and cell body of Lactobacillus crispatus were evaluated by plaque assay method. The cytotoxicity and adhesion potential to HeLa cells were also evaluated. Finally, the composition of cell-free supernatant was characterized by chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: Assay showed a significant decrease in viability of HeLa cells upon exposure to a concentration of 108 CFU mL–1 as compared to 107 CFU mL–1 and other concentration of L. crispatus. Significant antiviral effects were recorded in the pre-treated Hela cells in both cell body form and CFS of L. crispatus. Similar results were obtained in the case of the L. crispatus ATCC 33820 strain. Carbohydrates (19.64

Aflatoxin (AFs)-contaminated diet in feeding domestic animals is one of the biggest health concerns for humans. Therefore, various methods have been developed to detoxify AFs. In the present study, adding Saccharomyces cerevisiae probiotic yeast and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) reduces the toxicity of AF B1 (AFB1) in laying hens was studied. After preparing the laying hens, they were fed with a diet containing AFB1 for 14 days and supplemented with S. cerevisiae and TiO2-NPs. Weight changes, serum levels of albumin, globulin, total protein, aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) were measured over 14 days. Also, on day 14, after killing the animals, their liver tissue was extracted, and the AFB1 content was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and studied histopathologically using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The results showed that adding S. cerevisiae strain and TiO2-NPs to the diet of chicks with aflatoxicosis prevented weight loss, detoxified the liver, increased total protein, decreased albumin, and globulin content. Histopathological images showed damage to the liver tissue of laying hens fed diets containing AFB1. However, S. cerevisiae and TiO2-NPs were able to prevent liver damage. In general, it was concluded that adding S. cerevisiae along with TiO2-NPs could be a good optiofor reducing AFB1 toxicity in laying hens.

Probiotics such as Lactobacilli are important in improving normal intestinal flora and hindering the growth of harmful bacteria in the digestive system. Given the above reasons, the industrial production of probiotics and the use of high-yield strains is of great importance. The present study compares the biomass production by Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 in batch and fed-batch cultures conditions at a pilot plant scale. An optimized medium containing the following compounds (g/L): glucose 112.50, sugar beet molasses 56.25, casein 18.75, yeast extract 18.75, K2HPO4 13.13, Tween 80 1.88, MgSO4.7H2O 0.3750, MnSO4. 4H2O 0.0750, CaCl2. 2H2O 0.1875 and Simethicone 1.25 was used for biomass production. During the fermentation process, culture conditions such as pH, temperature, and oxygen concentration were monitored using process analytical technology (PAT). Based on the obtained results, the maximum biomass production in the batch condition in the first 20 hours of culture in the optimized medium was about 68.14 g/L. After three stages of fed-batch culture, the biomass production by L. rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 reached 93.5 g/L at 37°C with agitation and aeration rates of 100 rev/min and 300 VV-1min-1, respectively. Therefore, biomass production increased about 2.67-fold more than the basal medium.

The genus Fusarium causes a wide range of infections in human, animals and herbs. The purpose of this research was to investigate and identify the native strains of Bacillus subtilis playing an inhibitory role against Fusarium oxysporum by producing surfactin. B. subtilis was isolated from the soil of various parks in Tehran-Iran, and identified by biochemical tests. Growth inhibition zone, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of B. subtilis were determined. After purification of surfactin, quantitative and qualitative analysis of surfactin conducted using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) . Finally, two selected native strains with the highest production rate of surfactin identified using PCR for 16S rRNA and phylogenetic tree was drawn. Sixty strains of B. subtilis were isolated from soil, after identification through phenotypical and biochemical tests, the antagonistic activity of 27 different strains against F. oxysporum by Agar well diffusion assay determined and the highest inhibition zone was 13.66 mm. Six strains showing the best inhibitory effect, were isolated and their metabolite were purified by methanol. MIC and MFC values of different strains were in the range of 0.5-1.6 and 1.6-2.6 mg/mL. Using HPLC, the purified surfactin content in B. subtilis was about 56.7 - 131.9 μg/mL. Based on the curves of the chromatogram, the preferred strains with the highest production of surfactin, by molecular identification, displayed high similarity to B. subtilis. We got a maximum amount of yellow and transparent surfactin from native strains. Furthermore, the selected bacteria can be good candidates for biological control of fungal pathogens.

The cosmetic, hygienic, or pharmaceutical applications of laccase are hampered by its sensitive nature to processing and storage conditions. In this context, the present study introduced a design of experiment approach using spray drying as an ideal technique for producing an active laccase mouthwash dry powder. Optimization by applying the desirability function method resulted in the starch concentration of 0.73% w/w, magnesium stearate of 0.50% w/w, betaine concentration of 3.0% w/w, and outlet temperature of 60 degrees C as the optimum processing conditions. Laccase residual activity and yield value were obtained 64.8 +/- 2.4% and 50.3 +/- 0.3%, respectively. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Circular Dichroism (CD) results showed that the native structure of laccase was largely restored upon reconstitution of the spray-dried powder in water. The laccase mouthwash effectively reduced viable counts of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans and showed lower cytotoxicity than chlorhexidine mouthwash on human gingival fibroblasts (HGF1-PI 1). Tooth whitening (Delta E) in each concentration of the enzymatic mouthwash showed a significant difference from control (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that the laccase mouthwash could be a natural, safe, and effective alternative to the existent chemical mouthwashes.

Consumption of Medicago sativa (alfalfa) has been linked to infection control in livestock. Therefore, studying the mechanism of this action may lead to the development of enriched food supplements. The purpose of this study was to investigate how M. sativa extract affects the growth of Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The effects of M. sativa extract on the bacterial cell adherence to Caco-2 cells (Human colon epithelial adenocarcinoma cell lines) and expression of genes involved in the formation of E. coli biofilm were also studied. Generally, in concentrations lower than 100 mg/ml, alfalfa extract had no antimicrobial effect on the probiotic and pathogenic bacteria. However, it not only acted as a growth promoter for two probiotic strains at 2.5% concentration but also increased the antibacterial effect of probiotics supernatants. Furthermore, alfalfa extract reduced the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to Caco-2 cells. M. sativa extract was identified to inhibit the biofilm formation by E. coli through decreasing the genes expression, papC, and rcsA. As a result, it looks that alfalfa can improve the growth and function of beneficial bacteria, but further studies are needed to elucidate its mechanism of action.

Isolation and Biochemical and Molecular Identification of Lactobacilli from Traditional Dairy in Fars Province and Investigation of Their Probiotic Potential

Streptococcal pharyngitis is mainly caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), which if left untreated can lead to rheumatic heart disease. The accurate diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis is a challenge for clinicians because several symptoms of streptococcal pharyngitis are similar to viral pharyngitis. There are some commercially available biosensors for the rapid diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis. Nevertheless, they are not widely used by physicians, mainly because of their high price and dependence on the instrument. Serotype M1 GAS is the most prevalent cause of streptococcal pharyngitis and binds to H-1 antigen, a sugar code found on oral epithelial cells. Here, we present a nanobiosensor based on aggregation of H-1 antigen-conjugated gold nanoparticles for the rapid, qualitative, and quantitative detection of M1 GAS, which is inspired by the sugar code-lectin interaction. It is noteworthy that M1 GAS was detected in a wide concentration range (1 × 103–1×106 CFU/ml) with a linear response and a short detection time of 20 min. Good reproducibility, easy-to-use, and relatively low production cost are among other attractive features of this nanobiosensor. This work provides a strategic roadmap for developing a new generation of biosensors via targeting the sugar code-lectin interaction in future studies.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of new Lactobacillus plantarum strain isolated from dairy products as well as chitosan nanoparticles on reducing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity In vitro. After collection and preparation of yogurt, cheese, milk, and whey products, lactic acid bacteria (LABs) were isolated and identified using biochemical and molecular methods. pH, bile, and salt tolerance tests were used to measure probiotic activity. Then, the antimicrobial activity of LABs against gastrointestinal pathogens was studied. The strain isolated from cheese (C1) was selected as the appropriate strain and antibiotic susceptibility test was performed for this strain. Then, the effect of C1 isolate and chitosan nanoparticles on reducing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the medium was studied by measuring AFB1 using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results of biochemical evaluations indicated the separation of different strains of L. plantarum. Antimicrobial activity test showed extensive antimicrobial activity of C1 isolate. The results showed that this strain has good probiotic activities. This strain was shown to be resistant to erythromycin, fusidic acid, gentamicin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, neomycin, ofloxacin, and vancomycin antibiotics. C1 strain together with chitosan nanoparticles was able to reduce AFB1 in the medium and, when both were used simultaneously, a synergistic effect was seen in reducing AFB1 from the medium. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the new C1 L. plantarum strains together with chitosan nanoparticles had synergistic effects on reducing AFB1 toxin in food products.

The present investigation reports an in-vitro study using combination of laccase and an enhancer capable of inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, preventing biofilm formation, and whitening teeth. Laccase-cinnamic acid system remarkably inhibited the growth of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Candida albicans, S. aureus, and Streptococcus mutans whilst showed no significant effects on Gram-negative bacteria. Data presented that cinnamic acid (10 mM) with laccase (0.125 U ml(-1)) led to a maximum decrease of about 90%, in S. mutans biofilm formation. The confocal laser scanning microscopy showed considerable detachment of S. mutans cells from glass substratum. The combined laccase-cinnamic acid system could remove teeth discoloration caused by coffee. SEM of the teeth surface exhibited no damages such as surface cracking or fracture. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies showed that laccase can catalyze the one-electron oxidation of cinnamic acid to the respective radical. This radical can then undergo several fates, including recombination with another radical to form a dimeric species, dismutation of the radical back to cinnamic acid or decarboxylation to give various reduced oxygen species. Therefore, the redox potential values of phenolic monomers/oligomers are related with their biological activities. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Objective: Today, levels of uncertainty, environmental turmoil and complexity are increasing worldwide. Complexity in Iran is high due to the variety of threats, variety of actors, interference of dynamics, nonlinear behavioral patterns and severe clustering of the network. The complex governance Pattern is one of the new Patterns for managing complexity. The electricity industry is one of the most complex and infrastructural industries that has been affected by sanctions in recent years. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to design a complex governance Pattern in the context of sanctions in the electricity industry.Methods: This research is a fundamental One. The method of conducting this research is qualitative and based on action research. The data have been collected through library and field and in-depth interview and documentary review tools were used. Interviews have been conducted with experts in the country’s electricity industry. The selection of the sample was done non-randomly – snowball with 15 experts in the country’s electricity industry.Results: Findings show that the country’s electricity industry in the face of sanctions with various issues in the economic field (such as rising equipment prices and the issue of financing and exchange), structural (such as inconsistency of oil and energy ministries and the existence of parallel units in the industry) And cultural (such as lack of access to modern technology and reduced regional research) and this has led it to use the country’s internal capacity.Conclusion: The results show that the electricity industry, due to the diversity of actors, goals, values, structures, complex processes and conditions of sanctions, requires the design of a complex governance Pattern and in this direction 18 mechanisms to deal with sanctions as a governance Pattern in four economic areas. , Structurally, politically and culturally designed.

Background Infantile colic (IC) is excessive crying in otherwise healthy children. Despite vast research efforts, its etiology remains unknown. Purpose Most treatments for IC carry various side effects. The collection of evidence may inform researchers of new strategies for the management and treatment of IC as well as new clues for understanding its pathogenesis. This review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and possible mechanisms of probiotics for mananaging IC. Methods Ten papers met the study inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager (RevMan) software and a random-effects model. Results This meta-analysis revealed that probiotics are effective for treating infantile colic, while the review showed that this efficacy may be due to their anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusion Probiotics may be an important treatment option for managing infantile colic due to their anti-inflammatory properties.