Articles publicats (Tecnologia, Enginyeria i Ciència dels Aliments)
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
- ItemOpen AccessEvaluation of cell death-inducing activity of Monilinia spp. effectors in several plants using a modified TRV expression system(Frontiers Media, 2024) López , Anselmo; van Kan, Jan A. L.; Beenen, Henriek G.; Dolcet-Sanjuan, Ramon; Teixidó i Espasa, Neus; Torres, Rosario; Vilanova, LauraIntroduction: Brown rot is the most important fungal disease affecting stone fruit and it is mainly caused by Monilinia fructicola, M. laxa and M. fructigena. Monilinia spp. are necrotrophic plant pathogens with the ability to induce plant cell death by the secretion of different phytotoxic molecules, including proteins or metabolites that are collectively referred to as necrotrophic effectors (NEs). Methods: We exploited the genomes of M. fructicola, M. laxa and M. fructigena to identify their common group of secreted effector proteins and tested the ability of a selected set of effectors to induce cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana, Solanum lycopersicum and Prunus spp. leaves. Results: Fourteen candidate effector genes of M. fructicola, which displayed high expression during infection, were transiently expressed in plants by agroinfiltration using a modified Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV)-based expression system. Some, but not all, effectors triggered leaf discoloration or cell death in N. benthamiana and S. lycopersicum, which are non-hosts for Monilinia and in Prunus spp., which are the natural hosts. The effector MFRU_030g00190 induced cell death in almost all Prunus genotypes tested, but not in the Solanaceous plants, while MFRU_014g02060, which is an ortholog to BcNep1, caused necrosis in all plant species tested. Conclusion: This method provides opportunities for screening Prunus germplasm with Monilinia effector proteins, to serve as a tool for identifying genetic loci that confer susceptibility to brown rot disease.
- ItemOpen AccessEffect of implementing an effective farrowing accommodation hygiene routine on clinical cases of disease, medication usage, and growth in suckling and weaned pigs(Oxford University Press, 2024) Halpin, Keely M.; Lawlor, Peadar G.; Arnaud, Elisa A.; Teixé-Roig, Júlia; O’Doherty, John V.; Sweeney, Torres; O’Brien, Triona M.; Gardiner, Gillian E.The few studies that have evaluated hygiene routines in farrowing accommodation to date have focused on pathogen elimination from pens, with little attention paid to pig growth and no information provided on pig health or medication usage. This study aimed to determine if implementation of an optimized farrowing accommodation hygiene routine could improve pig health and growth and reduce medication usage pre- and post-weaning (PW). Forty seven sows were blocked on parity, previous litter size and body weight and assigned to two treatments: T1) Basic hygiene: cold water washing only with minimal drying time; T2) Optimized hygiene: use of detergent and a chlorocresol-based disinfectant with a 6-d drying time. Total bacterial counts (TBC), Enterobacteriaceae counts and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) swabs were obtained from different areas within the farrowing pens. Pig growth and medication usage were monitored from birth to slaughter and carcass data were obtained at slaughter. On entry of sows to the farrowing pens, TBC and Enterobacteriaceae counts and ATP concentrations were lower on pen surfaces subjected to the optimized compared to the basic hygiene routine (P < 0.05). Pre-weaning diarrhea prevalence was lower in pigs born into optimal compared to basic hygiene pens (0 vs. 22%; P < 0.001). The number of clinical cases of disease and injections administered to piglets per litter was 75% and 79% less for the optimized compared to the basic hygiene routine, respectively (P < 0.001). This led to reductions of 77% (P < 0.001) and 75% (P < 0.01), respectively in the volume of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories administered per litter in the optimized hygiene group. Pigs from the optimized hygiene treatment were also heavier at weaning (P < 0.01) and their average daily gain (ADG) was higher from day 21 to weaning and days 22 to 49 PW (P < 0.05). However, these growth improvements did not carry through to the finisher period. In conclusion, implementation of an optimized hygiene routine reduced the bacterial load in farrowing pens, leading to a reduction in diarrhea and clinical cases of disease and therefore, medication usage, in suckling pigs. Pig growth was also improved during the suckling and early PW periods. Based on the results, an easily implementable farrowing room hygiene protocol with demonstrable benefits for pig health, growth, and welfare can be provided to farmers.
- ItemOpen AccessSimultaneous detection of mycotoxins and pesticides in human urine samples: A 24-h diet intervention study comparing conventional and organic diets in Spain(Elsevier, 2024) Gallardo, Jose A.; Marín-Sáez, Jesús; Sanchís Almenar, Vicente; Gámiz-Gracia, Laura; García-Campaña, Ana M.; Hernández-Mesa, Maykel; Cano Sancho, GermanPesticides and mycotoxins, prominent chemical hazards in the food chain, are commonly found in plant-based foods, contributing to their pervasive presence in the human body, as evidenced by biomonitoring programs. Despite this, there is limited knowledge about their co-occurrence patterns. While intervention studies have demonstrated that organic diets can significantly reduce pesticide levels, their impact on mycotoxin exposure has been overlooked. To address this gap, this study pursued two objectives: first, to characterize the simultaneous presence of mycotoxins and pesticides in human urine samples by means of the control of the biomarkers of exposure, and second, to investigate the influence of consuming organic foods on these co-exposure patterns. A pilot study involving 20 healthy volunteers was conducted, with participants consuming either exclusively organic or conventional foods during a 24-h diet intervention in autumn 2021 and spring 2022 to account for seasonal variability. Participants provided detailed 24-h dietary records, and their first-morning urine samples were collected, minimally treated and analysed using LC-Q-ToF-MS by means of a multitargeted method in order to detect the presence of these residues. Results indicated that among the 52 screened compounds, four mycotoxins and seven pesticides were detected in over 25% of the samples. Deoxynivalenol (DON) and the non-specific pesticide metabolite diethylphosphate (DEP) exhibited the highest frequency rates (100%) and concentration levels. Correlations were observed between urine levels of mycotoxins (DON, ochratoxin alpha [OTα], and enniatin B [ENNB]) and organophosphate pesticide metabolites DEP and 2-diethylamino-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol (DEAMPY). The pilot intervention study suggested a reduction in ENNB and OTα levels and an increase in β-zearalenol levels in urine after a short-term replacement with organic food. However, caution is advised due to the study's small sample size and short duration, emphasizing the need for further research to enhance understanding of the human chemical exposome and refine chemical risk assessment.
- ItemOpen AccessExploring the nutritional and techno-functional benefits of purple hull-less barley in extruded ready-to-eat cereals(Elsevier, 2024-11-08) Friero, Iván; Martínez Subirà, Mariona; Macià i Puig, Ma Alba; Romero Fabregat, Mª Paz; Moralejo Vidal, Mª AngelesThis study explores the potential of purple hull-less barley for producing ready-to-eat cereals, focusing on the impact of extrusion on their nutritional and techno-functional properties. Four formulations were assessed: 100% whole barley, 100% pearled barley, 15% barley bran-85% refined wheat flour, and 100% refined wheat. Higher temperatures and screw speeds, along with lower moisture levels, significantly influenced expansion, density, and hardness. Whole barley extrudates were high in β-glucans (7.4%) and arabinoxylans (6.8%), which negatively correlated with expansion (r = − 0.857 and r = − 0.796) and positively with hardness (r = 0.833 and r = 0.738) and density (r = 0.673 and r = 0.863). Pearled barley extrudates showed improved textural properties compared to whole barley, with reduced hardness and density. The phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of raw materials and extrudates were compared, revealing a significant decrease after extrusion across all formulations. Incorporating barley bran into refined wheat flour tripled the antioxidant capacity of the refined wheat extrudates. Both whole and pearled barley extrudates offered a low estimated glycemic index, suitable for low-GI diets. Overall, purple hull-less barley presents a nutritious option for extrusion, with pearling and bran utilization improving both the techno-functional and nutritional qualities for health-conscious consumers.
- ItemOpen AccessModification of techno-functional and health-promoting properties of orange by-products through ultrasonication(The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2024) Manthei, Alina; Elez Martínez, Pedro; Martín Belloso, Olga; Soliva-Fortuny, RobertThe orange juice extraction process generates significant amounts of by-products which currently lack practical applications leading to economic losses and potentially posing environmental threats. To enable their utilization, an orange pulp-peel powder mixture was subjected to different ultrasonication (US) input powers (200, 300, 400 W) and treatment times (15, 30, 45 min). Particle size was reduced with increasing treatment power and time which led to a maximum increase of 25.8% of water holding capacity (WHC), 12.9% of oil holding capacity (OHC) and 7.6% of bile acid adsorption capacity (BAC). Therefore, the highest treatment power and time (400 W, 45 min) were selected to be applied on mixtures comprised of different proportions of orange pulp and peel. PU80 contained 80% pulp and 20% peel, PU50 equal proportions and PU20 20% pulp and 80% peel. Solubility and content of crude fiber did not significantly change in the mixtures after US. However, WHC increased in all mixtures while OHC significantly improved in PU50 (8.16 g g−1). Inhibition of α-amylase (AAIR) and pancreatic lipase (PLIR) were enhanced in US treated PU80 and PU50. PU20 showed the highest increase of BAC from 3.28 mg g−1 to 4.13 mg g−1 after US which was related to an increase of the total phenolic content (TPC) in this treated mixture. This study could demonstrate that the efficacy of US in enhancing different properties of orange by-products highly depends on the ratio of orange pulp and peel in the by-product mixture, thus polysaccharide composition.