Browsing by Author "Pinto, Ana"
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- Microbiological characterization of different formulations of alheiras (fermented sausages)Publication . Silva, Julieta; Barbosa, Joana; Albano, Helena; Sequeira, Maria; Pinto, Ana; Costa Bonito, Conceição; Saraiva, Margarida; Teixeira, PaulaDifferent ingredients in old recipes are becoming popular and the traditional alheira did not escape to this new trend. The objective of this preliminary study was to characterize microbiologically nine different formulations of alheira from five producers. In this sense, isolates obtained were characterized through different phenotypic and biochemical tests. Their susceptibility to different antimicrobials and the presence of virulence factors was also investigated. Lactic acid bacteria were the predominant microbiota, but pathogenic bacteria as coagulase-positive staphylococci, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. as well as indicator organisms were also found. Several virulence factors were produced among the different groups of isolates, with a high incidence of isolates producing β-haemolysis. Along with their potential pathogenic activity, also several antimicrobial resistances were found being the majority of isolates classified as multi-resistant. At our knowledge, this is the first study with these new formulations of alheira. A higher number of products must be analyzed, but we believe that results obtained in this study should help to alert consumers for the need of safe cooking time/temperatures of these products.
- Screening of Bacteriocinogenic Lactic Acid Bacteria and Their Characterization as Potential ProbioticsPublication . Pinto, Ana; Barbosa, Joana; Albano, Helena; Isidro, Joana; Teixeira, PaulaProbiotics are living microorganisms used as nutritional additives that confer health benefits on the host. Their use in food products is very attractive, especially if they could also inhibit important foodborne pathogens. In this study, antimicrobial activity against several foodborne pathogens was screened for 280 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from different food products and the probiotic characteristics of bacteriocinogenic isolates were evaluated. Seven out of 280 LAB isolates were selected due to their bacteriocinogenic properties and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as Pediococcuspentosaceus (n = 6) and Lactobacillus plantarum (n = 1). Virulence factors and antibiotic resistances were not detected for any of the isolates. Except for L. plantarum R23, all the isolates were able to survive through the simulated gastrointestinal tract conditions. Only P.pentosaceus CFF4 was able to adhere to Caco-2 cells after the simulated gastrointestinal tract passage. In conclusion, even though in vivo studies should be performed, P.pentosaceus CFF4, which was also able to inhibit the growth of foodborne pathogens in vitro, seems to be a potential probiotic to be used in the food industry.