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- 4-Hydroxy-2-Alkenals: a Potential Toxicological Concern of Vegetable Oils?Publication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.; Costa, H.S.4-hydroxy-2-alkenals, namely 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) and 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal (HHE) are secondary lipid oxidation products of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, respectively. An overview of the current knowledge about HNE and HHE in vegetable oils, including factors influencing their formation, health effects, analytical approaches, as well as mitigation strategies and future challenges are discussed. During the last years, an increased attention is being paid to these mutagenic, cytotoxic and genotoxic compounds. Due to their high reactivity and implication in numerous undesirable reactions, they can be linked with several diseases and medical conditions. Vegetable oils were identified as one of the major sources of these compounds, becoming a potential toxicological concern for public health. Up to now, the fatty acids composition, time, temperature and type of frying, as well as different processing conditions were evaluated in order to find a relationship with the presence of these hazardous compounds in vegetable oils. With respect to mitigation strategies to reduce the occurrence of HNE and HHE in vegetable oils, atmospheres with low oxygen content during frying, carbon dioxide blanketing as well as addition of phenolic compounds to the vegetable oils were studied. In the near future, it is important to exploit other conditions to explain the different amounts reported for the same type of vegetable oil from different origins, as well as to evaluate realistic conditions of frying, especially the presence of food, frying equipment and temperatures, among others.
- Air contaminants in animal production – poultry casePublication . Viegas, C.; Viegas, S.; Monteiro, A.; Carolino, E.; Sabino, R.; Verissimo, C.A descriptive study was developed in order to assess air contamination caused by fungi and particles in seven poultry units. Twenty seven air samples of 25 litters were collected through impaction method. Air sampling and particle concentration measurement were performed in the pavilions’ interior and also outside premises, since this was the place regarded as reference. Simultaneously, temperature and relative humidity were also registered. Regarding fungal load in the air from the seven poultry farms, the highest value obtained was 24040 CFU/m3 and the lowest was 320 CFU/m3. Twenty eight species/genera of fungi were identified, being Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (39.0%) the most commonly isolated species and Rhizopus sp. (30.0%) the most commonly isolated genus. From the Aspergillus genus, Aspergillus flavus (74.5%) was the most frequently detected species. There was a significant correlation (r=0.487; p=0.014) between temperature and the level of fungal contamination (CFU/m3). Considering contamination caused by particles, in this study, particles with larger dimensions (PM5.0 and PM10) have higher concentrations. There was also a significant correlation between relative humidity and concentration of smaller particles namely, PM0.5 (r=0.438; p=0.025) and PM1.0 (r=0.537; p=0.005). Characterizing typical exposure levels to these contaminants in this specific occupational setting is required to allow a more detailed risk assessment analysis and to set exposure limits to protect workers’ health.
- Air fungal contamination in ten hospitals’ food units from LisbonPublication . Viegas, C.; Ramos, C.; Almeida, M.; Sabino, Raquel; Verissimo, Cristina; Rosado, L.A descriptive study was developed to monitor air fungal contamination in ten food units from hospitals. Fifty air samples of 250 litres were collected through impaction method. Samples were collected in food storage facilities, kitchen, food plating, canteen and also, outside premises, since this is the place regarded as reference. Simultaneously, environmental parameters were also monitored, including temperature and relative humidity through the equipment Babouc, LSI Sistems and according to the International Standard ISO 7726.
- Alternative SplicingPublication . Jordan, PeterAlternative splicing (AS) is a critical post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism used by more than 95% of transcribed human genes and responsible for structural transcript variation and proteome diversity.
- Analysis, Identification, and Quantification of Anthocyanins in Fruit JuicesPublication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Silva, M.A.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.; Costa, H.S.Anthocyanins are naturally present in a wide range of plant foods, and are usually associated with the orange, pink, red, violet, and blue colors of fruits, such as berries, plums, cherries, pomegranates, citrus fruits, among others. Juices produced from fruits, especially berries, such as black currants, elderberries, chokeberries, or sour cherries, are a source of vitamins and other compounds, such as anthocyanins. High- or ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography techniques coupled with diode array detection or mass spectrometry detection, are by far the most widely used techniques for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of anthocyanins in fruit juices. Anthocyanin content in fruit juices can be used as quality control parameters to check authenticity. Significant differences can be found for anthocyanin content in the same type of juice, but the profile of anthocyanins should be similar.
- Antifungal ResistancesPublication . Sabino, RaquelThe increasing number of invasive procedures and clinical therapies has led to an increase number of patients at-risk of suffering invasive fungal infections. The prophylaxis with antifungals is now broader used in specic groups of patients. Therefore, it is not surprising the emergence of antifungal resistance. In the follow- ing chapter this issue will be discussed, raising awareness to possible sources as well as modes of transmission of resistant isolates in specic environmental settings.
- Antioxidant activity of phytochemicalsPublication . Patras, Ankit; Yuan, Yvonne; Costa, H.S.; Sanches-Silva, Ana
- Arcobacter spp. in food chain – From culture to omicsPublication . Ferreira, S.; Oleastro, M.; Domingues, F.Book description by editor: Food is an essential means for humans and other animals to acquire the necessary elements needed for survival. However, it is also a transport vehicle for foodborne pathogens, which can pose great threats to human health. Use of antibiotics has been enhanced in the human health system; however, selective pressure among bacteria allows the development for antibiotic resistance. Foodborne Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance bridges technological gaps, focusing on critical aspects of foodborne pathogen detection and mechanisms regulating antibiotic resistance that are relevant to human health and foodborne illnesses This groundbreaking guide: - Introduces the microbial presence on variety of food items for human and animal consumption; - Provides the detection strategies to screen and identify the variety of food pathogens in addition to reviews the literature; - Provides microbial molecular mechanism of food spoilage along with molecular mechanism of microorganisms acquiring antibiotic resistance in food; - Discusses systems biology of food borne pathogens in terms of detection and food spoilage; - Discusses FDA’s regulations and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) towards challenges and possibilities of developing global food safety. Foodborne Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance is an immensely useful resource for graduate students and researchers in the food science, food microbiology, microbiology, and industrial biotechnology.
- Assessment of fungal contamination in a Portuguese maternity unitPublication . Viegas, C.; Sabino, R.; Veríssimo, C.; Rosado, L.A descriptive study was developed to monitor air fungal contamination in one Portuguese maternity. Sixty air samples were collected through impaction method. Air sampling was performed in food storage facilities, kitchen, food plating, canteen, pharmacy, sterilization areas, genecology wards, intensive care unit, operating rooms, urgency and also, outside premises, since this was the place regarded as reference. Besides air samples, forty three samples were collected by swabbing the surfaces using a 10 by 10 cm square stencil. Simultaneously, temperature, relative humidity and particles counting (PM10) were registered. Twenty three species of fungi were identified in air, being the two most commonly isolated the genera Penicillium (41,5%) and Cladosporium (28,4%). Regarding yeasts, only Rhodotorula sp. (45,2%), Trichosporon mucoides (51,6%) and Cryptococcus neoformans (3,2%) were found. Thirteen species of fungi were identified in surfaces, being the most frequent the Penicillium genus (91,6%). Concerning yeasts found in surfaces, four species were identified being Rhodotorula sp. (29,1%) the most frequent. There was no coincidence between prevailing genera indoors and outside premises. Moreover, some places presented fungal species different from the ones isolated outside. In the inside environment, Aspergillus species were isolated in air and surfaces. There was no significant relationship (p>0,05) between fungal contamination and the studied environmental variables. Keywords: air, surfaces, fungal contamination, environmental variables, maternity.
- Bacterial resistancesPublication . Manageiro, Vera; Salgueiro, Vanessa; Ferreira, Eugénia; Caniça, ManuelaHere we review several factors involved in the emergence of antibiotic resistance. They are numerous, and the constant adaptation of microorganisms to the selective pressure exerted by antibiotics is extraordinary. The monitoring systems to assess antibiotic resistance levels and the extent of dissemination were highlighted. In addition, the success of spread of certain bacterial lineages and resistant mechanisms remains sometimes difficult to determine. The need to enlarge research in the area of antibiotic resistance was also stated, not only to better understand the dynamics of dissemination of resistance between different bacteria and different ecosystems, but also to enlarge the pharmaceutical pipeline of antibacterials against multidrug-resistant pathogens. It is manifest the severe consequences of antibiotic resistances to humans, animals and environment, constituting a global public health priority. In consequence, it should be tackled on all fronts in view to the essential concept of “One World-One Medicine-One Health”.