Eugenia Bezirtzoglou | Democritus University of Thrace (original) (raw)
Papers by Eugenia Bezirtzoglou
Nowadays, functional foods supplemented with health-promoting microorganisms have attracted the c... more Nowadays, functional foods supplemented with health-promoting microorganisms have attracted the consumers attention due to their health benefits. However, maintaining high cell loads, which consists of an essential requirement for conferring the health effect is a real bottleneck for the food industry, due to viability decline during food processing and storage. Hence, freeze-drying and cell immobilization have been suggested to enhance cell viability. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of freeze-dried immobilized P. acidilactici ORE5 on pistachio nuts on functional regulation of Katiki Domokou-type cheese microbiome. Supplementation of Katiki Domokou-type cheese with free or immobilized P. acidilactici ORE5 culture resulted in cell loads > 8.5 logcfu/g up to 7 days of storage. Both free and immobilized P. acidilactici ORE5 cells suppressed the growth of L. monocytogenes after deliberate inoculation, acting as a protecting shield. SPME GC/MS analysis showed that incorporation of P. acidilactici ORE5 culture in cheese resulted in an improved volatile compounds profile, as verified by the preliminary sensory evaluation. According to Next-Generation Sequencing analysis, a wide range of bacterial diversity was revealed among samples. The most abundant genus was Lactococcus in all samples, while the results showed increased presence of Pediococcus spp. in cheese fortified with P. acidilactici ORE5 culture, highlighting the ability of the strain to survive in the final product. Furthermore, the incorporation of P. acidilactici ORE5 culture in cheese had a significant impact on cheese microbiome composition, as the presence of spoilage bacteria, such as Chryseobacterium, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, were significantly lower compared to the control cheese, indicating quality improvement and prolongation of the product’s shelf- life.
CRC Press eBooks, Nov 24, 2009
Molecules, Jun 10, 2016
The aim of our research activity was to obtain a biocompatible nanostructured composite based on ... more The aim of our research activity was to obtain a biocompatible nanostructured composite based on naturally derived biopolymers (chitin and sodium alginate) loaded with commercial antibiotics (either Cefuroxime or Cefepime) with dual functions, namely promoting wound healing and assuring the local delivery of the loaded antibiotic. Compositional, structural, and morphological evaluations were performed by using the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analytical techniques. In order to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the biocompatibility of the obtained composites, we performed the tetrazolium-salt (MTT) and agar diffusion in vitro assays on the L929 cell line. The evaluation of antimicrobial potential was evaluated by the viable cell count assay on strains belonging to two clinically relevant bacterial species (i.e., Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus).
Medical laboratory sciences, 1991
An epidemiological study for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against cytomegalovirus, Epstein... more An epidemiological study for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and Herpes simplex virus was evaluated in a random population of apparently healthy Greek blood donors from which only HIV and HBV carriers were excluded. The prevalence of IgM antibodies was found to be relatively low at 4.4%, 6.1% and 7.7% respectively. The presence of these antibodies plays an important role when transfusing immunocompromised and transplanted subjects.
Clinical Infectious Diseases, Jun 1, 1995
Food Science and Technology, 2022
Consumers' demands for low-processed and healthier food products led to a search for alternatives... more Consumers' demands for low-processed and healthier food products led to a search for alternatives to replace or reduce synthetic food additives with natural ones. Aromatic plant derivatives which have GRAS status, have been examined for being natural food preservatives and antioxidants to prolong the shelf-life of foods. They contribute to food safety, owing to their anti-quorum sensing, and anti-biofilm properties. These potential food safety attributes and increasing demand for natural food additive options have led to an interest in the use of them, especially in traditional meat, dairy, and bakery products, which would provide them an added value, and increase the market competitiveness. Therefore, the overall perspective of the value-added effects of using aromatic plants and their derivatives in food production and of their incorporated use into packaging materials for active packaging are discussed in this review. In addition, it provides information on their antimicrobial and antioxidant actions. The review also aims to give detailed information on benefits of vegetal bioactive compounds in health and disease by giving their nutraceutical and health-promoting properties. The current knowledge on their application in the treatment of health disorders is presented, their ability to prevent diseases is discussed, and the areas for future research are proposed.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Jun 24, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Frontiers in Public Health, Jul 18, 2023
The present research deals with sentiment analysis performed with Microsoft Azure Machine Learnin... more The present research deals with sentiment analysis performed with Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio to classify Facebook posts on the Greek National Public Health Organization (EODY) from November to January during the pandemic. Positive, negative and neutral sentiments were included after processing reviews. This approach involved analyzing the words appearing in the comments and exploring the sentiments related to daily surveillance reports of COVID-published on the EODY Facebook page. Moreover, machine learning algorithms were implemented to predict the classification of sentiments. This research assesses the e ciency of a few popular machine learning models, which is one of the initial e orts in Greece in this domain. People have negative sentiments toward COVID surveillance reports. Words with the highest frequency of occurrence include government, vaccinated people, unvaccinated, telephone communication, health measures, virus, COVID-rapid/molecular tests, and of course, COVID-. The experimental results disclose additionally that two classifiers, namely two class Neural Network and two class Bayes Point Machine, achieved high sentiment analysis accuracy and F score, particularly % and over %. A significant limitation of this study may be the need for more comparison with other research attempts that identified the sentiments of the EODY surveillance reports of COVID in Greece. Machine learning models can provide critical information combating public health hazards and enrich communication strategies and proactive actions in public health issues and opinion management during the COVID-pandemic.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, 1990
The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of the intestinal anaerobe bacteria colonizing ... more The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of the intestinal anaerobe bacteria colonizing the intestine of the newborn delivered by cesarean section. The intestinal bacterial colonization of 18 newborns delivered by cesarean section was assessed sequentially over the first 14 days of life. Emphasis is placed on C. perfringens and upon interaction to other bacteria. Correlation was made with the infant feeding mode. Microbial studies were realized in anaerobic conditions using Columbia blood agar simple and supplemented with antibiotics. Artificial alimentation seemed to favour C. perfringens installation, in contrast to the maternal one which promote B. bifidum proliferation. Antagonism between these bacteria seems to be established in the newborn intestine, via the alimentation.
PubMed, Mar 1, 1991
The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of the intestinal anaerobic bacteria colonizing... more The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of the intestinal anaerobic bacteria colonizing the intestine of the newborn delivered by cesarean section. Control of the intestinal microecology is dependent on many factors including intestinal peristalsis, the intraluminal environment, and microbial interactions, that deter the overgrowth of pathogens populations. Numerous factors help achieve this normal balance. The effect of feeding seems to induce bacteriological changes.
PubMed, May 1, 1991
Colonization of the digestive tract by C. perfringens was studied in infants born by cesarean sec... more Colonization of the digestive tract by C. perfringens was studied in infants born by cesarean section. Correlations between the level of colonization and the environment, type of feeding, and presence of other anaerobic bacteria were looked for. Colonization by C. perfringens was found as early as the second day of life in one of the maternity wards studied, suggesting presence of the microorganism in the environment. By the 14th day of life, colonization with C. perfringens was demonstrated in all the bottle-fed or breast and bottle-fed infants. In strictly breast-fed infants, findings suggested antagonism between Bifidobacterium and C. perfringens. Bacteroïdes and Clostridium species other than C. perfringens were not found prior to colonization by C. perfringens.
PubMed, 1990
It has been established that colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by Enterobacteriaceae and... more It has been established that colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by Enterobacteriaceae and especially E. coli in newborn delivered by caesarean section occurs generally within the second day of life. On the 14th day, these bacteria inhabit the fecal flora of the majority of newborn. Hospital environment, as well as type of feeding do not seem to influence their frequency nor their level in the intestine of the infants born by caesarean section.
Microorganisms, Dec 26, 2018
In the present study, a novel potentially probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei strain, previously is... more In the present study, a novel potentially probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei strain, previously isolated from dairy products, was evaluated as a starter culture of Feta-type cheese production. Targeting industrial applications, the starter culture was applied as a ready-to-use freeze-dried culture that was either free or immobilized. The immobilized biocatalyst composed of Lactobacillus paracasei K5 cells absorbed within delignified wheat bran prebiotic carrier. All produced cheeses were compared with cheese manufactured by renin enzyme. Several parameters that affect acceptability, quality and shelf-life of Feta-type cheese were investigated, including microbial populations, physicochemical characteristics and cheese volatiles through 90 days of ripening and storage. Survival of L. paracasei K5 remained in high levels (≥6.0 log cfu/g) after the 90th day of cheese production, as recorded by combining microbiological enumeration and strain-specific multiplex PCR analysis. The use of the freeze-dried novel starter culture (free or immobilized) enhanced the aromatic profile of Feta-type cheeses. Finally, the use of the potentially synbiotic immobilized biocatalyst further improved aromatic characteristics of produced cheese and decrease of possible spoilage or pathogenic microorganisms. These findings indicate the potential industrial use of freeze-dried L. paracasei K5 as starter culture for the production of good-quality functional Feta-type cheese.
Anaerobe, Dec 1, 2011
To study the antimicrobial activity of honey, 60 samples of various botanical origin were evaluat... more To study the antimicrobial activity of honey, 60 samples of various botanical origin were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against 16 clinical pathogens and their respective reference strains. The microbiological quality of honeys and the antibiotic susceptibility of the various isolates were also examined. The bioassay applied for determining the antimicrobial effect employs the well-agar diffusion method and the estimation of minimum active dilution which produces a 1 mm diameter inhibition zone. All honey samples, despite their origin (coniferous, citrus, thyme or polyfloral), showed antibacterial activity against the pathogenic and their respective reference strains at variable levels. Coniferous and thyme honeys showed the highest activity with an average minimum dilution of 17.4 and 19.2% (w/ v) followed by citrus and polyfloral honeys with 20.8 and 23.8% respectively. Clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica subsp. Enterica, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis were proven to be up to 60% more resistant than their equal reference strains thus emphasizing the variability in the antibacterial effect of honey and the need for further research.
Anaerobe, Dec 1, 2011
The Greek grey-mullet roe is produced from the fully developed gonads of the female mullet (Mugil... more The Greek grey-mullet roe is produced from the fully developed gonads of the female mullet (Mugil cephalus) couth in lagoons during their reproductive migration. The traditional processing method of the roe includes, air drying, salting, shape formation and covering with multiple layers of natural beeswax for preservation and distribution. Fish Roe brands have been a staple in local diet and is increasingly becoming popular in the international market. As a ready-to-eat food it's microbial quality should be of concern for the protection of consumers health. In this study, 48 samples of fish roe, just before waxing, were collected from various local processors for microbiological examination by using selective media and incubated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The identification of the bacteria was carried out according to the Bergey's manual. Microscopic examination of Gram stained cells, catalase, oxidase and biochemical tests were performed when necessary to further identify. V. parahaemolyticus, Vibrio spp., Salmonella spp., and Aeromonas hydrophila were detected in one sample (2%). Shigella spp., and Flavobacterium spp. in two samples (4%), Clotriduim perfringens (vegetative forms), E. coli, and spores of Bacillus spp., were detected in three samples (6%), Staphylococcus aureus in four samples (8%). Various Micrococcus spp., and spores of C. perfringens in 16% and 35% of the samples respectively. From the Listeria genus, only the species Listeria innocua, Listeria welshimeri, Listeria seeligeri Listeria ivanovii and Listeria grayi were recovered from 2 to 10% of the samples. Microbiological analyses revealed the presence of a small number of pathogens in grey-mullet roe samples which are in accordance with the findings of similar studies. Traditional processing of the fish roe, seems inadequate to ensure the food safety and even waxing isn't expected to fully protect them against facultative anaerobes with salt tolerance. Therefore, additional measures should be taken during processing and marketing of fish roe to minimize potential health risks for the consumers.
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, Jan 28, 2021
Albeit the lungs were thought to be sterile, recent scientific data reported a microbial microbio... more Albeit the lungs were thought to be sterile, recent scientific data reported a microbial microbiota in the lungs of healthy individuals. Apparently, new developments in technological approachesincluding genome sequencing methodologies contributed in the identification of the microbiota and shed light on the role of the gut and lung microbiomes in the development of respiratory diseases. Moreover, knowledge of the human microbiome in health may act as a tool for evaluating characteristic shifts in the case of disease. This review paper discusses the development of respiratory disease linked to the intestinal dysbiosis which influences the lung immunity and microbiome. The gastrointestinal-lung dialogue provides interesting aspects in the pathogenesis of the respiratory diseases. Lastly, we were further interested on the role of this interconnection in the progression and physiopathology of newly emergedCOVID-19.
Anaerobe, Dec 1, 2011
Sourdough application has been extensively increased in the last years due to the consumers deman... more Sourdough application has been extensively increased in the last years due to the consumers demand for food consumption without the addition of chemical preservatives. Several starter cultures have been applied in sourdough bread making targeting the increase of bread self-life and the improvement of sensorial character. More specific, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus sakei as single and mixed cultures were used for sourdough bread making. Various sourdough breads were produced with the addition of sourdough perviously prepared with 10% w/w L. acidophilus, 10% w/w L. sakei and 5% w/w L. acidophilus and 5% w/w L. sakei at the same time. Various chemical parameters were determined such as lactic acid, total titratable acidity and pH. The results revealed that the produced sourdough bread made with sourdough containing the mixed culture was preserved for more days (12 days) than all the other breads produced in the frame of this study, since it contained lactic acid in higher concentrations. The respective total titratable acidity varied between 10.5 and 11 ml NaOH N/10. The same sourdough bread had a firmer texture, better aroma, flavor and overall quality compared to other sourdough breads examined in this study, as shown by sensory evaluation tests and results obtained through SPME GCeMS analysis, which revealed significant differences among the different bread types.
Frontiers in Microbiology, Mar 30, 2022
Nowadays, functional foods supplemented with health-promoting microorganisms have attracted the c... more Nowadays, functional foods supplemented with health-promoting microorganisms have attracted the consumers attention due to their health benefits. However, maintaining high cell loads, which consists of an essential requirement for conferring the health effect is a real bottleneck for the food industry, due to viability decline during food processing and storage. Hence, freeze-drying and cell immobilization have been suggested to enhance cell viability. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of freeze-dried immobilized P. acidilactici ORE5 on pistachio nuts on functional regulation of Katiki Domokou-type cheese microbiome. Supplementation of Katiki Domokou-type cheese with free or immobilized P. acidilactici ORE5 culture resulted in cell loads > 8.5 logcfu/g up to 7 days of storage. Both free and immobilized P. acidilactici ORE5 cells suppressed the growth of L. monocytogenes after deliberate inoculation, acting as a protecting shield. SPME GC/MS analysis showed that incorporation of P. acidilactici ORE5 culture in cheese resulted in an improved volatile compounds profile, as verified by the preliminary sensory evaluation. According to Next-Generation Sequencing analysis, a wide range of bacterial diversity was revealed among samples. The most abundant genus was Lactococcus in all samples, while the results showed increased presence of Pediococcus spp. in cheese fortified with P. acidilactici ORE5 culture, highlighting the ability of the strain to survive in the final product. Furthermore, the incorporation of P. acidilactici ORE5 culture in cheese had a significant impact on cheese microbiome composition, as the presence of spoilage bacteria, such as Chryseobacterium, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, were significantly lower compared to the control cheese, indicating quality improvement and prolongation of the product’s shelf- life.
CRC Press eBooks, Nov 24, 2009
Molecules, Jun 10, 2016
The aim of our research activity was to obtain a biocompatible nanostructured composite based on ... more The aim of our research activity was to obtain a biocompatible nanostructured composite based on naturally derived biopolymers (chitin and sodium alginate) loaded with commercial antibiotics (either Cefuroxime or Cefepime) with dual functions, namely promoting wound healing and assuring the local delivery of the loaded antibiotic. Compositional, structural, and morphological evaluations were performed by using the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analytical techniques. In order to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the biocompatibility of the obtained composites, we performed the tetrazolium-salt (MTT) and agar diffusion in vitro assays on the L929 cell line. The evaluation of antimicrobial potential was evaluated by the viable cell count assay on strains belonging to two clinically relevant bacterial species (i.e., Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus).
Medical laboratory sciences, 1991
An epidemiological study for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against cytomegalovirus, Epstein... more An epidemiological study for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and Herpes simplex virus was evaluated in a random population of apparently healthy Greek blood donors from which only HIV and HBV carriers were excluded. The prevalence of IgM antibodies was found to be relatively low at 4.4%, 6.1% and 7.7% respectively. The presence of these antibodies plays an important role when transfusing immunocompromised and transplanted subjects.
Clinical Infectious Diseases, Jun 1, 1995
Food Science and Technology, 2022
Consumers' demands for low-processed and healthier food products led to a search for alternatives... more Consumers' demands for low-processed and healthier food products led to a search for alternatives to replace or reduce synthetic food additives with natural ones. Aromatic plant derivatives which have GRAS status, have been examined for being natural food preservatives and antioxidants to prolong the shelf-life of foods. They contribute to food safety, owing to their anti-quorum sensing, and anti-biofilm properties. These potential food safety attributes and increasing demand for natural food additive options have led to an interest in the use of them, especially in traditional meat, dairy, and bakery products, which would provide them an added value, and increase the market competitiveness. Therefore, the overall perspective of the value-added effects of using aromatic plants and their derivatives in food production and of their incorporated use into packaging materials for active packaging are discussed in this review. In addition, it provides information on their antimicrobial and antioxidant actions. The review also aims to give detailed information on benefits of vegetal bioactive compounds in health and disease by giving their nutraceutical and health-promoting properties. The current knowledge on their application in the treatment of health disorders is presented, their ability to prevent diseases is discussed, and the areas for future research are proposed.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Jun 24, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Frontiers in Public Health, Jul 18, 2023
The present research deals with sentiment analysis performed with Microsoft Azure Machine Learnin... more The present research deals with sentiment analysis performed with Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio to classify Facebook posts on the Greek National Public Health Organization (EODY) from November to January during the pandemic. Positive, negative and neutral sentiments were included after processing reviews. This approach involved analyzing the words appearing in the comments and exploring the sentiments related to daily surveillance reports of COVID-published on the EODY Facebook page. Moreover, machine learning algorithms were implemented to predict the classification of sentiments. This research assesses the e ciency of a few popular machine learning models, which is one of the initial e orts in Greece in this domain. People have negative sentiments toward COVID surveillance reports. Words with the highest frequency of occurrence include government, vaccinated people, unvaccinated, telephone communication, health measures, virus, COVID-rapid/molecular tests, and of course, COVID-. The experimental results disclose additionally that two classifiers, namely two class Neural Network and two class Bayes Point Machine, achieved high sentiment analysis accuracy and F score, particularly % and over %. A significant limitation of this study may be the need for more comparison with other research attempts that identified the sentiments of the EODY surveillance reports of COVID in Greece. Machine learning models can provide critical information combating public health hazards and enrich communication strategies and proactive actions in public health issues and opinion management during the COVID-pandemic.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, 1990
The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of the intestinal anaerobe bacteria colonizing ... more The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of the intestinal anaerobe bacteria colonizing the intestine of the newborn delivered by cesarean section. The intestinal bacterial colonization of 18 newborns delivered by cesarean section was assessed sequentially over the first 14 days of life. Emphasis is placed on C. perfringens and upon interaction to other bacteria. Correlation was made with the infant feeding mode. Microbial studies were realized in anaerobic conditions using Columbia blood agar simple and supplemented with antibiotics. Artificial alimentation seemed to favour C. perfringens installation, in contrast to the maternal one which promote B. bifidum proliferation. Antagonism between these bacteria seems to be established in the newborn intestine, via the alimentation.
PubMed, Mar 1, 1991
The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of the intestinal anaerobic bacteria colonizing... more The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of the intestinal anaerobic bacteria colonizing the intestine of the newborn delivered by cesarean section. Control of the intestinal microecology is dependent on many factors including intestinal peristalsis, the intraluminal environment, and microbial interactions, that deter the overgrowth of pathogens populations. Numerous factors help achieve this normal balance. The effect of feeding seems to induce bacteriological changes.
PubMed, May 1, 1991
Colonization of the digestive tract by C. perfringens was studied in infants born by cesarean sec... more Colonization of the digestive tract by C. perfringens was studied in infants born by cesarean section. Correlations between the level of colonization and the environment, type of feeding, and presence of other anaerobic bacteria were looked for. Colonization by C. perfringens was found as early as the second day of life in one of the maternity wards studied, suggesting presence of the microorganism in the environment. By the 14th day of life, colonization with C. perfringens was demonstrated in all the bottle-fed or breast and bottle-fed infants. In strictly breast-fed infants, findings suggested antagonism between Bifidobacterium and C. perfringens. Bacteroïdes and Clostridium species other than C. perfringens were not found prior to colonization by C. perfringens.
PubMed, 1990
It has been established that colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by Enterobacteriaceae and... more It has been established that colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by Enterobacteriaceae and especially E. coli in newborn delivered by caesarean section occurs generally within the second day of life. On the 14th day, these bacteria inhabit the fecal flora of the majority of newborn. Hospital environment, as well as type of feeding do not seem to influence their frequency nor their level in the intestine of the infants born by caesarean section.
Microorganisms, Dec 26, 2018
In the present study, a novel potentially probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei strain, previously is... more In the present study, a novel potentially probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei strain, previously isolated from dairy products, was evaluated as a starter culture of Feta-type cheese production. Targeting industrial applications, the starter culture was applied as a ready-to-use freeze-dried culture that was either free or immobilized. The immobilized biocatalyst composed of Lactobacillus paracasei K5 cells absorbed within delignified wheat bran prebiotic carrier. All produced cheeses were compared with cheese manufactured by renin enzyme. Several parameters that affect acceptability, quality and shelf-life of Feta-type cheese were investigated, including microbial populations, physicochemical characteristics and cheese volatiles through 90 days of ripening and storage. Survival of L. paracasei K5 remained in high levels (≥6.0 log cfu/g) after the 90th day of cheese production, as recorded by combining microbiological enumeration and strain-specific multiplex PCR analysis. The use of the freeze-dried novel starter culture (free or immobilized) enhanced the aromatic profile of Feta-type cheeses. Finally, the use of the potentially synbiotic immobilized biocatalyst further improved aromatic characteristics of produced cheese and decrease of possible spoilage or pathogenic microorganisms. These findings indicate the potential industrial use of freeze-dried L. paracasei K5 as starter culture for the production of good-quality functional Feta-type cheese.
Anaerobe, Dec 1, 2011
To study the antimicrobial activity of honey, 60 samples of various botanical origin were evaluat... more To study the antimicrobial activity of honey, 60 samples of various botanical origin were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against 16 clinical pathogens and their respective reference strains. The microbiological quality of honeys and the antibiotic susceptibility of the various isolates were also examined. The bioassay applied for determining the antimicrobial effect employs the well-agar diffusion method and the estimation of minimum active dilution which produces a 1 mm diameter inhibition zone. All honey samples, despite their origin (coniferous, citrus, thyme or polyfloral), showed antibacterial activity against the pathogenic and their respective reference strains at variable levels. Coniferous and thyme honeys showed the highest activity with an average minimum dilution of 17.4 and 19.2% (w/ v) followed by citrus and polyfloral honeys with 20.8 and 23.8% respectively. Clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica subsp. Enterica, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis were proven to be up to 60% more resistant than their equal reference strains thus emphasizing the variability in the antibacterial effect of honey and the need for further research.
Anaerobe, Dec 1, 2011
The Greek grey-mullet roe is produced from the fully developed gonads of the female mullet (Mugil... more The Greek grey-mullet roe is produced from the fully developed gonads of the female mullet (Mugil cephalus) couth in lagoons during their reproductive migration. The traditional processing method of the roe includes, air drying, salting, shape formation and covering with multiple layers of natural beeswax for preservation and distribution. Fish Roe brands have been a staple in local diet and is increasingly becoming popular in the international market. As a ready-to-eat food it's microbial quality should be of concern for the protection of consumers health. In this study, 48 samples of fish roe, just before waxing, were collected from various local processors for microbiological examination by using selective media and incubated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The identification of the bacteria was carried out according to the Bergey's manual. Microscopic examination of Gram stained cells, catalase, oxidase and biochemical tests were performed when necessary to further identify. V. parahaemolyticus, Vibrio spp., Salmonella spp., and Aeromonas hydrophila were detected in one sample (2%). Shigella spp., and Flavobacterium spp. in two samples (4%), Clotriduim perfringens (vegetative forms), E. coli, and spores of Bacillus spp., were detected in three samples (6%), Staphylococcus aureus in four samples (8%). Various Micrococcus spp., and spores of C. perfringens in 16% and 35% of the samples respectively. From the Listeria genus, only the species Listeria innocua, Listeria welshimeri, Listeria seeligeri Listeria ivanovii and Listeria grayi were recovered from 2 to 10% of the samples. Microbiological analyses revealed the presence of a small number of pathogens in grey-mullet roe samples which are in accordance with the findings of similar studies. Traditional processing of the fish roe, seems inadequate to ensure the food safety and even waxing isn't expected to fully protect them against facultative anaerobes with salt tolerance. Therefore, additional measures should be taken during processing and marketing of fish roe to minimize potential health risks for the consumers.
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, Jan 28, 2021
Albeit the lungs were thought to be sterile, recent scientific data reported a microbial microbio... more Albeit the lungs were thought to be sterile, recent scientific data reported a microbial microbiota in the lungs of healthy individuals. Apparently, new developments in technological approachesincluding genome sequencing methodologies contributed in the identification of the microbiota and shed light on the role of the gut and lung microbiomes in the development of respiratory diseases. Moreover, knowledge of the human microbiome in health may act as a tool for evaluating characteristic shifts in the case of disease. This review paper discusses the development of respiratory disease linked to the intestinal dysbiosis which influences the lung immunity and microbiome. The gastrointestinal-lung dialogue provides interesting aspects in the pathogenesis of the respiratory diseases. Lastly, we were further interested on the role of this interconnection in the progression and physiopathology of newly emergedCOVID-19.
Anaerobe, Dec 1, 2011
Sourdough application has been extensively increased in the last years due to the consumers deman... more Sourdough application has been extensively increased in the last years due to the consumers demand for food consumption without the addition of chemical preservatives. Several starter cultures have been applied in sourdough bread making targeting the increase of bread self-life and the improvement of sensorial character. More specific, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus sakei as single and mixed cultures were used for sourdough bread making. Various sourdough breads were produced with the addition of sourdough perviously prepared with 10% w/w L. acidophilus, 10% w/w L. sakei and 5% w/w L. acidophilus and 5% w/w L. sakei at the same time. Various chemical parameters were determined such as lactic acid, total titratable acidity and pH. The results revealed that the produced sourdough bread made with sourdough containing the mixed culture was preserved for more days (12 days) than all the other breads produced in the frame of this study, since it contained lactic acid in higher concentrations. The respective total titratable acidity varied between 10.5 and 11 ml NaOH N/10. The same sourdough bread had a firmer texture, better aroma, flavor and overall quality compared to other sourdough breads examined in this study, as shown by sensory evaluation tests and results obtained through SPME GCeMS analysis, which revealed significant differences among the different bread types.
Frontiers in Microbiology, Mar 30, 2022