Epidemiologia molecular aplicada ao monitoramento de estirpes de Staphylococcus aureus na produção de queijo Minas frescal

We studied the molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus strains potentially toxigenic, isolated from the production process of Minas frescal cheese in a small dairy plant in the state of São Paulo. For this, samples were taken during the period from June 2008 to July 2009. Samples were collected from the surface of the receiving and storage tanks of raw milk, the surface of the balance tank of pasteurized milk, the water supply system, the pipes and equipments, the hands of the handler and from the packaged cheese, totaling 140 samples. The colonies isolated on Baird-Parker Agar confirmed as Gram positive and positive for catalase, coagulase and acetoin production, were submitted to extraction of bacterial DNA using the Invitek - Uniscience® kit. Confirmation of the isolated species and enterotoxins SEA, SEB, SEC, SED and TSST-1 toxin was carried out through the amplification of specific fragments of chromosomal DNA. Among the 74 strains of isolated coagulase-positive staphylococci, only 41 (55.4%) strains were confirmed as Staphylococcus aureus, of which 25 (61.0%) were positive to the presence of staphylococcal toxins. The most frequently identified enterotoxin was SEA. The toxigenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus were more frequently isolated from hands of the handler (16.0%), raw milk receiving tank (12.0%), pasteurized milk for cheese making (12.0%) and fresh white cheese ready for consumption (12.0%).

Prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in dairy cattle, dogs, and humans from the Jauru micro-region, Mato Grosso state, Brazil

In order to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, 2000 serum samples from female dairy cattle belonging to 50 farms in the southwest of Mato Grosso state were analyzed by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT >= 64). Serum samples from 61 dogs (IFAT >= 40) and 116 humans (IFAT = 40), all from the same farm, were also tested. Among these samples, 1420 (71.0%) cattle, 54 (88.5%) dogs, and 113 (97.4%) humans were seropositive for the infection. No significant differences (P >= 0.05) were observed for risk factors associated with the occurrence of toxoplasmosis in humans due to contaminated sources such as fresh milk, cheese/sausage, and contact with felines or other animals. The presence of felines can indicate the likelihood of a contaminated environment, posing a risk to the human population and other animals. The work presented herein is the first report to evaluate the seroprevalence of T gondii in bovines from the Southwest region of the Mato Grosso state, Brazil. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonic assessment of fresh cheese composition

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of octenyl succinylated waxy starch as a fat mimetic on texture, microstructure and physicochemical properties of Minas fresh cheese

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Characterization of fresh cheese with addition of probiotics and prebiotics

Sensorial and microbiological characteristics of a Brazilian fresh cheese samples with Bifidobacterium animalis subps. lactis as well as samples with this probiotic and polydextrose, a prebiotic ingredient, were evaluated. The addition of this microorganism was studied as: (1) lyophilized probiotic added to cheese curd and (2) by using milk previously fermented by this probiotic to produce the cheese. Cheese samples were microbiologically characterized after 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of storage at a temperature of 4 °C. The microbiological analyses conducted were quantification of total lactic acid bacteria, mesophilic microorganisms, Bif. animalis subps. lactis, coliforms at 30 °C and 45 °C. Affective sensory test was conducted for two different cheese samples (with probiotic and with probiotic and prebiotic) as well as for control one week after manufacturing date. Cheese samples provided acceptable results for coliform counts at 30 °C and 45 °C in compliance with legislation. The cheese samples produced using milk fermented by probiotic showed counts of 107 -108 CFU/g after 28 days of storage, which assures functional property for this product to be claimed.

Ex vivo biocompatibility tests of regular and white forms of mineral trioxide aggregate

Aim: To examine the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of regular and white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) ex vivo by the single-cell gel (comet) assay and trypan blue exclusion test, respectively. Methodology: Aliquots of 1 × 10 4 Chinese hamster ovary cells were incubated at 37°C for 3 h with grey and white forms of MTA at final concentrations ranging from 1 to 1000 μg mL -1. The negative control group was treated with vehicle control phosphate buffer solution for 3 h at 37°C and the positive control group was treated with methyl metasulfonate (at 1 μg mL -1) for 1 h at 37°C. After incubation, the cells were centrifuged at 180 g for 5 min and washed twice with fresh medium and resuspended with fresh medium. Each individual treatment was repeated three times consecutively to ensure reproducibility. Parameters from single-cell gel (comet) and cytotoxicity assays were assessed by the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test. Results: Neither compounds produced genotoxic effects with respect to the single-cell gel (comet) assay in all concentrations evaluated. In the same way, the dose-response relationships of all compounds tested at concentrations ranging from 1 to 1000 μg mL -1 on cell viability assessed by the trypan blue assay displayed no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) for either endodontic material. Conclusions: Regular (grey) and white MTA are not genotoxins and do not induce cellular death. © 2006 International Endodontic Journal.

Is peripheral blood cell balanced altered by the use of fresh frozen bone block allografts in lateral maxillary ridge augmentation?

Background: The relationship between the immune response and red and white blood cell homeostasis is cited in literature, but no studies regarding the balance of these cell populations following maxillary bone-graft surgeries can be found. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible impairments in the blood cell balance following fresh-frozen allogeneic bone-graft augmentation procedures in patients who needed maxillary reconstruction prior to implants. Material and Methods: From 33 patients elected to onlay bone grafting procedures, 20 were treated with fresh-frozen bone allografts and 13 with autologous bone grafts. Five blood samples were collected from each patient in a 6-month period (baseline: 14, 30, 90, and 180 days postsurgery), and the hematological parameters (erythrogram, leukogram, and platelets count) were accessed. Results: All evaluated parameters were within the reference values accepted as normal, and significant differences were found for the eosinophils count when comparing the treatments (30 days, p=.035) and when comparing different periods of evaluation (allograft-treated group, baseline×180 days, p≤.05 and 90×180 days, p≤.01; autograft-treated group, 30×90 days, p≤.05 and 30×180 days, p≤.05). Conclusions: Both autologous and fresh-frozen allogeneic bone grafts did not cause any impairment in the red and white blood cell balance, based on quantitative hemogram analysis, in patients subjected to maxillary reconstruction. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Efeito da adição de amido de milho ceroso em queijo Minas frescal com teor reduzido de gordura

Pós-graduação em Engenharia e Ciência de Alimentos - IBILCE

Estudo das inter-relações patógeno-hospedeiro de Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood, M. Javanica (Treub) Chitwood e Pratylenchus brachyurus (Godfrey) Filipjev & Schuurmans Stekhoven em cana-de-açúcar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Antioxidant activity and determination of total phenol contents, carotenoids, beta-carotene, lycopene and zinc in white, yellow and pinkish varieties of manihot esculenta crantz

There are cassava varieties that present compounds as carotenoids, beta-carotene, lycopene and minerals important for human and animal health. The present study evaluated the antioxidant activity of the white, yellow and pinkish varieties of Manihot esculenta, by mean of the DPPH test and by the ferrous ion-chelating activity. Furthermore, the total phenols, carotenoids, beta-carotene, lycopene and zinc contents were also determined. Utilizing the DPPH test it was possible to find that extracts of boiled samples presented higher antioxidant activity (89.53% -pinkish) in comparison to the fresh samples (1.97% -white). For the ferrous ion-chelating test, the highest activity was found for the boiled pinkish variety extract (63.43%) and the lowest was for fresh yellow extract (17.34%) the white sample did not present activity. The highest concentration of total phenols and zinc content was obtained for the boiled pinkish variety extract 136.12 mg EAG/g of extract and 0,811ppm, respectively, in the concentration of 1000 mu g/mL. The pinkish variety presented also higher quantity of pigments, including carotenoid (29.40 mu g/g), beta-carotene (9.14 mu g/100g) and lycopene (68.92%). According to the results obtained in this study it was possible to conclude that the yellow and pinkish varieties of M. esculenta present quantity of phenolic compounds and minerals sufficient to attribute the antioxidant activity and may thus contribute to reduce oxidative damage and be used as nutraceuticals or directly ingested in the diet to maintain good health.