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The composition of microbiota affects different traits of Drosophila throughout its life cycle and represents an important part of the adaptive response to environmental changes, such as increased levels of accumulated heavy metals in their habitats. We investigated the effects of lead added to the feeding substrate on the microbiota diversity in the fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila subobscura. We compared the bacterial diversity of wild-caught flies and their progeny reared under standard laboratory conditions. We analyzed the shifts in bacterial diversity in the experimental groups of flies reared for 13 generations on standard and lead(II) acetate (Pb(CH3COO)2), Pb acetate-saturated substrates. Identification of the main bacterial genera was performed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the V3-V4 variable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Results indicate significant species-specific differences in bacterial composition between natural and laboratory populations, and between the substrates. Diversity increased in both species under prolonged exposure to lead-polluted substrate, suggesting a potential adaptive response to an environmental stress.

Whereas the etiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is complex, the role of nutrition as a causing and preventive factor is not fully explored. The aim of this study is to associate dietary patterns with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters in a European population (Greece, Italy, and Serbia) affected by NAFLD. For the first time, iron-corrected T1 (cT1), proton density fat fraction (PDFF), and the liver inflammation fibrosis score (LIF) were examined in relation to diet. A total of 97 obese patients with NAFLD from the MAST4HEALTH study were included in the analysis. A validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess the quality of diet and food combinations. Other variables investigated include anthropometric measurements, total type 2 diabetes risk, physical activity level (PAL), and smoking status. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to identify dietary patterns. Six dietary patterns were identified, namely “High-Sugar”, “Prudent”, “Western”, “High-Fat and Salt”, “Plant-Based”, and “Low-Fat Dairy and Poultry”. The “Western” pattern was positively associated with cT1 in the unadjusted model (beta: 0.020, p-value: 0.025) and even after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), PAL, smoking, the center of the study, and the other five dietary patterns (beta: 0.024, p-value: 0.020). On the contrary, compared with low-intake patients, those with medium intake of the “Low-Fat Dairy and Poultry” pattern were associated with lower values of cT1, PDFF, and LIF. However, patients with a “Low-Fat Dairy and Poultry” dietary pattern were negatively associated with MRI parameters (cT1: beta: −0.052, p-value: 0.046, PDFF: beta: −0.448, p-value: 0.030, LIF: beta: −0.408, p-value: 0.025). Our findings indicate several associations between MRI parameters and dietary patterns in NAFLD patients, highlighting the importance of diet in NAFLD.

Family Lamiaceae (labia) includes a large number of cosmopolitan species including Thymus alpestris (Thyme) characterized by the presence of essential oils and phenolic compounds. It represents a perennial semi-shrubby plant. The antioxidant potential of thyme is due to the presence of polyphenolic acids and flavonoids. The topic of this paper is the extraction of thyme (Thymus alpestris) with 40% ethanol and 50% ethanol, using Soxhlet method (circulatory extraction), after which, the content of phenolics and flavonoids was determined in order to confirm the antioxidant potential of this plant species. The results show that 40% ethanol extract has the highest content of phenolics and flavonoids and the highest antioxidant potential, resultingly. Keywords: antioxidative potential, flavonoids, thyme, phenols. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7251/JEPM1709029V

Coprinellus disseminatus (Pers.) J.E. Lange 1938 is an edible saprotrophic fungal species with bioactive potential which is not extensively investigated, mostly due to its small size. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine chemical and biological properties of crude ethanol (CdEtOH) and water extracts (CdAq). The bioactivity screens included antioxidant and antiproliferative (human breast MCF-7 cancer cell-line; MTT and SRB assays) activity. In addition, CdAq and CdEtOH were primarily characterized by UV-VIS spectrophotometry, with an aim of determining its chemical composition (total phenol and flavonoid contents). The best antioxidant activities were obtained for hydroxyl radicals (OH∙) and superoxide anion radical (SOA) assays for both crude extracts (IC50 =4.02 μg/ml for CdAq and IC50 =1.40 μg/ml for CdEtOH) while total phenolic (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) content was higher in CdEtoH than in CdAq. Both crude extracts have shown activity against MCF-7 cell line although CdEtOH showed better effect than CdAq extract after 72h in MTT and SRB assay, reaching IC50 at 217.90 and 205.90 μg/ml, respectively. Based on obtained results, the saprotrophic fungal species Coprinellus disseminatus (Pers.) J.E. Lange 1938 could be considered as a good potential alternative source of nutraceuticals and biologically active compounds.

Allergens are substances that cause allergic reactions. Allergic reactions differ from person to person in a sensitive and specific response to the presence of the same allergen. Groceries that often cause allergies are cow’s milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans and shellfish, wheat, soy, peanuts, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and strawberries.Organisation is the main factor for the success and the quality of a research in food industry laboratories, in order to detect the presence of allergens. All kinds of equipments are needed, as well as professional staff to perform the tests. Allergen testing in the food industry is often performed using biochemical and separation methods. For analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the most suitable method is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electrophoresis. In our laboratory, we use immunological methods for qualitative and quantitative testing of allergens and we have two accredited methods: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). It is also necessary that stuff have adequate competence in handling the specific equipment, performing tests, evaluating the results and signing test reports and calibration certificates, have adequate competences. Laboratory have to prove that have been fulfiled all the requirements for validation. Validation includes: specification of requirements, characterization of method, verification that requirements can be fulfilled using the method.The results of each test are presented in form of a report, which has to be correct, clear, unambiguous, objective and must include all the informations required by the client.

The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize starch from eight potato varieties. First, the basic chemical composition of the potato samples was determined, and then the isolation was carried out under laboratory conditions. The isolated starch was air dried, then ground and sieved through a 400 µm sieve. The basic chemical composition, thermophysical properties, swelling capacity and solubility index were determined in the obtained samples. The results showed that the potato variety SL 13-25 had the lowest starch content, while the variety Stilleto had the highest starch content. The content of protein, fat, ash and crude fiber was relatively low, indicating the high purity of all isolated starches. Retrogradation transition temperatures and enthalpies were lower compared to gelatinization temperatures and enthalpies. With increasing temperature, both the swelling capacity and the solubility index of all samples increased.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of high voltage electric discharge and pulsed electric field as contemporary (modern) non-thermal methods for potato starch modification and their impact on starch acetylation. The starch was acetylated with the addition of acetic anhydride (4, 6 and 8% w/w starch), and modification without and in combination with high electrical discharge or pulsed electric field was examined. Percent of acetylation and degree of substitution, swelling power and solubility index, the texture of starch gels and thermophysical properties were determined. Results showed that the acetylation percent and degree of substitution increased proportionally with the concentration of acetic anhydride. Acetylated starches gelatinized at lower temperatures, had higher values of swelling capacity and solubility index in comparison to the native potato starch. Furthermore, acetylated starch gels had lower hardness, fracturability and adhesiveness, wherein the case of acetylation in combination with high voltage electric discharge or pulsed electric field the effect was more pronounced in relation to the classic acetylation procedure.