Search Results (11)

Currently, approximately one third of food is wasted; to counteract this, several novel packaging technologies have been developed to extend its shelf life, among which active packaging stands out. In this research, filmogenic solutions of pectin and beeswax with the addition of bioactive compounds as anthocyanins were developed and characterized to evaluate their potential application as active coatings. The antioxidant and antifungal activity of anthocyanins and coatings were determined, and the rheological properties, pH, color, SEM and FT-IR of the coatings were evaluated. The antioxidant activity of the anthocyanins had IC50 values of 79.52 and 56.14 μg/mL for DPPH^• and ABTS^•+, respectively, and 0.25% (w/v) for the antifungal activity against Colletotrichum siamense, which was inhibited by 32.16% and had morphological affectations in the fungus. The best formulation for coating was obtained with 3% (w/v) pectin, 1% (w/v) wax, and 1% (w/v) Tween 80, and 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5% anthocyanins were added. The rheological properties showed adequate viscosity values (0.08–0.12 Pa·s), and the pH values were acidic (3.05–3.78) and showed reddish tones. FT-IR analysis showed that the interactions between the components included the C=O stretching band being shifted due to intermolecular interactions and SEM micrographs showed that the film coatings presented continuous areas of pectin with embedded wax crystals. Promising results were obtained for antioxidant and antifungal activity for the coatings. The formulations presented suitable characteristics for their use as active coating in food. Full article

The quantification of semi-volatile organic compounds with potential endocrine-disrupting activity contained in fine atmospheric particles (PM_2.5) is essential to understand their temporal behavior, identify their sources, and evaluate the health risks resulting from population exposure to said compounds. Since information and research outcomes regarding their presence in the atmosphere in developing countries are scarce, the main objective of this work was the development of a methodology devoted to extracting, characterizing, and quantifying, for the first time in Mexico, the concentration levels of three important groups of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) bonded to PM_2.5 and collected during a year, namely: alkylphenols (4-n-nonylphenol (4NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (4tOP)); bisphenols (bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol F (BPF)); natural and synthetic hormones (17β-estradiol (E₂), estriol (E₃) and 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE₂)). Further, priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that also disrupt endocrine activity were analyzed. All compounds were determined by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, and the concentration levels were analyzed for different climatic seasons. Cold-dry (CD) season displayed higher levels of 4NP, bisphenols, and hormones (between 0.71 (4NP) and 1860 pg m⁻³ (BPA)), as well as PAH concentrations (9.12 ng m⁻³). Regarding health effects, concentrations of alkylphenols, bisphenols, and hormones quantified had a value of estradiol equivalent concentration (EEQ_E2) between 0.07 and 0.17 ng m⁻³. PAH concentrations did not have carcinogenic and mutagenic risk with BaP_(PEQ) < 1 ng m⁻³. These results can be used by policymakers in the design of strategies for air pollution control. Full article

The control of ‘sheath blight’ in rice (Oryza sativa L.), which is caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia oryzae-sativae, has become problematic due to the excessive application of fungicides and their consequent harmful effects. Hence, the search for less contaminating alternatives to conventional chemical products is necessary. This study evaluated the in vitro inhibitory activity of four bacterial strains on the growth of R. oryzae-sativae in both tryptone soy broth (TSB) and mineral medium (MM). The results demonstrated that all evaluated strains (Bacillus tequilensis SMNCT17-02, Priestia aryabhattai SMNCH17-07, Burkholderia vietnamiensis TUR04-01, and Burkholderia vietnamiensis TUR04-03) inhibited the growth of R. oryzae-sativae. Specifically, the activity of B. tequilensis SMNCT17-02 resulted in the smallest area of R. oryzae-sativae growth in both TSB medium (8.54 cm²) and MM (5.53 cm²), suggesting a notable antifungal effect. When evaluating the action of supernatants generated by the growth of the four bacterial strains in TSB and MM culture media, significant inhibition of R. oryzae-sativae growth was only observed for supernatants produced in MM. This inhibition was attributed to the presence of soluble secondary metabolites. These results offer new perspectives in biotechnology, suggesting the possibility of developing effective products based on easily extractable soluble secondary metabolites, thus promoting sustainable agriculture. Full article

The Acosta method involves rewiring the yeast metabolic pathway to enhance biomass production and prevent a significant increase in higher alcohols during the late stages of fermentation. This study aimed to assess fermentation conditions to achieve Cuban schnapps with reduced concentrations of higher alcohols and replicate the process on an industrial scale. To achieve this, the quality of final sugarcane molasses for fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) yeast was evaluated. Industrial pre-fermentation and fermentation processes were successfully conducted, followed by laboratory-scale fermentation using the Acosta fermentation method to determine crucial parameters for industrial implementation. Operational parameters for fermentation were identified from the following results: 13.5 °Brix seeding, metabolic pathway inversion of S. cerevisiae at 16 h, and an air concentration of 0.1 m³/min. The resulting Cuban schnapps obtained using this method exhibited a concentration of higher alcohols of 132.5 mg/L, a value that is within the standard parameters, showing a positive impact of this fermentation method on the quality of the schnapps. Scaling up this method to an industrial level, in addition to offering higher quality products and being an economically viable alternative, also stands out for its sustainable and environmentally friendly aspect, and results in higher production of yeast biomass as a byproduct, which can be used for various purposes, such as animal feed. This method constitutes an important update to the schnapps production process as a technological improvement that respects sustainable production trends and the characteristics of the final product. Full article

This study presents the characterization and source apportionment of water-soluble inorganic ions (WSII), contained in particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter equal to or less than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5), performed using the positive matrix factorization model (PMF). PM_2.5 were collected in Mexico City from two sites: at Merced (MER), which is a residential location with commercial activities, and at Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), which is located in an industrial area. The monitoring campaign was carried out across three seasons named Hot Dry (HD) (March–June), Rain (RA) (July–October), and Cold Dry (CD) (November-February). PM_2.5 concentration behavior in both sites was similar, following the order: CD > HD > RA. The UAM site exhibited higher concentrations of PM_2.5, of the five cations (Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺ and NH₄⁺), and of the four anions (Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻ and PO₄³⁻) than MER, since the UAM site is surrounded by several industrial zones. PM_2.5 average concentrations for UAM and MER were 28.4 ± 11.2 and 20.7 ± 8.4 μg m⁻³, respectively. The ratio of cation equivalent to anion equivalent (CE/AC) showed that aerosol pH is acidic, which was confirmed by direct pH measurements. The sulfur oxidation rate (SOR) was 20 times larger than the nitrogen oxidation rate (NOR). Additionally, SO₄²⁻ was the most abundant ion during the whole year, especially during the CD season with 5.13 ± 2.5 μg m⁻³ and 4.9 ± 3.6 μg m⁻³ for UAM and MER, respectively, when solar radiation displayed a high intensity. On the opposite side, the conversion of NO₂ to NO₃⁻, respectively, was low. The air mass backward trajectories were modeled using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA-HYSPLIT), which allowed us to know that differences in the mass trajectories during the days with higher concentrations were due to an effect of air recirculation, which favored PM_2.5 accumulation and resuspension. On the other hand, on the days with less PM_2.5, good air dispersion was observed. The main sources identified with the PMF model were secondary aerosol, vehicular, industrial crustal, and biomass burning for UAM, while for MER they were vehicular, secondary aerosol, and crustal. Full article

Vat photopolymerization typically prints highly crosslinked networks. Printing hydrogels, which are also networks but with a high swelling capacity in water and therefore with low crosslinking density, is a challenge for this technique. However, it may be of interest in medicine and in other areas, since it would allow for the preparation of this type of 3D-shaped material. In this work, an approach for printing hydrogels via vat photopolymerization that uses a mixture of stable and hydrolysable crosslinkers has been evaluated so that an initial highly crosslinked network can be printed, although after hydrolysis it becomes a network with low crosslinking. This approach has been studied with PEO/PEG-related formulations, that is, with a PEG-dimethacrylate as a stable crosslinker, a PEO-related derivative carrying β-aminoesters as a degradable crosslinker, and PEG-methyl ether acrylate and hydroxyethyl acrylate as monofunctional monomers. A wide family of formulations has been studied, maintaining the weight percentage of the crosslinkers at 15%. Resins have been studied in terms of viscosity, and the printing process has been evaluated through the generation of Jacobs working curves. It has been shown that this approach allows for the printing of pieces of different shapes and sizes via vat photopolymerization, and that these pieces can re-ajust their water content in a tailored fashion through treatments in different media (PBS or pH 10 buffer). Full article

Inflammation is a hallmark of the physiological response to aggressions. It is orchestrated by a plethora of molecules that detect the danger, signal intracellularly, and activate immune mechanisms to fight the threat. Understanding these processes at a level that allows to modulate their fate in a pathological context strongly relies on in vivo studies, as these can capture the complexity of the whole process and integrate the intricate interplay between the cellular and molecular actors of inflammation. Over the years, zebrafish has proven to be a well-recognized model to study immune responses linked to human physiopathology. We here provide a systematic review of the molecular effectors of inflammation known in this vertebrate and recapitulate their modes of action, as inferred from sterile or infection-based inflammatory models. We present a comprehensive analysis of their sequence, expression, and tissue distribution and summarize the tools that have been developed to study their function. We further highlight how these tools helped gain insights into the mechanisms of immune cell activation, induction, or resolution of inflammation, by uncovering downstream receptors and signaling pathways. These progresses pave the way for more refined models of inflammation, mimicking human diseases and enabling drug development using zebrafish models. Full article

Cacao plant cadmium accumulation has become a major concern, especially for small Amazonian producers. A sustainable alternative to address its toxicity is the use of cadmium removal bacteria. In this regard, 138 rhizosphere isolates from cacao were examined. Supported by their phenotypic characterization and in vitro cadmium tolerance, three hypertolerant bacteria were selected and identified as members of the Bacillus (S1C2, R1C2) and Pseudomonas (V3C3) genera. They were able to grow normally and reduce the cadmium content under in vitro conditions. However, only S1C2 and R1C2 evidenced to employ intracellular Cd²⁺ accumulation, suggesting the variability of bacterial detoxification mechanisms. Their bioremediation capacity for Theobroma cacao CCN51 was also analyzed. Surprisingly, we found high detectable levels of Cd²⁺ in the non-cadmium supplemented control, suggesting an extra source of cadmium in the pot. Moreover, despite their cadmium reduction performance under in vitro conditions, they exerted highly variable outcomes on stem cadmium accumulation. While S1C2 and R1C2 showed a considerable reduction of Cd content in cacao stems, the strain V3C3 did not show any effect on Cd content. This highlights the complexity of the plant–bacteria interactions and the importance of the in vivo test for the selection of promising PGPR bacteria. Overall, our results suggest the cadmium alleviation potential and promising prospects of native Bacillus strains associated with Amazonian cacao. Full article

Background: Despite the high number of vaccines administered against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) worldwide, the information on the psychological/psychiatric adverse events following immunization (AEFI) with these newly developed vaccines remains scarce. Objective: To describe the frequency of psychological/psychiatric symptoms among recipients of five different anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and to explore the factors associated with their development reported in the nationwide Mexican registry of AEFI against SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Descriptive study of all the psychological/psychiatric symptoms, including anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, and agitation reported to the Mexican Epidemiological Surveillance System from 21 December 2020 to 27 April 2021, among adult (≥18 years old) recipients of 7,812,845 doses of BNT162b2, ChAdOx1 nCov-19, rAd26-rAd5, Ad5-nCoV, or CoronaVac. The factors associated with their development are determined by multivariate regression analysis. Results: There were 19,163 AEFI reports during the study period; amongst them, 191 (1%) patients had psychological/psychiatric symptoms (median age of 41 years, interquartile range of 32–54; 149 [78%] women) for an observed incidence of 2.44 cases per 100,000 administered doses (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.12–2.82), 72.8% of psychiatric AEFIs were reported among recipients of BNT162b2. The median time from vaccination to symptom onset was 35 min (interquartile range: 10–720). Overall, the most common psychological/psychiatric symptoms were anxiety in 129 (67.5%) patients, panic attacks in 30 (15.7%), insomnia in 25 (13%), and agitation in 11 (5.7%). After adjusting for the confounding factors, the odds for developing psychological/psychiatric symptoms were higher for those concurrently reporting syncope (odds ratio [OR]: 4.73, 95% CI: 1.68–13.33); palpitations (OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.65–3.70), and dizziness (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.10–2.28). Conclusion: In our population, psychological/psychiatric symptoms were extremely infrequent AEFIs. No severe psychiatric AEFIs were reported. Immunization stress-related responses might explain most of the detected cases. Full article

TP53 is a tumor suppressor gene that encodes a sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factor activated by stressful stimuli; it upregulates target genes involved in growth suppression, cell death, DNA repair, metabolism, among others. TP53 is the most frequently mutated gene in tumors, with mutations not only leading to loss-of-function (LOF), but also gain-of-function (GOF) that promotes tumor progression, and metastasis. The tumor-specific status of mutant p53 protein has suggested it is a promising target for cancer therapy. We summarize the current progress of targeting wild-type and mutant p53 for cancer therapy through biotherapeutic and biopharmaceutical methods for (1) boosting p53 activity in cancer, (2) p53-dependent and p53-independent strategies for targeting p53 pathway functional restoration in p53-mutated cancer, (3) targeting p53 in immunotherapy, and (4) combination therapies targeting p53, p53 checkpoints, or mutant p53 for cancer therapy. Full article

Among several Puerto Rican algae, Sargassum sp. (SG) and Chaetomorpha (CM) showed the highest phenol adsorption capacity from aqueous solutions and were used in optimized adsorption batch experiments at room temperature. The effects of pH, adsorbent dose, phenol concentration, salinity and presence of interfering substances were evaluated. Initial solution pH exhibited a strong effect, mainly on the phenol aqueous chemistry; showing the maximum adsorption at pH 10. Sorption isotherm results were modelled according to the Langmuir, Tempkin and Freundlich equations. Isotherm modelling indicated a maximum adsorption capacity (q_max) of 82.10 and 17.7 mg of phenol per gram of SG and CM, respectively. Salinity and presence of detergent in the matrix solution showed a positive effect on the adsorption, suggesting that adsorption of phenol was mostly driven by polar forces and not by ionic exchange. On the other hand, presence of heavy metals like copper, lead and cobalt had a negative effect on the adsorption. According to these results, the potential formation of hydrogen bonds between the algae and phenol is proposed as the main adsorption mechanism. These results provide further insight into the adsorption mechanism of phenol and their use as inexpensive adsorbents for the treatment of phenol-containing wastewaters. Full article