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Tsouggou N, Slavko A, Tsipidou O, Georgoulis A, Dimov SG, Yin J, Vorgias CE, Kapolos J, Papadelli M, Papadimitriou K. Investigation of the Microbiome of Industrial PDO Sfela Cheese and Its Artisanal Variants Using 16S rDNA Amplicon Sequencing and Shotgun Metagenomics. Foods 2024; 13:1023. [PMID: 38611328 PMCID: PMC11011710 DOI: 10.3390/foods13071023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Sfela is a white brined Greek cheese of protected designation of origin (PDO) produced in the Peloponnese region from ovine, caprine milk, or a mixture of the two. Despite the PDO status of Sfela, very few studies have addressed its properties, including its microbiology. For this reason, we decided to investigate the microbiome of two PDO industrial Sfela cheese samples along with two non-PDO variants, namely Sfela touloumotiri and Xerosfeli. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics analysis were used to identify the microbiome of these traditional cheeses. Cultured-based analysis showed that the most frequent species that could be isolated from Sfela cheese were Enterococcus faecium, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Levilactobacillus brevis, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Streptococcus thermophilus. Shotgun analysis suggested that in industrial Sfela 1, Str. thermophilus dominated, while industrial Sfela 2 contained high levels of Lactococcus lactis. The two artisanal samples, Sfela touloumotiri and Xerosfeli, were dominated by Tetragenococcus halophilus and Str. thermophilus, respectively. Debaryomyces hansenii was the only yeast species with abundance > 1% present exclusively in the Sfela touloumotiri sample. Identifying additional yeast species in the shotgun data was challenging, possibly due to their low abundance. Sfela cheese appears to contain a rather complex microbial ecosystem and thus needs to be further studied and understood. This might be crucial for improving and standardizing both its production and safety measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Tsouggou
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of the Peloponnese, 24100 Kalamata, Greece; (N.T.); (A.S.); (J.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Aleksandra Slavko
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of the Peloponnese, 24100 Kalamata, Greece; (N.T.); (A.S.); (J.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Olympia Tsipidou
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control and Hygiene, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, 18855 Athens, Greece;
| | - Anastasios Georgoulis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis-Zographou, 15784 Athens, Greece; (A.G.); (C.E.V.)
| | - Svetoslav G. Dimov
- Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8, Dragan Tzankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Jia Yin
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Intestinal Function and Regulation, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China;
- Hunan International Joint Laboratory of Animal Intestinal Ecology and Health, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Constantinos E. Vorgias
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis-Zographou, 15784 Athens, Greece; (A.G.); (C.E.V.)
| | - John Kapolos
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of the Peloponnese, 24100 Kalamata, Greece; (N.T.); (A.S.); (J.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Marina Papadelli
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of the Peloponnese, 24100 Kalamata, Greece; (N.T.); (A.S.); (J.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Konstantinos Papadimitriou
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control and Hygiene, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, 18855 Athens, Greece;
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Romito D, Govind C, Nikolaou V, Fernández-Terán RJ, Stoumpidi A, Agapaki E, Charalambidis G, Diring S, Vauthey E, Coutsolelos AG, Odobel F. Dye-Sensitized Photocatalysis: Hydrogen Evolution and Alcohol-to-Aldehyde Oxidation without Sacrifical Electron Donor. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202318868. [PMID: 38227346 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202318868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
There is a growing interest in developing dye-sensitized photocatalytic systems (DSPs) to produce molecular hydrogen (H2 ) as alternative energy source. To improve the sustainability of this technology, we replaced the sacrificial electron donor (SED), typically an expensive and polluting chemical, with an alcohol oxidation catalyst. This study demonstrates the first dye-sensitized system using a diketopyrrolopyrrole dye covalently linked to 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) based catalyst for simultaneous H2 evolution and alcohol-to-aldehyde transformation operating in water with visible irradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Romito
- Nantes Université, CNRS, CEISAM, UMR 6230, F-44000, Nantes, France
| | - Chinju Govind
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vasilis Nikolaou
- Nantes Université, CNRS, CEISAM, UMR 6230, F-44000, Nantes, France
| | - Ricardo J Fernández-Terán
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aspasia Stoumpidi
- Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete Voutes Campus, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Eleni Agapaki
- Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete Voutes Campus, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Georgios Charalambidis
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute , National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635, Athens, Greece
| | - Stéphane Diring
- Nantes Université, CNRS, CEISAM, UMR 6230, F-44000, Nantes, France
| | - Eric Vauthey
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Athanassios G Coutsolelos
- Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete Voutes Campus, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL), Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Vassilika Vouton, GR 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Fabrice Odobel
- Nantes Université, CNRS, CEISAM, UMR 6230, F-44000, Nantes, France
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Karampatakis V, P. Papadopoulou E, Almpanidou S, Karamitopoulos L, Almaliotis D. Evaluation of contrast sensitivity in visually impaired individuals using K-CS test. A novel smartphone-based contrast sensitivity test-Design and validation. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0288512. [PMID: 38330096 PMCID: PMC10852338 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To describe the development and investigate the accuracy of a novel smartphone-based Contrast Sensitivity (CS) application, the K-CS test. METHODS A total of 67 visually impaired and 50 normal participants were examined monocularly using the novel digital K-CS test and the Pelli-Robson (PR) chart. The K-CS test examines letter contrast sensitivity in logarithmic units, using eight levels of contrast from logCS = ~0,1 to logCS = ~2,1 at two spatial frequencies of 1.5 and 3 cycles per degree (cpd). The K-CS test was compared to the gold standard, PR test and intra-session test repeatability was also examined. RESULTS The K-CS test in normally sighted was found to agree well with the PR, providing comparable mean scores in logCS (±SD) (K-CS = 1.908 ± 0.06 versus PR = 1.93 ± 0.05) at 1.5 cpd and mean (± SD) logCS at 3 cpd (K-CS = 1.83 ± 0.13 versus PR = 1.86 ± 0.07). The mean best corrected visual acuity of visually impaired participants was 0.67 LogMAR (SD = 0.21) and the K-CS was also found to agree well with the Pelli-Robson in this group, with an equivalent mean (±SD) logCS at 1.5 cpd: (K-CS = 1.19 ± 0.27, PR = 1.15 ± 0.31), 3 cpd: K-CS = 1.01 ± 0.33, PR = 0.94 ± 0.34. Regarding the intra-session test repeatability, both the K-CS test and the PR test showed good repeatability in terms of the 95% limits of agreement (LoA): K-CS = ±0.112 at 1.5 cpd and ±0.133 at 3 cpd, PR = ±0.143 at 1.5 cpd and ±0.183 in 3 cpd in visually impaired individuals. CONCLUSION The K-CS test provides a quick assessment of the CS both in normally sighted and visually impaired individuals. The K-CS could serve as an alternative tool to assess contrast sensitivity function using a smartphone and provides results that agree well with the commonly used PR test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Karampatakis
- Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleni P. Papadopoulou
- Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stavroula Almpanidou
- Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Leonidas Karamitopoulos
- Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Diamantis Almaliotis
- Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Iliopoulos IA, Sakellariou JS. Remaining Useful Life Estimation of Hollow Worn Railway Vehicle Wheels via On-Board Random Vibration-Based Wheel Tread Depth Estimation. Sensors (Basel) 2024; 24:375. [PMID: 38257466 DOI: 10.3390/s24020375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The problem of remaining useful life estimation (RULE) of hollow worn railway vehicle wheels in terms of remaining mileage via wheel tread depth estimation using on-board vibration signals from a single accelerometer on the bogie frame is presently investigated. This is achieved based on the introduction of a statistical time series method that employs: (i) advanced data-driven stochastic Functionally Pooled models for the modeling of the vehicle dynamics under different wheel tread depths in a range of interest until a critical limit, as well as tread depth estimation through a proper optimization procedure, and (ii) a wheel tread depth evolution function with respect to the vehicle running mileage that interconnects the estimated hollow wear with the remaining useful mileage. The method's RULE performance is investigated via hundreds of Simpack-based Monte Carlo simulations with an Attiko Metro S.A. vehicle and many hollow worn wheels scenarios which are not used for the method's training. The obtained results indicate the accurate estimation of the wheels tread depth with a mean absolute error of ∼0.07 mm that leads to a corresponding small error of ∼3% with respect to the wheels remaining useful mileage. In addition, the comparison with a recently introduced Multiple Model (MM)-based multi-health state classification method for RULE, demonstrates the better performance of the postulated method that achieves 81.17% True Positive Rate (TPR) which is significantly higher than the 45.44% of the MM method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias A Iliopoulos
- Stochastic Mechanical Systems & Automation (SMSA) Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - John S Sakellariou
- Stochastic Mechanical Systems & Automation (SMSA) Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
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Tsiaka T, Stavropoulou NA, Giannakourou MC, Strati IF, Sinanoglou VJ. Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction and Characterization of the Phenolic Compounds in Rose Distillation Side Streams Using Spectrophotometric Assays and High-Throughput Analytical Techniques. Molecules 2023; 28:7403. [PMID: 37959822 PMCID: PMC10650874 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28217403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Lately, the essential oils industry has been one of the most expanding markets globally. However, the byproducts generated after the distillation of aromatic plants and their transformation to novel high-added value products consist of a major up-to-date challenge. Thus, the scope of the current study is the optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for the recovery of phenolic compounds from rose (Rosa damascena) post-distillation side streams using Box-Behnken design. In particular, the highest total phenolic content (TPC) was achieved at 71% v/v ethanol-water solution, at 25 min, 40 mL/g dry sample and 53% ultrasound power, while ethanol content and extraction time were the most crucial factors (p-value ≤ 0.05) for UAE. Both solid (RSB) and liquid (LSB) rose side streams exhibited significant antiradical and antioxidant activities. The interpretation of attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra confirmed the presence of compounds with properties such as phenolic compounds, phenolic amide derivatives, and alcohols in the extracts. Moreover, the flavonoids naringenin, quercetin, and kaempferol were the major phenolic compounds, identified in the extracts by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS/MS), followed by gallic, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, and rosmarinic acids. Furthermore, the LC-MS/MS results pinpointed the effect of factors other than the extraction conditions (harvesting parameters, climatic conditions, plant growth stage, etc.) on the phenolic fingerprint of RSB extracts. Therefore, RSB extracts emerge as a promising alternative antioxidant agent in food products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalia Tsiaka
- Laboratory of Chemistry, Analysis & Design of Food Processes, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of West Attica, Agiou Spyridonos, 12243 Egaleo, Greece; (T.T.); (N.A.S.); (I.F.S.)
| | - Natalia A. Stavropoulou
- Laboratory of Chemistry, Analysis & Design of Food Processes, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of West Attica, Agiou Spyridonos, 12243 Egaleo, Greece; (T.T.); (N.A.S.); (I.F.S.)
| | - Maria C. Giannakourou
- Laboratory of Chemistry, Analysis & Design of Food Processes, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of West Attica, Agiou Spyridonos, 12243 Egaleo, Greece; (T.T.); (N.A.S.); (I.F.S.)
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, 9 Iroon Polytechniou St., 15772 Athens, Greece
| | - Irini F. Strati
- Laboratory of Chemistry, Analysis & Design of Food Processes, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of West Attica, Agiou Spyridonos, 12243 Egaleo, Greece; (T.T.); (N.A.S.); (I.F.S.)
| | - Vassilia J. Sinanoglou
- Laboratory of Chemistry, Analysis & Design of Food Processes, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of West Attica, Agiou Spyridonos, 12243 Egaleo, Greece; (T.T.); (N.A.S.); (I.F.S.)
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6
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Tsellou A, Livanos G, Ramnalis D, Polychronos V, Plokamakis G, Zervakis M, Moirogiorgou K. A UAV Intelligent System for Greek Power Lines Monitoring. Sensors (Basel) 2023; 23:8441. [PMID: 37896534 PMCID: PMC10610981 DOI: 10.3390/s23208441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Power line inspection is one important task performed by electricity distribution network operators worldwide. It is part of the equipment maintenance for such companies and forms a crucial procedure since it can provide diagnostics and prognostics about the condition of the power line network. Furthermore, it helps with effective decision making in the case of fault detection. Nowadays, the inspection of power lines is performed either using human operators that scan the network on foot and search for obvious faults, or using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and/or helicopters equipped with camera sensors capable of recording videos of the power line network equipment, which are then inspected by human operators offline. In this study, we propose an autonomous, intelligent inspection system for power lines, which is equipped with camera sensors operating in the visual (Red-Green-Blue (RGB) imaging) and infrared (thermal imaging) spectrums, capable of providing real-time alerts about the condition of power lines. The very first step in power line monitoring is identifying and segmenting them from the background, which constitutes the principal goal of the presented study. The identification of power lines is accomplished through an innovative hybrid approach that combines RGB and thermal data-processing methods under a custom-made drone platform, providing an automated tool for in situ analyses not only in offline mode. In this direction, the human operator role is limited to the flight-planning and control operations of the UAV. The benefits of using such an intelligent UAV system are many, mostly related to the timely and accurate detection of possible faults, along with the side benefits of personnel safety and reduced operational costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aikaterini Tsellou
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece; (G.L.); (M.Z.); (K.M.)
| | - George Livanos
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece; (G.L.); (M.Z.); (K.M.)
| | | | | | - Georgios Plokamakis
- Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator S.A., 11743 Athens, Greece;
| | - Michalis Zervakis
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece; (G.L.); (M.Z.); (K.M.)
| | - Konstantia Moirogiorgou
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece; (G.L.); (M.Z.); (K.M.)
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Moutsis SN, Tsintotas KA, Gasteratos A. PIPTO: Precise Inertial-Based Pipeline for Threshold-Based Fall Detection Using Three-Axis Accelerometers. Sensors (Basel) 2023; 23:7951. [PMID: 37766008 PMCID: PMC10534597 DOI: 10.3390/s23187951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
After traffic-related incidents, falls are the second cause of human death, presenting the highest percentage among the elderly. Aiming to address this problem, the research community has developed methods built upon different sensors, such as wearable, ambiance, or hybrid, and various techniques, such as those that are machine learning- and heuristic based. Concerning the models used in the former case, they classify the input data between fall and no fall, and specific data dimensions are required. Yet, when algorithms that adopt heuristic techniques, mainly using thresholds, are combined with the previous models, they reduce the computational cost. To this end, this article presents a pipeline for detecting falls through a threshold-based technique over the data provided by a three-axis accelerometer. This way, we propose a low-complexity system that can be adopted from any acceleration sensor that receives information at different frequencies. Moreover, the input lengths can differ, while we achieve to detect multiple falls in a time series of sum vector magnitudes, providing the specific time range of the fall. As evaluated on several datasets, our pipeline reaches high performance results at 90.40% and 91.56% sensitivity on MMsys and KFall, respectively, while the generated specificity is 93.96% and 85.90%. Lastly, aiming to facilitate the research community, our framework, entitled PIPTO (drawing inspiration from the Greek verb "πι´πτω", signifying "to fall"), is open sourced in Python and C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavros N. Moutsis
- Department of Production and Management Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 12 Vas. Sophias, GR-671 32 Xanthi, Greece; (K.A.T.); (A.G.)
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Apostolakos I, Skarlatoudi T, Vatavali K, Giannouli A, Bosnea L, Mataragas M. Genomic and Phenotypic Characterization of Mastitis-Causing Staphylococci and Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Raw Sheep's Milk. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13883. [PMID: 37762186 PMCID: PMC10530712 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Dairy products play a crucial role in human nutrition as they provide essential nutrients. However, the presence of diverse microorganisms in these products can pose challenges to food safety and quality. Here, we provide a comprehensive molecular characterization of a diverse collection of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and staphylococci isolated from raw sheep's milk. Whole-genome sequencing, phenotypic characterization, and bioinformatics were employed to gain insight into the genetic composition and functional attributes of these bacteria. Bioinformatics analysis revealed the presence of various genetic elements. Important toxin-related genes in staphylococci that contribute to their pathogenic potential were identified and confirmed using phenotypic assays, while adherence-related genes, which are essential for attachment to host tissues, surfaces in the dairy environment, and the creation of biofilms, were also present. Interestingly, the Staphylococcus aureus isolates belonged to sequence type 5, which largely consists of methicillin-susceptible isolates that have been involved in severe nosocomial infections. Although genes encoding methicillin resistance were not identified, multiple resistance genes (RGs) conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, macrolides, and fluroquinolones were found. In contrast, LAB had few inherently present RGs and no virulence genes, suggesting their likely safe status as food additives in dairy products. LAB were also richer in bacteriocins and carbohydrate-active enzymes, indicating their potential to suppress pathogens and effectively utilize carbohydrate substrates, respectively. Additionally, mobile genetic elements, present in both LAB and staphylococci, may facilitate the acquisition and dissemination of genetic traits, including RGs, virulence genes, and metabolic factors, with implications for food quality and public health. The molecular and phenotypic characterization presented herein contributes to the effort to mitigate risks and infections (e.g., mastitis) and enhance the safety and quality of milk and products thereof.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Marios Mataragas
- Department of Dairy Research, Institution of Technology of Agricultural Products, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DIMITRA”, 3rd Ethnikis Antistaseos St., 45221 Ioannina, Greece; (I.A.); (T.S.); (K.V.); (A.G.); (L.B.)
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9
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Piperigkou Z, Bainantzou D, Makri N, Papachristou E, Mantsou A, Choli-Papadopoulou T, Theocharis AD, Karamanos NK. Enhancement of mesenchymal stem cells' chondrogenic potential by type II collagen-based bioscaffolds. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:5125-5135. [PMID: 37118382 PMCID: PMC10209287 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08461-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative chronic disease accounting for physical pain, tissue stiffness and mobility restriction. Current therapeutic approaches fail to prevent the progression of the disease considering the limited knowledge on OA pathobiology. During OA progression, the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the cartilage is aberrantly remodeled by chondrocytes. Chondrocytes, being the main cell population of the cartilage, participate in cartilage regeneration process. To this end, modern tissue engineering strategies involve the recruitment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) due to their regenerative capacity as to promote chondrocyte self-regeneration. METHODS AND RESULTS In the present study, we evaluated the role of type II collagen, as the main matrix macromolecule in the cartilage matrix, to promote chondrogenic differentiation in two MSC in vitro culture systems. The chondrogenic differentiation of human Wharton's jelly- and dental pulp-derived MSCs was investigated over a 24-day culture period on type II collagen coating to improve the binding affinity of MSCs. Functional assays, demonstrated that type II collagen promoted chondrogenic differentiation in both MSCs tested, which was confirmed through gene and protein analysis of major chondrogenic markers. CONCLUSIONS Our data support that type II collagen contributes as a natural bioscaffold enhancing chondrogenesis in both MSC models, thus enhancing the commitment of MSC-based therapeutic approaches in regenerative medicine to target OA and bring therapy closer to the clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoi Piperigkou
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis and Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH)/Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT), Patras, Greece
| | - Dimitra Bainantzou
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis and Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Nadia Makri
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis and Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Eleni Papachristou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Aglaia Mantsou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Theodora Choli-Papadopoulou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Achilleas D Theocharis
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis and Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
| | - Nikos K Karamanos
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis and Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH)/Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT), Patras, Greece.
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Zerva A, Mohammadi M, Dimopoulos G, Taoukis P, Topakas E. Transglycosylation of Stevioside by a Commercial β-Glucanase with Fungal Extracted β-Glucans as Donors. Waste Biomass Valorization 2023; 14:1-11. [PMID: 36713934 PMCID: PMC9872074 DOI: 10.1007/s12649-023-02052-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Abstract Alternative sweeteners, such as steviol glucosides from the plant Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, are becoming increasingly popular for the design of next-generation foodstuffs. However, the bitter aftertaste of native steviol glucosides is one of the main reasons behind consumer reluctance towards stevia-containing products. Biocatalysis could be a sustainable solution to this problem, through addition of glucosyl moieties to the molecule. Glycoside hydrolases are enzymes performing transglycosylation reactions, and they can be exploited for such modifications. In the present work, the commercial β-glucanase Finizym 250L® was employed for the transglycosylation of stevioside. After optimization of several reaction parameters, the maximal reaction yield obtained was 19%, with barley β-glucan as the glycosyl donor. With the aim to develop a sustainable process, β-glucan extracts from different fungal sources were prepared. Pulsed Electric Field pretreatment of mycelial biomass resulted in extracts with higher β-glucan content. The extracts were tested as alternative glucosyl donors, reaching up to 15.5% conversion yield, from Pleurotus-extracted β-glucan. Overall, in the present work a novel enzymatic process for the modification of stevioside is proposed, with concomitant valorization of β-glucans extracted from fungal biomass, potentially generated as a byproduct from other applications, in concert with the principles of circular economy. Graphical Abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Zerva
- Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 5 Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece
| | - Milad Mohammadi
- Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 5 Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Dimopoulos
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 5 Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece
| | - Petros Taoukis
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 5 Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelos Topakas
- Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 5 Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece
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Ouranidis A, Tsiaxerli A, Vardaka E, Markopoulou CK, Zacharis CK, Nicolaou I, Hatzichristou D, Haidich AB, Kostomitsopoulos N, Kachrimanis K. Sildenafil 4.0-Integrated Synthetic Chemistry, Formulation and Analytical Strategies Effecting Immense Therapeutic and Societal Impact in the Fourth Industrial Era. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:365. [PMID: 33920975 PMCID: PMC8071249 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sildenafil is a potent selective, reversible inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Whilst twenty years have passed since its original approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), sildenafil enters the fourth industrial era catalyzing the treatment advances against erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. The plethora of detailed clinical data accumulated and the two sildenafil analogues marketed, namely tadalafil and vardenafil, signify the relevant therapeutic and commercial achievements. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior of the drug appears complex, interdependent and of critical importance whereas the treatment of special population cohorts is considered. The diversity of the available formulation strategies and their compatible administration routes, extend from tablets to bolus suspensions and from per os to intravenous, respectively, inheriting the associated strengths and weaknesses. In this comprehensive review, we attempt to elucidate the multi-disciplinary elements spanning the knowledge fields of chemical synthesis, physicochemical properties, pharmacology, clinical applications, biopharmaceutical profile, formulation approaches for different routes of administration and analytical strategies, currently employed to guide the development of sildenafil-based compositions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Ouranidis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.T.); (E.V.)
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anastasia Tsiaxerli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.T.); (E.V.)
| | - Elisavet Vardaka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.T.); (E.V.)
| | - Catherine K. Markopoulou
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (C.K.M.); (C.K.Z.)
| | - Constantinos K. Zacharis
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (C.K.M.); (C.K.Z.)
| | - Ioannis Nicolaou
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Dimitris Hatzichristou
- Department of Urology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54635 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Anna-Bettina Haidich
- Department of Hygiene, Social-Preventive Medicine and Medical Statistics, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos
- Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Kyriakos Kachrimanis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.T.); (E.V.)
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12
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Detsi A, Kavetsou E, Kostopoulou I, Pitterou I, Pontillo ARN, Tzani A, Christodoulou P, Siliachli A, Zoumpoulakis P. Nanosystems for the Encapsulation of Natural Products: The Case of Chitosan Biopolymer as a Matrix. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E669. [PMID: 32708823 PMCID: PMC7407519 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12070669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chitosan is a cationic natural polysaccharide, which has emerged as an increasingly interesting biomaterialover the past few years. It constitutes a novel perspective in drug delivery systems and nanocarriers' formulations due to its beneficial properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability and low toxicity. The potentiality of chemical or enzymatic modifications of the biopolymer, as well as its complementary use with other polymers, further attract the scientific community, offering improved and combined properties in the final materials. As a result, chitosan has been extensively used as a matrix for the encapsulation of several valuable compounds. In this review article, the advantageous character of chitosan as a matrix for nanosystemsis presented, focusing on the encapsulation of natural products. A five-year literature review is attempted covering the use of chitosan and modified chitosan as matrices and coatings for the encapsulation of natural extracts, essential oils or pure naturally occurring bioactive compounds are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Detsi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece; (E.K.); (I.K.); (I.P.); (A.R.N.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Eleni Kavetsou
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece; (E.K.); (I.K.); (I.P.); (A.R.N.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Ioanna Kostopoulou
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece; (E.K.); (I.K.); (I.P.); (A.R.N.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Ioanna Pitterou
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece; (E.K.); (I.K.); (I.P.); (A.R.N.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Antonella Rozaria Nefeli Pontillo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece; (E.K.); (I.K.); (I.P.); (A.R.N.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Andromachi Tzani
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece; (E.K.); (I.K.); (I.P.); (A.R.N.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Paris Christodoulou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Vassileos Constantinou Ave. 48, 116 35 Athens, Greece; (P.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Aristeia Siliachli
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Vassileos Constantinou Ave. 48, 116 35 Athens, Greece; (P.C.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Viopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Zoumpoulakis
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Vassileos Constantinou Ave. 48, 116 35 Athens, Greece; (P.C.); (A.S.)
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Universisty of West Attica, Ag. Spyridonos Str., Egaleo, 12243 Athens, Greece
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13
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Trantas E, Navakoudis E, Pavlidis T, Nikou T, Halabalaki M, Skaltsounis L, Ververidis F. Dual pathway for metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli to produce the highly valuable hydroxytyrosol. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212243. [PMID: 31682615 PMCID: PMC6828502 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most abundant phenolic compounds traced in olive tissues is hydroxytyrosol (HT), a molecule that has been attributed with a pile of beneficial effects, well documented by many epidemiological studies and thus adding value to products containing it. Strong antioxidant capacity and protection from cancer are only some of its exceptional features making it ideal as a potential supplement or preservative to be employed in the nutraceutical, agrochemical, cosmeceutical, and food industry. The HT biosynthetic pathway in plants (e.g. olive fruit tissues) is not well apprehended yet. In this contribution we employed a metabolic engineering strategy by constructing a dual pathway introduced in Escherichia coli and proofing its significant functionality leading it to produce HT. Our primary target was to investigate whether such a metabolic engineering approach could benefit the metabolic flow of tyrosine introduced to the conceived dual pathway, leading to the maximalization of the HT productivity. Various gene combinations derived from plants or bacteria were used to form a newly inspired, artificial biosynthetic dual pathway managing to redirect the carbon flow towards the production of HT directly from glucose. Various biosynthetic bottlenecks faced due to feaB gene function, resolved through the overexpression of a functional aldehyde reductase. Currently, we have achieved equimolar concentration of HT to tyrosine as precursor when overproduced straight from glucose, reaching the level of 1.76 mM (270.8 mg/L) analyzed by LC-HRMS. This work realizes the existing bottlenecks of the metabolic engineering process that was dependent on the utilized host strain, growth medium as well as to other factors studied in this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouil Trantas
- Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group, Laboratory of Biological and Biotechnological Applications, Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Heraklion, Greece
- * E-mail: (FV); (ET)
| | - Eleni Navakoudis
- Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group, Laboratory of Biological and Biotechnological Applications, Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Theofilos Pavlidis
- Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group, Laboratory of Biological and Biotechnological Applications, Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Theodora Nikou
- Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Halabalaki
- Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
| | - Leandros Skaltsounis
- Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
| | - Filippos Ververidis
- Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group, Laboratory of Biological and Biotechnological Applications, Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Heraklion, Greece
- * E-mail: (FV); (ET)
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