Lactic Acid Bacteria and Yeasts as Means of Decreasing Wine Acidity

Two hundred monocultures of lactic acid bacteria and 30 associations of yeasts and lactic acid bacteria have been studied. A stable association was developed which was capable of decreasing wine acidity. The association contained two species of bacteria, Leuconostoc oenosand Pediococcus pentosaceus, and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The physiology of the microorganisms was studied, and their effects on the chemical composition of wines were determined.     

Global transcriptional response of pig brain and lung to natural infection by Pseudorabies virus

Background  

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is an alphaherpesviruses whose native host is pig. PRV infection mainly causes signs of central nervous system disorder in young pigs, and respiratory system diseases in the adult.     

Epidemiology and psycho-social aspects of onchocercal skin diseases in northeastern Nigeria

Background

Observations were made on the prevalence of onchocerciasis and Onchocercal Skin Diseases (OSD); frequency of occurrence and anatomical distribution of OSD in the Hawal River Valley, an established onchocerciasis endemic focus in north-eastern Nigeria.

Methods

Symptoms of OSD were diagnosed in 5 844 subjects using Rapid Assessment Method (RAM) while 1 479 of the subjects chosen from alternate households had their skin biopsies examined for active microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus. Also, Focal Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted at the Health District levels.

Results

O. volvulus was recorded in (19.0%) and OSD in (43.8%) of the subjects. The Mantel-Haenszel test for linear association showed a close agreement between onchocerciasis prevalence and the rate of OSD (χ² = 3.93; p < 0.05). The various forms of OSD occurred in the order: CPOD (17.7%), APOD (9.9%), DPM (9.0%), LOD (7.0%) and ATR (3.1%). The overall frequency of occurrence of various symptoms of OSD on different anatomical locations showed the locations in descending order of occurrence as lower limbs (24.6%), upper limbs (21.3%), buttocks (19.9%), shoulder & neck (19.1%), abdomen and trunk (11.3%), backside (10.6), and 'other' sites (7.5%). The Focal Group Discussion (FGD) revealed the most worrisome consequences of OSD as social isolation of victims (31.3%), shame and low self esteem (22.7%) and high cost of medication (15.6%).

Conclusion

It is recommended that Onchocerciasis control programmes in the Hawal River Valley and any other focus with high incidence of OSD should incorporate an aspect that would address the anxiety and depression caused by various OSD lesions since they carry lots of psycho-social implications. This would increase acceptance and compliance of the target population. The classification criteria of onchocerciasis endemicity should be based on either or both of the O. volvulus and onchocercal skin disease burden of any community and no longer on O. volvulus parasitic infection rate alone.     

Biological deacidification of wines using lactic-acid bacteria and yeasts

Based on a study of 200 lactic-acid bacteria monocultures and 30 associating lactic bacteria and yeasts cultures, a stable association was created formed by Leuconostoc oenos, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts, intended for the biological deacidification of wine. Physiology of microorganisms and their effect on the wine chemical composition was studied. By means of selective association, high quality fine wines were produced from the high-acid wines.     

Diversity of polyamine patterns in soft rot pathogens and other plant-associated members of the Enterobacteriaceae

Polyamine profiles of 91 pectolytic and other plant-associated strains from 30 taxa of the Enterobacteriaceae were obtained by gradient high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pectobacterium carotovorum, basonym Erwinia carotovora, contained a high amount of putrescine and less diaminopropane. Diaminopropane was absent in Pectobacterium chrysanthemi, basonym E. chrysanthemi, whereas cadaverine was present in addition to the major compound putrescine. This chemotaxonomic difference reflects the deepest phylogenetic branching point within the recently emended genus Pectobacterium which lies between the two species P. carotovorum and P. chrysanthemi. Both important soft rot pathogens are easily distinguishable from each other and from the type species of the genus Erwinia as diaminopropane is the only major polyamine compound in E. amylovora. Chemotaxonomic heterogeneity is also emerging with respect to DYE's Amylovora group proposed in an early phytopathological concept.     

Energetic aspects of CO oxidation in desulfovibrio desulfuricans

In cell suspension of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans B-1388, oxidation of CO as the only energy source is associated with reduction of SO42-. After a 2-h incubation of cells in 8% CO, 81% of the gas is converted. Oxidation of 1 mole CO results in formation of 0.23 mole H2S. Intracellular ATP content increases from 2.5 (control) to 8.3 nmoles/mg (during CO conversion). Dinitrophenol inhibits sulfate reduction and CO oxidation. CO dehydrogenase was detected in cytoplasmic and membrane cell fractions (59 and 34%, respectively).