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- Microbiological quality of Portuguese yogurtsPublication . Nogueira, C.; Albano, H.; Gibbs, P.; Teixeira, P.The microbiological quality of four brands of natural yogurts and two probiotic yogurts available in the Portuguese market, was evaluated during the shelf-life period. Although the specific flora decreased during storage it was always within the range of recommended values. No coliforms and an insignificant number of fungi were detected.
- Management of Pocket Clinical Devices by Nurses: determinant factors and microbiological assessmentPublication . Graveto, João; Costa, P.; Albano, Helena; Santos, C.; Fernandes, E.; Osório, N.; Oliveira, V.
- Production of antilisterial bacteriocin by Pediococcus acidilactici HA‑6111‑2 under different stress conditionsPublication . Engelhardt, Tekla; Albano, Helena; Kiskó, Gabriella; Mohácsi-Farkas, Csilla; Teixeira, Paula
- Evaluation of a bacteriocinogenic Lactobacillus plantarum strain on the microbiological characteristics of “Alheira de Vitela”Publication . Macieira, Ariana; Albano, Helena; Pinto, Miguel; Linheiro, Raquel; Barbosa, Joana; Teixeira, PaulaLactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) and their bacteriocins can be successfully used as natural preservatives in meat products. This work aimed to investigate the effect of fresh and lyophilized starter cultures of an autochthonous bacteriocinogenic LAB strain (Lactobacillus plantarum ST153Ch: bac + culture) on the microbiological characteristics of “Alheira”, a traditional Portuguese smoked product. “Alheira” with the addition of fresh or lyophilized culture (ca. 108 cfu/g) and “Alheira” control (no bacteriocinogenic culture added) were produced by an industrial meat company. The antilisterial activity of this culture in this food matrix was investigated, with some samples being inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes (ca. 105 cfu/g). Detection of L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., sulphite reducing clostridia, Yersinia enterocolitica and enumeration of L. monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and moulds were performed immediately after production and at 3, 7, 15, 21, 28, 60 and 90 days of storage at 4 ℃, according to ISO methodologies. Also, a 16S rRNA Gene Analysis was performed of the microbial communities of “Alheira” with and without the lyophilized bacteriocinogenic culture. Pathogenic and indicator organisms were not detected or were below acceptable levels in all samples. LAB counts increased during storage and reached similar values after 15 days (ca. 1010 cfu/g) in all samples. There was a clear trend for a higher reduction of L. monocytogenes in the presence of the bioprotective culture, more pronounced during the initial 15 days of storage. From the analysis of the microbial communities of samples of “Alheiras” at different stages of fermentation, Leuconostocaceae and Lactobacillaceae predominated in all the samples and Lactobacillus was the genus more prevalent in “Alheiras” after 60 days of storage with the addition of bacteriocinogenic culture.
- Production of an antilisterial medium to be used in the industry of portuguese tradicional meat productsPublication . Macieira, Ariana; Barbosa, Joana; Albano, Helena; Teixeira, Paula
- Production of LAB bacteriocin in MRS medium and in a natural cereal medium with potential application in the food industryPublication . Macieira, Ariana; Maciel, Claudia; Albano, Helena; Morais, Alcina M M B; Teixeira, Paula
- Characterization of a lactiplantibacillus plantarum r23 isolated from arugula by whole-genome sequencing and its bacteriocin production abilityPublication . Barbosa, Joana; Albano, Helena; Silva, Beatriz; Almeida, Maria Helena; Nogueira, Teresa; Teixeira, PaulaLactiplantibacillus plantarum is one of the lactic acid bacteria species most used as probiotics and starter cultures in food production. Bacteriocin-producers Lpb. plantarum are also promising natural food preservatives. This study aimed to characterize Lpb. plantarum R23 and its bacteriocins (R23 bacteriocins). The genome sequence of Lpb. plantarum R23 was obtained by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in an Illumina NovaSeq platform. The activity of Lpb. plantarum R23-produced bacteriocin against two Listeria monocytogenes strains (L7946 and L7947) was evaluated, and its molecular size was determined by tricine-SDS-PAGE. No virulence or antibiotic resistance genes were detected. Four 100% identical proteins to the class II bacteriocins (Plantaricin E, Plantaricin F, Pedi-ocin PA-1 (Pediocin AcH), and Coagulin A) were found by WGS analysis. The small (<6.5 kDa) R23 bacteriocins were stable at different pH values (ranging from 2 to 8), temperatures (between 4 and 100 °C), detergents (all, except Triton X-100 and Triton X-114 at 0.01 g/mL), and enzymes (catalase and α-amylase), did not adsorb to the producer cells, had a bacteriostatic mode of action and their maximum activity (AU/mL = 12,800) against two L. monocytogenes strains occurred between 15 and 21 h of Lpb. plantarum R23 growth. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum R23 showed to be a promising bio-preservative culture because, besides being safe, it produces a stable bacteriocin or bacteriocins (har-bors genes encoding for the production of four) inhibiting pathogens as L. monocytogenes. Further studies in different food matrices are required to confirm this hypothesis and its suitability as a future starter culture.
- Hand hygiene management among nurses: collective health challengesPublication . Graveto, João; Santos, Cristina; Costa, Paulo Santos; Fernandes, Elisabete; Alarico, Susana; Osório, Nádia; Albano, Helena; Oliveira, VâniaObjective: To describe the determining factors in hand hygiene management among nurses and identify associated collective health challenges. Method: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected using a questionnaire that was applied in four internal medicine units of a hospital of reference in Portugal. Results: The sample was composed of 50 nurses aged 26 to 55 years (mean age of 34.88 years); 80% were women, 58% had a Bachelor’s degree, and had 5-30 years of nursing practice (X̄ =11.94;±5.92). The vast majority of nurses (90%) reported complying with the existing recommendations on hand hygiene in pre-established moments. However, none of the nurses were able to identify all the moments for hand hygiene using water and soap or alcohol-based handrub. Conclusion: This study shows that continuous training, adequate materials/structures in the units, and redesigned administration/supervision practices are determining factors to achieve higher levels of adherence to hand hygiene among nurses, as well as increased quality and safety in care delivery, which is a current collective health challenge. Descriptors: Health Services Administration; Hand Hygiene; Nurses; Infection Control; Public Health Nursing
- Evaluation of a bacteriocin-producing strain of pediococcus acidilactici as a biopreservative for "alheira", a fermented meat sausagePublication . Albano, Helena; Pinho, Catarina; Leite, Daniela; Barbosa, Joana; Silva, Joana; Carneiro, Luísa; Magalhães, Rui; Hogg, Tim; Teixeira, PaulaThis study was conducted to evaluate the ability of Pediococcus acidilactici HA-6111-2, a PA-1 bacteriocinproducing lactic acid bacterium (LAB), isolated from ‘‘Alheira” to inhibit a cocktail of Listeria innocua strains during production and shelf-life of these products. The bacteriocinogenic culture reduced the Listeria population below the detection limit (1.5log CFU/g) and had no effect on the growth of the natural LAB flora or on the pH. Pathogenic organisms were not detected in any sample. The presence of some virulence factors and antibiotic resistances of the strain to be used as a bioprotective culture were investigated. P. acidilactici HA-6111-2 did not produce any of the biogenic amines tested; no formation of biofilms was observed; more L(+)lactic acid was produced than its isomer D(-); no gelatinase, DNase or lipase activity was recorded; no structural genes for the haemolysin, enterococcal surface protein, hydrolytic compounds, aggregation protein and cell-wall adhesins were detected, no significant antibiotic resistances were found. P. acidilactici HA-6111-2 appears to have potential as a bioprotective culture during ‘‘Alheira” fermentation. Moreover, a trained panel considered the protected product to be sensorially acceptable.
- Are nurses uniforms a reservoir for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus? Lessons to be learned from PortugalPublication . Fernandes, E.; Costa, P.; Graveto, J.; Santos, C.; Osório, N.; Alarico, S.; Albano, Helena