Browsing by Author "Faria, Ana Sofia"
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- Effect of Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) Extract on the Survival of Staphylococcus aureus in Portuguese Alheira Sausage during MaturationPublication . Coelho-Fernandes, Sara; Rodrigues, Gisela; Faria, Ana Sofia; Caleja, Cristina; Pereira, Eliana; Pinela, José; Carocho, Márcio; Barros, Lillian; Cadavez, Vasco; Gonzales-Barron, UrsulaThe objective of this study was to assess the effect of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) extract on the survival of Staphylococcus aureus in a Portuguese non-ready-to-eat meat product (alheira sausage). Alheira batter was produced, mixed with 0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, or 1.5% of lyophilised sage extract, and stuffed in natural casings. Sausages were then individually inoculated with S. aureus and left to ferment/mature at 10 °C/85% RH for 10 days. Sage extract was found to inactivate S. aureus (p < 0.001) with no significant differences between doses. At the 10th day of maturation, S. aureus decreased in 1.146 log CFU/g (SE = 0.065 log CFU/g) in alheiras mixed with 0.5–1.0% sage extract. Nonetheless, this extract retarded the growth of indigenous lactic acid bacteria during maturation. The higher the dose, the greater the effect (p < 0.001).
- From health Literacy to self-care: contributions of the specialist nurse in rehabilitation nursingPublication . Dias, Marina do Rosário Jesus; Faria, Ana Sofia; Ferreira, Maria Salomé Martins; Faleiros, Fabiana; Novo, André; Gonçalves, Maria Narcisa; Rocha, Carla Gomes da; Teles, Paulo João; Ribeiro, Marlene Patrícia; Ventura-Silva, João Miguel Almeida; Ribeiro, OlgaInitiatives aimed at assessing and intervening in health literacy have the potential to promote adherence to self-care behaviours, which is the main focus of intervention by rehabilitation nurses. Thus, the objectives were to analyse the level of health literacy of working-age citizens and identify priority areas for intervention by rehabilitation nurses. (2) Methods: Quantitative, correlational and cross-sectional study, conducted in a multinational company, with the participation of 161 workers. The data were collected between 14 April and 7 May 2021, using a self-completion questionnaire composed of sociodemographic and clinical characterization and the European Health Literacy Survey, following a favourable opinion from the Ethics Committee and the company’s management. (3) Results: Overall, low to moderate literacy scores were predominant. Age and education were significantly associated with literacy scores. Workers with higher levels of health literacy had no diagnosed illnesses, took less medication, reported less sadness, fewer memory changes and less muscle and joint pain. (4) Conclusions: The fact that higher levels of health literacy trigger self-care behaviours and, consequently, fewer health problems reinforces the need for rehabilitation nurses to invest in this area.
- Genetic identification and technological potential of indigenous lactic acid bacteria isolated from Alheira, a traditional portuguese sausagePublication . Fernandes, Nathália; Faria, Ana Sofia; Carvalho, Laís; Choupina, Altino; Rodrigues, Carina; Gonzales-Barron, Ursula; Cadavez, VascoAlheira is a naturally fermented meat sausage traditionally made in the Portuguese region of Trás-os-Montes. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the dominant microorganisms in alheira and can endow it with various technological properties. This study aimed (1) to characterize technological features and in vitro antimicrobial activity of LAB isolated from alheira, and (2) to reveal associations between such phenotypic characteristics and the isolates species identified through amplification and sequencing of the 16S ribosomal gene. Sixty-two LAB isolates were identified and Enterococcus (E.) faecium corresponded to 32.3% of isolates, followed by Leuconostoc (L.) mesenteroides (19.4%) and Latilactobacillus (Lb.) sakei (17.7%), aligning with previous research on traditional Portuguese fermented meat sausages. The phenotypic analysis of LAB isolates indicated diverse acidification capacities, proteolytic activities, and inhibitory effects against foodborne pathogens Listeria (L.) monocytogenes, Salmonella (S.) Typhimurium and Staphylococcus (S.) aureus. Overall, lactobacilli displayed high inhibition activity against the pathogens S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, and S. Typhimurium. Although the mechanisms for the inhibition of pathogen growth need to be further elucidated, these findings enhance our understanding of LAB diversity and functionality in alheira sausages, contributing to product safety and quality.
- Lactic acid bacteria from artisanal raw goat milk cheeses: technological properties and antimicrobial potentialPublication . Silva, Beatriz Nunes; Fernandes, Nathália; Carvalho, Laís; Faria, Ana Sofia; Teixeira, José António; Rodrigues, Carina; Gonzales-Barron, Ursula; Cadavez, VascoIn cheese-making, a starter culture composed of adequately chosen lactic acid bacteria (LAB) may be suitable to ensure the rapid acidification of milk, improve textural and sensory characteristics, and avoid pathogen proliferation. In this work, 232 LAB isolates collected from artisanal goat’s raw milk cheeses produced in Portugal were evaluated for their antimicrobial capacity (at 10 and 37°C), as well as their acidifying and proteolytic properties. Among the 232 isolates, at least 98% of those isolated in De Man- Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) agar presented antagonism against Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, or Staphylococcus aureus, whereas less than 28.1% of M17-isolated LAB showed antagonism against these pathogens. M17-isolated LAB displayed better results than MRS ones in terms of acidifying capacity. As for the proteolytic assay, only 2 MRS isolates showed casein hydrolysis capacity. Principal component analyses and molecular characterization of a subset of selected isolates were conducted to identify those with promising capacities and to correlate the identified LAB genera and species with their antimicrobial, acidifying, and/or proteolytic properties. Lactococcus strains were associated with the highest acidifying capacity, whereas Leuconostoc and Lacticaseibacillus strains were more related to antimicrobial capacities. Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactococcus lactis, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei were the predominant organisms found. The results of this work highlight various strains with pathogen inhibition capacity and suitable technological properties to be included in a customized starter culture. In future work, it is necessary to appropriately define the starter culture and implement it in the cheese-making process to evaluate if the in-vitro capacities are observable in a real food system.
- Leptospiral antibodies in sera of fish from the Ave river: preliminary resultsPublication . Nunes-Pereira, Margarida; Varandas, Simone; Teixeira, Amílcar; Faria, Ana Sofia; Cabral, João Alexandre; Cortes, Rui M.V.; Paiva-Cardoso, Maria das NevesLeptospirosis is a zoonosis with world distribution, caused by infection with pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. Leptospires’ natural habitat is the kidney of infected animals, being disseminated via urine to the environment, where they survive outside the host in fresh water or moist soils. Thus, leptospirosis is associated with activities such as fish farming, animal and agricultural production and water-related activities. The aim of this work was to detect leptospiral antibodies (Abs) in wild fish species (Luciobarbus bocagei, Pseudochondrostoma duriense and Squalius carolitertii) captured in the north of Portugal. Sera of 29 fish caught in the Ave River basin in July 2017 were tested by Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT). Abs were detected in 51.7% (15/29) specimens, with reactivities against serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona, Canicola, Sejroe, Australis and Ballum. The highest Abs titre was 1:160, observed to Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar. Leptospiral Abs were detected in 75% (9/12) of P. duriense and in 46.2% (6/13) of L. bocagei. The results undeniably show that the sampled fish inhabit fresh water contaminated with leptospires and develop immune response, being potential sources of infection for man and animals. Further studies are needed to better understand potential public health threats.
- Microbiological and physicochemical assessment of artisanally produced “Alheira” fermented sausages in Northern PortugalPublication . Coelho-Fernandes, Sara; Zefanias, Odete; Rodrigues, Gisela; Faria, Ana Sofia; Fernandes, Ângela; Barros, Lillian; Cadavez, Vasco; Gonzales-Barron, UrsulaAlheira is a traditional non-ready-to-eat sausage produced mainly in northern Portugal. The objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between some relevant physicochemical and microbiological attributes of alheiras produced by different regional producers. Finished products from 8 regional factories amounting to 40 samples were analyzed. Counts of mesophiles, lactic acid bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, presumptive Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella spp., as well as pH, water activity (aW), and proximate analysis were determined. Principal component analysis (PCA) of these variables was conducted to construct quality maps. Three meaningful components were extracted, accounting for 63% of data variability. PC1 (26% data variability) was positively associated with LAB, mesophiles, and S. aureus, characterizing therefore longer fer- mentation. PC2 (22% data variability) correlated negatively with moisture, aW and positively with C. perfringens, and thus has been linked to greater dehydration of sausages. PC3 (15% data varia- bility) correlated positively with pH and protein content, implying the use of more meat in the formulation. This preliminary work has identified three quality factors underpinning the variabil- ity in artisanal alheiras; and has also highlighted the need to implement better microbiological control and process standardization during the production of artisanal alheiras.
- Microbiological and Physicochemical Profile of Traditionally Produced Chouriça de Carne Dry-Fermented Sausages: Towards Benchmarking of Products Against Established Quality GroupsPublication . Faria, Ana Sofia; Bonilla-Luque, Olga María; Carvalho, Laís; Fernandes, Nathália; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.; Cadavez, Vasco; Gonzales-Barron, UrsulaThe physicochemical and microbiological properties of traditional Portuguese ready-to-eat dry fermented sausage chouriça de carne samples from 14 regional producers were analysed and subjected to multivariate analysis to determine the relationships between them and to evaluate how the quality and safety of these sausages is affected by these properties. Producer-mean values for physicochemical analyses were quite variable, with intervals of 4.87–6.11 for pH, 0.803–0.965 for aw, moisture 19.5–48.5%, protein 32.0–60.1% (db), fat 22.0–53.3% (db), ash 3.52–9.69% (db), and carbohydrates 1.66–13.5% (db). Mesophilic counts varied (5.61–8.68 log CFU/g), while lactic acid bacteria were generally high (MRS: 8.21–10.2; M17: 7.66–10.0 log CFU/g). S. aureus was enumerated in levels up to 2.55 log CFU/g, while presumptive C. perfringens never surpassed 2 log CFU/g. Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. were also detected in the samples tested. Principal component (PC) analysis yielded a three-dimension solution that explained 60% of the data variation; PC1 (26%) characterized chorizo formulations with more meat, while PC2 (19.3%) described sausages with longer/rapid fermentation, and PC3 (14.5%) highlighted chouriços with poorer hygiene. Cluster analysis identified three quality groups: (i) chorizos with high moisture, high protein content, and lowest pH; (ii) sausages with low moisture, high fat content, and elevated pH; and (iii) chouriças with high moisture and high protein but lower fat contents, low pH, and improved hygiene. Lastly, factor analysis yielded a varimax-rotated three-factor solution that explained 65% of the data, with similar results to PCA; factor 1 (23.5%) depicted chorizos with low pH but high moisture, factor 2 (20.8%) described sausages with more meat in the formulation, and factor 3 (20.6%) longer or rapid fermentation. Overall, the results evidenced the great variability in the quality attributes of Portuguese chorizo sausages, very likely to arise from multiple recipes, ingredients, and manufacturing practices. The definition of quality clusters is expected to play a crucial role for the self-denominated “artisanal” food companies to benchmark their chouriço sausages against the proper artisanal quality group.
- Molecular identification of lactic acid producing bacteria isolated from alheira, a traditional Portuguese fermented sausagePublication . Fernandes, Nathália; Faria, Ana Sofia; Carvalho, Laís; Choupina, Altino; Rodrigues, Carina; Cadavez, Vasco; Gonzales-Barron, UrsulaPortuguese traditional fermented meat products constitute a valued economic and cultural heritage. The objective of this work was to screen the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) present in thealheira. 25 LABs were identified by Sanger sequencing of the 16S ribosomal gene. Sequencing results were aligned with sequences from the NCBI database using the BLAST algorithm. Genetic analysis showed a diverse lactic acid producing microbiome, and LABs from the family Lactobacillaceae and Leuconostocaceae were dominant, found in 64% of samples, while other organisms of the family Streptococcaceae and Enterococcaceae were found in 36% of samples. This work enabled the identification of LAB normally present in a traditional Portuguese product, as well as the desired technological characteristics that they can bestow to the product.
- Pathogens-in-Foods database: A web application for assessing the occurrence data of microbiological hazards in foods marketed in EuropePublication . Faria, Ana Sofia; Winter, Maiara; Thebault, Anne; Guillier, Laurent; Sanaa, Moez; Kooh, Pauline; Cadavez, Vasco; Gonzales-Barron, UrsulaPathogens-in-Foods (PIF) is a dynamic database constructed using systematic literature searches of occurrence data (prevalence and enumeration) of important pathogenic agents (Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter spp., Clostridium perfringens, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica, Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Hepatitis A virus, Hepatitis E virus and Norovirus) in foods randomly surveyed across Europe. After filtering the primary studies, these were screened for relevance and methodological quality, and the data were extracted into the PIF database following a systematic categorisation of microbiological methods, food types and outcomes. The database is freely accessible through a web application that facilitates data retrieval according to several relevant variables. The PIF spans data published from 2000 onwards and is intended for use by researchers and food authorities after meta-analysis, in microbiological risk assessment.
- Screening of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Artisanally Produced Alheira Fermented Sausages as Potential Starter CulturesPublication . Faria, Ana Sofia; Fernandes, Nathália; Cadavez, Vasco; Gonzales-Barron, UrsulaAlheira is a traditional Portuguese fermented sausage, produced without the aid of any starter culture. The objective of this study was to isolate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) naturally present in alheiras, and screen their potential for use as functional starter. Forty alheiras from 8 regional producers were analysed. A total of 335 LAB were isolated from MRS and M17 media and confirmed. Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. at 37°C and 10°C was evaluated by spot-on-lawn assay. Sixty-three strains were pre-selected, and their lactic acid production, acidification capacity and proteolytic activity determined. The suitability of the strains was assessed by adjusting two separate Principal Component Analyses (PCA) on MRS and M17 data. Results showed acidification potential as the most determinant feature for strain differentiation across both media, followed by antimicrobial activity; while lactic acid production (LAC) and proteolytic activity (PAct) were the least contributing variables. For MRS strains, PC1 (38.9%) was positively correlated with the acidification capability of strains. PC2 (20.1%) positively correlated with LAC and negatively correlated with inhibition of both pathogens at 10°C and PAct, implying higher antimicrobial potential. Likewise, for M17 strains, PC1 (43.1%) and PC2 (16.7%) characterised higher acidification and greater antimicrobial potential, respectively. The results differentiated 3 clusters of MRS strains, one with higher acidification capacity, related to greater S. aureus inhibition at 37°C; a second cluster with better overall antimicrobial activity and linked to higher proteolytic activity; and a third cluster of strains with more rapid production of lactic acid. One standalone MRS strain presented both greater acidification and antimicrobial potential. From M17 isolates, only two strains presented the highest acidification ability and pathogenic inhibition. These results highlighted several strains with great potential for use as starter cultures in “Alheira”, which could confer protection against foodborne pathogens. In-situ essays are ongoing.