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  • Molecular identification and VOMs characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from Madeira region winery environments
    Publication . Castillo, Mariangie; Silva, Emanuel da; Câmara, José S.; Khadem, Mahnaz
    The quality and typical characteristic of wines depends, among other factors, on the volatile organic metabolites (VOMs) that are biosynthesized by yeasts, mainly Saccharomyces cerevisiae species. The yeast strain influences the diversity and proportions of the VOMs produced during the fermentation process, as the genetic predisposition of the strains is a by-product of selective adaptation to the ecosystem. The present work reports the characterization of S. cerevisiae strains isolated from grape must, used in the Demarcated Region of Madeira (DRM) for winemaking. Yeast species were identified by amplification and by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the region 5.8S-internal transcribed spacers (PCR-RFLP of 5.8S-ITS) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The strains identification was performed by analyzing the RFLP pattern of mitochondrial DNA (RFLP-mtDNA). The representative strains were selected for the characterization of the volatile profile through headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. A total of 77 VOMs were identified. Higher alcohols, esters, and fatty acids were the major chemical families representing 63%, 16%, and 9%, respectively, in strain A and 54%, 23%, and 15% in strain B. The results indicate the influence of the strain metabolism in the production of VOMs, many of which probably participate in the aroma of the corresponding wines.
  • Effects of nonthermal atmospheric-pressure plasma on Drosophila development
    Publication . Ferreira, Margarida I.; Gomes, José Gabriel Lira; Benilov, Mikhail S.; Khadem, Mahnaz
    Nonthermal atmospheric-pressure plasma (NTAPP) is known to induce a wide range of responses at the cellular level. This study is concerned with the effects of NTAPP on a eukaryotic organism as a whole: Drosophila melanogaster. Exposure influenced the larval viability and caused an array of traits that can be classified into three major groups: (1) phenotypic anomalies in larvae (such as melanotic masses, melanized and broken trachea, incomplete shedding of the old cuticle during molting), morphological anomalies of pupae (small size, abnormal form, aberrant development, cryptocephalic forms), and developmental anomalies in adults (abnormal formation of wing, legs, and thorax); (2) larval behavior alteration (nonfeeding of first and second instar larvae, premature wandering, running away from food, immature pupae formation); and (3) excessive fat accumulation and lipid oxidation. The majority of the observed traits can be linked to molting and metamorphosis controlled by the endocrine system, in particular with the steroid hormone ecdysone. Results support the hypothesis that the interaction of NTAPP with the membranes of various organs can have a major role in the interruption of normal ecdysogenesis.