Biozoon (Germany)

In the current study, cornstarch-based antimicrobial and edible films were designed using solution-casting methods. The medicinal plants (Acontium heterophyllum, Artemisia annua, and Thymus serpyllum) reinforced the gelatinized solution in different concentrations as fillers. The effect of plant extracts on antimicrobial and antioxidant potential, microstructure, barrier, thermal and mechanical properties of cornstarch-based films (SBFs) was investigated using antimicrobial activity, DPPH free radical scavenging values, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, water vapor transmission rate, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile strength. Likewise, it was depicted that the geometric and crystalline structures of medicinal plants' reinforced films remained the same even after processing. The mechanical tests indicated that the plant extracts effects are associated with reduced elongation, increasing tensile strength, and Young's modulus. Morphological analysis revealed the generation of uniform and the compact surfaces. However, films with 10% concentration of plant extracts have the lowest water vapor permeability values, and emerged better barrier properties. Moreover, these films showed the significant antioxidant potential and antimicrobial activity.

FUNGUSCHAIN project is implementing valorisation concepts of mushroom (Agaricus Bisporus) agricultural residues. Therefore, novel cascading approaches will be designed, in order to obtain innovative procedures to receive high value bio-based additives (antioxidants, antimicrobials and proteins), bioplasticizers by lipid conversion as well as biopolymers production from polysaccharides (glucans and fermentable sugars), using the remaining side streams and substrates. Final remaining substrates still being used by composting and/ or biogas synthesis, closing the agricultural cycle accordingly. The demonstration within a new biorefinery, including economical extraction methods, will attempt the industrial viability. At the end of the project, more than 65% of the emerged mushroom by-products/ waste will be valorised into high-value additives. Three key chains within European economy, namely, food, cleaning/cosmetic and plastic market will characterise and further validate the applicability of the obtained products within their production processes under compliance with legal EU and market requirements.

Tannins are the secondary metabolites of plants, and are polymers consisting mainly of glycosides, found in nature as hydrolysable tannins or condensed tannins, as well as a combination of them. In the European Horizon 2020-funded Stance4Health project, one of the objectives is to develop special tannin extracts (from chestnut wood, quebracho wood, oak wood, tara pods, Chinese gallnuts) with differential effects on the gut microbiota and human health, aiming for a personalized modulation of gut microbiota activity at the individual level.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is an important bridge in the switch from extracellular signals to intracellular responses. Alterations of signaling cascades are found in various diseases, including cancer, as a result of genetic and epigenetic changes. Numerous studies focused on both the homeostatic and the pathologic conduct of MAPK signaling; however, there is still much to be deciphered in terms of regulation and action models in both preclinical and clinical research. MAPK has implications in the response to cancer therapy, particularly the activation of the compensatory pathways in response to experimental MAPK inhibition. The present paper discusses new insights into MAPK as a complex cell signaling pathway with roles in the sustenance of cellular normal conduit, response to cancer therapy, and activation of compensatory pathways. Unfortunately, most MAPK inhibitors trigger resistance due to the activation of compensatory feed-back loops in tumor cells and tumor microenvironment components. Therefore, novel combinatorial therapies have to be implemented for cancer management in order to restrict the possibility of alternative pathway activation, as a perspective for developing novel therapies based on integration in translational studies.

El fraude y la autenticidad alimentaria es un problema global que va en aumento y afecta a todas las etapas de la cadena alimentaria. Los consumidores demandan que los alimentos cumplan con las especificaciones que se indican en el etiquetado y las autoridades tienen el papel de establecer medidas para garantizar que éstos sean seguros. Desafortunadamente, debido a la gran complejidad para detectar el fraude alimentario, muchos casos pasan desapercibidos provocando que se mantengan dentro de la cadena de suministro de alimentos hasta llegar al consumidor final. A pesar de que los principios de las buenas prácticas en la fabricación alimentaria deben garantizar que los productos fabricados cumplan con las especificaciones de calidad marcadas por los organismos de salud, las empresas alimentarias necesitan tener acceso a herramientas de consulta fiables para asegurar la procedencia y seguridad de los productos que reciben. Este estudio recoge información relacionada con el fraude y la autenticidad alimentaria, y evalúa el acceso que tiene la industria y en particular, las pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMES), a la información contenida en bases de datos on-line. Se han establecido varias categorias, y todas las bases de datos contenidas en cada una de ellas, han sido analizadas y seleccionadas según su estructura y relevancia para los usuarios. Todas las bases de datos incluidas han sido extraidas de internet y están desarrolladas tanto por organismos públicos, como privados, por lo que están destinadas a llegar a un gran número de usuarios. También se ha realizado un estudio general de bases de datos relevantes que han sido desarrolladas en proyectos europeos.