In this study, we isolated Lactobacillus spp. from bovine raw milk and artisanal cheese from southern Brazil, and evaluated their technological and probiotic potential to select new isolates for producing healthy fermented dairy foods with differentiated tastes and flavours. We obtained 48 new lactobacilli isolates, which were isolated from raw milk (38) and cheese (10). These bacterial isolates were closely related with ten species: Lactobacillus paracasei (50% of the isolates), L. parabuchneri (15%), L. pentosus (13%), L. zeae (4%), L. plantarum (4%), L. otakiensis (4%), L. casei (4%), L. harbinensis (2%), L. diolivorans (2%), and L. rhamnosus (2%). Isolates CH112 and CH131 showed the greatest acidification potential, reducing the pH of milk to below 5.3 after incubation for 6 h at 32 °C. Considering proteolytic activity and diacetyl production, isolates ML88a, ML04, and ML12 showed the most promising results. Isolate ML12 showed 100% survival rate when inoculated in gastric juice at pH 2.5. The evaluation of antibacterial activity of the lactobacilli showed that the pathogens Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis, and Salmonella Typhimurium were strongly inhibited by the pure lactobacilli cultures. Five Lactobacillus isolates (ML01, ML04, ML12, ML88, and CH139) showed both technological and probiotic characteristics. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to investigate correlations among technological and probiotic characteristics, and identified new promising lactobacilli isolates for exploring their characteristics. This study reveals the importance of selecting new microorganisms with potential applicability in the food industry for developing functional foods with differentiated aromas and flavours. Keyword Brazil. Fermented dairy foods. Functional foods. Lactic acid bacteria. Lactobacilli isolates. Starter culture.

Even with long‑term glycemic control, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) remains the predominant cause of diabetic neuropathy. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C936T of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene and the SNP C242T of the p22phox (CYBA) gene have been investigated in relation to DM2 and its complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between these two SNPs and DM2, and also between the SNPs and the signs and symptoms of diabetic distal polyneuropathy. The DM2 group consisted of 98 individuals and the control group consisted of 104 individuals. The results demonstrated that there was no association between the different genotypes or alleles and increased risk of the disease (P>0.05). With SNP C242T, a significant association with body mass index between the CTxTT genotypes (P=0.043) was identified; and the greatest body mass indexes were among individuals with the TT genotype. An association between the degree of neuropathic symptoms and genotypic/allelic distribution of these polymorphisms was not observed. In conclusion, the investigated polymorphisms are not correlated with the risk of developing DM2.

Introdução: O diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) é a doença metabólica mais comum. Objetivo: Pesquisar a presença do polimorfismo SstI da apolipoproteína C-III e verificar se existe associação com o perfil lipídico em uma amostra de diabéticos do Sul do Brasil. Materiais e Métodos: 65 pacientes com DM2 foram submetidos à avaliação antropométrica e análise do perfil lipídico e do polimorfismo SstI da APO C-III utilizando o método de reação em cadeia da polimerase seguida de digestão enzimática (PCR-RFLP). Foram classificados como alelo G os fragmentos que apresentaram tamanho de 269 e 159 pares de bases (pb) e como alelo C os fragmentos que apresentaram tamanho de 428 pb. Utilizou-se o teste t de Student para comparar as médias do perfil lipídico entre homens e mulheres, e a análise do polimorfismo foi feita por meio do teste qui-quadrado (χ 2) e do teste exato de Fischer. Resultados: A média de idade foi 64,67 ± 8,74 anos e o IMC foi 31,09 ± 4,86 kg/m 2. 55% dos indivíduos não utilizaram medicação antilipêmica. Os valores do colesterol total, triglicerídeos, HDL e LDL foram normais. Com relação ao polimorfismo, 80% apresentou genótipo normal (CC), 3,1% genótipo alterado (GG) e 16,9% genótipo alterado (CG). Não foi observada associação significativa entre o genótipo CC e os valores de triglicerídeos menores que 200 mg/dL. Conclusão: Na população avaliada a maioria dos indivíduos apresentou genótipo normal para o polimorfismo SstI sem haver associação com os níveis de triglicerídeos.