Microalgae and probiotics such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus genera are associated with human beneficial effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of Chlorella sorokiniana on Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus plantarum viability in a dairy product (flan) and its microbial effect against rotavirus, which is one of the major diarrhea-causing pathogens worldwide. Microalge were isolated from a Mexican river and characterized by molecular tools. Their prebiotic activity was evaluated by determining Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus plantarum shelf-life after incorporation in the food matrix. In addition, HT-29 cells were infected with rotavirus Wa and treated with 1 × 10 9 CFU/mL L. plantarum and B. longum metabolites alone or in combination with 1 × 10 9 cells/mL Chlorella sorokiniana; viral titers in probioticsand/or microalgae-treated cells were evaluated for antiviral activity. Results indicated that C. sorokiniana not only significantly (p < 0.05) improved L. plantarum and B. longum viability in flan, but also increased their antiviral activity; potent anti-rotavirus effect of C. sorokiniana alone was observed. Although more studies are needed, results suggest that incorporation of this microalga into a dairy product confers enhanced viability and antiviral effects, which indicates that C. sorokiniana might be used as an ingredient to design products with additional health benefits.
Hirsutella citriformis Speare is the only entomopathogenic fungus involved in Diaphorina citri Kuwayama natural epizootics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate different protein sources as supplements to stimulate Hirsutella citriformis growth, improve conidiation on solid culture, and evaluate its produced gum for conidia formulation against D. citri adults. Hirsutella citriformis INIFAP-Hir-2 strain was grown on agar media enriched with wheat bran, wheat germ, soy, amaranth, quinoa, and pumpkin seed, in addition to oat with wheat bran and/or amaranth. The results demonstrated that 2% wheat bran significantly (p < 0.05) promoted mycelium growth. However, 4% and 5% wheat bran achieved the highest conidiation (3.65 × 107 conidia/mL and 3.68 × 107 conidia/mL, respectively). Higher conidiation (p < 0.05) was observed on oat grains supplemented with wheat bran, as compared with culturing on oat grains without supplements (7.25 × 107 versus 5.22 × 107 conidia/g), after a 14 d instead of 21 d incubation period. After supplementing synthetic medium or oat grains with wheat bran and/or amaranth, INIFAP-Hir-2 conidiation increased, whereas production time was reduced. After using Acacia and Hirsutella gums to formulate conidia produced on wheat bran and amaranth at 4%, field trial results showed that the highest (p < 0.05) D. citri mortality was achieved by Hirsutella gum-formulated conidia (80.0%), followed by the Hirsutella gum control (57.8%). Furthermore, Acacia gum-formulated conidia caused 37.8%, whereas Acacia gum and negative controls induced 9% mortality. In conclusion, Hirsutella citriformis gum used to formulate its conidia improved biological control against D. citri adults.
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