We demonstrate that the EPS from a psychrotrophic bacterium helped in the long-term cryopreservation of cyanobacteria and microalgae, and it has the potential to be used as natural cryoprotective agent for other cells.Classical swine fever (CSF) is, without any doubt, one of the most devasting viral infectious diseases affecting the members of Suidae family, which causes a severe impact on the global economy. The reemergence of CSF virus (CSFV) in several countries in America, Asia, and sporadic outbreaks in Europe, sheds light about the serious concern that a potential global reemergence of this disease represents. The negative aspects related with the application of mass stamping out policies, including elevated costs and ethical issues, point out vaccination as the main control measure against future outbreaks. Hence, it is imperative for the scientific community to continue with the active investigations for more effective vaccines against CSFV. The current review pursues to gather all the available information about the vaccines in use or under developing stages against CSFV. From the perspective concerning the evolutionary viral process, this review also discusses the current problematic in CSF-endemic countries.Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that often occurs with anaerobic Propionibacterium acnes (P.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/FK-506-(Tacrolimus).html  acnes). Anti-acne patches, made of hydrocolloid or hydrogel, have become a popular way of topical treatment. The outer water-impermeable layer of commercial patches might create hypoxic conditions and promote P. acnes growth. In this study, gelatin/chitosan (GC) bilayer patches were prepared at different temperatures that included room temperature (RT), -20 °C/RT, and -80 °C/RT. The most promising GC bilayer patch (-80 °C /RT) contained a dense upper layer for protection from bacteria and infection and a porous lower layer for absorbing pus and fluids from pimples. The anti-acne bilayer patch was loaded with Cortex Phellodendri amurensis (PA) and Centella asiatica (CA) extracts. PA extract could inhibit the growth of P. acnes and CA extract was reported to improve wound healing and reduce scar formation. Moreover, the water retention rate, weight loss rate, antibacterial activity, and in vitro cytotoxicity of the patches were investigated. The porous structure of the patches promoted water retention and contributed to absorbing the exudate when used on open acne wounds. The GC bilayer patches loaded with PA/CA extracts were demonstrated to inhibit the growth of P. acnes, and accelerate the skin fibroblast cell viability. Based on their activities and characteristics, the GC bilayer patches with PA/CA extract prepared at -80 °C/RT obtain the potential for the application of acne spot treatment.The addition of hydrocolloid is an effective method to improve the properties of native starch. However, few studies have investigated the effects of konjac glucomannan (KGM) on canna starch (CS). In this study, the effects of various KGM concentration on the pasting, rheological, textural, and morphological properties of CS were investigated. The addition of KGM significantly increased CS's pasting viscosities. Incorporation of KGM in CS at a relatively high level (1.2% w/w) exerted a significant influence on the pasting properties of CS. The consistency coefficient of CS was notably increased by KGM (from 43.6 to 143.3 Pa·sn) and positively correlated positive with KGM concentration. KGM concentration at a relatively high level (1.2% w/w) increased the elasticities and cohesiveness of CS by 53.3% and 88.0%, respectively, in texture profile analysis. The polarized optical microscope images indicated that KGM played an important part in protecting the crystalline structure of CS during heating. A denser porous microstructure with a filamentous network was observed in gelatinized KGM/CS mixtures as compared with the CS control. This research advances the knowledge of interactions between KGM and CS and opens possibilities to improve rheological properties of CS and to develop its new functionalities with KGM addition.Alternaria toxins are emerging mycotoxins whose regulation and standardization are in progress by the European Commission and the European Committee for Standardization. This paper describes a dilute and shoot approach to determine five Alternaria toxins in selected food samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The strategy involves sample extraction with acidified aqueous methanol, followed by a solvent change accomplished via sample evaporation and reconstitution. The quantification is based on isotope dilution, applying all corresponding isotopically labeled internal standards to compensate possible matrix effects of the analysis. The main advantages of the present method over other existing methods includes simple and effective sample preparation, as well as detection with high sensitivity. The five-fold sample dilution can decrease matrix effects, which were evaluated with both external and internal standard methods. The results demonstrated a limit of quantification lower than 1.0 µg/kg for all five analytes for the first time. The newly presented method showed acceptable accuracy (52.7-111%) when analyzing naturally contaminated and spiked standard samples at the described levels. The method was validated for tomato-based and flour samples (wheat, rye, and maize). The absolute recovery ranged from 66.7% to 91.6% (RSD less then 10%). The developed method could be an alternative approach for those laboratories that exclude sample cleanup and pre-concentration of state-of-the-art instruments with enhanced sensitivity.Although extensive efforts have been made to investigate the dynamics of the occurrence and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), understanding the acquisition of antibiotic resistance based on the WWTP scale and the potential effects on WWTPs is of relatively less interest. In this study, metagenomic analysis was carried out to investigate whether the WWTP scale could be affected by the prevalence and persistence of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). As a result, 152 ARG subtypes were identified in small-scale WWTP samples, while 234 ARG subtypes were identified in large-scale WWTP samples. Among the detectable ARGs, multidrug, MLS (macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin), sulfonamide, and tetracycline resistance genes had the highest abundance, and large and small WWTPs had similar composition characteristics of ARGs. In MGE analysis, plasmids and integrons were 1.5-2.0-fold more abundant in large-scale WWTPs than in small-scale WWTPs. The profile of bacteria at the phylum level showed that Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the most dominant bacteria, representing approximately 70% across large- and small-scale WWTPs.