Effect of Apple Quality, Yeast Strains and Use of Antimicrobial Additives on Cider Production with Therapeutic Potential

SummaryHirulog™ (BG8967) is a direct thrombin inhibitor built by rational design using the protein hirudin as a model (Maraganore et al. [1990]; Biochemistry 29: 7095–101). In order to evaluate the therapeutic potential for hirulog in the management of thrombotic disease, the tolerability and anticoagulant activity of the agent were examined in a study of human volunteers.In a randomized, placebo-controlled study (n = 54), the intravenous infusion of hirulog over 15 min showed a rapid, dose-dependent prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT). There was a corresponding dose-dependent increase in plasma hirulog levels. The peptide was rapidly cleared with a half-life of 36 min and a total body clearance rate for the peptide of 0.43 1 kg−1 h−1. Similar activity was observed following subcutaneous injection but with sustained pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic behavior. There was a significant correlation between pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variables for both intravenous (r = 0.8, p <0.001) and subcutaneous administration (r = 0.7, p = 0.002).To evaluate the possible interactions of aspirin on the tolerability and anticoagulant activity of intravenous hirulog, a cross-over design was employed in eight subjects. Aspirin administration did not modify the peptide’s activity. At the administered dose of 0.6 mg kg−1 h−1 for 2 h, hirulog infusion prolonged APTT from 230 to 260% baseline. The infusion of hirulog in subjects who had received aspirin was not associated with any significant changes in the template bleeding time.The final phase of the study examined the activity and tolerability of hirulog in ten subjects during prolonged intravenous infusions for up to 24 h. The peptide (0.3 mg kg−1 h−1) exhibited sustained anticoagulant activity with no evidence for a cumulative effect. During hirulog infusion, APTT was prolonged from 210 to 250% baseline.In all phases of the study, hirulog administration was generally well-tolerated.Our observations show that hirulog is an active antithrombin agent with excellent tolerability in humans. As a direct thrombin inhibitor, hirulog provides a novel approach for the management of thrombotic disease.

SummaryDrugs can be electro-encapsulated within platelets and targeted to damaged blood vessels by exploiting the platelet’s natural haemostatic properties to adhere to collagen and other vessel wall constituents revealed by injury. A rat aorta balloon angioplasty model has been used to study the effect on platelet deposition of giving iloprost loaded platelets i.v. during the balloon injury. After labelling the circulating platelets with 111-Indium before balloon injury, time course studies showed maximum platelet deposition on the injured aorta occurred at about 1 h post-injury and the deposition remained stable over the next 2-3 h. When iloprost-loaded platelets were given i.v. during injury and the circulating platelet pool labelled with 111-Indium 30 min later, platelet deposition, measured at 2 h postinjury, was substantially and significantly reduced compared with control platelet treatment. Some antiproliferative effects of iloprost-loaded platelets given i.v. during injury have also been observed. Whereas the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into aorta intima-media DNA at 3 days post injury was 62-fold higher in balloon injured rats than in control sham operated rats, thymidine incorporation into intima/media of rats which had received iloprost loaded platelets during injury was reduced as compared with rats subjected only to the injury procedure. The reduction was only of near significance, however, but at 14 days after injury the total DNA content of the aorta intima/media of rats given iloprost loaded platelets during injury was significantly reduced. Although iloprost loaded platelets can clearly inhibit excessive platelet deposition, other encapsulated agents may have greater anti-proliferative effects. These studies have shown that drug loaded platelets can be targeted to injured arteries, where they may be retained as depots for local release. We believe this novel drug delivery protocol may have therapeutic potential in reducing the incidence of occlusion and restenosis after angioplasty and thrombolysis treatment. Electro-encapsulation of drugs into platelets is a simple procedure and, using autologous and fully biocompatible and biodegradable platelets as delivery vehicles, might overcome some of the immunological and toxicological problems which have been encountered with other delivery vectors such as liposomes, microbeads, synthetic microcapsules and antibodies.

Eight yeast strains (denoted as D1 to D8) were isolated from samples of natural fermented pineapple. Strain D8 showed highest alcoholic production at low pH and special aroma of pineapple has been chosen for further study. Taxonomic characterization of strain D8 using morphological, biochemical and molecular biological studies confirmed that strain D8  belong to Saccharomycetaceae family, Saccharomycetales order and Saccharomyces cerevisiae species. Therefore, we named this strain as Saccharomyces cerevisiae D8 for further study on Brandy production from pineapple. Citation: Hoang Thi Le Thuong, Nguyen Quang Hao, Tran Thi Thuy, 2017. Taxonomic characterization and identification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae D8 for brandy production from pineapple. Tap chi Sinh hoc, 39(4): 474- 482. DOI: 10.15625/0866-7160/v39n4.10864.*Corresponding author: [email protected] Received 5 December 2016, accepted 12 August 2017