This research investigated the physicochemical, microbiological, and bacterial diversity of Jben cheese, a popular artisanal variety in Morocco. The bacterial diversity was explored using ...culture-independent methods, including temporal temperature gel electrophoresis (TTGE), denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and high-throughput sequencing (HTS). Significant intra-sample differences were observed for most physicochemical parameters within each milk type, while inter-sample differences occurred between cow and goat cheeses for dry matter and ash. Jben cheese exhibited distinct characteristics, with low pH values of 3.96, 4.16, and 4.18 for cow, goat, and mixed cheeses, respectively. Goat cheeses had higher fat (49.23 g/100 g), ash (1.91 g/100 g), and dry matter (36.39 g/100 g) than cow cheeses. All cheeses displayed high microbial counts, with a notable prevalence of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) group, averaging 8.80 ± 0.92 log CFU/g. Jben cheese also displayed high contamination levels with total coliforms, faecal coliforms, yeast, and molds. Fatty acid profiling revealed fraudulent practices in Jben cheese marketing, with cow or mixed cheeses sold as goat cheese, as proven by low capric acid concentration. HTS analysis of Jben cheese identified ten genera and twenty-four species, highlighting
Lactococcus lactis
as predominant. TTGE and DGGE confirmed the presence of
L. lactis
but failed to provide the detailed profile achieved through HTS analysis. HTS has been demonstrated to be more reliable, whereas TTGE/DGGE methods, though informative, were more time-consuming and less reliable. Despite limitations, the combined use of TTGE, DGGE, and HTS provided a comprehensive view of indigenous bacterial communities in Jben cheese, identifying
L. lactis
as the main species.
Enterococcus, a common commensal organism in the human gut, exhibits a dual nature with certain strains offering probiotic benefits, while others are associated with nosocomial infections. In this ...study, we conducted a comprehensive examination of the genome of Enterococcus mundtii strain 203 to assess its probiotic potential and safety profile. The complete genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation were performed, followed by bioinformatics analysis. Our investigation reveals a detailed characterization of the Enterococcus mundtii 203 genome, originally isolated from camel feces, with a size of 3,053,234 bases and a GC content of 38.4%. Importantly, our analysis suggests that this strain poses no risk as a human pathogen due to the absence of antibiotic resistance determinants and virulence factors. The genome harbors a multitude of genes responsible for lactic acid production, bioactive peptide synthesis, adhesion molecule expression, resistance to harsh gut conditions, and enhancement of host metabolism. These findings underline the potential probiotic functionality of Enterococcus mundtii 203, positioning it as a promising candidate. Notably, our study did not identify any sequences related to insertion elements or CRISPR-Cas fragments.
In this work, Moroccan surface waters were analysed for 27 endocrine disrupting chemicals and pharmaceutically active compounds. The study area was selected on the grounds of the scarcity of ...information about the contamination status of rivers in the Rabat region, which receive micropollutants from municipal and industrial wastewater, and runoff from agricultural fields. In fact, animal feed residues, urban water runoff and untreated waste discharges into old landfills reach river water in an area with a population of ca. 3 752 800 where more than 99% of all drinking water is obtained from surface water. Samples were collected at five different sites upstream and downstream the river Bouregreg and the target compounds determined by using a continuous solid-phase extraction system and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Unlike the pharmaceuticals, most of the EDCs (specifically, 4-tert-octylphenol, nonylphenol, 4-phenylphenol, 2-phenylphenol, estrone, 17β-estradiol, triclosan and bisphenol A) were present in all samples with detection frequencies above 68%, the highest concentrations (142–368 ng/L) being those at the river mouth. The pharmaceuticals found encompassed five therapeutic classes and their concentrations ranged from 2.5 to 351 ng/L. Overall, the most abundant class were the anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs with high detection frequencies (80%), followed by antibiotics and anti-epileptics (64%), lipid regulators (56%) and β-blockers (12%). Based on the principal component analysis, the distribution of the emerging contaminants studied among sampling sites was consistent with the physico–chemical properties of the water, the most heavily contaminated sites being those close to the mouth of the river.
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•Spatial distribution of pharmaceuticals and EDCs in surfaces water of river Bouregreg were studied.•The area located near the river mouth was the most polluted site.•Most of the EDCs were present in all analysed samples (6–368 ng/L).•Among the five classes of pharmaceuticals studied, NSAIDs were found at higher levels (9–351 ng/L).
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