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In this study, the lactic fermentation of immature tomatoes as a tool for food ingredient production was evaluated as a circular economy-oriented alternative for valorising industrial tomatoes that are unsuitable for processing and which have wasted away in large quantities in the field. Two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were assessed as starter cultures in an immature tomato pulp fermentation to produce functional food ingredients with probiotic potential. The first trial evaluated the probiotic character of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LAB97, isolated from immature tomato microbiota) and Weissella paramesenteroides (C1090, from the INIAV collection) through in vitro gastrointestinal digestion simulation. The results showed that LAB97 and C1090 met the probiotic potential viability criterion by maintaining 6 log10 CFU/mL counts after in vitro simulation. The second trial assessed the LAB starters’ fermentative ability. Partially decontaminated (110 °C/2 min) immature tomato pulp was used to prepare the individually inoculated samples (Id: LAB97 and C1090). Non-inoculated samples, both with and without thermal treatment (Id: CTR-TT and CTR-NTT, respectively), were prepared as the controls. Fermentation was undertaken (25 °C, 100 rpm) for 14 days. Throughout storage (0, 24, 48, 72 h, 7, and 14 days), all the samples were tested for LAB and Y&M counts, titratable acidity (TA), solid soluble content (SSC), total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (AOx), as well as for organic acids and phenolic profiles, and CIELab colour and sensory evaluation (14th day). The LAB growth reached ca. 9 log10 CFU/mL for all samples after 72 h. The LAB97 samples had an earlier and higher acidification rate than the remaining ones, and they were highly correlated to lactic acid increments. The inoculated samples showed a faster and higher decrease rate in their SSC levels when compared to the controls. A nearly two-fold increase (p < 0.05) during the fermentation, over time, was observed in all samples’ AOx and TPC (p < 0.05, r = 0.93; similar pattern). The LAB97 samples obtained the best sensory acceptance for flavour and overall appreciation scores when compared to the others. In conclusion, the L. plantarum LAB97 starter culture was selected as a novel probiotic candidate to obtain a potential probiotic ingredient from immature tomato fruits.

45 Biomedical and Biopharmaceutical Research J o r n a l d e I n v e s t i g a ç ã o B i o m é d i c a e B i o f a r m a c ê u t i c a Microbiological Study of Showerhead Waters from 10 Beaches of Great Lisboa and West Regions of Portugal AbstractMany bacteria pathogenic to man can interfere in water distribution systems, forming aggregates that give rise to a complex structure called biofilm. In order to monitor the microbiological content of water from beach showers from ten sites along the coast from Lisboa-Carcavelos to Foz do Arelho beaches, 24 water samples were analyzed in 2013, 12 during January and February, and other 12 during June. The samples were collected in 500 mL sterile bottles with sodium thiosulfate. Biofilms were collected on swabs (at the same water sampling points) with transport medium Tween 20, and maintained between 2 ºC and 4 ° C, such as water samples. The following microbiological parameters were investigated for water samples: total microbial count at 22 ºC and 37 ºC, total coliforms and Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, fecal streptococci, total Staphylococcus and coagulase-positive Staphylococcus. The swabs lead to the isolation of the microorganisms grown on the nutrient agar medium, in order to determine the the same microbiological parameters investigated in water showers. Globally, the water quality was found to be suitable, but that does not rule out the need for constant monitoring of the beach showers. Taking into account that there have been reports of plankton invasions and allergic eruptions after bathing in some seaside spots near Lisboa, these study results prompt us to recommend that swimmers should always shower after bathing or diving since showerheads were found safe all over the coast.Keywords: Beach showers; Great Lisbon Region, West Region; Biofilms; Microbiological Quality. ResumoMuitas bactérias patogénicas podem interferir no sistema de distribuição de água formando agregados de biofilme. Com o objetivo de monitorizar a qualidade microbiológica da água dos chuveiros de praia, recolheram-se 24 amostras de água, 12 em janeiro e fevereiro, e outras 12 em junho de 2013, em 10 praias ao logo da costa Lisboa-Carcavelos a Foz do Arelho. As amostras foram colhidas em frascos esterilizados de 500 mL contendo tiossulfato. Paralelamente foram feitas zaragatoas dos mesmos pontos de colheita, com o meio de transporte Tween 20, e mantidas entre 2 ºC e 4ºC. Os parâmetros microbiológicos analisados para as águas foram: quantificação de microrganismos a 22 ºC e 37 ºC, contagem dos coliformes totais e Escherichia coli, de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, de Estreptococos fecais e de Estafilococos totais e Estafilococos coagulase-positiva. A partir das zaragatoas fez-se o isolamento dos microrganismos que cresceram no meio de Nutriente Agar, com o intuito de se determinar os mesmos parâmetros microbiológicos pesquisados na água dos chuveiros. No geral, a qualidade da água é adequada, o que não exclui a necessidade de monitorização constante dos chuveiros de praia. Tendo em conta ...