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Enterococcus spp. are opportunistic pathogens that are widely distributed in the natural environment. Two remarkable characteristics of enterococci is their intrinsic resistance against several of the antimicrobial agents routinely prescribed in the treatment of Gram-positive cocci, and their enormous capacity to acquire different genetic markers by conjugation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and the frequency of tet(M) and tet(L) genes in 112 Enterococcus spp. strains isolated from food. Fifty-two strains (64%) of Enterococcus faecalis, 10 (55%) of Enterococcus faecium, 2 (66%) of Enterococcus casseliflavus and 3 (42%) of Enterococcus gallinarum showed multidrug resistance. Tet(M) gene associated with or without the tet(L) gene was the most prevalent genotype found in food. Nine erythromycin-resistant and tetracycline-susceptible enterococci strains harbor silencing tet(M) or tet(L) genes were present in our investigation. In conclusion, antibiotic-resistant enterococci current in food may act as a reservoir of resistant strains creating a potential route of genes transference by horizontal gene transfer.

Large amounts of waste are generated by the minimally processed vegetables industry, such as those from beetroot processing. The aim of this study was to determine the best method to obtain flour from minimally processed beetroot waste dried at different temperatures, besides producing a colorant from such waste and assessing its stability along 45 days. Beetroot waste dried at 70 °C originates flour with significant antioxidant activity and higher betalain content than flour produced from waste dried at 60 and 80 °C, while chlorination had no impact on the process since microbiological results were consistent for its application. The colorant obtained from beetroot waste showed color stability for 20 days and potential antioxidant activity over the analysis period, thus it can be used as a functional additive to improve nutritional characteristics and appearance of food products. These results are promising since minimally processed beetroot waste can be used as an alternative source of natural and functional ingredients with high antioxidant activity and betalain content.

ABSTRACT-Pineapple is widely consumed and appreciated not only due to its taste and aroma, and also to its nutritional, functional and antioxidant properties, including its vitamin C and carotenoid contents. Brazil is one of the largest world' pineapple producer, and Pérola and Smooth Cayenne cultivars are the most commonly grown and marketed, but their susceptibility to fusariosis can compromise cultivation. New cultivars resistant to this pathogen are available to meet the demands of pineapple producers and consumers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of pineapple fruits of Imperial, Victoria, IAC Fantástico and Gomo de Mel cultivars, as well as traditional Pérola and Smooth Cayenne cultivars. Fruits grown in the Triângulo Mineiro region were evaluated by colorimetry, determination of ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds by spectrometry, antioxidant activity by ABTS and carotenoid profile by HPLC. Regarding color, Gomo de Mel cultivar showed lower brightness and higher value of parameter b*, indicating a more intense yellow color in this fruit. This result is consistent with the highest carotenoid concentration in this cultivar. Another cultivar that stood out was Imperial, which, while maintaining high carotenoid levels, also showed high concentrations of vitamin C and phenolic compounds, and higher antioxidant activity. Victoria cultivar showed low levels of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity, even lower than IAC Fantástico cultivar, which showed levels of bioactive compounds similar to traditional Pérola and Smooth Cayenne cultivars. Index terms: Ananas comosuse, fusariosis, vitamin C, phenolics, carotenoids. COMPOSTOS BIOATIVOS E ATIVIDADE ANTIOXIDANTE DE FRUTOS DE CULTIVARES DE ABACAXIZEIROSRESUMO-O abacaxi é um fruto muito consumido e apreciado não só pelo sabor e aroma, mas também pelas propriedades nutricionais, funcionais e antioxidantes, incluindo os teores de vitamina C e carotenoides. O Brasil é um dos principais produtores de abacaxi, sendo as cultivares Pérola e Smooth Cayenne as mais plantadas e comercializadas, porém sua suscetibilidade à fusariose pode comprometer o cultivo. Novas cultivares resistentes a este patógeno estão sendo disponibilizadas no mercado, buscando atender às demandas do produtor e do mercado consumidor. Objetivou-se avaliar compostos bioativos e atividade antioxidante de frutos de cultivares de abacaxizeiros cultivados na região do Triângulo Mineiro. Os frutos foram avaliados quanto à colorimetria, quantificação de ácido ascórbico e fenólicos totais por espectrometria, atividade antioxidante por ABTS e perfil de carotenoides por HPLC. Em relação à coloração, a cultivar Gomo-de-Mel apresentou menor luminosidade e maior valor do parâmetro b*, indicando coloração mais amarela do fruto. Esse resultado é condizente pela maior concentração de carotenoides nessa cultivar. Outra cultivar que se destacou foi a Imperial, que, além de apresentar altos teores de carotenoides, demonstrou também elevadas concentra...

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