Adamantini Kyriacou

• Harokopio University of Athens

Background: This study explores the potential of the Pleurotus eryngii mushroom fermentation supernatant (FS-PEWS) as an intervention for mitigating sodium deoxycholate (SDC)-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammation. Methods: FS-PEWS was assessed for its protective effects against SDC-induced barrier dysfunction and inflammation usin...

Background: This study investigates the impact of fermentation supernatants (FSs) from Pleurotus eryngii whole mushrooms (PEWS), as well as its subcomponents, digested (PEWSD) and extracted (PEWSE) forms, on intestinal barrier function and immune modulation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -stimulated Caco-2 cells. Methods: Gene expression of tight junc...

Fermented dairy products have recently gained popularity due to their purported health benefits, nevertheless, their role in ageing remains uncertain. This narrative review aims to evaluate evidence from observational (prospective) and interventional studies on the potential benefits of fermented dairy product consumption for musculoskeletal and me...

Objective The effect of the daily consumption of a low-fat yogurt (150 g) enriched with Platelet-Activating Factor receptor (PAF-R) antagonists, or the plain one, on gut microbiota and faecal metabolites was investigated in healthy overweight subjects. Methods A randomized, three-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was perf...

The human gut microbiota (GM) is a complex microbial ecosystem that colonises the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and is comprised of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. The GM has a symbiotic relationship with its host that is fundamental for body homeostasis. The GM is not limited to the scope of the GIT, but there are bidirectional interactions...

The authors wish to add the following information to the Authors and Affiliation section of our paper published in Molecules [...].

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often suffer gastrointestinal disturbances consistent with gut microbiota (GM) alterations. Treatment with pro/prebiotics may potentially alleviate gut symptoms, but the evidence for prebiotics is scarce. This study aims to evaluate the effects of edible mushrooms (Pleurotus, Basidiomycota) and prebiotic...

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from healthy humans may prove an effective tool against pathogen growth, adherence and invasion in intestinal epithelial cells. This study aimed to evaluate the antilisterial properties of LAB isolated from fecal samples of healthy neonates. Forty-five LAB strains were tested for their antimicrobial activity agai...

Citation: Christodoulou, P.; Vlassopoulou, M.; Zervou, M.; Xanthakos, E.; Moulos, P.; Koutrotsios, G.; Zervakis, G.I.; Kerezoudi, E.N.; Mitsou, E.K.; Saxami, G.; et al. In Vitro Abstract: Edible mushrooms contain biologically active compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and anticancer properties. The link between their antican...

Pleurotus eryngii mushrooms are commercially cultivated and widely consumed due to their organoleptic properties, and the low caloric and high nutritional value. In addition, they contain various biologically active and health-promoting compounds; very recently, their genoprotective effect in Caco-2 cells after their fermentation by the human fecal...

Recent studies have revealed the crucial role of several edible mushrooms and fungal compounds, mainly polysaccharides, in human health and disease. The investigation of the immunomodulating effects of mushroom polysaccharides, especially β-glucans, and the link between their anticancer and immunomodulatory properties with their possible prebiotic...

Background and aims Several studies have reported the positive cardio-metabolic effects of yogurt consumption. The addition of olive oil’s bioactive extracts into yogurt can result to a functional food with pleiotropic properties against cardiovascular diseases. A polar lipid extract of olive pomace (OOPLE) that contains platelet activating factor...

The potential use of food residues for pet food could significantly contribute to food waste reduction. In the present study, the effects of the inclusion of dried food residues (DFR) (0, 5, 10 and 15%) in a complete diet were evaluated in seven healthy adult cats. At the end of each three-week feeding period, feces were collected. The analysis of...

In recent years, modulation of gut microbiota through prebiotics has garnered interest as a potential to ameliorate intestinal barrier dysfunction. The aim of the study was to examine the in vitro effect of fermentation supernatants (FSs) from rich in β-glucan Pleurotus eryngii mushrooms on the expression levels of tight junctions (TJs) genes in Ca...

In recent years, modulation of gut microbiota through prebiotics has garnered interest as a potential to ameliorate intestinal barrier dysfunction. The aim of the study was to examine the in vitro effect of fermentation supernatants (FSs) from rich in β-glucan Pleurotus eryngii mushrooms on the expression levels of tight junctions (TJs) genes in Ca...

Introduction: Beta-glucans are polysaccharides that exhibit a wide range of biological properties as a result of their varying chemical composition. Like all dietary fibers, they avoid catabolism in the upper gastrointestinal tract, and they reach the large intestine undigested. There, they undergo fermentation by the gut microbiota, a process tha...

Recent data have highlighted the role of gut microbiota and of its several metabolites on bone health. Thus, gut microbiota manipulation, e.g., by prebiotics, might offer a plausible target in the fight against bone degenerative diseases. This study aimed (a) to investigate the in vitro prebiotic potential of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreat...

A variety of bioactive compounds, constituents of edible mushrooms, in particular β-glucans, i.e., a group of β-d-glucose polysaccharides abundant in the fungal cell walls, have been linked to immunomodulating, anticancer and prebiotic activities. The aim of the study was the investigation of the genoprotective effects of edible mushrooms produced...

Alterations of gut microbiota are evident during the aging process. Prebiotics may restore the gut microbial balance, with β-glucans emerging as prebiotic candidates. This study aimed to investigate the impact of edible mushrooms rich in β-glucans on the gut microbiota composition and metabolites by using in vitro static batch culture fermentations...

Introduction Cumulative findings have recently highlighted the role of gut microbiota as a novel environmental factor in the fight against obesity and related comorbidities. We aimed to investigate (1) the gut microbiome characteristics of a Greek adult population in terms of adiposity prevalence and (2) to further elucidate the potential effect of...

Introduction β-Glucans comprise a heterogeneous group of polysaccharides exhibiting a wide range of biological properties. They are categorized as dietary fibers due to their ability to reach the large intestine undigested and undergo fermentation by gut microbiota, with potential beneficial effects for the host. Aim of this systematic review is to...

We aimed to evaluate colonisation patterns of Akkermansia muciniphila in a Greek adult population and to investigate model-adjusted associations of A. muciniphila with host adiposity and cardiometabolic markers. Participants (n=125) underwent anthropometric, dietary, physical activity and lifestyle evaluation. Blood sampling for determination of bl...

The successful management of olive by-products constitutes a major challenge due to their huge volume, high organic content, and toxicity. Olive-mill wastes (TPOMW) and olive pruning residues (OLPR) were evaluated as substrates for the cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus. Chemical composition, glucans, total phenolic content, a...

Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) is a pro-inflammatory mediator of atherogenesis. Food enriched with PAF inhibitors may have potential cardioprotective properties. For this purpose, we created a yogurt enriched with PAF inhibitors derived from byproducts of olive oil industry, which was consumed by volunteers in order to investigate whether its con...

Composting is considered an effective treatment option to eliminate or substantially reduce potential hazards relating to the recycling of sewage sludge (SS) on land. The variation of four major types of hazards (heavy metals, instability, pathogenic potential and antibiotic resistance) was studied during laboratory-scale composting of two mixtures...

The widespread as well as the injudicious use of antimicrobial agents has generated an intense ecological imbalance through the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant microorganisms, pathogenic or non-pathogenic. Agricultural use of sewage sludge bears numerous beneficial aspects, but it may also pose a potential threat for the environment an...

Anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge and other organic wastes at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is a promising method for both energy and material recovery. However, transportation and storage of wastes to WWTP may be the bottleneck for the successful implementation of this technology. In case of wet wastes and wastewater it is possible to...

This study aimed to explore the potential associations of adherence to the Mediterranean diet with gut microbiota characteristics and gastrointestinal symptomatology in an adult population. Other long-term dietary habits (e.g. consumption of snacks and junk food or stimulant intake) were also evaluated in terms of the gut microbiota profile. Partic...

Introduction: This study examined the information on websites, blogs and forums in on-line comments about homemade non-and low-alcoholic fermented beverages (NAFB and LAFB), and evaluated the main concerns and motivations of people interested in these beverages. Material and methods: This descriptive study assessed the information from 2.349 on-lin...

Introduction: This study examined the information on websites, blogs and forums in on-line comments about homemade non-and low-alcoholic fermented beverages (NAFB and LAFB), and evaluated the main concerns and motivations of people interested in these beverages. Material and methods: This descriptive study assessed the information from 2.349 on-lin...

In Greece, in many cities, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) operate their own anaerobic digestion (AD) facility in order to treat sewage sludge rather than achieve optimum biogas production. Nowadays, there is a growing interest regarding the addition of other co-substrates in these existing facilities in order to increase gas yield from the bio...

Fermented beverages hold a long tradition and contribution to the nutrition of many societies and cultures worldwide. Traditional fermentation has been empirically developed in ancient times as a process of raw food preservation and at the same time production of new foods with different sensorial characteristics, such as texture, flavour and aroma...

Due to low degradability of dry solids, most of the digesters at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) operate at low loading rates resulting in poor biogas yields. In this study, co-digestion of sewage sludge (SS) with olive mill wastewater (OMW), cheese whey (CW) and crude glycerol (CG) was studied in an attempt to improve biogas production of exist...

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of β-glucan on the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of polypectomized patient's fecal water (FW). Polypectomized volunteers (n = 69) were randomly assigned to consume bread with or without β-glucan, for 3 months. FW was collected at the beginning (t = 0), the 30th and 90th day and 2 wk after the interve...

An important aspect of compost quality is its stability and maturity. Stability refers to the extent to which readily biodegradable organic matter has decomposed, whereas maturity concerns the fitness of compost for a particular end use. Stability may also be used as a process evolution index. A data survey and study of composts in the Greek market...

Home composting can be considered as one of the most feasible options for bio-waste avoidance, granted that its end-product (the compost) fulfills certain quality criteria. In order to assess home composting process and compost quality, the integrated application of independent methodologies is needed. The present study reports on assessing compost...

Translating the gained knowledge about waste management into strategies, attitudes and processes that maintain resources and minimise negative environmental impact constitutes a challenging but inevitable goal. Focusing especially on biodegradable waste, the New Paradigm for sustainable waste management carries an increasing demand for biological t...

Enterococci are among the first lactic acid bacteria to colonize the neonatal gastrointestinal tract, but they are also characterized as significant nosocomial pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of antibiotic resistance in enterococci isolated from neonates' gut microbiota as well as the presence of genetic determinan...

The implementation of the EU Directives concerning the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (2008/1/EC) and the water policy (2000/80/EC), have oriented the waste management operations at minimization via recycling and recovery strategies. In the case of the industrial and agricultural waste, composting is often placed within the most feasib...

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the potential effect of oral L-arginine supplementation on intestinal inflammation in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates, as estimated by faecal calprotectin levels. Study design: The study enrolled 83 VLBW neonates with birth weight ≤1500 g and gestational age ≤34 weeks. In this double-b...

This article discusses the use of pro-, pre- and symbiotic products from the point of view of a healthcare scientist and particularly from the angle of the clinical dietitian and nutritionist. The attempt to alter or modify the intestinal microflora is defined as the fundamental reason to subscribe the above products. The terms and the expected fav...

Lactobacilli are believed to be beneficial for the human hosts and are currently being evaluated as potentially probiotic bacteria. In this study, Lactobacillus strains were isolated from infant faeces and were examined in vitro for potential probiotic properties. Faecal specimens from 63 healthy, full-term infants were collected at 4, 30 and 90 da...

Beta-glucans are polysaccharides present in the cell walls of higher plants, in the seeds of some cereals, and certain yeasts and fungi also produce them. It is suggested that they exhibit, among many other health benefits, protective effects against carcinogenesis in the colon, but there is not enough human data to support this. The aim of the stu...

Banana is a widely consumed fruit, which contains considerable amounts of potential prebiotic indigestible carbohydrates. In our randomised, controlled trial we aimed to evaluate the in vivo prebiotic effect of banana consumption on faecal microbiota. Thirty-four healthy women participated in the study, having Body Mass Index (BMI) 24-30 kg/m(2), a...

Green table olive processing wastewater (TOPW) constitutes a notoriously polluting and difficult to treat wastewater, mainly due to its high polyphenol and organic content. This study reports on the laboratory development of an aerobic biological treatment method for TOPW, using a selected strain of Aspergillus niger. Two duplicated treatments from...

The problem of odour nuisances in Greece was explored using: (a) field measurements of a range of malodorous compounds (hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, benzene, toluene, xylenes, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, methyl-mercaptan and carbonyl sulfide) from selected wastewater treatment plants and composting facilities; and (b) questionnaires, complet...

The aim of this study was the valorization of the co- composting process for the sludge of beverage production. Therefore, two diverse mixtures of non alcoholic beverage sludge – BioA and BioB - were monitored during composting in windrows through microbial properties and physicochemical parameters. Both composting processes went through predictabl...

Increasing use of antibiotics for the treatment of infectious diseases and also for non-therapeutic reasons (agriculture, animal husbandry and aquaculture) has led to the increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance and the ineffectiveness of antimicrobial treatment. Commensal intestinal bacteria are very often exposed to the selective pressure of...

The main problem encountered when choosing the composting process as the preferable option for biological treatment, concerns the stability of the end product- i.e. the degree to which readily biodegradable organic matter has decomposed. Regardless its importance for both the process control and the product quality, stability specification still re...

Achenes were isolated from strawberries fruits, while the methylotroph Methylobacterium extorquens (strain with CABI registration number IMI 369321), which has been isolated from strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa cv. Elsanta) callus cultures, was grown on a mixture of methanol (0.25% v/v) and 1,2-propanediol (0.75% v/v). The Alcohol Dehydrogenase (AD...

This randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study aimed to evaluate the in vivo prebiotic potential of barley β-glucan. Fifty-two healthy volunteers aged 39–70 years were randomly assigned to consume daily a cake containing 0.75 g of barley β-glucan or a placebo for 30 d. Stool samples were collected before, during and 2 weeks afte...

In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study we aimed to evaluate the in vivo prebiotic effects of a functional food containing short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (sc-FOS) and Sideritis euboea extract on human faecal microflora. Sixty-four healthy volunteers 26 men and 38 women (age range: 22-51) were assigned to consume d...

The fate and effect of the herbicides linuron and metribuzin on the co-composting of sewage sludge and green waste were addressed in this work. The experiments were conducted in metal cubic containers of 1.0m(3) volume simulating a windrow composting system. A mixture of sludge and green waste was prepared at a ratio of 1:5 v/v. The mixture was spl...

In a bid to identify suitable microbial indicators of compost stability, the process evolution during windrow composting of poultry manure (PM), green waste (GW) and biowaste was studied. Treatments were monitored with regard to abiotic factors, respiration activity (determined using the SOUR test) and functional microflora. The composting process...

Windrow composting of source-separated biowaste was studied in a pilot plant in Crete, with regard to abiotic factors, gas concentration in the pile and succession of functional microbial groups. The pH, C/N ratio and VS content, as well as the O(2) and CO(2) concentration, correlated well with composting time, indicating typical composting behavio...

Wastewater sludge and wood chips were used as feedstock for the construction of two piles, Pile I ("PI") and Pile II ("PII"), at a ratio of 1:1 and 1:2 v/v, respectively. Each pile was originally 1.3-m high, 2.0-m wide, and approximately 9.0-m long. A mechanical turner was used to turn the two windrows every 1 to 2 weeks. Three 500-mL-volume glass...

Hygienic conditions in primary schools are a major concern for both governmental organizations and families. Particularly, the occurrence of faecal indicators on children's hands and various school surfaces has been associated with increased risk of diarrhoeal diseases. The presence of faecal streptococci on environmental surfaces and children's ha...

A total of 83 dairy products form the Greek market were examined for their bacterial populations and results were compared with the label information. The antibiotic susceptibility of the bacterial isolates was also examined. The status labeling of the yoghurts and the dairy desserts was found insufficient. The 89.8% of the cocci was found suscepti...

The aim of this study was to develop a novel strategy that permits the independent amplification of internal amplification control (IAC) and target sequence using the same set of primers, to improve the sensitivity of diagnostic PCR assays. The method described here is a Salmonella specific PCR test targeting the quorum sensing gene sdiA. It is bas...

This study aimed to explore, in our geographical region, the development of intestinal microflora and the colonization patterns of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria during the first three months of life and to investigate the effect of the mode of delivery. Fecal specimens from 82 healthy, full-term infants were collected prospectively 4, 30...

Lactobacillus isolates from infant feces were identified and investigated in vitro for their probiotic properties. The isolates belonged to the species L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. paracasei subsp. paracasei, L. fermentum, L. delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii, L. cellobiosus, L. plantarum, L. brevis and L. crispatus. The strains were examined for...

An extensive data survey and study of the Greek market for composts or products marketed as such was carried out in order to acquire a comprehensive image of the local situation, in view of the proposed operation of large municipal solid waste (MSW) composting facilities and EU legislation changes. Physical and chemical parameters (moisture, organi...

Bacteria communicate with one another and with their host using chemical signalling molecules. This phenomenon is generally described as quorum sensing. A set of primers for PCR detection of Salmonella spp. has been designed using as target the sdiA gene which encodes a signal receptor of the LuxR family. The PCR product (274 bp) was confirmed by s...

A novel method has been developed for the treatment of green table olive processing wastewater, which combines biological treatment using a selected strain of Aspergillus niger and electrochemical treatment in the presence of H2O2. Results are reported for the different stages of the scale-up procedure, from laboratory shake-flask cultures to a pil...

Cyanobacteria serve as a rich source of novel bioactive metabolites. Few studies on glycolipids reported them as having specific biological activities. In this study, total lipids of Scytonema julianum, a filamentous cyanobacterium isolated from a Greek cave, were separated into neutral and phospho- and glycolipids, and the latter were further frac...

Table olive processing wastewater (TOPW) is unsuitable for disposal at municipal or industrial wastewater treatment plants due to its high organic and phenol content. Aerobic biological treatment using an Aspergillus niger strain in a bubble column bioreactor in combination with chemical oxidation was studied for the management of TOPW to a quality...

The effect of olive oil mill wastewater (OMW), an important pollutant of agricultural origin, on soil suppressiveness against the plant pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani was examined. Soil was treated with OMW and the pathogen was introduced into the soil 45 days after the last treatment, while lettuce seeds were planted at four successive time...

Recent progress in the understanding of the chromosomal rearrangements in Streptomyces has allowed us to envisage the possible involvement of genetic instability in the evolution of the chromosomal structure. The characterization of recombinational events in the terminal parts of the S ambofaciens chromosome, as well as the observation by other gro...

An acetylene utilizing Gordona (Rhodococcus) bronchialis strain, screened for the production of fine chemicals, was found to be capable of producing small amounts of lysine. Attempts to produce amino-acid analog-resistant and/or sensitive mutants and auxotrophs of this strain with increased lysine production were made following UV-irradiation or N-...

Streptomyces ambofaciens DSM40697 possess six rRNA gene clusters which can be distinguished by probing BfrI-digested total DNA with the PCR-amplified l6S-23S ribosomal genet internal transcribed spacer. The six rrn loci of S. ambofaciens were cloned as recombinant cosmids and located on the AseI-Dŕal physical map of the linear chromosomal DNA. For...