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Now showing 1 - 10 of 16
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 19
    Citation - Scopus: 19
    Metagenomic and Chemical Analysis of Tarhana During Traditional Fermentation Process
    (Elsevier, 2021) Soyucok, Ali; Yurt, Mediha Nur Zafer; Altunbas, Osman; Ozalp, Veli Cengiz; Sudagidan, Mert; Zafer Yurt, Mediha Nur
    Tarhana is one of the favourable traditional fermented food consumed as a soup. Different flour, vegetables, spices and yogurt are main constituents and they compose of microbiota of Tarhana. In this study, bacterial communities in each fermentation process and in their constituents were identified by metagenomic analysis. Also, chemical properties (pH, acidity, salt content and dry matter) were analysed in each step. The results showed that in the dough formation, mainly Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Enterococcus and Streptococcus were present and after Day 4, Clostridium and Bacillus became dominant, after drying Clostridium disappeared and in the final product bacterial communities from Bacillus and Streptococcus genus were observed. Chemical analysis showed that pH decreased from 4.94 to 4.46, acidity increased by time at the beginning of fermentation from 7.5% to 22.5% in first 6 days period, then, became stable at 14% in drying process. Salt content increased by time from 1.74 to 3.08 g salt/100 g Tarhana in first 8 days and in drying process salt content was recorded as 2.81-2.90 and dry matter was obtained as 94 g dry matter/100 g Tarhana in the final product. This study elucidated the effects of ingredients, raw materials and how microbiota and chemical properties changes during fermentation steps of home-made traditional Tarhana production and thus preparation methods could be developed to obtain standardized Tarhana products for industrial production in future.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 17
    Citation - Scopus: 19
    Bacterial Surface, Biofilm and Virulence Properties of listeriamonocytogenes Strains Isolated From Smoked Salmon and Fish Food Contact Surfaces
    (Elsevier, 2021) Sudagidan, Mert; Ozalp, Veli Cengiz; Ozturk, Orhan; Yurt, Mediha Nur Zafer; Yavuz, Orhan; Tasbasi, Behiye Busra; Aydin, Ali
    Biofilm formation is one of the defense mechanisms of bacteria against disinfectants and antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to determine biofilm-forming L.monocytogenes from fish processing and salmon surfaces. Biofilm formation at 15, 25, 37, and 40 degrees C from 1 to 6-days period, adhesion to glass, polypropylene and stainless-steel surfaces, bacterial surface charge and hydrophobicity was determined. Adhesion behavior of the strains was evaluated using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) technique. Totally 32 L.monocytogenes strains belonging to serogroups IIa (n:17), IIc(n:14) and IVb(n:1) were detected from 1320 swabs and 16 smoked salmons. Biofilm formation tests revealed that 21 strains form biofilm on microplate by increasing time and temperature. Although all strains strongly formed biofilm on glass surfaces, two strains slightly adhered polypropylene surfaces. High surface roughness of stainless-steel FeCrNi alloy (Ra = 4.15 nm) and CoCrMo alloy (Ra = 10.75 nm) increased biofilm formation of L.monocytogenes on stainless-steel surfaces. Zeta potential results showed that non-biofilm formers were more negatively charged after 6-days and hydrophobicity couldn't give a distinct distribution among biofilm formers and non-formers. SPR analysis method was evaluated to distinguish biofilm formers to adhere SPR gold chip surfaces. PCR results revealed that all strains were positive for hylA, iap, actA, plcA, plcB, fri, flaA, inlA, inlB, inlC, inlJ, and lmo1386 genes. Additionally, all strains were susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, meropenem, erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Biofilm-forming, virulence properties of L. monocytogenes strains isolated from fish processing surfaces and smoked salmons were evaluated and SPR was used to differentiate biofilm formers as a sensitive technique for biofilm studies.
  • Article
    Citation - Scopus: 2
    The Effects of Paddy Cultivation and Microbiota Members on Arsenic Accumulation in Rice Grain
    (Mdpi, 2023) Ersoy Omeroglu, Esra; Bayer, Asli; Sudagidan, Mert; Ozalp, Veli Cengiz; Yasa, Ihsan
    Access to safe food is one of the most important issues. In this context, rice plays a prominent role. Because high levels of arsenic in rice grain are a potential concern for human health, in this study, we determined the amounts of arsenic in water and soil used in the rice development stage, changes in the arsC and mcrA genes using qRT-PCR, and the abundance and diversity (with metabarcoding) of the dominant microbiota. When the rice grain and husk samples were evaluated in terms of arsenic accumulation, the highest values (1.62 ppm) were obtained from areas where groundwater was used as irrigation water, whereas the lowest values (0.21 ppm) occurred in samples from the stream. It was observed that the abundance of the Comamonadaceae family and Limnohabitans genus members was at the highest level in groundwater during grain formation. As rice development progressed, arsenic accumulated in the roots, shoots, and rice grain. Although the highest arsC values were reached in the field where groundwater was used, methane production increased in areas where surface water sources were used. In order to provide arsenic-free rice consumption, the preferred soil, water source, microbiota members, rice type, and anthropogenic inputs for use on agricultural land should be evaluated rigorously.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 3
    Citation - Scopus: 3
    Paper-Based Aptasensor Assay for Detection of Food Adulterant Sildenafil
    (Mdpi, 2024) Kavruk, Murat; Ozalp, Veli Cengiz
    Sildenafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension but is often illicitly added to energy drinks and chocolates. This study introduces a lateral flow strip test using aptamers specific to sildenafil for detecting its illegal presence in food. The process involved using graphene oxide SELEX to identify high-affinity aptamers, which were then converted into molecular gate structures on mesoporous silica nanoparticles, creating a unique signaling system. This system was integrated into lateral flow chromatography strips and tested on buffers and chocolate samples containing sildenafil. The method simplifies the lateral flow assay (LFA) for small molecules and provides a tool for signal amplification. The detection limit for these strips was found to be 68.2 nM (31.8 mu g/kg) in spiked food samples.
  • Article
    Biotechnological Preparedness for Novel Pandemics: Diagnostic Performance of IVDS Against SARS-CoV
    (Wiley, 2025) Kavruk, Murat; Ercan, Meltem; Borsa, Baris Ata; Ozalp, Veli Cengiz; Hernandez, Frank J.
    Although the COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges and negative impacts around the world, some of which will persist into the future, its technological challenge has created a unique opportunity in a globalized world. It is a rare event that almost all of humanity to be directed towards a single goal and to try to produce solutions, but the necessity of a similar global action in the future has begun to enter the agenda again. The predictions made on the basis of countries and institutions against the possibility of a pandemic, which is defined as Disease X, are shaped by the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. Technologically, one of the know-how we have gained in this pandemic is the performance of IVD and test systems in terms of quality and quantity. A comprehensive analysis of the products produced by combining biotechnology with different strategies has not been conducted. In this context, we have analyzed the technical preferences, limitations, and other performance parameters of IVDs and test kits that could be developed against a future Disease X. The performance parameters of 2,882 biotechnological products listed for use in the European Union have been analyzed, and areas that could be targeted for increased effectiveness have been identified. Our study is the first of its kind in this field and can serve as a guide for those who want to work on detection methods, diagnostics, and novel technologies for deployment in future pandemics.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 7
    Citation - Scopus: 8
    Aptamer-Based Magnetic Isolation and Specific Detection System for listeria Monocytogenes from Food Samples
    (Elsevier, 2024) Bayramoglu, Gulay; Ozalp, Veli Cengiz; Arica, Mehmet Yakup
    In this work, an aptamer-based magnetic system was designed for specific and rapid detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food samples. To prepare the selective magnetic system against the target bacterium, firstly, magnetic particles (Fe3O4) were coated with two hydrophilic polymer layers. The specific aptamer immobilized magnetic system efficiently captured L. monocytogenes cells in a competitive response time of approximately 10 min. The magnetic aptamer detection system was very specific to L. monocytogenes and had high selective, up to 97.6 % compared to the Listeria species (Listeria ivanovii, Listeria innocua, and Listeria seeligeri) and other bacteria species Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Basillus subtilus. The isolation and detection of L. monocytogenes from food samples using the presented method are fast and reliable. Moreover, another significant factor to be contemplated is the use of a few chemicals for detection, reducing the cost of analysis, and the results can be obtained within 18 h.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 24
    Citation - Scopus: 30
    High-Efficiency Application of Cts-Co Nps Mimicking Peroxidase Enzyme on Tmb(ox)
    (Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd, 2022) Altuner, Elif Esra; Ozalp, Veli Cengiz; Yilmaz, M. Deniz; Bekmezci, Muhammed; Sen, Fatih
    In this study, analytical studies of Chitosan-Cobalt(II) (CTS-Co(II)) nanoparticles (CTS - Co NPs) by mimicking horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were evaluated. In the applications, it was observed that CTS-Co NPs 3,3 ' 5,5 ' tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) oxidized in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The required CTS-Co NPs were synthesized at 50 degrees C in 30 min and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and Xray photon spectroscopy (XPS) was done. CTS-Co NPs were studied to develop a selective TMB biosensor on TMB (ox) substrate. The synthesized CTS-Co NPs formed a catalytic reaction with 30% 0.2 mM H2O2 on 0.2 M TMB substrate. After the catalytic reaction, sensitive signals were obtained from the desired biosensor. Electrochemical measurements were taken as low limit of 10 mg and a high limit of 20 mg for the determination of CTSCo NPs to TMB(ox). In the microplate study; The sensors were applied on 1.5 mu g and 3 mu g CTS-Co NPs TMB(ox) substrate, respectively. CTS- Co NPs; for TMB(ox) determination, optical density (OD) measurement was taken as a low limit of 1.5 mu g and a high limit of 3 mu g. Electrochemical applications of particles and microplate reader results were compared with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme for sensor properties. According to the data obtained, it was observed that it behaved similarly to the CTS-Co NPs peroxidase enzyme. This work presents innovations for nanoparticle extraction and sensor study from chitosan and other naturally sourced polymers.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 29
    Citation - Scopus: 40
    Development of Electrochemical Aptasensors Detecting Phosphate Ions on Tmb Substrate With Epoxy-Based Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles
    (Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd, 2022) Altuner, Elif Esra; Ozalp, Veli Cengiz; Yilmaz, M. Deniz; Sudagidan, Mert; Aygun, Aysenur; Acar, Elif Esma; Sen, Fatih
    This study, it is aimed to develop an electrochemical aptasensor that can detect phosphate ions using 3.3 & PRIME;5.5 & PRIME; tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). It is based on the principle of converting the binding affinity of the target molecule phosphate ion (PO43-) into an electrochemical signal with specific aptamer sequences for the aptasensor to be developed. The aptamer structure served as a gate for the TMB to be released and was used to trap the TMB molecule in mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs). The samples for this study were characterized by transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM), Brunner-Emmet-Teller, dynamic light scattering & electrophoretic light scattering, and induction coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. According to TEM analysis, MSNPs have a morphologically hexagonal structure and an average size of 208 nm. In this study, palladium-carbon nano particles (Pd/C NPs) with catalytic reaction were used as an alternative to the biologically used horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme for the release of TMB in the presence of phosphate ions. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated as 0.983 mu M, the limit of determination (LOQ) was calculated as 3.276 mu M, and the dynamic linear phosphate range was found to be 50-1000 mu M. The most important advantage of this bio-based aptasensor assembly is that it does not contain molecules such as a protein that cannot be stored for a long time at room temperature, so its shelf life is very long compared to similar systems developed with antibodies. The proposed sensor shows good recovery in phosphate ion detection and is considered to have great potential among electrochemical sensors.
  • Article
    Protective Role of Bromelain’s Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Experimental Lower Limb Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
    (Nature Portfolio, 2025) Sezen, Saban Cem; Demirtas, Huseyin; Yildirim, Alperen Kutay; Ozer, Abdullah; Dursun, Ali Dogan; Kucuk, Aysegul; Arslan, Mustafa; Ozalp, Veli Cengiz; Kucuk, Işın Gunes
    Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a multifaceted pathological process characterized by excessive oxidative stress and inflammatory responses upon restoration of blood flow. Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme complex derived from pineapple, exhibits robust antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of bromelain on oxidative stress and inflammation in an experimental rat model of lower limb ischemia-reperfusion injury. Twenty-four male Wistar Albino rats were randomly allocated into four groups: Sham-operated control (SHAM), Bromelain-only (BR), Ischemia-Reperfusion (IR), and Ischemia-Reperfusion with Bromelain treatment (IR + BR). Bromelain (40 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally before ischemia induction. The IR model involved 45 min of infrarenal abdominal aorta occlusion followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Oxidative biomarkers (total antioxidant status [TAS], total oxidant status [TOS], oxidative stress index [OSI]) and histopathological parameters (muscle atrophy, degeneration, leukocyte infiltration, internalization of nuclei, fragmentation, and hyalinization) were analyzed. Significant increases in muscle degeneration, leukocyte infiltration, nuclear internalization, fragmentation, and elevated oxidative stress biomarkers (increased TOS and OSI, decreased TAS) were observed in the IR group compared to controls. Bromelain treatment (IR + BR) significantly ameliorated these effects, reducing muscle tissue damage, inflammation, and oxidative imbalance compared to the untreated IR group. Bromelain effectively mitigates lower limb ischemia-reperfusion injury by reducing oxidative stress, restoring antioxidant capacity, and suppressing inflammatory responses. These protective effects suggest that bromelain holds potential as a therapeutic agent for managing oxidative and inflammatory damages associated with IR conditions, warranting further clinical investigation.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 10
    Citation - Scopus: 12
    Detection of Viruses by Probe-Gated Silica Nanoparticles Directly From Swab Samples
    (Elsevier, 2022) Tuna, Bilge Guvenc; Durdabak, Dilara Buse; Ercan, Meltem Kazak; Dogan, Soner; Kavruk, Murat; Dursun, Ali Dogan; Ozalp, Veli Cengiz
    Viral infection has been one of the major health issues for human life. The real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based detection has primarily been used for virus detection as a highly reliable procedure. However, it is a relatively long and multi-stage process. In addition, required skilled personnel and complex instrumentation presents difficulties in large scale monitoring efforts. Therefore, we report here a direct and fast detection method for CoV-2 genome as applied in the nose-throat swab samples without any further processing. The detection principle is based on fluorescein-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles capped by specific gene sequences probes immobilized on the surface of the nanoparticles. Upon hybridization with the target viral genome, the fluorescein molecules were released from the mesopores. Testing with synthetic oligonucleotides, the NSP12 gene-based detection resulted in a strong signal. Target detection time could be optimized to 15 min and the limit of detection was 1.4 RFU with 84% sensitivity with clinical samples (n = 43).