NPJ Science of Food最新文献

Transportation, a critical link in the aquaculture industry chain, triggers significant economic losses through stress-induced muscle quality deterioration in fish. This multi-omics study explored the mechanisms underlying transportation stress-induced quality deterioration of fish muscle. Transportation stress elevated cortisol, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, and oxidative markers (SOD), alongside gill/liver tissue damage. Stress reduced muscle shear force, whiteness, and water-holding capacity, which were highly related to the disruption of muscular structure. Transcriptomics revealed dysregulation of AMPK, PI3K-Akt, FoxO, and MAPK pathways via pfkfb, akt, gadd45, gabarap, jun. Metabolomics highlighted TCA cycle disruption, altered fructose and mannose/pyruvate metabolism, and purine imbalance (e.g., D-mannose 6-phosphate, malate, IMP). Muscle quality parameters negatively correlated with oxidative stress (gpx) and apoptosis (casp3/8/9), but positively linked to DL-glutamine and D-fructose 6-phosphate. Results demonstrate that transportation stress impairs muscle quality via energy dysregulation, oxidative damage, and apoptosis, thus providing a theoretical basis to optimize aquaculture transport and reduce economic losses.

Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) is rich in bioactive compounds, and its functional efficacy can be further enhanced through fermentation. This study evaluated the impact of Lactobacillus paracasei-fermentation on the quality attributes of goji berry juice and its in vivo antihyperglycemic efficacy. Fermentation significantly increased total flavonoids (+31.8%) and polysaccharides (+5.4%), enhanced antioxidant activity, and enriched the volatile aroma profile relative to unfermented juice. In a type II diabetic mouse model, four weeks of gavage with fermented goji berry juice alleviated weight loss and polydipsia, reduced fasting blood glucose by 33%, improved glucose tolerance, and corrected dyslipidemia. Histopathological examination revealed partial restoration of liver, kidney, and pancreatic integrity, accompanied by reduced malondialdehyde and elevated superoxide dismutase activity. Moreover, the intervention modulated gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of Akkermansia and Bacteroidetes while suppressing Desulfovibrionaceae, alongside elevated cecal propionic acid and butyric acid. Correlation analyses further revealed that the fermentation-enhanced antioxidants and gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids were significantly correlated with the improvement in key diabetic phenotypes, suggesting a potential mechanism mediated by the microbiota-metabolite axis. These findings provide a scientific basis for developing fermented goji berry products as functional foods or adjuvant therapies for diabetes management.

HepG2 cells were cultured into liver organoids (more native liver-like than 2D cultures) and integrated into a microfluidic chip, which regulates flow, nutrients, and waste to simulate in vivo hepatic microcirculation. Key findings: Cadmium (Cd) exposure shows a positive dose-response with liver damage; 40 ng/mL selenium (Se) alleviates 3 sets of liver biochemical dysfunctions under 40 μg/mL Cd co-exposure, but 160/640 ng/mL Se diminishes this protection. Metabolomics (40 μg/mL Cd vs. 640 ng/mL Se+Cd) identified two mechanisms: high Se induces oxidative stress and disrupts liver cellular metabolism. This study provides data/theory for rational Se use against Cd-induced liver dysfunction. The platform integrates organoid/organ-on-a-chip assessments with microfluidic metabolomics (a cross-scale toxicological system) and informs 3D cell model development.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica is a major foodborne pathogen, with pigs and pig-derived products serving as key transmission sources of human infection. In this study, we applied whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to investigate the prevalence, transmission dynamics and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella throughout the pig growing process on four closely related pig farms in China. Core-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (cgSNP) analysis has been widely used to determine the genetic relationships among Salmonella isolates from animals and animal-derived foods. To our knowledge, this is the first study to apply cgSNP analysis for epidemiological tracing of Salmonella transmission across interconnected pig farms in China. A total of 1,211 samples were collected from one breeding farm and three commercial farms in China, yielding 249 Salmonella isolates with an overall prevalence rate of 20.6%. Serotyping and genomic analysis determined five serovars, primarily S. Rissen, S. Derby, and S. 1,4,[5],12:i:-. cgSNP analysis further classified S. Rissen, S. Derby, and S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- into different clusters and revealed different transmission routes. Antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) showed that all major serovars exhibited similar multidrug resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. These findings demonstrate that different Salmonella serovars spread via distinct transmission routes but share common antimicrobial resistance patterns in pigs, emphasizing the need for targeted control measures across pig production chain to reduce the public health risks associated with antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella.

A novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous analysis of three different classes of veterinary drugs-antibiotics, antifungals, and antiparasitics-in legume-based alternative protein samples, e.g. beans, peas, and nuts. The sample preparation process utilized a modified dilute-and-shoot (DnS) technique, achieving recoveries ranging from 72.08 to 108.11% for 18 of the 26 target analytes. The method demonstrated excellent repeatability (n = 12) with relative standard deviations (RSD) between 1.39 and 9.26%, and intermediate precision (over three days, n = 18) ranging from 5.76 to 19.94%. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.04 to 15.64 ng.g^-1 and 0.10 and 47.40 ng.g^-1, respectively, with good linearity. The optimized method was applied to 97 legume samples (primary and processed products) originating from domestic and international markets. Occurrence analysis revealed that all analytes monitored were below the detection limits, suggesting that antimicrobial contamination in legumes-based alternative protein products is low within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

Pyrococcus furiosus Argonaute (PfAgo) is a novel programmable nuclease that has been used in nucleic acid detection due to its excellent performance. Traditional PfAgo based detection methods relies on the input of exogenous guide DNA (gDNA), which restricted its flexibility and universality in application. Here, we designed primers with deoxy inosine base which can be recognized and cleaved by endonuclease V, following turn into gDNA to activate PfAgo for target gene detection. Therefore, an Endo V activated PfAgo based nucleic acid detection (VPN) method was developed. The detection limit of this method was 0.04 ng/μL DNA. Moreover, the method was successfully applied to the detection of food contaminated bacteria. This approach provided a universal and power tool for the detection of nucleic acid-containing organisms such as pathogens, viruses, and tumor cells.

This study explored how heat treatment (20-80 °C) and surfactants affect the structure and interfacial properties of goat milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) proteins. Heating to 80 °C increased protein particle size but reduced colloidal stability, inducing a molten globule-like state with altered secondary structure. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) revealed an increase in overall protein size and compressed colloidal calcium phosphate-casein clusters. Ionic surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB)) dissociated aggregates and formed core-shell complexes, enhancing surface activity and thermal stability. The nonionic surfactant polysorbate 20 (PS20) adsorbed onto the MFGM surface with minimal structural disruption due to steric hindrance. Moderate heating and nonionic surfactants are promising for industrial MFGM protein applications. This study provides the first SAXS-based structural insights, recommending moderate heat and nonionic surfactants for optimal industrial MFGM proteins handling.

This study investigates the regulatory effect of ozone-induced Schiff base crosslinking on the structure and properties of a chitosan/waxy rice starch composite system. By varying the ozone treatment duration (0-60 min), changes in chemical structure, crystalline characteristics, thermal stability, and gel properties were systematically analyzed. Structural characterizations including FTIR and NMR confirmed the formation of Schiff base bonds and structural rearrangement. SEM and rheological analysis indicated that ozone optimized the pore structure and rheological properties of the gel, endowing it with excellent extensibility and coating performance. Results indicate that short-term ozonation (≤30 min) promotes crosslinking between carbonyl and amino groups, significantly enhancing the composite's molecular weight, crystallinity, and thermal stability. Conversely, excessive oxidation (≥45 min) causes chain scission and performance degradation. This study elucidates the structural evolution mechanism of chitosan/starch composites under ozone treatment, providing theoretical foundations for designing green, controllable crosslinking and edible functional materials.

This study investigated pea-mung bean composites protein (PMX) produced via High-moisture extrusion (HME) with shiitake mushroom powder (XM, 0-30%). XM addition significantly altered the PMX 's structure and properties: hardness ranged between 1526 and 1642 g, texturization degree between 1.28 and 1.54, expansion ratio decreased to 0.814, and bulk density increased to 1.58 g/cm³. Water and oil holding capacities peaked (3.27 g/g and 1.88 g/g, respectively) at 20% XM. Molecularly, XM increased disulfide bonds (up to 8.42 μmol/g), modified ionic, and enhanced rheological properties (G'/G″) and thermal stability at 20% XM. FTIR indicated higher ordered secondary structures (56.6%) at this level, while SEM revealed a dense, anisotropic fibrous structure. Flavor improved as XM masked undesirable pea protein off-notes (e.g., 1-octen-3-ol) and increased beneficial aldehydes/alcohols (e.g., benzaldehyde) and flavor-active amino acids (glutamate: 3.21 mg/g). PCA identified 20% XM as optimal for sensory quality, beyond which natural aromas were masked. Overall, 20% XM synergistically optimized fiber structure, cross-linking, hydration, and flavor for good texture.

High-throughput sequencing-based whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is highly effective for identifying viral pathogens in microbial research. However, applying WGS directly to foodborne viruses remains challenging because food matrices contain PCR inhibitors and viral titers are typically much lower than those found in clinical specimens. This study aimed to develop a WGS method for analyzing the hepatitis A virus (HAV) genome in clams using the Illumina MiSeq platform. To enhance the HAV WGS method, we applied four approaches to HAV-positive clam field samples: size-exclusion chromatography for sample preparation, a specialized RNA extraction method, optimized cDNA synthesis, and the selection of DNA polymerase. Nine complete HAV genomes were obtained from clams. The obtained HAV genomes and their genetic characteristics were then compared based on phylogeny. Before optimization, only four clam samples yielded detectable amplification; however, following optimization, two additional samples became amplifiable, resulting in six samples suitable for downstream WGS analysis. The developed WGS method was able to sequence low contamination levels of 2.91-3.61 log₁₀ genome copies/mL, achieving coverage of 97.5% and 92.6%. Notably, this study confirmed an average sequencing depth of up to 82.20× and a minimum depth of 25.19×. As a result of sequencing, one HAV-IA, and eight HAV-IB genotypes were identified from six clam samples including the multiple strains. The sequence identity between the strains from clams and serum was 97.80% for HAV-IA and 95.2-97.80% for HAV-IB. This method of viral WGS in food samples may contribute to rapid genotyping, understanding virus evolution, and enhancing epidemiological surveillance in foodborne virus outbreaks.