Food frontiers最新文献

On a global scale, the escalating burden of infectious diseases, predominantly attributed to bacterial pathogens, especially drug-resistant strains, has progressed into a critical concern for clinical management and public health systems. Antibiotics are the primary therapeutic agents used to treat bacterial infections; however, the ineffectiveness of antibiotics and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms have led researchers to search for novel drugs and therapeutic approaches. Previous studies demonstrated that probiotics benefit both diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease. The beneficial impact of probiotics and advancements in genetic engineering strategies shift conventional probiotics towards engineered probiotics to cope with drug-resistant bacterial infections. Expansion of research in this direction has proved that engineered probiotics are beneficial for clearing drug-resistant bacterial infections. Thus, to explore the possibility of mitigating drug-resistant infection with engineered probiotics, this review outlines engineered probiotics, a next-generation live therapeutic approach, its mechanisms, and the therapeutic efficacy against drug-resistant bacteria compared to conventional probiotics. This review presents the disparate hurdles associated with traditional probiotics and the emergence of engineered probiotics as an effective therapy against antibiotic-resistant microbes and their mechanisms.

Zanthoxylum ailanthoides, a medicinal and edible plant, was mostly used as medicinal materials or spices, in which 7-demethylsuberosin (7-Dem) was identified as active component, but its function and mechanism on dendritic cells (DCs) are not clear. The objective of this study was to explore the effect and mechanism of 7-Dem on the maturation and function of DCs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The impact of 7-Dem on DCs was assessed using flow cytometry and ELISA. Agonists of the Toll-like receptor pathway and cytochalasin D were employed to validate the pathway affected by 7-Dem. Furthermore, molecular docking, network pharmacology, Western blotting, and CETSA were used to explore the targets of 7-Dem. The immunomodulatory effects of 7-Dem were examined using the adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) mouse model. The results showed that 7-Dem did not damage the viability of DCs at doses below 10 µM but suppressed the maturation of DCs induced by lipopolysaccharide in vitro and in vivo, enhanced phagocytosis, and restrained migration. DCs exhibited an impaired stimulation of CD4⁺ T cell proliferation and restored the imbalance of CD4⁺ T cell subtypes after treatment with 7-Dem. At molecular levels, 7-Dem inhibited the maturation of DCs induced by agonists and decreased the expression of TRAF6, not TRAF3. Furthermore, 7-Dem improved the thermal stability and reduced the phosphorylation of MAPK14. In vivo, 7-Dem alleviated joint inflammation with restored imbalance of T cell subtypes. In conclusion, 7-Dem inhibits the maturation and function of DCs by targeting MAPK14 and inhibiting the phosphorylation of MAPK14, which thereby restores immune tolerance and alleviates inflammation in the AIA joints.

Zanthoxylum ailanthoides, a medicinal and edible plant, was mostly used as medicinal materials or spices, in which 7-demethylsuberosin (7-Dem) was identified as active component, but its function and mechanism on dendritic cells (DCs) are not clear. The objective of this study was to explore the effect and mechanism of 7-Dem on the maturation and function of DCs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The impact of 7-Dem on DCs was assessed using flow cytometry and ELISA. Agonists of the Toll-like receptor pathway and cytochalasin D were employed to validate the pathway affected by 7-Dem. Furthermore, molecular docking, network pharmacology, Western blotting, and CETSA were used to explore the targets of 7-Dem. The immunomodulatory effects of 7-Dem were examined using the adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) mouse model. The results showed that 7-Dem did not damage the viability of DCs at doses below 10 µM but suppressed the maturation of DCs induced by lipopolysaccharide in vitro and in vivo, enhanced phagocytosis, and restrained migration. DCs exhibited an impaired stimulation of CD4⁺ T cell proliferation and restored the imbalance of CD4⁺ T cell subtypes after treatment with 7-Dem. At molecular levels, 7-Dem inhibited the maturation of DCs induced by agonists and decreased the expression of TRAF6, not TRAF3. Furthermore, 7-Dem improved the thermal stability and reduced the phosphorylation of MAPK14. In vivo, 7-Dem alleviated joint inflammation with restored imbalance of T cell subtypes. In conclusion, 7-Dem inhibits the maturation and function of DCs by targeting MAPK14 and inhibiting the phosphorylation of MAPK14, which thereby restores immune tolerance and alleviates inflammation in the AIA joints.

Rosé wines are particularly prone to oxidative degradation due to their low polyphenolic content, which compromises color stability and shelf life. This study introduces an innovative strategy to enhance wine oxidative stability through the immobilization of grape must polyphenols on glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chitosan beads. Polyphenols were simultaneously extracted and immobilized, achieving an immobilization efficiency of up to 74.5% for total polyphenols and over 67% for total anthocyanins. Among all formulations, beads crosslinked with 1% glutaraldehyde (polyphenol-functionalized beads [PFB]-C4) showed the highest bioactive retention and were selected for application in rosé wine subjected to accelerated oxidative stress (60°C). No detectable release of polyphenols was observed in model wine solutions, confirming the stability of the immobilization system. Wines treated with PFB-C4 exhibited significantly higher Fe²⁺ stability and improved color preservation compared to the control. Specifically, a* and b* values remained significantly higher (p < 0.05), and chroma (C*) ranged between 28.86 ± 0.43 and 31.79 ± 0.02, indicating greater color intensity (CT) and saturation. Moreover, CI was better retained, whereas tonality (T) remained lower, reflecting reduced browning and pigment degradation. These findings demonstrate that immobilized polyphenols act as both antioxidants and chelating agents, modulating iron redox balance and limiting Fe³⁺ formation. This study provides the first evidence of using immobilized grape polyphenols as a natural, reusable, and regulation-compliant antioxidant strategy to preserve rosé wine color and stability. The immobilization process provides a sustainable and reusable alternative to sulfur dioxide use, although further optimization is required to improve scalability and standardize polyphenol loading efficiency.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in sociability and communication. Prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPF) has been associated with autism-like behaviors in preclinical models. Interest has grown in the gut–brain axis and the role of microbiota modulation through dietetic supplementation to reduce this autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like phenotype. This study examines the effects of prenatal CPF exposure in Wistar rats and assesses the potential of gestational probiotic and vitamin D (VitD) supplementation to mitigate these effects in offspring. CPF exposure significantly impaired sociability in adolescence, and supplementation did not reverse these deficits. However, in control animals, supplementation induced neurodevelopmental changes, including alterations in metabolic status, the pattern of expression of ASD-related genes, the regulation of oxytocin and vasopressin receptors, and the GABAergic system in the brain. Additionally, supplementation accelerated overall development, increased ultrasonic vocalization emission, and modified the typical responses to social novelty. CPF exposure blocked most of these effects at both behavioral and molecular levels. Although supplementation did not block CPF-induced impairments, CPF exposure altered the observed effects of supplementation in controls, possibly indicating shared molecular mechanisms. These findings highlight the need for further research into the safety of probiotic and VitD supplementation during pregnancy.

Medulla Tetrapanacis (MT) is traditionally consumed as herbal soup to manage mastitis. Although scientific evidence supports its anti-inflammatory effect, no study has investigated its effect on ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to investigate the effect of MT water extract and its underlying mechanisms both in vitro and in vivo. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was used to induce UC in zebrafish for assessing the effect of MT water extract on oxidative stress, inflammation, and migration of neutrophils. A DSS-induced UC mouse model was further employed to examine the effect of MT on oxidative stress, inflammation, macrophage phenotype, histopathology, and intestinal barrier integrity. Moreover, bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were used to elucidate the actions of MT on regulating polarization and energy metabolism. In vitro results showed that MT water extract significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma-induced M1 polarization in BMDMs by reprogramming energy metabolism via suppressing hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/glycolysis. In zebrafish, MT water extract remarkably reduced neutrophil intestinal infiltration, reactive oxygen species generation, and expressions of pro-inflammatory genes (inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS], cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2], interleukin [IL]-6, and IL-1β) in DSS-induced UC. Furthermore, MT treatment alleviated symptoms and histopathological damage in DSS-induced UC in mice, restored the balance of M1/M2 macrophages in the colon, attenuated inflammation and oxidative stress, and preserved intestinal barrier integrity. In conclusion, MT water extract ameliorated DSS-induced UC by regulating macrophage polarization through reprogramming of energy metabolism via suppressing HIF-1α/glycolysis, suppressing oxidative stress, and maintaining intestinal barrier integrity. These findings support the application of MT for managing UC.

While US and PEF treatments have been studied for native corn starch, their effects on the 3D printing behavior of pregelatinized corn starch (PGCS) remain largely unexplored. This study is among the first to link these non-thermal treatments to enhanced functionality and printability of PGCS. Therefore, this study focused on the impact of US and PEF treatments on the physicochemical properties and 3D printability of PGCS, which is significant for the development of customized food products and innovative applications in the food industry. PGCS was subjected to US at amplitudes of 60%–90% for 30 min in 0.5 s on and off cycles and PEF at an electric field of 9.4 kV/cm, 20 µs pulse width at a frequency of 20 Hz for 100–400 pulses. Both treatments disrupted native granular architecture and induced changes in structural organization. US promoted amylose leaching, resulting in higher amylose contents (up to 36.18%) and improved water and oil absorption capacities (up to 3.86 and 5.37 g/g, respectively). PEF had minimal effect on composition but improved pasting viscosities and gel texture. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results revealed reduced crystallinity and elevated gelatinization temperatures for modified PGCS. PEF-treated PGCS hydrogels exhibited improved gel hardness and rheological parameters correlated to high-fidelity, superior 3D printed constructs compared to weak US counterparts. Overall, modifications from both techniques enhanced functionalities, with PEF conferring rheological attributes preferable for 3D bioprinting PGCS-based foods. The findings highlight the potential for rationally manipulating the physicochemical and processing behavior of starch through non-thermal technologies.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common nutritional disorder in mammals, particularly affecting neonates and neonatal piglets. Parenteral iron supplementation is widely used but carries toxicity risks at high doses. Due to rapid growth and low iron stores at birth, piglets serve as an ideal model for investigating early life iron supplementation and its impact on gut health. In this study, neonatal piglets were assigned to three groups: control (CON, no iron supplementation), moderate-dose (MI, two low doses), and high-dose (HI, a single high dose), all administered via intramuscular iron dextran. We found that both iron supplementation protocols significantly increased hemoglobin levels (p < 0.01) and effectively alleviated IDA. However, the HI group exhibited significant adverse effects, including elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p < 0.01), suppressed anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, p < 0.01), and increased tissue iron accumulation, whereas the MI group showed no such adverse effects. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that the HI group disrupted the gut microbiota, with a greater impact on fungal diversity than bacterial diversity, as indicated by α-diversity metrics (p < 0.05), and also altered the intestinal metabolite profiles. Protein–protein interaction network analysis identified key genera and metabolites, including Fusarium, Geotrichum, Parabacteroides, Candida, and cholest-4-en-3-one, associated with duodenal iron accumulation. This study demonstrates that although high-dose parenteral iron effectively corrects IDA, it causes liver dysfunction, immune suppression, systemic iron overload, and altered gut microbiota. Our findings highlight the importance of appropriate iron dosing and reveal broader roles of trace elements in shaping gut microbiota.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a refractory condition caused by autoimmune disorders. The recurrent nature and poor prognosis of this disease necessitate long-term treatment, substantially increasing the financial burden on patients. Human lysozyme (HLZ) possesses the function of ameliorating intestinal inflammation. Meanwhile, maize is the world's most popular food crop, valued for its easy cultivation and low cost. In this study, the HLZ gene was introduced into maize. HLZ transgenic maize showed specific high accumulation of HLZ in kernels with no negative effect on maize yield, protein content and protein quality. Moreover, the total protein extracted from the transgenic endosperm exhibited strong lysozyme activity (291.15 U/mg). Using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model, we observed that HLZ transgenic maize restored colon length and intestinal barrier function in mice. The results of further molecular analyses indicated that HLZ transgenic maize inhibited intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis and altered the intestinal microbiota. Furthermore, HLZ transgenic maize inhibited the cGAS/STING signaling pathway by ameliorating DSS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, the results of transcriptomic sequencing revealed that HLZ transgenic maize reversed DSS-induced alterations in the expression of genes related to colonic inflammation (e.g., IFN-β and IL6). This research deepened the understanding of the functional mechanisms for HLZ in improving intestinal immune system. Our results indicate that HLZ transgenic maize provides an effective and low-cost approach for clinically ameliorating IBD symptoms. As a food resource, HLZ transgenic maize might benefit a wider range of people than drugs.

A substantial proportion of fresh fruit undergoes processing, resulting in underutilized fruit by‑products (FBPs) that are rich in dietary fiber and bioactive compounds. Recent FBP valorization trends demonstrate that fermentation significantly enhances microbiological, nutritional, and sensory attributes, yielding value‑added food supplements. The fermentation‑based valorization harnesses microbiological processes to produce and release a broad range of bioactive compounds, enhance digestibility, and mitigate potential anti‑nutritional and toxic compounds, positioning these FBPs as viable alternatives to conventional foods. Similarly, integrating FBP fermentation into conventional food fermentations (e.g., yogurt and beer) yields novel, nutrient-dense functional products with enhanced properties. Tailored fermentation processes can enhance the microbiological characteristics of FBPs, including microbial safety, probiotic potential, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles. Beyond its role in biopreservation, fermentation enhances the nutritional properties of FBPs by synthesizing proteins, lipids, terpenoids, and vitamins, releasing more bioavailable phenolic compounds, improving digestibility, and mitigating anti‑nutritional factors, toxic compounds, and pesticide residues. Moreover, both the direct fermentation of FBPs and their incorporation as food additives can influence sensory attributes; however, these effects can be fine-tuned through precise control of FBP concentration. Several challenges persist in scaling up, regulatory oversight, and product safety, particularly in defining approved microbial strains and permissible limits for undesirable substances in fermented products. Looking ahead, standardized regulations, advanced biotechnologies, and robust clinical validation will be essential for optimizing fermentation efficiency, ensuring product consistency, and securing market acceptance of fermented FBPs. Coupled with rigorous screening of microbial starters, fermentation enables the development of novel functional foods, beverages, and nutraceutical supplements.