Tb3+ assisted dithioerythritol stabilized copper nanocluster with AIE behavior for ratiometric fluorescent determination of fluoroquinolones.

BACKGROUND: Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are widely used in livestock and poultry industry because of their satisfactory effects in preventing and treating bacterial infection. However, due to irrational use and poor biodegradability, FQs can easily remain in food animals and further enter the human body through the food chain. Therefore, accurate and sensitive detection of FQs residues in animal-origin food is significant. The traditional methods commonly used for FQs detection have some limitations. Ratiometric fluorescence detection technology has the advantages of fast, sensitive, self-correcting, and easy visualization. However, the reports on the use of ratiometric fluorescence probes for FQs detection are limited. RESULTS: In this work, a novel probe was proposed for ratiometric fluorescent analysis of FQs. In this probe, the fluorescence of dithioerythritol stabilized copper nanoclusters (DTE-Cu NCs) was significantly enhanced due to the Tb3+ triggered aggregation-induced emission effect. FQs bound Tb3+ in Tb3+/DTE-Cu NCs through carboxyl and carbonyl groups, so that Tb3+ was effectively sensitized to emit green fluorescence. However, the red fluorescence of DTE-Cu NCs was not interfered. The fluorescence of the probe transformed from red to green with the increase of FQs concentration. Using norfloxacin (NOR), difloxacin (DIF), and enrofloxacin (ENR) as FQs simulants, this probe showed a sensitive linear response ranged from 0.025 to 22.5 µM, with the limits of detection of 9.6 nM, 9.3 nM, and 7.7 nM. The application potential for FQs detection was verified via a standard addition assay of egg samples with the recovery rate of 90.4 %-114.7 %. SIGNIFICANT: The fluorescence probe based on Tb3+/DTE-Cu NCs is expected to realize the ratiometric fluorescence sensitive detection of FQs. The establishment of this simple, effective, and rapid detection platform opens up a new way for the detection of FQs residues in animal-origin foods, and also provides a new idea for the design of rapid detection platforms for other hazard factors.

Promoter hypermethylation of Y-chromosome gene PRKY as a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Aim: To develop a methylation marker of Y-chromosome gene in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). Materials & methods: We utilized bioinformatics analysis to identify the expression and promoter methylation of Y-chromosome gene PRKY in PCa and other common malignancies. Single-center experiments were conducted to validate the diagnostic value of PRKY promoter methylation in PCa. Results: PRKY expression was significantly down-regulated in PCa and its mechanism may be related to promoter methylation. PRKY promoter methylation is highly specific for the diagnosis of early PCa, which may be superior to prostate-specific antigen, mpMRI and other excellent molecular biomarkers. Conclusion: PRKY promoter methylation may be a potential marker for the early and accurate diagnosis of PCa.

Developing excellent diagnostic methylation markers for #prostate cancer! Bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification revealing promoter methylation of Y-chromosome gene PRKY is helpful to identify early prostate cancer, which may be superior to other molecular biomarkers.

Effect of camellia oil body-based oleogels on the film-forming properties of soy protein isolate.

Soybean protein isolate (SPI) was frequently used to make edible films due to its highly degradability and excellent film forming ability. However, the limited barrier properties and low tensile strength of SPI films prevent their application in food packaging. In this study, the SPI film was modified by blending camellia oil body-based oleogel (COBO). COBO improved the mechanical properties of SPI film and increased its light-blocking, water insolubility and barrier properties. Micrograph, particle size distribution, protein conformation and crystalline structure analysis illustrated that camellia saponin in COBO formed hydrogen bonds with SPI, significantly reduced the particle size of the film-forming emulsion, and enhanced the order and uniformity of composite films structure, thus improved the overall performance of the SPI films. The SPI-COBO film packing delayed the weight loss, total soluble solids content increase, and the decrease in hardness of stored strawberries. This study puts forwards a new approach for SPI film modification by blending natural emulsified lipids, contributing to the development of sustainable packaging alternatives.

Genomic investigation of Salmonella enterica Serovar Welikade from a pediatric diarrhea case first time in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: Salmonella, an important foodborne pathogen, was estimated to be responsible for 95.1 million cases and 50,771 deaths worldwide. Sixteen serovars were responsible for approximately 80% of Salmonella infections in humans in China, and infections caused by a few uncommon serovars have been reported in recent years, though not with S. Welikade. This study reports the first clinical case caused by S. Welikade in China and places Chinese S. Welikade isolates in the context of global isolates via genomic analysis. For comparison, S. Welikade isolates were also screened in the Chinese Local Surveillance System for Salmonella (CLSSS). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 28 antimicrobial agents were determined using the broth microdilution method. The isolates were sequenced on an Illumina platform to identify antimicrobial resistance genes, virulence genes, and phylogenetic relationships. RESULTS: The S. Welikade isolate (Sal097) was isolated from a two-year-old boy with acute gastroenteritis in 2021. Along with the other two isolates found in CLSSS, the three Chinese isolates were susceptible to all the examined antimicrobial agents, and their sequence types (STs) were ST5123 (n = 2) and ST3774 (n = 1). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that global S. Welikade strains can be divided into four groups, and these three Chinese isolates were assigned to B (n = 2; Sal097 and XXB1016) and C (n = 1; XXB700). In Group B, the two Chinese ST5123 isolates were closely clustered with three UK ST5123 isolates. In Group C, the Chinese isolate was closely related to the other 12 ST3774 isolates. The number of virulence genes in the S. Welikade isolates ranged from 59 to 152. The galF gene was only present in Group A, the pipB2 gene was only absent from Group A, the avrA gene was only absent from Group B, and the allB, sseK1, sspH2, STM0287, and tlde1 were found only within Group C and D isolates. There were 15 loci unique to the Sal097 isolate. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to characterize and investigate clinical S. Welikade isolates in China. Responsible for a pediatric case of gastroenteritis in 2021, the clinical isolate harbored no antimicrobial resistance and belonged to phylogenetic Group B of global S. Welikade genomes.

Clinical application of serum tumor abnormal protein in prostate cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To explore the clinical value of tumor abnormal protein (TAP) in the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of prostate cancer. METHODS: This study enrolled a total of 265 patients who underwent prostate biopsy procedures from December 2017. TAP levels were assayed in their blood samples using a validated TAP testing kit. Comprehensive pathological assessments, including Gleason scores, TNM staging, and AJCC prognosis stages, were conducted on prostate cancer patients. Further analysis was carried out to examine the correlation between TAP expression levels and various clinical characteristics. RESULTS: A significantly elevated TAP concentration was discerned in prostate cancer patients relative to those with benign prostate hyperplasia. Moreover, a significantly elevated TAP expression was detected in prostate cancer patients with high Gleason score (≥ 8) and advanced stages (III and IV), as compared to those with Gleason scores of 6 and 7 and lower stages (I and II). When diagnosing prostate cancer in gray area of PSA, TAP demonstrated superior diagnostic capabilities over PSA alone, with higher diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy than fPSA/tPSA ratio. Additionally, post-surgical or hormonal treatment, there was a marked reduction in TAP expression level among prostate cancer patients. CONCLUSION: The assessment of TAP presents itself as a promising tool for early diagnosis and holds potential for sensitivity in monitoring treatment reponse in prostate cancer patients.

Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections in Shanghai, China: Surveillance from 2014 to 2023.

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis remains a notable health problem in developing countries. In 1990 in Shanghai, a city in eastern China, 47% of the population was affected. Due to a series of comprehensive approaches, the prevalence decreased to 0.5% in 2009. We collected 10-year surveillance data to assess the epidemic situation of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in Shanghai. Stool samples and questionnaires from participants were collected. The Kato-Katz technique was used to detect infections with Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), and Trichuris trichiura. From 2014 to 2023, a total of 77,685 participants were screened for parasitic infections, and the overall prevalence of STH infections decreased from 0.1% to 0% in Shanghai. Of 77,685 participants, 25 (0.03%) were positive for intestinal helminths, with the most common parasite being A. lumbricoides (72.0%). Generally, elderly participants from rural areas with lower education levels were more likely to be infected with STHs. A total of 2,914 questionnaires were collected, and most respondents (72.6%) had good knowledge about the transmission routes of STHs. However, 12.3% of participants did not know the damage to health caused by STHs, and 19.3% had no idea of how to prevent infection. These data demonstrate the current state of STH infections in Shanghai. The results suggest that various comprehensive measures should be encouraged, continuously implemented, and strengthened accordingly so that STH elimination can be integrated into the Healthy China initiative by 2030.

Development of dual-channel starch-based film incorporated with betanin@ß-cyclodextrin inclusion complex and berberine for indicating shrimp freshness.

In this study, the ß-cyclodextrin encapsulated betanin (BET@ß-CD) with improved thermal stability and retention as well as the berberine (BBR) with aggregate induced luminescence effect were incorporated into corn amylose (CA) biomatrix to develop colorimetric/fluorescent dual-channel smart film. Results shown that the added functional components were uniformly distributed in the film matrix. The high tensile strength (78.87%), low water solubility (31.15%) and water vapor permeability (1.24 × 10-10 g Pa-1 s-1 m-1) of the film predicted its acceptable stability. It was worth mentioning that the film displayed excellent responsiveness to volatile ammonia (0.025-25 mg/mL) with at least 4 times recyclability. Application experiment demonstrated that the film can achieve macroscopic dynamic monitoring of the freshness of shrimps stored at 25 °C, 4 °C, -20 °C under daylight (red to yellow) and UV light (yellow-green to blue-green). Thus, the study suggests an attractive and effective strategy for constructing dual-mode smart packaging materials for food freshness detection.

Exploring the causal relationship between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and kidney cancer: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The causal link between kidney cancer and omega-3/6 (ω-3/6) fatty acids is yet to be clearly established. Therefore, the objective of our study was to investigate these potential causal relationships. Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the possible causal association between ω-3/6 fatty acids and kidney cancer. We utilized the random effect inverse variance weighted (IVW) method as our primary analytical approach for the two-sample MR analysis. In addition, sensitivity analyses such as heterogeneity tests, pleiotropy analyses, and leave-one-out analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the MR analysis results. Results: The IVW method showed statistically significant associations between ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids and increased risk of kidney cancer. The result for ω-3 and ω-6 were [odds ratio (OR) =1.27; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-1.55; P=0.02] and (OR =1.56; 95% CI: 1.17-2.09; P=0.003), respectively. Moreover, in the results of sensitivity analyses, no apparent horizontal gene pleiotropy nor heterogeneity was observed. After performing "the leave-one-out" sensitivity analysis of the data one by one, no single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) sites in each instrumental variable (IV) were found to have greatly affected the disease outcome. Conclusions: Elevated serum ω-3/6 fatty acids levels are causally associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor dietary intake and properly intervene to lower these levels in those at risk of kidney cancer.

PCAO2: an ontology for integration of prostate cancer associated genotypic, phenotypic and lifestyle data.

Disease ontologies facilitate the semantic organization and representation of domain-specific knowledge. In the case of prostate cancer (PCa), large volumes of research results and clinical data have been accumulated and needed to be standardized for sharing and translational researches. A formal representation of PCa-associated knowledge will be essential to the diverse data standardization, data sharing and the future knowledge graph extraction, deep phenotyping and explainable artificial intelligence developing. In this study, we constructed an updated PCa ontology (PCAO2) based on the ontology development life cycle. An online information retrieval system was designed to ensure the usability of the ontology. The PCAO2 with a subclass-based taxonomic hierarchy covers the major biomedical concepts for PCa-associated genotypic, phenotypic and lifestyle data. The current version of the PCAO2 contains 633 concepts organized under three biomedical viewpoints, namely, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. These concepts are enriched by the addition of definition, synonym, relationship and reference. For the precision diagnosis and treatment, the PCa-associated genes and lifestyles are integrated in the viewpoint of epidemiological aspects of PCa. PCAO2 provides a standardized and systematized semantic framework for studying large amounts of heterogeneous PCa data and knowledge, which can be further, edited and enriched by the scientific community. The PCAO2 is freely available at https://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/PCAO, http://pcaontology.net/ and http://pcaontology.net/mobile/.

Comparison of Alternative Protein Hydrogels for Delivering Myricetin: Interaction Mechanism and Stability Evaluation.

Food protein carriers from different sources might have distinct stabilizing and enhancing effects on the same small molecule. To elucidate the molecular mechanism, five different sourced proteins including soy protein isolates (SPIs), whey protein isolates (WPIs), edible dock protein (EDP), Tenebrio molitor protein (TMP), and yeast protein (YP) were used to prepare protein hydrogels for delivering myricetin (Myr). The results suggested that the loading capacity order of Myr in different protein hydrogels was EDP (11.5%) > WPI (9.3%) > TMP (8.9%) > YP (8.0%) > SPI (7.6%), which was consistent with the sequence of binding affinity between Myr and different proteins. Among five protein hydrogels, EDP had an optimum loading ability since it possessed the highest hydrophobic amino acid content (45.52%) and thus provided a broad hydrophobic cavity for loading Myr. In addition, these protein-Myr composite hydrogels displayed the core-shell structure, wherein hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction were the primary binding forces between proteins and Myr. Moreover, the thermal stability, storage stability, and sustained-release properties of Myr were significantly enhanced via these protein delivery systems. These findings can provide scientific guidance for deeper utilization of food alternative protein sources.

A novel dual-channel cassava starch/polyvinyl alcohol-based film for visual monitoring of shrimp freshness.

In this study, the polyvinylpyrrolidone-alizarin nanoparticles (PVP-AZ NPs) with favorable water dispersion and the carbon quantum dots (RQDs) with aggregate induced emission effect were synthesized to construct an eco-friendly film for food freshness monitoring. The introduction of PVP-AZ NPs and RQDs enhanced the network structure and thermal stability of the cassava starch/polyvinyl alcohol film, and reduced its crystallinity and light transmittance via non-covalent binding with the film-forming matrix. The developed film exhibited visually recognizable colorimetric and fluorescent responses to ammonia at 0.025-25 mg/mL, and it can be reused at least 6 times. Practical application experiment proved that the film, as an indicator label, can achieve accurate, real-time, and visual dynamic monitoring of the freshness of shrimp stored at 25 °C, 4 °C, and - 20 °C under daylight (orange yellow to purple) and UV light (red to blue). The integration of multivariate detection technology can eliminate the interference of external factors by self-correction to improve sensitivity and reliability, which provides a reference for the development of other food quality and safety monitoring platforms.

Fabrication and characterization of novel prolamin nanoparticle-filled starch gels incorporating resveratrol.

This study aimed to improve the mechanical properties of wheat starch gels (WSG) and the stability and bioaccessibility of resveratrol (Res) in prolamin nanoparticles. Res-loaded gliadin (Gli), zein, deamidated gliadin (DG) and deamidated zein (DZ) nanoparticles were filled in WSG. The hardness, G' and G'' of WSG were notably increased. It can be attributed to the more ordered and stable structure induced by the interaction of prolamin nanoparticles and starch. The Res retention of nanoparticles and nanoparticle-filled starch gels was at least 24.6 % and 36.0 % higher than free Res upon heating. When exposed to ultraviolet, the Res retention was enhanced by over 6.1 % and 37.5 %. The in-vitro digestion demonstrated that the Res releasing percentage for nanoparticle-filled starch gels was 25.8 %-38.7 % lower than nanoparticles in the simulated stomach, and more Res was released in the simulated intestine. This resulted in a higher bioaccessibility of 82.1 %-93.2 %. The bioaccessibility of Res in Gli/Res/WSG and DG/Res/WSG was greater than that of Zein/Res/WSG and DZ/Res/WSG. More hydrophobic interactions occurred between Res and Gli, DG. The interactions between Res and zein, DZ were mainly hydrogen bonding. The microstructure showed that nanoparticles exhibited dense spherical structures and were uniformly embedded in the pores of starch gels.

Using UAV images and deep learning in investigating potential breeding sites of Aedes albopictus.

Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) plays a crucial role as a vector for mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and zika. Given the limited availability of effective vaccines, the prevention of Aedes-borne diseases mainly relies on extensive efforts in vector surveillance and control. In multiple mosquito control methods, the identification and elimination of potential breeding sites (PBS) for Aedes are recognized as effective methods for population control. Previous studies utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and deep learning to identify PBS have primarily focused on large, regularly-shaped containers. However, there has been a small amount of empirical research into their practical application in the field. We have thus constructed a PBS dataset specifically tailored for Ae. albopictus, including items such as buckets, bowls, bins, aquatic plants, jars, lids, pots, boxes, and sinks that were common in the Yangtze River Basin in China. Then, a YOLO v7 model for identifying these PBS was developed. Finally, we recognized and labeled the area with the highest PBS density, as well as the subarea with the most urgent need for source reduction in the empirical region, by calculating the kernel density value. Based on the above research, we proposed a UAV-AI-based methodological framework to locate the spatial distribution of PBS, and conducted empirical research on Jinhulu New Village, a typical model community. The results revealed that the YOLO v7 model achieved an excellent result on the F1 score and mAP(both above 0.99), with 97% of PBS correctly located. The predicted distribution of different PBS categories in each subarea was completely consistent with true distribution; the five houses with the most PBS were correctly located. The results of the kernel density map indicate the subarea 4 with the highest density of PBS, where PBS needs to be removed or destroyed with immediate effect. These results demonstrate the reliability of the prediction results and the feasibility of the UAV-AI-based methodological framework. It can minimize repetitive labor, enhance efficiency, and provide guidance for the removal and destruction of PBS. The research can shed light on the investigation of mosquito PBS investigation both methodologically and practically.

The association between circulating fatty acids and stroke in hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is prevalent in hypertensive population. It has been suggested that unsaturated fatty acids (USFA) have protective effect on stroke. The effect of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) on stroke is still unclear. Therefore, we studied the relationship between circulating fatty acids and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in hypertensive patients. METHODS: Eighty-nine pairs including 100 men and 78 women matched by sex and age were recruited. Each pair included a hypertensive patient within 48h of AIS onset and a hypertensive patient without stroke. Six circulating fatty acids were methylated before concentration determination which was repeated twice with percent recovery estimated. RESULTS: There were differences in educational level (P = 0.002) and occupation (P < 0.001) between stroke and non-stroke participants. All the 6 fatty acid levels were higher in non-stroke participants (P = 0.017 for palmitoleic acid, 0.001 for palmitic acid, <0.001 for linoleic acid, <0.001 for behenic acid, <0.001 for nervonic acid and 0.002 for lignoceric acid). In logistic regression analysis, AIS was inversely associated with fatty acid levels except for lignoceric acid. After adjustment for education and occupation, the palmitoleic acid and palmitic acid levels were no longer inversely associated with AIS. After further adjustment for systolic blood pressure, smoking, drinking, total cholesterol and triglyceride, the inverse associations of linoleic acid (OR = 0.965, 95%CI = 0.942-0.990, P = 0.005), behenic acid (OR = 0.778, 95%CI = 0.664-0.939, P = 0.009), nervonic acid (OR = 0.323, 95%CI = 0.121-0.860, P = 0.024) with AIS remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating fatty acids except lignoceric acid were inversely associated with AIS. Both USFAs and SFAs may have beneficial effect on stroke prevention in hypertensive population.

Remodeling mechanism of gel network structure of soy protein isolate amyloid fibrils mediated by cellulose nanocrystals.

The differences in the gelling properties of soy protein isolate (SPI) and soy protein isolate amyloid fibrils (SAFs) as well as the role of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) in regulating their gel behaviors were investigated in this study. The binding of CNC to ß-conglycinin (7S), glycinin (11S), and SAFs was predominantly driven by non-covalent interactions. CNC addition reduced the particle size, turbidity, subunit segments, and crystallinity of SPI and SAFs, promoted the conversion of α-helix to ß-sheet, improved the thermal stability, exposed more tyrosine and tryptophan residues, and enhanced the intermolecular interactions. A more regular and ordered lamellar network structure was formed in the SAFs-CNC composite gel, which could be conducive to the improvement of gel quality. This study would provide theoretical reference for the understanding of the regulatory mechanism of protein amyloid fibrils gelation as well as the high-value utilization of SAFs-CNC complex as a functional protein-based material or food ingredient in food field.

A noninvasive method for predicting clinically significant prostate cancer using magnetic resonance imaging combined with PRKY promoter methylation level: a machine learning study.

BACKGROUND: Traditional process for clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCA) diagnosis relies on invasive biopsy and may bring pain and complications. Radiomic features of magnetic resonance imaging MRI and methylation of the PRKY promoter were found to be associated with prostate cancer. METHODS: Fifty-four Patients who underwent prostate biopsy or photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) from 2022 to 2023 were selected for this study, and their clinical data, blood samples and MRI images were obtained before the operation. Methylation level of two PRKY promoter sites, cg05618150 and cg05163709, were tested through bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP). The PI-RADS score of each patient was estimated and the region of interest (ROI) was delineated by 2 experienced radiologists. After being extracted by a plug-in of 3D-slicer, radiomic features were selected through LASSCO regression and t-test. Selected radiomic features, methylation levels and clinical data were used for model construction through the random forest (RF) algorithm, and the predictive efficiency was analyzed by the area under the receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). RESULTS: Methylation level of the site, cg05618150, was observed to be associated with prostate cancer, for which the AUC was 0.74. The AUC of T2WI in csPCA prediction was 0.84, which was higher than that of the apparent diffusion coefficient ADC (AUC = 0.81). The model combined with T2WI and clinical data reached an AUC of 0.94. The AUC of the T2WI-clinic-methylation-combined model was 0.97, which was greater than that of the model combined with the PI-RADS score, clinical data and PRKY promoter methylation levels (AUC = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: The model combining with radiomic features, clinical data and PRKY promoter methylation levels based on machine learning had high predictive efficiency in csPCA diagnosis.

Fluorescent responsive membrane based on terbium coordination polymer and carbon dots with AIE effect for rapid and visual detection of fluoroquinolone.

In this study, based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect and antenna effect, a novel portable fluorescent responsive membrane was constructed with red carbon dots (R-CDs) as reference signal and terbium coordination polymer (Tb-AMP CPs) as response signal for visual, instrument-free, and sensitive detection of fluoroquinolones (FQs). Specifically, the fluorescent responsive membrane (R-T membrane) was prepared by physically depositing R-CDs with AIE property and Tb-AMP CPs on the surface of polyvinylidene fluoride filter membranes at ambient temperature. In the presence of FQs, Tb3+ in the Tb-AMP CPs of the prepared membrane coordinated with the ß-diketone structure of FQs, which turned on the yellow-green fluorescence through the "antenna effect". As the concentration of FQs increased, the R-T membrane achieved a fluorescent color transition from bright pink to yellow-green. Its visual detection sensitivity for three FQs, including ciprofloxacin, difloxacin, and enrofloxacin, was 0.01 µM, and the detection limits were 7.4 nM, 7.8 nM, and 9.2 nM, respectively, by analyzing the color parameter green. In the residue analysis of FQs in real samples, the constructed membrane also exhibited remarkable anti-interference and reliability, which is of great significance for ensuring the safety of animal-derived food.

Effects of two celery fibers on the structural properties and digestibility of glutinous rice starch: A comparative study.

The present study focused on the extraction of water-soluble dietary fiber (CSDF) and water-insoluble dietary fiber (CIDF) from celery. It investigated their effects on glutinous rice starch's (GRS) physicochemical, structural, and digestive properties. The results showed that as the addition of the two dietary fibers increased, they compounded with GRS to varying degrees, with the complexing index reaching 69.41 % and 60.81 %, respectively. The rheological results indicated that the two dietary fibers reduced the viscosity of GRS during pasting and inhibited the short-term regrowth of starch. The FTIR and XRD results revealed that the two fibers interacted with GRS through hydrogen bonding, effectively inhibiting starch retrogradation. Furthermore, both fibers increased the pasting temperature of GRS, thus delaying its pasting and exhibiting better thermal stability. Regarding digestibility, the starch gels containing dietary fibers exhibited significantly reduced digestibility, with RS significantly increased by 8.15 % and 8.95 %, respectively. This study provides insights into the interaction between two dietary fibers and GRS during processing. It enriches the theoretical model of dietary fiber-starch interaction and provides a reference for the application development of starch-based functional foods.

Insight into the improvement mechanism of gel properties of pea protein isolate based on the synergistic effect of cellulose nanocrystals and calcium ions.

Here, the influence and potential mechanism by which cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) collaborated with Ca2+ enhancing the heat-induced gelation of pea protein isolate (PPI) were investigated. It was found that the combination of 0.45% CNC and 15 mM Ca2+ synergistically increased the gel strength (from 14.18 to 65.42 g) and viscoelasticity of PPI while decreased the water holding capacity. The improved particle size, turbidity, and thermostability as well as the reduced solubility, crystallinity, and gel porosity were observed in CNC/CaCl2 composite system. CNC fragments bind to specific amino acids in 11S legumin and 7S vicilin mainly through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. Moreover, changes in the protein secondary structure and enhancement of the molecular interaction induced by CNC and Ca2+ could favor the robust gel network. The results will provide a new perspective on the functional regulation of pea protein and the creation of pea protein gel-based food.

Insight into the solubilization mechanism of wheat gluten by protease modification from conformational change and molecular interaction perspective.

The low solubility limits the utilization of other functional characteristics of wheat gluten (WG). This study effectively improved the solubility of WG through protease modification and explored the potential mechanism of protease modification to enhance the solubility of WG, further stimulating the potential application of WG in the food industry. Solubility of WG modified with alkaline protease, complex protease, and neutral protease was enhanced by 98.99%, 54.59%, and 51.68%, respectively. Notably, the content of ß-sheet was reduced while the combined effect of hydrogen bond and ionic bond were increased after protease modification. Meanwhile, the reduced molecular size and viscoelasticity as well as the elevated surface hydrophobicity, thermostability, water absorption capacity, and crystallinity were observed in modified WG. Moreover, molecular docking indicated that protease was specifically bound to the amino acid residues of WG through hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, and salt bridge.