Untargeted metabolomic reveals the changes in muscle metabolites of mice during exercise recovery and the mechanisms of whey protein and whey protein hydrolysate in promoting muscle repair.

Our previous study indicated that whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) showed effective anti-fatigue properties, but its regulatory mechanism on recovery from exercise in mice is unclear. In the present study, we divided the mice into control, WP, and WPH groups and allowed them to rest for 1 h and 24 h after exercise, respectively. The changes in muscle metabolites of mice in the recovery period were investigated using metabolomics techniques. The results showed that the WPH group significantly up-regulated 94 muscle metabolites within 1 h of rest, which was 1.96 and 2.61 times more than the control and WP groups, respectively. In detail, significant decreases in TCA cycle intermediates, lipid metabolites, and carbohydrate metabolites were observed in the control group during exercise recovery. In contrast, administration with WP and WPH enriched more amino acid metabolites within 1 h of rest, which might provide a more comprehensive metabolic environment for muscle repair. Moreover, the WPH group remarkably stimulated the enhancement of lipid, carbohydrate, and vitamin metabolites in the recovery period which might provide raw materials and energy for anabolic reactions. The result of the western blot further demonstrated that WPH could promote muscle repair via activating the Sestrin2/Akt/mTOR/S6K signaling pathway within 1 h of rest. These findings deepen our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms by WPH to promote muscle recovery and may serve as a reference for comprehensive assessments of protein supplements on exercise.

Efficient synthesis of rare sugars from galactose in hot compressed water using eggshells as an environmentally friendly catalyst.

Aqueous galactose solutions containing eggshell was heated at 120 °C to produce calcium supplements containing rare sugars. Galactose was isomerized to rare sugars with improving rare sugar yields compared to those without eggshell. Organic acids were also formed as byproducts during the reaction. These acids were neutralized by dissolving eggshells with increasing the calcium ion concentration in the solution. When eggshell components (calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, or calcium phosphate) were used for the treatment, rare sugars were also formed. Especially, addition of magnesium carbonate improved rare sugar yield, but byproduct formation became more pronounced. Eggshells used in the treatment were used for repeated treatments. When eggshells were used three times, rare sugar yield changed only slightly but the selectivity of rare sugars improved significantly. By these processes, we obtained an aqueous solution of rare sugars containing calcium ion at 295 mg/L, which has potential as ingredients for dietary supplements.

Influence of salinity, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of two Chlorophyceae isolated from Fez freshwater, Morocco.

Microalgae are widely exploited for numerous biotechnology applications, including biofuels. In this context, Chlamydomonas debaryana and Chlorococcum sp. were isolated from Fez freshwater (Morocco), and their growth and lipid and carbohydrate production were assessed at different concentrations of NaCl, NaNO3, and K2HPO4. The results indicate a small positive variation in growth parameters linked to nutrient enrichment, with no considerable variation in carbohydrate and lipid levels in both algae. Moreover, a negative variation was recorded at increased salinity and nutrient limitation, accompanied by lipid and carbohydrate accumulation. Chlorococcum sp. showed better adaptation to salt stress below 200 mM NaCl. Furthermore, its growth and biomass productivity were strongly reduced by nitrogen depletion, and its lipid production reached 47.64% DW at 3.52 mM NaNO3. As for Chlamydomonas debaryana, a substantial reduction in growth was induced by nutrient depletion, a maximal carbohydrate level was produced at less than 8.82 mM NaNO3 (40.59% DW). The effect of phosphorus was less significant. However, a concentration of 0.115 mM K2HPO4 increased lipid and carbohydrate content without compromising biomass productivity. The results suggest that growing the two Chlorophyceae under these conditions seems interesting for biofuel production, but the loss of biomass requires a more efficient strategy to maximize lipid and carbohydrate accumulation without loss of productivity.

Comprehensive Metabolomic Analysis of Human Heart Tissue Enabled by Parallel Metabolite Extraction and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

The heart contracts incessantly and requires a constant supply of energy, utilizing numerous metabolic substrates, such as fatty acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids, to supply its high energy demands. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of various metabolites is urgently needed for understanding cardiac metabolism; however, complete metabolome analyses remain challenging due to the broad range of metabolite polarities, which makes extraction and detection difficult. Herein, we implemented parallel metabolite extractions and high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods to obtain a comprehensive analysis of the human heart metabolome. To capture the diverse range of metabolite polarities, we first performed six parallel liquid-liquid extractions (three monophasic, two biphasic, and one triphasic) of healthy human donor heart tissue. Next, we utilized two complementary MS platforms for metabolite detection: direct-infusion ultrahigh-resolution Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (DI-FTICR) and high-resolution liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem MS (LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). Using DI-FTICR MS, 9644 metabolic features were detected where 7156 were assigned a molecular formula and 1107 were annotated by accurate mass assignment. Using LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, 21,428 metabolic features were detected where 285 metabolites were identified based on fragmentation matching against publicly available libraries. Collectively, 1340 heart metabolites were identified in this study, which span a wide range of polarities including polar (benzenoids, carbohydrates, and nucleosides) as well as nonpolar (phosphatidylcholines, acylcarnitines, and fatty acids) compounds. The results from this study will provide critical knowledge regarding the selection of appropriate extraction and MS detection methods for the analysis of the diverse classes of human heart metabolites.

Nutritional Composition and Antinutritional Factors of Five Wild Edible Fruits Grown in the Mekdela District, South of Wollo, Ethiopia.

This study was carried out to determine the mineral content and nutritional properties of five wild fruits Rhus vulgaris, Rosa abyssinica, Rhus natalensis, Euclea racemosa, and Ficus sur. The proximate composition parameters (moisture, ash, crude fiber, crude fat, and crude protein) and antinutritional factors were evaluated using methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists and elemental analysis using the atomic absorption spectroscopy technique. Among the five wild edible fruit species, Rhus vulgaris had the highest carbohydrate content (83.3 ± 0.28 g/100 g) and a high total energy (344.5 ± 2.21 kcal/100 g). Euclea racemosa was found to have the maximum ash content (12.8 ± 0.37 g/100 g), protein content (3.22 ± 0.01 g/100 g), and moisture (16.24 ± 0.003 g/100 g), respectively. Rhus natalensis showed the highest fiber content (9.54 ± 0.003 g/100 g). Mineral analysis showed that local wild fruits contained a considerable amount of minerals. The calcium concentration ranged from 99.51 mg/100 g in Euclea racemosa to 160.12 mg/100 g in Ficus sur. Potassium concentration varied from 54.34 mg/100 g in Euclea racemosa to 234 mg/100 g in Rhus vulgaris. Iron ranges from 21.4 mg/100 g in Rosa abyssinica to 41 mg/100 g in Rhus natalensis, and zinc ranges from 2.3 mg/100 g in Rhus vulgaris to 4.2 mg/100 g in Ficus sur. A high saponin content (2.12 mg/100 g) and a low tannin content (0.23 mg/100 g) were obtained in Rosa abyssinica. The phytate content (1.52 mg/100 g) and the oxalate content (0.9 mg/100 g) were high in Rhus natalensis. In conclusion, the present study shows that wild fruits can be used as food supplementation in food in a safe area.

Diet with different concentrations of lychee peel flour modulates oxidative stress parameters and antioxidant activity in zebrafish.

The agri-food industry generates substantial waste, leading to significant environmental impacts. Lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonnerat), which is rich in bioactive compounds in its peel, pulp, and seeds, offers an opportunity for waste use. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementing a high-carbohydrate diet with varying levels of lychee peel flour on lipid metabolism biomarkers and oxidative stress in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. A total of 225 zebrafish, approximately four months old, were divided into five groups: control, high-carbohydrate (HC), HC2%, HC4%, and HC6%. The study did not find significant differences in the growth performance of zebrafish in any group. However, the HC6% group exhibited a significant decrease in glucose and triglyceride levels compared with the HC group. Furthermore, this group showed enhanced activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), along with reduced levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). Increased antioxidant activity was also evidenced by DPPH-, ABTS+, and ß-carotene/Linoleic acid assays in the HC6% group. A positive correlation was identified between SOD/CAT activity and in vitro antioxidant assays. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with 6% lychee peel flour can significantly modulate glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant activity in zebrafish.

Finishing of grazing crossbred steers supplemented with detoxified castor bean meal (Ricinus communis L.) in the rainy-dry transition period.

This study evaluated levels of replacement of soybean meal by castor bean meal in the finishing crossbred steers on Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu pasture during the rainy-dry transition period. Forty Holstein-Zebu crossbred steers with an average initial weight of 395.93 ± 10 kg were randomly allocated to four treatment groups that were supplemented with concentrate levels of replacing (0, 290, 613, and 903 g/kg DM of the supplement; at 0.4% body weight [BW]). The experimental period was 120 days. A completely randomized experimental design was adopted; with regression analysis using the computational software package (SAS 9.2, USA). Intake and digestibility of dry matter (DM) and nutrients and animal performance were evaluated. The replacement levels did not influence (P > 0.05) the intakes of DM (kg/day), organic matter (OM, kg/day), neutral detergent fiber (NDF, kg/day and %BW), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC, kg/day), or total digestible nutrients (kg/day). However, the intake of crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE, kg/day) decreased as the replacement levels were increased (P < 0.05). The digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, and EE did not change, whereas CP digestibility decreased linearly and NFC digestibility increased linearly (P < 0.05). The replacement levels did not affect (P > 0.05) final body weight, average daily gain, feed conversion, and carcass yield. Castor bean meal can replace up to 903 g/kg DM of soybean meal in the composition of the supplement without compromising the performance of steers on Marandu pasture during the rainy-dry transition period.

Can a Fraction of Flour and Sugar Be Replaced with Fruit By-Product Extracts in a Gluten-Free and Vegan Cookie Recipe?

Certain food by-products, including not-good-for-sale apples and pomegranate peels, are rich in bioactive molecules that can be collected and reused in food formulations. Their extracts, rich in pectin and antioxidant compounds, were obtained using hydrodynamic cavitation (HC), a green, efficient, and scalable extraction technique. The extracts were chemically and physically characterized and used in gluten-free and vegan cookie formulations to replace part of the flour and sugar to study whether they can mimic the role of these ingredients. The amount of flour + sugar removed and replaced with extracts was 5% and 10% of the total. Physical (dimensions, color, hardness, moisture content, water activity), chemical (total phenolic content, DPPH radical-scavenging activity), and sensory characteristics of cookie samples were studied. Cookies supplemented with the apple extract were endowed with similar or better characteristics compared to control cookies: high spread ratio, similar color, and similar sensory characteristics. In contrast, the pomegranate peel extract enriched the cookies in antioxidant molecules but significantly changed their physical and sensory characteristics: high hardness value, different color, and a bitter and astringent taste. HC emerged as a feasible technique to enable the biofortification of consumer products at a real scale with extracts from agri-food by-products.

Perspective: Potatoes, Quality Carbohydrates, and Dietary Patterns.

Potatoes have long been a staple food in many cultures and cuisines, but they have gained a reputation as a low-quality carbohydrate source that should be avoided in the diet. Historically, this view has been justified by citing the glycemic index of potatoes as the main indicator of their quality. However, their nutrient composition should also be considered. The association of potatoes with energy-dense Western dietary patterns has also contributed to a perception that potatoes are inherently unhealthy. Although some studies have suggested an association between potato consumption and increased risk of health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, these associations may be confounded by fried potato intake and are strongest at intake levels higher than average consumption rates. Epidemiologic data suggest total potato intake is not a health risk in Eastern populations and can be consumed as part of a healthy diet. Furthermore, clinical trial data demonstrate that potatoes' health impact, irrespective of preparation, is similar to legumes and comparable with refined grains, with few deleterious effects found. These findings highlight the importance of moving beyond the glycemic index and adopting a more nuanced evaluation of the epidemiologic data to better understand the health impact of potato intake. Ultimately, the negative reputation of potatoes stems from an overinterpretation of their glycemic index and association with unhealthy Western dietary patterns, as well as oversimplification of the epidemiologic data. By considering carbohydrate quality, it becomes clear that potatoes can be part of a healthy diet given the proper consideration.

Dynamics of Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids during a Cycling Grand Tour Are Related to Exercise Performance and Modulated by Dietary Intake.

BACKGROUND: Regular exercise has been described to modify both the diversity and the relative abundance of certain bacterial taxa. To our knowledge, the effect of a cycling stage race, which entails extreme physiological and metabolic demands, on the gut microbiota composition and its metabolic activity has not been analysed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cohort study was to analyse the dynamics of faecal microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content of professional cyclists over a Grand Tour and their relationship with performance and dietary intake. METHODS: 16 professional cyclists competing in La Vuelta 2019 were recruited. Faecal samples were collected at four time points: the day before the first stage (A); after 9 stages (B); after 15 stages (C); and on the last stage (D). Faecal microbiota populations and SCFA content were analysed using 16S rRNA sequencing and gas chromatography, respectively. A principal component analysis (PCA) followed by Generalised Estimating Equation (GEE) models were carried out to explore the dynamics of microbiota and SCFAs and their relationship with performance. RESULTS: Bifidobacteriaceae, Coriobacteriaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Sutterellaceae dynamics showed a strong final performance predictive value (r = 0.83, ranking, and r = 0.81, accumulated time). Positive correlations were observed between Coriobacteriaceae with acetate (r = 0.530) and isovalerate (r = 0.664) and between Bifidobacteriaceae with isobutyrate (r = 0.682). No relationship was observed between SCFAs and performance. The abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae at the beginning of La Vuelta was directly related to the previous intake of complex-carbohydrate-rich foods (r = 0.956), while during the competition, the abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae was negatively affected by the intake of simple carbohydrates from supplements (r = -0.650). CONCLUSIONS: An ecological perspective represents more realistically the relationship between gut microbiota composition and performance compared to single-taxon approaches. The composition and periodisation of diet and supplementation during a Grand Tour, particularly carbohydrates, could be designed to modulate gut microbiota composition to allow better performance.

A ketogenic diet rich in fish oil is superior to other fats in preventing NNK-induced lung cancer in A/J mice.

Given that ketogenic diets (KDs) are extremely high in dietary fat, we compared different fats in KDs to determine which was the best for cancer prevention. Specifically, we compared a Western and a 15% carbohydrate diet to seven different KDs, containing either Western fats or fats enriched in medium chain fatty acids (MCTs), milk fat (MF), palm oil (PO), olive oil (OO), corn oil (CO) or fish oil (FO) for their ability to reduce nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK)-induced lung cancer in mice. While all the KDs tested were more effective at reducing lung nodules than the Western or 15% carbohydrate diet, the FO-KD was most effective at reducing lung nodules. Correlating with this, mice on the FO-KD had low blood glucose and the highest ß-hydroxybutyrate level, lowest liver fatty acid synthase/carnitine palmitoyl-1a ratio and a dramatic increase in fecal Akkermansia. We found no liver damage induced by the FO-KD, while the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL was unchanged on the different diets. We conclude that a FO-KD is superior to KDs enriched in other fats in reducing NNK-induced lung cancer, perhaps by being the most effective at skewing whole-body metabolism from a dependence on glucose to fats as an energy source.

Tailored microbial consortium producing hydrolytic enzyme cocktail for maximum saccharification of wheat straw.

The potential of hydrolytic enzyme cocktail obtained from designed bacterial consortium WSh-1 comprising Bacillus subtilis CRN 16, Paenibacillus dendritiformis CRN 18, Niallia circulans CRN 24, Serratia marscens CRN 29, and Streptomyces sp. CRN 30, was investigated for maximum saccharification. Activity was further enhanced to 1.01 U/ml from 0.82 U/ml by supplementing growth medium with biotin and cellobiose as a cofactor and inducer. Through kinetic analysis, the enzyme cocktail showed a high wheat straw affinity with Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) of 0.68 µmol/L and a deconstruction rate (Vmax) of 4.5 U/ml/min. The statistical optimization of critical parameters increased saccharification to 89 %. The optimized process in a 5-L lab-scale bioreactor yielded 501 mg/g of reducing sugar from NaOH-pretreated wheat straw. Lastly, genomic insights revealed unique abundant oligosaccharide deconstruction enzymes with the most diverse CAZyme profile. The consortium-mediated enzyme cocktails offer broader versatility with efficiency for the economical and sustainable valorization of lignocellulosic waste.

Chemical, rheological, and sensorial properties of Baladi bread supplemented with buckwheat flour produced in Egypt.

This research aimed to enhance the nutritional and sensory qualities of Balady bread by adding locally Egyptian buckwheat flours, Fagopyrum esculentum (FE) and Fagopyrum tataricum (FT), to Hard Wheat Flour (HWF) 82% extraction at three levels (10%, 20%, and 30%). The chemical composition, rheological properties, color, sensory evaluation and stalling of the balady bread were determined. The chemical composition of raw materials revealed that FE was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in protein and fat contents compared to HWF and FT. While FT was higher in fiber and ash contents. The findings show that a 30% replacement with FE or FT significantly enhances the bread's nutritional profile, notably increasing protein, fiber, ash, and moisture content. Rheological analysis revealed that FE and FT alter dough handling, with a notable improvement in dough stability and mixing tolerance at 30% FT. Sensory evaluation indicated acceptable qualities even at higher substitution levels, although 30% FE showed slight declines in certain attributes. Furthermore, bread supplemented with 30% FT demonstrated slower staling and potentially extended shelf life. These results highlight the potential of FE and FT as nutritional enhancers in bread formulations, with 30% FT emerging as the optimal replacement level for balancing nutritional benefits and sensory acceptance.

Nutritional Value and in vitro Antigiardial Activity of Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) Seeds.

The present study focused on evaluating the proximate analysis, mineral composition, and in vitro anti-giardial activity of Pimpinella anisum seed extracts, which are aromatic plants with a long history of usage in folk and conventional medicine, as well as pharmaceutical manufacturing. Standard methods were used to determine the proximate analysis of the powdered plant sample, including dry matter, ash, fat, protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. The mineral contents of Pimpinella anisum seed were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), revealing that the plant has a high fiber content (42.62%) followed by carbohydrates (38.79%). The seeds were also found to be a rich source of minerals, with notable amounts of Rubidium, Magnesium, and Calcium. The extracts showed a high mortality percentage compared to Metronidazole, with the chloroform extract exhibiting higher anti-giardial activity (78.71%) than the ethanolic extract (75.29%) at a concentration of 500 ppm. These findings support the traditional use of Anise in treating gastrointestinal issues and as a natural supplement. Further studies are needed to isolate the active ingredients and understand their mechanism of action.

Substrate binding and catalytic mechanism of the Se-glycosyltransferase SenB in the biosynthesis of selenoneine.

Selenium is an essential multifunctional trace element in diverse organisms. The only Se-glycosyltransferase identified that catalyzes the incorporation of selenium in selenoneine biosynthesis is SenB from Variovorax paradoxus. Although the biochemical function of SenB has been investigated, its substrate specificity, structure, and catalytic mechanism have not been elucidated. Here, we reveal that SenB exhibits sugar donor promiscuity and can utilize six UDP-sugars to generate selenosugars. We report crystal structures of SenB complexed with different UDP-sugars. The key elements N20/T23/E231 contribute to the sugar donor selectivity of SenB. A proposed catalytic mechanism is tested by structure-guided mutagenesis, revealing that SenB yields selenosugars by forming C-Se glycosidic bonds via spontaneous deprotonation and disrupting Se-P bonds by nucleophilic water attack, which is initiated by the critical residue K158. Furthermore, we functionally and structurally characterize two other Se-glycosyltransferases, CbSenB from Comamonadaceae bacterium and RsSenB from Ramlibacter sp., which also exhibit sugar donor promiscuity.

Recycling of deep eutectic solvent in the extraction of ferulic acid from oil palm empty fruit bunch.

The study explored ferulic acid extraction from palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fiber using deep eutectic solvent (DES) of chlorine chloride-acetic acid as the extraction medium and the way to recover and recycle the DES thereafter. Antisolvent was added to selectively precipitate the ferulic acid, which was recovered by filtration thereafter. Recycling the DES without further purification led to increased ferulic acid yield with each subsequent extraction, likely due to retained ferulic acid. The retained ferulic acid and other impurities could be removed by precipitation brought upon by the addition of a second antisolvent. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance revealed that there was no excess ferulic acid in the recycled DES-treated with two types of antisolvents (ethanol and water). The yield of ferulic acid increased from 0.1367-0.1856 g/g when treated with only one antisolvent to 0.1368-0.2897 g/g with two antisolvent treatments. Oil droplets were also observed in the DES upon the addition of antisolvent 2, with recovered oil ranging from 0.6% to 3%. The study emphasized the significance of using DES as an extraction medium for ferulic acid from oil palm EFB fiber and the method to recycle the DES for subsequent processes.

Elemental and macromolecular plasticity of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Chlorophyta) in response to resource limitation and growth rate.

With the ongoing differential disruption of the biogeochemical cycles of major elements that are essential for all life (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus), organisms are increasingly faced with a heterogenous supply of these elements in nature. Given that photosynthetic primary producers form the base of aquatic food webs, impacts of changed elemental supply on these organisms are particularly important. One way that phytoplankton cope with the differential availability of nutrients is through physiological changes, resulting in plasticity in macromolecular and elemental biomass composition. Here, we assessed how the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii adjusts its macromolecular (e.g., carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins) and elemental (C, N, and P) biomass pools in response to changes in growth rate and the modification of resources (nutrients and light). We observed that Chlamydomonas exhibits considerable plasticity in elemental composition (e.g., molar ratios ranging from 124 to 971 for C:P, 4.5 to 25.9 for C:N, and 15.1 to 61.2 for N:P) under all tested conditions, pointing to the adaptive potential of Chlamydomonas in a changing environment. Exposure to low light modified the elemental and macromolecular composition of cells differently than limitation by nutrients. These observed differences, with potential consequences for higher trophic levels, included smaller cells, shifts in C:N and C:P ratios (due to proportionally greater N and P contents), and differential allocation of C among macromolecular pools (proportionally more lipids than carbohydrates) with different energetic value. However, substantial pools of N and P remained unaccounted for, especially at fast growth, indicating accumulation of N and P in forms we did not measure.

Deep learning-based characterization and redesign of major potato tuber storage protein.

Potato is one of the most important crops worldwide, to feed a fast-growing population. In addition to providing energy, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, potato storage proteins are considered as one of the most valuable sources of non-animal proteins due to their high essential amino acid (EAA) index. However, low tuber protein content and limited knowledge about potato storage proteins restrict their widespread utilization in the food industry. Here, we report a proof-of-concept study, using deep learning-based protein design tools, to characterize the biological and chemical characteristics of patatins, the major potato storage proteins. This knowledge was then employed to design multiple cysteines on the patatin surface to build polymers linked by disulfide bonds, which significantly improved viscidity and nutrient of potato flour dough. Our study shows that deep learning-based protein design strategies are efficient to characterize and to create novel proteins for future food sources.

IgE to cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCD) in childhood: Prevalence, risk factors, putative origins.

BACKGROUND: IgE antibodies to cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCD) are usually clinically irrelevant but they can be a cause of false positive outcomes of allergen-specific IgE tests in vitro. Their prevalence and levels have been so far cross-sectionally examined among adult allergic patients and much less is known about their origins and relevance in childhood. METHODS: We examined CCD with a cross-sectional approach in 1263 Italian pollen allergic children (Panallergen in Paediatrics, PAN-PED), as well as with a longitudinal approach in 612 German children (Multicenter Allergy Study, MAS), whose cutaneous and IgE sensitization profile to a broad panel of allergen extracts and molecules was already known. The presence and levels of IgE to CCD were examined in the sera of both cohorts using bromelain (MUXF3) as reagent and a novel chemiluminescence detection system, operating in a solid phase of fluorescently labelled and streptavidin-coated paramagnetic microparticles (NOVEOS, HYCOR, USA). RESULTS: IgE to CCD was found in 22% of the Italian pollen allergic children, mainly in association with an IgE response to grass pollen. Children with IgE to CCD had higher total IgE levels and were sensitized to more allergenic molecules of Phleum pratense than those with no IgE to CCD. Among participants of the German MAS birth cohort study, IgE to CCD emerged early in life (even at pre-school age), with IgE sensitization to group 1 and 4 allergen molecules of grasses, and almost invariably persisted over the full observation period. CONCLUSIONS: Our results contribute to dissect the immunological origins, onset, evolution and risk factors of CCD-sIgE response in childhood, and raise the hypothesis that group 1 and/or 4 allergen molecules of grass pollen are major inducers of these antibodies through an antigen-specific, T-B cell cognate interaction.

Genotype by environment and genotype by yield*trait interactions in sugar beet: analyzing yield stability and determining key traits association.

The genotype by environment interaction significantly influences plant yield, making it imperative to understand its nature for the creation of breeding programs to enhance crop production. However, this is not the only obstacle in the yield improvement process. Breeders also face the significant challenge of unfavorable and negative correlations among key traits. In this study, the stability of root yield and white sugar yield, and the association between the key traits of root yield, sugar content, nitrogen, sodium, and potassium were examined in 20 sugar beet genotypes. The study was conducted using a randomized complete block design with four replications over two consecutive years across five locations. The combined analysis of variance results revealed significant main effects of year, location, and genotype on both root yield and white sugar yield. Notably, two-way and three-way interactions between these main effects on root yield and white sugar yield resulted in a significant difference. The additive main effect and multiplicative interaction analysis revealed that the first five interaction principal components significantly impacted both the root yield and white sugar yield. The linear mixed model results for root yield and white sugar yield indicated that the genotype effect and the genotype by environment interaction were significant. The weighted average absolute scores of the best linear unbiased predictions biplot demonstrated that genotypes 20, 4, 7, 2, 16, 3, 6, 1, 14, and 15 were superior in terms of root yield. For white sugar yield, genotypes 4, 16, 3, 7, 5, 1, 10, 20, 2, and 6 stood out. These genotypes were not only stable but also had a yield value higher than the total average. All key traits, which include sugar content, sodium, potassium, and alpha amino nitrogen, demonstrated a negative correlation with root yield. Based on the genotype by yield*trait analysis results, genotypes 20, 19, and 16 demonstrated optimal performance when considering the combination of root yield with sugar content, sodium, alpha amino nitrogen, and potassium. The multi-trait stability study, genotype 13 ranked first, and genotypes 10, 8, and 9 were identified as the most ideal stable genotypes across all traits. According to the multi-trait stability index, genotype 13 emerged as the top-ranking genotype. Additionally, genotypes 10, 8, and 9 were recognized as the most stable genotypes.