Using GC-O-MS, GC-IMS, and chemometrics to investigate flavor component succession regularity in the Niulanshan Erguotou Baijiu brewing process.

The volatile compounds in Dacha liquor (DL) and Ercha liquor (EL) from Niulanshan Erguotou Baijiu (NEB) were analyzed. The results demonstrated that a total of 34 odorants were identified. For the first time, the products of different brewing stages were analyzed using temperature-programmed headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (TP-HS-GC-IMS). The 3D fingerprint obtained revealed that the compounds exhibited different change patterns during the brewing process. Furthermore, the results of principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed that hexanal, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, trans-2-pentenal, and ethyl hexanoate could be used to distinguish different types of fermented grains; and hexanal, 1-pentanol, methyl isovalerate, isoamyl acetate, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl acetate, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, and ethyl pentanoate could be used to distinguish different types of distilled spirits. This study serves as a useful reference for enhancing quality control measures in the production of NEB.

Profiling flavor characteristics of cold brew coffee with GC-MS, electronic nose and tongue: effect of roasting degrees and freeze-drying.

BACKGROUND: Roasting is an important process in the formation of coffee flavor characteristics, which determines the quality of coffee and consumer acceptance. However, the influence of roasting degree on the flavor characteristics of cold brew coffee has not been fully described. RESULTS: In the present study, the flavor characteristics of cold brew coffee with different roasting degrees were compared in detail by using chromatographic and electronic sensory approaches, and the flavor changes induced by freeze-drying were investigated. Pyrazine and heterocyclic compounds were the main aroma compounds in coffee, and gradually dominated with the increase of roasting. Pyridine was consistently present in cold brew coffees of different roasting degrees and showed significant gradient of quantity accumulation. Aroma compounds such as pyrazine, linalool and furfuryl acetate were the main contributors to coffee roasting, floral and fruity flavor. Freeze-drying preserved the fruity and floral aromas of medium-roasted cold brew coffee, whereas reducing the bitterness, astringency and acidity properties that are off-putting to consumers. CONCLUSION: The higher consumer acceptance and enjoyment in medium roast cold brew coffee may be related to its stronger floral and fruity aroma. The aroma profile qualities of freeze-drying processed medium roasted cold brewed coffee were more dominant and more suitable for freeze-drying processing than medium dark roasting. Application of freeze-drying for cold brew coffee will promote the convenience of drinking. The present study provides valuable technical guidance in improving the flavor and quality of cold brew coffee, and also promotes its commercialization process. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Semipinacol Rearrangement of Iododifluorohomoallyl Alcohols and Its Application in the Allylic C-H Esterification Reactions.

We herein present a study on the Ag(I)-mediated semipinacol rearrangement of iododifluorohomoallyl alcohols, the resulting allylic difluoromethyl ketones underwent oxidative allylic C-H esterification under palladium catalysis in the absence of external ligand. This process yielded a range of difluoromethyl ketones derived from allyl esters in a single operation. The reaction features broad scope of o-nitrobenzoic acids and homoallylic iododifluoroalcohols affording the targeted molecules in synthetically useful yields. Control experiments illustrated that the silver salt acted as not only a Lewis acid to promote the cleavage of a C-I bond and furnish the semipinacol rearrangement but also a co-oxidant in the catalytic cycle for the allylic C-H esterification.

The effect of discontinuing hypertonic saline or dornase alfa on mucociliary clearance in elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor treated people with cystic fibrosis: The SIMPLIFY-MCC Study.

Many people with CF (pwCF) desire a reduction in inhaled treatment burden after initiation of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor. The randomized, open-label SIMPLIFY study showed that discontinuing hypertonic saline (HS) or dornase alfa (DA) was non-inferior to continuation of each treatment with respect to change in lung function over a 6-week period. In this SIMPLIFY substudy, we used gamma scintigraphy to determine whether discontinuation of either HS or DA was associated with deterioration in the rate of in vivo mucociliary clearance (MCC) in participants ≥12 years of age. While no significant differences in MCC endpoints were associated with HS discontinuation, significant improvement in whole and peripheral lung MCC was observed after discontinuing DA. These results suggest that pwCF on ETI with mild lung disease do not experience a subclinical deterioration in MCC that could later impact health outcomes after discontinuing HS, and in fact may benefit from improved MCC after stopping DA treatment.

Insights into the mechanisms driving microbial community succession during pepper fermentation: Roles of microbial interactions and endogenous environmental changes.

Elucidating the driving mechanism of microbial community succession during pepper fermentation contributes to establishing efficient fermentation regulation strategies. This study utilized three-generation high-throughput sequencing technology, microbial co-occurrence network analysis, and random forest analysis to reveal microbial community succession processes and driving mechanisms during pepper fermentation. The results showed that more positive correlations than negative correlations were observed among microorganisms, with positive correlation proportions of 60 %, 51.03 %, and 71.43 % between bacteria and bacteria, fungi and fungi, and bacteria and fungi in sipingtou peppers, and 69.23 %, 54.93 %, and 79.44 % in zhudachang peppers, respectively. Microbial interactions, mainly among Weissella hellenica, Lactobacillus plantarum, Hanseniaspora opuntiae, and Kazachstania humillis, could drive bacterial and fungal community succession. Notably, the bacterial community successions during the fermentation of two peppers were similar, showing the transition from Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, Lactococcus lactis, Weissella ghanensis to Weissella hellenica and Lactobacillus plantarum. However, the fungal community successions in the two fermented peppers differed significantly, and the differential biomarkers were Dipodascus geotrichum and Kazachstania humillis. Differences in autochthonous microbial composition and inherent constituents brought by pepper varieties resulted in different endogenous environmental changes, mainly in fructose, malic acid, and citric acid. Furthermore, endogenous environmental factors could also drive microbial community succession, with succinic acid, lactic acid, and malic acid being the main potential drivers of bacterial community succession, whereas fructose, glucose, and succinic acid were the main drivers of fungal community succession. These results will provide insights into controlling fermentation processes by raw material combinations, optimization of environmental parameters, and microbial interactions.

The Regulatory Effect of Huangshui Polysaccharides on Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolites during In Vitro Fermentation.

Huangshui polysaccharides (HSPs) have attracted extensive attention recently for their biological activity and physicochemical property. This research investigated the extraction, structural characterization, and prebiotic activity of three different HSPs (HSP40-0, HSP60-0, and HSP80-0) in vitro to reveal the scientific support for the high-value utilization of Huangshui. HSPs were heteropolysaccharide with diverse structures and surface morphologies. Comprehensive analysis was conducted through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolite profiling techniques, and results showed that HSPs had different potentials to regulate the gut microbiota due to their different structures; for instance, both HSP40-0 and HSP80-0 could notably increase the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, whereas HSP60-0 could increase the relative abundance of Phascolarctobacterium. In addition, HSPs upregulated beneficial differential metabolites, especially short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Fermentation products containing these metabolites exhibited anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-treated Caco-2 cells. This study will provide reference for exploring the relationship between the natural polysaccharide structure and the prebiotic activity and widen the application of Huangshui.

Decoding Molecular Mechanism Underlying Human Olfactory Receptor OR8D1 Activation by Sotolone Enantiomers.

Sotolone, a chiral compound, plays an important role in the food industry. Herein, (R)-/(S)-sotolone were separated to determine their odor characteristics and thresholds in air (R-form: smoky, burned, herb, and green aroma, 0.0514 µg/m3; S-form: sweet, milk, acid, and nutty aroma, 0.0048 µg/m3). OR8D1 responses to (R)-/(S)-sotolone were detected in a HEK293 cell-based luminescence assay. (S)-Sotolone was a more potent agonist than (R)-sotolone (EC50 values of 84.98 ± 1.05 and 167.20 ± 0.25 µmol/L, respectively). Molecular dynamics simulations and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area analyses confirmed that the combination of (S)-sotolone and OR8D1 was more stable than that of (R)-sotolone. Odorant docking, multiple sequence alignments, site-directed mutagenesis, and functional studies with recombinant odorant receptors (ORs) in a cell-based luminescence assay identified 11 amino-acid residues that influence the enantioselectivity of OR8D1 toward sotolone significantly and that N2065.46 was indispensable to the activation of OR8D1 by (S)-sotolone.

Preparation of nanocellulose light porous material adsorbed with tannic acid and its application in fresh-keeping pad.

This study fabricated nanocellulose lightweight porous material (TOCNF-G-LPM-TA) as absorbent fresh-keeping pad for meat products, using TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibril (TOCNF) and gelatin as structural skeleton and tannic acid (TA) as antibacterial component of TOCNF lightweight porous material (TOCNF-G-LPM). The adsorption kinetics, capacity and mechanism of TOCNF-G-LPM in different initial concentrations of TA solutions were investigated, the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of TOCNF-G-LPM-TA and its fresh-keeping effect on refrigerated pork at 4 ℃ were studied. Due to strong hydrogen bonding and porous structure, TOCNF-G-LPM exhibited excellent TA adsorption ability (230 mg/g) conforming with pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. TA endowed TOCNF-G-LPM with good antioxidant and antibacterial activities. According to changes in appearance, pH and TVB-N values of pork during storage at 4 ℃, TOCNF-G-LPM-TA effectively extended the shelf life of refrigerated pork. This work provides a facile method for preparing nanocellulose based absorbent fresh-keeping pads.

Whole genome sequencing enables new genetic diagnosis for inherited retinal diseases by identifying pathogenic variants.

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a group of common primary retinal degenerative disorders. Conventional genetic testing strategies, such as panel-based sequencing and whole exome sequencing (WES), can only elucidate the genetic etiology in approximately 60% of IRD patients. Studies have suggested that unsolved IRD cases could be attributed to previously undetected structural variants (SVs) and intronic variants in IRD-related genes. The aim of our study was to obtain a definitive genetic diagnosis by employing whole genome sequencing (WGS) in IRD cases where the causative genes were inconclusive following an initial screening by panel sequencing. A total of 271 unresolved IRD patients and their available family members (n = 646) were screened using WGS to identify pathogenic SVs and intronic variants in 792 known ocular disease genes. Overall, 13% (34/271) of IRD patients received a confirmed genetic diagnosis, among which 7% were exclusively attributed to SVs, 4% to a combination of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and SVs while another 2% were linked to intronic variants. 22 SVs, 3 deep-intronic variants, and 2 non-canonical splice-site variants across 14 IRD genes were identified in the entire cohort. Notably, all of these detected SVs and intronic variants were novel pathogenic variants. Among those, 74% (20/27) of variants were found in genes causally linked to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), with the gene EYS being the most frequently affected by SVs. The identification of SVs and intronic variants through WGS enhances the genetic diagnostic yield of IRDs and broadens the mutational spectrum of known IRD-associated genes.

Preparation of reusable hydrogel spheres based on sodium alginate/Fe3O4 modified with carboxymethyl Huangshui polysaccharide and the efficient adsorption performance for methylene blue.

This study successfully constructed a novel multifunctional bio-adsorbent using sodium alginate (SA), ferroferric oxide (FFO), and carboxymethyl Huangshui polysaccharide (CMHSP) with rapid separation, pH sensitivity, efficient adsorption, and reusability for enhancing the removal of methylene blue (MB) in wastewater. FTIR, XRD, SEM, and VSM results indicated CMHSP improved the porosity of the hydrogel spheres, thus significantly enhancing the MB adsorption capacity with the rate-limiting controlled by chemical adsorption, intraparticle diffusion, and film diffusion. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained from Langmuir model of SA-FFO-CMHSP (186.57 mg/g) was obviously higher than that of SA-FFO (178.82 mg/g). Thermodynamic results showed that the MB adsorption process was endothermic, spontaneous, and favorable, and physical adsorption was dominant. Remarkably, MB adsorption maintained 87% ∼ 95% of the initial after four adsorption-desorption cycles, and proper carboxymethylation was conducive to MB adsorption over a broader range pH. These findings provided reference for designing new efficient bio-adsorbents and the recyclable utilization of Huangshui by-products, which was of great value.

Alteration of volatile profiles in heat-sterilized cloudy muskmelon juice as affected by pectin fractions.

BACKGROUND: Flavor is considered as a key quality attribute of fruit juice affecting consumer acceptance. During processing, the flavor loss of cloudy juice always occurs due to the variations of juice cloud particles. Pectin, a major component of cloud particles, plays an important role in cloud stability. In this work, we focused on the effects of variation of three pectin fractions caused by gentle centrifugation and clarification on the physicochemical properties, volatile content and sensory profile of heat-sterilized muskmelon cloudy juice. RESULTS: Centrifugation treatment reduced the total soluble solids and viscosity of cloudy juice and increased cloud stability. With centrifugation increased, the contents of most monosaccharides in the three pectin fractions were reduced. Most aroma-active aldehydes and alcohols, such as (2E,6Z)-nonadienal, 1-octen-3-ol and (E)-non-2-enal, after gentle centrifugation and clarification, were maintained, but most esters were decreased. The volatile compositions were highly related to the three pectin fractions. The addition of chelator-soluble pectin and sodium carbonate-soluble pectin could decrease the formation of dimethyl trisulfide and dimethyl disulfide in clarified juice, thereby improving the sensory profile. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that endogenous chelator-soluble pectin and sodium carbonate-soluble pectin can be used in heat-sterilized fruit juice to improve flavor quality, with an emphasis on a significant reduction in volatile sulfur compounds. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Preparation, Structural Analysis, and Intestinal Probiotic Properties of a Novel Oligosaccharide from Enzymatic Degradation of Huangshui Polysaccharide.

Huangshui polysaccharide (HSP) has attracted more and more interest due to its potential health benefits. Despite being an excellent source for the preparation of oligosaccharides, there are currently no relevant research reports on HSP. In the present study, a novel oligosaccharide (HSO) with a molecular weight of 1791 Da and a degree of polymerization of 11 was prepared through enzymatic degradation of crude HSP (cHSP). Methylation and NMR analyses revealed that the main chain of HSO was (1 → 4)-α-d-glucose with two O-6-linked branched chains. Morphological observations indicated that HSO exhibited smooth surface with lamellar and filamentary structure, and the glycan size ranged from 0.03 to 0.20 µm. Notably, HSO significantly promoted the proliferation of Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, and Phascolarctobacterium, thereby making positive alterations in intestinal microbiota composition. Moreover, HSO markedly increased the content of short-chain fatty acids during in vitro fermentation. Metabolomics analysis illustrated the important metabolic pathways primarily involving glucose metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism.

STING promotes invasion and migration of uveal melanoma through p38­MAPK signaling.

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular malignant tumor in adults, with a lack of effective treatment for metastasis and a poor prognosis. Stimulator of interferon genes (STING, also known as TMEM173) plays an important role in tumor development by regulating cell proliferation, metastasis and other cellular processes. However, the function of STING in UM remains unclear and requires further investigation. The present study analyzed the expression status of STING to elucidate the mechanisms underlying UM. The correlation between STING and the prognosis of UM was evaluated based on UM RNA­seq data and clinical information extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Quantification of STING in UM cell lines and tissues was performed using the Wes Separation protein immunoassay. The effects of STING on the proliferation, migration and invasion of UM cells were investigated using Cell Counting Kit­8, Transwell and wound healing experiments. Survival analysis demonstrated that high levels of STING in UM tissues indicated a poor prognosis. The expression of STING in UM tissues was higher than that in the choroid membranes. Furthermore, it was found that downregulation of STING expression in UM cells suppressed migration and invasion, whereas overexpression of STING significantly promoted migration and invasion. Notably, STING had no significant effect on UM cell proliferation. It was also identified that STING positively upregulated the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen­activated protein kinase (p38­MAPK) in UM cells, enhancing cell migration and invasion, which the p38­MAPK inhibitor SB203580 reversed. Finally, the results of the present study demonstrated that high STING expression in UM indicates a poor prognosis. STING was revealed to promote the migration and invasion of UM cells through p38­MAPK signaling.

The Prebiotic Activity of a Novel Polysaccharide Extracted from Huangshui by Fecal Fermentation In Vitro.

A novel polysaccharide, HSP80-2, with an average molecular weight of 13.8 kDa, was successfully isolated by the gradient ethanol precipitation (GEP) method from Huangshui (HS), the by-product of Chinese Baijiu. It was mainly composed of arabinose, xylose, and glucose with a molar ratio of 4.0:3.1:2.4, which was completely different from the previous reported HS polysaccharides (HSPs). Morphological observations indicated that HSP80-2 exhibited a smooth but uneven fragmented structure. Moreover, HSP80-2 exerted prebiotic activity evaluated by in vitro fermentation. Specifically, HSP80-2 was utilized by gut microbiota, and significantly regulated the composition and abundance of beneficial microbiota such as Phascolarctobacterium, Parabacteroides, and Bacteroides. Notably, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis illustrated that HSP80-2 enriched the pathways of amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism (Ko00520), galactose metabolism (ko00052), and the citrate cycle (TCA cycle) (ko00020). Meanwhile, the contents of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) mainly including acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid in the HSP80-2 group were remarkably increased, which was closely associated with the growth of Lachnoclostridium and Parabacteroides. These results showed that HSP80-2 might be used as a potential functional factor to promote human gut health, which further extended the high value utilization of HS.

Mechanism and ingredients prediction of Radix Salviae-Angelicae Sinensis Radix-Lycii Fructus-Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata-Ginkgo Folium for retinitis pigmentosa therapy using network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis.

Background: Radix Salviae (Danshen)-Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui)-Lycii Fructus (Gouqizi)-Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shudihuang)-Ginkgo Folium (Yinxinye) (RALRG) are commonly used herbs in China that have shown positive effects on retinitis pigmentosa (RP). However, little research has been performed on the impact of RALRG and RP. Herein, this study aimed to predict the mechanism and potential components of RALRG in treating RP. Methods: The ingredients of RALRG were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP); the potential targets of RP and RALRG were obtained from TCMSP, GeneCards, and the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to visualize PPIs. The functional enrichment was performed with the R program. A visual RALRG-RP-pathway pharmacology network was established by Cytoscape 3.9.1. Molecular docking was used to perform molecular docking and calculate the binding affinity. Results: A total of 132 effective active ingredients in RALRG with 248 target genes were screened; 92 intersection target genes were acquired from the intersection of RP- and RALRG-related genes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment indicated that these intersection targets were mainly involved in oxidative stress, metal ion response, and chemical stress. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that the PI3K-AKT, cellular senescence, and MAPK signaling pathways were closely related to the therapy of RP. In addition, a potential pharmacology network for RALRG-RP-pathway was constructed. AKT1 and JUN were considered the primary targets. Luteolin, quercetin, and kaempferol were identified as the vital three active ingredients. Conclusions: RALRG was found to be the main regulator for oxidative stress and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Luteolin, quercetin, and kaempferol were three promising complementary ingredients for RP treatment. This study may provide a theoretical basis for applying RALRG to screen potential drugs for RP.

Effect of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor on mucus and mucociliary clearance in cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (E/T/I) is highly effective clinically for those with at least one F508del-CFTR allele. The effects of E/T/I on mucociliary clearance (MCC) and sputum properties are unknown. We, therefore, sought to characterize the effects of E/T/I on in vivo MCC and sputum characteristics hypothesized to impact mucus transport. METHODS: Forty-four participants ≥12 years of age were enrolled into this prospective, observational trial prior to initiation of E/T/I and had baseline measurement of MCC and characterization of induced sputum and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples. Study procedures were repeated after 1 month of E/T/I treatment. RESULTS: Average age was 27.7 years with baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of 78.2 % predicted. 52 % of subjects had previously been treated with a 2-drug CFTR modulator combination. The average whole lung MCC rate measured over 60 min (WLAveClr60) significantly improved from baseline to post-E/T/I (14.8 vs. 22.8 %; p = 0.0002), as did other MCC indices. Sputum% solids also improved (modeled mean 3.4 vs. 2.2 %; p<0.0001), whereas non-significant reductions in sputum macrorheology (G', G") were observed. No meaningful changes in exhaled breath condensate endpoints (sialic acid:urea ratio, pH) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: E/T/I improved the hydration of respiratory secretions (% solids) and markedly accelerated MCC. These data confirm the link between CFTR function, mucus solid content, and MCC and help to define the utility of MCC and mucus-related bioassays in future efforts to restore CFTR function in all people with CF.

Unveiling innovation in aroma attribute evaluation of Niulanshan Baijiu: An advanced exploration of two different processing methods via food sensory omics and penalty analysis.

Niulanshan Baijiu (NLS), a notable variety of Baijiu known for its light flavor and extensive historical legacy, was subjected to a comparative analysis using two different processes: Hunzheng Xucha (HX) and Qingzheng Qingcha (QQ). The study combined sensory-oriented flavor analysis and penalty analysis to assess the differences between the two processes. Aroma compounds in NLS were extracted using liquid-liquid extraction and headspace solid phase microextraction. Gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry was employed to identify 46 aroma-active compounds, including the first-time discovery of ethyl isohexanoate and 2,4-nonadienal in NLS. Quantification of 35 compounds with odor activity value (OAV) ≥ 1 was achieved using internal standard curve methods. Sensory assessments by a cohort of 111 participants highlighted the preference for HX-NLS in terms of flavor, while QQ-NLS exhibited a sour-Chen aroma that required improvement. The study further revealed the significant impact of acetic acid, butyric acid, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, and 3-methylbutanal on the sour-Chen aroma in liquor.

Identification of nonvolatile chemical constituents in Chinese Huangjiu using widely targeted metabolomics.

Huangjiu is a traditional Chinese alcoholic beverage, whose non-volatile chemical profile remains unclarified. Here, the non-volatile compounds of Huangjiu were first identified using a widely targeted metabolomics analysis. In total, 1146 compounds were identified, 997 of them were identified in Huangjiu for the first time. Moreover, 113 compounds were identified as key active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines and 78 components were found as active pharmaceutical ingredients against 389 diseases. In addition, the comparative analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis revealed that Huangjiu from different regions differ in metabolite composition. Cofactor and amino acid biosynthesis and ABC transport were the dominant metabolic pathways. Furthermore, 7 metabolic pathways and 77 metabolic pathway regulatory markers were further found to be related with the different characteristics of different Huangjius. This study provides a theoretical and material basis for the quality control, health efficacy, and industrial development of Huangjiu.

Enhancement effect of odor and multi-sensory superposition on sweetness.

The impact of sugary foods on public health has contributed to the development of low-sugar and sugar-substituted products, and sugar reduction has become a major challenge for the food industry. There is growing empirical evidence that odor can enhance the perception of sweetness without increasing the caloric load. This current review summarizes the researches on odor-induced sweetness enhancement published in recent years and discusses the mechanisms and influencing factors of odor-sweetness interactions. In addition, by combing existing studies, this paper also summarizes the research methods and strategies to investigate odor-induced sweetness enhancement. Finally, the feasibility of synergistic enhancement of sweetness through the superposition of odor with other senses (texture, visual, etc.) is also discussed and analyzed. In conclusion, odor-induced sweetness enhancement may present an alternative or complementary approach for developing foods with less sugar.

Treatment of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa caused by RHO-P23H mutation with high-fidelity Cas13X in mice.

Mutations in Rhodopsin (RHO) gene commonly cause autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP) without effective therapeutic treatment so far. Compared with genomic DNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas9 system, Cas13 edits RNA for therapeutic applications, avoiding the risk of causing permanent changes in the genome. In particular, a compact and high-fidelity Cas13X (hfCas13X) recently has been developed to degrade targeted RNA with minimal collateral effects and could also be packaged in a single adeno-associated virus for efficient in vivo delivery. In this study, we engineered single-guide RNA for hfCas13X to specifically knock down human mutant Rhodopsin transcripts RHO-P23H with minimal effect on wild-type transcripts. Moreover, treatment with hfCas13X alleviated the adRP progression in both RHO-P23H overexpression-induced and humanized hRHOP23H/WT mouse models. Our study indicates the potential of hfCas13X in treating adRP caused by RHO mutations and other genetic diseases.