Egg Protein Research Articles

Patterns of protein intake and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes: results from NHANES

We aimed to look at the potential relationship between patterns of protein intake and risk of death in adults with type 2 diabetes. We included 4646 adults with type 2 diabetes participating in NHANES (1999–2018). We estimated intake of proteins from 11 animal- and plant-based food groups and then, used principal component analysis to explore data-driven patterns of protein intake. All-cause mortality was ascertained through linkage to National Death Index until December 31, 2019 (n = 969 deaths). Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Four dietary protein patterns were identified: “healthy” (high in proteins from legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, and fish and low in red meat protein), “red meat and egg” (high in red meat and egg proteins and low in fish and poultry proteins), “vegetables/fish” and “dairy/nuts” patterns. The HRs of all-cause mortality for the highest compared to the lowest quartile of “healthy” and “red meat and egg” protein patterns were, respectively, 0.77 (95%CI: 0.62, 0.97; Ptrend = 0.014) and 1.28 (95%CI: 1.06, 1.54; Ptrend = 0.033). Greater adherence to a healthy protein pattern may be associated with a reduced risk of death in patients with type 2 diabetes, while greater adherence to a dietary pattern rich in red meat and egg proteins and low in fish and poultry proteins may be associated with a higher risk.

Serodiagnosis of urogenital schistosomiasis and profiling of immunoreactive protein(s) in Schistosoma haematobium soluble egg and adult worm antigens.

To achieve schistosomiasis eradication plan by 2030, the development of efficient diagnosis is crucial. This study focuses on assessing the immunodiagnostic potential of S. haematobium (Sh) soluble egg antigen (SEA) and worm antigen (SWA) for urogenital schistosomiasis. Urine microscopy identified 50 S. haematobium-positive and 50 negative samples from a total of 500 examined. An additional 50 samples from a non-endemic area were included, bringing the total number of samples used for the assay to 150. Indirect ELISA immunoassays using SEA and SWA as the probing antigens evaluated 50 sera samples each from Sh positive, negative endemic (NE), and non-endemic (NNE) individuals. SDS-PAGE analysis of crude protein extracts was conducted, followed by Western blot analysis using primary antibodies from pooled Sh-infected sera samples. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. The AUC values for Sh SEA and SWA were 0.75 and 0.76 in NE samples, and 0.91 and 0.89 in NNE samples, respectively. Sensitivities 90 (95% CI: 78.64 - 95.65)/ 64.71 (95% CI: 52.17 - 75.92), and specificities 50 (95% CI: 36.64 - 63.36)/ 81.25 (95% CI: 63.56 - 92.79) were recorded for SEA and SWA, respectively in NE samples. In addition, sensitivities 90 (78.64 - 95.65)/ 92 (95% CI: 80.77 - 97.78), and specificities 72 (95% CI: 58.33 - 82.53)/ 72.00 (95% CI: 57.51 - 83.77) were recorded for SEA and SWA, respectively in NNE samples. The mean antibody titer against Sh SEA in infected samples was significantly higher than in non-infected samples (P <0.0001). Eight (8) immunoreactive protein bands; 4 each of SEA and SWA were identified, indicating potential for diagnostic tool development. Sh SEA and SWA demonstrate promise for diagnosing urogenital schistosomiasis in both endemic and non-endemic regions.

Evaluation of Label Compliance to Allergens in Imported Asian Food Sold in Northern Italy

Abstract Background The import of Asian food is strongly increasing in the EU. In Italy, the Asian market has expanded over the last 3 decades. Unfortunately, the labelling of these products often implies errors, mainly due to linguistic differences. Consequently, it can become a consistent problem regarding food safety, in particular for allergens declaration. According to EU Reg. 1169/2011 (Annex II), allergens must be labelled in bold and translated in the current language of the Member State. Asian food non-compliant labelling could enhance the probability of allergic consumers to get adverse events; accordingly, it is important to increase controls on the imported products. The present work investigates the label compliance to allergens on Asiatic products imported in Northern Italy. Methods Totally, 39 foodstuffs were tested for gluten, 93 for white egg proteins and 118 for milk proteins by commercial ELISA kits according to manufacturers’ instructions. Samples were considered non-compliant when the results were above 20 mg/Kg, the law limit for gluten, or above the milk LOD (10 µg/Kg) and the egg LOD (0.4 mg/Kg). Results Data showed 18% (CI 95% 0.09-0.32) of non-compliant samples for gluten: 6 samples &amp;gt; 80 mg/Kg (snacks and ready to eat meal) and 1 sample containing 48 mg/Kg (snack). In addition, 19.4 % (CI 95% 0.13-0.28) showed presence of egg proteins (noodles, snacks, patties and pasty). Finally, 13.6% (CI 95% 0.08-0.21) samples were irregular for undeclared milk (noodles and snacks). Conclusions Products label report their content and represent an important element for food trading and tracing. The results obtained confirm a high percentage of non-compliant labels, underlining how the consumption of imported products can represent a health risk for allergic consumers. The present work highlights the importance of imported food monitoring to guarantee the consumers health, and of the implementation of standardized/international regulated labelling rules. Key messages • Many non-compliant labels about allergens was observed on Asiatic products. • Correct labelling of allergens in imported food should be monitored to avoid adverse events.

Is human albumin injection the best choice to treat hypoalbuminemia?

Currently, there is an irrational use of drugs in the treatment of hypoproteinemia. This study evaluates the value of 12 injections to provide a basis for drug selection for the treatment of hypoproteinemia. The content of the first restrictive amino acid, the comprehensive quality of the total essential amino acid, and the closeness to the whole egg protein or FAO/WHO model were evaluated to compare their value in the amino acid synthesis of human serum albumin. A comparison was made between the matching degree of HA and therapeutic amino acids with the human plasma amino acid profile. Furthermore, the value and safety of synthetic human serum albumin were compared. The lowest synthetic value of human serum albumin was 18AA-V, and the highest was 18AA-II. The CS values of HA, 18AA-V, 18AA-II, 18AA-Ip, 18AA-IIp, and 19AA-Ip were 0.18, 0.58, 0.78, 0.55, 0.54, and 0.59, respectively. The similarity to egg protein was 0.81, 0.92, 0.94, 1.00, 1.18, and 1.18, respectively. The proximity values to FAO/WHO standards were 0.81, 0.85, 0.90, 1.36, 1.54, and 1.54, respectively. The changes in 3AA and the amino acid profile were matched when liver function was abnormal. When the renal function was abnormal, 9AA was matched. During trauma, 18AA-VII was matched. The amino acid profile of HA did not correspond. Patients with normal liver and kidney function should choose compound balanced amino acid injection, while patients with abnormalities should choose 3AA. Patients with renal dysfunction should choose 9AA. Trauma patients should choose 18AA-VII.

Exogenous Amyloid Fibrils Can Cause Significant Upregulation of Neurodegenerative Disease Proteins.

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, are associated with the formation of amyloid fibrils. In familial cases, the mutant causative genes accentuate disease progression through overexpression or misfolding of amyloidogenic proteins. Besides, considerable amyloidosis cases arise from external factors, but their origin and mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Herein, we found that amyloid fibrils generated from egg and milk proteins, in addition to their nutritional effects to intestinal cells, can selectively reduce the viability of nervous cells as well as pancreatic islet cells. In contrast, soy protein amyloid fibrils lacked cytotoxicity to the aforementioned cells. This protein source and cell type-dependent cytotoxicity are demonstrated to be associated with the significant upregulation of amyloidogenic proteins. The finding was also confirmed by the vein injection of beta-lactoglobulin fibrils to mice, exhibiting the pronounced upregulations of amyloid beta1-42 (Aβ1-42) and islet amyloid polypeptide in vivo. The study therefore provides insight into the health implications of exogenous amyloid fibrils.

ANALISIS HARGA PANGAN POKOK TERHADAP KETAHANAN PANGAN DI INDONESIA

Food security ensures that sufficient, high-quality food is accessible to everyone for optimal consumption. Rising food prices can severely impact food security, especially for economically vulnerable groups. This research investigates the relationship between staple food prices and food security in Indonesia, focusing on factors like rice energy intake, egg protein intake, Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) per capita, and regional conditions on Java, Bali, and other islands. Data from all Indonesian provinces for 2018-2020 is analyzed using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression method. The Food Security Index (IKP) comes from the National Food Agency’s Food Security Index Book, and food price data is sourced from the National Strategic Food Price Information Center (PIHPS). Control data such as GRDP per capita is from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), while rice energy and egg protein intake data are from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Food Consumption Directory. The analysis reveals that rising rice prices from 2018 to 2020 significantly negatively affected food security. The study recommends evaluating rice price policies to maintain stability and enhance food accessibility. Similar evaluations for egg prices are also suggested to ensure protein availability for the community.

Dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma alleviated the immunoreactivity of egg white proteins with improved digestibility and functional properties

With the increasing number of children allergic to egg worldwide, there is an urgent need to develop strategies for effectively utilizing egg protein. As a novel food processing that can effectively reduce allergenicity and enhance protein quality and functional properties, cold plasma (CP) is gaining attention. The study investigated the impacts of the dielectric barrier discharge CP on the immunoreactivity, in vitro digestibility, functional properties, and structural changes of egg white protein (EWP). The results showed that the EWP treated with CP for 30 min had a significant decrease in immunoglobulin (IgG)-binding capacity by approximately 20% and improved in vitro digestibility. Further studies demonstrated that the decrease in the IgG-binding capacity of EWP correlated well with the alterations in the secondary and tertiary structures. The content of α-helix was decreased by 6.5% and the surface hydrophobicity increased by 2.5 folds after the 30-min treatment, compared with the untreated samples. The oxidation of peptide amino groups induces structural changes, accompanied by the oxidation of amino acid residues. This phenomenon has been validated through surface hydrophobicity and multispectral analysis. Additionally, CP also improved the foaming and emulsifying capacity of EWP by 140% and 8.03%, respectively. These findings suggest that CP treatment could be served as a potential technology to reduce the immunoreactivity, and improve the in vitro digestibility and functionality of EWP.

Exploring the egg-mediated-enhancement mechanism against the autoclaving-induced textural deterioration of instant wet noodles

To improve the eating quality of instant wet noodles sterilized via autoclaving, liquid whole egg (LWE) was used as a reinforcer in the noodle recipe and its enhancement mechanism was evaluated. The results revealed that autoclaving significantly decreased the tensile distances of noodles (p < 0.05). The extent of textural deterioration increased with increasing autoclaving temperature. However, the addition of LWE compensated this deterioration. Moreover, LWE inhibited protein unfolding during autoclaving by crosslinking egg proteins with gliadin. The chemical interaction results revealed that the concentration of disulfide bonds increased from 48.95 to 94.96 μmol/g when 20 g/100 g LWE was added to the noodle recipe accompanied by a high proportion of stable conformations (gauche−gauche−gauche), which were transformed to a less stable conformation with increasing autoclaving temperature. A higher concentration of disulfide bonds and stable conformations in instant wet noodles made with LWE inhibited the unfolding of the gluten structure upon autoclaving, stabilizing the secondary structure and contributing to a more compact network upon autoclaving.

β-Citronellol: a potential anti-inflammatory and gastro-protective agent-mechanistic insights into its modulatory effects on COX-II, 5-LOX, eNOS, and ICAM-1 pathways through in vitro, in vivo, in silico, and network pharmacology studies

BackgroundThe current study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and pronounced gastro-protective activities of β- Citronellol using in vitro, in vivo assays and in silico approaches.MethodsIn vitro assays, denaturation of bovine serum albumin, egg protein, and human Red Blood Cells (RBCs) membrane stabilization were performed, using Piroxicam as standard. For in vivo assessment, Histamine (0.1 ml from 1% w/v) and Formaldehyde (0.1 ml from 2% v/v) were used to mediate inflammation. In silico molecular docking and network pharmacology were employed to probe the possible target genes mediating gastroprotective effect of β-Citronellol at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, using indomethacin-induced (25 mg/kg i.p) gastric ulcer in rats. Moreover, Gastric tissues were evaluated for morphological, histopathological, and bio-chemical analysis of PGE2, COX-I, COX-II, 5-LOX, eNOS, ICAM-1, oxygen-free radical scavengers (SOD, CAT), and oxidative stress marker (MDA).Resultsβ-Citronellol prevented denaturation of proteins and RBCs membrane stabilization with maximum effect observed at 6,400 µg/mL. Citronellol decreased rat’s paw edema. Network pharmacology and docking studies revealed gastro-protective potential of Citronellol possibly mediated through arachidonic acid pathways by targeting COX-I, COX-II, PGE2, and 5-LOX. Citronellol reduced the ulcer indices, and histopathological changes. Further, β-Citronellol (50 and 100 mg/kg) increased gastric PGE2, COX-1, and eNOS; while suppressing COX-2, 5-LOX and ICAM-1. Citronellol markedly enhanced the oxidative balance in isolated rat stomach tissues.ConclusionsThe anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and gastro-protective effects of β-Citronellol against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer model in rats through mediating COX-I, COX-II, PGE2, 5-LOX, eNOS, and ICAM-1 inflammatory markers.Graphical abstract

Antioxidant Activity and Hypoallergenicity of Egg Protein Matrices Containing Polyphenols from Citrus Waste.

This study reports on the interactions of egg proteins, which represent a major health concern in food allergy, with polyphenols obtained from orange and lemon peels. The antioxidant properties of such citrus peel extracts prior to protein binding were evaluated. The resulting edible, and therefore inherently safe, matrices exhibit reduced IgE binding compared to pure proteins in indirect immunological assays (ELISA) using individual sera from patients allergic to ovalbumin and lysozyme. The reduced allergenicity could arise from the interactions with polyphenols, which alter the structure and functionality of the native proteins. It is hypothesized that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the polyphenols, described as inhibitors of the allergic response, could add immunomodulatory features to the hypoallergenic complexes. A docking analysis using lysozyme was conducted to scrutinize the nature of the protein-polyphenol interactions. An in silico study unravelled the complexity of binding modes depending on the isoforms considered. Altogether, the presented results validate the antioxidant properties and reduced allergenicity of polyphenol-fortified proteins. Lastly, this study highlights the upgrading of vegetable wastes as a source of natural antioxidants, thus showing the benefits of a circular economy in agri-food science.

Enhancing laying performance and immunity via probiotic and vitamin additives during induced molting.

Molting is induced in commercial laying hens to rejuvenate the reproductive system and increase egg production. However, this process causes stress and reduces bird health and performance. The experiment was conducted to study the effect of multi probiotics and vitamin additives on induced molting in 240 ISA Brown hens. Hens were randomly divided into four groups receiving probiotic and vitamin additives (I-IV) during different period of molting. During the whole molting process, the laying performance indexes such as egg laying rate, egg quality, ovary weight and oviduct lengths were measured, and the spleen index, serum immunoglobulin, immune response of NDV and AIV vaccine were monitored. Molted hens resumed 50% egg production in just 37 days, with 1.62% mortality. Egg quality such as egg weight, yolk color, Haugh unit, eggshell strength and protein height were significantly improved. After the second production peak, the reproductive organs and immune organs returned to normal, and the immune antibody titer of NDV vaccine increased significantly. Molting with probiotic and vitamin additives improve the laying performance and egg quality, reduce mortality, significantly improve immune function and vaccine titer, and help to enhance disease resistance and maintain production performance of aged laying hens.

Baked Egg Oral Immunotherapy: Current State in Pediatric Age.

Hen's egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in the Western world, with an increase in recent years. It affects about 9.5% of the pediatric population, and the onset most often occurs before the first year of life. The occurrence of spontaneous oral tolerance acquisition varies among studies, but it is generally high by school age. Nowadays, allergen immunotherapy may represent the only therapeutic strategy able to modify the natural history of hen's egg allergy. Specifically, many children with hen's egg allergy may tolerate baked eggs. Food processing, specifically high temperatures, alters the allergenicity of hen's egg proteins by causing conformational changes in allergen epitopes, which makes them less allergenic. This review aims to discuss the scientific evidence in the field of baked egg oral immunotherapy in hen's egg-allergic children, with a meticulous examination of the pertinent literature surrounding the subject matter.

First Report of Stem Blight of Mungbean (Vigna radiata) Caused by Diaporthe longicolla in the United States.

Mungbean (Vigna radiata) is primarily grown in Asia and directly consumed by humans. U.S. consumers embraced mungbean as a plant-based protein in vegan eggs and meat substitutes. New cultivars are being developed for American farmers because of the crop's tolerance to heat and drought, and its adaptability to current farming infrastructure. Mungbean's short season complements various cropping systems such as intercropping, alternative cropping, and green manure. With rotations and inclusion with soybean systems, there is a concern about the overlap of common pathogens for soybean and mungbean. During August 2022 when mungbeans reached full maturity (growth stage R6), reddish-brown and necrotic stem lesions with linear rows of black pycnidia were observed on Berken and OK2000 cultivars at fields located in Hancock County, IA and Story County, IA in the United States. Pycnidia measured 0.5-0.6mm in length. Disease incidence was approximately 10% of plants in Hancock County, IA and less than 3% of plants in Story County, IA. Pycnidia from 16 plants were excised and immersed in a 0.5% NaOCl solution for 1 min, rinsed with autoclaved distilled water, and placed onto potato dextrose agar (PDA). Eighteen isolates were hyphal tipped and grown on PDA and were stored at 25°C. Isolates were then visually identified by culture and conidia morphology (Hobbs et al. 1985, Santos et al. 2011). Colonies were cream to white, dense, and floccose. Large black stromata were formed in a concentric pattern or scattered; alpha conidia were ellipsoidal. Template DNA for PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA operon (ITS) and the beta-tubulin gene (TUB) was extracted from 18 isolates by scraping mycelia with a sterile pipette tip and transferring it into 50 ul of PrepMan Ultra Sample Reagent (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, California, USA). Fungal primers were ITS1 and ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and Bt-2F/Bt-2R (Udayanga et al. 2014). Sequences of isolates obtained from fields in both counties were identical, providing no species diversity. GenBank accession numbers for the ITS region were PP105598 and PP105599; PP108254 and PP108255 for TUB sequences. BLAST results showed the ITS 550/550 base pairs with type specimen D. longicolla ATCC 60326 GB NR_144924 and the TUB 446/446 base pairs with type specimen D. longicolla ATCC 60325 GB KJ610883. Thus, the isolates were identified as Diaporthe longicolla (Hobbs) J.M. Santos, Vrandecic & A.J.L. Phillips based on morphology and molecular characters (Santo et al 2011; Udayanga et al. 2014). To confirm the pathogenicity of the D. longicolla isolates, twenty mungbean plants (cv. Berken and OK2000) were grown in the greenhouse at 85% RH and 16hr light for 20 days. Inoculum was prepared by placing sterile toothpicks on 1/3 PDA with a single representative isolate from each field location for 21 days (Ghimire et al. 2019). Mungbean plants were grown in a 10cm-by-10cm pot containing a greenhouse professional growing mix (Sungrow, Agawam, Massachusetts, USA) and grown for 30 days post emergence. After 12 days of growing, a 3mm segment of the infested toothpick was inserted into a stem wound below the first trifoliate and sealed with parafilm. A sterile toothpick was inserted into the control plants. After 14 days, red lesions extended downward 1 to 3 cm from the inoculation site, and white mycelial was present in the wound. At 21 days red lesions spanned 3 to 9 cm upward and downward from the inoculation site. Pycnidia were present on collapsed stem tissue, and leaves became chlorotic. Damage was limited to 2mm from the mock-inoculation site, with no discoloration in the control plants. Symptomatic tissues were plated and compared to the original isolates. Alpha conidia were ellipsoidal with the base end rounded. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Diaporthe longicolla causing disease on mungbean within the U.S. and worldwide. The presence of this disease in two locations suggests the potential for Diaporthe longicolla to be a serious disease of mungbean in the future.

Impaired calcium influx underlies skewed T helper cell differentiation in children with IgE-mediated food allergies.

Reasons for Th2 skewing in IgE-mediated food allergies remains unclear. Clinical observations suggest impaired T cell activation may drive Th2 responses evidenced by increased atopic manifestations in liver transplant patients on tacrolimus (a calcineurin inhibitor). We aimed to assess differentiation potential, T cell activation and calcium influx of naïve CD4+ T cells in children with IgE-mediated food allergies. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from infants in the Starting Time for Egg Protein (STEP) Trial were analyzed by flow cytometry to assess Th1/Th2/Treg development. Naïve CD4+ T cells from children with and without food allergies were stimulated for 7 days to assess Th1/Th2/Treg transcriptional factors and cytokines. Store operated calcium entry (SOCE) was measured in children with and without food allergies. The effect of tacrolimus on CD4+ T cell differentiation was assessed by treating stimulated naïve CD4+ T cells from healthy volunteers with tacrolimus for 7 days. Egg allergic infants had impaired development of IFNγ+ Th1 cells and FoxP3+ transitional CD4+ T cells compared with non-allergic infants. This parallels reduced T-bet, IFNγ and FoxP3 expression in naïve CD4+ T cells from food allergic children after invitro culture. SOCE of naïve CD4+ T cells was impaired in food allergic children. Naïve CD4+ T cells treated with tacrolimus had reduced IFNγ, T-bet, and FoxP3, but preserved IL-4 expression. In children with IgE-mediated food allergies, dysregulation of T helper cell development is associated with impaired SOCE, which underlies an intrinsic impairment in Th1 and Treg differentiation. Along with tacrolimus-induced Th2 skewing, this highlights an important role of SOCE/calcineurin pathway in T helper cell differentiation.

Emulsifying properties of egg proteins: Influencing factors, modification techniques, and applications.

As an essential food ingredient with good nutritional and functional properties and health benefits, eggs are widely utilized in food formulations. In particular, egg proteins have good emulsification properties and can be commonly used in various food products, such as mayonnaise and baked goods. Egg protein particles can act as stabilizers for Pickering emulsions because they can effectively adsorb at the oil-water interface, reduce interfacial tension, and form a stable physical barrier. Due to their emulsifying properties, biocompatibility, controlled release capabilities, and ability to protect bioactive substances, egg proteins have become ideal carriers for encapsulating and delivering functional substances. The focus of this review is to summarize current advances in using egg proteins as emulsifiers. The effects of influencing factors (temperature, pH, and ionic strength) and various modification methods (physical, chemical, and biological modification) on the emulsifying properties of egg proteins are discussed. In addition, the application of egg proteins as emulsifiers in food products is presented. Through in-depth research on the emulsifying properties of egg proteins, the optimization of their applications in food, biomedical, and other fields can be achieved.

Modification of the Protein Amino Acid Content in Hen Eggs as a Consequence of Different Concentrations of Lupine and Soy in Feed.

The effect of the diet modification (soybean and lupine addition) on the content of protein and amino acids (AA) in eggs was studied. Both the sampling day and the diet influenced the total protein content. In albumen, the lowest protein content (10.6%) was noted after administering a diet containing 25% lupine; in the same egg the yolk contained the most proteins (16.7%). In the content of nonessential AA (NAA) in egg yolks, differences were noted only for cysteine, with its the highest content in the yolks of the control group. The stable content of essential yolk amino acids (EAA) was observed only for isoleucine, leucine, tryptophan and phenylalanine. The highest contents of EAA and NAA were recorded in the yolks of the control group (~47 and ~53 g/100 g of protein, respectively) and in the group with 25% additions of lupine (~42 and ~51 g/100 g of protein, respectively). AA with constant content in the tested albumens were methionine, tryptophan and alanine. The highest content of EAA (>~42 g/100 g of protein) and NAA (>~62 g/100 g of protein) were determined in albumen of eggs determined in the group with at least 20% additions of lupine. The highest content of EAA for humans delivered eggs from groups 4-6 (with the addition of soy into the diet ≤5%). The protein sources used in the hen diet significantly influenced the content of protein and individual AA in the produced eggs.

Phylogenetic variations in a novel family of hyperstable apple snail egg proteins: insights into structural stability and functional trends.

The relationship between protein stability and functional evolution is little explored in proteins purified from natural sources. Here, we investigated a novel family of egg proteins (Perivitellin-1, PV1) from Pomacea snails. Their remarkable stability and clade-related functions in most derived clades (Canaliculata and Bridgesii) make them excellent candidates for exploring this issue. To that aim, we studied PV1 (PpaPV1) from the most basal lineage, Flagellata. PpaPV1 displays unparalleled structural and kinetic stability, surpassing PV1s from derived clades, ranking among the most hyperstable proteins documented in nature. Its spectral features contribute to a pale egg coloration, exhibiting a milder glycan binding lectin activity with a narrower specificity than PV1s from the closely related Bridgesii clade. These findings provide evidence for substantial structural and functional changes throughout the genus' PV1 evolution. We observed that structural and kinetic stability decreased in a clade-related fashion and was associated with large variations in defensive traits. For instance, pale PpaPV1 lectin turns potent in the Bridgesii clade, adversely affecting gut morphology, while giving rise to brightly colored PV1s providing eggs with a conspicuous, probably warning signal in the Canaliculata clade. This work provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of PV1s from various apple snail species within a phylogenetic framework, offering insights into the interplay among their structural features, stability profiles and functional roles. More broadly, our work provides one of the first examples from natural evolution showing the crucial link among protein structure, stability and evolution of new functions.

Optimizing Oil Recovery with Eco-Friendly Biopolymer-Stabilized Aluminum Oxide Nanofluids: A Comparative Investigation of Egg and Soy Proteins

Optimizing Oil Recovery with Eco-Friendly Biopolymer-Stabilized Aluminum Oxide Nanofluids: A Comparative Investigation of Egg and Soy Proteins

Изучение некоторых функциональных характеристик ферментативных гидролизатов пищевых белков

Food allergy is a matter of global concern, proteins being a popular allergen worldwide. Enzymatic protein hydrolysates serve as hypoallergenic components in functional foods. This article describes enzymatic hydrolysates of egg and soy proteins as potential antigens, sensitizers, and antioxidants. The research featured soy protein isolate and egg albumin. The protein hydrolysates were obtained in a two-step process with pepsin and trypsin to measure hydrolysis, total antioxidant activity, and residual antigenicity. The sensitizing ability of native proteins and their hydrolysates was studied using a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test of paw swelling in mice. The egg albumin and soy protein were hydrolyzed by sequentially adding the proteases, i.e., pepsin and trypsin. The degree of protein hydrolysis was calculated against total nitrogen and its contents in non-hydrolyzed raw materials and hydrolysate. It was 82.6% for the egg hydrolysate and 88.3% for the soy hydrolysate, the total antioxidant activity being 114.3 and 91.4 mg/100 mL, respectively. The residual antigenicity of the hydrolysates determined by ELISA in a sandwich version was 1.55×10–4 and 3.30×10–4 RU, respectively. The native egg and soy proteins demonstrated good allergenic properties, and the DTH response index increased fivefold. The hydrolysates reduced the DTH response indices by an average of 3.5 for egg hydrolysate and 2.6 times for soy hydrolysate. The resulting enzymatic hydrolysates of egg albumin and soy protein demonstrated a high degree of hydrolysis and antioxidant activity. They had low residual antigenicity (10–4) and low sensitizing ability. The resulting enzymatic hydrolysates could be used as hypoallergenic components and antioxidants in new functional foods.

O-284 Evidence for gamete recognition mechanisms in humans

Abstract Egg-sperm binding and fusion are the central events of fertilization and are essential for the formation of a new individual. While decades of research have provided a thorough understanding of the cellular processes, the identity of molecules orchestrating these events, along with their mechanism of action, remain elusive. Often the interactions established by cell surface proteins are weak and transient, making them challenging to deal with using standard biochemical methods, like purifications that involve stringent washing and denaturing conditions. Therefore, our knowledge of membrane proteins required for the sperm-egg interaction remains scarce and the research is further complicated by the limited amount of biological material, especially the eggs. Thanks to experimental approaches specifically developed to investigate cell surface interactions, we identified the first binding pair essential for fertilization in mammals 1. The pair is made of the egg protein JUNO and the sperm protein IZUMO1. Recently another membrane protein, the Fc receptor-like 3 (MAIA), has been indicated as a binding partner of IZUMO1 and suggested to be required for human fertilization2, but the data needs to be further investigated. Indeed, the same biochemical methods used to identify the JUNO-IZUMO1 binding pair, found no direct evidence of binding between MAIA and IZUMO13. In the last decade more sperm proteins have been shown to be essential for sperm-egg interaction other than IZUMO1, and all findings have been validated using transgenic mouse models. Among these sperm proteins, Tmem95 was firstly discovered in bulls, it was later confirmed to be required for fertilization in mice, and new evidence suggests that its role is conserved in humans4,5. Notably, the role played by each of the novel sperm candidates remains elusive and little is known on whether and how these cell surface molecules interact with one another. Insights into the architecture of the mammalian egg-sperm fusion synapse are now emerging with the use of AlphaFold2, an artificial intelligence-based program capable of predicting proteins’ 3D structure. Remarkably, AlphaFold2 not only predicts the structure of extracellular proteins essential for fertilization, also suggests the formation of a pentameric complex composed of three sperm (IZUMO1, SPACA6 and TMEM81) and two egg (JUNO and CD9) proteins which is likely to be important for gamete recognition and fusion6,7. In a high throughput screening we have recently identified a novel binding partner of IZUMO1, expressed in human leukocytes, potentially linking the reproductive and immune system (unpublished).