High-quality Protein Research Articles

Unlocking the nutritional potential: amino acid profile of eight Indian food fishes and their role in meeting recommended dietary allowances

IntroductionProteins and amino acids, as vital biomolecules, are not only part of key metabolic pathways in the body but are also essential for tissue repair, enzyme function, and hormone regulation. They also serve as building blocks for the formation of signaling molecules, such as neurotransmitters and catecholamines. Additionally, amino acids are the primary building components of proteins. Fish serves as a vital source of high-quality animal protein and amino acids, playing a crucial role in supporting human nutrition.MethodsHigh-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using fluorescence detector was employed to investigated the amino acid content of eight food fishes from diverse aquatic habitats.ResultsThe study revealed that the small indigenous fish (SIF) Systomus sarana and the marine fish Sardinella melanura were rich sources of all essential amino acids. Furthermore, estuarine fish like Pisodonophis boro can be recommended for specific amino acids like arginine, histidine, leucine, and valine, while Setipinna phasa is suggested for cysteine.DiscussionThese recommendations rely on the possible contribution of these fishes to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) regarding each nutrient. The insights gained from this study could be utilized as recommendations to meet amino acid requirement using fish as a natural supplement.

Effects of ultrasound pretreatment on the structure, IgE binding capacity, functional properties and bioactivity of whey protein hydrolysates via multispectroscopy and peptidomics revealed

Whey protein is an important food ingredient, but it is also considered a major food allergen. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasound pretreatment on the structure, IgE binding capacity, functional properties and biological activity of whey protein isolate (WPI) hydrolysates (WPH), including WPI hydrolyzed by a combination of enzymes from Bromelain and ProteAXH (BA-WPI) and WPI hydrolyzed by a combination of enzymes from Papain W-40 and ProteAXH (PA-WPI). The IgE binding capacity of BA-WPI and PA-WPI was reduced to 40.28% and 30.17%, respectively, due to disruption/exposure/shielding of conformational and linear epitopes. The IgE binding capacity of sonicated WPI was increased, but ultrasound pretreatment further reduced the IgE binding capacity of the hydrolysates to 32.89% and 28.04%. This is due to the fact that ultrasound pretreatment leads to conformational changes including increased α-helix and β-sheet structure, exposure of aromatic amino acids, surface hydrophobicity, and increased sulfhydryl content, which increases the accessibility of allergenic epitopes to WPI by the enzyme. Multispectral and LC-MS/MS results further indicated that ultrasound pretreatment altered the conformational and primary structural changes of the hydrolysates. The thermograms showed that ultrasound pretreatment mainly altered the epitope spectra of β-lactoglobulin hydrolysates, while it had less effect on the epitope spectra of α-lactalbumin hydrolysates. Additionally, ultrasound pretreatment significantly improved the foaming properties, antioxidant activity, and α-glucosidase inhibition of the hydrolysates without impairing the solubility and emulsification properties of the hydrolysates. Therefore, ultrasound pretreatment is a feasible method to reduce the allergenicity of WPH and to improve their functional properties and bioactivity. Notably, ultrasonic pretreatment improved the effectiveness and efficiency of WPI hydrolysis, which is a feasible method to produce high-quality protein feedstock in a green, efficient, and economical way.

Anti-Inflammatory, Cytotoxic, and Genotoxic Effects of Soybean Oligopeptides Conjugated with Mannose.

Soy protein is considered to be a high-quality protein with a range of important biological functions. However, the applications of soy protein are limited due to its poor solubility and high level of allergenicity. Its peptides have been of interest because they exert the same biological functions as soy protein, but are easier to absorb, more stable and soluble, and have a lower allergenicity. Moreover, recent research found that an attachment of chemical moieties to peptides could improve their properties including their biodistribution, pharmacokinetic, and biological activities with lower toxicity. This study therefore aimed to acquire scientific evidence to support the further application and safe use of the soybean oligopeptide (OT) conjugated with allulose (OT-AL) or D-mannose (OT-Man). The anti-inflammation, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity of OT, OT-AL, and OT-Man were investigated. The results showed that OT, AL, Man, OT-AL, and OT-Man at doses of up to 1000 µg/mL were not toxic to HepG2 (liver cancer cells), HEK293 (kidney cells), LX-2 (hepatic stellate cells), and pre- and mature-3T3-L1 (fibroblasts and adipocytes, respectively), while slightly delaying the proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells (macrophages) at high doses. In addition, the oligopeptides at up to 800 µg/mL were not toxic to isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and did not induce hemolysis in human red blood cells (RBCs). OT-Man (200 and 400 µg/mL), but not OT, AL, Man, and OT-AL, significantly reduced the production of NO and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 cells, suggesting that the mannose conjugation of soy peptide had an inhibitory effect against LPS-stimulated inflammation. In addition, the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) stimulated by LPS was significantly reduced by OT-AL (200 and 400 µg/mL) and OT-Man (400 µg/mL). The tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level was significantly decreased by OT (400 µg/mL), AL (400 µg/mL), OT-AL (200 µg/mL), and OT-Man (200 and 400 µg/mL) in the LPS-stimulated cells. The conjugation of the peptides with either AL or Man is likely to be enhance the anti-inflammation ability to inhibit the secretion of cytokines. As OT-Man exhibited a high potential to inhibit LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages, its mutagenicity ability was then assessed in bacteria and Drosophila. These findings showed that OT-Man did not trigger DNA mutations and was genome-safe. This study provides possible insights into the health advantages and safe use of conjugated soybean peptides.

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of faba bean protein isolate: Structural, functional, and thermal properties. Part 2/2

Environmental concerns linked to animal-based protein production have intensified interest in sustainable alternatives, with a focus on underutilized plant proteins. Faba beans, primarily used for animal feed, offer a high-quality protein source with promising bioactive compounds for food applications. This study explores the efficacy of ultrasound-assisted extraction under optimal conditions (123 W power, 1:15 g/mL solute/solvent ratio, 41 min sonication, 623 mL total volume) to isolate faba bean protein (U-FBPI). The ultrasound-assisted method achieved a protein extraction yield of 19.75 % and a protein content of 92.87 %, outperforming the control method’s yield of 16.41 % and protein content of 89.88 %. Electrophoretic analysis confirmed no significant changes in the primary structure of U-FBPI compared to the control. However, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed modifications in the secondary structure due to ultrasound treatment. The U-FBPI demonstrated superior water and oil holding capacities compared to the control protein isolate, although its foaming capacity was reduced by ultrasound. Thermal analysis indicated minimal impact on the protein’s thermal properties under the applied ultrasound conditions. This research highlights the potential of ultrasound-assisted extraction for improving the functional properties of faba bean protein isolates, presenting a viable approach for advancing plant-based food production and contributing to sustainable protein consumption.

One-step purification and characterization of a haloprotease from Micrococcus sp. PC7 for the production of protein hydrolysates from Andean legumes.

The high content and quality of protein in Andean legumes make them valuable for producing protein hydrolysates using proteases from bacteria isolated from extreme environments. This study aimed to carry out a single-step purification of a haloprotease from Micrococcus sp. PC7 isolated from Peru salterns. In addition, characterize and apply the enzyme for the production of bioactive protein hydrolysates from underutilized Andean legumes. The PC7 protease was fully purified using only tangential flow filtration (TFF) and exhibited maximum activity at pH 7.5 and 40°C. It was characterized as a serine protease with an estimated molecular weight of 130kDa. PC7 activity was enhanced by Cu2+ (1.7-fold) and remained active in the presence of most surfactants and acetonitrile. Furthermore, it stayed completely active up to 6% NaCl and kept ̴ 60% of its activity up to 8%. The protease maintained over 50% of its activity at 25°C and 40°C and over 70% at pH from 6 to 10 for up to 24h. The determined Km and Vmax were 0.1098mg mL-1 and 273.7 U mL-1, respectively. PC7 protease hydrolyzed 43%, 22% and 11% of the Lupinus mutabilis, Phaseolus lunatus and Erythrina edulis protein concentrates, respectively. Likewise, the hydrolysates from Lupinus mutabilis and Erythrina edulis presented the maximum antioxidant and antihypertensive activities, respectively. Our results demonstrated the feasibility of a simple purification step for the PC7 protease and its potential to be applied in industrial and biotechnological processes. Bioactive protein hydrolysates produced from Andean legumes may lead to the development of nutraceuticals and functional foods contributing to address some United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Major dietary patterns and their associations with total weight loss and weight loss composition 2–4 years after sleeve gastrectomy

BackgroundFood intakes 1–2 years following bariatric surgery depend more on patients than the surgery’s gastrointestinal tract changes. This study aimed to determine the major dietary patterns of patients after the first two years of sleeve gastrectomy and to investigate their associations with total weight loss (TWL) and the proportion of TWL as fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) loss.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 146 patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy 2–4 years after surgery. Dietary patterns were determined using principal component analysis based on the 19 food groups. The percentage of FM loss relative to TWL (%FML) and FFM loss relative to TWL (%FFML) were calculated. A suboptimal clinical response was defined as a TWL of less than 25%. High FM loss and excessive FFM loss were defined based on the highest tertiles. Linear and logistic regression models were used to derive unstandardized (B) coefficients and odds ratios (OR), with dietary pattern scores serving as both a continuous and a binary variable (higher vs. lower adherence groups based on median).ResultsTwo predominant dietary patterns were retained. Each 1-unit increase in the first dietary pattern score characterized by high intakes of fast foods, soft drinks, processed meats, sugar confectionary, salty snacks, grains, and organ meats was associated with higher %FFML (B = 1.99; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34, 3.66), lower %FML (B = − 1.84; 95% CI − 3.49, − 0.20), and higher odds of excessive FFM loss (OR = 1.84; 95% CI 1.09, 3.11). Participants with higher adherence to the first dietary pattern had lower %TWL, and greater odds of suboptimal clinical response and excessive FFM loss than those with lower adherence. Each 1-unit increase in score for the second dietary pattern characterized by a high intake of fruits, dairy, vegetables, legumes, eggs, nuts, red meats, poultry, and fish was associated with lower odds of suboptimal clinical response (OR = 0.51; 95% CI 0.31, 0.86).ConclusionPatients should be encouraged to modify their diet by reducing the consumption of ultra-processed foods and increasing their intake of high-quality protein sources, fruits, and vegetables to achieve the best postoperative outcome.

Production of Bioactive Peptides from Microalgae and Their Biological Properties Related to Cardiovascular Disease

Microalgae are a substantial group of unicellular prokaryotic and eukaryotic marine organisms. Due to their high protein content of 50–70%, microalgae have the potential to become a sustainable alternative protein source, as well as aiding in the development of bioactive peptide-based nutraceuticals. A series of major steps are involved in the production of peptides from microalgae, which include the disruption of the microalgal cell wall, the hydrolysis of proteins, and the extraction or isolation of peptides derived from hydrolysis. Physical methods of cell wall disruptions are favored due to the ability to obtain high-quality protein fractions for peptide production. Bioactive peptides are protein fragments of two to twenty amino acid residues that have a beneficial impact on the physiological functions or conditions of human health. Strong scientific evidence exists for the in vitro antioxidant, antihypertensive, and anti-atherosclerotic properties of microalgal peptides. This review is aimed at summarizing the methods of producing microalgal peptides, and their role and mechanisms in improving cardiovascular health. The review reveals that the validation of the physiological benefits of the microalgal peptides in relation to cardiovascular disease, using human clinical trials, is required.

Associations of serum arginine acid with sarcopenia in Chinese eldely women

BackgroundThe prevalence of sarcopenia is increasing in worldwide with accelerated aging process. The high dietary protein intakes are associated with improved muscle mass and strength especially in Asian countries. However, there are few researches on amino acid levels or mechanism exploration. We conducted a case-control study to explore the amino acid metabolic characteristics and potential mechanism of elderly women with sarcopenia using targeted amino acid metabolomics approach combined with an analysis of dietary intake.MethodsFor our case-control study, we recruited women (65–75 y) from a Shanghai community with 50 patients with sarcopenia and 50 healthy controls. The consensus updated by the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia in 2019 was used to screening for sarcopenia and control groups. We collected fasting blood samples and evaluated dietary intake. We used the amino acid-targeted metabolomics by ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to identify metabolic differentials between the case and control groups and significantly enriched metabolic pathways.ResultsThe case (sarcopenia) group had a lower intake of energy, protein, and high-quality protein (P < 0.05) compared to the control (healthy) group. We identified four differential amino acids: arginine (P < 0.001) and cystine (P = 0.003) were lower, and taurine (P = 0.001) were higher in the case group.ConclusionLow levels of arginine in elderly women are associated with a higher risk of sarcopenia.

Genome-Wide Identification of Caffeic Acid O-Methyltransferase Gene Family in Medicago truncatula: MtCOMT13-Mediated Salt and Drought Tolerance Enhancement

Legumes are important grains and forages, providing high-quality proteins, vitamins, and micronutrients to humans and animals. Medicago truncatula is a close relative of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT), a key gene that is identified to be essential for melatonin synthesis, plays a significant role in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. However, a systematic study on the COMT gene family in M. truncatula has still not been reported. In this study, 63 MtCOMT genes were identified and categorized into three groups. Gene structure and conserved motif analyses revealed the relative conservation of closely clustered MtCOMTs within each group. Duplicated events in MtCOMT members were identified, and segmental duplication was the main mean. Cis-acting element prediction revealed the involvement of MtCOMTs in growth and development and response to light, stress, and plant hormones. RNA-seq data analysis showed that 57 MtCOMTs varied under salt and drought stresses. The RT-qPCR expression patterns showed that MtCOMT9, MtCOMT13, MtCOMT22, MtCOMT24, MtCOMT43, and MtCOMT46 were related to salt and drought responses in M. truncatula. Additionally, Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing MtCOMT13 displayed superior plant growth phenotypes and enhanced tolerance to salt and drought stresses through higher photosynthetic parameters and activities of antioxidant enzymes, which indicated that MtCOMT13 played an important role in positively regulating plant salt and drought tolerance. These findings contribute to an improved understanding of MtCOMTs’ roles in abiotic stress responses in M. truncatula, providing an important theoretical basis and genetic resource for legume species resistance breeding in the future.

GmIRT1.1 from soybean (Glycine max L.) is involved in transporting Fe, Mn and Cd

Soybean is one of the most important crops for producing high quality oil and protein. Mineral nutrient deficiencies are frequently observed in soybeans. However, there are few studies to understand the absorption process of mineral nutrients in soybeans. Here, we investigated the functions of soybean (Glycine max L.) IRT1.1 (IRON-REGULATED TRANSPORTER 1.1) in the transportation of mineral elements. Heterologous expression of GmIRT1.1 in yeast mutants revealed that GmIRT1.1 compensated for the growth defects of Δfet3fet4 and Δsmf1 mutants under iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) deficiency conditions, respectively, and enhanced the sensitivity of the Δycf1 mutant to cadmium (Cd) toxicity. Expression analysis revealed that GmIRT1.1 was only significantly induced by Fe deficiency and was primarily expressed in roots. Furthermore, the GmIRT1.1 overexpression lines enhanced Arabidopsis tolerance to Fe deficiency, leading to increased accumulation of Fe in the roots and shoots. Additionally, the transgenic lines increased the sensitivity to Mn and Cd toxicity. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that GmIRT1.1 was localized on the plasma membrane. Moreover, the results obtained from the soybean hairy roots system indicated that the localization of GmIRT1.1 was dependent on the regulation of Fe homeostasis in plant. Consequently, these results suggested that GmIRT1.1 was responsible for the transportation of Fe, Mn and Cd.

Increasing fish production in recirculating aquaculture system by integrating a biofloc-worm reactor for protein recovery

Aquaculture, producing half of global fish production, offers a high-quality protein source for humans. Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) through microbial protein recovery is crucial for increasing fish production and reducing environmental footprint. However, the poor palatability and high moisture content of microbial protein make its utilization challenging. Here, a biofloc-worm reactor was integrated into a recirculating aquaculture system (BW_RAS) for the first time to convert microbial protein into Tubificidae (Oligochaeta) biomass, which was used as direct feed for culturing fish. Batch experiments indicated that an aeration rate of 0.132 m3L−1h−1 and a worm density of 0.3 g cm−2 on the carrier were optimal for microbial biomass growth and worm predation, respectively. Compared to the biofloc reactor-based recirculating aquaculture system (B_RAS), the BW_RAS improved water quality, NUE, and fish production by 17.1 % during a 120-day aquaculture period. The abundance of heterotrophic aerobic denitrifier Deinococcus in BW_RAS was one order of magnitude higher than in B_RAS, while heterotrophic bacteria Mycobacterium was more abundant in B_RAS. Denitrifiers cooperated with organic matter degraders and nitrogen assimilation bacteria for protein recovery and gaseous nitrogen loss while competing with predatory bacteria. Function prediction and qPCR indicated greater aerobic respiration, nitrate assimilation, nitrification (AOB-amoA), and denitrification (napA, nirK, nirS, nosZI), but lower fermentation in BWR compared to BR. This study demonstrated that BW_RAS increased microbial protein production and aerobic nitrogen cycling through ongoing worm predation, further enhancing fish production to a commercially viable level.

Scalable bioprocess for high-yield production of SARS-CoV-2 trimeric spike protein-based immunogen (IMT-CVAX) using suspension CHO cells

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought global attention towards the readiness of biotechnology platforms for rapid development of immunogens to be used as vaccine antigens, in diagnostics and in fundamental research. In the present study we provide a bioprocess that is both robust and industry-compatible for high level expression, efficient purification, and scale-up of IMT-CVAX, a prefusion-stabilized trimeric spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. The recombinant IMT-CVAX protein was produced using stable cell pool of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO-S) cells that were banked in compliance with cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) regulations. High quantity expression of IMT-CVAX was achieved through optimization of the shake flask-based process with regards to media, nutrient feeding regimen, incubation temperature, viable cell density and cell viability. We employed refined expression procedures to scale up IMT-CVAX using bioreactor, resulting in a significantly higher yield of around 500 mg/L. Subsequently, a straightforward and simple purification process was developed to produce high-quality IMT-CVAX protein. This procedure consisted of centrifugation, tangential flow filtration (TFF), and either one- or two-step liquid chromatography. A robust anti-spike IgG response was observed in mice after immunization with purified adjuvanted IMT-CVAX. In pseudoviral neutralization assay, mice-generated anti-IMT-CVAX sera could neutralize various SARS-CoV-2 variants. The human convalescent sera from COVID-19-recovered patients recognized IMT-CVAX effectively, which confirms the conformational integrity of IMT-CVAX epitopes. The bioprocess demonstrated here is able to produce sufficient quantities of biopharmaceutical-quality spike protein, which can be used as immunogen against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, and can aid in the rapid response to any other pandemic-potential pathogens.

Influence of extruded soybean meal with different fat contents and varying oleic acid content on floating fish feed quality and composition

Soybean meal (SBM) is the most widely used source of high-quality plant protein within the feed industry. Raw soybeans are conventionally processed to reduce antinutritional factors, enhance protein bioavailability and improve the overall quality of the final feed product. New high-oleic (HO) cultivars with enhanced unsaturated fatty acids are being utilized in the production of HO SBM for use in the animal feed industry. However, no studies to date have examined the impact of HO SBM on feed formulation and processing of aquaculture feeds. Therefore, we aimed to determine the quality of feed for juvenile domesticated striped bass (Morone saxatilis) using SBM prepared from HO or normal-oleic (NO) soybeans and extrusion-expeller processing. The following four soybean meals were used in our experimental diets: solvent-extracted defatted normal oleic (SENO), full-fat normal oleic (FFNO), extruded-expelled defatted normal oleic (EENO), or full-fat high oleic (FFHO). These meals replaced half of the fishmeal (FM) normally included in a nutritionally complete marine finfish diet. Physico-chemical feed variables and chemical composition were determined during feed production. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and means were separated using Tukey’s t-test. The specific mechanical energy of the diet was reduced with the addition of full-fat SBMs during the extrusion process. All finished fish diets were of similar high quality with high pellet durability index and protein content (P > 0.05). This suggested that using different types SBM, including high oleic, to replace 50 % of the fish meal in a floating feed for juvenile domesticated striped bass does not adversely affect the feed quality or nutritional content.

DRML-Ensemble: drug repurposing method based on feature construction of multi-layer ensemble.

Computational drug repurposing methods have been continuously developed in recent years to alleviate the high costs associated with drug development. As drug targets or the products of disease-related genes, proteins play an important role in drug repurposing. Although the potential has been demonstrated, heterogeneous graphs with proteins as independent nodes have yet to be studied, where extracting high-quality protein features from heterogeneous graphs poses a significant challenge. A novel drug repurposing model based on the feature construction of multi-layer ensemble (DRML-Ensemble) is proposed in this study. The performance of DRML-Ensemble, as evaluated on publicly available datasets, achieves an AUPR value of 0.93 and an AUROC value of 0.92, surpassing those of existing state-of-the-art methods. Additionally, DRML-Ensemble demonstrates its notable ability for drug repurposing in Alzheimer's disease. DRML-Ensemble is primarily composed of multiple layers of heterogeneous graph feature construction (HGFC). Each HGFC can extract protein features by leveraging the relationships between drugs, diseases, and proteins. These protein features are then utilized in subsequent layers to build drug and disease features, facilitating drug repurposing. By stacking multiple layers, optimal protein features can be obtained from the heterogeneous graph, consequently improving the accuracy of drug repurposing. However, an excessive· stacking of layers usually affect the model's training process, for example, causing problems such as overfitting; a multi-layer ensemble prediction module is designed to further improve the model's performance.

Development of soybean meal protein isolate-based active edible film incorporating bioactive compounds rich kinnow (Citrus reticulata) peel

Soybean meal, a reservoir of high-quality protein has been produced in large quantities from the soybean oil processing industry and is mostly used as animal feed. The present work was aimed at the development and characterization of soybean meal protein-based antimicrobial edible film incorporating debittered kinnow peel powder (KPP) and valorizing the underutilized soybean meal protein as well as kinnow peel bioactive compounds. The incorporation of kinnow peel powder reduced the solubility, moisture content and swelling ability of the film than the film prepared without KPP. The addition of KPP up to 20 % (w/w) increased the mechanical and barrier properties of the films. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the film increased by 19 to 20 %, and 75 to 79 %, respectively after the incorporation of KPP. The results of structural characteristics (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction), and morphology (Scanning electron microscopy) showed the good compatibility of KPP and soybean protein isolate. Thermal properties studied through differential scanning colorimetry showed higher melting temperature of KKP added films as compared to control film. The present work indicated that KPP can be successfully used to develop an active edible film and can be used for storing a variety of food products like cheese, paneer, chocolate bars, cut fruits, etc.

Enhancing Functional Properties and Protein Structure of Almond Protein Isolate Using High-Power Ultrasound Treatment.

The suitability of a given protein for use in food products depends heavily on characteristics such as foaming capacity, emulsifiability, and solubility, all of which are affected by the protein structure. Notably, protein structure, and thus characteristics related to food applications, can be altered by treatment with high-power ultrasound (HUS). Almonds are a promising source of high-quality vegetable protein for food products, but their physicochemical and functional properties remain largely unexplored, limiting their current applications in foods. Here, we tested the use of HUS on almond protein isolate (API) to determine the effects of this treatment on API functional properties. Aqueous almond protein suspensions were sonicated at varying power levels (200, 400, or 600 W) for two durations (15 or 30 min). The molecular structure, protein microstructure, solubility, and emulsifying and foaming properties of the resulting samples were then measured. The results showed that HUS treatment did not break API covalent bonds, but there were notable changes in the secondary protein structure composition, with the treated proteins showing a decrease in α-helices and β-turns, and an increase in random coil structures as the result of protein unfolding. HUS treatment also increased the number of surface free sulfhydryl groups and decreased the intrinsic fluorescence intensity, indicating that the treatment also led to alterations in the tertiary protein structures. The particle size in aqueous suspensions was decreased in treated samples, indicating that HUS caused the dissociation of API aggregates. Finally, treated samples showed increased water solubility, emulsifying activity, emulsifying stability, foaming capacity, and foaming stability. This study demonstrated that HUS altered key physicochemical characteristics of API, improving critical functional properties including solubility and foaming and emulsifying capacities. This study also validated HUS as a safe and environmentally responsible tool for enhancing desirable functional characteristics of almond proteins, promoting their use in the food industry as a high-quality plant-based protein.

Detection of Known and Novel Virus Sequences in the Black Solider Fly and Expression of Host Antiviral Pathways.

The mass rearing of animals in close quarters can be highly conducive to microbe transmission, including pathogens. This has been shown multiple times in the case of important industrial insects such as crickets, silkworms, and honeybees. One industrial insect of increasing importance is the black soldier fly (Diptera: Hermetia illucens), as it can convert organic waste into high-quality protein and fatty acids. Along with this, they take up far less space than traditional protein sources, as millions of black soldier flies can be reared in a relatively small facility. Because of this, there is a growing interest in the pathogens that could impact black soldier fly-rearing efforts. So far, only three black soldier fly-associated viruses have been identified. We used metatranscriptomic sequencing to survey black soldier fly guts, frass, and diet for viruses. We detected sequences from two novel viruses. One, which we name Hermetia illucens sigma-like virus 1, is phylogenetically related to viruses of the genus Sigmavirus, which have been highly studied in Drosophila. The other novel virus, which we name Hermetia illucens inse-like virus 1, is the second double-stranded RNA virus of the order Ghabrivirales described in the black soldier fly, and groups within a new family of insect viruses called the Inseviridae. We also detected two black soldier fly-associated viruses previously identified by our group: BSF nairo-like virus 1 and BSF uncharacterized bunyavirus-like 1. Consistent with our previous study, these two viruses are found primarily in frass samples and occur together more often than expected at random. When analyzing host transcription, we found significant differences in gene expression for eight candidate antiviral genes in the black soldier fly when comparing samples with and without viral sequences. Our results suggest that black soldier fly-virus interactions are ongoing, and they could be of interest to black soldier fly producers.

An Overview of Livestock Role in Ensuring Food and Nutrition Security: The Case of Ethiopia

This review aimed to deliver and document summarized information on the contribution of livestock to food and nutrition security, both generally and specifically in the case of Ethiopia. Livestock have made both positive and negative contributions to food and nutrition security. Positively, they provide high biological value, palatable, and nutrient-dense food sources such as milk, meat, and eggs for human consumption. They also offer quick income, employment, source of fuel, social functions, raw materials for industry (hide and skin…. etc.), input for soil fertility (manure) and draft power, indirectly contributing to stable food cultivation. However, livestock also pose negative impacts on food and nutrition supply by competing with humans for grains, utilizing fodder crop lands, emitting greenhouse gases, and transmitting zoonotic diseases to humans. In Ethiopia, trends in livestock populations and food production levels reveal disparities between actual consumption and productivity compared to available resources. Energy, protein, and fat supply from the livestock sector has increased from 2010 to 2021. Yet, the country's per capita consumption of dairy, meat, and eggs remains below global averages, exacerbating undernutrition, particularly in rural areas. Livestock products are rich in high-quality protein and essential micronutrients crucial for growth and development, especially in children and infants. Enhancing nutritional outcomes in Ethiopia necessitates addressing barriers to livestock output and promoting the consumption of livestock-derived foods. Tackling underlying issues impeding livestock productivity is equally vital as efforts to enhance productivity and ensure access to livestock-based foods.

Comprehensive Nutritional and Functional Characterization of Novel Mycoprotein Derived from the Bioconversion of Durvillaea spp.

This study aimed, for the first time, to determine the nutritional composition, beta-glucan and ergosterol contents, phenolic compound composition, and biological and functional activities of a novel mycoprotein produced through a bioconversion process of Durvillaea spp., a brown seaweed. An untargeted metabolomics approach was employed to screen metabolites and annotate molecules with nutraceutical properties. Two products, each representing a distinct consortia of co-cultured fungi, named Myco 1 and Myco 2, were analysed in this study. These consortia demonstrated superior properties compared to those of Durvillaea spp., showing significant increases in total protein (~238%), amino acids (~219%), and β-D-glucans (~112%). The protein contains all essential amino acids, a low fatty acid content, and exhibits high antioxidant activity (21.5-25.5 µmol TE/g). Additionally, Myco 2 exhibited the highest anti-alpha-glucosidase activity (IC50 = 16.5 mg/mL), and Myco 1 exhibited notable anti-lipase activity (IC50 = 10.5 mg/mL). Among the 69 top differentially abundant metabolites screened, 8 nutraceutical compounds were present in relatively high concentrations among the identified mycoproteins. The proteins and polysaccharides in the mycoprotein may play a crucial role in the formation and stabilization of emulsions, identifying it as a potent bioemulsifier. In conclusion, the bioconversion of Durvillaea spp. results in a mycoprotein with high-quality protein, significant nutritional and functional value, and prebiotic and nutraceutical potential due to the production of unique bioactive compounds.

Effects of the photovoltaic fishery culture model on muscle nutritional quality and volatile flavor compounds of Litopenaeus vannamei

This study used Litopenaeus vannamei to compare the muscle nutritional quality and volatile flavor compounds of animals raised in the photovoltaic fishery culture model (PM) and the common pond breeding model (CM). Amino acids, fatty acids, and volatile flavor substances were identified and analyzed using an automatic amino acid analyzer and headspace solid phase microextraction(HS-SPME) combined with GC/MS. There were no significant differences between the two culture models in terms of general nutrients, mineral contents, and amino acid compositions in the muscles of L. vannamei. In the PM group, the proportion of flavor amino acids in total amino acids was higher. Based on the amino acid score (AAS) and chemical score (CS), it was found that methionine and cystine were the first limiting amino acids in the muscle samples. The essential amino acid index (EAAI) value was approximately 77 for both models, indicating high-quality proteins. The muscles contained nine types of fatty acids, with the PM group showing significantly higher levels of both monounsaturated and total fatty acids. A total of 23 volatile flavor compounds were identified in both models. The contents of 1-nonanal, n-tridecane, and alpha-terpineol were higher when cultured in the PM. Conversely, the contents of hexanal, 2-ethylhexanol, and dipentene were lower in the PM group. The photovoltaic fishery culture model has the potential to enhance income through photovoltaic power generation. In addition, this study found that the fatty acid composition of L. vannamei was improved in the PM, without compromising muscle composition or flavor. These results provide a theoretical basis for evaluating the meat quality of L. vannamei under different culture models and offer data to support and guide the promotion of the PM.