Cold plasma enhances brown rice storage stability: Discharge modes, uniformity, and energy deposition in air and argon atmospheres.

Key enzymes and reaction pathways driving intensified fishy odor in chilled grass carp fillets: Kinetic analysis of "substrate-enzyme" simulated systems.

Rapid and cost-effective quantification of triglycerides remains a challenge in industrial food quality control, where conventional analytical methods are often time-consuming and resource-intensive. This study aimed to develop and characterize an amperometric biosensor based on lipase (LPS) as a biorecognition element for efficient triglyceride detection in vegetable oils. Lipase was immobilized onto the electrode surface to catalyze the hydrolysis of glyceryl tributyrate, enabling electrochemical signal generation. Measurements were performed at an applied potential of -600 mV, with a detection time of 7 seconds. The enzymatic reaction rate was derived from the slope of the amperometric signal (mV/s), and calibration was conducted over a concentration range of 1-5 mM. The biosensor demonstrated a strong linear response (R² = 0.998) and high substrate affinity (KM = 0.13 mM). The system exhibited excellent repeatability and specificity, with minimal interference from other triglycerides. Long-term stability studies showed that the immobilized enzyme retained approximately 90% of its activity over 260 days and could be reused up to 27 times without significant performance loss. This biosensor represents a robust, rapid, and environmentally friendly analytical platform for triglyceride detection, offering a practical alternative to conventional techniques and strong potential for implementation in routine industrial quality control.

Candida albicans is the primary etiological agent of acute vulvovaginal candidiasis (AVVC) and its recurrent form (RVVC), conditions that differ in clinical presentation, inflammatory context, and response to antifungal therapy. Although virulence factors and antifungal resistance have been individually linked to disease severity, their integrated contribution to distinct clinical outcomes remains poorly defined. Here, we performed a comprehensive phenotypic characterization of 58 clinical C. albicans isolates recovered from women with AVVC (n=25) or RVVC (n=33), and C. albicans SC5314 was included for comparison. We assessed fungal dimorphism, cell surface hydrophobicity, biofilm-forming capacity (BFC), and the production of secreted aspartyl proteinases (SAP) and lipases (LIP). Antifungal susceptibility to azoles and other clinically relevant agents was determined using an automated system. Multivariate unsupervised analyses were applied to identify integrated virulence phenotypes. All clinical isolates exhibited efficient filamentation. AVVC isolates displayed enhanced adherence, biofilm metabolic activity, and LIP production, whereas RVVC isolates exhibited increased SAP activity and reduced BFC. Unsupervised clustering and UMAP analysis identified four virulence clusters, including profiles specifically associated with AVVC or RVVC, as well as mixed phenotypes. Notably, a high prevalence of azole resistance was observed in both groups, with resistance patterns aligning with specific virulence clusters. Collectively, these findings indicate that AVVC and RVVC are associated with distinct, niche-adapted C. albicans virulence programs that integrate enzymatic activity, biofilm traits, and antifungal resistance. This structured phenotypic heterogeneity provides a framework to reinterpret vulvovaginal candidiasis as a multifactorial and adaptive process with important implications for disease persistence and therapeutic failure.

The white-backed planthopper (Sogatella furcifera) is a major pest in rice-growing regions worldwide. It severely limits rice production through piercing–sucking feeding, oviposition injury, and by efficiently transmitting the Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV). Previous studies demonstrated that the dark septate endophytic fungus Ochroconis guangxiensis strain X22 exhibits control activity against SRBSDV. To further evaluate its biocontrol potential, this study investigated the effects of the X22 strain on S. furcifera, the primary vector of SRBSDV. In this study, we established an X22–rice symbiotic system to evaluate its effects on the biological traits of S. furcifera. The results showed that, compared with a clear water treatment, the X22 strain significantly reduced the feeding amount (29.02%), egg-laying amount (12.30%), and hatching rate (11.58%) of S. furcifera. Gene expression analysis showed that the relative expression levels of the Target of Rapamycin (TOR) and vitellogenin (Vg) genes in one-day-old S. furcifera from the X22 treatment group were modestly downregulated, although no significant differences were detected compared with the control. Enzyme activity assays revealed that between 72 and 120 h post-treatment, the activities of detoxification enzymes, including carboxylesterase (CarE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), generally declined following X22 exposure. In contrast, the activities of protective enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as certain digestive enzymes, α-amylase (α-AL) and trypsin, were induced. Conversely the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and lipase (LPS) were suppressed. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying its effect on S. furcifera remain unclear. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the O. guangxiensis X22 strain inhibits S. furcifera reproduction by disrupting its physiological metabolism through multiple pathways, providing a mechanistic basis for its development as an environmentally friendly biocontrol agent.

Co-catalysis of modified metal-organic framework immobilized enzyme with nonionic surfactant for biodiesel preparation.

Modular assembly of dual-template artificial antibody-antigen-directed co-immobilization of bioreactor for in-situ synthesis of epoxy compounds: Leveraging oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cofactor to enhance yield.

Lipid metabolism homeostasis and low-level glycogen metabolism in the Harderian gland of hibernating Daurian ground squirrels.

Pearl millet flour is highly nutritious but prone to rancidity, leading to off-odor development and reduced shelf life. To understand the molecular basis of this phenomenon, we performed de novo transcriptome sequencing on diverse pearl millet genotypes (landraces, hybrids, and composites) and identified 219,965 genes and 386,184 transcripts with functional annotation revealing key pathways linked to lipid and starch degradation. Differential gene expression (DGE) analysis identified significant upregulation of rancidity-linked genes [lipases (LIPs), lipoxygenases (LOXs), peroxidases (POXs), and polyphenol oxidases (PPOs)] in high-rancid genotypes. Data mining for characterizing rancid pathway showed the presence of 2,038 LIP, 209 Lox, 26 hydroperoxide lyase (HPL), 1,023 POX, and 17 PPO genes. Tissue-specific expression analysis of variants of Lip, Lox, Pox, and PPO during the different sub-stages of endosperm development showed an abundance of transcripts of Lip-2, LOX-3, and POX-4 during the seed hardening stage. Enzymatic assays confirmed increased LIP (up to 200.5 µmol h-1 g-1), LOX (184 nM HPOD min-1 mg-1), POX, and PPO activities in stored flour, correlating with rancidity progression. Notably, landraces exhibited lower expression of rancidity-linked genes compared to hybrids and composites, suggesting genetic variability in flour shelf life stability. Our study provides the first comprehensive transcriptomic resource for pearl millet rancidity, identifying candidate genes and enzymatic markers for future breeding programs aimed at improving flour storage quality.

This investigation examined how Clostridium butyricum influences the growth, innate immune reaction, intestinal microbiota, and disease resistance of Scylla paramamosain . Different concentrations of C. butyricum were sprayed on the feed: 0 (CC), 3.6×10 4 CFU/g (CB1), 3.6×10 5 CFU/g (CB2), 3.6×10 6 CFU/g (CB3), and 3.6×10 7 CFU/g (CB4) over 42 days. The findings indicated that the final weight and specific growth rates of S. paramamosain in the CB2 and CB3 treatment groups were significantly greater compared to the other groups ( P <0.05). Compared to the control group, the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and intestinal lipase (LPS) were all elevated, with significant improvements noted particularly in the CB3 group ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, the relative expression levels of the IL8 and TNF-α genes in the CB2 and CB3 groups and the GPx3 and SpPO genes in CB3 and CB4 groups were markedly elevated compared to the other groups ( P < 0.05). Incorporating 3.6×10 6 CFU/g of C. butyricum into the diet improved the variety of the gut flora in S. paramamosain . Functional analysis conducted through KEGG Pathway Level 2 indicated that the experimental group had more metabolism-related pathways than the control group, with the CB3 group displaying the highest levels. In conclusion, including an appropriate level of C. butyricum within the dietary composition can foster the growth of S. paramamosain , enhance the diversity of gut microbiota, and improve immune function; the optimal concentration identified was 10 6 CFU/g in the feed.

Development of synergistic boosting hydrolytic hybrid catalyst: cross-linked lipases in rice husk-derived mesoporous silica.

The experiment was designed to investigate the effects of sodium butyrate addition at different concentrations to the feed on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, intestinal antioxidant, and digestive enzymes in <italic>Pelteobagrus fulvidraco.</italic> A high-fishmeal diet (20% fishmeal and 0 cottonseed protein; positive control) and a low-fishmeal diet (10% fishmeal, 18.4% cottonseed protein; negative control) were formulated. Sodium butyrate was added to the low fishmeal diet group at 0.1% and 0.15%, respectively, resulting in four isonitrogenous and isofat experimental feeds by adjusting chicken meal, pork meal, maize protein meal, and soya bean meal. <italic>Pelteobagrus fulvidraco</italic> with an initial weight of 11 g was selected and randomly divided into four groups with three replicates (40 fish/replicate) and fed diets for a period of 56d. The results showed that compared with the high fishmeal group, the average final weight, weight gain rate, alkaline phosphatase (AKP), lipase (LPS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, expression of the anti-inflammatory factor <italic>IL-10</italic>, and the length of intestinal villi, as well as the contents of <italic>Pseudomonas</italic> spp. and <italic>Methylobacillus</italic> spp. of <italic>Pelteobagrus fulvidraco</italic> in the low-fishmeal group were all significantly decreased (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05), whereas serum ghrelin transaminase (GPT), ghrelintransaminase (GOT), and intestinal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly increased (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05), the expression of intestinal pro-inflammatory factor <italic>TNF-α</italic>, pro-apoptotic genes <italic>P53</italic>, and <italic>Caspase-3</italic> was significantly up-regulated (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05), and the level of <italic>Pseudomonas</italic> spp. and <italic>Methylobacillus</italic> spp. in the intestines was significantly increased (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). After the addition of sodium butyrate to the feed with low fishmeal, the final mean weight as well as the weight gain rate showed a significant increase (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05) compared to the low fishmeal group. The serum glutamate transaminase (GPT) and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) levels of <italic>Pelteobagrus fulvidraco</italic> in the group with 0.10% sodium butyrate were significantly decreased (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05), whereas the serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acid phosphatase (ACP), and urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were significantly increased (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05), LPS, AMS, and SOD levels were significantly elevated (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05) and MDA levels were significantly decreased (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05) in the group supplemented with sodium butyrate, and peroxidase (CAT) content was significantly elevated (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05) in the group supplemented with 0.15% sodium butyrate. The expression of <italic>TNF-α</italic>, <italic>P53</italic>, and <italic>Caspase-3</italic> was down-regulated (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05), the expression of <italic>IL-10</italic> and <italic>Occludin</italic> was significantly up-regulated (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05), the height of intestinal villi was significantly increased (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05) in the group of added sodium butyrate, and the level of <italic>Pseudomonas</italic> spp. in the intestines was significantly reduced (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05) in the group of 0.15% sodium butyrate. In conclusion, dietary sodium butyrate supplementation improve growth performance, enhance intestinal antioxidant capacity, alleviate intestinal inflammation, promote villi development, and suppress harmful flora microbiota in <italic>Pelteobagrus fulvidraco</italic>, thereby maintaining the homeostasis of the intestinal flora.

Schizochytrium is often added to feed to enhance the growth and health of farmed animals, yet research on its effects on amphibians remains relatively scarce. Here, this study investigated the effects of dietary Schizochytrium meal on growth, metamorphosis, intermediate metabolism, and intestinal health of bullfrogs. Six compound feeds (S0–S5) containing different gradients of Schizochytrium meal (0.00, 2.00, 5.00, 10.00, 15.00, and 20.00 g/kg diets) were formulated. After 90 days, the S4 group (15.00 g/kg) exhibited significantly superior growth performance, with the weight gain rate (WGR) increasing by up to 23.78% compared to the control (S0). Metamorphosis rate (MR) peaked at 23.33% in the S4 group. The enzyme activities of digestion (amylase (AMS), lipase (LPS), protease), brush border membrane (Na+, K+-ATPase, alkaline phosphatase (AKP), γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), creatine kinase (CK), and antioxidation (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT)), as well as microvilli length and mucosal epithelial cell height in the intestine were the highest in the S4 group. Intestinal microbial diversity (Ace index) significantly increased by 41.28% in the S4 group, which also promoted beneficial bacteria. Key genes related to the GH-IGF-1 axis, metabolism, and intestinal barrier function were significantly upregulated with increasing Schizochytrium levels up to 15.00 g/kg, whereas pro-inflammatory genes showed an opposite trend. Overall, dietary supplementation with Schizochytrium meal at 15.00 g/kg promotes growth, metamorphosis, and intestinal health in bullfrog tadpoles by modulating the GH-IGF-1 axis, enhancing digestion and absorption, and improving intestinal integrity. Optimal Schizochytrium meal levels were identified as 13.27 g/kg.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum calcium ion (Ca2+), random blood glucose (RBG), C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CRP/ALB) for the severity of early acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods The clinical data of 138 patients with AP who were hospitalized at the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2020 to August 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 99 cases were in the mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) group, and 39 cases were in the non-mild acute pancreatitis (including moderate and severe, NMAP) group. Univariate analysis was conducted on the age, RBG, amylase (AMY), lipase (LPS), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (N), lymphocyte (L), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), sodium(Na+), potassium(K+),Ca2+, serum creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), fibrinogen (Fib), D-dimer (D-dimer), carbon dioxide combining power (CO₂CP), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin (ALB), procalcitonin to albumin ratio（PCT/ALB）, and CRP/ALB of the two groups. The indicators related to the severity of AP were selected through ROC curve analysis and binary logistic regression analysis. Results The areas under the ROC curve for Ca2+, RBG, and CRP/ALB in predicting the severity of AP were 0.750, 0.697, and 0.864, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that Ca2+ [OR = 0.014, 95% CI (0.001, 0.313)], RBG [OR = 1.159, 95% CI (1.024, 1.311)], and CRP/ALB [OR = 1.393, 95% CI (1.186, 1.637)] were independent risk factors for early prediction of AP severity. Conclusion The lower the Ca2+, the higher the RBG, and the higher the CRP/ALB ratio, the greater the possibility of AP patients developing into severe cases. The RBG and CRP/ALB ratio are positively correlated with the severity of the disease in AP patients, while Ca2+ is negatively correlated with the severity of the disease in AP patients.

In this investigation, we examined how Clostridium butyricum influences the growth, innate immune reaction, intestinal microbiota, and disease resistance of Scylla paramamosain . Different concentrations of C. butyricum were sprayed on the feed: 0 (CC), 3.6×104CFU/g (CB1), 3.6×105CFU/g (CB2), 3.6×106CFU/g (CB3), and 3.6×107CFU/g (CB4) over a period of 42 days. The findings indicated that the final weight and specific growth rates of S. paramamosain in the CB2 and CB3 treatment groups were significantly greater compared to the other groups (P &lt;0.05). In compared to the control group, the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and intestinal lipase (LPS) were all elevated, with significant improvements noted particularly in the CB3 group (P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, the relative expression levels of the IL8 and TNF-α genes in the CB2 and CB3 groups, as well as the GPx3 and SpPO genes in CB3 and CB4 groups were markedly elevated compared to the other groups (P&lt; 0.05). Incorporating 3.6×106CFU/g of C. butyricum into the diet improved the variety of the gut flora in S. paramamosain . Functional analysis conducted through KEGG Pathway Level 2 indicated that the experimental group had a greater abundance of metabolic-related pathways than the control group, with the CB3 group displaying the highest levels. In conclusion, including an appropriate level of C. butyricum within the dietary composition can foster the growth of S. paramamosain , enhance the diversity of gut microbiota, and improve immune function; the optimal concentration identified was 106 CFU/g in the feed.

Background: As a globally significant aquaculture species, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of the Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) growth holds substantial scientific and industrial value. This study systematically investigates the role of the LvChia2 gene in governing growth and development through a cross-tissue metabolic network approach. Methods: RNA knockdown (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of LvChia2 significantly impaired growth performance and triggered a tissue-specific metabolic compensation mechanism. Results: This mechanism was characterized by reduced crude lipid content in muscle and adaptive modulation of lipase (LPS) activities in hepatopancreatic and intestinal tissues, suggesting inter-tissue metabolic coordination. Transcriptomic profiling identified 610 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), forming a three-dimensional regulatory network encompassing “energy metabolism, molt regulation, and nutrient utilization.” Key mechanistic insights revealed the following: (1) Enhanced mitochondrial energy transduction through the upregulation of ATP synthase subunits and NADH dehydrogenase (ND-SGDH). (2) The disruption of ecdysteroid signaling pathways via suppression of Krueppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1). (3) The coordinated regulation of nitrogen metabolism through the downregulation of glutamine synthetase and secretory phospholipase A2. These molecular adaptations, coupled with tissue-specific oxidative stress responses, reflect an integrated physiological strategy for environmental adaptation. Conclusions: Notably, this study provides the first evidence in crustaceans of chitinase-mediated growth regulation through cross-tissue metabolic interactions and identifies six core functional genes (ATP5L, ATP5G, ND-SGDH, Kr-h1, GS, sPLA2) as potential targets for molecular breeding. A novel “gut-hepatopancreas axis” energy compensation mechanism is proposed, offering insights into resource allocation during metabolic stress. These findings advance our understanding of crustacean growth regulation and establish a theoretical foundation for precision aquaculture strategies, including genome editing and multi-trait genomic selection.

This study investigated the tolerance of juvenile yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) to acute acidification by determining the activities of trypsin, pepsin, α-amylase (AMS), lipase (LPS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), pyruvate kinase (PK), and Na+K+-ATPase (NKA) under varying pH conditions, combined with histological section preparation to examine morphological changes. The research aims to provide fundamental reference data for the cage aquaculture of this species. The main findings were as follows: Protease activity increased at pH 7.6; α-amylase activity elevated in the pyloric caeca and liver at pH 7.1, while both α-amylase and lipase activities increased in the stomach at pH 6.6. Foregut enzyme activities decreased with increasing acidity. Hepatic alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly elevated at pH 7.6, whereas gill metabolic enzymes peaked at pH 6.6. Histological analyses showed shortened bends in the midgut villi visible to the naked eye and gill lamellae hyperplasia under low pH conditions. These results indicate moderate adaptability at pH 7.6 but marked physiological stress at pH 6.6.

Mechanism of digestion enzymes and related genes in response to acute ammonia-nitrogen stress in juvenile yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares).

The rapid growth of aquaculture has supplied abundant high - quality animal protein, yet microplastics (MPs) - induced food safety issues are gaining concern. Recent evidence highlights MPs’ potential toxicity, underscoring the need to study their environmental and health impacts. This study used 6 - month - old Thamnaconus septentrionalis as test subjects, divided into three groups: CA (control), CB (1μm, 1×10⁷ microspheres·L⁻¹), and CC (5μm, 1×10⁷ microspheres·L⁻¹), where ‘C’ denotes the intestinal tract, and ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ represent treatment groups with different microplastic particle sizes (0, 1, and 5μm, respectively). We set up three repeats per group, exposing 20 individuals of T. septentrionalis to water containing polystyrene microplastics for 30 days for each group. Through 16S rRNA sequencing and enzyme activity assays, we investigated MPs’ effects on T. septentrionalis gut microbiota, antioxidant, and digestive enzymes. Results showed that compared to the control, the 1μm and 5μm groups had slightly higher Shannon indices, but with significant Pseudomonadota enrichment (CB: 47.21%, CC: 61.66%; P &lt; 0.05). Bray-Curtis clustering indicated that microbial composition was significantly related to MPs concentration. Vibrio and Acinetobacter were enriched in exposure groups, while Anaerorhabdus and Lactobacillus decreased. MPs may thus disrupt gut barrier function. Both MPs sizes altered gut microbiota structure, with the 5μm group showing a greater impact. In the 5μm group, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased 4.2 - fold, and a significant elevation in glutathione (GSH) activity (P &lt; 0.05), while catalase (CAT) was significantly inhibited (P&lt;0.05), and amylase (AMS) and lipase (LPS) activities were suppressed. Chronic MP exposure impaired nutrient absorption and antioxidant/digestive functions in T. septentrionalis. These findings elucidate the size-dependent ecotoxicological effects of MPs, providing critical insights for assessing marine MPs pollution risks and informing aquaculture safety protocols.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) disrupts cardiac performance of thick-shell mussel by inserting into the binding pocket of proliferator-activated receptor gamma and thereby causing lipid metabolism disorders.