Search Results (30,477)

Germinated Andean lupin whole flour (GAL) is rich in protein, dietary fiber, essential amino acids, and bioactive compounds, representing a promising alternative for the development of sustainable plant-based foods. This study investigated the feasibility of partially replacing soy protein isolate (SPI) with GAL in high-moisture extruded meat analogues. A central composite design was applied to evaluate the effects of the GAL ratio (0:100–50:50) and feed moisture content (50–70%) on the technological properties of the extrudates. The Response Surface Methodology was used to model and optimize the process. The incorporation of GAL significantly affected the (p < 0.10) water solubility index (WSI), oil absorption capacity (OAC), cooking loss (CL), yellowness (b*), cohesiveness, and adhesiveness, generating predictive models with satisfactory goodness-of-fit (R² > 0.75). Increasing GAL levels increased the WSI from 6.21 to 18.79% and cooking loss from 1.01 to 3.84%, while reducing OAC from 239.42 to 166.57%, indicating substantial modifications in matrix organization and hydration behavior. Numerical optimization identified an optimal formulation containing 12% GAL, 88% SPI, and 65.5% feed moisture, with a desirability of 77.82%. Model validation showed relative deviations lower than 10% between predicted and experimental values. The optimized meat analogue exhibited high protein content (84.44%), favorable techno-functional properties, and improved nutritional quality, with higher levels of branched-chain amino acids (17.34 g·100 g⁻¹ protein), essential amino acids (33.32 g·100 g⁻¹ protein), and in vitro protein digestibility (90.1%) compared with the control formulation. Multivariate analyses confirmed that phenylalanine, histidine, methionine, and leucine were the main variables that discriminated between the protein sources and the extruded products. Overall, GAL demonstrated strong potential as a sustainable functional ingredient to produce nutritionally enhanced high-moisture meat analogues. Full article

Callus cultures derived from three species of Fabaceae were compared under identical hormonal conditions using untargeted UHPLC–MS/MS metabolomics together with phenotypic and antioxidant capacity analyses. Principal component analysis with 290 metabolites revealed species identity as the dominant determinant of the metabolic profile, indicating that species-associated metabolic signatures persist in dedifferentiated tissues. Soybean calli accumulated saponins, primarily soyasapogenol derivatives. Lupin calli were characterized by diverse isoflavones detected as aglycones, glycosylated and malonylated conjugates. Calli from the pea cultivar Karacter were dominated by hydroxycinnamate derivatives: coumaroyl methylhexose, feruloyl-coumaroyl glycoside derivatives, and caffeoyl amino acid conjugates. Within each species, the calli metabolomes were furthermore influenced by genotype, explant origin, and independent callus line establishment. Antioxidant capacity correlated with metabolite subclass composition rather than total metabolite abundance, with polyphenol-rich profiles displaying higher reducing potential than saponin-dominated metabolomes. Together, these findings provide the first systematic comparative evidence that species-specific metabolic signatures are maintained in Fabaceae callus cultures, while remaining quantitatively modulated by genotype, explant origin, and somaclonal variation. Soybean, lupin, and pea callus cultures thus provide tractable model systems for the species-specific study of respectively triterpenoid saponin, isoflavonoids, and hydroxycinnamate metabolism, offering a foundation for future biotechnological development. Full article

Metabolic remodeling is increasingly recognized as a key component of cardiomyopathy, yet the circulating organic acid profile associated with this condition remains incompletely characterized. In this case–control study, we investigated differences in circulating organic acid profiles between patients with cardiomyopathy and control participants using targeted liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 160 participants were enrolled, including 80 patients with cardiomyopathy and 80 age- and sex-comparable control participants. Circulating organic acids were quantitatively analyzed, and between-group differences were assessed using the two-sided Mann–Whitney U test with Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate correction; effect sizes were estimated using Cliff’s delta. Detection rates were also examined because several metabolites included values below the assay limit of detection. Sixteen metabolites remained significant after correction. Among these, 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid demonstrated the largest increase, followed by 2-oxoglutaric acid and 2-methylcitric acid. Additional elevations were observed in citric acid, malic acid, N-acetylaspartic acid, fumaric acid, and suberic acid, whereas 2-oxoadipic acid was reduced. These alterations are consistent with perturbations in mitochondrial intermediary metabolism, branched-chain amino acid catabolism, ketone body metabolism, and tricarboxylic acid cycle-related pathways. However, because comorbidities, renal function, glycemic status, and medication use differed between groups, the findings should be interpreted as phenotype-associated metabolic signals rather than cardiomyopathy-specific causal effects or validated diagnostic biomarkers. In conclusion, targeted LC-MS/MS-based organic acid profiling reveals an altered circulating metabolic pattern in cardiomyopathy, although further prospective studies with individual-level adjustment and external validation are required to determine its clinical relevance. Full article

Wheat Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a globally prevalent and destructive fungal disease predominantly caused by Fusarium graminearum. Pydiflumetofen, a novel succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicide, exhibits strong inhibitory activity against F. graminearum; however, the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying the field-developed resistance in this pathogen remain poorly defined. In the present study, a field-evolved resistant isolate W24-039 and a sensitive isolate W24-016 were subjected to multi-omics analysis. The sequencing results identified compound mutations C89S/A93V in SdhC2, and A21T/S30F in SdhD of the resistant strain, which confer stable fungicide resistance without any detectable fitness costs. Physiological tests revealed that these target mutations sustain the homeostasis of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity and intracellular ATP production. Following pydiflumetofen treatment, the sensitive isolate displayed remarkable declines in SDH activity, intracellular ATP content and deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis, accompanied by markedly elevated cell membrane permeability. Transcriptomic sequencing uncovered 2221 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the sensitive strain under fungicide stress, and 2566 DEGs in the resistant isolate under the same conditions. The genes associated with detoxification and drug efflux, including cytochrome P450, glutathione S-transferase (GST), ABC and MFS transporters, were significantly upregulated in the resistant isolate. Metabolomic analysis indicated that differential metabolites were mainly enriched in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, amino acid metabolism and membrane lipid biosynthesis pathways. The resistant strain maintained intact TCA cycle operation and accumulated high levels of pivotal metabolites such as phosphatidylcholine, unsaturated fatty acids and reduced glutathione. Integrated multi-omics analysis verified that the ABC transporter and glutathione metabolism pathways serve as core regulatory modules governing fungicide resistance. Collectively, F. graminearum develops resistance via the synergistic effects of SDH compound mutations, enhanced detoxification and efflux, and global metabolic remodeling, demonstrating that target-site mutation alone is not the sole driver of resistance, which is instead controlled by an intricate regulatory network involving multiple coordinated pathways. This study systematically characterizes the resistance regulatory network of F. graminearum against pydiflumetofen, and provides theoretical guidance for the rational application and sustainable field resistance management of this fungicide. Full article

To investigate the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) inoculation on quality of Suanyu, the related chemical parameters such as moisture content, protein degradation index, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle soluble peptides, SDS-PAGE, free amino acids, volatile flavor compounds, and sensory characteristics were analyzed. Natural fermentation (NF), LP fermentation, and SC fermentation were used as control groups. The results indicated that Suanyu samples inoculated with LP and SC (MF) exhibited a significant reduction in moisture content, while simultaneously accelerating the degradation of myofibrils and myosin. This was confirmed by the fading or disappearance of corresponding bands in SDS-PAGE, as well as the appearance of high-molecular-weight protein aggregates. Furthermore, the content of TCA-soluble peptides and free amino acids in the MF group also increased significantly after fermentation, particularly umami amino acids (20.56%) and sweet amino acids (34.14%). With regard to volatile compounds, the addition of SC made a significant contribution to the formation of alcohols and esters. Sensory evaluation confirmed that the MF group exhibited superior performance in terms of flavor, aroma, and overall sensory characteristics. Overall, the combination of LP and SC better promotes protein hydrolysis and the formation of flavor compounds in Suanyu. This study provides a theoretical basis for optimizing starter cultures and promoting the industrial production of high-quality fermented fish products. Full article

Background/Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a leading cause of chronic liver disease, encompasses a continuum from steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. This review aimed to synthesize current evidence on how metabolomic, lipidomic, and spatial multi-omic approaches illuminate MASLD pathogenesis and support precision hepatology. Methods: A structured narrative review was conducted through searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, complemented by manual screening of key references. Studies were prioritized when they addressed MASLD biology, metabolic rewiring, lipid remodeling, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammatory and fibrogenic pathways, gut–liver–adipose crosstalk, biomarker development, or therapeutic monitoring. Results: The reviewed evidence identifies MASLD as a systemic metabolic disorder shaped by excess lipid flux, enhanced de novo lipogenesis, impaired mitochondrial adaptation, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, sterile inflammation, and hepatic stellate-cell activation. Recurrent metabolomic signatures include altered amino acid, fatty acids, bile acid, and microbial co-metabolite pathways. Lipidomic studies consistently implicate depletion of protective polyunsaturated fatty acids, lysophosphatidylcholines, and phosphatidylcholines, in association with accumulation of diacylglycerols and ceramides, in the transition from steatosis to MASH and fibrosis. Emerging spatial and multi-omic analyses further resolve cell-specific metabolic niches involving hepatocytes, macrophages, endothelial cells, and stellate cells. Conclusions: Metabolomics provides a mechanistic and translational bridge between molecular injury, histological progression, and non-invasive risk stratification in MASLD. Future progress requires standardized analytical workflows, longitudinal validation, causal pathway interrogation, and integration with imaging, genetics, microbiome profiling, and treatment-response phenotyping. Clinical implementation will require standardized platforms, transparent metabolite identification, external validation across diverse populations, cost-effectiveness analyses, and regulatory-grade evidence of clinical utility. Full article

Heat stress severely hinders citrus yield and fruit quality. This study employed integrated physiological and transcriptomic analyses to investigate the effects of the exogenous application of abscisic acid (ABA) and brassinosteroid (BR) on heat stress responses in citrus. The results showed that the exogenous application of ABA and BR increased the contents of soluble sugar, proline, and ABA, and enhanced the activities of peroxidase and catalase under heat stress. Transcriptome trend analysis identified profiles 1, 6, and 7 as significantly enriched across exogenous ABA, BR, and control conditions. Profile 6 exhibited rapid upregulation followed by stabilization and showed a significantly higher gene count under both ABA and BR treatments than under the control. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that genes in profile 6 were primarily enriched in amino sugar, nucleotide sugar, galactose, amino acids, 2-oxocarboxylic acid, glycerophospholipid, glucosinolate metabolism, MAPK signaling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, plant–pathogen interaction, and endocytosis. Furthermore, four genes encoding heat shock proteins (HSP), including HSP21A, HSP21B, HSP70-17, and HSP70A, were induced under heat stress and showed significant upregulation in response to exogenous ABA and BR treatments. In conclusion, these findings indicated that exogenous ABA and BR regulated ABA and osmoprotectant accumulation and antioxidant defense activation in response to heat stress. Full article

Vacuum freeze drying significantly influences the water status and aroma characteristics of mulberry. This study monitored the dynamic changes in water distribution, non-volatile components, and key aroma-active compounds during a 72 h drying process. The results showed that free water decreased from 85.3% to 5.96% at 12 h and then leveled off, marking the entry of the drying process into a slow moisture-change stage. This transition in water status coincided with marked changes in non-volatile and volatile components. After 12 h, the decreases in most free amino acids and reducing sugars, as well as the consumption of linoleic acid, slowed markedly after 12 h; the contents of fruity compounds (ethyl isovalerate, β-ionone) and hexanal decreased by more than 50% within the first 12 h and then stabilized, whereas the lipid oxidation product (E)-2-nonenal began to increase continuously after 12 h. Correlation analysis revealed that free water and bound water were positively correlated with fruity compounds and (E)-2-nonenal, respectively, while linoleic acid was negatively correlated with (E)-2-nonenal. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis further supported the identification of 12 h as a potential turning point for both water status and flavor transformation. Collectively, these findings suggest a coupling relationship between water status and flavor evolution during drying, providing a basis for optimizing vacuum freeze-drying processes to better preserve the characteristic aroma of mulberry. Full article

Jujube flower disease (JFD) is a recurrent disorder affecting honeybees during the flowering period of Ziziphus jujuba, but its molecular basis remains unclear. To characterize JFD-associated molecular changes, we integrated widely targeted metabolomics and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in exposed asymptomatic jujube flower foragers (HC) and in bees showing characteristic JFD symptoms. Filtered metabolomic profiles showed clear separation between HC and JFD samples and revealed two major metabolite-level alterations. Tryptophan metabolism was the strongest enriched pathway among differentially abundant metabolites (Rich Factor = 14/16; FDR = $9.15\times {10}^{-7}$), whereas metabolites decreased in JFD were enriched mainly in galactose metabolism (Rich Factor = 7/16; FDR = $1.23\times {10}^{-4}$), amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism (Rich Factor = 5/15; FDR = 0.00762), biosynthesis of nucleotide sugars (Rich Factor = 4/15; FDR = 0.0318), and starch and sucrose metabolism (Rich Factor = 3/8; FDR = 0.0318). RNA-seq detected 10,259 genes and identified 23 differentially expressed genes under the selected threshold, including 20 increased and 3 decreased genes in JFD bees. Although individual-gene differential expression was limited, preranked gene-set enrichment analysis identified moderate negative enrichment of the sugar supply/storage gene set (NES = −1.96; FDR = 0.024). The tryptophan/aromatic amino acid gene set was not enriched at the transcriptomic level, indicating that the tryptophan-related alteration was mainly observed at the metabolite level. Within these gene sets, HK showed the largest downward RNA-seq trend among the five displayed sugar-axis enzyme genes and a directionally concordant qRT-PCR trend; on this basis, HK was retained only as a candidate for future functional validation. Overall, these findings suggest that JFD is associated with altered tryptophan-related metabolism and reduced carbohydrate/nucleotide sugar-related metabolite abundance, with partial transcriptomic support for altered sugar supply and storage. This molecular profile provides candidate pathways and genes for future mechanistic investigation rather than established biomarkers, regulatory mechanisms, or evidence of disease causation. Full article

The continuous intensification of modern poultry farming has confronted the industry with a dual crisis involving animal health and food safety. Host defensins, a major class of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities, demonstrating potential in disease prevention and immune support. By enhancing host innate defense mechanisms, they may complement existing antimicrobial strategies and contribute to reducing antibiotic dependence. Although accumulating evidence highlights the capacity of microbial metabolites to modulate defensin expression, a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the cross-talk between these microbial metabolites and host defensins remains lacking. To bridge this gap, this review summarizes the classification and biological functions of poultry defensins, while synthesizing recent advances in how microbiota-derived metabolites—such as short-chain fatty acids, amino acid derivatives, and secondary bile acids—regulate their expression. By elucidating the underlying receptor-mediated signaling pathways and mechanisms, this review provides strategic insights into leveraging microbial metabolites to stimulate endogenous poultry defensins and offers a reference for the future optimization of immunomodulatory strategies and the improvement of poultry health management. Full article

In human medicine, homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, is used as a biomarker reflecting endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, thrombogenesis, oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease. An automated enzyme-cycling assay for homocysteine, established for humans, has been validated and reference ranges have been created for horses. In this study the homocysteine assay was further evaluated by assessing short-term stability (whole blood and plasma samples stored at 4 °C and room temperature for 24 h), long-term stability (two years), the effect of different anticoagulants (lithium heparin, sodium citrate, EDTA, no additives) and repeated freeze–thaw cycles (five times). Further, associations between plasma homocysteine concentrations ([HCY]_p) and echocardiographic variables of left heart size, left heart function, and left-sided valve regurgitation were investigated. Homocysteine concentrations remained stable in whole blood at room temperature for at least four hours, or longer when plasma is separated and kept at 4 °C. Samples could be collected in serum blood tubes, lithium heparin (LH), or EDTA without affecting homocysteine concentrations ([HCY]). Plasma [HCY] in frozen samples increased slightly with storage time (years), though up to five freeze–thaw cycles did not affect [HCY]_p. In a cohort of 169 horses with left-sided valvular regurgitation, plasma creatinine concentrations and age were positively associated with higher [HCY]_p, but no association between [HCY]_p and changes in cardiac size, function or severity of valvular regurgitation could be established. Homocysteine is not associated with left-sided valvular heart disease in horses and is not a useful biomarker for structural or functional cardiac changes. Full article

The purpose of this project was to investigate the nutrient density and nutritional value of meat products, seafood products, and plant-derived protein food products using the 2015 Canadian Nutrient File database. Particular emphasis was placed on comparing nutrient density before and after cooking or preparation, as well as evaluating the cost of foods relative to the nutrients they provide using Canadian retail prices collected over a five-month period. Overall, meat and seafood products were consistently rich sources of protein and key micronutrients, including zinc and vitamin B12, whereas many plant-derived protein foods, including kale, broccoli, spinach, lentils, beans, and quinoa, contained substantially lower protein concentrations on both an uncooked (as purchased) and cooked (as prepared) basis. Although the concentrations of nutrients such as fat, iron, phosphorus, and sodium varied among food products, these findings demonstrate meaningful differences in nutrient density and nutrient cost across protein food categories. These results provide a useful framework for consumers, health professionals, and policymakers when evaluating nutrient-rich protein food choices and underscore the importance of considering both nutrient composition and economic value in dietary recommendations. Future research should extend these comparisons by incorporating direct analytical measurements of foods, assessments of protein quality and indispensable amino acid digestibility, mineral bioavailability, and the effects of food processing and preparation on nutrient utilization to better characterize the nutritional contributions of diverse protein food sources. Full article

A simple and cost-effective graphite paste electrode modified with 5-(4-aminophenyl)-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-3(2H)-thione was developed for the selective voltammetric determination of Cu(II) ions in environmental water samples. The N,S-donor ligand was incorporated into a graphite–polystyrene matrix without the use of nanomaterials, providing a reproducible and straightforward electrode fabrication route. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a rough, porous surface morphology with an enhanced electroactive surface area of 0.065 cm², approximately twice the geometric area. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirmed diffusion-controlled mass transport, while cyclic voltammetry indicated quasi-reversible behaviour of the Cu(II)/Cu(0) redox system with a linear dependence of peak current on the square root of the scan rate. Differential pulse voltammetry under optimised conditions (0.1 mol·L⁻¹ H₂SO₄, pH 1.0–1.2) yielded a linear analytical response over the concentration range of 0.01–0.4 μmol·L⁻¹ (R² = 0.99507), with a limit of detection of 0.02 μmol·L⁻¹ and a limit of quantification of 0.06 μmol·L⁻¹—well below the WHO guideline for copper in drinking water. The sensing mechanism involves selective N,S-bidentate coordination of Cu(II) at the electrode surface, followed by electrochemical reduction, as supported by FT-IR spectroscopic evidence. The sensor demonstrated good selectivity toward Cu(II) in the presence of common interfering metal ions at up to 20-fold excess. The method was successfully validated against ICP-OES (recovery 99.8%, RSD < 0.33%) and confirmed by spike–recovery experiments (99.0–99.5%), confirming its practical applicability for trace-level environmental monitoring. The modified electrode retained approximately 93% of its initial response after 30 consecutive measurements and 91% after 14 days of storage, demonstrating good operational stability. Full article

Salt stress limits tomato productivity, yet how translational regulation contributes to root salt adaptation remains poorly understood. We integrated RNA-seq and ribosome profiling in wild-type (WT) and FERONIA (FER) mutant (fer) tomato roots under control and 150 mM NaCl conditions. In WT roots, the salt response was predominantly transcript-driven, but a 29-gene ribosome-associated module showed reduced RNA abundance alongside increased translational efficiency, indicating selective translational buffering. FER loss-of-function disrupted this balance, constitutively elevating ribosome occupancy of ribosome-associated genes while reducing basal expression of stress- and ion-transport-related genes; under salt treatment, fer also showed stronger ion-transport transcriptional responses but weaker translational efficiency responses of this module. WT salt stress further shifted ribosome allocation from the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) toward the coding sequence (CDS), an effect attenuated in fer, alongside positive coupling between uORF and CDS translational efficiency. Feature modeling identified sequence and structural predictors of uORF translation, including weaker local RNA folding near the start codon and specific amino acid and stop codon preferences. Together, these results reveal FER-associated changes in ribosome-associated translational buffering during tomato root salt responses. Full article

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) provide a versatile, fully aqueous platform for probing solute–water interactions and protein structure. This review first surveys the diversity and phase behavior of biphasic aqueous systems formed by polymers and salts. We describe how phase diagrams characterize ATPS formation and composition and how both polymer chemistry and salt identity, rather than molecular size alone, govern phase separation by modulating the solvent properties of water. Building on a modified binodal model, we show that phase separation and solute partitioning can be understood in terms of changes in aqueous solvent dipolarity/polarizability, hydrogen-bond donor/acceptor properties, hydrophobicity, and electrostatics, quantified via solvatochromic probes and homologous solute series. These measurements underpin solvent interaction analysis (SIA), in which the partition coefficients of small molecules and proteins across panels of ATPSs are used to generate “structural signatures” that sensitively report on amino acid substitutions, conformational changes, aggregation, ligand binding, osmolyte effects, and post-translational modifications, independent of protein size. We discuss how SIA can be implemented in vial-, plate-, and microfluidic formats and combined with diverse analytical readouts (HPLC, MS, colorimetric assays, and immunoassays), and we contrast this structure-focused approach with conventional concentration-only proteomic and biomarker strategies. Particular emphasis is placed on structure-based biomarker discovery, where disease-relevant shifts in proteoform distributions—especially glycosylation changes—are often more informative than bulk protein levels and where SIA can complement or simplify complex glycomics and top-down proteomics workflows. As a case study, we describe the recently FDA-approved IsoPSA assay, which applies SIA principles to prostate-specific antigen by measuring cancer-associated structural alterations in circulating PSA via its partition behavior in a proprietary ATPS. IsoPSA generates a single index that discriminates between high-grade prostate cancer and benign and low-grade conditions. Prospective, longitudinal, and MRI-integrated clinical studies demonstrate that IsoPSA improves pre-biopsy risk stratification, reduces unnecessary biopsies, and provides robust negative and positive predictive values within the PSA “gray zone.” Collectively, the data support aqueous solvent interaction analysis as a broadly applicable, mechanistically grounded technology for protein characterization, drug–protein interaction studies, and structure-centric biomarker development, exemplified by the clinical translation of IsoPSA. Full article