Search Results (20,231)

The endo-lysosomal channel TRPML2 regulates key processes like membrane trafficking and autophagy, which are hijacked by many RNA viruses during endocytic entry. However, the development of TRPML2-targeted therapeutics has been hindered by a notable lack of high-affinity and selective peptide-based activators. Scorpion venom peptides, honed by evolution for exceptional specificity toward diverse membrane ion channels, represent a promising, underexplored natural library for discovering novel pharmacological probes and drug leads. Here, we screened and identified seven candidate peptides interacting with TRPML2 using co-immunoprecipitation combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of the Mesobuthus martensii venom. Based on molecular docking analysis, the top four candidates—MMTX, BmP05, BmTX1, and BmKK12—were selected for chemical synthesis, oxidatively cyclized to form their native disulfide-bridged conformations, and subsequently purified and characterized by analytical HPLC and MS. Calcium imaging confirmed that two of the four oxidized peptides, BmP05 and BmKK12, exhibited superior potency in inducing a sharp increase in Ca²⁺ influx. Crucially, BmP05 and BmKK12 demonstrated potent, concentration-dependent inhibition of Zika virus (ZIKV) replication at the RNA level at non-cytotoxic concentrations, whereas the weaker activators MMTX and BmTX1 did not. The current study first reports animal venom-derived peptides that function as specific TRPML2 agonists with concomitant antiviral activity. Together, our findings provide not only new molecular probes for dissecting TRPML2 biology but also a pioneering strategy for developing host-directed, broad-spectrum therapeutics against viruses dependent on endo-lysosomal entry. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dietary behaviors among young adults in Japan have become increasingly polarized, highlighting the limitations of traditional knowledge-based health education. Behavioral science-based approaches such as nudging and gamification may offer alternative strategies. This study aimed to develop and examine a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)-based path model of healthy dietary choice behavior among young Japanese adults and to examine patterns associated with a star-rating gamification feature embedded in a nutrition management mobile application. Methods: A total of 188 participants aged 18–39 years completed an online survey assessing TPB constructs and normative factors. Participants used either a star-rating or non-rating version of the FoodLog Athl application. Composite-score-based path analysis and conditional process analyses were conducted to examine relational patterns among constructs. Results: Intention and self-efficacy jointly explained 48% of the variance in dietary behavior, with self-efficacy emerging as the strongest predictor. Several moderation patterns were observed, including those of gender, university year, diet app use, awareness of consequences, and ascription of responsibility. Compared with users of the non-rating version, star-rating users were observed to show higher nutrient scores but lower self-efficacy and dietary behavior scores, along with greater awareness of dietary consequences. These post-intervention findings are exploratory. Conclusions: Self-efficacy plays a central role in healthy dietary choice behavior among young adults, and its association with behavior appears to be shaped by perceived consequences and responsibility. By applying a composite-score-based path analysis within an SEM framework, this study clarifies the structural relationships among TPB components in everyday dietary choice behavior among Japanese young adults. Star-rating feedback may enhance reflective awareness and shows potential as a gamified nudging tool but further research is needed to clarify its effects. Full article

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a key component of syngas and an important intermediate in the chemical, metallurgical, heavy, and food industries. Although mainly associated with thermochemical processes, CO can also be generated during composting, offering an environmentally friendly biological alternative. This study assessed the potential for CO production during laboratory-scale composting of seven selected organic waste fractions: coffee grounds, green tea leaves/grounds, wheat straw, grass cuttings, branches, food waste, and a biowaste mixture with an optimal C/N ratio. Composting was carried out under laboratory conditions at 45 °C for 14 days, with daily passive aeration and monitoring of CO, CO₂, and O₂ concentrations in the reactor headspace. CO production kinetics were calculated for each substrate, and the CO mass yield was determined in each bioreactor. The study confirmed the CO generation potential of the analyzed organic waste fractions. The highest CO production was observed for grass cuttings (max. 2000 ppm, 1.21 mg), biowaste mix (2000 ppm, 0.82 mg), and wheat straw (1180 ppm, 0.24 mg). Grass cuttings exhibited the highest average reaction rate (3991.1 ppm·d⁻¹) and the most rapid process (2.920 d⁻¹). Fungal colonization was visibly present in the most CO-productive reactors, suggesting a role of fungal metabolism in CO formation. Full article

Background: Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are now common in land and water ecosystems. Their spread is an increasing issue from a One Health perspective. These particles end up in soils, water, air, and farm inputs. This poses direct risks to animal health and indirect risks to people who eat animal-derived food. There are also risks from plastic additives and pesticides migrating with these particles in animal-based food. Scope and Approach: This review summarizes how MPs and NPs move in agroecosystems and livestock production. It covers their main sources, such as agricultural plastics, sludge-amended soils, plastic-lined storage, and environmental fallout. It explains how farm animals are exposed, including through feed, water, soil contact, and inhalation. Evidence is condensed for occurrence in manure, tissues, and animal products. The review also highlights key analysis challenges, especially those limiting the assessment of nanoplastic exposure. Key Findings: Field surveys show very different contamination levels in the environment. Agricultural soils range from 0.36 to 42,960 particles/kg. Livestock indicators, like contaminated feed and manure, range from 10² to 10⁵ particles/kg. In free-roaming systems, chicken feces have very high loads, showing trophic transfer in land food chains. A pilot study found plastic particles in pig and cow blood, suggesting some particles cross the gut into the blood. Experimental models link MPs/NPs to oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic disturbance, and potential reproductive toxicity in livestock and poultry. Conclusions and outlook: Animal-based foods provide a major source of human exposure. MPs and NPs have been observed in milk and poultry products, such as packaged meat and eggs (mean 11.67 ± 3.98 particles/egg). There is still a research gap on raw milk taken directly from the teat and on raw eggs that have not been handled or packaged. This gap makes it hard to identify real contamination sources and control strategies. The review stresses the need for harmonized detection methods (especially for NPs), monitoring from farm to fork, and practical ways to reduce plastic use on farms and minimize contamination during processing, feed handling, and packaging. Full article

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently co-occurs with malnutrition and gut dysbiosis, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Herein, this cross-sectional study first profiles dietary intake differences using dietary records from 210,874 participants (ASD = 232; non-ASD = 210,642; median age = 56.18) from the UK Biobank (UKB). Second, a bi-directional Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach serves to dissect relationships between ASD genetic susceptibility and dietary preferences by leveraging genome-wide association metadata from the iPSYCH-PGC (ASD) and UKB (dietary intake/food-liking traits). The same strategy is implemented to identify ASD-associated gut microbial species. Mediation analyses further assess the role of gut microbiota in the association between ASD and dietary preferences. Subjects with ASD exhibit higher consumption of cheese, processed meat, and oily fish, alongside lower intake of fruits, and demonstrate a preference for high-fat/salt and energy-dense foods. Additionally, the depletion of Turicibacter, Streptococcus, and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 was causally related with ASD (all false discovery rate < 0.05; β = −0.15, β = −0.10, β = −0.093, respectively), which significantly mediates the ASD-associated elevated preference for high-fat/salt foods. In conclusion, ASD is associated with specific dietary preferences, likely mediated via gut microbiota, highlighting the future potential of gut microbiome-based therapeutics to modify eating disorders for ASD. Full article

Diabetic nephropathy is a major complication of diabetes mellitus, primarily driven by hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and renal tubular cell injury. Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) is rich in antioxidant phytochemicals, and its industrial processing generates large amounts of spent material that may retain significant bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile, antioxidant capacity, and renoprotective potential of beetroot spent extracts under hyperglycemic conditions. Beetroot spent material was extracted using hot water and 70% ethanol. Total phenolic, flavonoid, and betalain contents were quantified, and antioxidant activity was assessed using the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assay. Phytochemical characterization was performed by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). Cytotoxicity was evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, SH-SY5Y, HEK-293, and MDA-MB-231 cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Renoprotective effects were investigated in HEK-293 renal tubular cells cultured under normal (5.5 mM) and high-glucose (200 mM) conditions. UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS was used to identify over 80 phenolic and flavonoid compounds including quercetin, epicatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate. The hot water extract exhibited superior antioxidant activity, achieving approximately 90% ABTS radical inhibition. Beetroot spent extract showed no cytotoxicity at concentrations below 1 mg/mL and significantly restored HEK-293 cell viability (>90%) under high-glucose conditions at concentrations ≥31.25 µg/mL. In conclusion, beetroot spent water extract possesses strong antioxidant and renoprotective activities against hyperglycemia-induced renal cell damage, supporting its valorization as a sustainable functional food ingredient for diabetes-related health applications. Full article

Cadmium (Cd) contamination of agricultural soils threatens crop productivity and food safety by disrupting physiological and molecular processes in plants. Increasing evidence indicates that epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and emerging epitranscriptomic marks such as RNA methylation, plays a crucial role in coordinating plant responses to Cd stress. In parallel, plant-associated microbiomes have emerged as influential modulators of metal uptake, antioxidant capacity, hormone signaling, and stress resilience. Yet the mechanisms by which microbiome-derived signals intersect with host chromatin and transcriptome regulation under Cd exposure remain poorly understood. This review synthesizes current knowledge on plant epigenetic responses to Cd stress and critically examines how microbial metabolites, phytohormones, and redox-active compounds shape plant regulatory networks. Network-based ecological studies reveal that increased microbial community complexity and cooperative interactions are consistently associated with reduced Cd accumulation and enhanced plant performance, suggesting that microbial organization itself may represent an additional regulatory layer influencing plant responses. Despite compelling conceptual links, direct experimental evidence connecting microbiome signals to stable epigenetic or epitranscriptomic reprogramming under Cd stress remains limited. To date, only limited experimental studies have demonstrated causal relationships between microbial cues and host DNA or RNA methylation dynamics in Cd-exposed plants, highlighting clear mechanistic potential while also underscoring remaining knowledge gaps. By integrating physiological, ecological, and chromatin-level perspectives, this review identifies key unanswered questions and outlines future research directions to establish causal links between microbial community dynamics, epigenetic regulation, and long-term Cd stress adaptation in plants. Full article

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have become a dominant component of contemporary food environments worldwide. Their consumption is socially patterned, with higher intakes frequently observed among children from socioeconomically disadvantage families, highlighting a critical dimension of dietary inequality. International migration is another major social determinant of familial diet; however, few studies have examined how migration-related characteristics is associated with children’s UPF consumption in Portugal. This study assessed the association between migration-related characteristics, namely parental nationality and whether the child had always lived in Portugal, and UPF consumption among young children. Cross-sectional analysis of data from the prospective ScreenHealth cohort (5.6 ± 1.0-year-old children; n = 682; 52.1% male) included information on migration status, dietary intake, and covariates (age, parental education). Children with two foreign parents or who had not always lived in Portugal showed higher odds of consuming several UPF items. These associations were only partially attenuated after adjustment for socioeconomic indicators like parental education. Findings are descriptive and should be interpreted with caution, particularly given the small sample sizes of some immigrant subgroups and the cross-sectional design, but they provide novel insights into early-life dietary patterns and highlight population groups that may be differentially exposed to UPF-rich food environments during early childhood. Full article

Limosilactobacillus fermentum is a versatile heterofermentative lactic acid bacterium with significant potential to enhance the nutritional, functional, and sensory properties of plant-based foods. This review examines the biotechnological mechanisms and industrial applications of L. fermentum in fruit and vegetable fermentations, with particular emphasis on its strain-specific metabolic and technological traits. It synthesizes current knowledge on its taxonomic reclassification, key metabolic pathways, and strain-dependent capacity to biotransform phenolic compounds and mitigate anti-nutritional factors. Applications in vegetable fermentation include traditional products such as kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, and fermented peppers, whereas fruit-based applications include berry juices, tropical fruits, and stone fruits. This review highlights the strain-dependent production of value-added bioactive metabolites, including γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), mannitol, and exopolysaccharides, and the demonstrated improvements in antioxidant capacity and mineral bioavailability through strategies such as selenium biofortification. Furthermore, industrial optimization strategies, such as starter culture development, process parameter optimization, and co-culture or sequential fermentation, have been evaluated. Current challenges and future perspectives for scaling up L. fermentum-based technologies are discussed, emphasizing the need for targeted strain selection, a deeper mechanistic understanding of metabolic regulation, and the standardization of industrial processes. Overall, this review provides a consolidated foundation for researchers and industry professionals aiming to harness selected L. fermentum strains to develop functional fermented foods with improved quality and health benefits. Full article

Functional foods have attracted increasing scientific and commercial interest due to their potential roles in health promotion and the prevention of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we will critically examine the current evidence on functional foods by focusing on their classification, bioactive components, biological mechanisms, consumer acceptance and regulatory frameworks. Bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, dietary fibre and probiotics, from both plant- and animal-origin functional foods, have also been examined in this review. Despite substantial experimental and epidemiological evidence, the translation of functional foods into consistent health benefits remains challenged by variability in bioavailability, food matrix effects, processing conditions and interindividual differences in genetics and gut microbiota. Key mechanistic determinants of bioefficacy, including intestinal transport processes, molecular structure, stereochemistry, and food–drug interactions, are discussed. Consumers’ perception and purchasing behaviour are examined, identifying the influence of product format, socio-demographic characteristics, information sources, health motivation and price sensitivity. Our review also compares the regulatory approaches in the United States, European Union, Japan and China, highlighting the heterogeneity in definitions and health claim substantiation requirements. Finally, emerging opportunities such as metabolic profiling technologies and personalised nutrition are highlighted as future directions to support evidence-based, effective and equitable functional food development. Full article

Exporting food products from the European Union (EU) to the United States of America (USA) involves navigating complex regulations and procedural barriers that hinder market access. Italian food businesses (FBs), particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), often face difficulties accessing clear guidance, as national procedures are scattered across multiple sources. This paper proposes a structured three-step analytical framework to support EU FBs: product-specific analysis, identification of relevant EU and USA legislation, comparative legislative analysis via concordance tables, and identification of procedures to integrate into the Food Safety Management System. The framework was applied to an Italian medium-sized FB exporting pork-based pasta sauce to the USA. Beyond the specific case study, the proposed analytical framework was designed to be transferable and adaptable to other food categories and destination markets, providing a structured methodological tool to support regulatory alignment. In this sense, the framework can be considered product-independent but process-specific. As such, it can support both FBs and Competent Authorities in conducting risk-based assessments of regulatory equivalence and export compliance. Results indicated the need for Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), thermal process validation, direct verification activities, and pre-shipment review. Findings emphasize that operational and procedural barriers disproportionately affect SMEs, highlighting the importance of targeted support to facilitate market access and strengthen certification systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has increased markedly in recent decades and has been associated with adverse health outcomes. In childhood, the family environment plays a central role in shaping dietary habits and oral health behaviors. This study investigated the association between UPF consumption by caregivers and children, its relationship with caregivers’ periodontal health-related quality of life, and described children’s dietary practices and oral hygiene habits. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with caregivers of children participating in the Happy Smile Project in Birigui, São Paulo, Brazil. UPF consumption was assessed using a questionnaire based on the NOVA classification, and periodontal health-related quality of life was evaluated using the OHIP-14-PD. Results: A high frequency of UPF consumption was observed among both caregivers and children. Children whose caregivers had high UPF consumption were more likely to also present high consumption (OR = 9.96; 95% CI: 5.38–18.44; p < 0.001). Higher caregiver education was associated with lower odds of high UPF consumption among children. Children in the high-consumption group were older and showed higher consumption of sweetened milk beverages (p < 0.001). Risk behaviors for oral health, such as nighttime use of sweetened bottles and absence of toothbrushing afterward, were frequently reported. Regarding periodontal health-related quality of life, only the physical disability domain showed significantly higher scores among caregivers with high UPF consumption (p = 0.014). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that high consumption of ultra-processed foods by caregivers significantly increased the odds of children’s consumption and was associated with a greater negative impact on caregivers’ periodontal health-related quality of life, specifically in the physical disability domain. In addition, children exhibited a high frequency of oral health-damaging behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of family-centered strategies aimed at reducing the intake of ultra-processed foods and promoting healthier dietary and oral health behaviors. Full article

Betaines are natural nitrogen-containing compounds widely distributed in plant-derived foods and animal tissues, where they function primarily as osmolytes, chaperons, and methyl donors. As such, they have attracted increasing interest as dietary components and metabolic biomarkers in human nutrition. This study provides a comparative characterization of glycine betaine (GlyBet) and proline betaine (ProBet) by combining targeted LC–MS quantification in a representative selection of plant-based foods with complementary in silico analyses and integration of dietary intake estimates derived from published nutritional and metabolomic studies, together with human metabolomic data. A validated HPLC–ESI–MS method was applied to quantify GlyBet and ProBet across cereals, pseudocereals, vegetables, and fruits. GlyBet was found to be predominantly abundant in leafy vegetables and in several cereal and pseudocereal flours, whereas ProBet was highly enriched in citrus fruits, particularly bergamot, chinotto, and bitter orange. In silico ADMET predictions were used to provide a qualitative and comparative description of the pharmacokinetic and safety-related properties of the two betaines, indicating broadly similar hydrophilic profiles with modest differences in solubility, clearance, and predicted skin sensitization. Similarity-based target prediction analyses, used in an exploratory framework, suggest distinct contextual tendencies for the two betaines. GlyBet is primarily associated with pathways related to one-carbon metabolism and cellular stress responses, whereas ProBet shows a closer contextual association with signaling-related processes. By integrating experimental data, computational analyses, and human metabolomic information, this work supports the interpretation of betaines as biomarkers of dietary intake and systemic metabolic status. Full article

Automated waste classification is essential for improving recycling efficiency and supporting sustainable waste management systems. However, conventional convolutional neural network (CNN) approaches primarily focus on localized feature extraction, which may limit their ability to capture complex spatial relationships in heterogeneous waste materials. This study proposes DeepWasteSort-SI-SSO, a Vision Transformer (ViT)-based framework enhanced with a Self-Improved Sparrow Search Optimization (SI-SSO) strategy for hyperparameter tuning. The optimization process focuses on key training parameters, including learning rate, batch size, and dropout rate, to improve convergence stability and reduce the risk of suboptimal local minima. The framework was evaluated on a balanced four-class waste image dataset (paper, wood, food, and leaves; N = 4000) using a five-fold cross-validation protocol. Experimental results achieved an average accuracy of 95.5% (±0.007), a macro-averaged AUC-ROC of 0.975, and a Cohen’s Kappa coefficient of 0.938, indicating strong agreement between predicted and true labels. Comparative experiments against ResNet-50 and a baseline ViT configuration suggest that SI-SSO optimization improves performance stability with only a modest increase in computational cost. These findings highlight the potential of optimized Transformer-based approaches for automated waste image classification under controlled evaluation conditions. Full article

Texture perception in extruded snacks is commonly evaluated using force-based measurements, although crispness-related oral sensations arise from fracture, sound emission, and lubrication during mastication. This study developed a mechanistically grounded framework for texture characterization of fiber-enriched extruded snacks by integrating instrumental and sensory analyses within an oral-processing context. Extruded snack samples containing soybean residue (okara; 0%, 29%, and 40%) and commercial benchmarks were evaluated using synchronized mechanical–acoustic testing (five-blade Allo-Kramer shear and three-point bending tests), oral tribology, and sensory evaluation combining intensity rating and ranking. Increasing okara content shifted fracture behavior from brittle, sound-emitting failure toward damped, progressive deformation with approximately 3–5-fold lower acoustic envelope amplitudes and smoother force–time profiles. These changes corresponded to lower perceived Crunchiness and Sound Intensity, reflecting diminished crispness-related perception, and higher Hardness and Grittiness/Coarseness attributes (increases of ~25–45%). Oral tribology revealed cohesive, poorly lubricated boli for okara-rich snacks, requiring higher entrainment parameters (Uη₀ ≈ 1.0 × 10⁵–3.5 × 10⁵) to transition from boundary to mixed lubrication compared with commercial benchmarks (Uη₀ ≈ 7.0 × 10⁴–2.0 × 10⁵). Convergent multivariate analyses established instrumentally defined texture phenotypes that translate mechanical–acoustic and tribological signatures into sensory-interpretable texture categories, providing a practical framework for discriminating and optimizing nutritionally enhanced extruded snack products. Full article