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An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was developed here for benzophenone (BZP) detection in package paper samples based on polyclonal antibody. 4-Aminobenzophenone (ABZP) was used as hapten and conjugated with bovine serum albumin for antibody production. Cross-reactivity results showed that the antibody can be recognised BZP, ABZP and Michler's ketone very well (IC50 value was 31.2±7.8 ng/mL, 35.9±8.3 ng/mL and 43.7±8.2 ng/mL, respectively). After optimisation of the effects from pH, ionic strength and organic solvents on immunoassay, we established a rapid method and used for BZP detection in fortified package paper samples with good recovery data (98.5 and 99.7%) at 100 and 600 ng/g spiked level.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carprofen (CAR) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used to treat various musculoskeletal diseases and infections in food animals. While CAR residues in food animal tissues caused by veterinary medicine abuse are a potential danger to human health. In this study, a high-affinity monoclonal antibody (mAb) against CAR was prepared, and then an immunochromatographic strip for rapidly screening CAR in bovine muscle was developed to help enforce regulatory compliance. The visual detection limit (cut-off value) by the naked eye of the fabricated test strip was 12.5 ng g−1. Scanning by the strip reader, the IC50 of the test strip was calculated as 1.743 ng g−1, and the limit of detection (LOD, IC10) was 0.283 ng g−1. The proposed method provided an efficient tool for monitoring CAR in bovine muscle. Meantime, our work suggested great potential for the analysis of CAR residues in other food matrixes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus ofListeriaconsists of heterologous species and its presence in the food chain is an indicator of poor hygiene. However, a portable and simple paper sensor for detection of listeria spp. with high accuracy was still unknown. In this study, we prepared a pair of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that specifically recognize the P60 protein on the cell surface ofListeriaspp. The selected pair was found to be sensitive to both the P60 protein and cell body of the genusListeria. On this basis, a rapid paper sensor was established for sensitiveListeriaspp. detection. The developed paper sensor broadly cross-reacted with the 12 tested strains ofListeriaand the sensitivity in PBS buffer was 103–104colony-forming units (CFU) judged by the gray values of the test line. No cross-reaction with any other gram-positive or gram-negative strains tested was observed. A study using milk samples showed that this paper sensor could detect samples contaminated with low levels of the testedListeriaspp. (1–9 CFU/mL) after 8 h of enrichment and further concentrate for approximately 10 times by centrifugation. The results were in accordance with those obtained using the polymerase chain reaction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and highly sensitive immunochromatographic strip based on a monoclonal antibody (3A9) was developed for the detection of cadmium in tap water. The 50% inhibition concentration of the antibody, which showed no cross-reactivity with other heavy metal ions, was 0.45 ng/mL and it recognized Cd(II)-1-(4-isothiocyanobenzyl) ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) (Cd(II)-ITCBE) and not metal-free ITCBE and EDTA. The cutoff value for semi-quantitative detection of the strip was 5 ng/mL and the lower limit of detection for quantitative detection was 0.2 ng/mL using a scanning reader. The percent recovery ranged from 107.6% to 132% in tap water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giving the rising interest in naturally grown foods; several studies have contrasted various features of organic and conventionally grown foods in relation to consumer attitudes, perceptions, and preference for organic foods. This paper aims to explore consumers' willingness to consume organic foods; the extent and attributes of consumer knowledge and awareness about organic food as well as consumer attitudes and preferences for organically grown foods. Articles from different peer review journals were used to develop this paper. The findings of this paper show that human health, food safety, attitudes and perceptions and willingness to pay for a price premium are some of the factors influencing consumers' willingness to consume organic foods. Therefore, there is a need to create more awareness in the food industry relating to the health benefits of consuming organic foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adamantanes (ADAs) are tricyclic decane saturated derivatives, which are used in the protection against the influenza virus. However, their abuse in animal husbandry has affected human health. To help prevent drug resistance and protect food safety, a rapid, portable, sensitive, and reliable method for onsite detection of ADAs was developed. Herein, we have produced a broad-specificity anti-ADAs monoclonal antibody (mAb), the subclass of which is IgG2b, and its affinity constant is 7.25 × 109 L/mol. From this, an antibody-based lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) was developed for the rapid detection of five ADAs in food samples. When viewed with the naked eye, the LFIA had a visual detection limit of 0.1, 0.1, 1, 5, and 10 μg/kg and a cut-off value of 2.5, 2.5, 10, 100, and 100 μg/kg for somantadine, rimantadine, amantadine, 1-adamantanemethanol, 1-adamantyl methyl ketone respectively in chicken samples. The test results for the LFIA were very similar to that seen when using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Therefore, this paper-based LFIA provides a useful tool for rapid, onsite detection of ADAs in biological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold-coated silver core–shell nanoparticles (Ag@Au NPs) have been widely used for SERS analysis due to plasmon resonance performances. However, it is a great challenge to fabricate Ag@Au core–shell structures with specified morphology. In this paper, the size and shape of Ag NPs (core) were precisely controlled by a seed-mediated approach, and then the gold shell was completely coated on under the strong reduction of ascorbic acid, resulting in Ag@Au NPs with highly regulated morphology. The obtained Ag@Au NPs achieved a similar or even better SERS enhancement factor (EF) (up to 5.7 × 107) compared to Ag NPs, but significantly higher stability. For the rapid SERS detection of nitrofurantoin metabolite AHD, a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 1 × 10−10 M and a wide linear range from 1 × 10−4 to 1 × 10−8 M were obtained. Furthermore, recoveries for crayfish samples were from 90.5% to 108%, indicating a good performance of the presented method in real sample detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat quality is damaged by traditional technologies. Researchers devised a revolutionary technique called plasma technology to meet the requirement for an effective cold processing method. Cold plasma (CP) used for meats and its products decontamination and storability extension has shown to be highly successful. The influence of CP on meat quality is important to its acceptability as an alternative meat processing technology. CP treatments have had effects on the color, pH, lipid oxidation, and microbial quality of different meat products. CP treatment offers crucial benefits over traditional processing methods because of its design adaptability, non-thermal behavior, relatively inexpensive, and environmental friendliness. CP processing is currently in its infancy and requires further investigation in meat and meat products to achieve its best extent. This paper discusses the fundamentals of CP technology, its effects on the quality of meats such as color, pH value, lipid oxidation, and microbial quality, and future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-pressure processing as a unique technique of meat preservation is being widely used to preserve the meat and meat products by which a commercially feasible product's production is possible to meet the consumer's demand with no chemical preservatives and other harmful substances. Pressure treatment could have effects on colour, texture, protein denaturation, and meat microbial stability at ambient or low temperatures; it can help in minimizing the thermal exposure of the meat product to prevent the quality degradation, reduce microbial contamination and improve tenderness. This paper briefly reviews the attention of the high-pressure processing influence on meat product quality, namely texture, tenderness, colour, and microbial. The principles, HPP equipment, challenges, and future trends in high-pressure processing are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrofurans comprise a class of synthetic broad-spectrum antibacterial agents, which had been used extensively as therapeutic drugs and feed additives in animal husbandry. Because of the potential carcinogenic and mutagenic effects of these drugs and their metabolites, most countries have banned their use in food animals. However, driven by economic interests, the illegal use of nitrofurans poses a significant threat to human health. Therefore, to safeguard health of the consumer, it is of paramount importance to develop efficient, sensitive, and reliable detection methods to monitor nitrofuran and their metabolite residues in animal-derived foods. In this paper, the progress in immunoassays for nitrofuran residues is reviewed, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, fluoroimmunoassay, chemiluminescence immunoassay, immunochromatography, and immunosensor assay. Basic principles and applications of these methods were described and compared in this paper. Furthermore, the future perspective on the improvement and development of the immunoassays for the detection of nitrofurans has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bayberries are important sources of phytochemicals. In this paper, the active substances of bayberry extract (BE) were investigated, and based on this, the inhibitory effects of BE on the six tested food-borne pathogens were futher evaluated. Finally, the main antibacterial components in the extracts were identified by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, UPLC-UV spectrum and UPLC-ESI-MS. The results showed that the content of total phenolic was the greatest, and BE has a good inhibitory effect on the growth curve of six foodborne pathogens, and average inhibition zone diameter (IZD) reached 19.5 mm. Furthermore, the four main antimicrobial components, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, flavonoid deoxy hexacoside, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, and quercetin deoxidized hexacoside, were identified from the BE. Practical applications: Bayberries are important sources of phytochemicals such as phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and flavonol glycosides. Recent findings from our laboratory revealed the BE had a significant bacteriostatic effect. Therefore, this paper investigated the antibacterial activity of BE to 6 common foodborne pathogens, and on this basis further confirmed the effective active components of BE. This study provides an important reference for BE application in food, pharmaceutical and chemical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flunixin residues in foods of animal origin could pose hazards for human health. In this paper, a broad-selectivity polyclonal antibody was obtained using 5-hydroxyflunixin coupled with bovine serum albumin as the immunogen. The semi-inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the polyclonal antibody was 1.43 ng/mL for flunixin and 0.29 ng/mL for 5-hydroxyflunixin, respectively, which were far below the maximum residue limits set by the United States, the European Union and China. The limits of detection were calculated to be 2.98 μg/kg for flunixin in bovine muscle and 0.78 μg/L for 5-hydroxyflunixin in milk. In spike and recovery tests, the average recovery ranged from 83% to 105%, with a satisfying coefficient of variance ranging from 5.8% to 11.3%. Furthermore, the ELISA method was validated by a well-established LC-MS/MS method. These results proved that the established method is suitable for flunixin and 5-hydroxyflunixin residue analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a sensitive biomimetic enzyme-linked immunoassay (BELISA) method based on an Au@Pt@Au composite nanozyme label was developed for histamine (HA) detection. A molecular imprinted polymer prepared directly on the 96-well plate served as a biomimetic antibody. A BELISA method was developed for HA standard solutions at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 100.00 mg/L. Under optimal conditions, the novel BELISA method had a low limit of detection (0.069 mg/L) and high sensitivity (7.20 mg/L). The HA spiked in yellow rice wine and liqueur samples were detected by this BELISA method with the recoveries ranging from 84.28% to 108.82%. There was no significant difference of the results between the BELISA method and HPLC for the detection of HA in the red and white grape wine samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive monoclonal antibody for chlorothalonil was created based on a new hapten, which was prepared by an innovative method described in this paper. The hapten was generated by the reaction of original chlorothalonil drugs with 6-aminocaproic acid, distinct from that using glycol and ethylenediamine reported in other papers. A cell strain, (No. 4D7), was obtained with IC500.36 ng/mL, which was the best sensitivity obtained to date. The good recovery obtained in tests for cucumber indicated that the method possesses excellent accuracy and sensitivity. These results show that the developed enzyme-linked immune technology based on 4D7 is a very useful analytical tool for the detection of chlorothalonil residues and is important to immunity studies on chlorothalonil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper-based lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) are an interesting on site technique for detecting heavy metals. Pb(II) is one of the toxic heavy metals in polluted environmental water. This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of three Fe3O4-based nanoadsorbents that show different performance to Pb(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), As(V), Zn(II), Fe(III), Ca(II), Mg(II), Mn(II), and Al(III) when a GO or an amino group is introduced. Compared with Fe3O4, Fe3O4-GO showed higher adsorption percentage to many heavy metal ions under slightly acid condition. The negative surface on Fe3O4@NH2 had favourable interactions for four main divalent metal ion adsorption, which followed the order: Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Hg(II) > Cd(II). Combined with antibody-functionalized AuNPs showed high affinity and specificity toward Pb(II), an Fe3O4@NH2-based LFIA with five times greater sensitivity for detecting Pb(II) in lake water was developed. The cut-off value of this Fe3O4@NH2-combined LFIA method for detection Pb(II) in lake water was 20 ng/mL and the detection result for 10 ng/mL Pb(II) was obviously observable by the naked eye or a strip reader machine. This detection strategy could be readily adapted for other small molecules or biomolecules as an ultrasensitive screening tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrimethanil is one of anilinopyrimidine fungicides widely used in crop protection and frequently found in a variety of crops, including fruits, vegetables, and cereals. This paper describes the development of the first reported immunochromatography test strip (ICTS) based on colloidal gold-labeled monoclonal antibody for the detection of pyrimethanil. Under optimal conditions, the visual cut-off value of ICTS for pyrimethanil was 40 ng/mL. Using a portable strip reader, the 50% inhibition concentration and calculated LOD of pyrimethanil in the PBS samples were 4.8 and 0.9 ng/mL, respectively. When used to analyse fortified samples of fruit and vegetable, acceptable recovery rates of 83.3–105.7% with the coefficient of variation values below 11.7% were obtained. Analysis of blindly fortified samples by the proposed ICTS gave similar results to those of the ic-ELISA and HPLC-MS/MS methods. These results indicate the proposed ICTS is a rapid, simple analytical method for quantitative on-site monitoring of pyrimethanil in foodstuffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this past decade, the bond between agriculture, food security, and climate change has become increasingly strong. Agriculture is recognized as one of the most endangered systems adversely affected by human activities and environmental issues. In particular, abiotic stress limits the quantity and quality of plant-based food. Heat stress, drought, and salinity impact plants at all different life stages, inducing morphological and physiological changes and provoking a reduction in their nutritional value. Accordingly, low-quality food results in a serious risk for the health of people worldwide. In this scenario, different genetic and biotechnological strategies have been investigated, including the use of New Plant Breeding Techniques (NBTs) and plant cell cultures. In this review, we describe how abiotic stresses alter the property and availability of nutritious food. In addition, we illustrate the advanced techniques that could be employed to address these issues and ameliorate the agricultural practices [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) have been proposed to be instrumental in building immune competence. To explore the role of HMOs in allergy prevention, twenty-one HMOs were quantified in breast milk samples and associated with sensitisation in infants. 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) levels were positively associated with an increased risk of sensitisation, atopic dermatitis and recurrent skin rash. Interestingly, 2′-FL levels, ranging from 1.35 to 1.95 g/L, were associated with a higher prevalence of non-allergic and non-sensitised infants. The role of 2′-FL and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT) was further investigated in allergic sensitisation models in vivo. Oral administration of HMOs decreased allergic sensitisation. This was associated with gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production changes. Aligned with the clinical associations, the decreased sensitisation was not observed with lower and higher tested doses of the HMOs supporting a U-shape association between 2′-FL and LNnT levels and allergic sensitisation risk reduction in humans and mice. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02550236. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive production of nitric oxide (NO) dan pro-inflammatory cytokines can lead to tissue damage and chronic inflammation. Euphorbia hirta presents an interesting opportunity for plant-derived anti-inflammatory agents as it contains a range of compounds which have demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory properties of E. hirta extract on gene expression and NO production in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. The results demonstrate that E. hirta extracts effectively suppress NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the extract inhibits iNOS protein expression and reduces the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL−12. RNA sequencing revealed significant alterations in gene expression, including 167 upregulated and 56 downregulated genes-related inflammation pathways. The study concludes that E. hirta extract possesses anti-inflammatory activity by modulating gene expression and inhibiting NO production in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. The extract influences genes associated with inflammation signalling pathways, including cytokine signalling, NF-κB, iNOS and JAK-STAT pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regional lifestyles influence allergic disease risks, with dietary factors being crucial. However, observational studies on micro- and macronutrient impacts are inconsistent. Methods: We used a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design with the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method and sensitivity analyses to evaluate the effects of various micronutrients (e.g. zinc, selenium, phosphorus) and macronutrient intake on allergic diseases. Results: Zinc was inversely associated with allergic asthma (OR = 0.856, p = 0.014) and atopic dermatitis (OR = 0.918, p = 0.039). Selenium was inversely associated with allergic rhinitis (OR = 0.863, p = 0.037). Phosphorus was linked to an increased risk of allergic urticaria (OR = 4.396, p = 0.0025). Other nutrients showed no significant associations. Conclusion: Certain micronutrients, like zinc, selenium, and phosphorus, may play significant roles in allergic disease development, warranting further research to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by widespread inflammation and organ damage. Studies indicate that diet significantly influences the gut microbiota, which, in turn, affects the immune system. This article explores gut microbiota dysbiosis in SLE patients and potential mechanisms related to dietary interventions and immune function. It highlights specific dietary patterns, such as a high-fibre diet and the Mediterranean diet, that may modulate the diversity and activity of the gut microbiota. The interaction between altered microbiota and immune responses, including the regulation of inflammatory cytokines, intestinal barrier permeability, and autoantibody production is examined. This review highlights the importance of personalized dietary strategies to modulate the diversity and activity of the gut microbiota by enhancing the immune response and potentially mitigating disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review explores the multifaceted impact of postbiotics on gut health, highlighting their impact on the immune system, gut flora, and general health. Postbiotics play a vital role as mediators in the complex interaction between the gut microbiota and various processes, such as the fermentation of carbohydrates and the creation of enzymes, peptides, and vitamins. A diverse range of microorganisms inhabit the human gastrointestinal tract and interact tightly with the mucosal immune system. The host's immunological response, defense against infections, and delivery of various nutrients are all influenced by the gut microbiota, which is crucial to maintaining host health. Numerous studies show that probiotics and prebiotics have been linked to direct and indirect regulation of immune response and microbiota. This study demonstrated that postbiotics preserve microbiota balance and control the immune system, such as the bioactive metabolites generated by the gut microbiota and cell wall components produced by probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) affect millions of lives worldwide. They constitute a group of neurological disorders with shared common features, including impaired cognition, behavior, memory, and motor functions. These conditions arise due to the gradual degeneration of neurons within the nervous system. Even though, each pathology presents diverse etiologies and develops in different brain sites, they may share cellular and molecular mechanisms, such as inflammation, protein aggregation, and DNA and RNA defects. Heavy metal contamination is a global public health concern, given that anthropogenic activities like paint manufacturing, mining, and oil refining contribute substantially to heavy metal pollution. Consequently, studies have investigated its potential etiological factors in neurodegenerative diseases. This review examines the impact of dietary exposure to heavy metals, specifically mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium, arsenic, and zinc, on the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Evidence from a range of studies indicates that these metals play a significant role in advancing these diseases by disrupting essential cellular and molecular functions, including the induction of oxidative stress and impairments in mitochondrial function. These findings underscore the need for further research to elucidate toxicological mechanisms and develop preventive strategies, such as chelation therapies and environmental remediation. Addressing these risks is especially critical to protect neurocognitive health, particularly in aging populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of wheat dietary fibre (WDF) on glucose metabolism disorder and its mechanisms, 6-week-old db/db mice were given WDF by adding to diet or oral-gavage. The results showed that WDF by oral-gavage instead of adding to the feed can significantly reduce blood glucose levels. The levels of insulin and HOMA-IR were both decreased in the serum of WDF-gavaged mice as well as several inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β. WDF intake by gavage could better regulate the intestinal flora, thus inhibiting diabetes. The relative expressions of genes and proteins including TLR, P65, P50 and TNF-α were all significantly decreased by oral-gavaged WDF. Moreover, the ratio of phosphorylated p65 to total p65 was significantly decreased. In conclusion, ingestion of WDF by gavage can effectively improve glucose metabolism disorder in db/db mice by improving intestinal microbiota and regulating the TLRs/NF-κB/TNF pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), originating from areas around the Mediterranean Sea, emphasises olive oil, fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts while limiting red and processed meats. Studies show that higher adherence to the MedDiet reduces mortality risk by 23%. This diet contains essential nutrients and bioactive compounds important for maintaining good health. Prediabetes, characterised by impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, can progress to type 2 diabetes, which increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Diet plays a crucial role in type 2 diabetes prevention. Healthy fats, antioxidants, high fibre, and low glycemic index foods positively affect prediabetes management by improving insulin sensitivity, regulating blood glucose, reducing inflammation, and aiding weight control. This review explores MedDiet's molecular mechanisms and potential for prediabetes treatment and glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type II diabetes prevalence rate is increasing globally. That's why recently, our research group has worked on functional yogurts made from milk of different species by using functional ingredients to explore their α-amylase inhibitory activity relevant to management of type II diabetes. Sixteen yogurt treatments were made from milk of four species, cow, goat, buffalo, and camel by incorporating Stevia rebudiana (5 ml) and Cinnamomum verum (10 ml) extract. The physicochemical attributes and α-amylase inhibition rate of prepared functional yogurts were evaluated on 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st days of storage. Significant changes in physicochemical properties were observed in cinnamon and stevia camel milk yogurt. All yogurts showed increase in inhibition rate till 14th day and decline on 21st day of storage period. However, cinnamon camel milk yogurt showed 63% α-amylase inhibition on 1st day,cinnamon and stevia camel milk yogurt showed highest α-amylase inhibition (61.15%) on 14th day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary fibre from plant-based sources provides essential nutrients and antioxidants that promote overall health and protect against various chronic conditions. The objective of this study was to review the industrial applications and future aspects of different types of dietary fibre. This review explored the multifaceted nature of dietary fibres, emphasising their impact on digestive health, heart health, weight management, blood sugar control, and their role in preventing chronic diseases. Additionally, it delves into the sustainable aspects of dietary fibre and the promising future prospects they hold in personalised nutrition, gut health, and sustainable food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1990s the worldwide rate of obesity has escalated significantly. This overflow affects all demographic groups, with a notable impact on older adults and women. Obesity is associated with a variety of serious chronic health conditions. Additionally, it is linked to endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism. This review analyzes the connection between obesity and micronutrient levels, particularly focusing on vitamin D, and evaluates potential nutritional and supplementation approaches for this population. Micronutrient imbalances in obesity arise from poor dietary intake, increased nutritional needs, altered pharmacokinetics, and absorption difficulties. These imbalances can lead to critical health and metabolic issues. For example, vitamin D deficiency, which is common in individuals with obesity, is associated with decreased calcium absorption and an incremented risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and various inflammatory conditions such as cancer. Effectively addressing micronutrient deficiencies requires dietary modifications and, when necessary, supplementation. While enhancing nutrition is critical, supplementation often becomes essential to meet the nutritional needs of individuals with obesity, particularly those on restrictive diets or undergoing bariatric surgery. Supplementing micronutrients and vitamin D in patients with obesity can improve health related outcomes. Moreover, dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet can increase vitamin D levels. This review underlines the crucial role of tailored supplementation strategies and the demand for continued research to ascertain optimal dosing and its implications for health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4-coumaric acid coenzyme A ligase (4CL) plays an important role in plant growth, development and resistance. Based on the Musa acuminata (A genome) genome database, we performed genome-wide identification and evolutionary analysis of the 4CL gene family.The results showed that there were 20 members of 4CL, and the amino acids encoded ranged from 160 to 700, all of which were hydrophobic proteins. All the members of the 4CL gene family had no signal peptide, and phosphorylation sites ranged from 10 to 60. The 4CL genes were uniformly distributed and disordered in the chromosomes. All protein members can interact with each other.Transcriptome expression analysis showed that Ma4CL3-2 expression was down-regulated and Ma4CL11-1 expression was up-regulated. Musa acuminata genomics has 22 and 19 pairs of co-linear members with Musa balbisiana and Musa itinerans genomics, respectively.The above results provide a good foundation for further research on the function of the 4CL genes and resistance breeding. Highlights Twenty 4CL gene family members were found in banana (Musa acuminata) genomes. Banana 4CLs were expressed in response to low temperature stress. The members of the banana 4CL gene family were found to be relatively structurally diverse, and it was further hypothesised that 4CL may be involved in plant lignin synthesis and closely related to the process of plant differentiation into monocotyledons and dicotyledons, based on the hypothesis of Huang et al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paxilline (PAX) is a tremorgenic mycotoxin that is thought to be associated with various syndromes in animals. To facilitate the determination of this toxin, a hapten was chemically synthesized and then respectively conjugated to Bovine Thyroglobulin (BTG) and Bovine serum albumin (BSA) for antibody production. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) 4F8 was finally obtained and used to establish an accurate and sensitive indirect competitive ELISA (icELISA). Various parameters that could impact the performance of icELISA were optimized, including the ion concentration, pH value and organic solvent. Under optimal condition, this assay exhibits an IC50 value as low as 0.84 µg L−1. The limit of detection (LOD) of the established icELISA method for PAX was 0.03–0.3 µg L−1. In conclusion, this study provided a rapid, sensitive, and high-throughput immunoassay for the detection of PAX in grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-fat/high-carbohydrate diets have been proved to be associated with series metabolic syndromes and can lead to non-communicable diseases. In this paper, recent cohort studies and animal experiments about the influences of macro-nutrients (carbohydrate, fat and protein) with different ratios to organisms were overviewed. The results based on meta-analysis and animal experiment were further analysed to illustrate the relationships between diet and health-related problems, such as immune and inflammatory response, insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, organ damages and mortality. We expect the review will provide useful evidences for dietary guideline and revision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study outlines the successful development and testing of an immunochromatographic test strip for the detection of the anticoccidial drug, nicarbazin in milk. The preparation and characterization of an anti-4,4′-dinitrocarbanilide monoclonal antibody was based on hapten re-4,4′-dinitrocarbanilide. The monoclonal antibody was highly specific for 4, 4′-dinitrocarbanilide, with a half-life inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 3.46 ng/mL. The detection limit was 0.86 ng/mL. The linear range was 1.71-7 ng/mL. The cut-off values of colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic test paper in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and in milk were 10 ng/mL, 100 ng/mL, respectively. These results were in good agreement with ELISA analyses and suggest that immunochromatographic test strips are a fast and sensitive method for the semi-quantitative and qualitative analysis of nicarbazin in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small molecule compounds like pesticide, veterinary drug, bio-toxin, and heavy metal are widely found in animals, plants, soil, etc. Excessive compounds residues will have a bad influence on human health and the environment. Thus, it is extremely urgent that can detect the small molecules simultaneously. At present, many researches of simultaneous detection for small molecules using the method of an immunoassays have been reported thanks to its advantages of fast speed, simple operation, and high specificity. The small molecules have only one antigenic determinant, so the competitive immunoassay is the main method for small molecule compounds detection. In this paper, our main job is to describe the development of immunoassay for multi-residue detection of small molecule compounds and introduce three ways to complete the analysis of multi-residue immunoassay of small molecule compounds. We also summarize deficiencies and make an expectation of the immunoassays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we describe the development of a rapid, simple, specific, and sensitive immunochromatographic strip test based on an antibody-antigen reaction for detection of tulathromycin (TULA) in samples of 0.01 M PBS pH 7.4, pure milk and honey. The monoclonal antibodies specifically recognized the corresponding antigens produced in our laboratory. Under optimized conditions, the cut-off limits of the test strips for TULA in 0.01 M PBS pH 7.4 was found to be 2.5 ng/mL. Meanwhile, with simple preparation for detection in pure milk and honey samples, the cut-off limits for TULA were found to be 5 and 10 ng/mL, respectively. Each test can be evaluated in 5 min. In summary, this lateral-flow device provides a sensitive, effective, specific, and rapid method for detection of TULA residues in food matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in agricultural biotechnology have created a need for analytical techniques to determine introduced proteins in crops enhanced through modern biotechnology techniques. These proteins are expressed in plant tissues and may be present in food ingredients. Immunoassays are ideally suited for protein detection and may be used as both quantitative and threshold methods. Microplate ELISA and lateral flow devices are two of the most commonly used immunoassay formats for agricultural biotechnology applications. This paper provides general background information and a discussion of criteria for the validation and application of immunochemical methods to the analysis of proteins introduced into plants and food ingredients using biotechnology methods. It is the result of a collaborative effort of members of the Analytical Environmental Immunochemical Consortium. This collaborative effort represents the combined expertise of several organizations to reach consensus on establishing guidelines for the validation and use of immunoassays. Further, the paper offers developers and users a consistent approach to adopting the technology as well as aid in producing accurate and meaningful results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrofurans are a class of drugs, which are typically used as antibiotics or antimicrobials illegally in aquiculture. In this paper, indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and strip sensor were developed for detection of furazolidone metabolite, 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ). These two methods could detect AOZ with high sensitivity and specificity. The immunosorbent assay with the half-inhibitory concentration of 0.074 ng/mL has a good recovery from 79.9% to 119.8% for detection of AOZ in pork, chicken, fish, shrimp, pork liver and chicken liver. Based on the developed strip sensor, the detection limit was 0.05 ng/g by the naked eyes and the cut-off value was 0.3 ng/g. The cross-reactivity with other nitrofurans, metabolites and some other compounds was all less than 0.1%. The sample recoveries ranged from 97.3% to 115.5%. Both these methods could be used for on-site detection of furazolidone metabolite at trace level in animal tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There is increasing interest for chemiluminescence (CL) detection with the characteristics of simplicity, low cost and high sensitivity, especially wide application of enhancersin CL detection to increased signals, prolonged luminescence time and enhanced intensity. In this review, the applications of primary enhancers and secondary enhancers were mainly described in the horseradish peroxidase–luminol system of CL enzyme immunoassay for light delay in the course of the reaction with improved sensitivity. The present review on enhancers covers the papers since 1983. Future research needs to develop novel enhancers with less interference and better performance. With wide utilization of enhancers in the CL system, the CL immunodetection technology showed a good potential and wide development prospects in food and medicine fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is challenging to achieve a highly sensitive enzyme-linked sorbent immunoassay (ELISA) method for rapid screening 19-nortestosterone (19-NT) residue in animal tissues. This paper demonstrated that utilising a bioconjugate of gold nanoparticles and enzyme-labelled antibodies as signal probe have increased the sensitivity of a traditional ELISA for 19-NT by 10 times. The sensitivity of this ELISA was 0.01 ng/mL in buffer and the detection limit (LOD) of 0.3 µg/kg could be obtained after the beef samples were simply pre-treated. This new method was facile and has the potential application for improving the sensitivity of ELISA methods against various small molecular contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents the generation of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against testosterone (TES) through cell fusion technology, and the development of a mAb-based indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) method to detect TES residue in bovine edible tissues. Under optimal conditions, this assay exhibited a working range of 0.04–19 ng/mL, with half-maximum inhibition (IC50) and limit of detection values of 0.27 and 0.02 ng/mL, respectively. After three sample pretreatment procedures were checked, a simple dilution method was adopted for further use. The stabilisation studies demonstrated that the icELISA kits can be stored for at least 180 to 240 days, at 4°C and −20°C, respectively. When applied to bovine samples, the data from icELISA and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry showed excellent correlation (r2=0.9923 in muscle, 0.9884 in liver and 0.9957 in kidney). Therefore, this assay has the potential to be incorporated into a quantitative monitoring programme for the rapid screening of TES residue in foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glutathione-coated CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in a paper. After purification, the QDs were coupled with monoclonal antibody to fight against fenvalerate. The conjugates had the same emission wavelength as that of QDs. The excitation wavelength and emission wavelength of the conjugates were determined to obtain the highest signal-to-noise ratio. After the antibody concentration optimization, the fluorescence-linked immunoassay method was developed. The method used the QDs as the signal to quantify the fenvalerate. Compared with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), it saved more than 1 h and decreased the false-positive rate using the specified emission wavelength of QDs. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the method was 0.28 µg mL−1. The detection limit was 25 ng mL−1and the linear range was 60 ng mL−1–3.83 µg mL−1. Via preliminary application, fenvalerate residues in spiked samples were determined. The recovery of fenvalerate in water samples ranged from 84.5% to 96.2% and that in vegetables ranged from 72.5% to 125.7%. It was a rapid detection of the fenvalerate residue in environment and vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Soybean and hazelnut represent major food allergens. Their inadvertent presence in foods might pose a serious threat to allergic consumers. Therefore, reliable detection methods are needed. Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) are the preferred methods especially by the food industry and enforcement agencies for the detection of contamination levels of food allergens. However, they are susceptible to erroneous results due to the modification of the allergens (proteins) during food processing. In this paper, the impact of protein oxidation on the detectability of soybean and hazelnut was investigated. Lipid-induced oxidation did not have a great impact on the detectability while the more severe hypochlorous acid-induced oxidation led to dramatic decrease in detectability for both hazelnut and soybeans. The observed impact was highly dependent on the type of ELISA kit used. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this study was to develop a microplate colorimetric assay that could measure low levels (<2mg/mL) of haemoglobin in bovine plasma as a result of haemolytic trauma. The method presented uses the pseudo-peroxidase activity of haemoglobin to catalyse a redox reaction between tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and hydrogen peroxide in an acidic environment. There is a good linear relationship (r2=0.999) between the optical density of the reaction product and haemoglobin concentration. The assay is highly repeatable (F=1.219, P=0.303) with an intra- and inter-assay variation ranging from 2.3% to 3.9% and 5.8% to 11.3% respectively for three control samples containing high, medium and low levels of haemoglobin. In conclusion, the method described in this paper provides an accurate, precise measurement of low concentrations of haemoglobin in bovine plasma that enables correction for haemolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of wheat protein characteristics and of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique for wheat quality characteristics determination. Literature review is to report the identification of low and high molecular weight subunits of glutenins with ELISA. Immunological assay has been reported to be used as an alternative method to reduce the test time and cost. ELISA is an immunological technique involving an enzyme (a protein that catalyses a biochemical reaction) to detect the presence of an antibody or an antigen in a test sample. Currently available knowledge on immunochemical characteristics of wheat proteins is insufficient. That's why this review is unique in its comprehensive nature for immunochemical characteristics of wheat proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-ascorbic acid occurs naturally in many foods and is frequently added to processed foods as an antioxidant. As the ascorbic acid content in food materials is an indicator of its freshness and nutritive value, rapid and accurate analysis of ascorbic acid is important. Conventional methods of ascorbic acid analysis have several disadvantages and a biosensor is a reliable alternative for rapid analysis of vitamin C in food and pharmaceutical samples. This paper deals with the use of a biosensor technique to analyse the ascorbic acid content in food and pharmaceutical samples and to compare it with the conventional methods of analysis such as high pressure liquid chromatography, titrimetry and spectrophotometric methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authenticity of different animal food products has important attention in many countries received in the last few years. The majority of dairy products' authenticity identification methodologies are based on major milk proteins analysis. One of the main problems in cheese making is the adulteration of sheep and goats milk with cow's milk, because cow's milk is cheaper. The aim of this paper is to detect the presence of cow's milk in sheep's and goat's cheeses which are sold in the retail markets of Romania. For this purpose, a total of 73 sheep's and goat's cheese samples were purchased randomly from different markets. An immunochromatographic test kit was used to detect the presence of cow's milk in sheep and goat cheeses. No adulteration was found in 32.6% and 20.3% of sheep and goat cheese samples, respectively, while the presence of cow's milk was detected in 67.3% and 79.7% of samples, respectively. These results were considered to be unacceptable and routine controls on adulterated sheep and goat cheese should be performed in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between oxidised low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and macrophages is known to be important in the development of arteriosclerosis. Macrophages take up oxidised LDL and then become foam cells, which contribute to the thickening of the blood vessel wall. In our previous paper, some flavonoids found in vegetables and fruits were shown to have a protective effect against arteriosclerosis. In this communication, to elucidate the effect of fucose-related compounds on oxidised LDL uptake in macrophages, the inhibitory activity of various fucose-related compounds on the 1,1-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindo-carbocyanine perchlorate-acetylated-LDL (DiI-ac-LDL) uptake reaction in mouse macrophage cell line J774.1 was measured. Fucoidan, 4-deoxy-fucose and fucose-galactose-N-acetyl-glucose significantly inhibited uptake of DiI-ac-LDL into macrophages. The IC50 of 4-deoxy-fucose was 108.4 µM, the highest value of the fucose-related compounds used in the experiments. The protective effects of the fucose-related compounds on atherosclerosis can be used as new health foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disease diagnostics and pathogen detection, a primary component of any crop management programme, is also helpful in monitoring sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures to seed quality. Molecular diagnostics based on immunological and DNA techniques can provide an efficient way for disease surveillance and disease forecasting. Karnal bunt (KB) of wheat has become a major disease of economic importance and an important issue in the international wheat trade. Due to its seed borne, soil borne and air borne nature, KB can be diagnosed in three pathogenic forms of pathogens viz. teliospores, sporidial and mycelial forms which occur in infectious or proliferative entities at different stages of the disease cycle. Suitable sampling and extraction procedures can improve the detection limits of modern molecular diagnostic methods used to test KB. For the extraction of teliospores from both infected and infested seeds, highly efficacious detergent washing techniques have been developed and extracted pathogenic entities were diagnosed by involving several species of specific primers and immuno-chemical reagents. Nucleic acid and antibody based techniques have been developed for the detection of KB pathogen in different forms. These techniques can also be successfully employed for differential diagnosis, disease surveillance of seed borne pathogens of quarantine importance and determination of teliospore load in wheat seeds. These tests can also be designed to assist in the trade of wheat, development of disease forecasting models and molecular and immuno-pathotyping of Tilletia indica isolates collected from different agro-climatic regions. Moreover, these formats could also be employed for molecular characterization of disease determinants and in comprehending their role in molecular basis of host-pathogen interaction. The present paper highlights the use of the principle of molecular diagnostics in exerting disease surveillance and quality assurances of seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional methods of organophosphate (OP) pesticide analysis have several disadvantages; some of them can be overcome by the use of biosensors. This paper deals with studies on different immobilisation methods for biosensor applications. Acetylcholine esterase (AChE) was immobilised using two different membranes in order to construct a sensitive biosensor for the detection of OP pesticides. Amongst tested methods of immobilisation a co-cross-linking method of immobilisation using cellophane membrane gave the best results for the detection of the OP pesticide, paraoxon, in the range of 0.4-2 ppm with an analysis time of 15 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper represents the first report of DNA-hydrolysing activity of IgG fraction from bulk bovine colostrum. Ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-150 chromatography, protein G affinity chromatography and dialysis were used to obtain the IgG fraction, which was isolated and finally purified to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE. pBR322 DNA in the incubated mixture with the IgG fraction, which was subjected to electrophoresis in 0.8% agarose gel, was found to be hydrolysed. This result was confirmed by a hyperchromicity assay using calf thymus DNA as the substrate. The DNase specific activity of the IgG preparations from bulk bovine colostrum was 12.2-24.1 U/mg (checked by RID) in this work. The DNase activity of bovine colostral IgG had an acidic pH optimum (pH 3.9-4.0), which was very different from the DNase (7.0-7.2) of the milk of healthy mothers (Kanyshkova, Buneva, Nevinsky, & Neustroev, 1997). The DNA-hydrolysing activity of bovine colostral IgG showed no significant requirement for divalent metal ions. These data taken together showed that bovine colostral IgG possessed DNA hydrolytic activity and shared biochemical properties with DNase II. We also found that the abzyme activity of IgG was not simply proportional to the IgG content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two formats of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with the monoclonal antibody were adopted and compared to detect triazophos residue in an environmental water sample that employed a heterologous coating conjugate. The sensitivity and specificity of the two formats, indirect format (antigen-coated ELISA) and direct format (antibody-coated ELISA), were satisfied after most of the factors used to influence the analytical results of an immunoassay to triazophos were tested and optimised. Results showed that I50 and I20 were 2.54 and 0.54 ng/ml for the indirect format and 0.65 and 0.12 ng/ml for the direct format, respectively, without obvious cross-reactivity to other organophosphorus pesticide analogues tested. The mean recoveries of water samples spiked with triazophos were 115 and 103% for the indirect and direct format, respectively, and their mean coefficients of variation were 9.0 and 10.9%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]